Then & Now [OMB || Cesar Diaz]

now - 5

The sound of someone knocking at her door woke her up from her sleep. She looked up and saw that she was cuddling up against Cesar, who must've fallen asleep next to her. She sits up and rubs her eyes, before heading over to the front door. It couldn't have been her dad, cause he would've just used a key. So opened the door and is face to face with someone she hadn't seen in over two years.

"Latrelle?" She sounded surprised, shoving him to the porch and shutting the door behind her. "What the hell? I️ thought you were in jail?" She whispered.

"Well good morning to you too," he said, making her roll her eyes. "They let me out early. The prison was getting overcrowded so decided to let out nonviolent offenders on parole," he explained.

She lets out a laugh. "You're a non-violent offender?"

"They ain't catch me on no other charges but possession and trafficking," he rolls his eyes. "But that's not what I'm here to talk to you about."

"Then why are you here?" She crosses her arms.

He got closer, making her look up at him. "I️ heard about what happened with 19th street," he says, making her falter. "Your lame ass Santos boyfriend ain't doing shit to stop them, after they disrespected you?" He said, making her roll her eyes and look away. "You know if you was still a Prophet Princess none of that shit would've happened."

"What's your point?" She asks him, losing her patience. "The Prophets are gone. And we're the not dating anymore. Cesar said he would handle it, and I️ believe him," she tells him.

Latrelle scoffs. "Yeah okay. And while he "handles" it, you should come back and fuck with a real one," he offers.

Layla sighs. "We had our fun, but now it's over. And now it's time for you to go-"

The door opens revealing Cesar. "Hey, I️-" he stops short when he sees Latrelle. "What the hell is he doing here?" He jumps, getting defensive and protective.

"He was just leaving," Layla tells him.

Latrelle steps up to Cesar, now pissed. "I️ can't believe you let 19th Street put their hands on your girl," he scolds.

"Not his girl."

"Back off Latrelle before I️ decide to finish what I️ started," he threatens.

"Cesar!" Layla scolds.

"You ain't nobody in these streets anymore. Know your place and mind your business," Cesar snaps.

Latrelle looks between them both and backs off. "You wrong about that homeboy. The Prophets making a come back, and when we do, 19th Street ain't the only ones you gotta worry about," he says. "So you might wanna talk to me nice cause I'm considering helping you with your little problem. For Layla's sake though."

Cesar eyes him for a moment. "We don't need your help," he seethes. "Now fuck off." He turns to walk back inside her house. "Layla," Cesar calls her as she looks up at him with a sorry look in her face.

"Take care," she whispers before returning back inside. She shits the door behind her and his now left face to face with Cesar.

"I️ still can't believe you dated him," Cesar scoffed.

"You dated Monse until she moved to her mom's," she accused. "And then we had that night at your job-"

"Yeah, yeah I️ know," he waved her off. "I️ get it."

Layla eyes him up and down before speaking again. "What are you going to do with 19th Street?" She asked him, now worried.

"I️ gotta make them pay," he tells her.

Layla frowned, walking closer to him. "I️ don't want you to do anything that'll land you in jail," she tells him. "Or worse."

"I️ chose this life," he reminds her. "I️ know what I️ signed up for." He moves around her to pick up his stuff. "I️ got to go. I️ have some planning to do."

"What about me?" She asked him as he passed her up. "I️ can't stay inside forever, I have school," she tells him.

Cesar sighs. "I'll drop you off and pick you up," he tells her.

"I️ can't be seen with you! Everyone thinks we're broken up," she argues.

"Do they really?" He questions humorously with a slight pitch in his tone, causing her to hit him. "I️ was kidding!"

"I'll just...Uber there and back," she tells him. "Don't worry," she waves him off.

"All I️ do it worry about you," he says, making her look up at him. "I'm gonna go now. I'll see you later," he says, turning to walk out. Layla watches him go with a somber look on her face.

She worried about him too. More than he knew. More than she let on.
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