Mi Amor - Oscar 'Spooky' Diaz/On my block Story

10

Elly's view

I had been wandering for at least an hour, and the initial wave of anger was finally ebbing away.

My sister thinks she can judge others? It wasn't her place. Yes, she's family, but that doesn't mean she has to know everything about me at all times. I understood the importance of honesty with loved ones, yet I knew how she would react to my feelings for Oscar. That's precisely why I wanted to explore what was going on between us before involving anyone else.

As I walked, I lost track of my surroundings, the road beneath my feet blurring into a haze of frustration. Not the smartest move, but who thinks rationally when emotions are running high? My legs began to tire, and I looked around, bewildered. I didn't recognize any of the streets—where had I ended up? I had ventured further than I realized.

In a moment of desperation, I fished out my phone to check my location, but the screen remained dark. Dead battery. Great. Panic set in as I realized I had no clue which way to turn to get back. I wandered aimlessly.

Finally, I recognized that I had no choice but to ask for help. Ideally, I'd seek out a woman or a child—anyone who might lessen the risk of encountering someone dangerous. But there was no one in sight. Exhaustion washed over me, and I slumped onto the curb, burying my head in my hands, staring blankly at the asphalt. Time seemed to stretch on for ages.

Then I saw them: three men walking toward me. My heart raced, and I couldn't decide whether they posed a threat or if they were my salvation. As they drew closer, a familiar tattoo caught my eye—the Santos Cross. Relief flooded over me. Thank you, God. I jumped up and hurried toward them, causing the trio to stop in confusion.

"Hey, sorry to bother you..." I started, my voice shaky.

"You could never bother us, bella dama," one of the guys replied, flashing me a flirtatious smile.

His companion elbowed him in the ribs. "Hey, get your shit together. That's Spooky's girl."

I was taken aback by his recognition but felt a surge of relief wash over me. "Exactly, and he needs to know where I am. My phone died."

"No problem at all." The Santo whipped out his phone and dialed Oscar. It rang once, twice, but on the third try, his voice crackled through. He sounded tense.

"Qué?!"

"Hola Spooky. Escucha, estoy en High Park Street, cerca de la farmacia. Tu ruca está aquí. Ella me pidió que te llamara."

I couldn't hear Oscar's response, but his tone seemed to shift. The Santo nodded, then ended the call. He turned to me, sitting down beside me on the curb.

"Thank you. Really. You're a lifesaver," I said, gratitude swelling in my chest.

He chuckled softly. "No problem. I'm just glad to help. Something bad could have happened if you met the wrong people tonight."

"I know," I sighed. "It was stupid of me to walk this far away."

"But it all worked out in the end, right? That's what counts. Plus, I get bonus points with Spooky." He flashed a grin.

Just a few minutes later, Oscar's red Impala sped around the corner, tires screeching slightly as he pulled up next to us. When he jumped out, he didn't even glance my way. Instead, he strode over to the Santo, expressing his thanks and exchanging a few hurried words in Spanish that I couldn't catch. Once the Santo left, Oscar finally turned to me, briefly meeting my eyes before getting back into the car.

I followed, the silence in the car heavy with unspoken words. After a few moments, he slammed on the brakes, stopping the car abruptly.

He turned to me, concern etched on his face. I braced myself for an argument.