70 Days; Chapter 4

Hey all! I just want to tell everyone reading this that this story will indeed have a huge *boom* to it, however, it won't be as long as my previous one.

Thank you, and feedback would be much appreciated.

-

"So I heard Rashed spoke to you?" Deena asked.

"Yeah, and you're asking because...?" I replied confusingly.

"Just thank god that you're not a loner anymore, at least there's someone you're talking to," she responded.

My mind never completely adapts to Deena's words, they frighten me sometimes.

But mostly, I loathe when she doubts me.

What? A girl like me can't speak to guys?

A girl like me can't attract them?

Earlier that day:

'

"Hey!" someone messaged me. It was from an unknown number.

"Sorry, who am I speaking to?" I answered.

"Let me give you a hint, I'm leaving to Australia for university."

"Haha, hello Rashed :)"

"How are you?" he asked.

"I'm doing fine, you?" I replied.

"Great. So I was just wondering, are you tagging along with Deena today? Are you two joining us for dinner?"

"Hopefully!"

"Great and.. Jade?" he said.

"Rashed?"

"Hahaha, can you remind me to tell you something while we're there?"

"Sure :)" was my response.

As soon as that was over, I opened my closet, wondering what pieces of clothing will I wear today.

Another thought popped in my head, what does he want to tell me?

I tried not to expect too much, nor over-think, raising my hopes up isn't good.

After an hour of trying on clothes, I finally came to a decision.

My white chiffon sleeveless top, tucked in my navy blue high waisted pants, and my short black leather jacket, and for the shoes I found my gold Gina slippers the most suitable.

It was 7 PM, right on time.

I spoke to my parents about the dinner, they didn't mind as long as I returned home on time. I come from an open-minded family, but not too open-minded.

I held on to the metal handle attached to my mahogany colored home door and opened it to reveal Deena's car, waiting outside my house.

"Hey boo!" she greeted as she hugged me.

"Hello!" I greeted back, "so, where exactly are we heading?"

"This Japanese restaurant, it's Nasser's birthday." she replied.

Oh, Nasser. The guy that offered me a cigarette. It was a funny thought.

As we were being pushed away to the destination, I cared to see what Deena had on as her outfit.

She wore 8 inched heels which went by a neon pink sort of color, and a fit black peplum dress that reached a bit lower than her upper thigh.

-

"Good evening!" greeted the waiter as the girls entered the restaurant, one casually dressed and the other, overly dressed.

I wished Nasser a happy birthday and looked around our private room that they used for the evening.

It was quite big.

In it were a few girls including Deena and I, Nasser, and the rest of his pals.

I felt a tap on my right shoulder, I turned.

Nobody.

I felt another one on my left, I turned once again.

"Hi, Jade," spoke Rashed laughing, admiring my frightened face.

"Hi, Rashed!" I giggled.

"You look nice," he complimented, looking away immediately.

"Thank you," I replied.

He didn't look me in the eye. I wondered, "why?"

I felt it was too soon to ask him what he wanted to tell me, considering our arrival was less than 5 minutes ago.

-

The dinner was nice, loud from all the laughter, but nice.

As soon as we were done with dessert, most of the guys hurriedly left the room heading over to breathe on some real air.

It never ceases to amaze me the addiction these specific boys have, smoking was the reason, of course.

Deena tagged along with one of them, I think it was Nasser.

Who remained in the room were 3 guys, including Rashed, and an awkward-looking girl named Jade.

I learned, from the amount of times Deena has left me behind, how to cope with the awkwardness.

I began scrolling down my phone screen, just viewing posted photos via Instagram.

Mini whispers were able to be heard, I looked up. I witnessed Rashed staring at me while whispering into one of the guys' ears, they called him Faisal, I think.

"Jade," he said.

As I once again looked up, he was beside the entrance of the private room.

"Yeah?" I answered.

"You didn't remind me," he replied, laughing lightly.

"Oh, I forgot, sorry," I lied, covering up the reason why I didn't, in the first place.

"Don't worry," he said, "follow me."

I had no fear in walking behind him, my heart trusted his actions.

"Basically I just wanted to talk," he spoke.

"Oh," I responded, a bit bummed, I expected too much. But even though I did expect too much, what could say?

