Roses for a Santo (On My Block's Oscar Díaz)

Chapter 1

"Rosario, will the house be nicer now?" Catalina said as she was still playing a game from her phone.

I looked back at her through the rearview mirror.

"Yes, I told you my friend, Raúl painted the house and cleaned it a bit for like the thousand time!" I rolled my eyes.

"That what happens when you are on your phone 24/7." Elena chuckled. "You should read books more often."

"I do read, pendeja!" Catalina pointed at her phone.

"Don't start girls!" I warned them, they were always bickering and it was already giving me headaches.

We were on the road to Los Angeles all the way from Santa Fe, New Mexico.

We are on our way to a new life.

I was able to get a house thanks to my friend Mimi, that lives in L.A.

The neighborhood wasn't the nicest but I didn't care, I just wanted to get my own place for me and my sisters.

My name is Rosario Santana, I am 24 years old. Catalina is 14 and Elena just turned 16. I was their guardian, well basically their mother.

My parents weren't the best and our abuelita took us in custody, sadly our abuelita passed away two years ago and left us some money, with the money I decided to just get a new place for us, Los Angeles seems like a place with opportunities, it was perfect for my sisters. They were young and I wanted them to explore and enjoy life, something I really wasn't able to do.

It's sad but I don't care, I prefer not having it and just be the mother for my sisters, something that our mother never did.

——-

"We are almost there!" I smiled widely as I spotted the sign.

"Freeridge."

"I gotta use the bathroom!" Elena whined, hissing as she couldn't hold on.

"I told you if you wanted to stop at the gas station!" I snapped, looking at her incredulously as I sped up a little.

"No way in hell I will use a damn gas station bathroom, que asco!"

"Que asco!" Catalina mocked her, giggling as she did.

"Catalina, ya paralé! I will let Elena hit you this time." I warned her...again for the 5th time.

——-

Finally arriving at the house, barely even able to look around since I was in a hurry so Elena could use the bathroom.

I parked my Chevy Blazer K5 truck right in front of our new home. Elena took the keys and jumped out of the truck, it was hilarious how fast she ran.

The moving truck was already there waiting for us, the house had the essentials so we didn't brought that many furniture but they will be replace soon anyways.

"Llegámos, nena." I smiled at Catalina, she looked so happy when she saw the house.

Getting out of the truck I stood right in front of the house, taking it all in.

I know it will not be easy but I know that I will manage. My sisters and I deserve a new start so why not do it now?

"To a new life?" Catalina appeared right next to me, she had brought me a soda from the little fridge we had for the road.

"A new life." I hold back the tears a bit and opened the can. "Toast!"

Catalina and I clinked the cans together. "Thanks, Rosario." She looked at me. "I know all this is not easy and I'm grateful that you are doing all this just for us."