Chapter 2 - Getting Ready

Sara felt better after talking to Neha and went back to her class. Sara thought that why not edit some stories and finish the work that she has to do. Ms. Daisy was surprised because she thought that Sara wanted to take a day off, but now she was working on her stories.

Ms. Daisy confused, “What happened? I thought you wanted to take a day off.”

Sara with smiling face, “yeah, but now I'm fine and I thought why not finish the work instead of wandering around.”

Ms. Daisy still worried about Sara, “Are you sure?”

Sara putting her hand on top of Ms. Daisy’s hand, “Of course, I am. Don't worry about me; I was just upset about something that wasn't important.”

Ms. Daisy said, “Alright” and went back to her office to work on her stuff.

Sara did her work and after 15 minutes the bell rang. She went to her next class, which was with Mr. Brooks, who was her Biology teacher as well. So, Sara went to class and she had lots of fun in the class because Mr. Brooks made the class very interesting and fun. The class was going to review for their upcoming test as he said in the morning when she went to see Neha. She loved it when there was nothing to do in class because she knew everything. 

That's the reason, she didn't have to study for her tests and Neha always used to get mad because she used to study a lot and still didn't get good grades as Sara did. Her teachers used to appreciate her so much because she was so smart and knew everything. She was really smart in science and that's why her parents wanted her to major in science. 

When she was young, her parents used to make her read a lot that’s why she knew more than her classmates. Also, her parents used to bring upper-level books for her to read and learn as much as she could. For instance, when she was in first grade, her parents already taught her the material ahead of time and that's how it went on. So, she knew the material before the teachers could teach her.

Kate coming from behind her, “hey, are you going to the prom with Johnathan?” Sat beside Sara and Kate liked Johnathan too. She wanted to go to the prom with him and already asked him to go with her, but he refused her.

Sara knew her intentions, “Hmm... I don't think so because I have some other things to do.”

Kate’s smile got wider when Sara told her that she won't go with Johnathan. “Do you think that he'll ask me?”

Sara looking into her bag, “Why don’t you ask him?”

Kate nervously, “I want to, but I’m scared to ask him. Can you ask him for me? Please.”

Sara looked her in the eye, “Look, Kate, I have lots of other things on my plate right now. Why don't you ask him?” Sara got bored with her questions and wanted to end the conversation.

Kate biting her lips, “I did, but he re...”

The bell rang, and Sara got up immediately. She interrupted Kate, “I have to call my mom, I'll see you later, and I'll talk to Johnathan. Don't worry, Okay.” Left the classroom immediately.

Sara got so happy now because the half-day was gone and was waiting for the night to come. She was very desperate to go to the fashion show. Neha and Sara, both of them were in the same class. She was in hurry to talk to Neha about the show and was so excited. Johnathan saw her in the hallway and saw that she was so happy.

Johnathan running up to her, “Hey, you look very happy now?”

Sara smiling, “yeah, of course. I just can't wait for the night to come.” She was in hurry to go to class. Waving at him, “Got to go, bye.”

Johnathan's face looked confused when Sara turned back to look at him, but he was happy because Sara was happy. He could do anything to bring a smile to her face. Sara entered the class and saw that Neha was already there.

Sara putting her hands on her shoulder, “Hey baby, what's up?”

Neha pretended, “don't ask, what happened? My mom just called and said that you can't stay at our place tonight cuz we are going to some stupid party.”

Sara got angry, “What? How can you do that to me? You didn't tell her when I called you last night?”

Neha still pretending, “I did, but she had it planned before I could ask her.” Chuckled when Sara wasn't looking at her.

Sara putting her hand through her hair thinking, “Oh man, shit. Now, how we're gonna go to the show?”

Neha laughing, “Chill, I was just kidding.”

Sara rounding her hands around her neck, “Nehaaa, I'm gonna kill you. Don't ever play these kinds of jokes with me again, okay?”

Neha giving up, “Alright, I won't. But I must say that your face was worth watching. You looked very scary.” Both of them laugh together and they didn't realize that the class started already when Mrs. Peter calls their names.

Mrs. Peter looking at them, “Is there something funny, Miss Sara and Miss Neha?”

Sara and Neha replied together, “No, Mrs. Peter. Not at all.”

