. ⋆ ⭑✧*:･ﾟ

Despite Cesar and Cora trading phone numbers and him promising to call her that summer, he never did. She didn't either. She just never found the interest in calling him. She liked it when the prey came to her, and besides, she had bigger things to worry about.

With every day passing, Lola and Adam got quieter and quieter around her, and Cora knew why; there was talk of her becoming a member of the Santos for real. Many questioned her, she was five foot one and could barely kill a spider, what could she possibly bring to the gang?

But Cora was the younger sister of Lola Valdez, La Diabla. She was the blood of Demonio Resucitado, her father, trusted ally of the Santos' since forever, considering his dad was too an ally. It was code that Cora would be following those same footsteps, much like Lola.

"Cora! Get dressed!" Lola yelled from her room, which she was now sharing with Adam. Cora was sitting in front of the tv in the living room just outside, painting her nails a bright yellow colour.

"Por que?" Cora asked, eyes not moving from her freshly painted nails.

"We're taking you to a party," Adam walked out of Lola's room shirtless. "It's a high school party, but there's no harm in taking you with us."

"We know some people who are going," Lola elaborated as she walked into the room too, pulling a tank top over her head. "Do my boobs look good in this shirt?" she asked, but before Adam could answer, she cut him off. "Trick question! They always do."

"I hope I marry her someday," Adam looked to Cora after Lola went back inside her room, Cora could only smile back at the Latino boy. 

"I hope you do too, now can you go put a shirt on? I'm uncomfortable."

⋆ ⋅ ☆

By some miracle, the trio had gotten ready to go in less than ten minutes total. Cora decided on wearing a bright red summer dress with yellow flowers all over it. It swooped down a little low on her chest, but due to puberty hitting her faster than expected, she had the right body parts to hold it up. She threw on a pair of black flats and brushed her messy and straight hair into a ponytail. She never went anywhere without their signature hoop earrings.

The party wasn't very far from their house, and when they walked upon it, they were instantly greeted with the smell of smoke and the sound of music playing throughout the house. Adam popped the collar of his leather jacket and took Lola's hand in his. "Vamos."

Cora proudly followed them into the house and nodded to some of the people she recognized, like Sad Eyez. Other than that, she didn't know any of the other kids.

Immediately, Adam and Lola brought light to the party. It's like them being there, instantly made everyone happy. The duo proceeded to the dance floor, leaving Cora by herself. She walked past a room of kids smoking various things, and she was almost tempted to join them, but her temptation to find a cold soda was stronger.

She found her way to the kitchen, her ponytail swinging back and forth as she moved her head to the beat of the music. 

"You cut quite the figure in that dress," a voice startled her from behind her, although she didn't jump. Maybe it was because she knew exactly who the voice belonged to.

"I know," Cora shrugged, plucking a cold soda can from the fridge. It was satisfying to feel the cool texture against her warm hand. As soon as she grabbed it, she turned around to face the boy. "But yeah, wearing cute dresses is my speciality."

He stood there, not so subtly admiring her. His dark hair was combed perfectly, a dark blue shirt gracing his top.

"Nice to know you're alive," her smile dropped as he grabbed a beer from a cooler on the counter.

"I've just been busy, Cora. Look, I'm gonna get these drinks to my friends and then I'll come back and we can talk. And maybe even dance a little," Cesar smiled at the girl.

"And what if I'm busy?" she asked, looking into his dark eyes.

"Are you here with someone?" he paused, his arm loaded with two beer cans and a third in his free hand. 

"I might be," she shrugged. Cesar was quiet for a minute.

"Come with me and meet my friends," he suggested, tilting his head toward the door.

"Hard pass," Cora laughed and opened her soda, taking a big swing of it. A little drop of the dark liquid fell on her chin, but she quickly wiped it away.

"Cora, come on," Cesar set down the beers, his hand grasping her free one. Cora looked down at her left hand with surprise. It had been a good couple weeks since she'd been touched by him, and she was afraid of that. "I promise that as soon as—"

"I'm tired of your empty promises, Cesar."

"Not all of them are," he fought back, placing his hands on her hips as he corned her onto the counter. Cesar looked down at the girl with sorrow laced in his eyes. "Give me another chance."

Cora thought about it, looking down at the colourful coke bottle that had suddenly become interesting enough. She just didn't want to look into his eyes. The Latino literally had her cornered, and she felt like she should comply.

"Bueno," she finally agreed, making Cesar smile. "But after I meet your crew, we're dancing," she insisted, taking another drink from her coke as Cesar removed his hands and grabbed those beers, this time adding one more.

"Want one?" he asked, just to make sure. Cora shook her head, the girl used to drinking alcohol all the time now, even if she didn't like it. "Okay, this way. We're hiding out behind the fence."

"Why?" she asked, latching a finger through a loop on his pants so she wouldn't lose him in the crowd. She'd figured Lola and Adam were around there somewhere. All she had to do was scream out for them and they'd come running for her like she was their child and she was lost in Macy's.

"Cora, this is a high school party," he paused. "Why are you even here?" he asked loud enough so she could hear him over the music.

"I came with Lola," was all she could say as she took another sip and he kept walking through the crowd. Eventually, the went outside and were met with the hot summer air of inner Los Angeles. 

"Something bad is happening, I can feel it," they heard a voice, the same one Cora recognized from weeks ago when her and Cesar's makeout session had been interrupted. Cesar quickly stopped in his tracks again before they went around the corner, turning to Cora and placing a finger on his lips as a way of saying to be quiet. She unhooked her finger from his pant loop and smoothed out his shirt as they listened.

"I knew this was a dumb idea."

"Pop a zannie, J," another voice piped up, and from what Cora could see, it was coming from the shortest of the group standing against the wall. "We can't see him 'cause he's being stealth."

Cora wanted to chuckle.

"No doubt," the girl spoke up. Cora knew who this one was — Monse Finnie. Andres had gone on one day about how his flirting did practically nothing on the girl, yet Cora remembered seeing them dance at the junior high graduation. "He's got this. When has Cesar ever disappointed?"

This question made Cesar smile proudly, Cora blinking at him before a smile appeared on her face too.

"Mmm, fourth grade. Kickball tourney. We lost."

This comment made Cesar's smile disappear, and Cora's grew wider. But Cesar was quick to interject, finally walking out of the shadows with the short girl following behind.

"Only 'cause I picked the kid with no skills. And I'd pick you again," Cesar tossed a beer to Jamal, which he had trouble catching. "Loyalty trumps victory, compa."

He walked up to give them the rest of their drinks, but their interest was suddenly on something else.  "Who's this?" Monse asked Cesar loudly. Cesar looked at Cora, her que to introduce herself.

"Corazon Valdez. You can call me Cora."

⋆ ⋅ ☆

[ DEDICATED TO tchaIIaudaku
here's to making new friends! ]

CHAPTER TWO
1,479 words

TRANSLATIONS
la diabla — the devil
demonio resucitado — risen demon
por que — why
vamos — come on
bueno — fine
compa — friend

PUBLISHED may 3, 2018
EDITED may 28, 2020