The prom is going to take place in two weeks, I told my mother I don't want to go.

" Mum, I'm not going, proms are not for hijabis, plus I don't have any friends " I said.

" Look me in the eyes and tell me it's not about James " she said.

" And I don't want to see him " I said In surrender.

" Jannah, my baby, look, prom is once in a lifetime experience, when you reach my age, you will look back at all the opportunities you missed to have fun, and you will regret it " she explained warmly.

" Mum, when I reach your age, I'll be too old to think about proms " I said.

I didn't think about what came out of my mouth.

" Jannah, what did you say?!! I'm too old " she said narrowing her eyes.

" Oh, I mean, I'll be too busy to think about proms " I said mentally facepalming myself.

" Jannah, you are going, end of discussion " my mum said leaving the room.

Now, I'll have to face James, something I have been running from this whole time.

The day before the prom, my mum came into the room with a dress in her hands.

" Ta Da, your dress " she said happily.

I looked at it and it was absolutely breathtaking.

" Mum, woww, that's really beautiful " I said in amazement.

It was a two part dress, the upper part was white, and the skirt was pink , I loved it, but I still had a question.

" But how..how did you afford it ??!!, It looks really expensive " I asked.

" Your brother bought it for you, it's his treat, he is trying to make it up to you for all the past years " she said.

" Oh, Mum " I said hugging her.

On the morning before the prom,I was really nervous, I put on my dress, with a light peige chiffon scarf to go with, I wore very light natural looking makeup, my mum wanted me to put any golden accessories but I declined

" Mum, it's America, people wear diamonds and silver, not gold" I explained.

My brother came to pick me up,

" My princess " he said.

" Ah, not you too " I complained.

When we reached the hotel where the prom is held,

" Here you go, enjoy " my brother said.

" Thank you for everything Hassan " I said hugging him.

" No, thank you, you made me return to the path of Allah again " he said with tears in his eyes.

" Oh my big brother is crying " I said giggling.

" Now, go enjoy " he said kicking me out of the car.

" You know I'm not pretty much the type that know how to enjoy themselves " I explained.

" Just try, by the way I'm picking you up at 10 " he said smiling.

We said our goodbyes, and he left.

I looked at the entrance to the party, and I was about to turn back and run, I mean me in a prom, come on?!!!

I went inside the hotel, the prom was being held in the first floor, still I had to climb many stairs.

There were some students at the entrance organising the event, I gave them my ticket, and they gave me the looks.

" What the hell is that terrorist doing here ?!!" I heard the students whispering.

Inside Everybody was dancing even the teachers and the principals,

" I used to respect them until I saw them dance " I said to myself.

I noticed that the nerds of the school weren't there, like Artemis.

" I guess I'm the only nerd in the place " I said to myself.

I sat in a corner of the room, alone as usual, I was having fun watching everybody happy, until I saw James approaching, he was weraing a suit that brought out his oceanic blue eyes.

" The woman that will marry him will be very lucky " I said to myself.

I didn't know how to react, so I decided to leave, I almost ran, I was on the stairs when I heard him say.

" Jannah, wait " he said.

" What do you want?!! " I said giving my back to him.

" Are you gonna run like Cinderella?!!, it's not twelve yet." He said.

" It's not about the time " I said.

" No, I know it's about me, do you really think that running away is gonna solve the problem " he said.

" No, but at least it will, help us forget " I explained facing him.

" No, it won't, I can't, and I don't want to forget about you " he said angerily.

" It won't work James, you know that pretty well " I said.

" I know, but I can't " he said in a sad tone.

" No you can, just try harder " I said leaving.

" How can I forget about my world, you are my world jannah, I have never felt that I belong to anybody before, but with you it's different, I belong to you, Jannah " he said with all the truthfulness in the world.

I was taken aback by his words, I tried my best to gather my courage.

" James, your world is your world, you are a Wayne, remember, you belong to the extravagant world where people live in mansions, and eat caviar everyday " I shouted at him.

" And I've never felt that I belonged there before " he said looking into my eyes.

" That's why I didn't want to come today " I said leaving him.

" No, because you are afraid of facing your feelings " he said challenging me.

" Yes, I love you James, but I love Allah more, and if I have to choose between you and Allah, I'll choose Allah over you a billion times " I said sternly.

James didn't know what to say for about five minutes,

" Jannah, there is something you need to know " he said.

That's when we heard screaming and shots fired.