Both of them were waiting for the class to end because they wanted to go to the fashion show. Mrs. Peter was giving a lecture about the Civil War, but Sara wasn’t listening to her and wrote a note to Neha. She wanted to know if her mother gave them permission to stay at her house or not.

Neha putting the note away, “Don't write anything cuz Mrs. Peter will get mad and will get us detention. If my mother finds out, then I'll be in trouble. Please, we'll talk at lunch.”

Sara in a slow voice, “you're a scary cat.”

Neha stuck her tongue out and Sara started laughing.

Mrs. Peter said with loud voice, “Pay attention, Sara? Or else you'll fail this test, which is next week.”

Sara apologizing, “Sorry, ma'am.”

Sara waits for the clock to move faster. She wanted to go up and change the clock, but it wasn't in her hands to change the time. Sara thought that even one minute moved like an hour and she wanted to escape from the class but couldn't do it.

Neha begging, “only ten more minutes. Common you can do it. Don't worry, we have lots of time to chit chat.”

So, Sara waited for those ten minutes to pass and after ten minutes, the bell rang. Sara took Neha's hand left the class immediately. They both went to the cafeteria and stood in the lunch line to get their lunch.

Sara talking while waiting, “So, your mom's okay with me stay there, right?”

Neha replied, “yeah, baby. Just chill and you know my mom's never upset when you are with me. She thinks that you're so smart and whenever you are with me, you'll teach me something good; but she doesn't know that whenever you are around, you always teach me to take the bad path.”

Sara making her eyes smaller, “No, I don't. I just tell you to do whatever your heart says because you always listen to your parents, not your heart.”

Suddenly, Johnathan arrived from nowhere and put his hand on Sara's eyes. He told Neha not to say anything to Sara that whose hands were on her eyes.

Sara touching his hands, “who is it? Neha tell me. Who is it?”

John nodding his head to Neha, so she doesn’t tell her, “guess, who is it?”

Sara heard him, “John. Please you guys, stop giving me surprises. First, you and then Neha shocked me this morning.”

John said, “Well, I didn't do anything except I asked you to go with me to the Prom and you promised me that you will ask your parents about it.”

Sara pointing toward Neha, “why don't you go with Neha because I won't be able to go and I already gave you the reason for it? Okay.”

John left from the lunch line and Sara tried to stop him, but he didn’t stop.

Neha making guesses, “if you like him, then why don't you go out with him?”

Sara turns her head and face Neha, “how many times do I have to explain to you and everybody else? I don't like him in that way. I like him as a friend. You're always telling me to go out with him and you know what it makes me think that you like him, and you want to make sure that I don't like him in that way. So, you can go out with him.”

Neha pretending again, “I don't like him.”

Sara putting her hand on her shoulder, “baby, I can see it on your face. Just go and ask him because I don't like him and you know that I hate to swear. I don't know what I should do to make you believe that I don't like him in that way.”

Neha said, “are you serious? You don't like him like that.”

Sara asking, “you tell me, do you want to go to the Prom with him?”

Neha confirming, “yeah...but” Sara interrupted her.

Sara told her, “alright, then. I promise that he will ask you to go with him to the Prom. You love him so much and I believe that if you love someone so much and if it is true; then nobody can stop you from getting your true love, not even God.”

Neha with funny face, “oh, really? I thought that you didn’t believe in love.”

Sara got caught by Neha because she told everybody that she didn’t believe in love, but in reality, she wanted somebody who would love her so much more than anything in the world. She didn’t want anybody to know that she was waiting for somebody who she will feel that he’s the one for her.

Sara confirming, “yeah, I don’t.” Both of them went back to their classes. Now, Sara was waiting for the day to end.

The school ended around 4 pm and Sara went to the parking lot because she wanted to go home to get her things for tonight. Sara ran to her car and waited for Neha to come, so she could go home. Neha walked so slow, which made Sara so mad.

Sara shouted from her car, “Neha, hurry up. We got to go home.”

Neha showing her hand for waiting, “wait a minute. John wants to talk to you about something important.” Still standing at the school door and she gives her a wink.

Sara pretending, “what?”

Neha calling her, “just come here.”

