It was summer, which mean it wasn't long until we would be starting high school. Where are my manners, hi I'm Y/n Diaz and I'm currently outside a high school party with my friends Monse, Jamal and Ruby. My brother Cesar is currently getting us some drinks. "Why is he so slow today? What's he doing dancing with girls?" I said making them laugh.

"I don't know, all I know is I'm thirsty." Monse said making me smile. We all got distracted with watching Ruby's older brother, Mario making out with his girlfriend. "Do you see him? I don't see him." Monse asked a little while later.

"Something bad is happening. I can feel it. I knew this was a dumb idea." Jamal said talking down on our situation.

"Pop a zannie, J. We can't see him 'cause he's being stealth." Ruby said to us, that was true.

"Exactly, so just chill." I said to Jamal while giving him a reassuring smile.

"No doubt. He's got this. When has Cesar ever disappointed?" Monse asked us.

"I can think of a few occasions." I said with a little nod.

"Mmm, fourth grade. Kickball tourney. We lost." Jamal said while looking at Monse.

"Only 'cause I picked the kid with no skills. And I'd pick you again." Cesar said before throwing a beer to Jamal, who struggled to catch it. He then threw me a beer. "Loyalty trumps victory, compa." He added before giving Ruby and Monse a beer. He then joined us. "Take it in. This is about to be us. This is high school." Cesar said before we all took a swig of our beer. The worst thing would be the preppy cheerleaders but other than that it was going to be great.

"I mean apart from the cheerleaders, I think it could be ok." I said with a smile. I knew what Cesar was thinking 'be more optimistic.' But how could I be.

"Ruby, you think your brother's gonna marry Angelica?" Monse asked him, I was gonna ask the same thing seeming as they'd been making out the whole time.

"No idea. Mario tells me jack." Ruby said, I heard Jamal start laughing.

"What about that time he said Angelica has a dangler?" Jamal said making Ruby give him an annoyed look. "But he said that." Jamal added while looking at the reaction he was getting.

"In private! Time and place, dude. Oh, guys, check out Huerita at nine o'clock. Monse and Y/n, if you were a girl- -"
Ruby said before me and Monse cut him off.

"We are girls." We said at the same time, what ever did he mean by that.

"Yeah, but if you were girls like that, would you wear underwear?" Ruby asked us, I'm just act like he said that to us.

"Oh, my god, I'm gonna die. I'm gonna die. I'm gonna die." Jamal started repeating over and over again.

"Why are you gonna die?" Monse asked him, I had an inkling as to why he was gonna die.

"Those guys play for the 'Ridge. Did you know that last year alone over a quorum of kids- -" He started saying before me and Monse cut him off.

"Died playing football?" We said at the same time, we'd heard this all before.

"You're stuck on repeat. So, don't play." Monse said to him.

"Besides your not gonna die, because we won't let that happen." I said to him, I wasn't gonna lie that I had a few feelings for him.

"No choice. My pops was a legend. It's family tradition. I'm dead." He said before getting off the makeshift platform we were stood on and getting to the ground. He was squatting with his head down.

"You're not dead." Monse said while jumping off the platform.

"Football spiral." Cesar said, we both jumped down and went to Jamal who started to hyperventilate. He then started whimpering, Cesar crouched and looked at Jamal. "Jamal, CTE is not in your future." Cesar said, I saw Ruby turn round to look at us.

"Guys, check out my game. Huerita just game me the nod." He said before a hand went across his neck pulling him into the wall. "Ah!" He expressed.

"Eyeing my girl, cabrón?" He asked Ruby, Cesar stood up and looked at what was happening.

"No. God, no. I'm not into blondes." Ruby said lying a little.

"Easy. He does your mom's taxes. Mrs. Guzman, right?" Cesar said, Ruby started nodding.

"Three thousand dollar refund. Schedule C, line 30, home office deduction." Ruby said to him.

"Really, dude?" I asked him. Another guy appeared he looked at Ruby before looking at us.

