Ah, so that’s what had been cooking in his sister’s head. She wanted to involve Rose in the upcoming belly dance competition.
Rasheed’s nostrils flared. He hadn’t brought Rose here so Aisha could take advantage of her. He’d brought her here so Rose could explore her own potential. The grace with which Rose’s body had whirled to his melody came back to him. Yes, Rose had potential all right, and then some. But asking her to be part of Aisha’s troupe wasn’t right.
First, Rose might not even want it.
Second, didn’t Rose say her father would be worried to know she was mixed up with Arabs? How glad would he be if it came out that his daughter was performing belly dance at a national event?
And third…Rasheed’s ribcage tightened as he pondered the last reason. If Rose agreed to participate, she would have to train every evening with him and Aisha to learn the songs the other girls knew already.
Didn’t he decide that he needed to keep his distance from Rose? The entire LeGrand scholarship made sense, because it created a physical barrier to Rasheed’s blossoming feelings.
Rasheed realized the women were all staring at him, waiting for his answer.
He cleared his throat. “Rose is very talented, yes. But I’m not sure she would—”
Aisha waved her hand. “We’ll just ask her, won’t we?” She turned back to Rose who was watching their exchange with furrowed brows.
“You mind telling me what you’re talking about?” she asked.
Aisha smiled. “Of course, habibti. We have a dance competition in about two weeks. It will be celebrated in the theater’s Royal Hall. Various groups will travel to exhibit themselves. If my school wins, I’ll be able to invest in a new room and renovate the dressing area.”
“Much needed,” Salima chimed in.
Rose shook her head. “And where do I come in?”
Aisha inhaled. “I’m one dancer short because one of my teammates, Marika, broke her ankle when she fell from her scooter. I want you to fill in for her.”
Rose’s eyes widened. “Me? You mean like I should dance in a belly dance competition? Are you out of your mind?”
Aisha took Rose’s hand. “No, not at all. You have all the moves. Belly dance is part technique but mostly a feel for the rhythm. I can teach you the first part. Based on the way you move, you’d pick it up in a jiffy. Of course, you should probably practice a lot. Maybe Rasheed could help you with that, even if I’m not available.”
Rose’s glance travelled to Rasheed. “What do you say? Would it be even possible?”
Rasheed’s body froze. This was his moment to show he was stronger than the yearning he felt inside. To establish that he was wise, mature, and rational. He had to say no to this crazy idea of Aisha’s. Rose couldn’t participate in the competition.
Then his eyes interlocked with Rose’s and she smiled. That shy, enchanting smile of hers that reminded Rasheed of the sun peeking through the clouds. The mere appearance of it would lift a grey day and elevate it into another dimension.
He found himself standing, without giving the command to his legs to do so.
What’s worse, he not only straightened, but he was walking toward Rose, as if her eyes were towing his muscles closer and closer despite his will. When he reached her, he said, “All is possible, if you want it.”
Aisha jumped and gave Salima a high five.
“Yes,” Judith exclaimed.
The dancers began chatting loudly, discussing how best they could tie Rose into their practice, and how they could fit Marika’s clothes to Rose’s size.
Rose and Rasheed remained silent, staring into each other’s eyes.
Rose slowly parted her lips and blinked. Her voice was a whisper as she spoke. “How am I going to sell this to my parents?”
Rasheed took her hand and squeezed it. “You’ll figure it out. I’ll help you.”
Though he’d meant it as a friendly gesture, the tingles that rushed along his arm as his fingers engulfed Rose’s warm palm kicked him back to reality.
There was nothing friendly about the way he felt about this girl. And now he had committed himself to spending time with her in private without the constraints of a lecture hall or the distracting presence of the others.
He had been such a fool.
How was he going to survive this?
Chapter 7
Rose lay on her belly on her bed and chewed her pencil. The paper in front of her was full of hasty scribbles.
Rasheed was right. The dance class had unleashed something in her. It had opened the gates to a flood of emotions she’d kept at bay, and now they were going to drown her.