Sara talks to herself, “great, I don't know when I'm gonna leave from here. Please God, just make me a ghost. In that case, I can stay away from everybody.” Now talking to Neha, “I'm coming.” Cuts the engine and gets out of the car.

Sara asking, “what's up?”

Johnathan looked at her, “So, you're not going with me tomorrow?”

Sara said, “I told you, I can't. I'm so sorry...” John cuts her words and said, “It's alright because I asked Neha to go with me and I wanted to make sure that you don't have any problem with me and Neha going to the Prom together.”

Sara with relief, “of course not. I'm so happy for both of you guys. I wanted you to go with Neha because she is the best girl for you.” John cuts her again, “you are still misunderstanding me. We are just going to the Prom and we're not going out. Get it.”

Sara told John in his ear, “oh... Well, maybe one day, you will ask her out and again she's the best girl for you.”

John whispers in her ear back, “but not you.”

Sara telling Neha, “common, we got to go too. We are getting late for the show. I have to go home, and you have to pick a dress for me. There are lots of things we have to do today. Common, we're getting late.” Neha still watching John.

Neha said, “okay, ma'am. Whatever you say.”

They left the school and straight go to Sara's house. Sara's mother was waiting for her, she wanted to tell her that whatever she did was wrong, and she won't repeat that.

Ayesha at the door, “hey sweetheart, I want to tell you something. I'm sorry about whatever happened in the morning.”

Sara regretting, “mom, you're still thinking about that.” Now holding her mother's hand, “it's okay and I know whatever you do is because you love me so much. I understand your concern.”

Ayesha crying, “no, I need to understand that you need some privacy, and I don't need to treat you as a child because you are a grown-up now.”

Sara wiping her tears, “thanks mom for understanding me, but it's okay and I wanted to apologize because I was the rude one. You were so nice to me and I ruined your morning. I'm really sorry and I mean it from the bottom of my heart.”

Neha pushing them aside, “now can both of you stop blaming yourselves?” Three of them laugh together.

Ayesha said, “hello, Neha. I didn't see you.”

Neha smiling, “it's because you were lost in your daughter.”

Ayesha apologizing, “sorry about that, you had to listen to our mother and daughter conversation. Why don't you girls go to the room and I'll send the food upstairs? Okay.”

Sara hugging her, “thanks, mom.” Both of them running for the stairs and Sara's mother calls her again.

Ayesha said, “and Sara you can stay at Neha's place. I've already spoken to Afsa and she said that she doesn't have any problem with you staying at their place tonight. I hope you won't give them any trouble.”

Sara got happy, “no, I won't. I promise.” Went straight to her room.

Sara and Neha drop their bags and jump on the bed. They laid down on the bed for five minutes and relax.

Neha looking at the ceiling, “I wish whatever you told me today, comes true.”

Sara also looking at the ceiling, “it will, trust me. He will come to you one day. I'm 100% positive about that. Now, let's pick some clothes to wear tonight.”

Sara takes Neha to her closet and opens her bag of new clothes. Whenever her mother goes to the mall, she brings her new clothes and keeps them in that bag. So, whenever Sara needs them, she can get them from that bag. She had all kinds of dresses like skirts, long dresses, prom dresses, and short dresses. She had so many dresses in the bag that Sara wanted Neha to wear one of them. 

Neha never wore any kind of dress like that one because she was also a Muslim girl and her parents were really strict about her dressing up. They only allowed her to wear jeans and a shirt, which covered her body. They didn't want her to wear some clothes that showed her body. There was every color of the dress, but Neha didn't want to go against her parents.

Neha looking at dresses, “I can't wear these kinds of dresses. Please, can you find something appropriate for me?”

Sara shuffling through dresses, “of course, ma'am. Why don't you wear a Pakistani dress for tonight's show?” Laughed.

Neha and Sara were born in America, but their parents were from Pakistan. They never went to Pakistan after their parents settled in America. Sara had family in Pakistan, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. She had a really big family in Pakistan, but she never went to Pakistan to visit them because her parents wanted her to be like an American, which now she was, but now her parents regretted making this decision. They wished that they didn't make this decision and their daughter wouldn't ever be like this; spoiled. 

She was a kind of spoiled girl because she got whatever she asked for and her parents never refused her, but Neha's parents were strict with their daughter. They didn't want their daughter to be spoiled like Sara. The only thing, which they allowed her to be around Sara is because she was smart, and she taught a lot to Neha.