"Yo, what are you doing, ese? That's Spooky's little bro and sis, dawg." He said to his friend, me and Cesar nodded. It was kinda a good thing before Spooky's little sister, I meant we got street credit.

"I didn't realize it was you, homie. Hey, listen, tell Spooky Sad Eyes sends respects. Let's get out of here." Sad Eyes said before walking off. Which a weird conversation.

"Thank God for your brother." Ruby said to me and Cesar. Cesar currently had his arm around our good friend.

"Don't. Thank God for better things." Cesar said to us.

"Now that's something I can get behind." I said before the sound of a gunshot was heard, we all ducked and started running.

"Oh, shoot!" Ruby said.

"Let's go!" Cesar said before we all started running, you could here screaming from people as they were running out the house. More gunshots started going off.

"That was a .38." Monse said to us, there was no way that was a .38.

"No, it was a .45." Jamal said to us as we were running.

"It sounded like a .44." Ruby said to us.

"Wrong." I said to them. There was another shot.

".357!" We all shouted with a smile. We ran all the way to Ruby's house. Me and Monse were sat next to each other while the boys were watching Mario and Angelica fight.

"I don't understand why they can watch that, like it's not our business." I said to Monse, we'd been friends for ages. We brought us closer was the fact that we were the only girls in our group.

"I know, but boys will be boys." Monse said with a smile.

"Angelica's pissed." Jamal said to Ruby and Cesar.

"She's always pissed. You would be too if you had a dangler." Ruby said before looking at Jamal.

"What? She's making Mario cry." Jamal said, this I had to see, I stood up and went over to the window. He was in fact crying.

"I have to see this." I said while looking at him crying.

"My brother doesn't cry. Dude, he's crying." Ruby said while laughing a little, Mario looked at the window and saw us.

"Look at me." Angelica said, Cesar walked off leaving the three of us. We all ducked down a little. The three of us were just talking and observing what was happening.

"Here comes waterworks." Jamal said, the three of us ran to the sofa. Cesar and Monse joining, I was seated between Jamal and Ruby. Mario walked in and slammed the door behind him. He sighed before talking.

"We're you guys spying on me?" He asked, we all shook our head except from Jamal who was nodding, me and Ruby hit him. He started shaking his head. Mario started weeping, what was going on with him.

"You okay, homie?" Cesar asked him.

"Yes. No. I don't know." He stood in front of us and chuckled. "Look at you. On the verge of high school. All the excitement. All the firsts. First parties, first football games, first love. Want me to drop some knowledge?" Mario asked us, I didn't want any advice at all.

"Not really." We all said.

"High school, it's the foundation for the rest of your life. Any false starts could lead to your own dead end. Now sure, you guys are smart, setting curves and all that, but you still have to go hard, 'cause there's only one chance at a first impression. So, do you want to sit on the sidelines or play in the game?" Mario asked us, was there a point to all of this.

"I just don't want to die." Jamal said, I shook my head at him.

"Is Mario high?" Monse asked us, it seemed like it.

"Yes, he's high...on life and memories...and some seriously good indo." Mario said before chuckling. "What I was saying is work hard, put your heart out there, even if it's broken by some bitch you've known since Mr. Estrada's seventh grade social studies. Anyway...uh...what I was saying, and you may want to write this...don't go into high school without back-up. You guys need to stick together to survive. Got it." He said leaning into look at us. "I'm going to college, mofos!" He shouted taking us all by surprise. He then started to laugh. "Now, kiss my class ring." He said, Ruby awkwardly kissed it before sitting back down again. He then walked away.

"What the freak?" Jamal asked us.

"That was weird." I said while shaking my head.

"Is he kidding me?" Jamal asked again. We all started talking over each other. "That's why don't smoke that stuff." Jamal said, Mario started walking back over to us.

"Damn, I almost forgot. One last thing: don't bone Monse or Y/n." He said before walking out. We all started laughing.

"Why would anyone want to do that?" Monse said to us with a laugh.

"I know like we are not the right girls." I said while laughing.

...............................................................

