New on the block

Happy New Year

Cesar's POV:
We walk up to Ruby's house and there's a pregnant blonde lady. "Damn is everyone pregnant now?" Monse asks when we walk up Ruby's driveway. "Be nice." I whisper. "Hi." Monse says. "Hey." The blonde lady smiles before looking back down at her phone. "You guys brought pie!" Ruby squeals when I hand him the bag we brought. "Yeah,  Cesar can't bake for shit. But apparently you can." Monse says bluntly. "What?" Ruby asks. "We can tell that you're high." I explain. "You wanna get in on it? My Abuelita has some good shit." Ruby smiles. "Did y'all know there's a pregnant white girl on your porch?" Monse asks and everyone stares at Mario. "Remember how I told you sometimes you don't think things through enough before you say things?" I ask her. "Not really... how was I supposed to know I wasn't supposed to say anything!" Monse says as we set up the table. "I wasn't gonna say anything." I shrug. "Just for that you're gonna finish setting the table by yourself." She laughs. "I'm pretty sure Geny only told us to do this so she could deal with all that." We look back at the family all fighting in Spanish so Amber didn't understand. "Hey guys." Olivia says. "Hey." Monse and I say in unison. "Who's that?" She asks when she sees Amber. "Mario got some gringa pregnant." Monse informs Olivia. "Monse be nice!" This girl has no filter. "Is everyone getting pregnant now?" Olivia asks. "That's what I said!" Monse laughs. "Not Monse though." I shake my head. "Or me!" Mariana says when her and Jamal walk over to us. "Let's eat." Geny sounds stressed. "Everything looks really good." I say with a smile. "Yeah, it'd be even better if a stranger wasn't at my table." Geny mumbles. "So Mario, you excited for the baby?" Olivia says quickly. "Um yeah, it's a little earlier than I thought it'd be but I'm happy." Mario sounds like he's trying to convince himself. "That makes one of us." Geny mumbles. "You're supportive of Ruby and Olivia having a kid but not me?" Amber asks. I can't tell if she's making a statement or actually asking a question. "It's not Ruby's babe." Mario tells her. "Oh." It gets really quite and awkward. "Did you see the pie?" Ruby asks. It takes a second but me and Monse start laughing. "Why is that what you're thinking about right now?" Monse asks between laughs. "Gotta be positive this year I'm done with the petty shit." He declares.

*after dinner*
We're all sitting down by the tv waiting for the count down. "This is gonna be a good year." I tell Monse. "How do you know?" She asks. "Because I'm starting it with you." I pull her down on my lap and give her a kiss. "What do you want to do with the last five minutes?" She asks while I play with the bottom of her dress. "Nothing, just this." I kiss her again and she smiles. "Sending the year off right." She laughs. "You guys are so cute. Ruby when are we gonna be like that?" Jasmine says. "I'm right here." Olivia says. "Relax ladies, this year outside Ruben is gonna be full time. There enough of this to go around." Ruby says. "Well it's good to have goals." Jamal laughs. "The count downs about to start!" Mariana says. We stand up and all count down in unison. "Happy New Year!" Everyone yells. I grab Monse's face and kiss her deeply. "Happy New Year baby." Monse smiles. "It's gonna be a good one." I kiss her again. "Oh my God." She laughs with her arms still wrapped around the back of my neck and mine around her waist. I look over and see Jasmine squishing Ruby's face and kissing him, Jamal's twirling Mariana in around and Olivia's sandwiched in between Ruby's parents. Moments like this remind me why I haven't left Freeridge. Slowly everyone starts leaving or going to bed and then it's just me, Monse, Ruby and Jamal. "We're never together just the four of us." Ruby says with a mouth full of whipped cream. "I know, I miss this." Monse says. "Hey Ruby, you know where your Abuelita keeps her weed?" I ask and he nods. "I got it." He stands up and goes to her room. "Let's start the new year right." Jamal laughs. Ruby comes out and he's already smoking. "Your mom's gonna be pissed if she catches you." Monse says. "Yeah, but we'll have fun." Ruby passes me the pipe. "Besides babe, I think we Should all be on the same level as Ruby." I look at Ruby and he's laying flat on the floor staring at the ceiling. "I pass it." She laughs. "You guys, I'm gonna be a dad soon." Ruby smiles. "I thought you and Olivia broke up." I say. "Yeah, but I still love her. Maybe I shouldn't focus on last years bull shit." He says. "Last year was a couple hours ago." Monse laughs. "You know what I mean. That kid's gonna need a good dad but more importantly he needs a Ruben." Ruby says. "Babies can't eat sandwiches." I inform Ruby. "He means him you dumb ass." Jamal laughs. "You what Ruby, you should go in her room wake her up and tell her how you feel." Monse says. "No, big gestures!" Jamal argues. "Her baby shower!" Ruby springs up to his feet. "We need to spend more time together and Olivia needs a baby shower so Ruben's Fancy Festivities is going to have their second event!" Ruby says like it's the most genius thing he's ever said. "Wouldn't Amber's baby shower be first?" Monse asks. "Her's can be a practice one for the real deal." He says quickly. "I would help plan but-" Monse starts but Ruby puts his finger over her lip. "You're helping." He smiles. "Aye, I'm the only one who touches her lips." I pull her onto my lap, squish her face and give her a big kiss. "You can keep her. I got a princesa to win back." He says the first part in a disgusted voice. "He might have a princess but I gotta queen." I say against Monse's neck. "Mariana over both of them any day." Jamal adds. I pause for a second. "That's hot." I smirk and Monse slaps the back of my head. "That was so cute until you ruined the moment!" She laughs.