Loved by My Archenemy

CHAPTER TWELVE

The drift MAX is one of the biggest events popular among the young adults of Al Hilal. Centered at the shallow edge of the desert, Yara deems it “okay” to go. But of course, Basit and Zoya do not have to know. At brunch, Yara had informed her parents about her study date with the girls, yes! You guessed right, that's her getaway plan every year. Even though she doesn't consider the edge of the desert as the desert, she is still scared of the answer her parents will give her when she asks to go. So, to cover that all up, she lies. Every year. “I will be back a little after curfew, please don't wait up,” she said loudly looking behind at her parents as she made her way out of the mansion wearing oversized cargo pants, a black lacy corset with a black jacket, and black leather boots heels she finally finished with a vintage square sunglasses. She drove out in her black Mazda MX5, it is her best car for drifting. One other thing Yara’s parents are unaware of is her street credibility. She is the best drifter in Al Hilal and easily the whole of the middle east. She knows her parents won't be against her wanting to drift, even her father was the best in his time too. What scared Yara is the fact that the drift center is located at the edge of the desert, in the other part of town she promised not to step foot in. As Yara pulled over to the center, she kept thinking and asking herself the one question she had always thought about and asked herself about every year, it is so beautiful and lively here, why are Baba and Ammi so bent on me not nearing here at all? What could be the problem this beauty hides? Yara parked at the drivers’ lot and got out of her car. She examined the open entrance of the center, a banner placed over the center read “ welcome to drift max 2020, theme: red steam!” she made her way towards the beautiful black asphalt track layout formed between the red sands. Beautiful she thought.

She looked around for her friends, and she lit up immediately when she spotted them at the bottom of the stands. She walked closer to them “there you are” Reena blurted and gave her a help me hug. “Argh thank God you're here Aliana and Zev have been filling my space with so much love!” her eyes rolled gesturing at the love birds locking hands and eyes behind them. “You know how I feel about love,” Reena said frustrated as she pulled Yara to sit next to her. Reena is that friend in the group that doesn't think love exists. Yara secretly thought it was because of the way her father treated her mother before he was banished from the pack. He was cruel and uncaring, Zoya would tell Yara it was because Madaf Batt knew Reena’s mom held her family’s inheritance and she was without a mate. So he crept into her life and falsed affections. Yara never told anyone this, she never wants to see her friend hurt. “Hey lovebirds” Yara teased “Uhm... Hi, Yara” Aliana and Zev chorused awkwardly trying to release themselves from the love lock. Yara let out another giggle. She enjoys troubling her friends. It's cute she’d think. They all went on to talk about the theme. “What do you guys think the theme means?” Aliana asked seeming clueless “I don't know really, what the heck is red steam?” Reena followed even more clueless. Zev had stayed quiet, he isn't really a fan of drifting, he only stayed around because he supports Yara and now he has another reason too, Aliana. Yara looked at her friends and chuckled at their lack of clue.

Yara’s pov.

It's so satisfying when I seem like the only one that knows an answer to something in our squad. That doesn't happen often. So I'm going to enjoy this. “Come on Yara, we know you know it, tell us already” Aliana cried. Aww, Lana, “Fine! I'll save you your misery” I'm still laughing. “It means the...” “the dust from the red desert sand” oh mother luna, I hate that I know who that rude bomber is, but I'm hoping it's not... “Hey, Asad!” Reena said in excitement, Arghhhh why mother luna! why? “Hey, guys!” He replied with a warm smile. Umph! “I didn't know you guys enjoy drifting too” he sounds excited. Why is he excited? He made his way closer to us Wait what? What is he doing? Nooo great! he sat next to me. Dear mother luna, this is my punishment for lying to my parents again. Arghhhh

“Hi, Yara” he cuts my thoughts short. How dare he? Oh so now he knows my name. I turned around and gave him the nicest smile “hello Asad” I replied as quickly as I could. “We do, but we're mostly here for Yara, she's the best drifter here,” Reena said. My face went red in embarrassment but at the same time, I was kind of proud she said it. Now Asad would know you just don't ignore me. “Best ehn?” he said with his famous annoying smirk. “We’ll see about that” wait! Is that challenge I hear. I looked at my friends to see if they smelt the threat too. Their eyes were widened and I could tell they were eager for my comeback. “Is that a challenge?” I blurted out almost immediately, raising my eyebrows and making sure I didn't break eye contact. “Oh don't flatter yourself Arya” here we go again with the name change! “Yara” I rolled my eyes. He ignored me completely and simply continued “like Reena said you're the ‘best’ here” he gestured quotations in the air. Lord I hate him. I looked back at my friends for support, but no use, they're enjoying this. They always like it when Asad and I are like this. Which is everytime we see each other. “Im sure you suck at drifting” “dont be too sure princess” he is still smirking argh. “I’m the best in my part of the world too” I laughed so hard. “Yeah right! And I'm the Queen of England” I just don't see the likes of Asad drifting. Fighting yes, but drifting? Drifting is mine. Now I'm smirking back at him. There is no way he's going to beat me at my own game. “Really? How about we strike a bet?” “ouuuu a bet,” Reena said excitedly. “Yes, we love a good bet” Aliana joined. Okay now there's no going back, and I'm sure I'll eat this. “Fine! A bet! What's at stake?” I knew I was ready for anything. And besides, there is no way he's winning this. “If I win you'll be my tour guide around the city” uhmm excuse me? More time with Asad Malik? Not happening! “And if you lose?!” which you will Asad. “If you win, I'll stop troubling you Arya” why does he still have that dirty smirk on. “You will lose Asad,” I smirked. There's no way I'm letting him win now. His lose means No more Asad Malik distracting me. No more trying to be friends with my friends and yes, No more calling me Arya no offense to arya stark of house stark. “Don't be so sure Arya, you haven't seen me in action” “nor have you me!” we are both looking so seriously at each other game on. “Okay you guys, this is just some friendly fun match, there's no need to get serious” Aliana interrupted looking a little worried. “Yes, all fun” Asad whispered “all fun” I replied with a mischievous smile. A screech from the speakers disrupted our focus

Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the most anticipated game of the year driiiiffftttt MAXXXX

The man in the speaker announced with so much energy and the crowd went wild. My friends and I settled back to cheer with the crowd. Asad was still next to me standing as we all are now and clapping in excitement. I stole a glance at him. He's so handsome and peaceful when he's not being annoying. I smiled and went on back to cheering.

... Will all the players make their way to the asphalt, let the rumble beginnnnnnn

This is it. “Ouuuuu yesss” Aliana and Reena are clapping and cheering. Zev on the other hand was clapping too but not as excitedly as Lana and Ree. He worries for me, he's like this everytime I get on the asphalt. I mouthed to him “i’ll be fine” he gave me a soft smile and mouthed back “i know”.

“Okay Arya, you ready?” “its Yara!” “which one is yours?” a voice asked from behind “that one we both chorused pointing at two cars that are exactly the same” wow, he knows his cars, maybe Asad isn't that bad of a drifter at all. I turned to meet his eyes piercing at me. “Ohhh wipe that smirk off” I let out, he let out a loud laugh to spite me, it worked. We proceeded to our cars. “Good luck princess, you'll need it,” he said as he drove off to the Asphalt. The only one that needs luck here is you, Asad Malik. I have got this in the bag.