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

24

The next hour flew by in a haze of music, laughter, and tequila shots. I tried balancing just enough alcohol to let loose without losing control.

Keisha passed me the salt, and I sprinkled some on my arm, licking it up and downing the shot as she quickly pressed a lemon wedge to my lips. A few drops of juice trickled down my cheek, neck, and over my chest. Keisha instinctively reached for a paper towel, but Tanja stopped her.

"I got it," she said, her voice smooth and confident. She leaned forward, her lips brushing my skin as she licked the juice off my throat, trailing down to my collarbone. I was too caught up in the buzz to react, only feeling the laughter bubbling up inside me at the absurdity of it all.

But the vibe shifted the moment he appeared. I noticed him first in my peripheral vision—a guy with a cocky stride who radiated a kind of entitled anger. Tanja rolled her eyes, her smile vanishing. Keisha's expression hardened as she muttered, "Oh, great."

He walked up to us, glaring at Tanja. "You a lesbian now?" His voice was laced with bitterness.

Tanja's expression turned cold. "Oh my God, seriously? Just leave, okay? Nobody wants you here."

He raised an eyebrow, looking almost amused. "Look who's talking," he sneered. "Since when you so feisty, bitch?"

Keisha's protective side flared up. "You're really out here throwing names around?" she shot back. "After all you put her through?"

His sneer deepened. "Shut up, puta. Nobody asked you." He stepped closer to Tanja, his voice dropping to an icy murmur. "We need to talk. Somewhere private."

Tanja's confidence faltered, and she stammered, "I... I don't think—"

Keisha stepped in. "She's not going anywhere with you. In what world do you think that's happening?"

He turned his anger on Keisha, his fists clenched, clearly itching for a fight. I could feel the tension rising like static in the air. His words were a barely-contained threat: "For the last goddamn time, stay out of this, or I'll seriously mess you up."

Noticing Tanja's flinch, I felt a surge of protectiveness, stepping between them. "Hey, let's all calm down," I said, my voice steady. "No one needs to get hurt here."

He narrowed his eyes at me, sizing me up as if trying to figure out if I was worth the trouble.

Tanja spoke up again, trying to ease the tension. "Fine. We'll talk. But only for a minute, and only over there." She pointed to an empty corner of the garden, her voice wavering.

He didn't look thrilled, but after a tense pause, he nodded. Tanja glanced back at us, and reluctantly, she followed him to the corner. Keisha and I watched every step, ready to step in if needed.

Keisha and I kept an eye on Tanja and her ex from a distance. As the argument between Tanja and her ex got more heated, we could overhear snippets of their conversation.

The man's voice was harsh and insistent. "What, you think you're too good for me now?" he sneered, stepping closer to Tanja, who took a shaky step back.

Tanja sounded scared but defiant, saying, ""Yes, I am. I'm done, and I'm not scared of you anymore. It's over and you can't keep doing this."

Keisha whispered to me, "This is classic for him. He treats her like rubbish and drops her, then when she's ready to let go, he's back in her life, acting like he owns her."

I frowned, watching Tanja struggling to hold her ground. "He seems dangerous, though. We can't just leave her with him."

Keisha nodded, eyes never leaving Tanja. "You're right. I wish she could just stay away, she already did a good job doing so the last months, but it's complicated. He forces himself in her life. He even threatened her family before."