New on the block

You Can Stay Forever

Cesar's POV:

It's been a few weeks since everything happened Monse's gotten really close to Ruby and Jamal. I started sharing the bed with her and I've been getting more involved with the Santos. I walk into our room, I mean my room, and she isn't there. Shit I start freaking out and when I turn around she's standing there in a towel. "Relax Cesar, I was just taking a shower. She puts her hand on my chest as she looks through the bag her dad dropped off for her. "No clean clothes, I guess I have to go back to my house." She mumbles. "Here I'll wash your clothes and you can just wear this for now." I say as I pass her a sweatshirt and a pair of my boxers. "You sure? I can just put on the clothes I wore last night and cross the street. I should probably see my dad anyways." She says with a smile. "It's fine trust me." I kiss her cheek and grab her clothes so I can put them to wash. I walk back in the room and she's already dressed and I can't stop myself from smiling. I wish we could be together. She's seen me as Cesar and lil' Spooky and she likes me either way. "Are you just going to keep staring at me or are you going to say something?" She laughs and I get a little embarrassed. "Um... yeah I um.... Ruby and Jamal can they come over today?" I ask and she rolls her eyes. "It's your house." "I know but you're here and I want to make sure you want them here. Even though they're here everyday." I'm literally making no sense. "Yes I want them here you weirdo." Monse laughs and my stomach gets this weird warm feeling. I call them and in three minutes they're here with a whole lot of food. "Abuelita said you and Oscar need real food." Ruby says as he walks in. "Hey Monse, any progress with your dad?" Jamal asks. "No and I don't know if there ever will be." Monse throws herself next to me on the couch. "It's not like you can live with Cesar and Oscar forever." Ruby says from the kitchen. Monse looks at me like and then looks at the floor. "She can stay here as she wants." I say as I glare at Ruby. He sits down on a chair and puts his arms up. "I'm just saying eventually they're gonna get tired of you and your dad's going to want you home." Ruby mumbles. Monse's eyes go wide and she furrows her brows. "Ruby!" Jamal and I yell at the same time. "It's fine he's right. How long can I actually stay here before I have to leave." She looks at her fidgeting hands as she talks. "You can stay here till you're fifty if you want you're basically family now." I put my arm around her and trace circles on her shoulder with my thumb. She puts her head on my shoulder and I can feel Ruby and Jamal staring but I don't care. "It's gonna be ok Monse Ruby just doesn't know how to shut up." I say. I kiss her head and I really wish I could make it better.

Monse's POV:
I can tell Cesar's trying to help but Ruby's right. They've been great here but my dad's my real family he's been with me forever even when my mom left. "I'm going to see my dad tomorrow." I say. They're all talking and I don't think they heard me. "Guys! I'm going to see my dad tomorrow." I say as I sit up. "So you're leaving?" Cesar asks. "I don't know but I know I need to talk to him." I look at Cesar and he nods. "You're dad and my dad have been hanging out and I think it's just so he can find out how your doing." Jamal says. "Has he talked you?" I ask. "No." Jamal shakes his head. "You're so weird." I laugh. He always makes me laugh and I'm not sure if he says crazy stuff on purpose or not. "If you think that's weird you should ask him about rollerworld." Cesar whispers. "What's rollerworld?" I ask. "Ok so..." Jamal explains his crazy theory about hidden money in Freeridge and gangs and something about Ruby's grandma. "Wow that's a lot. If I had fifty grand, or I guess twelve thousand five hundred 'cause you know splitting it, I would get an apartment. Maybe move back to Inglewood." I can see the disappointment in Cesar's eyes when I say this. "If I had any money at all I'd save it. I don't think I'm getting out of here any time soon but if I do I'm gonna need money. Maybe we can put our money together." He smirks at me and I roll my eyes. "Invest, invest, invest." Ruby says. "What about you Jamal?" I ask. "I know what I want but I'm not saying anything in case one of you decide to steal my idea." We all look at him and burst out laughing. "It's not like we'll ever find out. It's not real." Cesar says. "You don't know that." Jamal says. "Jamal's right, Freeridge is an old place and weirder stuff has happened." I tell them. Cesar and Ruby give me a weird look and Jamal just nods. "What? I googled Freeridge a lot." I say. "If I knew you were this crazy I would've told you to live with Jamal instead." Cesar pokes me with his elbow. "I'm not crazy I'm just a believer." I high five Jamal. I wish it could stay like this. Hanging out with them is the distraction I needed even if they brought up everything with my dad. "I change me mind." They give me a weird look. "I wouldn't leave to Inglewood. I would stay here with you guys." They all hug me and I pretend like I want to push them off but this is the best feeling in the world. I'm surrounded by people who barely know me but they really care about me.