Neha telling Sara, “Common, please. Find something appropriate for me?”

Sara replied, “OK, OK.” She picks a long blue dress, which she likes the color of it, but doesn't want to wear it. “How about this long blue dress? I love this color, but it's very long for me.”

Neha with excitement, “It's very beautiful. I love it, can I wear this one?”

Sara smiling at her, “Of course, but I have many more dresses if you don't want to wear this one. Just look at more dresses and if you don't like any of the other dresses then you can wear this one. Just put that one aside.”

Neha putting the dress on the bed, “That's a great idea.“

They search for dresses and Sara doesn't like any dresses that her mother picked for her. She's really beautiful that whatever she wore looks great on her, but she doesn't like wearing a dress that she doesn't like. She likes to wear dresses that she thinks don't suit her. Her favorite color is blue and she wants to wear something blue. Her mother knocks on the door and comes in with a tray of food in hand. She places the tray on the table.

Ayesha looking at the girls, “what are you girls doing?”

Sara not looking at her mom, still searching for a good dress, “Mom, we are looking for some dress to wear tonight.”

Ayesha was confused, “you are going to Neha's house, not to a party. Honey?”

Sara then got nervous and replied, “Mom, I forgot to tell you that at 8 o'clock we'll be at the university because of our project and I don't want to wear these to the university, so I thought of wearing something formal. I hope you don't mind.”

“Of course, I don't.” Ayesha still looked confused because she didn't want her daughter to stay out late.

Sara came to her mother and holding her hands, “Don't worry, mom. We'll be home in an hour or two and we'll be safe.” Knowing what her mother was thinking. 

Ayesha replied hesitating, “maybe, I can help you to pick the right dress for you. Only if you don't have any problem with that?”

Sara said, “Yeah, sure.” She didn't want her mother to pick the dress for her but didn't want to make her mother more upset. So, she said yes to her.

Her mother searched for many dresses but didn't find the right dress for her. She had like two dozen of dresses in that bag but still didn't think that any of those dresses would suit her daughter. So, she thought she might find a good dress in her closet. She left the room and went to her room to find a really good dress because she puts Sara's clothes in her closet too. She brought a really beautiful white dress for her like a princess dress and Sara started laughing.

Ayesha looked at the dress and then at her daughter, “What happened? You don't like the dress?”

Sara answered, “Mom, It's like a princess dress. How can I wear this kind of dress to college? It will look funny. I mean, it's pretty, very pretty, but not appropriate for school. I want a short dress and a red color. Maybe, something like this one.“ Holds a short dress in her hand and shows her mother, “I think, this is the perfect dress for me. What you think, mother?”

Ayesha doesn't want to make her daughter sad, so she agrees, “Yeah, it's perfect for you. Whatever you're gonna wear will look good on you. I'm very lucky that God blessed me with a such beautiful daughter.”

Sara's mother leaves the room. Sara and Neha sit at the table where her mother has placed the food and start eating. Her mother is a good cook and Sara didn't like anybody else's food except Neha's mother's food because she thinks that every mother cooks the food with the same taste. After eating, they go to Neha's house with their dresses and school bag, so no one can doubt them. It was evening already.

When they arrive at Neha's house, her mother was waiting for her. She was going to a party and was waiting for Neha, so she could leave with her father. Neha steps out of the car and asks her mother.

Neha asked her mother, “What happened? Why are you standing in the doorway?”

Afsa told Neha, “Your father and I are going to a party and we're gonna be late. If both of you get hungry, there is food in the refrigerator, and heat it when you get hungry. I know that you girls will be busy studying, but please do eat something. Okay, I think we should leave now.” Neha's parents leave the house.

Sara getting so happy and looking around the house, “this is the best night ever. I mean, both of us are going to be alone and if we do come late, then your parents won't know because they're gonna be late too. I think we should get ready because I don't want to be late for the show.”

Neha responded, “yeah, I don't want to be late either.“ Both were so excited and they ran inside the house to get ready.

