New on the block

Dance Practice and Darkness

Cesar POV:
"So when are we telling them about us?" I whisper to Monse. "I don't know, after Olivia's quince. Ruby's only told us three hundred times that all attention needs to be on Olivia." Monse says. "So her birthdays in three days so we tell them in four?" I ask. "Wow you really can't wait five seconds, can you?" She laughs. "Ok everybody we need to pair up. Cesar and Olivia, me and Monse, and Jamal you're with Jasmine." "Actually Cesar and I broke up, I was wondering if you wanna dance with me?" Olivia asks Ruby. "Yes of course! I mean yeah sounds good sure." Ruby tries to act cool but we can all tell he's excited. "Ok Cesar and Jasmine, Jamal and Monse let's go!" Ruby says. "Why can't me and Cesar dance together?" Monse asks and I smile. "You guys broke up so I just thought it'd be awkward but if you guys want to then fine. Jamal and Jasmine, Cesar and Monse. That's the last time I'm changing it." Ruby sighs. "Ok you guys sit down and watch the talent." Jasmine says as she pushes Jamal on to the couch. We watch them do a whole dance routine and Monse looks terrified. "I can't do that." She says. "No one's gonna be looking at you two it's fine." Ruby says. "What?" Monse asks. "Olivia is the star, how many times do I have to say that?" Ruby rolls his eyes. We start practicing and I keep giving Monse a cheesy smile. "Why are you looking at me like that?" She asks. I pull her as close as I can and whisper, "We're slow dancing and you're not even complaining." "Don't get any ideas, I'm doing this for Olivia." Monse claims. "You don't like Olivia." I say as I spin Monse. "I never said that." "You never didn't say that." I laugh. "Ok and now dip!" Ruby says as he watches us and the other pair. "No way." Monse pushes me back. "He's gonna drop me." She's probably right. "Let's just try, I promise it'll be fine." I put both my hands on her waist and she nods. "Ok five, six, seven, eight." Ruby claps. "I told you I wouldn't drop you." I say before we stand back up. "Jamal you have to dip Jasmine!" Ruby walks over to them and I can't stop laughing. "If you drop me in front of everyone I'm gonna be pissed." Monse huffs. "You really think I'd let you out of my arms?" I pull her in by her waist again and she rolls her eyes. "What part of 'wait a few days before we tell them don't you understand." She really doesn't understand how much I want to be with her. "Hey Ruby, can I talk to you for a minute." As soon as we hear Olivia's voice Monse pushes me again. "Of course princesa. Jamal try dipping Jasmine without killing her." Ruby says. "I can just dip him. Esté flaco probably can't handle all this." Jasmine says. "Ok well I think this is our chance to escape." Monse whispers.

Monse's POV:
I feel bad pushing Cesar away all the time but we need to wait before we confuse the crew all over again. We manage to sneak out and I can breathe again. "I love ruby and everything but man, he can be pretty intense." I laugh. "It's just 'cause it's Olivia's birthday and he wants everything to be perfect." Me and Cesar walk to my house and he frowns. "What's wrong?" I ask. "I wish we could actually go out like normal couples. Even when we were dating I feel like all our 'dates' were just me and you in your room." He explains. "I know but we're teenagers it's fine, we have time to start going on dates and stuff." I point out. "You're right. Once we're out of Freeridge I promise I'm taking you out every chance I get." He pulls me towards him and he hugs me. "Is everything ok?" He never made a big deal about going on dates before. "Yeah, it's just the deeper we get into the gangs the more complicated our relationship is going to get. I don't want you to think I'm trying to hide our relationship." Something's definitely wrong. "You claimed me Cesar, we were always together in front of other Santos." I point out. "Oscar doesn't want me dating you. He says it's for our own safety." He says quickly. "No, I already said I'm done helping my dad. He can figure out how to get out on his own. I messed everything up after one time it was obviously a bad idea." I hate that Oscar has so much power over him. "It's not just that. I killed someone for you, if people find out then they'll go after you." I pull him inside my house because I know he can't talk about this where other people could hear him. "No one needs to find out. Why didn't you tell me before?" "Because we were over there dancing and having fun like normal teenagers and I didn't want to ruin it." I can hear how hurt he is. "Why did you join los Santos in the first place?" I ask. "My family, Oscar, my uncles, my dad. I was born to be a Santo and nothing was going to change that. It's a part of me that I wasn't ashamed of until you moved here and your dad told me to protect you. I see you and I wish I could have a real future." He sounds so broken. "You do have a real future... we have a real future, even if we stay in Freeridge." I cup his face in my hands. To anyone else it'd seem like we were planning and worrying about our future too young but every minute counts especially since I'm affiliated and he's in a gang. "We'll figure it out, I promise." I kiss him and he gives me a sad smile.