Chapter 9: My Number

As I saw Kyle approaching the car I sucked in a breath and inspected his face. Thankfully I couldn't see any marks, cuts or splits.

His body did seem rigid though and his shoulders were taught as he came to the driver seat door and opened it. "Get out." He said. I raised my eyebrow.

"What are you talking about?" I asked him with a scoff.

"Get out, Sumayya!" He said, narrowing his eyes at me. "I'm not letting you drive in that mood."

I scoffed yet again, narrowing my eyes back at him. "Like your mood is any better than mine." I countered and Lydia sighed loudly in the passenger seat.

"Both of you move! I'm in the best state and I am in no mood for an argument." She said, getting out of the passenger seat and pushing past Kyle as she dragged me out of the car by my arm.

She sat in the driver seat and Kyle sat shotgun whilst I was now stuck in the back seat of my own bloody car. Nice.

"I can't believe this." Kyle muttered to himself and I looked at his seat, only seeing his shoulders from the gaps and sides of the cushioned seat.

"Believe what, Kyle?" I asked him, pretending like I had absolutely no idea what he was referring to.

"How you even found yourself tangled up in a situation with that guy!" He said, his palm hitting the dashboard as he raised his voice.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Kyle. I wasn't aware that you knew the whole story!"

"I don't! But I did know you to be smarter than to go for a guy like him."

"You guys..." Lydia trailed off, breaking through the screaming match with her quiet voice. "I don't know what's going on or why the both of you just changed moods suddenly, but please, can you talk about it once you're both calm. I don't want you guys to offend each other or argue."

I sighed, nodding my head as I agreed with her. "Sorry...both of you, for ruining the day." I said.

"You didn't ruin it." Lydia said, shaking her head. "I really enjoyed it actually. We'll take a second chance for it some other time." She said as she chuckled and I gave her a small smile through the rear view mirror before glancing at Kyle who sat silently in the passenger seat, gazing out the window.

I didn't say anything, instead, watching the trees slide by at fairly slow speeds. Yep, this trip was going to be torture for my usually speedy driving self.

The whole ride I spent wondering who the girl next to Zaid was. They were clearly close. Very close.

Zaid had two sisters, one was only 14 when I last saw her and she would've been about twenty now...maybe it was her?

But she must've changed drastically for it to be her as I couldn't make a connection whatsoever.

I rubbed my forehead, easing the frowning lines as I felt my head pound.

Maybe he had a milk-sibling? One that he never told me about....

Who was it....

We had neared Kyle's house when I heard my phone ring in my bag, snapping me out of my thoughts. Taking it out, I saw Justin's name on the screen and cleared my throat before answering.

"Hey."

"What's up, sis?" He asked.

"Not much, just went out for coffee with some friends now we're heading back."

"Oh okay, where'd you go?"

"Cafe Haiti. Remember, we went there once with Baba and Jessica last summer. The one close to the beach."

"Oh yeah! Yep, yep, I remember. When are you thinking of coming back home?" He asked, then corrected himself. "Like, back to this house?"

I shrugged, knowing he couldn't see me. "I don't know. I've only been here a day." I laughed. "Missing me already, are you?"

He chuckled before scoffing. "No."

"Sure, sure." I said before asking how Jessica was.

"Yeah, good. You don't have to always ask, I know you don't care." He laughed.

"I do too! She doesn't care about me, not the other way round." I said.

"She cares about you."

I scoffed. "Yeah, okay. How's my baba?"

"Your baba is fine, he's bringing home KFC tonight." He said as if trying to show off.

"Whatever, my mum made shawarma yesterday." I said back and he stayed silent for a while before speaking and making me laugh.

"Are there leftovers? I'm coming over."

"No, there aren't leftovers." I laughed, hearing him sigh. "I'm sure she'll make you more if you really want to come though." I said honestly.

"I don't know, I'll see. Let me just get home from work and I'll text you."