That he likes me? I've only known the guy for practically 2 seconds.

"You know my friend, over there," he said while looking back at Faisal, "asked if you're like Deena. I was surprised anyone could ever receive the slightest feeling that an innocent-looking girl like you can be compared to a girl like her. I told him you were nowhere near her."

I giggled quietly, "Thank you,"

"Don't mention it," he said staring into my unclear hazel eyes, smiling.

"So..." he immediately spoke trying to avoid the intense atmosphere, "Deena's really having fun, isn't she?"

We both faced her and Nasser, smoking off one cigarette, sharing it. Their bodies didn't have much space between them, either.

"I guess you could say so? How about Nasser? He looks like he's having a ton of fun, too!" I answered.

Rashed laughed, "Many of my friends do, I'm the only one who isn't like them."

"Same here," I declared.

"I feel left out, most of the time," he said slipping both of his palms into two separate pockets, looking down directly at the brick-like floor.

"I know exactly how you feel," I answered.

"Thank god there's someone out there who actually shares common things with me," he replied, "forever alone."

"Hey!" I laughed nudging him on the shoulder along with a bit of strength.

"Damn girl, you hit hard!" he responded, imitating.

After 10 full minutes of sudden silence while walking beside the restaurant, he spoke.

"Jade?"

"Yeah?"

"Want to play a game?"

"Sure, I love games!"

"Are you sure you're in for it? It's kind of tricky.."

"Bring it on!"

He approached me closely and said, "Let's pretend to love each other,"

My heart stopped.

I stepped into a black hole filled with panic and utter confusion.

I had to think, I had to think fast.

"U-h-h-h, how long for?" I replied, anxiously.

"70 days."

He looked at me, his eyes begged for mercy, his eyes begged for an answer, his eyes begged for a chance.

I came to a decision and extended my hand to offer him a shake.

"Deal."

'

70 Days; Chapter 3

Rashed's perspective; 

"What do you mean?" I spoke.

"What I mean is that you better find  yourself a girl, or else you won't be part of us anymore." Faisal said.

"Haha!" I laughed in disgust. "You think I chose to be part of you? Childish much?" 

He gave me a devilish look, turned his back, and walked away.

I acted tough, I pretended to be strong, although deep down, I'm fighting to maintain my popularity.

We were standing beside his home.

It was a one story house, but my eyes tend to be amazed, with awe, every time I watch the red carpet roll down the middle of the long, long hallway. Wideness was indicated.

I, with fury, entered my vehicle, and drove back home.

As I was driving, a morsel amount of pain hit my left ankle. It was a frequent, usual thing that happened to me twice everyday. I learned to bear with it by taking specialised pills that my doctor prescribed to me.

"Rashed, how are you feeling?" asked my mother as I extended my right, okay foot, and entered my home. At that moment, I was in regular pain, I was astonished at the way she questioned at just the right time.

"The usual.." I responded.

"Take this." She approached and  handed me my prescribed pills in one hand, and a glass of water in the other.

All I kept thinking about later on today was Faisal's words.

Yes, I've had a couple of crushes before, but never did I place myself in a serious relationship. Maybe I was too young, or maybe I had no interest.

At this stage in my life, it might be the perfect timing to find someone, considering moving out of the country really soon, I'd like a reason to come back for a visit, other than my daring parents, of course.

But I still haven't received that desire yet. When it's meant to be, it will be. I want to make a commitment to that girl, and promise her that I will never leave her, ever, in all her years of living.

I want her to feel loved by me, cared by me, and protected by me.

Never would I get the crave to play on a girl's feelings, that's just wrong. In fact, the guys that do assume a girl's heart is somewhat a game, are the ones I find the most repulsive and loathsome. I have two twin sisters, and never would I allow a man to do something like that to them.

But as in for now, I may be in need of breaking the rights against my own thoughts.

I may seem like a guy with strength on the outside, but my heart is as delicate as a lizard's tail on the inside.

Faisal and the guys are my friends, they've been with me ever since my youth, I could never imagine myself out of the group of theirs. Many sacrifices have they made during all of these years. And I think this is the only way I could repay them.

And I know just the right girl to use.