Street Cred |On My Block|

2. New Plan

I walked up the corner store to see Monse waiting for me, she wore a flannel over a grey top "oh come on show off those boobies again" I giggled "that's the exact reason why I won't" she said closing her flannel.

"So what's the get down" I asked, Monse took a deep breath "I'm not even sure if I should tell you" she said "I'm hurt" I told her "well of course I'm going to tell you, I just probably shouldn't, but then again who's gone pop me" Monse laughed. "Cesar's with the Santos, now more than before because his brothers out of prison, and we're trying to get him out" Monse explained "I have never felt a greater connection, I understand, some people just have to much potential to be stuck in that generational curse" I stated, "damn you more passionate than me" Monse exclaimed "Latrelle, my cousin, he's stuck in that situation, he just doesn't have great friends to help him" I told her "holy shit" Monse gasped "what" I asked "let's just talk at to Ruby's" she said. And she didn't talk to me the entire time, she just looked like she was deep in thought and when I tried to strike a conversation, she'd shut it down.

We sat in Ruby's room without their friend Cesar, "okay so everyone has a roll, Monse, Jamal and I will do the planning and Aaliyah, you have a very important part" he spoke, I nodded my head, anticipating for him to tell me, they all looked at each other "the distractor" Ruby said with a fake smile making me realize how lame that was. "Distractor" I questioned "yes every time we're planning and Cesar comes close by, we need you to distract him" Jamal explained "why can't I do something more fun" I asked "well regarding the Monse rumor and you might be prettier than Jamal and I, we voted you distractor" Ruby explained, I sat back "and we believe you like lack the simple street knowledge to have eligible strategies" Jamal blurted. Ruby and Monse angrily turned towards him "you weren't even under pressure" Ruby yelled at him, "she had sad eyes" Jamal whined, "I am truly hurt but I accept my position" I told them, "good now wait for him on the porch" Ruby told me pulling me up and pushing me out, "okay, okay, I can move myself" I hissed at him.

I seen Cesar walking up to the porch "oh hi, your names Liyah" he said "and yours is Cesar" I added "yeah, it's nice to officially meet you" he told me "yeah, our first impression wasn't awkward at all" I giggled "that was a joke, Monse and I like to joke" he lied "I heard you were trying to look good for your brother" I joked, he lifted his arm back scratched the back of his head, "yeah that to" he added I noticed his slight muscular arm "you flexing for me" I joked "what no, I mean unless you trynna see more" he added "nah" I denied quickly "really cause-" he pause to lift up his shirt revealing his strong abdomen "wow.. still no six pack" I said "uhh are you body shaming me" he joked "uh oh I think I struck your ego" I added.

From then on forth I was distractor, and it wasn't too bad, except for the fact that Monse seemed so distant, and I kinda trusted her the most.

~ one week ~

Cesar and I were walking from Ruby's to the corner store. "Is it just me or are they acting weird" Cesar asked "who" I asked "who else do you know in freeridge" he questioned sarcastically, "it's just every time we get to Ruby's house they'll tell us to go run an errand, like yesterday we had to get fabric for Ruby's abuelita, day before that we had to ask Jamal's dad questions about football for him, and before that we had to get a book for Monse, then when we come back it's like they won't stop smiling" Cesar explained "wow now that you say it out loud it is kinda weird" I said pretending like I didn't know, "I think I know it" Cesar paused. If it's about the gangs I don't know what to say, I can't say yes obviously and I can't deny it because then that'll look suspicious. "Monse's trying to keep away the rumor, and she threw you under the bus" he chuckled "oh shut up" I laughed and walked in.

As I swung open the door, the bells on top jingled catching the attention of people for about a second but I still felt eyes, I looked to my left to see JJ and Latrelle in the store. JJ looked at me then up at Cesar and beelined straight at us. He grabbed Cesar collar and pushed him into the candy shelf, "what the hell is wrong with you" I yelled shoving myself in between them, I seen the fiery in JJ's eyes, he raised his fist and sent it straight into my face as if he trying to go through me. I tightly placed my hand over nose and mouth which blood start to gush out of, Latrelle grabbed JJ's others hand from hitting Cesar and started to pull him out telling him that it wasn't worth it. Cesar stood in front of me "let me see it, I gotta tell if it's broken" he told me, moving my hand and placing his on the bridge of my nose, I looked up to see his teary eyes. "You okay" I asked "it's all my fault, if I wasn't a santos" he told me, "it's not your fault, JJ just fucking hates me, he can add this to the list" I mumbled "you know him" Cesar asked "yeah, and Latrelle's my cousin" I told him, he gasped "they're prophets" Cesar whispered "I know" I told him "and you're with a santo, I don't think you just realized what you started" Cesar told me. Latrelle walk back into the store, I quickly pushed Cesar out of my way and stood in front protecting him, "lets go Liyah" he told me, I started to walk till I felt Cesar grab my arm, I turned to him, "I won't tell the santos" he told me, I nodded and followed Latrelle out. As soon as I walked into the house Latrelle and JJ were basically tag teaming me in an argument about how wrong it was, and that I just started a gang war, and made it very clear that I was never going to talk to him again.