Work Text:
She lay on her bed in her apartment. It's 2 Am, and frankly Dalal has no idea why she's up this late when she has work in the morning.
She opens her phone, only after staring at the ceiling for what felt like an eternity.
"heyyyyy u still coming to the family dinner on friday rite" a notification reads. She doesn't have to read the name to know that it's her sister.
Right.. she had been invited to visit her family home to catch up. It used to be a weekly thing, but she wasn't one for socializing and after she left to live her own life she'd usually decline the invitation with the excuse of "I have work to catch up on."
She doesn't know what prompted her to accept this time. She really wishes she knew. I guess it could be that she missed her mother's cooking, or maybe the way her father would hug her for a bit too long or tight whenever she'd show up. He wasn't one for words or expressions.
Or perhaps it was the way Aaliah would drag her into their shared room (now Aaliah's) and complain about her "horrendous" taste of clothing.
It could've been her brother's, Akram, gentle and quiet nature. The way he'd plop next to her on the couch and talk to her about what was going on at his class, how his lips slightly turned up whenever he noticed her truly paying attention to his words.
It's after thinking about it for too long that she finds out she's missed them terribly. Her parents warm welcoming embrace her little sister's incredibly lengthy complains, her baby brother's inviting demeanor.
She doesn't have to think too long about it before she clicks on the notification to type a message:
"Whatever. Yeah, I'll be there."
Before she can turn her phone off she sees that her sister instantly comes online and types out a quick message, "ur not jst saying this so id leave u alone rite?? u no how upset mama gets"
Her eye twitches.
Quickly, she types out a message, "Get off my back would you? I said i was coming, so I'm coming."
"Oh, and fix your typing. It's embarrassing that you're 23 and cannot type a single correct sentence."
A typing icon pops up on the bottom of her screen and Dalal decides to shut her phone off and place it on her nightstand, rather roughly.
She doesn't know why. But she feels almost excited about this. She can't wait to eat actual food that isn't storebought frozen pizza or cup noodles.
Her mom would surely scold her on her weight loss. Oh well.
She hears a soft *ding!* from her phone, and reaches for it. Surely her sister getting upset and whining at her last messag-
Oh.
Well this is interesting. The message hadn't come from her sister, but from someone she'd consider a bigger nuisance than her sister, which is already a formidable feat.
The message reads: "hey Kitty whatcha doing up this late hm?"
She already feels incredibly angry. A shame, she thought this week was going pretty well too.
If Flara and Aaliah were forced to talk to eachother they'd probably keep themselves entertained without them having to bother anyone else.
God, she can't believe she's thought of that. Let alone finds it to be a great idea.
Oh, what's the worse that could happen? She clicks on the notification to type a message out.
"Call me that one more time and see what happens."
"cuteee"
"I'm serious."
"well anywayyyy you didn't answer my question.. why are you up this late?"
Ugh, she hates her.
"That's none of your business."
"make it my business!"
"Whatever, I got invited to my parents' house this week. and I've been thinking about it."
"ooooh a family reunioun! adorableeee!! do you need a plus one ;)"
"Why don't you come with me."
"what"
She doesn't think she's ever seen a response this dry from her. She hadn't expected this it seemed. It almost makes her want to laugh. Almost.
"I made myself very clear. So, are you coming or not?"
"oh yeah sureeee totally!! but uh when is this"
"Just this Friday."
"cool cooooool when should i pick you up hm?"
"I'm the only one with a driver's license."
"hey i can still show up at your door!!!"
"You're so annoying. Show up at 7:15."
"ill be there at 6:50!!"
"God damnit. Fine."
"cuuute i cant wait to see your parents again its been yeaaaaars"
She exits the messaging up and looks at the time, 3:45. Huh.
She shuts off her phone one last time before setting it on her nightstand and laying on her bed.
She stares up at the ceiling one last time while thinking about how her family will react to having Flara over. She used to hate her during their highschool years due to their academic rivalry. Her parents, especially her mother, would think her to be crazy to be inviting her to their home.
And as she slowly feels herself being embraced by sleep.. She pictures her parents' face with a small smile on her face.