hermosa - ruby martinez

01

HERMOSA !

᠃ ⚘᠂ ⚘ ˚ ⚘ ᠂ ⚘ ᠃

sunday, 10:42 pm
senior's party
camila, ruby, cesar,
monse, jamal, marco

CAMILA DIDN'T EXPECT TO BE HERE. The tall, chubby girl never expected to be standing on a plastic crate, next to her best friends, Jamal, Monse, and Ruby, looking out for their best friend Cesar, with Finish Line, by Daye Jack playing. Who was Camila fooling, she wasn't looking for Cesar at all, yet looking out at the fresh faces of the seniors who were finally free from high-school. The hooded eyes from the blunts they had shared recklessly, tripping over their shoelaces as their visions swam in and out due to the concoction of drugs. She looked out at who she could be in the soon years. A cheerleader, prom queen, top of her class, a lover, a close confidant. Possibilities that had never wavered during her young upbringing, but only mattered now. High-school mattered, anything before it was simply a small river to cross. 

"Do you see him?" Camila looked to Monse, who was still looking out into the party, eyes frantically searching for their long time friend. "I don't see him."

"Something bad is happening. I can feel it. I knew this was a bad idea." Jamal spoke, causing Marco, Camila's cousin to groan in annoyance. He had decided to stay away from the teens, giving a few feet between them with the wall he laid back on and the wooden baskets they propped behind the fence to watch, to watch the party.

"I really don't see why you guys hang out with this kid, he's like a six year old." Marco looked down at his phone, not noticing the sharp glare from his younger cousin.

"Says the one hanging out with a bunch of 14 year olds. What, you're 16 almost?" Camila smirked at her cousin who scoffed, continuing to scroll through his phone.

"Pop a xanny, J. We can't see him 'cause he's being stealth. And eat a frank, Marco. We didn't ask for you to be here." Ruby ran to Jamal's defense, hoping to earn some butter points with Camila, but never caught her eye as she continued to look out at the party.

"I'm here because my cousin makes stupid decisions." Marco's words went unnoticed as the young kids continued to talk.

"No doubt. He's got this. When has Cesar ever disappointed?" Despite the fact that Camila could recall many times her close friend had let her down, she kept quiet, knowing Jamal had something to say.

"Mm. Fourth grade. Kickball tourney. We lost." Camila remembered that day. It was the day she decided she was in love with Jose. He was on the opposite team. The fam had to stick together, even if it meant being on the same team as Jamal. Jamal never took in interest in sports, not like Cesar or Camila did. Cesar was athletic, but sports was Camila's life. She ran track and swam, and was always first pick, despite being considered an ugly duckling in school.

Cesar chose Jamal, who of course, was scared, but had to play in order to pass the class. The fam had put him off to kick until the last minute, but eventually, it didn't help, and Jose's team won. Jose, never being a sore winner (but nevertheless, just a bit dodgy), walked towards Camila who slumped against the khaki gym walls with peeling paint and gave her a smile. "Good game." Two words should have no affect on Camila, but god, did he make her heart race.

Camila's memories were interrupted by the soft steps of Cesar, holding enough cans of booze for each of the teens, besides Camila, who settled on a Sprite to satisfy her thirst needs. "Only because I picked the kid with no skills," They all turned to see the eldest of their friends, (not including Marco, if he could even be consider a friend, much less a chaperone), and smiled softly when they got what they wanted. Camila gave a pointed look to Jamal, who waved her off. "And I'd pick you again. Loyalty trumps victory, compa." Marco groaned, causing the teens to look at him.