COSA BONITA~RUBY MARTINEZ

6

The next morning was sunny and full of promises, Kim woke up early and ran around the house frantically. This was her first day of actual school and she was beyond excited. Her mother, however, was hysterical and would cry at the most random of times. When Kim was brushing her teeth her mother came in and started sobbing on her shoulder saying something about remembering the first time that she had brushed her teeth by herself. Kim had just awkwardly patted her mothers head to keep the tears at bay, afraid that if she were to say something they would only come down harder. 

"Mija, you sure you don't want a ride to school I would be more than happy to drive you, this is the first day off I've had in weeks." Kim shook her head while eating some Chorizo that Paula had made her. "No thanks, other kids don't get dropped off mama I just want to be like everybody else." "Alright, well, I'm going to be with your sister all day so feel free to call me if you need a ride home. Love you mija."  "Te Amo, mama." She gave her mother a kiss on the cheek and her little sister a hug before running out of the house. 

She began walking up the street when she noticed that she had no idea where she was going. How could she be so stupid? It never occurred to her that she was going to have to walk alone. She took deep breaths to calm herself before she had a mental breakdown. How the hell was she going to get to school? "Hey Kim, you coming?" She turned and saw Jamal coming from behind her, she fell into step with him until they were both walking side by side. They walked until they met up with Monse and Jamal. She guessed that they had made up since Monse was walking with them, but unfortunately, she had gone back to Beverly Hills to pick up the rest of her stuff. 

"He's not coming with us," Ruby said from behind her. She looked up to see that they were in the same place they were yesterday. "See, bitches be bonkers." Kim rolled her eyes at Jamals snide comment and proceeded to walk across the street with Monse. Footsteps emerged from the stairs and the same boy who Monse beat up the other day came down. Kim crossed her arms still hostile from the encounter they had the previous day, Kim believed a lot in first impressions so it was hard for her to want to be friends with him but she didn't want to be rude so she walked along with Ruby and Jamal at her side. 

"I can't do this, I can't keep a secret. I'm going to implode, I don't understand why anyone keeps secrets." "Awh, Jamal you cant be so hard on yourself, sometimes you just have to let the chips fall where they may." They walked along until a fast driving red car pulled up beside them, a cholo nodded his head at Ceaser and without looking back Ceaser got in the car and with a screech, the car pulled away down the street leaving the four teenagers confused and slightly worried. 

"We have to help Ceaser."

***

 Two weeks later, after school the five sat in Ruby's room conversing, or more arguing about what to do about Ceaser's situation. They were all talking at once making it hard for anyone to hear what the other was saying and to be completely honest the whole thing was giving Kim a massive headache. "Yo! One at a time I'm not following." Ceaser yelled getting everybody's attention, Kim was quite thankful for that. Ruby raised his hand in an excited manner making Kim giggle.

"Sorry, it's excitement. We've been chewing on this for the last two weeks and now it's finally time to move forward with the plan." Kim rose an eyebrow. "What plan?" Suddenly all heads turned to her. "Yeah, what plan?" Monse turned back to Ceaser "The plan to get you out of the gang." Ceaser laughed and Kim just frowned. They never told her about this "plan." Now here she was thinking that she was an active member of the group only to find out that they've been keeping secrets from her.