Sara goes to Neha's room and starts putting her stuff together. She gathers her things that will match her dress. Her dress is a red halter with a gold fabric belt and strap cuffs around her neck. She really loves the dress and is eager to wear it. Sara and Neha jump around the room but don't get anything done. They want to get ready, but they are so excited that they don't know where to start.

Neha taking deep breaths, “Okay, wait. I know how we can start. Why don't we take shower first? And then we can do something else.”

Sara smells herself, “Yeah, you're right because I think that I stink and you too.” And both of them started laughing.

Neha told Sara, “I'll go to my parents' room and you can use my room.”

Both of them take shower and put their clothes on. When Neha comes to her room to check on Sara that if she is ready or not and see that she was looking so gorgeous, beautiful like a princess. Neha also thinks that Sara's the most beautiful girl on earth. She told her so many times that she should participate in the Miss World competition because she so beautiful and she will win the competition for sure. Sara got ready, but Neha couldn't get ready because she didn't know how to put make-up on and how to do her hair for parties. Sara always did her make-up and her hair, whenever they have a party.

Sara walks back and forth to ask Neha, “How do I look?”

Neha with big eyes, “my, my, my. You look fabulous and I'm sure that everybody will be looking at you, not the models.”

Sara looks very beautiful. She has a perfect body and the dress looks very pretty on her. She's slim, light skin, curly long hair, and her hair's light brown. She has a dimple on her left cheek, which suited her so much. When she smiles, it looks so beautiful on her. She has hazel eyes and people always ask her if that's her real eyes because her eyes look so beautiful that nobody could imagine that such a beauty could be in one person on earth. Some people say that God had put so much time to make such a beautiful human to be put on Earth and some people say that she looks like she's an angel. Some people say that if somebody touches her then she will get dirty because she looks so clean and beautiful. There's another thing about her eyes, which is that whatever clothes she wore, her eyes change color and that's the reason, why nobody could believe that it's her real eyes. She almost looks like an American girl and nobody could tell that she's from Pakistan, not America. Of course, she is born in American, but children are known by where their ancestors are from. Everybody in her town wanted to go out with her, but she never liked anybody. Students in her school try to talk to her, but she picks her friends because she believes that friends can't be made just like that; they have to be trustworthy. That's her habit that she doesn't believe everyone and it takes lots of time to become one of her friends. She doesn't have lots of friends except Johnathan and Neha, but she talks to everyone in the school.

Sara rolling her eyes, “Yeah, right? You always say that and look at you. You're still not ready, I thought you must be ready by now.”

Neha sitting in front of her vanity table, “you know that I don't know how to put make-up on. You have to get me ready, now.”

Sara opens up the drawer, “Common, now. Let's get you ready.”

So, she starts putting make-up on Neha and also does her hair. She makes her hair curly like hers. Neha always wants to be like Sara. So, whatever style Sara has done, Neha also wants her hairstyle to be like hers. Neha's not pretty as Sara, but Sara never cared about Neha not being beautiful. She looks like every other girl. She's a little darker and taller than Sara, but slim as her. Sometimes, Neha felt very bad because whenever they're together, people would praise Sara but not Neha. This thing never lessens their friendship.   

Sara putting setting spray, “I think, you're ready now. Look at yourself in the mirror. What do you think? We both look twins, don't we?” Both of them laugh.

Neha looking in the mirror at both of them, “Yeah, we do almost.”

Sara turning around, “please, don't start that again. You're the most beautiful person in the whole world and if you don't believe me, then ask yourself in the mirror. I can lie, but this mirror won't lie to you and especially you can't lie to yourself. Don't you think, you look beautiful?”

Neha responded, “Yeah I do. Thank you, it's all because of you. If you don't...” Sara cuts her and said, “Shut up, now. I think we are ready to go. Shall we?”

Neha reacted, “Of course.”

Sara leaves the room and Neha takes the house keys. They both step out of the house and Neha locks the door.

Sara holds her hand, “Wait, I forgot my keys inside.”

Neha stomps her feet, “Shit, man. Why do you always forget things? Very bad habit and you need to change it.”

Sara quickly said, “Yeah I will, but open the door right now because if you don't open the door, then I won't get the car keys and we'll be late for the show. It's gonna be your fault then if we're gonna be late.”

Neha rolling her eyes, “Blame it on me.”

After a few minutes later, Sara brings the keys and they leave the house.