chapter one

grrgrrr my alarm rang on the bedside table , I stretched my hand out to turned it off, I adjusted my head on my pillow, I would just sleep a little more, I told my self, Jasmiiiiin!! my mom yelled, get out of bed, do your sallah and get ready for school!!

I knew there was no telling me twice, so i quietly slid out of bed, scared of what my mum would do if she meets me still asleep, did my morning prayer and got ready for school.

School, I groaned internally, I dread it every morning and every night before I go to bed , everyday in that hell hole is harder, the only thing keeping me sane there is my best friend, bella, we met when we were eight years old, unlike me, she is more outspoken and won't let anyone walk around her, If it weren't for her, I would have begged my parents to home school me.

At last, a sigh escaped my lips as I thought, two more month, i would be done with this hell hole, two months more like a year to me.

I'm ready, I told myself, I stood in front of the mirror admiring how I looked, I'm wearing a black Palazzo pants with a deep green loose shirt, I let my hair down in it's natural curls, one of the things I admired about myself the most was my dark curly hair that falls down to my lower back, and my beautiful big green eyes that I took from Mama, satisfied with my looks, I went downstairs to have breakfast.

Mama was setting the table when I got there, she had earphones plugged to her ear, assalamualaikum mama, I greeted but no response, she was already far from this universe, I thought, asalaamualaim Mama!! I said louder this time, that seemed to had gain her attention, walaikumsalam dear, I'm sorry I didn't notice you were here, she said, gawking at me, you look good she said winking at me.

I looked her her weirdly, Mama don't do that, I said shakingy head, she laughed at my reaction, what! you mean this, she said winking at me again, I let out I loud groan " I told you not to do that" she let out a loud laugh, I'm just messing with you, she told me winking again. I rolled my eyes and pretending like I hadn't seen that.

She placed some slices of wafer on a plate she then graced it with my favorite syrup, maple syrup, I could feel my mouth watering at the goodness placed right in front of me, I dug in immediately, but not before mumbling a thanks.

When is papa coming home, I asked stuffing my face with food, maybe this afternoon, she replied almost immediately like she had been waiting for me to ask, I wore a pout, and frown, well that's soon I said in a disappointed voice, " I was hoping he would stay longer"

I thinking the same, mama said, her voice laced with dissapointment, "I was hoping he would stay a year or even two" a Loud gasp escaped my mouth, are you for real!! I asked her, shocked with what she had just said, I'm not sure!! tell me are you? She said stroking her chin mischievously, of course not!! I exclaimed, then I'm also not serious!! She said, I burst out laughing realizing what she had just done,she too burst into a fit, well I deserved that I said still laughing, dad was out of the country for business,he is the CEO of an engineering firm, the best in the whole of Italy.

Puumm!! A honk sounded, oh that must be bella I said picking up the rest of my breakfast, I will just finish this in the car I said, I picked up my back pack, see you after school I told her kissing her cheeks, just as I opened the door another honk sounded,

What got your panties in a twist this morning singora Isabella, I teased as I got into the car,she zoomed of immediately I got in, " chill babe", I have a presentation this morning, and it's the second period, Bella gasped out.

Ooh, I knew how much Bella hated presentation, well I'm sure you will do fine, I encourage her, one would think that Bella would address millions of people without batting her eyes, but it's quite the opposite, but she has gotten better over the years, with a lot of counseling.

What is that you have there, Bella asked noticing the plate of wafer I had with me, well it's my breakfast I told her, I don't care feed me some bella said her eyes focused on the road, I rolled my eyes at her but fed her some anyways.

Bella got a good parking space, we got down from the car talking about random stuffs, we made a our way to the school entrance, yeah before I forget Bella called out " don't do that weird thing you do Everytime we get to school" what, I asked her, dropping my head so my hair would cover my face, yes that it!! Bella exclaimed loudly, calling the attention of the students in the hall, I blushed at the false attention, you see you are doing it again, she whinned, " you need to be more confident in yourself, you're so hot and beautiful" I turned beetroot at her complement, stop I don't need you fangirling over me I said burying my face deeper into my hair, you're such a kill joy, Bella sighed.

Mine and Bella's locker was basically beside each other, Bella's locker was formally down the hall, but she swapped it in eight grade. I opened my locker only for it to be snapped shut, I turned Irritated to see who had done it, I came face to face with Cassandra, one of our school bully, she practically enjoys torturing other people's kids.

She was wearing a very ugly smirk that I wished I could smack off her face.What do you want, I asked her irritated, ooh I see the princess finally grew some balls, she said laughing like a maniac, well if you don't have anything to tell me, piss off, I said turning my back at her.

I felt a sharp pain in my head, my hair in Cassandra's fist, she pulled my head down to her hight, I see you've forgotten who you're speaking to, she said gripping my hair tighter, well I'm not sure hmm, I don't know who, do you, I asked innocently, that seemed to had gottenher riled up, I thought her grip couldn't become any more painful, but it did, it a good thing cause I can remind you my way will make sure you remember, she said menacingly.

Hey stop that, Bella yelled at her, shutting her locker loudly, well make me she said wearing the same ugly smirk as before.

Bella pounced on her and gripped her hair tightly her fist, she yelped in Pain leaving my hair, I massage my tender scalp immediately I was set free, my beautiful hair I whinned internally, but I was more worried about the fight that was about to unfold.

Not so nice is it, Bella said sweely after releasing Cassandra's hair, Cassandra jumped on her, but Bella was read for her, Bella had a black belt in karate so she knew how to handle her self, I was more worried about Cassandra and us getting into detention.