The only way to escape from the hammering thoughts of ‘what if’ and ‘could it be’ was to put her ideas on paper. But the more lines she traced on the white sheet, the more the words seemed to gravitate around one subject: her growing passion for her teacher.
She dropped the pencil on the bed and buried her face in her palms. She was stupid for allowing her feelings to take this course.
Why did she agree to participate in Aisha’s contest?
Her thoughts travelled back to the moment in the dance class when she’d closed her eyes. Just by thinking about the sensation of freedom that had invaded her, her heart leaped.
She couldn’t deny that it felt right. It felt amazing. She loved dancing with the others. But it didn’t mean she had talent like them. Could she become good enough in just two weeks to participate in a competition?
Worry wormed through her at the idea that she would disappoint Aisha.
All is possible, if you want it.
Her cheeks warmed. Rasheed thought she could make it. He seemed to believe in her capacities much more than Rose did. Wasn’t he convinced she actually had a chance at the LeGrand?
Why was that? What did Rasheed see in her? Just a capable student, or something more?
Rose tracked the line leading to her chin with two fingers. Rasheed had caressed her face there when they said good-bye in front of her house. His gesture had been so tender it turned Rose’s knees to water. But his words were measured and friendly.
Rose thought she’d seen a weird gleam in his eyes. Something dark and raw. Was it only a trick her mind played on her? Like the cruel power of the desert, conjuring water out of dust for the thirsty wanderer?
There was a loud knock on the door.
Before Rose could call out, Stacey and Elliott burst in. Her sister threw herself on Rose’s bed. Rose barely had time to grab her paper and stick it under a book on her bedside table.
Her brother sat on the fat bag beside Rose’s table.
“So, Rose,” Stacey began, exchanging a glance with Elliott. “Is there something you want to tell us?”
Rose’s heart skipped a beat.
Had they seen her saying good-bye to Rasheed? When in the doubt, it was best to pretend she didn’t know what they were talking about.
She plastered on an innocent smile. “What are you referring to, Stace? I don’t get you.”
Stacey launched forward, balancing her weight on her toes. “To the guy, of course. Elliott told me he saw someone accompany you home. He even said the guy looked handsome.”
A chill settled in Rose’s spine. So her brother did see them. But what did he see after all?
Rasheed and she had done nothing. To Rose’s biggest disappointment, Rasheed had acted like a perfect gentleman. He had only walked her to the door and then taken off.
Could Elliott have recognized him? No, very unlikely. Her brother never came to the Human Sciences building.
Rose cleared her voice. “Oh, him. He’s just a friend. He gave me a ride home because I missed the bus.”
This wasn’t a lie. She did miss the bus. After having gone to the other part of town and taking part in a belly dance class, but still.
Also wasn’t it Rasheed who’d presented Rose to Ramla as a friend? If her own teacher thought of her like that, then she also had the right to speak of him in those term
s.
Stacey pointed at Elliott. “You see, I told you. It’s nobody. Rose doesn’t have a boyfriend. How could she? She isn’t interested in that stuff.”
Elliott winked at her sister. “Well, Stacey, you’ve got that covered for the whole family. How did Rob Baker react when he saw you drooling behind him on campus?”
Stacey’s cheeks turned crimson. She picked up Rose’s pillow and threw it at Elliott with all her force. “I wasn’t drooling. And by the way, Rob invited me to the end of the year ball. Do you already have a partner for that, bro?” She stuck out her tongue.
Elliott had managed to escape the pillow and was grinning. “Not yet, but for a guy it’s a lot easier to ask someone. Don’t worry, the candidates aren’t lacking. I’ll have a perfect date.”
Rose throat prickled.
That frigging ball. She’d forgotten about that entirely. Last year she’d pretended to have indigestion and stayed home. This year the same excuse wouldn’t work.
Would Emily allow her to come as a plus plus one when she went with Malik?
For a second, a pair of black eyes flashed through her mind, and her chest erupted in butterflies.
