love replaces scars [c.d.] - discontinued

f i v e

Alisa Finnie's Point of View

"Are you high?  I'm not gonna hash shit out," Jamal exclaims as we stand in front of the Diaz's residence.  "To what end?  Death?  Cesar might've joined the gang."

"He's not stupid." I defend while crossing my arms.

"He's affiliated, yes. because of his brother, but-" Monse continues.

J cuts her off, "And his cousins, his uncles, his dad, his grandpa.  Even the gay one."

"I know, we know." Monse tells him. 

"Wait, you knew about the gay one?" Jamal says as I stifle in a snicker.  "I mean he goes by the name Bananas, it's not that subtle."

"No!  We know Cesar's family has been it that life forever.  But he'd never join a gang." I emphasize never.  "He's an outlier, so whatever's going on, it's not that."

"He's not the same." Jamal warns.  "He dumped us."

"But we weren't here, so it wasn't official." Monse replies.

"If someone breaks up with you over text, is it official?"

"Yes..?" I look at Jamal, questioning.

"Then consider me the text," He pretends to type with his fingers.  "Ding!"  Monse and I turn around, not facing Jamal any longer.  "You've been dumped!"

"Shut up already, J.  You can't stop us." I say as Monse and I take a step forward. 

"Wait, please don't go.  Please, you guys are," Jamal pauses, looking at us in worry.  "You're not safe."

"Why?" Monse asks, clearly annoyed.

"Because, Ali, you've changed.  I mean look at what you're wearing!  And, Monse, especially you," Jamal breathes in.  "You've blossomed."

"Blossomed?"

"Popped.  Busted out.  Puffed your party pillows.  Whatever you want to call your new cha-cha-bingos." He says making gestures and motions about her breasts.  "These new homies he's hanging with, they're thirsty."

Jamal pushes his sweater onto Monse and she pushes it back.  Ruby's sweater was wrapped around my waist but I made paid no attention to it when I threw it onto Jamal's head.

"Okay, don't worry, girls!  I got your back, from right here."

I strut over to Cesar while glaring at the gang members on his lawn.  They certainly paid attention to Monse and me, and our 'cha-cha-bingos'.

"We need to talk to you." I state, standing in front of Cesar. 

"I'm listening." He nods.

Monse looks over at Oscar and the other 'homies'  and back at Cesar. 

"Privately?" She questions.

"Yeah, we can go inside." Cesar replies.  Oscar clears his throat making Cesar say another thing.  "But if you two want to sit on my face, you got to put those mouths on pause so I can concentrate."

Monse looks completely stunned, as for me, I was trying to not laugh.  As much as that could hurt someone else's feelings, mine were fine.  It was funny for Cesar, 'acting' like he's such a straight up bitch.

"So you think you're better at sex than anyone else?" I insist.  Monse nudges me, whispering something along the lines of, 'what are you doing?'

"Well yeah, because that's why you two bitches kept crawling back to me." Cesar winks.