After much struggle they were able to pull Bella of Cassandra, her nose seemed to have been broken as it was bleeding so much, Bella on the other hand had gotten a small cut just above her right eyebrow, I ran over to her to check her injury, apart from the cut on her head her knuckles seemed to have been bursted.

The principal, Mr Giovanni, stormed to where we were gathered with a very red face,what happened here!! He yelled, the rest of the students pointed at three of us, snitches I screamed in my head,

You three in my office now!! He yelled, oh boy it is over, I said in my head.

Explain!! Our principal said immediately two of us were seated in his office, Cassandra had been sent to the clinic to check her injuries,

wel_____

Bella started but was cut of by Mr Giovanni, Jasmine should speak, he clarified. I explained what had occured earlier to him.

I was left with a warning, Bella had to go on detention for two weeks, and Cassandra was suspended for two weeks, she had always been a cause trouble, and I'm sure a suspension is no big deal to her, she's always in trouble any Ways.

Thanks for having my back, I said to Bella as we came out of the principal office, you insult me by thanking me, Bella said with a frown, " that bitch had it coming anyways"

We were already late for the first period as we wasted part of it in the principal's office. Today is really not my day, I sighed

"Every day in this school is not your day jass" cheer up she said bumping my shoulders with hers, let out a small laugh, yeah that's true.

When we got to class it was almost half of the period gone. Our maths teacher seemed to be in a good mood today, cause he paid no attention to us, even if half of the period was gone, I didn't know things could get from going wrong to right in just one day, I squealed internally as I brought out my notes.

I was waiting for Bella by her car, after waiting for like ten minutes I texted her, " where are you"

piing my phone vibrated, " detention remember!!"

I let out a loud groan, just when I thought the day was getting better, I went to the library to wait for her, I decided to do my assignment so I wouldn't be bored.

Ping ping ping, my phone vibrated beside me, I was too focused on what I was doing to notice,

Bitch!!

Why are you not answering my calls, a Loud voice rang through the library, I raised my head to see a very angry Bella at the library entrance.

Shh, the other students in the library cautioned, yeah you too shhh, Bella wisper yelled, they rolled thier eyes at the crazy teenager and got back to what they were doing.

She trotted loudly to where I was seated, the rest of the students however ignored her.Why the hell were you not answering my calls, she whisper yelled, what text I asked confused.

I picked up my phone, only to see seven unread messages, and three missed calls, I smiled guilty, " I was to engrossed to notice, I'm sorry"

Whatever, I don't know about you, but for me I'm famished, Soo get your ass of the seat now!! Bella yelled, this time she attracted he attention of the librarian

Shut!! The library door shut loudly behind us, we had been thrown out by the librarian, aparrently we were constituting nuisance, when I say we I mean Bella.

Where are we heading first, Bella asked as we were settled in the car, Tiego's fast food please! I said, we got our food on the drive thru, we don't want mama to go ballistic do we? And we made our way home.

Make sir you're ready on time tomorrow, Bella screamed after me, grazie Bella, see you tomorrow I yelled back at the moving car, as soon as she left, I made my way inside the house, assalamualaikum!! I announced as I got inside, and bent down to take of my shoes.

I heard footsteps approaching, but I didn't look up to see who that was, I assumed it was mama, Walaikumsalam, a familiar musculine voice answered, I looked up to see papa few feeys away from me, a lound sque escaped my mouth as I engulfed him in a bear hug, " missed you papa" I missed you to piccolo, papa said kissing my forehead.

After leaching on papa for the whole afternoon, I finally decided to bless my room with my presence, shit! I hit my head with my palm, I had forgotten I hadn't prayed yet, I hurriedly did my prayer, then I decided to cross-check the assignment I had done in the library earlier.

When I finished, I went downstairs to help mama in the kitchen, we made pasta and pesto l sillcilen for dinner, when we were done my mouth was watering with salivation, I tried stealing some but mama caught me, you should wait till dinner, she said pulling my ear, I could only whinned in protest, and nurse my poor ear after she released it

We went to pray maghrib as we were done with cooking, papa lead the prayer, while me and mama followed behind, it's tradition to pray as a family every maghrib, before dinner, the other prayers we do them individually.

We finished our sallah, and I went to set the table, while mama brought our dinner, we all say down to eat once everything was set.

I thought safeena and khaleed were coming home this week, Papa's voice broke the silence, mama let out a small laugh, "mean next week silly" after all they're young, let them do their own thing, that's what life is, mama said her gaze focused on papa, I couldn't help but nod in agreement.

Khaleed and safeena are my elder siblings, I'm the fourth of four kids, my oldest brother Umar, he is twenty six years old, and his married, so young right, but he had everything he needs to be happy, a successful source of income, check, love check, what do someone need in life, he has his own achitecting firm, he started with an internship in a bigger firm at Rome, after aquiring the required knowledge, he left to start his, his first employee was Luke, he had graduated with a first class but had been underemployed, Umar found him and they started his firm together, now it is a star five firm recognize in the whole of Rome.

Safeena is the second chd of my parents, she is twenty two years old, she is studying photography in Rome.

Khaleed is the third child, and he is twenty one years old, he is an athlete pursuing basketball, though he has a plan b which is engineering, and he is really good at both.

We finished dinner in silence, took the dishes to the kitchen and washed them, then I went up to my room, but not before bidding my parents goodnight, they were both seated in the living room, watching a movie in each other's arms, eww, I said in my mind but I smiled at how cute they looked, " good night" good night amor they chorused.

I did my sallah as soon as I got to my room, then I treated myself with a hot bath, and then I did my skin care routine, we all need to glow don't we 😉 and I found myself in The goodness of dreams, goodnight.