It had been 10 week, we were finally going back to school soon. Well not yet. Me and Jamal had spent a lot of time together especially since Spooky had got out and Cesar had divided us. He may have been my brother but I couldn't forget what he'd done. Me and Jamal were currently at Ruby's house jumping on his new bed.

"Check me out, bitches! I got my own room! My own room." Ruby said before we jumped off the bed. "So, let's not trash it, I don't wanna break my pimp couch before it gets some play." Ruby added, me and Jamal looked at each other before looking away. "High school is an opp for reinvention. So if I want to live a new life, I got to be a new man. It all starts with my kingdom." Ruby said, me and Jamal had noticed a book that had 'La Couturè moderne' written, Jamal picked it up.

"Royal reading?" Jamal asked.

"I didn't peg you as the type." I said to him.

"Ha. No. It's a conversation piece. And 2.99 at Ross. Enough chitchat, let's feng shui." Ruby said, I heard someone clear their throat, I looked at the doorway and saw Monse, I walked over and hugged her. I missed her, imagine spending 10 weeks with a bunch of guys who hadn't been neutered.

"I'm back!" She said to us with a smile.

"Can you move that side table?" Ruby asked her, already putting her to work I see.

'No, seriously don't make such a fuss. I've only been gone all summer, but really, it's no big deal." Monse said to us, I was the only way that was glad to see she was back then.

"How was camp?" Ruby asked her.

"Camp was fine. Notice anything new?" She said to us, I had actually.

"You got your braces off." I said to her with a smile.

"You got boobs." Jamal and Ruby said at the same time, she crossed her arms over her chest. I just shook my head at the two boys.

"You can wait for Cesar to help." Monse said to them, that would be forever.

"Then we'll be waiting a really long time." Jamal said before sitting down.

"Why? Where's Cesar?" Monse asked us.

"We're not talking to him." Ruby said to her.

"Not even me." I said to her before sitting on Ruby's mattress.

"You in a fight?" She asked us, it definitely wasn't that.

"It wasn't really a fight.  More like- -" Jamal said while starting to look through the book. Ruby put a collection of pillows on the bed.

"We're not getting into it. Trust us, Cesar's not cool." Ruby said to her, that was true. And this is coming from his own sister.

"Well, I'm not cool being not cool. And why aren't you at football?" Monse asked Jamal, if only she knew the reason.

"We should really get to orientation before those lines get too long." Jamal said before standing up, that was true.

"Yeah, I don't want to be too sweaty for my ID. Like Mario said, 'it's all about the right first impression.'" Ruby said to us.

"And my hair does look good and I don't want it to get all clumpy with sweat." I said to them, it was true.

"And sticking together! You're deflecting this whole Cesar sitch. Stop being bitches and tell me." Monse said to us, we weren't talking at all about it. Even when we were walking down the street. "What happened with Cesar? This silent treatment will only last so long. I will break you. Come on there's no way Cesar did anything on purpose to destroy our crew. He's the glue of our group." She said to us, I was going to keep this silent treatment up for a long time. I couldn't be broken out of it.

"That was then, and this is now." Jamal said to her.

"Yeah, Cesar ain't shit." Ruby said to us. We were walking into an open area and saw Prophets, great. "Shit, Prophets. Be cool." Ruby said to us.

"I am, hide me." I said to them. Jamal took his Jacket and gave it to me. I put it on as he was putting his hat in his back pocket. Ruby was taking off his hoodie which would only mess his hair up. It wasn't that messy in the end.

"Thanks Jamal." I said to him, with a smile.

"Damn it. Did I just jack my do?" Ruby said while tying his hoodie around his waist. The three of us looked at him.

"Yeah." Monse casually answered. He got his phone out and opened the camera to fix his do.

"Code dread. Code dread. Approaching on your six." Ruby said while putting his phone away. I looked around and saw Jasmine. We all started walking not wanting to be trapped by her.

"Yo! You guys going to orientation? Hey, you know my cousin Berto, the fine one, hey? His daughter Letty said it ain't nothing, unless you're stupid and can't spell your name. And then you hold up the line and then people get mad. Hey, why are you guys walking so fast? You know I can't keep up. I have asthma." Jasmine said to us, we just kept walking not looking back.

