Amaya's POV

"Heard you need a DJ." I said to a very pissed off looking Oscar.

"I said I needed speakers. What are you doing here?"

"I'm a DJ on the side. What were you playing on using? Pandora? Spotify? No. Just no." Oscar helped me pull my cases out from my trunk.

"You should have let the boys bring these over. You shouldn't be out of the house." I hauled the table I use out of the trunk and just ignored him.

"What if someone saw you?"

"On what Santo Lane? They probably would think 'Shit I'm not crossing that. I'll die.'" He shook his head at me and I set up the table at the back on the disgruntled yard.

"Just put the cases over there and I'll be gone soon." He nodded at me and left me alone to do what I do best. Set up bumping music.

Cholos filtered in and out carrying things and placing them for tonight and barely acknowledged me. Which was fine by me, I was spreading out the speakers when Cesar and his friends came out the back door.

"Whatcha need chica?" I gave Cesar a look.

"I need someone tall to bolt this to the side of the house." 

The tall kid with the J name I can never get right stepped forward. "I am your man. I didn't know you also spun. Its something I've always wanted to do."

"Great. Maybe I'll give an after school lesson to whoever wants one."

"Jamal! Just hang the speaker for the woman. Sorry AJ. What else do you need us to do?" Ruby yelled and Jamal looked extremely hurt.

"Just make sure no one fucks with my set up. Call me if they do." I started to walk to my car when a husky out of breath scared me. 

"Where you going?"

"Home. I got shit to do. Why?"

"I need another favor." I looked at him, I could see the battle in his eyes if he should ask me. He was debating in his mind whether or not to. It was like a game of pong, rattling around in there.

"There's this um hyna that thinks she can come tonight. Well she thinks that her and I are a thing. Which we sure as hell ain't."

"Can you get to it? My mom expects me home to watch my sister."

"Okay. Well I was wondering that if she came, would you pretend to be my novia?"

What the fuck?

"Um, let me think about it. I'll text you." I made a hasty exit from the backyard and got in my car.

'What the absolute fuck was that?'

We barely know each other and he wants me to cover for his crusty ass. She must be batshit crazy if he's asking me that.

Absolute batshit.

=====

I was still stunned by Oscar's question.

I really wasn't prepared for something like that after being back here one week.

Pulling along the curb I reached Lupe's house. 

She insisted that she come over while I babysat my sister, to get ready for the party.

Lupe had this big plan to be all hermosa and shit but I already knew what I was wearing and she wasn't gonna like it.

"Hey bitch! Let's go we have a lot of work to do. I mean look at your hair."

I grabbed my raven black hair was looked at her.

'What's wrong with my hair?'

Bitch.

My house was quiet for the first time in 6 days. 

It was heaven.

"Set everything up at the counter and Imma check on Sara."

I went upstairs and she was passed out on my mom's bed with all types of snacks and her laptop. She's trying to squeeze in the last bit of summer.

I remember doing that.

I shut her laptop and tossed it on the ground so she wouldn't fling it off.

I crept down the stairs trying not to wake Sleeping Beauty.

"So, I need to get some advice."

"Go for it, girlie."

"So, I went over to the Santo crib to set up the boards and Oscar asked me to be his fake girlfriend for when his old one shows up. What do I do?"

"Holy shit. Do you know who the girl is?"

"No but I'm gonna guess that she's completely crazy or some shit. There's no other plausible reason for him to ask me to something as weird as that. Not like we know each other that well."

Lupe spit out a laugh and stopped almost as soon as she started.

"Yeah. You're um probably right. Let me figure out who this puta is before you get jumped tonight." I patted her and bowed to thank her.

6 days of being back and only one time did I not feel safe.

"We need tacos and tamales. Can you go get them?" Lupe begged.

"No but my personal body guards can go get them."

"I hate that you have them but also extremely grateful that Santos are protecting you."

"Better than nothing."

I texted Oscar and he said he'd get someone right on it.

I love being their boss.

Without being their boss.

=====

"Come on were gonna be late!"

"Just a second, I'm trying to fit into my high school cutoffs." I tugged them over my butt while I ran downstairs to throw my sneakers on.

There was a knock at the door and Sad Eyes appeared when Lupe opened the door.

"Tacos and tamales."

"Thank you. Also we cool to drive over to the house without you?"

"Yeah. Straight there, no wandering to the other side."

"This isn't Star Wars. There's no wandering." I said back to the dude.

"Okay. Oh and Maria's heading that way so um jefe wants to know your answer."

"Lupe? What should I do?"

"Oh just do it. Whats the worst that could happen?"

"Death, being stabbed, being shot..." I was gonna continue when she cut me off.

"She'll do it. Just stop."

Sad Eyes skipped off my stoop and back into the car he got out of.

"Here you go. First party back, you're gonna need those. Especially with Maria."

"Batshit?"

"Batshit."

Lupe handed me my old earrings from high school. The one's my papi left for me. 

Big white gold hoops.

"AJ Sanchez is back in the building."

"And she's ready to fuck some shit up." I add.

"Don't forget the food." Lupe chimed.

Right as we were leaving my mom was pulling in with the twins. Each of them got out of the car and slammed their doors.

"Tough game?" My mom knocked at me.

"Where's Sara?"

"Sleeping. We're going now. See ya later."

"Don't get arrested! I'm not bailing you out!" She shouted as we laughed.

"Yes you will."

"Yes I will. But I won't be happy!"

With one final wave, we were off down the street.