Amaya's POV

Meeting Darius's little cousin was honestly worse than seeing him again.

She was so nice and friendly compared to him. Everything inside of me wanted to hate her but I couldn't. Monse was just a great kid.

Abuelita yelled at me for running away from the Santos and made me go over an apologize.

For a woman who isn't my grandmother, she sure acted like I was her grandchild.

"Mija, hay cosas mucho peores en este mundo que su protección." (There is a lot worse things in this world than their protection)

"Like living in an adobe hut." Ruby added.

Abuelita huffed at his comment and smacked him upside the head.

"Go, you've eaten. Nothing more for me to do to keep you safe. But remember where you are. You can't be running around like that." She gestures towards my outfit.

"Te ves como una puta." (You look like a whore)

Her comment really got me. It wasn't like I was showing off everything. My legs were more exposed than I usually liked but that's about it.

"Okay. I'll see the rest of you all in class on Monday." I pointed to the 4 seniors.

"Bye Amaya." Señora Martinez hugs me tight.

"It was good seeing you again." She adds.

I left their house and walked across the street trying to avoid Mario best I could.

He staggered across the street as I jogged in the opposite direction.

=====

Walking up to Oscar felt normal for me.

Most people as I was told were threatened at the sight of him. But to me he was a scared gang leader who didn't know shit.

The car ride back to my house was quick.

I've realized from my three car rides with him today that he focuses on the roads and not on having a conversation with his passenger.

He pulled into my driveway and finally spoke.

"Hey, I'm sorry if showing you that brought back some weird memories for you."

"Don't worry about it." He nods at my statement and I tried to get out of the car.

"Hey, remember to stay inside. Darius is gonna be looking for you everywhere. If you need to go somewhere call me and I'll send someone to get whatever it is. Oh, we're having a kick back on Friday. Your family will be there and will expect you at some point. I'll have Lupe come get you."

His word dump was a shock to the system.

"Stay inside, call if I need something, kick back on Friday. Got it."

With that he nods and pulls out of the driveway.

'It's gonna be a long week.'

I say taking the front steps two at a time. I turned back before opening the door to see his taillights drift down the road.

Opening the door the living room was filled with chaos

"AJ! Come help me pick out my back to school outfit." I stepped over my youngest sister and sat down on the couch.

"Sara go try on your clothes too. Give me a fashion show." I said to my youngest sister.

She loved being included in the big girl stuff.

The twins walked down the stairs not trying to fall over. They both were wearing high heels, first time in their lives.

"Aren't you 2 a little too young for those?" They tried posing and it didn't work.

"High school is a lot different than middle school. We want to stand out."

"HIGH SCHOOL! How old are you?"

They gave each other a look and both said "We're 14."

"14! Mami! Pense que eran mas jóvenes!" (I thought they were younger)

"That happens when you don't talk to us for a while. They stay young in your mind." She says from the kitchen. "Your sister's right. No high heels until after your quince." 

The twin huffed one more time and tried climbing the stairs.

"Aye Katia I like that dress. Lilia not so much."

Sara waltzed down the stairs in her new clothes and she looked like an angel.

"Yes this is the outfit. How old are you? By the way."

"AJ, I'm gonna be 13 in like a month. Our birthdays are a week apart."

"I forgot. Sorry. Are you ready for the seventh grade?"

"Yup. I'm gonna kick some ass." I shushed her at her swear but liked her meaning.

"We're both gonna kick ass." She high-fives me and runs back upstairs.

"Mami, Oscar showed me my height markers."

"He did? How'd that make you feel?"

"Like I still can't remember shit."

"You'll get there. Maybe coming back here was a good thing. Maybe it will trigger your memories."

"Maybe. Oh I saw Darius. Cesar hid me at Mario's house."

"Cause you ran away from Los Santos?" 

I could tell she was giving me a look from the kitchen but I was too lazy to turn around and look at it.

"Yup, that brought back some crazy memories of running away from the cops."

"You were always the fastest out of all of them. Only got caught what six times compared to the rest?" I nod.

"Cuchillos always got so mad at you guys. It was funny to see you like that, because you reminded me so much of your papi every time I went to get you."

"I learned from the best."

"He was the best. Wasn't he?"

Mami loved him with all of her heart. It didn't surprise me that she never remarried. That was her only love on this Earth and there would never be anyone else.

Oscar's POV

Ever since I dropped Amaya off. Things around Freeridge started getting worse.

Prophet$ were terrorizing shop owners for her whereabouts but Señora Sanchez and I had done a pretty good job of keeping a low profile for her.

For the first time in her life she actually took my advice and stayed inside her house.

She had text twice saying her mom needed something picked up. But she stayed radio silent for the time I told her to.

"Homie! People are rolling in."

I shut the door to my room and locked it.

"Ok. Tell Cesar he's on DJ duty. Oh and Mikey, remember to not tell the Tios." He nodded and skipped out of my house.

=====

The bodega was packed full of people trying to fit in their last minute parties before going back to school or work. Most profanely going to my house but what do I know.

"Tequila or beer?"

I turned around to face my devil of an ex girlfriend.

Excuse me.

Ex fuck buddy, Maria.

"I need 4 cases of Corona, three bottles of Cuervo and a bottle of rum."

"A bottle of rum?" She lifted her eyebrows.

"Homies like it."

Maria swayed her hips side to side as she went around the store and picked up each of what I wanted.

"$134, please." I took out a hundred and a fifty and smacked it in her hands.

"See you later." She says to me.

"No you won't. You're not invited."

Maria just gave me a smirk and walked around the counter to help the next person.

"Bitch." I whispered as I left.

I got in my car and headed home.

Cesar and Mikey were in the front yard yelling at each other and I couldn't wait to hear what this was about.

They were always yelling at each other.

"Homie, the speakers are blown! I don't know what you think I can do about it!"

"Just get out back and try and fix them." I waited a few more seconds before exiting the car.

"Que onda?" I hollered above their yells.

"The speakers are gone. How the hell am I supposed to do anything with shitty sound?" Cesar spouted out.

"Who do we know that has a system we can borrow?" The homies started talking amongst themselves and another car full of Santos rolled up.

"What's up jefe?"

"We need speakers. Do you know someone who's got some?" The guys got out of the car and someone popped their head out.

"He doesn't but I do."

Lupe popped her head out the open car window even more.

"Go get them, then. We'll need it. Oh! Before I forget. You're in charge of getting Amaya here tonight."

"That won't be a problem." She said with a scandalous sounding voice.

"Vamonos!" The car peeled off and turned my attention back to the booze.

"When you gonna tell AJ that you're in love with her?" I looked up at my little brother.

"Right around the time I shove your head up your ass. Bring this in the back. Put it all on ice. I'm not having Ruby come yell at me anymore." Cesar laughed and I threw more cases on top of the one I gave him.

Asshole.