safe || on my block

chapter two

Despite only being in Freeridge for three days, Mae managed to move into her new apartment,  decorate her classroom, and make through her first day as an official biology teacher at Freeridge. She didn't have any plans on stopping her momentum as she stopped by her auntie's house before going to the school.

"Latrelle," Mae shouted as she banged on his bedroom door. Yesterday was the first day of the school and the boy had already missed his first day of high school?

Soon enough the boy opened the door with a mean mug on his face. She wasn't phased by his incredulous looks, she simple grinned at the boy and lifted the lunch she packed him into his eyesight. "I packed your favorites."

"We're going to be late." He tilted his head in confusion still not saying a word. To his knowledge he had nowhere to be until later that day and it definitely didn't involve his older cousin.

"I'm not going to school, Mae." He smacked his lips before attempting to close the door but she stopped it with her foot.

"Come on, do it for your mom." She dropped a voice to a whisper knowing the woman was lurking around somewhere listening. "You'll break her heart if you drop out."

She could tell his brown eyes were considering going.

"I'll braid your hair whenever you want for the rest of the semester," She offered.

He stared at her for a moment with an unreadable expression before sighing in defeat. "Fine."

An hour later Mae was planning her lesson plans for the following week when Jamal Turner, Ruby Martinez and her cousin Monse bashfully came into the empty classroom.

"I really enjoyed our lesson today." Ruby complimented. "The skills assessment you gave was tough but undoubtedly fair. You're obviously a caring teacher."

Mae raised an eyebrow at the boy who obviously wanted something. He was the first one to roll his eyes when she mentioned the practice test.

"What do you want?" She bluntly asked the trio who looked like they were about to ask her for a kidney.

"A meeting with Cesar's guardian." Ruby replied hesitantly. "His brother recently got him a new job that's taking all of his time. We're afraid his academic career will take a downfall if his teachers don't interfere and ask his brother to let him quit this job. I also may have gotten him promoted which is more time consuming for Cesar so time is of the essence here."

"You want me to talk to Spooky about getting Cesar out of the Santos?"

"Yes, you're the best teacher for the job." The short boy quickly rebutted as his two friends nodded vigorously in agreement. "All of the other teachers are white and from places like Brentwood. We need someone who knows what it's like to have family members in a gang and understand the delicacy of the topic while prioritizing what's most important. Cesar's education."

Mae sighed. She definitely didn't want to see Oscar seeing as she had been avoiding him since Monse mentioned he was out of prison, but she couldn't standby and let Oscar ruin his younger brother's life.

"I'll do it." Mae agreed before she could overthink it even more than she already was.

"That's great." Jamal exclaimed as the three of them had matching grins on their faces. "Because he should be here any minute."

The three of them ran out of the classroom before she could wrap her head around what she heard. Mae let out a nervous squeak as she quickly used Mr Henry's tank to fix her hair and check her lipstick.

"Nice classroom." She heard the familiar deep voice state from behind her. Mae took a deep breath to prepare herself before turning around to see Oscar standing by the door.

"Oscar." Mae's mind went blank momentarily as she took him in. It was almost a new person. Everything about him changed. He definitely was taller and way more muscular than the scrawny boy she once knew, but what really stood out to her was the teardrop tattoo under his right eye that only meant one thing. "Um- Have a seat, I want to talk to you."

She grabbed a chair from one of the student's desks and brought it to her own for him. They both took a seat and Mae mulled over what to say wishing she had more time to prepare.

"How are you?" She asked for some time to think of what she would even say.

"I'm fine." The cholo bluntly stated, his eyes never straying from her own.

"How's Cesar doing now that you're back." She questioned cautiously. If there was one thing she still knew about the man before her, it was the fact that he could get defensive really quick.

"What do you want?" There goes being sensitive.

"Oscar, Cesar's a Santo?" Mae questioned. "I know you're probably doing what you think is best, but don't you think he deserves a shot to get out of here?"

"You don't know shit." His cold eyes sent a shiver down her body, but she refused to back down. "Him being alive is my top priority."

"He's not safe either way and you know it. His friends are his family and they can support him through anything that comes his way. Don't do this to him."

The menacing look in his eyes would have been a threat to anyone else, but Mae refused to be intimidated by him. A deep laugh came from the man, surprising her.

"You haven't changed."

"Oscar." She pleaded, needing him to take things seriously, but he shook his head with a smirk on his face.

"The Santos are his family." Was all he said before walking over to the door and looking at her one last time.

Soon after he left, Monse, Ruby and Jamal came into the classroom with hopeful smiles on their faces. "Well how'd it go?"

"Can you tell Cesar I tried?" She slumped in her chair and Monse gave the woman a sad smile.

"We will. Thanks Mae." Ruby mumbled as the trio stalked out of the classroom.