"I think this is up for discussion. I mean, for starters, I'm small.There's nothing about me that's even remotely intimidating and, actually, on numerous occasions, I've been told that just looking at me makes people laugh.I also don't do anybody any favors by being the smartest person in the room.And no one wants to feel dumb when they can't pick up what I'm layin' down. It's belittling. You follow?" Ruby asked. We all hummed."You see, this is what I'm talking about. I transcend the universal plane of thought and linger on the precipice of the celestial realm.I can't even keep up with myself.But it's who I am. But if all of that isn't convincing enough, then dare I remind you of my sensitive skin and inability to wear thick cotton." I took my streaks and sent it to my people.

"What are you talking about?" I said as i hit send to my streaks.

"I can't hide my sweat. And I sweat profusely when I'm nervous. Which I am right now.
I mean, look, full clam. No shell. I rest my case."

"Mmm." Jamal hummed. We all started to clap. "That was impressive."

"So eloquent." Monse said.

"You told me why he shouldn't do it. Which is exactly why he should! - Congratulations. You got the job. Again." I said as i walked away. I saw Carlos. I wrapped my arms around him. He believes we are a thing. We never made it official.

"Aye, mami." He whispered in my ear. "Theres a open closet."

"Oh yeah?" I bit my lip. We walked in the closet and started to make out. "Carlos." I moaned. Then we jumped off each other as we heard a knock. I quickly put on my shirt and slowly open the door to find Monse.

"Uh yes?" She gave me a look.

"After school. Ruby's house. 3:30."

"For what?" i asked her.

"Practice." She try to look in the closet.

"Ill be there."

"Whos in there with you?" She asked.

"Its just me." I nervously smiled. "3:30, ill be there! Love you Monse!" I closed the door.

"One more round?" Carlos asked.

"No, but later." I gave him a quick kiss. I gathered up my books and bag and walked out of the closet. After a long day at school, i went home to a empty house yet again. Im not even surprised. I dropped my bag in my room and headed to Rubys house. I saw Jamal and Monse roll up with Cesar behind them. Great.

"You're here to decorate Rubys room." Monse whispered to me. She rang the doorbell. Ruby answered. "We're here to feng shui your room! That's why we're here."

"I don't have my own room, but," he took a deep breath. "I have a boner." I looked away.
"My cousin just moved in. Not like my cousin cousin, like, "What's up, cuz?" You know, like fam, but not fam." He likes someone. Uh okay. Um. Im not hurt. I mean we're just friends!

"Like if you can't keep it in your pants, keep it in the family." Cesar added.

"Exactly! No. No, not exactly. There's no blood relation. There is no inbreeding. Oh, and call me Ruben. I'm going by Ruben now." I gave him a look. His mother came out.

"Ruby! Ruben. Are you forgetting something? Guys, this is Olivia." She introduced us. "She's staying with us for a little while." She smiled and went back to the house. Everything got awkward.

"Okay? Is it me or did things just get weird?" Olivia said.

"It's you. I'm Monse.This is Jamal, Valeria and Cesar."

"Hey." I waved at her. Jamal and Cesar were staring. "Ignore the stares."

"They haven't been neutered." Monse told her. "Jamal, why don't you tell Olivia what you didn't do to your neck.Ruby, can we discuss our chem assignment?" Monse pulled Ruby aside. The boys were talking to Olivia. I just stared at Ruby. She was prettier than me. I felt sad. I mean i cant! Me and Ruby are friends! We're family!

"You're hilarious." I saw Cesar wiping his sweat from his forehead with his shirt, showing off. Typical Cesar.

"I'm saving Cesar!" Ruby blurted out. We stood there in silence. I left after that. I did my homework and got in the shower. Wilfredo still hasn't came home. I started to get worried. I stayed in the living room watching some scary movie until he came home. My eyes started to fall. I heard the door slam. I jumped and i heard swearing.

"Where have you been!" I yelled at Wilfredo. "Its 4 in the morning!"

"Go to sleep. You have school." He went to the kitchen to get something to eat.

"Wilfredo."

"Damn it Valeria! Just go to bed!" I saw blood on his face. I quickly turned on the light and saw him.

"You got jumped." I walked to him. I checked his face.

"You should see the other guy." He chuckled. I went to get the first aid kit. I started to clean him up. "You're mad."

"Of course I am Willy!" I stitched up His eyebrow. "You couldve gotten killed!"

"But I didnt." I sighed. "You need to stop worrying about me."

"I have to! You're all i have left." I closed up the kit. "Goodnight." I went to my room and got 2 hours of sleep. It left like once i closed my eyes, the alarm went off. I got out of bed and did my morning routine. I tied my shoes and grabbed something to drink.

"Need a ride to school?" Wilfredo asked.

"When i was 8."

"Valeria, mira, im sorry." He sighed. "It wont happen again."

"Dont make promises you cant keep." I grabbed my backpack.

"Come on. I need to go to Spookys. Ill drop you off." I quickly turned to him.

"You cant!"

"Que?"

"You cant! Ruby is gonna talk to Spooky today. Can you go meet him up like at 10?"

"You still haven't told them?"

"I cant okay." I looked at him. "Not yet."

"Come on." He grabbed his keys. we went through the back door. We got in his lowrider. I was making a list for him to get at the store.

"We need milk, eggs, orange juice and sunflowers." I looked down.

"Why sunflowers?" Wilfredo asked.

"They were dads favorite." I choked on my tears. "Its his death anniversary today." Wilfredo took a deep breath and said nothing. I made to school.

"Hey." Wilfredo called out as i got out the car.

"What?"

"Te quiero." I smiled at him.

"Love you too." I walked into school. I met up with the fam near the cafeteria. We started to chit chat.

"You didn't walk with us today." Monse told me.

"Wilfredo wanted to drop me off." I nodded.

"He's still working for the Lopez Mechanics?" Jamal asked.

"Yeah does he?" Cesar smiled.

"He sure does." I gave him a look. We saw Ruby come to us all proud.

"I did it! I did it! I mean, it's done. I rocked that talk hard. And for a guy named Spooky, he's surprisingly jovial."

"Wait, are you serious, Ruby?" I smiled at him.

"Ruben." He corrected me. "And yes. Cesar's out the gang. Boom. Killed it."

"You did kill it.You killed it so hard that I got promoted." My smile and Rubys disappeared.

"No. Spooky and I had an understanding."

"Just got a text, gonna start running for the Santos." Cesar looked at me. I rubbed my arm. Damn it Spooky.

"No.No, no, no. That can't be true.He must be joking." Rubys was so confused.

"Compa, I love you for trying, but like I said, this deal is done. And I don't blame you." Cesar turned to Monse. "I blame Monse." Monse gasped.

"Me?"

"Yeah, you're the instigator and the frickin' honey badger. You don't quit. But now you have to. No more. We're done."

"And so is "Ruben." I'm not man enough to bear that name." Ruby walked slowly away from us.

"Hey, you're a man." Jamal said to comfort him. Monse, Cesar and I stood there. I felt so bad for Ruby. He was so happy. My thoughts were gone as i heard my name.

"Valeria!" Carlos called me out. Cesar and Monses jaw dropped.

"Carlos Hernandez?!"

"What! We're not a thing."

"Hes a senior! Seniors are bad news! They take advantage of freshmen! Plus he's a Hernandez! The Santos greatest enemy!"

"Like I said, we're not a thing." I told them. "I'll catch up with you guys later." I walked with Carlos. He kissed my neck and walked to our class.

Translation
Mira- look
Que- What
Te quiero- love you or i love you
Compa- bro