"Sorry, Jasmine, we're having a private convo. Real sensitive stuff. Catch you next time." Monse said to her.

"It was nice bumping into you." I shouted back, it really wasn't. We then all started running away. Before finally stopping to catch our breath.

"Man, she is relentless." Jamal said to us, I took his jacket off and gave it back to him.  "Nice save." He said.

"Oh, your not safe." Monse said to us.

"Your threats aren't penetrating, okay? I'm not telling you what Cesar said." Jamal said, now she knows he said something.

"Ah ha! So, he said something!" Monse said while turning around to face us.

"Jamal!" Me and Ruby shouted at the same time.

"Do you need a muzzle?" Ruby asked him. "Monse, no offense, but you're a loose cannon. We're not telling you for your own protection." He said to Monse, she was a one. I mean I wasn't going to lie.

"My own protection? Eat a dick." Monse told Ruby, and the point was proven.

"Case in point. You don't even know, and you're already at Defcon Solange." Ruby said, we were walking past another opening and saw someone getting jumped. Monse was just watching whereas we weren't.

"Don't look. Keep walking." Jamal said to her while pulling her back. We just walked past not caring about what was happening. "Why would anyone want to get jumped into 19th Street? If it were me, I'd join First Street, only one second of pain." Jamal said to us, that was true but if I that choice was made by the people that were being jumped.

"Agreed. And who wants a lifetime of commitment at our age?" Ruby said to us.

"Exactly, that's too big of a commitment." I said to him with a nod.

"Apparently, neither of you. Lack of commitment seems to be a noticeable trend in this friendship. As does lack of personal space!" Monse said while pushing Ruby and Jamal away. I started hearing loud music from behind us. That's when I knew who it was. I looked behind and saw a familiar car. I saw Spooky and Cesar in it.

"We can't tell you what Cesar said." Ruby said while looking at the car.

"Fine. Then I'll ask myself." Monse said before standing in front of the car.

"Hey, you crazy?" Spooky shouted at her. She walked over to his window.

"I just wanted to let Cesar know I was back in town." Monse said to him, I really didn't like Spooky being home, the whole atmosphere had changed at home.

"And looking like a fine ass hyna." Spooky said to Monse.

"An underaged hyna.

"Not for some." Spooky said, he was referring to Cesar I could tell. "It's all good. You just look a little different. What is it?" Spooky asked her.

"My boobs." She answered.

"Nah, you got your braces off." Spooky said before chuckling. "Y/n, I know your here. What time are you coming home today?" He asked me. I walked over to the window.

"I don't know." I said to him.

"Just don't stay out to late." He said before driving off. Me and Monse walked back over to the Jamal and Ruby.

"When did Oscar get out?" She asked us, I didn't want to answer.

"Six weeks ago." Ruby said to her, and they've been a long six weeks as well.

"Now it makes sense. Whatever Cesar said, he said to impress Oscar. Cesar's terrified of his brother and I know you are as well Y/n." Monse said to us, it was true I was scared of my brother.

"Along with everyone else." Jamal said to us.

"Then who cares what he said." Monse said to us, it was true.

"Oh, just drop it." Ruby said to her.

"Do I look like I can just drop it?" She asked us, she had Ruby's hoodie tied around her.

"Actually, you do. You just won't." Jamal said to us.

"Exactly, so please Monse just drop it." I said to her.

"Tax time, bitches!" Latrelle said from behind us.

"Shit, Latrelle." Ruby said before we all turned around.

"Hands up, money out." He said to us, I put my hands up. Jamal's jacket just dropped to the ground.

"How can we take money out with our hands up?" Ruby asked being smart.

"I know you bookheads got that back-to-school gwop." Latrelle said to us, well that was a lie.

"It's orientation day. So technically, we're neither back to school nor out of school. We're- -" Monse said before Ruby covered her mouth.

"We don't have any money." Ruby said to him.

