love replaces scars [c.d.] - discontinued

e i g h t

Alisa Finnie's Point of View

It's the next morning. The first day of school and I already have a bad hangover. How shitty is that? My phone starts blowing up as I groggily roll off the bed.

"¡Pinches de mierda!" I shout. Today is just not my day. I get up from the carpeted floor and check the messages I've gotten.

my shorty / mi amor ❤️💍 : We walking to school together??

-

the turntable 🏈 : ALI!! EMERGENCY!

the turntable 🏈 : COME ON! IT'S ABOUT RUBY!!!!!

the turntable 🏈 : ANSWER UR PHONE! I KNOW UR ON IT RIGHT NOW!

-

tiny pito : We need to talk..

-

my sissyy 😎 : I already left so don't wait for me.

my sissyy 😎 : I also made u some leftover Eggos cuz I'm nice like that. Love you.

-

sp👀ky : did you have fun last night? 👅💦

sp👀ky : i put my number in yo phone when i dropped you off in your bed, you're a heavy sleeper ;)

-

Oh. That's all I can say. Oh, I need to change Ruby's name, yet again. And oh, now I remember how I got this hangover. I am such a shitty person. Oh, how I can't believe I did this to Ruby and Cesar.

I groan out and throw my phone on my bed. I go into the kitchen, looking for the Eggos that Monse said she made for me. After finding and eating them, I go into the bathroom.

Waiting for the shower to heat up, I decide to turn on some music to get ready for a shit day at school.

"Back home, smokin' legal. I got more slaps than The Beatles. Foreign shit runnin' on diesel, dawg. Playin' with my name, that shit is lethal, dawg." I hear the lyrics blast, the beat going in and out of my ears.

I hop over and into the tub, the balmy running water hitting my head. The drops run down my face, causing me to step back a bit. As I get used to the water, I stand looking back into what happened last night.

-

I put on my outfit and head out the door. In the distance, I see three teenagers. Ruby, Monse, and Jamal. Attempting to catch up with them, I realize they're going towards that house. The house with the little sofa in front. The house I was at last night, yet none of them knew.

I finally match their speed and materialize in front of them. "Hey guys." I say as Monse heads down the street. The two boys' heads turn to look at me and then back to my sister.

"See, bitches be bonkers." Jamal comments before crossing the street.

"Was that directed towards me?" I ask the short boy.

Ignoring my question, he replies, "You look good, Ali." Then he merely walks and approaches our other two friends.

I groan in disbelief and follow him. We stand for a few seconds, waiting for Cesar to come out of his house, I suppose. (ROSE TOOK MY NOSE, I SUPPOSE) As if on cue, the young man comes out the door and walks in the direction of us.

We stroll along the sidewalk, Monse and Cesar in front of me. Then Jamal suddenly bursts, "I can't do this, I can't keep a secret. It's gonna make me implode. I don't know why anyone keeps secrets."

I see Cesar and Monse nod to each other as she says, "There's something I need to tell you."

Before she can continue, gunshots surround us. ".44!" We all exclaim, just like we did before everything happened.

That bright red car rolls up beside us. "Cesar." Spooky calls out to his little brother. We stop in our tracks and Cesar goes to where the car stopped. Oscar gets out and holds the seat down so his brother can jump in.

"Hey, Alisa." The man winks at me, somewhat licking his lips. All heads turn to me. "You never answered my texts, but I hope you had fun last night." Spooky repeats the text message he sent me. He laughs and gets back into the driver's seat, driving away.

We walk onto the street, watching as the car go off into the distance. "What was that all about, Ali?" Ruby asks, his face seeming to be full of concern. "Is there something you're not telling us?"

"No, why would I be hiding something from you guys. I always tell you everything." I say, biting back the truth.

"Yeah, okay." Jamal scoffs.

"What's that supposed to mean little brown boy?" I question him.

"Nothing. Just that there always seems to be something you're hiding from us." He shrugs.

"Says the one who is still hiding from his father about being on a VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM!" I emphasize the last part.

"I did what I had to do." He looks back at me.

"Hey, Monse, what were you going to say?" Ruby asks.

"Cesar.." She starts while holding her backpack strap. "He needs to be saved."

"What do you mean?" I look at my sister.

"He... he got jumped in." She replies.

"Jumped in?!" Ruby and Jamal shout in sync. "You mean into the Santos gang?!" Jamal continues.

"Let's just go to school, where some of us actually need an education. We can meet after school in Ruby's room. If he's okay with that.." I quickly glance at him.

"Yeah, yeah. That's fine with me... if you tell us what happened between you and Spooky last night."

I pretend that my phone is ringing and put it up to my ear. "Yeah, hello? Oh, I'll be right there." I look back at the group, "Sorry guys, gotta go. Duty calls, you know?" I start to speed-walk away from the bunch.

"We're going to the same place, Alisa! You can't run or hide from us!" Jamal shouts at me. "We're going to find out sooner or later."

~

double update.. whaaattt? i hope you guys like the double update to make up for my leave of absence. have fun and i'll try to write another one tonight :)

- natalie