Chapter Six

My anxiety shot through the roof the minute I responded to her message. After I ask for her number so we can move this out of DMs, I end up playing the “what if” game the rest of the night and into the morning. My head swirls when I try to sleep, bordering on a full-on headache, and the walls close in on me at home.

Never mind the other incident that happened…and the unanswered questions that came with it.

That inhuman strength…bodies lying on the ground.

The bruising on my hands, and my body, with no way to explain it to Unk, which was especially awkward when I pulled up the nets from our fishing trip. He pretty much kept quiet about what he saw, but that lasted about two-point-five seconds, and I ended up spinning a tale about how I helped someone change out a tire to try and gloss over the fact that I was in a full-tilt melee and barely escaped with more serious injuries.

At least we were able to pull a large catch for him to pick through, which would keep his attention off me for the rest of the day. It was a better day than normal, which has me questioning whether what happened to me last night had anything to do with it. It’s like I knew exactly where to find the premium seafood and stopped right on top of that spot. Normally, it takes a couple of tries to figure it out.

All right, focus, Yasir. One sitch at a time. That can wait.

I’ve never been in a situation where I had to fight more than one person at once. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear it felt like I’d blacked out and my body took over for a few seconds. Except I was there, in the fight, the whole time.

And the thing that puzzled me the most: why did Ian make me leave the scene before the police arrived?

I could’ve used a self-defense argument, but since I’m new in town, maybe Ian was right to get me out of there. I still had no clue of whether the other boys would say something to the cops, nor could I really trust Ian, but sticking around to find out wasn’t the best option, either. Perfect definition of a no-win situation.

I do recall being in the fight with Reggie and Mark, two of the boys in the situation, and I remember Larry holding Ian down when I first got there. I was so involved in the fight that I have no clue how Ian even got loose to be able to save me from having my bones broken. What’s most confusing is the severe state that all the boys were in once it was only me and Ian left standing. It looked bad, seriously speaking, and I’m wondering if he called the police himself trying to cover for me.

None of this adds up.

The not knowing kept me awake, which is why I took Storm out and am now rolling down the highway, my speed nearly matching the I-95 South signs. I’m on the verge of erupting—a desperate urge to release the tension is the only solution I could see—but it had to happen somewhere other than at home.

That’s not an option.

Thankfully, I already have a place in mind where I can cut loose a bit without anyone being too nosy. I found it while scouting other locations for me and Unk to find more seafood for the shop. Considering tonight is a full moon and the tides would rise, the seclusion would be both expected and welcomed. The change of location would do wonders for my psyche, that’s for sure.

That location is called Driftwood Beach.

An iconic location known for its driftwood speckled throughout the beachfront, a result of decades of erosion, according to historians. What used to be a maritime forest is now a sandy shore lined with weathered tree trunks and branches, creating an enchanting, or spooky—depending on the perspective—sight unlike any in the country. It’s a haunting and mystical locale I need to sort things out in my head, and it would also give me the much-needed inspiration for, well, who knew what may come from it.

I already have a spot picked out, ready to see the night sky. I have to sort out so much in such a short amount of time, it’s overwhelming me. I should talk with Nana or Unk, but my head isn’t there yet. The clarity I need, I want to find it from within first, and then I can find the courage to speak my heart as clearly as possible.

I put the doubts out of my mind while parking Storm as close to my favorite spot as possible. It’s not where I’m supposed to park, but no one came looking after the operating hours, and her off-road capabilities make it easier to slip away in the unlikely event that someone does happen to stop by.

I step out of the driver’s seat, sauntering toward the shore while witnessing the shades of purple and orange framing the evening sky as the sun makes its descent toward the horizon. It’s a stunning display, one I capture on my smartphone as inspiration for something I might want to create later.

I close my eyes to bask in the warmth of the waning heat of the sinking sun. Nothing else matters. Not the insanity of being in yet another new high school, not the anger of being away from the A, not even my rising angst over whether Zahra would hit me up to talk. The sunset provides a simple lesson: Don’t rush. Stressing won’t change its outcome. Things have a way of working themselves out.

The moment I find the set of driftwood that forms a weird series of jagged edges on the far side of the beach where no one would dare travel, I plant my feet into the sand in the center of it and stare into the darkness. I savor the brief period of isolation, both inside my mind and within my temporary surroundings. These times are rare, and I want to indulge in them for as long as possible.

I search for some kindling and rocks to build a fire, digging a small circle in the sand to start the burn. After the flames roar to life, I drop to my knees to enjoy the flickering light, delighting in the brilliance and the various colors, watching as it dances against the breeze. The oranges and yellows provide a lovely contrast against the blackness of the night, except for the stars speckled throughout the sky.

I purposely lose myself in the fire, asking for guidance as I continue playing out the incident with Jordin and the group of boys who tried to take me and Ian out. I go through every minute, frame by frame in my mind, trying to figure out if I missed anything, any detail that would answer at least one of the questions I had.