"What about that 20?" Jamal said to him, I hit him lightly. Ruby got the 20 out and handed it to Latrelle. Who then walked off. "At leads you finally got your own room." Jamal said reminding him about the good part, we finished the orientation before going our own ways. I was staying Jamal and Monse, we stopped over at my house but just stood on the opposite side of the street.

"Don't do this." I said to her, she wanted to confront Cesar.

"Are you high? I'm not gonna hash shit out. To what end? Death? Cesar might've joined the gang." Jamal said, I had no idea what was happening with Cesar anymore.

'He's not stupid. He's affiliated, yes, just like Y/n, because of their brother, but..." Monse said before Jamal started listing away.

"And their cousins, their uncles, their dad, their grandpa. Even the gay one." Jamal said while looking at them all. I never really felt safe with them all around.

"I know. I know." Monse said before looking at them.

"Wait. You know about the gay one? I mean he goes by the name Bananas. It's not that subtle." Jamal said, I don't think that what she meant.

"No! I know Cesar's and Y/n's family's been in that life forever. But he'd never join a gang. He's an outlier. So whatever's going on, it's not that." Monse before looking at them all again.

"He's not the same." Jamal said to her.

"I would know, I live with him." I said to Monse with a nod.

"He dumped us." Jamal added.

"But I wasn't here, so it's not official." Monse said to us, but it was.

"If someone breaks up with you over text, is it official?" Jamal asked her, I knew where he was going with this.

"Yes." She replied.

"Then consider us the text." He said before clicking his tongue and acting like he was texting. "Ding!" He said afterwards. "You've been dumped!" He added, she rolled her eyes and started walking to him. "Wait, please don't go. Please, you're...you're not safe." He said while pulling her arm back. I knew what he was looking to given to where his eyes were staring at.

"Why?" She asked us, I knew why.

"Because you've...blossomed." He said to her.

"'Blossomed?'" She asked using his word.

"Popped. Busted out. Puffed your party pillows. Whatever you want to call your new cha-cha-bingos. These new homies he's hanging with, they're thirsty." Jamal said before throwing her his jacket. She just threw it back. "Okay! Don't worry, girl! I got your back...from right here." Jamal said to her as she started walking over.

"Same here Monse." I said while looking at her. "I'm scared for her." I said while looking at Jamal.

"Same here." He said to me. I couldn't hear what they were saying but I could tell that it was bad. When Monse came back we started walking back to where they lived.

"Cesar is dead to me!" Monse said angrily, he was dead to me as well.

"Told ya." Me and Jamal said at the same time.

"He doesn't get to break up with us, we're breaking up with him! 'Sit on my face'? Who says that?" Monse asked, I couldn't see Jamal anymore but I knew he was still here.

"Chairs who can talk! And buttholes!" He shouted back. He came back in his football gear, he then started rolling around.

"I mean that's true." I said while nodding my head.

"I wouldn't put dumb crap like that past Oscar, but Cesar? What happened to him? Cesar's gotta be hitting the pipe. Right? Right." Monse said coming up with an idea.

"Could be!" Jamal called out.

"I don't think he is." I said to them both.

"That was totally out of character." Monse said, we were both watching as Jamal was crawling along the grass. "What are you doing?" She asked him.

"He's make it seem like he was at practice." I said to her with a nod.

"I'm getting into character." He said before spraying himself with water or whatever he had. I saw Mr. Turner watering his plants. "Hey, pops." Jamal shouted getting his attention. "Say nothing and go with my flow." Jamal whispered to us, I knew the drill.

"Y/n! Monse!" He shouted while putting the hose down. "Welcome back, baby. You ready for the new year?" He asked Monse.

"Bound to be a lot of surprises." She said as they side hugged. He then stood in front of Jamal.

"How was practice? Was he good Y/n?" He asked us, I forgot to mention all this time he thought that I was watching Jamal at practice when really we weren't because we were always over at Ruby's.

"Yeah, how was practice?" Monse asked him, Jamal handed her his bag.

