On My Block

The lockdown

~Cesar's POV~
Cesar: "No!"

I wake up panting from a bad dream. I'm all sweaty.

Cesar: "I got to get this on lockdown."

I get ready and go to school.

Jamal: "What's up? You look fired."

Cesar: "Couldn't sleep last night."

Jamal: "I'd seriously consider Tempur-Pedic pillows. Changed my life. Or our we talking non-pillow issues?"

Cesar: "Just some shit. It's nothing."

Jamal: "Is it drugs? You slinging? You stole a car? Held up a liquor store? A drug store? A corner store?"

Cesar: "No store."

Jamal: "Home invasion? Assault? Assault with a deadly weapon? Oh my god, they made you kill someone, didn't they?"

Cesar: "Shh."

Jamal: "I really hope it wasn't a white person."

Cesar: "I didn't kill anyone. I kissed Olivia."

Jamal: "What? You kissed Olivia?"

Cesar: "Shh."

Jamal: "Why would you tell me that? You know I can't keep a secret."

Cesar: "I call bullshit. You've kept the football secret for month now. Unless you all of a sudden developed glaucoma or became a pirate."

Jamal: "That's not funny. Piracy's a problem. And—And— And I'm cool with keeping my own secrets. Other people's? I've got nine hours tops. And that's with perfect conditions. If there are any extenuating circumstances, all bets are off. I can't be too hungry or too full or too hot or too cold or feel like I'm physically cornered. And what about Olivia? She lives with ruby. She could tell him at any moment."

Cesar: "Olivia's cool. She's tight-lipped."

Jamal: "You boned?"

Cesar: "I'm talking about the lips on her face."

Jamal: "And we're in the middle of a heat wave. There's no way I can keep this in."

Cesar: "Fine, ill handle it."

Jamal: "What are you doing? You don't deliver heartbreak via text! You have to do it in person."

Jamal: "Ooh. You'll thank me later."

I went and grabbed my phone that Jamal threw.

Teresa: "Hey. Wow. You look... not good. I'm sorry. I take full responsibility. I shouldn't have blown you up every night. And I promise I will stop talking about the woman who may or may not be my mom. Oh, did I tell you? I found her on Facebook, but her accounts private. I haven't friended her yet but I googled her. She's an author. Do you think that's a sign or a coincidence?"

Cesar: "I don't know but listen somethings been weighing on me."

Teresa: "I know."

Cesar: "You do?"

Teresa: "Yeah. And I'm in. I'm ready to take things to the next level with us. I can't keep our sitch a secret. It's eating me up."

Cesar: "I feel you."

Teresa: "We have to figure out a way to tell the guys so they won't get pissed. Hey."

Olivia: "What's up?"

Cesar: "Nothing. Nothings up."

Olivia: "Can I borrow Teresa for a sec?"

Cesar: "No! No need to borrow her. She's all yours. Everything cool?"