My phone rings, breaking through my thoughts. I don’t mean to react like someone shocked me with a taser, but I’m so far inside my head that the disturbance jolts me. I reach to grab it before the ringing stops, not bothering to check the caller ID. Then it hits me: what if it’s Zahra? I’m not ready.

“Hello?”

“Hi, baby, how is your weekend going?” Nana’s voice pops through my earpiece, sounding like sweet syrup over a hot stack of pancakes. “I wanted to check in on you to see if you are doing okay. I had not had a chance to talk to you since you moved.”

“Yeah, I’m a bit better. I’m glad to hear your voice,” I tell her, hoping my tone sounds upbeat enough that she won’t ask any questions. “I just headed out of town to unwind a bit. I needed the exercise and the isolation to clear my head.”

I think I hear her say something, but the words come out choppy. “Where are you now? The connection is spotty, and I couldn’t hear what you just said. I got something I wanna ask you.”

“I am at home, as usual, but I am in the backyard. You know how bad reception gets out here. Let me see if I can move to a better spot.” The sound is muted for a few moments before she pops back on the line again. “Okay, hopefully, that is better. What is on your mind, my child?”

“Well, Nana…there’s this girl, and…”

“Whoa, whoa, and whoa,” she interrupts. “Nana needs to make sure she heard that right. You know my hearing is not what it used to be. There is…a…girl?”

I feel the headache coming on again just that quickly. Oh my God, bro. Don’t go overboard, please? “Yeah, there’s this girl, and she wants to link up, and I was hoping to get some quick shopping done for a new outfit or two. Like, I wanna impress her.”

“Yes, sure, I will send some money over, and you get whatever you need,” she says to me. I hear the excitement in her voice, but I don’t want her to get her hopes up yet. “And while you’re at it, you should do something special for her.”

“Pause. I didn’t say it was a date, date, Nana,” I caution as I try to calm the excitement. That fails as soon as I see the large deposit notification come through on my phone. “Whoa, I thought you said some money, not two stacks? I still can’t do a lot on the wardrobe. I have to keep a low profile, remember? Isn’t that what you told me and Unk?”

“You have one shot at this, and I do not want you to blow it,” she warns. Her whole tone worries me. Why the change of heart now? “Besides, it will give you a reason to come see me. You can bring her up here so I can get a good look at her.”

I glance up at the sky, trying to gather what little patience I have left to keep my emotions in check. Sure, I want things to go well with Zahra, but not at the risk of my mental health. “We’re just spending time talking… I think there’s something there, but I don’t know where things will go from here.”

“Trust your gut, Ya-Ya. That is all I am trying to tell you. Now, is there anything else I need to know about?”

An incoming call saves me from having to answer that question. I pull the phone up so I can see the number. I nearly panic when I see Zahra’s name pop up on the screen. “Nana, I’ll call you back. I need to take this.”

I switch calls with the quickness. “Hello?”

“Hi, Yasir? Um, it’s Z. I’m sorry I didn’t call earlier. I was working on some songs and lost track of time. Is it too late to talk?”

Hearing her voice stops my world as I know it. I keep my composure as best I can, grabbing some water to help clear my throat so I sound like I have some sense. “Hi, Zahra. No, it’s cool to talk. I’m just relaxing down near Jekyll Island. I wanted to get some inspiration for a few new pieces.”

“That’s dope. Maybe you can take me down there one day,” she replies, throwing me off balance. Did she just suggest…? “Can we link tomorrow so we can talk?”

I check around the beach real quick, battling with the negative thoughts in my head. You’re not being punked, bro. This isn’t a dream. Just be cool.

“Um, can we meet up after school on Monday? There are some things my uncle wants me to do, and I can’t get out of it.” Yeah, that’s it, throw Unk under the bus to buy some time. He’ll be all right. “I mean, if it’s okay with you.”

“It’s fine. I’m good with Monday after school.” I hear a giggle come across the earpiece that makes my heart thump through my chest. “It will give me some time to get myself together for you, especially since I won’t have anything going on.”

“I don’t know why. You’re perfect. You’ve always looked pretty every time I’ve seen you,” I blurt out before I have a chance to stop myself. “Um, I mean…cool, it’s a date. Maybe you can show me some of the motor designs you’ve been working on. Who knows? Maybe you might convince me that EVs are the way to go. I doubt it, of course. My engine might not be fully electric, but she burns clean and fast…probably faster than yours.”

“And what makes you think you can beat me?” she scoffs. “Wait a minute… How did you know I worked on electric motors?”

“You’re not the only one with sources.” I can’t contain my smirk. Thank the gods we aren’t on a video call. “I may be new, but I’m not without my methods. Besides, maybe I signed up for the engineering club when I first got to Oakwood. I mean, you probably know I’m into IT and information systems. Maybe we can teach each other a few things.”

“Hmmm, maybe, if you show me some of your designs, then I might be willing to show you mine. It’s only fair, right?” she coos. “See you at school on Monday. I’m looking forward to our chat in person.”

I disconnect the call, grinning so hard my cheeks hurt. For the first time since I could remember, I can’t wait to get to school.