"I don't know. Ask those D1 scouts who were all up on me." Jamal said to him.

"They couldn't get another of Jamal." I said with a smile, we'd gotten good at lying.

"That's my boy." Mr. Turner said before pulling Jamal in for a hug and hitting has back.

"Ow. Whoa." Jamal said as he dad walked off.

"Did you quit the team and not tell your dad?" Monse asked while standing in front of us.

"No. Yes. Look, I suited up first day, and I just wasn't feeling it." Jamal said, I knew because I was there.

"Wasn't feeling it." Monse said not understanding properly.

"Yeah, I wasn't feeling like breaking my neck. Listen, everybody who knows me knows I suck, except my pops. And he keeps thinking that I'm just gonna wake up one day and be him, and...I'm not him. I just need to find the right time to tell him." Jamal said to her, and when it was the right time I would be there as well.

"How ironic that a guy can't keep a secret is keeping the biggest secret of his life and getting his best friend to cover for him." Monse said to us, I don't think Jamal would use the term 'best friend' seeming as during this break we'd been getting closer to the point where we were near enough dating. I saw Monse smirk.

"What's that look for?" I asked her while looking at her expression.

"What?" Jamal asked her.

"I'm gonna rat you out to your dad...unless you drop the 411 about Cesar. What did he say?" Monse said to us, me and Jamal looked at each other.

"No." We both said.

"Yes! Mr. Turn- -" Monse started before Jamal put his hand over her mouth.

"Cesar said you let him hit it before you left for camp." Jamal said before putting his hand over his mouth.

"Are you happy now?" I asked her, she just said nothing. They both went home and I decided to do the same. Ignoring everyone that was outside the house, including Cesar. Time passed and me and Jamal were on a call with each other. We decided to invite Monse and Ruby. Ruby didn't know that Monse was on the line as well.

"So, what exactly was the context when Cesar said he 'hit it' with Monse?" Jamal asked Ruby, I was awaiting for the answer.

"He didn't say he 'hit it' he said he 'smashed, really hard.' But who cares about context?" Ruby asked, I was waiting for what Monse had to say.

"I care!" She shouted, this was going to be great.

"Dude, you can't keep one secret." Ruby said to Jamal, I was comfortable in the position that I was in. I knew Jamal would spill that I was there. I walked over to my bed and led on it.

"She was blackmailing us." Jamal said, and there was my cover blown as well.

"Y/n was there as well. I can't do this right now." Ruby said in a whisper.

'What are you whispering? Where are you?" Monse asked Ruby.

"Are you being held somewhere?" I asked him, with a light laugh.

"Hell. Look, I'm dealing with some jacked up, cracked up B.S. at home, and I got to work it out before school starts. So, this Cesar sitch, it just ain't top priority." Ruby said to her, I mean I had a few things to work out before school as well.

"Can we just meet up tomorrow?" Monse asked, I couldn't I was helping out at Jamal's dads joint.

"Can't. Got one last shift at my dad's joint before the summer's over." Jamal said to her. It was nice working with a friend.

"Dude, there's no way I'm facing the Inquisition all by myself." Ruby said, was he talking about meeting up with Monse.

"Geez. Cant we just meet at the joint at 5:00 and chop it up?" Monse asked, I mean sounded good.

"Fine." Monse said before hanging up. I then left the call. I heard a knock on my door.

"Go away Cesar." I said but he entered anyway.

"How did you know it was me?" He asked me with a smile.

"Because I don't think Oscar would come in begging for his sister to accept his apology." I said to him while putting my phone down beside me.

"I guess that's true. Who were you talking to?" He asked while sitting next to me.

"Just my friends, I think you used to be apart of the group but I can't tell because you've changed recently." I said to him, with annoyance.

"I'll leave you alone, I can tell I'm not wanted here." He said before standing and leaving the room. Shutting the door behind him.

............................................................

It was the next day and I was currently working with Jamal while Monse was just sat watching us.

"Thats my 11th text. Ruby's almost two hours late." Monse said annoyedly. She needed to relax.

