New on the block

Mexico: part 2

Monse's POV:
I've never seen this side of Olivia. She's standing up for us like we never had any issues. "I don't mean to be rude but why are you judging us? I got shot and I still feel safe in Freeridge. It could've been a lot worse if it wasn't for Cesar moving me out of the way just like Ruby did for Olivia." I point out nervously. "We're here for each other... familia para siempre." Cesar says, quoting Oscar. "Exactly our point, we are family and we can't just leave her where she isn't safe." Olivia's mom says. She hasn't made eye contact with me since she noticed my cross. I think about hiding it behind my shirt but why should? "We're proud of who we are. Not because being in a gang is cool, because it definitely isn't that, but because even though we might not be normal we accept each other. She's safer in Freeridge with people who will protect her than alone here." I protest. "Monse it's ok." Cesar says as he grabs my hand. "No, if Olivia moves who knows what could happen." I say. "She's right, there's safety in numbers." Jamal adds. "She's going to be walking those streets alone." Ruby says. "It's a safe neighborhood!" Her dad informs us. "Guys can I just talk to you outside?" Olivia asks her parents.

Olivia's POV:
"I love you both so much and I wouldn't be making doing this if I thought I wasn't safe. What if I promise to keep some distance between Cesar, Monse and me?" I ask. I know my parents are scared of what's going to happen if I'm affiliated. "If you swear you won't talk to them at all after today then we have a deal. If Geny tells us you even looked in their direction you're coming right back here." My mom says in a strict tone. I have to say yes even if don't mean it. "Ok, I promise." I nod.

Cesar's POV:
I look over at Monse and she looks exhausted. "What wrong?" I ask. "I'm just tired of being in pain. It'll be worth it if Olivia can come back home with us." She says as she takes a deep breath. "What do the Prophets have against my stomach anyways? I'm gonna have two big ass scars 'cause of them." She sounds like she's joking around but I know she's worried. "I promise when we get back to Freeridge everything is gonna be ok." At least it'll be ok for her. I'm not letting her get hurt ever again. We look outside the window at Olivia and her parents hugging and I can tell Monse misses her dad. "Has he called you yet?" I ask. "Who? Oh my dad, yeah he called me when I got home from the hospital." She nods. "Nothing else?" "I'm fine Cesar. I have you." She kisses me and Olivia's parents walk into the house. "Good news, I'm going back with you guys." Olivia says. "For real?" Ruby jumps up out of his seat. They both look so happy. "We can leave tomorrow." Olivia tells us. "Hey Cesar, Who was right?" Monse laughs. "You were." I mumble. "What, I couldn't hear you." She cups her hand behind her ear and I roll my eyes. "You were right!" I laugh. "I know I was." Shes so annoying but her cheesy smile makes makes it cute. "I made tres leches, I wasn't expected to feed all of you but we can make it work." Olivia's mom sounds upset and I feel kind of bad for her parents. Olivia chose people she barely knows over her family. We follow her parents into the kitchen and see everything they set up for Olivia. "Because we weren't there for your birthday, we wanted to celebrate when you came home." Her dad says. "Do you think we made the right thing?" I whisper to Jamal. "Oh definitely not but Olivia's happy so that's what matters, right?" Jamal says and I nod. "Come on." Monse waves us over since we've just been standing and staring at them. I sit down and she sits on my lap. "Olivia told us about your famous tres leches." Ruby says. "Yeah, it's one of things she wouldn't shut up about during her quince." Abuelita says. "I bet it was beautiful. Sorry we weren't there for you mija." Olivia's dad says. "I need to call someone I'll be right back." I say and Monse gets up so I can leave. I go step outside and take a deep breath. Man if I really wanted to I could just run and leave all that Freeridge shit behind. "What's wrong?" Monse asks. "Nothing, I'll be back inside in a minute." I give her the best smile I can and I know it's crap. "I miss my family too. When I look at them all I can think is man Olivia's crazy. It's her choice and we can't talk her out of it." Monse says. "Monse, I don't miss my family 'cause I don't have a family miss." I explain. "You have Oscar." "It's not the same. I have no love." I feel selfish for even thinking of this right now. "You have me, you know how you guys always say, familia para siempre? That's real for us." She's right. "I know bebé and I swear one day we're going to have a family of our own and I'm not gonna be like our parents." "You better not be. I did not take a bullet just for to leave me." She laughs at her own joke before she even finishes her sentence. "I love you so much." I laugh. "You what?" She stops laughing. "I um... I'm hungry let's go eat." I start walking into the house but she stops me. "I love you too." She smiles. "You what?" I mock her. "Can I take it back?" She asks. "Nope, you love me." I kiss her before I walk back inside.