SATIVA ✞ ON MY BLOCK [OSCAR DIAZ]

FIFTEEN

"Ximena!" Ruby screamed downstairs, "Company!"

Ximena groaned, rolling over in her bed. She picked up her phone, unlocking it. The screen quickly turned on, blinding the girl with it's brightness. She adjusted her eyes, reading the time that read, 11:09 P.M.

Ximena sighed, slowly walking upstairs.

She walked outside of the front door to see Oscar standing by his car. The familiar feeling of disgust came back as Ximena stared at him.

She crossed her arms over her chest, standing on the front porch of the house. "What are you doing here?" She asked.

"You wanted me to fix your car, right?" Ximena dryly laughed, stepping down from the porch as he opened the hood of her car.

"You could've done this sometime not in the middle of the night," she looked over his shoulder, watching his hands, which were cut up and bruised.

"Well, I'm here now," Oscar replied, inspecting the parts, "might as well get this over with."

"That's all you here for?" Ximena questioned, tilting her head.

Oscar looked over his shoulder at her, "I'll apologize for you seeing what you saw, but I'm not apologizing for doing what I did."

"You didn't have to do that."

"You don't know nothing about the shit I have to do."

"You're right, I don't " Ximena nodded, "so make me understand." He shook his head, not paying her any attention as he focused on the car.

"Fine." Ximena began walking back to the house when Oscar grabbed her arm gently. He pulled her back over, nodding towards his car. She took a seat on top of his hood as he wiped his hands on his black shirt.

"The Santos weren't originally formed to be just a group of criminals," he started, crossing his arms over his chest, "los primeros veteranos started the Santos as, what you call, a progressive movement for Latinos in the neighborhood. They gave back to the community, after school programs, shelters, all that. Yeah, we hustle, but we're based around a code of loyalty, family. What you saw earlier, ese coño didn't know anything about that, so, he was punished. Did I want to do that? Hell no, but did I have to? Yes cause I didn't I'd lose the respect I've earned from the others."

Ximena nodded, "Okay."

"Okay?" Oscar laughed.

Ximena held out her arms, "What else do you want me to say? I mean, I definitely don't approve of what you do but I can't change it so-" she stopped talking, seeing that she got her point across when Oscar nodded.

"Yeah," he agreed, turning back to finish working on the car, "you can't."