New on the block

I'll Keep You Safe

Cesar's POV:
"You wanna take a walk, you know so I can show you around?" If she says no then she obviously doesn't want anything to do with me. "Yeah...yeah ok." Monse stands up and follows me. "Enjoying the view?" I ask since she's standing behind me. "Wha-what?" She asks. She's somewhere else and it's obvious but I'm not gonna bother her. "I get it, I mean I've never moved but losing people and everything changing is really hard. But-" She cuts me off and gives me a hug. It's last all of five seconds before she steps back. "Sorry it's just you're the only one who's tried talking to me about it without getting mad." Monse tries to smile but I can tell it's fake. "Hey, don't be sorry." I put my hand on her shoulder and she actually smiles. We walk down to a bodega near our block. "Hablas español?" I ask. "Si, I speak Spanish." Monse says and now I'm the one smiling. "What?" She asks as she opens her drink. "Nothing. You're just pretty cool." I laugh. "You're pretty cool too." She nudges me with her elbow. "I hope you know I'm here whenever. I mean you said your dad wasn't around a lot and I'm right across the street... for anything." She turns and looks at me. "I feel like I probably should still be mad at you. But I'll keep that in mind." She says. We look at each other for a good minute before Latrelle pulls up. "Aye yo. Hey what's up with you ma'? Aye you looking good, let me get that ass on pimp lane. Why you hanging out with these broke ass Santos? You're Monse right, I've heard a lot about your dad. The Prophets been talking about y'all a lot." Latrelle says. I can feel my blood boiling. "So you go to juvy and now you think you're ballin' Latrelle?" I ask but I try to keep calm. "Yeah, why you think I knocked off a bunch of you're punk ass homies. Ask about me, go ahead!" Latrelle really needs to stay off my fucking block I throw my can of Red Bull and Monse pushes me back. "Hey, hey let's just go home." Monse sounds really worried but this isn't even about her I'm a Santo and I can't let him talk shit. "Screw you Santo and your dead homies!" He says. "Aye you know what side you're on?! This is our block, feel me? They call me lil' Spooky and I'll blast on your ass!" I scream as I try to walk up to his car but Monse keeps pushing me back. "Please! Cesar." She sounds so scared but if I'm going to protect her no damn Prophet is saying shit on this block. "I don't care what side I'm on!" Latrelle pulls a gun on us and I put her behind me. "Get off my block." Another Santo screams as he pulls up. He shoots twice into the sky and Latrelle speeds off and so do the other Santos. I hug Monse as tight I can. Monse looks frozen. "Look at me Monse, I'm sorry I lied I'm a Santo but it doesn't matter. I'll keep you safe, I will always keep you safe." I know I just met her but it's so much more than that.

Monse POV:

"Aye you know what side you're on?! This is our block, feel me? They call me lil' Spooky and I'll blast on your ass!" Cesar screams and I try to pull him back. He really is a Santo, why didn't he just tell me? "Please! Cesar!" I can't believe I care so much about a guy I don't know. Latrelle pulls a gun on us and Cesar pushes me behind him. Another car pulls up and they both speed away. "Look at me Monse, I'm sorry I lied I am a Santo but that doesn't matter. I'll keep you safe, I'll always keep you safe." He gives me a hug so tight I can barely breathe. "Can we just go home?" I ask. I don't know how I'm supposed to react. What did he mean by heard about us? My dad lived here like a million years ago why does him being back matter? "Wait." I tell Cesar as he walks away. "How does he know me?" I ask. "Let's just go to your house. I'll tell you everything." He puts an arm around me but I push him off. "I'm not going anywhere with you until you tell me." I plant my feet firmly on the ground. "Well that's too bad." He acts like he's gonna leave me but he picks me up and he starts running towards our houses. "Your dad was right I'm not safe and I don't know how your dad fits in with the Santos or the Prophets but he's like a peace keeper. My whole family is either affiliated or in the gang and honestly being in it doesn't bother me. You don't have to worry though because I got you." He says as he puts me down in front of my house. "Come inside." I tell him as I grab his arm. He doesn't move. "Why?" He asks. "My dad's not home and one of your friends just tried to kill you." I say. "Ok good point." We start walking and I unlock the front door. We sit on the couch and it all hits me. "I don't think you can keep me safe if you're the reason he pulled up on us." Cesar sits closer to me and puts one hand on my lap. "You can trust that I'll protect you no matter what." He looks at me deeply and I can tell he's telling the truth. "Why?" I ask. "Why what?" He gives me a weird look his hand still on my leg. "Why do you care so much?" I ask. "Because you don't deserve any of this less your dad decided to be in the life you didn't. I'm sorry I probably shouldn't have said that. I can go, if you want." I can tell he's nervous and he's so sweet and kind and almost like an instinct I kiss him. It feels like a part of me was brought back and I never knew it was gone before today.