Street Cred |On My Block|

11. Set Up

We were in Ruby's house first thing that morning, he looked like he stayed up all night and drank away tiredness with a big mug of coffee and a shower, I would know. He wore a headset on connected to his ear and a microphone hovering over his mouth. We sat around and table and waited for him to take control "okay everyone open your e-devices and look at the link I sent you to a group of pintress ideas for the quinceañera" he started "where's Olivia" Cesar asked "la princesa doesn't need to be bothered with details, and right now we are no longer friends and family but we are her court, damas and chambelanes" Ruby explained.  "Hello" Ruby questioned clicking his headset and walking away to finish a conversation.

I looked down at my phone, "you okay" Cesar asked "I found out Latrelle got locked up a while ago, it's nothing" I told him, it was the truth but it wasn't what I was thinking about. I stared at the lawyers number, but why would I want to go through a trial with my parents just to get some money, it all just seems like a waste, but then again, money can help Latrelle, help me get a place right now, I can't live with Oscar forever, maybe help Olivia's parents get back over the border, I could really use it. "Is that your mom" I heard Cesar ask leaned over Monse's computer "your mom" I questioned leaning on the other end to see a women's Facebook page "Julia Whitman" Cesar read, Monse then clicked to her page "who's Laura Diaz" I asked reading the screen, "I had to use a fake name, I didn't want to scare her" Monse told us, "maybe seeing your face might already do that" I told her, Monse's eyes widened and she lifted one eyebrow "as in, people say a mother never forgets their child's face" I elaborated "well we'll see" Cesar said, controlling the mouse to go to her moms page and add a friend request, "no" Monse jumped "okay well then take it away" Cesar told her "but what if she's already on and she sees it, taking it away would be rude" Monse justified, I know deep down inside she hoped it would all work out, but maybe she's up for a truth she can't handle.

Ruby came back to the table "okay so everyone needs parts" Ruby started "I'll do the music" Cesar suggested "great minds think alike brother, Monse will do invitations, Aaliyah will do bookings, and Jamal as in your dad will cater" Ruby ordered "how many" Jamal asked "around 300" Ruby said "300" jamal exclaimed "let's make it 350 to be safe" Ruby added "Jamal will do the flowers and I will make the food" Ruby's abuela corrected "I don't know anything about flowers" Jamal told her "mr. Green thumb will help you" she added at first he looked confused then he had an awe moment "oh yeah mr. Green thumb" he said winking at her. "What exactly should I book" I asked "I thought we were don't with dumb questions, transportation, vendors, photographers, you know what I'll send you the list" he told me.

After booking a car for la princesa and her dress to ride in, I called the lawyer back. "Hi ms. McNeil, I'm Aaliyah from the other day, you know the anti-custody case" I reminded her "hi Aaliyah I'm glad you called back, are there any specific questions you have" she spoke in a soft voice "how's the process" I asked "well we're going to do something called child emancipation, which means you're basically disowning them and they no longer have any charge over you" she started "I thought you have to be 16 for that" I asked "the state of California which you are a resident in allows you to do it at age 14, next you can sue them for the emotional distress of the divorce" she told me "thank you so much, you're kinda like my light in a dark tunnel" I told her, "no problem" she told me.

I walked back inside Ruby's house, jasmine and Ruby were waltzing while, the rest watched, the tempo in the slow music changed and they started to break into a choreographed dance, I walked up next to Cesar who was on his phone, when the music stopped Ruby pointed out my unpunctuality in Spanish. "Is that my dress" Olivia asked, I noticed the blue one tight dress that Jasmine wore during the lockdown, "I'm just loaning it" Jasmine told her "but now there's a hole in it" Olivia added "that's from when you all stabbed me in the back from that everyone kills jasmine game, I shouldn't even be here, you're lucky I'm a forgiver" she told us "okay we're partnering up, Jamal and Aaliyah, Cesar and Olivia, Monse and me, Jasmine observe and switch out with whoever needs it" Ruby commanded "I already know how to waltz, so can I just skip today" I asked "no, you know how to do it then prove it you've already wasted time" Ruby barked at me. I placed one hand on Jamal's shoulder and grabbed his other one, "am I allowed to place my hand on your hip" he asked "I'm not going to bite you Jamal" I hissed at him, he nodded, as the music started we started to moved drawing imaginary squares on the floor board.