part 20: dedicated to Dalia

Be strong Dalia, I'm so sorry for your loss.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I looked at Ali as I answered the phone. He seemed frustrated, "Aloo?"

"Hi Nouf ta3alay what do you think about dinner tonight?"

"Um, ta3al 3indina, I think my dad's barbecuing."

Ali's expressions suddenly changed, he looked happy, evilishly happy... hmm..

"Okay, yallah, bye."

"Salmay 3alai." Ali told me in a loud voice with a gigantic smile on his face.

"Did you say something?" I can hear Fahad returning the phone to his ear.

"Um.. ee, Ali yisalim 3alaik."

"Ali? Ay Ali?"

"Hehe, Fahad, shfeek, 3ali, your cousin!"

"Ahaaa, ahh he's there with you?" He replied quietly.

"Yup yup, ma3ay ana oo Rawan. We're in Lenotre."

"Ah okay, allah yisalma, salmay 3alai."

"Allah yisalmik." I replied while glaring at Ali.

Is this some kind of game to the two of them?!

"Okay, you were saying?" He continued talking after I ended the conversation.

"Uh-huh, I wasn't saying anything. What was that about?"

"What was what about?" Rawan returned and asked as she sat down.

"Nothing."

"Yeah, I think it's about a barbeque or something." Ali said at the same time. Rawan's eyes lit up, here comes trouble!

"Oh my God, Ali! Lazim lazim itjarib her dad's barbeque, it is the best!"

"Oh really?"

"Yup."

"7ayak!" We didn't even start on our main course and she' inviting him? What is going to happen at the end of the meal?!

"Mashkoora, but I don't want to intrude." Good boy!!! I shouted in my head.

"La, la, 3adiiii! I'm sure her parents don't mind! Your aunt and uncle are best friends with her parents."I stared so hard at her. I'm pretty sure she can feel the hate vibes coming out of my eyes at that secondl but that didn't stop her.

"Akeed?"

"Nouf insists!" Whaaat? I insist? Okaayy.. Thank you for that.

"Hehehe," Oh no, please, not the deep laugh! My ears love his deep laugh, "3ayal I'll be there."

"Mhhmm... Fahad will be glad to see you." I shot to the both of them.

"Ah, Fahad yaay?" hehehe, the expression on R's face was priceless!

"Yup." I put the food into my mouth and chewed the last of my salad while wondering what on Earth was going to happen tonight....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So, is that yours?" I asked as I pointed at his car in the parking lot outside.

"Yeah." He is one lucky guy! I thought to myself, eying the car. I felt someone staring at me, I turned to look at the source, Ali. My face turned into five different shades of red! Okay, okay, I admit, I was eying the car ENVIOUSLY, he busted me! But what's a person to do? It is a fine piece of car!

"Want to ride?" He asked with a mysterious smile dancing on his face. DO I WANT TO RIDE?! IS THAT EVEN A QUESTION? HELL, I WANT TO DRIVE THAT THING!! Afterall, it's not like I've never riden in one before but you have to understand, I have this obsession with Aston Martins!

"La, 3adi, mashkoor." I replied quietly, embarrased.

"Akeeeeed?" He asked slowly.

"Nouf, don't worry, I"ll drive your car home." R winked. My parents will kill me! I thought to myself... 9ayra wayid asha6in these days... but they will understand, right? I mean they know about me and Aston Martins!

"Okay, sure."

"Have fun." Rawan whispered into my ear.

"You know I'm killing you when I get home, don't you?"

"Hahaha, we'll see after this car ride!"