How would it be if she was accompanied by Rasheed? To walk on his side, arm-in-arm, to dance with him, and to speak with him one entire night.
Rose swallowed and scratched her head. Suddenly she didn’t know which was more confusing, the fact that her delusional state was so strong she could picture Rasheed being her plus one or that she fantasized about dancing in public.
What had tonight turned her into?
A pang shot through her ribs. She twitched and saw Stacey pull back her index finger. “Hey you, dreamer girl. Do you want to get your head out of the clouds? Elliott asked if you were planning to show up to the dance this year.”
Her sister’s mocking tone made Rose’s nostrils flare. She wasn’t that big of a charity case. Books weren’t the only things going on in her life.
She’d just been invited to participate in a national belly dancing contest. The indignant words were already bubbling up in her throat when Rose managed to swallow them back. What use would it be to snap back and reveal everything to her sister and brother?
No, it was better to let them think nothing exciting had occurred. If she needed to meet with Aisha and Rasheed to practice, then she’d need her siblings to cover for her without them realizing.
She tilted her head and licked her lips. “Maybe, we’ll see. I decided to apply for the LeGrand scholarship, so I might need to spend some extra time in the library. Also my creative writing teacher, Professor Morgan, offered to tutor me in order to succeed. With all this happening, I’m not sure I’ll have a chance to find a suitable date.”
Rose’s voice trembled slightly as she mentioned Rasheed’s name, and she hoped that her sister and brother didn’t pick up on it.
Elliott didn’t.
He just shook his head. “Rosie baby, all these books make you forget that you’re living. But if you want, I can enlist one of my buddies to take you. Craig does like the librarian-type girls.”
Rose held up her hand. “No, I’ll find someone myself, thanks.”
Stacey smacked her lips. “I’ve got it. I’ve been trying to visualize the teacher you’re talking about. You know, your creative writing professor. He came over once as a guest lecturer in our entrepreneurship course to talk about how to express one’s inner potential or something along those lines.” She turned her eyes to the ceiling. “Oh my Gosh, he’s such a hottie. Lucy even invited him to a drink after class, but he refused.”
Rose’s pulse quickened.
Stacey knew Rasheed? And, what’s more, her sister thought he was attractive?
Rose bit the inside of her lip. Duh! Who wouldn’t think Rasheed was attractive? He was an absolute Adonis. But besides his looks, he was also the most intelligent and well-read guy Rose had ever met. And he was sweet and attentive, too. At least, he had been with her today.
Quick, she needed to distract Stacey with something before she asked Rose to set up one of her tutoring sessions in such a way that Stacey could meet Rasheed.
Rose rubbed her hand. “I’ve heard Angelica’s also trying to invite Rob Baker to the ball.”
Bull’s eye. Stacey paled and leaned forward. “Who told you this?”
Rose shrugged. “I guess it was Emily, I’m not sure. You know, she lives next door to Angelica.”
Stacey’s eyes narrowed. “Oh that treacherous piece of… She and Lucy swore to me they weren’t going to move in on Rob.” She sprang up and ran to the door. “Excuse me, I need to make an urgent phone call.”
When Stacey disappeared, Elliott stood up as well. He came over to Rose and lowered himself to his knees. He put a hand on her hair. “Sorry for spying on you, Rosie. I was just surprised to see you with a man like that. Even if it’s not always clear, I do worry about you. I’m your big brother and I need to protect you.”
Rose rolled her eyes. “Elliott, we’re like eleven months apart. I don’t think it qualifies you for the role of my bodyguard. Anyways, I don’t need one. I’m able to take care of myself.”
Elliott nodded. “Sure. But tell me if you need me to speak to Craig about the ball, after all. It would be a shame if you missed it this year, too. If you end up getting that scholarship—and based on how smart you are, you will—then this is your last chance at a proper ball in our school.”
He straightened and walked to the door.
As he pulled it closed behind him, Rose let out a sigh. Her shoulders slumped and she rubbed her neck. Was she this tense while speaking to her siblings?
