Tattoo Artist | o. diaz

cincuenta y cinco: visits

Oscar, Venus and Luis went to her house to get some things, then went to Oscar's house. All the Santos were sitting on the lawn again, and greeted them when they got out of the impala. Luis ran inside to grab snacks, then made Venus help him get his impala from the backyard. All of Luis' snacks were placed in his passenger seat and he drove aroubd the front yard, occasionally running into people and laughing.

Everyone was just talking, listening to music and drinking, except Venus who had a random juice that Luis gave her. That all stopped when there was a gunshot and it sounded close to the house. "Hombrecito, go with mamá." Oscar said, taking Luis out of his car in the middle of his drive to the sidewalk and handed him to Venus. "Stay inside, okay."

"You're not going, are you?"

Oscar shook his head and pushed Venus inside the house. "They'll go see what happened, the rest of us stay here." Oscar explained. "If there's more,-"

"Don't go outside. I know. Just be careful." Venus said, kissing Oscar and closing the door after him. Through the curtain, Venus saw the red and blue flashing lights zoom down the street.

Venus sat down on the couch and turned the TV on while Luis was trying to decide if he wants to sit on the couch or run out and get his snacks. He chose the later, but pouted when Venus scooped him up before he could jump and try to open the door.

"Mamá, my snacks."

"I'll tell papá to bring them, okay?"

Luis nodded then climbed onto the couch. After a few minutes, he looked up at Venus with a pout before climbing into her lap. Luis grabbed her hand, and put it on his head as a silent way to tell her that he wanted her to play with his hair.

Oscar walked in with Luis' snacks and paused when he saw Luis and Venus asleep on the couch. Venus had fallen over into her side and Luis was curled up into her chest. He quietly sat the snacks down and put the blanket on the top of the couch over them before turning the TV off and walking out.

"They asleep?" One of the cholos, Carlos, asked Oscar from the porch ledge. Oscar nodded and sat down on a crate, lighting up a blunt as he did. "It's almost the end of the year, you know what that means?"

"Hell yeah."

Pablo, Enrique and Sad Eyes asked back from Ruby's house and saw Oscar laughing with Carlos. "What's funny?"

Oscar shook his head. "Nothing. Who got shot?"

× × ×

The next morning, Venus woke up and Oscar was yelling at his phone. She wasn't trying to be nosy, but when Oscar started saying Cesar's name and threatening him, she got confused.

"Cesar get your fucking ass home because I swear to God... No, the problem is you don't know how to fucking listen when an order is given and now your friend is dead and the other one's in the hospital." Venus scrunched her face up in complete and utter confusion, wondering how much she missed after she fell asleep. "Get your ass home, or else when we find you, it'll be even worse." Venus watched Oscar hang up his phone and hid behind the wall for a few seconds before walking in.

"Morning." Venus smiled, flinching at how raspy it sounded. Venus walked up to Oscar and kissed his cheek, and he smiled down at her as he pulled her into a hug.

"Morning mamas."

Venus picked her head out of his chest and looked up at him through her eyelashes. "Did you move me or did I sleep walk again?"

Oscar chuckled and fixed her bonnet after putting his phone down. "I moved you because you looked like you were going to fall off the couch." Venus nodded and put her head back into Oscar's chest as he slightly swayed them. "You going to the tattoo shop?"

Venus nodded and pulled away to go to the fridge. "I told myself at least once a week unless they call me and need help. Or if someone makes an appointment."

Oscar nodded and watched her go around the kitchen and pulling things out. "How come we never stay at your house? Yours is nicer. And cleaner." Oscar stated.

Venus turned around, staring at him oddly since he never brought up her house before. "I don't know. You're always here, and Luis and I want to stay with you."

"But yours and Luis' stuff is over there."

"It's here too." Venus stated. "Is something wrong? We never talk about my house."

Oscar hesitated for a second, contemplating on whether or not he should tell her what happened. "Cesar didn't kill Latrelle, so Latrelle shot up the quince last night." He said straightforwardly. "That one new gringa dead and Ruby's in the hospital." Oscar stated.

He watched as Venus froze and slowly turn around. Venus thought to herself for a second before she shook her head. "I have to go." She mumbled. Oscar didn't stop her and watched her walk out and to the bedroom, probably to get ready.

Jamal and Venus being close meant Venus was close with his friends as well. Ruby's the little one that kept hitting on her, and Venus felt the need to visit the hospital.

Oscar was surprised at how quick Venus got ready and watched her walk out in ripped jeans and a black hoodie. He took notice of how her hair was now up and her edges were laid. Luis came out behind her and held her hand with a smile.

"Hi papá."

"You want me to drive you?"

Venus thought about it, then shook her head. "I don't know if they'd be comfortable with that." Venus said. Oscar nodded and put the food he just cooked on the table.

Through the whole breakfast, Luis couldn't stop talking and giggling because he was making Oscar and Venus laugh.

"Eres tan chulo." Venus coo'd, leaning over and grabbing Luis' face so she could kiss him all over. Luis started giggling more as Venus dragged him over to her and squeezed him in hugs.

"Mamá! My food!" Luis laughed, flailing his body around in Venus' arms with how much she was kissing and tickling him. When Venus put him back in his seat, he went back to eating his food. "We see Ruby?"

"Sí, vamos a visitar a Ruby."