"Alright, let me know." He hung up the phone after we said bye to each other and as soon as the phone call ended, another phone call came through, the phone vibrating in my hand just as we pulled into Kyle's driveway. "Bye." I said to him simply. He forced a smile before nodding, saying bye to Lydia as well before shutting the door.

I could still feel my phone vibrating in my hand as I climbed over the centre console and situated myself in the seat Kyle was previously occupying.

Thinking that it was Justin again I quickly swiped without looking at the name as I took the phone to my ear once more.

"Yes, Justin?"

The line was silent and I raised my eyebrows. "Hello? You there?"

"Sumi."

That voice again. I'd know it wherever I heard it, regardless of whether it was in real life or on the phone. I stiffened in my seat, seeing Lydia glance at me from the corner of my eye. "Are you ever going to leave me alone?" I asked him softly, having no energy left to yell or scream or get angry.

"Not until you let me explain everything." He replied, equally as soft.

"Look, you've clearly moved on. If you want to explain just so you feel some closure, then I forgive you. I don't care anymore, okay? I forgive you, okay? I forgive you for every single thing you put me through. Done. Now we have nothing to do with each other. Don't call me again." I said and as I pulled the phone away from my ear I could hear his protests but I chose to ignore it, hanging up the phone, mad at the fact that he had called from a private number meaning I couldn't block him.

How did he even find my number?

I put my phone off vibrate and threw it into the backseat as Lydia focussed on the road.

If Kyle was in the car I'm sure he would've asked what had happened, but since Lydia and I weren't as close as Kyle and I were, she chose to stay silent, not questioning the phone call.

"Honestly, I feel bad for today, Lyd. Let's definitely go out again sometime." I said. She smiled at me shaking her head.

"No way, dude. You're fine! I really enjoyed myself. You and Kyle are pretty funny when together." She said, releasing a small chuckle. "We need to go out again, but not because today was shit, just because." She said, shrugging her shoulders. I smiled at her and nodded.

"I guess it wasn't half bad." I said.

We talked for the whole ten minutes that it took for us to arrive at her house. "Ooh, is this your house?" I said as she pulled close to the curb and pulled the handbrake.

She nodded her head. "It's cute! Do you live with your parents?" I asked but she chuckled and scoffed.

"In a house the size of a shoebox?" She questioned sarcastically, making me chuckle. "Nope, I'm on my own. Just a living room, small bedroom, kitchen and an all-in-one toilet, shower, laundry, bathroom." She said smiling sadly.

"So, you made the big move to NY on your own, huh?" I said and she nodded her head, releasing a sigh.

"Yep. For school. I mean, my parents have jobs and stuff back home in Philly so I didn't want to turn their lives upside down too. Maybe in two years time when I'm finished uni and hopefully graduate, I'll go back home."

"Yeah, I get you. I've never been away from my family. I can't imagine what it'd be like to just get up and leave to live alone." I said and she nodded agreeing with me.

I guess the one year when I was married to Zaid could be considered as being away from my family, but even then I would go and see them whenever I liked and Zaid's family had never made me feel like I missed my own as they treated me with just as much love and care.

"Do you wanna come in for a coffee or drink? We can watch a movie." She suggested.

I shook my head no. "Sorry, I'd love to, but next time maybe. My mum's expecting me home for dinner and the kids of course." I said, smiling at her and she nodded.

"Oh, right." She said with a chuckle. "Sometimes I forget you have kids." She laughed, making me release a laugh as well. "Well you're always welcome to come by whenever you want, with the kids as well." She smiled. "I don't really have many close friends and nights can get boring sometimes." She said enthusiastically as if we were teenage best friends organising a sleepover.

I released a laugh and nodded. "One day. I have your number now so I'll text you." I said and she nodded before getting out of the car as I sat in my beloved drivers seat.

Ah, how I missed it.

When I saw her wave her hand and walk through her door I put my car into gear and pulled back onto the road, knowing my way home.