Elliott’s words still rang in her ears. Her brother thought she was smart. Also, he had been worried about her. Rose always believed her sister and brother didn’t give much thought to her existence. But they did. Even their very dubious attempts to extract information about Rose’s companion were fueled by worry.
A smile spread on Rose’s lips. Both Stacey and Elliott cared for her in their own way.
Today was a special day of epiphanies, after all.
It was a pity the revelation Rose most ardently desired was never going to happen. Rasheed was never going to tell her he was interested in her. The sooner Rose accepted this truth, the easier everything would become.
She reached for the paper she’d been writing and grabbed her pencil. She closed her eyes and gave free flow to her ideas.
In the safety of her room, in the protective harbor of written words, she was finally ready to express all she felt about the concept of Raw Love.
Chapter 8
Aisha put the ceramic pots on the table, together with some bread. One contained moutabal and the other spicy hummus.
Rasheed snorted. Did his sister really think he was sold that easily?
“You didn’t have to prepare my favorite dinner. A sorry coming from the heart would have been sufficient,” he said.
Aisha feigned a hurt look. “I had no ulterior motive. I just love to spoil my brother. Is that a crime?”
Rasheed narrowed his eyes and Aisha’s theatrical performance crumbled.
She began giggling, but as her eyes met her brother’s somber look, she stopped. She reached out and patted his hand. “I’m sorry, okay? But not for the thing you think I should be.”
Rasheed’s brows arched. “Ah, yeah? So you don’t mind forcing me into a situation where I need to keep my every action in check?”
Aisha’s eyes filled with pity. “Is it that hard being around her?”
Rasheed rubbed his neck. “More than you can imagine. Especially after seeing her dance tonight. I thought she was ravishing before, but the pull I felt when I saw her being carried away by the drums…” His words ended in a loud groan.
Aisha nodded. “Yes, Rose is a crescent moon. She is destined to become better at this—I can feel it.”
Rasheed sighed. “Just like with her writing. Remember the passages I showed you from her paper? She’s got talent.”
Aisha smoothed down the table cloth, her eyes avoiding her brother’s eyes. “So you’re still sure that pushing her to participate in the scholarship is the best idea? Even after you’ve seen what she can do? The good that dancing does for her?”
Rasheed pressed his lips together.
It was the downside of having a twin. Having a person who knew what made you tick could be useful most of the time but devastating on occasions like this.
Of course, he’d seen the joy sparkling in Rose’s eyes on the way home. She couldn’t stop raving about how good it felt to participate in the class.
It was as if dancing was a missing puzzle piece of her personality, and now that she’d discovered it, she was starting to assume her real self.
Rasheed shook his head. No, this metaphor didn’t do her justice. Rose was a stunning creature even before tonight. But it was undeniable that abandoning herself to a greater force such as the omnipotent power of music had liberated something indescribable in her. It made her pulsate with life.
Aisha cleared her voice. “I see you’re confused. Sorry for pushing you about this.”
Rasheed gave her a weak smile. It wasn’t his sister’s fault his soul was a wreckage of conflicting emotions. At least, not entirely her fault. It had been Rasheed’s idea to invite Rose along to the dance class. Now his own stroke of genius was coming back to haunt him big time.
“It’s okay, sis. To answer your question, I still think Rose should apply for the scholarship. Not only because if she left, at least I can be sure I won’t be fired, but also—”
Aisha sucked in a breath. “Fired? Doesn’t the university have precedence for these kinds of relationships?”
“What relationship? As of now, I don’t have a relationship with Rose. I don’t even think she would be interested in one.”
Aisha rolled her eyes. “Oh, brother, you’re a lost cause. I’m more than certain that Rose is at least infatuated by you. I could see it in her eyes.”
Rasheed’s blood seemed to condense in his veins because his heart skipped a beat.
Could his sister be right? Did maybe Rose’s cordial and distant facade hide such special interests?
A Lesson in Love: A sweet forbidden love story Page 5