"Chill. He said he'll be here, so he'll be here. Trust me." Jamal said before walking to her something, I just stayed stood in front of the window.

"Said the guy who's pretending to play football?" Monse said before let out a little laugh.

"Maybe my pops won't notice." Jamal said, I saw all the pictures on the wall.

"Are you sure about that?" I asked him while looking at them.

"Uh, somehow I don't think that possible." Monse said while motioning towards said pictures.

"Where the hell is Ruby?" Jamal asked.

"I'm going." Monse said before leaving.

"And then there was two." I said while looking at Jamal. When we finished up with work, guess who finally arrived. Ruby, we told her what she was doing and went straight to my house. We're Monse was fighting Cesar.

"Monse!" Jamal shouted as we were pushing through the crowd of men.

"Hey, watch it now." Oscar said to us.

"Shut up Oscar." I said to him.

"No! Monse." Ruby said as we were pulling her off of him. The guys all started barking and howling.

"This is why we didn't wanna tell you!" Ruby said to her as we were walking her away.

"'Cause you're going crazy!" Jamal said to her, she turned around and I knew this wasn't good.

"Crazy! I'm crazy?" She shouted at us, well she was at this precise minute.

"Calm down. Breathe." Ruby said to her but she wasn't having any of it.

"Don't you patronize me! I don't need you. Any of you. I was just trying to keep our crew together, but since I'm the only one who cares, you're all dead to me. I'll survive on my own." She said before walking away, we all looked at each other.

"I can't deal with this right now." I said before walking inside the house.

...................................................

I was at Ruby's with Jamal. We were all just sat outside watching the horror show of Jasmine and Monse talking.

"All we were trying to do was be good friends...and now we're not friends." Ruby said while we were watching that.

"Yo, bitches be bonkers." Jamal said, I faked coughed quickly. "Except for you Y/n." He said while looking at me.

"Thank you." I said to him. We were watching as Jasmine started dancing, Monse did not look very impressed.

"No, we're looking hard. This is how you pull in the honeys." Ruby said to us, I mean I didn't really need to pull in a honey.

"No, we pull in the honeys by finding the RollerWorld money. This is lame. This ain't even real. Besides I already have a honey." Jamal said before taking my hand.

"You know what's not real? Is RollerWorld. There's no money buried in our neighborhood." Ruby said, I was staying out of this conversation.

"It is real. You just aren't a believer. You don't even believe in the Yeti." Jamal said, I heard Ruby whisper an 'oh, my god.' Monse walked over to the fence,

"Hey." She said to us.

"Hey." We all said at the same time.

"So...I'm cool if you're cool." She said to us.

"I'm cool." We all answered.

"Cool. What's in the sacks?" She asked us, whole motioning to the sacks.

"Forties." Me and Ruby said to her.

"Gatorade." Jamal said making us both look at him.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" She asked and we nodded.

"I gotta go talk to my dad." Jamal said to us.

"See you tomorrow." Me and Ruby said at the same time. We both sat there talking before I left to go back home. I received a text from Ruby at 7:52 Pm.

*Ruby: compas, we will survive high school. We don't need Cesar.*

*me: you can say that again.* I then put my phone down, it was true. We didn't need Cesar. I heard the front door open and then shut. I looked out my window and saw Cesar. Where was he going this late at night. But at the same time I didn't really care. When the morning came, I got ready for school and something small for breakfast before walking out the front door, when I saw Monse, Jamal and Ruby outside. Cesar was following me. We then started walking to school.

"I can't do this. I can't keep a secret. It's gonna make me implode. I don't know why anybody keeps secrets." Jamal shouted, I knew not to trust him with secrets.

"There's something I need to tell you." Monse said before the sound of gunshots went off.

".44!" We all shouted with a Cesar. Oscar pulled up beside us.

"Cesar." He said, I watched as Cesar got in the car with Spooky. They then drove off. We stood in the road and watched.

"What we're you gonna say?" Ruby asked her.

"Cesar...we need to save him. And probably Y/n as well." She said while looking at us. Has something happened that I never knew about.