Then & Now [OMB || Cesar Diaz]

then - 9

"What did I️ tell you about hanging out with that boy?!" Her dad yells as she walks into the kitchen while he just closes the front door. She pauses in surprise and looks up at him in fear. How did he find out??

"I️ haven't-"

"Do not lie to me Layla! Mrs. Robinson told me she saw you two walk here together," he says. "Or are you calling her a liar?"

Mrs. Robinson was such a fucking snitch!

"I'm sorry! But Cesar's in trouble right now! He's homeless and I️ just wanted to make sure he was safe-"

"Layla, I️ don't care about him, I️ care about you!" Her dad stresses.

"And I️ care about him-"

"Stop!" Her dad yells, making her jump. "As long as you hang around him, you are in danger, do you understand that?" He points at her. "And if you don't understand, then let me help you out," he says. He lets out a breath to calm himself down. "I️ think it's best if you go live with your mother for the rest of the school year."

Layla's mouth dropped. "You're sending me to Atlanta?" She asked in disbelief.

"No, I'm giving you the option to go to Atlanta, because I️ believe you'll do the right thing and stay away from him," he speaks. "But if you find yourself unable to resist or stay away from him, then you always have Atlanta," he tells her. "Okay?" He raises an eyebrow at her. When she didn't answer, he repeats, "okay?"

Layla nods. "Okay. I'll think about it," she promises him.

                                 * * * * *
"He threatened to send you away?" Cesar sounded pissed as Layla told him about last evening's conversation with her father.

"Lowkey," she said. "But..."

Cesar stopped while walking, making her look back at him. "Don't tell me you're thinking about going," he says.

Layla frowned. "No! Of course not, it's just I️ haven't seen my mom in years outside of Christmas and summer break," she tells him. The only reason she's never committed to doing the full move is because of her life in Freeridge. Her friends, her boyfriend, she just couldn't up and leave.

"But I'm not in Atlanta aren't I️?" Cesar jokes, making her laugh as he wraps his arm around her shoulder.

"No...you're not," she smiles. "Tell me, how's living at Jamal's?" She asks him, making him groan.

"Don't get me started," he sighs. "Jamal hears, but he doesn't listen. It's like he has no idea what boundaries look or feel like. Jamal was born without a personal bubble," Cesar complains.

Layla giggled. "You need to look on the bright side," she says.

"What bright side?" He asked. "Marvel vs DC. Big Foot versus the Yeti! They're the same thing. I don't give a shit, which is another problem," he points at her. "He keeps trying to FaceTime me while I'm on the toilet."

"That's shitty," she jokes.

He gives her a look. "No, it's the opposite. I'm constipated," he tells her.

"But I'm glad you have somewhere safe to stay," she smiles. Cesar returns it, and leans in to give her a kiss when Jamal and Ruby show up, interrupting their conversation.

"Hermano!" Jamal shouts, making Cesar roll his eyes in annoyance.

Danna also soon shows up. "Hey! You weren't answering my messages. I️ was asking if you already got tickets to the dance tonight," Danna pulls Layla to the side.