Set during 1X10
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Cesar smiled and spun Monse around making her throw her head back and laugh.
"Cesar - Seriously Stoppp" Monse said laughing "do you have any idea how many of those tiny cakes I've eaten?" she looked at him and stuck out her tongue "Im gonna puke on you"
Cesar smiled at her endearingly "And I" he said softly tucking her hair behind her ear "am gonna PUKE RIGHT BACK" he shot a cross eyed look and spun her around again.
Monse protested loudly but laughed even louder. She couldn't believe this. They were touching like this infront of everyone. Not hiding.
She looked around and saw they were attracting quiet a lot of curious stares.
She stepped a bit away from Cesar feeling nervous and sweaty, her cheeks all warm as Cesar stood close to her, his cologne in her nose whenever he leaned down to give her a soft kiss to the forehead.
"Sorry! I'm just – I guess I didn't fully prepare for this," Monse confessed. "And I'm not that great at dancing."
"You're doing fine," he winked down at her.
"Everyone's looking at us," Monse muttered, burying her face in Cesar's chest. She was lucky he was tall and could block off at least a few faces.
She had been worried about Olivia but it seemed like Olivia was the person least intrigued by her and Cesar dancing and holding each other, while Ruby's entire family was fascinated as hell.
A few of Ruby's younger cousins that went to school with them were shooting her death stares. She'd forgotten about that part, she'd been so engrossed with Olivia she'd forgotten that basically almost all of the teenage population of Freeridge was hot for Cesar and they definitely thought she wasn't good enough for him. Not interesting enough. Not popular enough and definitely not good looking enough.
"You look gorgeous," Cesar said smiling at her. She looked up startled, could he read her mind?
"Jealous stares, don't worry" he leaned down and kissed her again, slowly wrapping his arms tightly around her.
Monse saw one of Ruby's cousin's jaw drop open and whisper something to the girl beside her, she shied away a little from Cesar uncertainly.
Cesar pulled back a little , noticing her hesitation "Oh Im sorry" he looked at her searchingly "is this too much ? I thought you wanted everyone to like, know that I'm your umm" he struggled "date?" Cesar said hesitantly "I mean if that's what I am.. I don't want to rush you or anything"
"Date?" Mose repeated
"Yeah" Cesar laughed nervously "I can be your date or the guy you take advantage of at quinceaneras" he grinned "I don't mind being objectified at all" he shrugged "I can even be your boytoy"
Monse pulled herself out of his grasp "Yeah, I get it, Cesar. Anything but my boyfriend" Monse sighed, pulling away from him. She spun around quickly and walked away tears suddenly filling her eyes, oh God what was wrong with her?
She wasn't entirely sure where she was going so she slumped against the concrete stairs at the front of the house, not even slightly bothered if her dress earned some stains.
"Monse? Hey, what's wrong?" Cesar asked when he pushed the front doors open. "What happened?"
"Nothing," snapped Monse, avoiding his stare and focusing on the dozens of parked cars nearby. "Go back inside."
Cesar sighed, sitting next to Monse. "Please don't shut me out again, why did you get mad?"
"How can I not be mad? You freaked out and said date instead of .." she paused "something else ..." she finally said and rolled her eyes.
Cesar furrowed his eyebrows before he spoke. "I'm confused."
"What's there to be confused about? You say you want this but I saw hesitation written all over your face just now." Monse shook her head "and here I am over thinking about that hesitation, being the girl I DON'T want to be..arghhh"
"... Oh Monse . Oh!" Cesar suddenly shifted spots, kneeling in front of Monse as he grabbed her hand. "Monse, that wasn't why I was confused as what to call myself."
"Then why were you?"
"I didn't wanna look like an idiot. If I said boyfriend like you were mine. I just... I freaked out, I didn't want you to think I'm a moron... Look, Monse, I've gotten you around to giving me a chance to be with you" Cesar mumbled. "I didn't want to mess it up but saying something wrong, I guess I got a little weird. Sorry if I freaked you out."
Monse bit her lip when she met his brown eyes, at his still perfectly parted hair, at his sweet, shy smile.
Cesar took a deep breathe "I thought we were never gonna be together, and I tried being okay with that. Tried to be happy being just friends with you, Monse. Because you're the best friend I've ever had. When you told me you wanted to give us a chance and not hide anymore I just... I went into overdrive, I suppose. I always go into overdrive when I'm around you. Like an idiot."
Monse laughed "Jeez, Cesar, I thought you were like, freaking out --- scared of saying the word boyfriend"
"Monse, I could never" Cesar shook his head. "Why would you think that?"
"I guess I go into overdrive when I'm around you too," she said softly. "That tends to happen when you like people, I suppose."
Cesar closed his eyes as he let out a small breath of air, the warmest of smiles on his face when he opened them again. He grasped both of Monse's hands, pressing them to his lips with a sigh, eyes stuck on Monse's as he spoke. A rush of relief hit Monse the same moment her heart fluttered, the same moment she realised the boy in front of her was the one.THE ONE.
"I should have told you how I felt a long time ago , how I only wanted you and not Olivia.. I've made you doubt me – doubt us" muttered Cesar. "I'm sorry."
Monse sighed "It wasn't just you—I was so scared of what was happening, what I was feeling.. I pushed you away"
"And now?" Cesar asked almost a little scared
"I'm tired being scared. I just wanna be me."
Her words settle between them before he quietly replies, "Sounds good," closing his hand over hers with reverence. "I really like you."
"Cesar, I couldn't—," her small voice falters, thick with emotion, "Couldn't be with you— That's why— That's the reason—"
He squeezes her hand tighter. "It doesn't matter."
"It does," Monse choked helplessly overcome. "I missed you .. every single day .. "She closed her eyes, trying to control her emotions, and Cesar cradled her face.
"We're here now," he said soothingly, kissing her gently.
Monse sighed and shook her head a little, a tiny smile creeping back up onto her lips.
"What?" He nudges his nose against hers, coaxing a larger smile.
"Nothing just absorbing how good this feels."
"What?"
"You and me."
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I've missed Monse and Cesar <3
