Carlos and I were in the school parking lot, making out. His hands traveled down to my legs and I pushed him back.

"Slow down." I whispered. Carlos smirks and kisses me again. I opened my eyes to see Jamal and Cesar looking. "Oh god." I pushed Carlos off me. I touched my lips and sinked in the seat.

"Whats wrong?" Carlos was looking around.

"Its nothing." I grabbed my bag and was gonna get out.

"Question." I looked back.

"Shoot." Carlos smiles and looks at me.

"You going to school dance?" I sat there thinking. I really didn't know. I mean, the whole Cesar thing and I really dont know.

"High school dances are the worst." I said.

"Really? Can I change your mind?"

"Dances are basically sex fests." I crossed my arms. "You can change my mind all you want, im still not gonna go. Sorry." Carlos nodded his head. "Thanks for lunch." I got out of the car and i made my way to the lunchroom. I sat down where the squad usually sits. I saw them coming there way. Cesar and Jamal looked at me. we sat there, awkwardly. I smiled at Olivia.

"I'm wearing indigo tonight." Ruby said. Anything for the awkward silence to be over! "I thought we should claim colors to avoid outfit clashes. Indigo? Any objections? Oh, and my pants have red pockets. I know, it sounds weird, but it works."

"What are the pockets for? Roofies?" Olivia asked and then Whispers to Monse.

" So, what time should we meet?" Cesar said.

"Yeah, let's get that in the books. The more specific, the better. What are you guys thinking, like 8:00? 8:05? 8:10?" Jamal started to say.

"Yeah, im not going." I said as I rubbed my arms.

"What? Why?" Ruby yelled at me. I backed up.

"Because I just dont want to go with Carlos, plus I havent even asked Willy yet."

"Yeah me either." Olivia joined in. "Not sure I'm in the mood to be objectified. If I want to see boners, I'll just go online."

"No! You don't have to go with Carlos, go with us, or me! You know your brother loves me." Then Ruby looked at Olivia. "Didn't you hear Principal Sarge?"

"The dance is a no-bone zone." Jamal added.

"Are you kidding? Dances are cesspools of bad behavior. I don't want to go." Monse also said.

"Yeah, people get freaky, but what's wrong with getting freaky? I don't get it." I looked at Ruby.

"Explain it to us. Why don't you wanna go? You were pretty excited this morning." Cesar said as he looked Monse. I knew something was going on between them.

"That was before I remembered how lame dances are. And maybe we're just not in the mood." Monse told him.

"Oh, is it your menses?"

"Her what?" I asked Ruby.

"Her lady pond has runneth red."

"Lady pond?"

"What? What am I saying wrong?" Ruby was so confused. The three of us girls looked at each other.

"Everything!" We yelled out.

"You guys don't understand what it's like to be a woman and treated like an object. We have hearts!"

"And minds."

"So, take out any question that we're going tonight. The answer is no. With a period, 'cause that's what it's actually called." I rolled my eyes and left. I went to my locker and saw a missed phone call from my brother. I sighed and i closed my locker.

"Hey!" Jamal said. I almost dropped myself to the floor.

"Hey Jamal." I said.

"Is everything okay? I mean Lunch you were pretty angry. Are you pregnant?" My eyes widen.

"What?! No!" I laughed. "Everything is fine."

"Did Carlos do anything?"

"Carlos didn't do anything." We walked together.

"Are you guys together?" I stopped. I looked ar him. "I mean this morning you were pretty-"

"No i am not. It just a fling."

"You're leading him on?" I nodded my head.

"Exactly." I hugged Jamal and went to my class. All day Ive been wanting to go home. Finally my brother texted me.

Willy: Im picking you from school.

It was the last class of the day. When that bell rang, I blasted my way out of there and into my brothers car. The car ride was blasted by some of my brothers cholo tunes.

"You going to the dance?" He asked me.

"No."

"Why not?"

"I just dont want to go okay?" I was in my phone, scrolling through Instagram.

"Listen, you gonna regret it of you dont go. I sure did." I rolled my eyes.

"If I go, would you leave me alone?"

"Sure."

"Then Ill go."

"Good." I had no idea why he wanted me to go. Im definitely not telling Carlos im going. Im just gonna hang with Ruby. When we got home i got a call from Ruby.

"Hey." I said as i walked in the house and into my room.

"I'm still going to the dance. I thought you had a right to know.

"Cool." I was looking for something to wear.

"Also, I heard what you said about objectification and promise to respect you as a woman."

"Awesome." I felt like I was ignoring him. "Sorry, im just picking out a dress for tonight for the dance."

"You're going?"

"Yeah, Willy changed my mind." I smiled through the phone. I decided to play around. "We, ladies, can do that."

"I know. I'm woke." I giggled.

"You can't declare yourself woke. Someone needs to tell you."

"Thank you. Now I'm woke about being woke.
This has been so enlightening. Should we all go to the dance together?"

"Im okay, Willy is probably gonna drop me off. He doesn't like me walking alone when its dark." I picked out my outfit. "Anyways, dont you need to get ready? Mr. Indigo."

"I'm a dude. I'm always ready." I chuckled.

"Well, see you at the dance Ruby." I hung up and started to do my makeup and hair. I put on my lipstick and grabbed my denim jacket.

"Ready?" Willy asked.

"Yeah." We went to the car and drove to school. I was texting Ruby, where should we meet.

"Just Be careful okay? Make Cesar your boner blocker."

"Disgusting." I got out of the car and saw Ruby, Olivia and Monse. "Hey guys." I said.

"Hey." Monse said.

"Like the sweater." I smiled. "You look good Olivia."

"Thanks. You look pretty." We all smiled.

"What's happening? What is it?" Ruby said as people were swearing and upset.

"Some bullshit is what it is! They cancelled the dance because of a fight."

"Man, I mean, really?" I said as Jasmin told what happened.

"Two putas got into it in Life Skills yesterday, but we still managed to make soufflés. A fight ain't nothin'!"

"It wasn't just that. Some fool pulled out a gun." I rolled my eyes. Seriously! Wow.

"Who cares? It took me forever to get ready.
I even shaved my chocha for this. And it was a two-man job." Jasmine looked at Ruby, hungry for him.

"Hey, what's going on?" Cesar asked as he came.

"Dance got cancelled because of a gun. I was actually really excited about it and ready to dance." Ruby looked disappointed.

"Its okay, Ruby. Theres gonna be more dances." Ruby smiled at me.

"Did I already tell you look beautiful in blue?" I blushed.

"You did say you were gonna wear indigo. Thought we should match, like you said." I still love Ruby. Its just, its awkward because i can tell He's into Olivia.

"Yo, Monse's dad's out of town, so party at Monse's!" Cesar shouted out. Everyone cheering and was already walking. I sighed and texted Willy where i was gonna be and what had happened. Ruby and I walked towards Monse's. Everyone was getting drunk and Jasmin took Ruby away from me so thats that. I went to get a beer and talked to other people.

"Wow Val, you look amazing!" A girl pointed out.

"That cut crease!" Everyone was complementing me left and right. Cesar stood next to me.

"Looks like someone's popular."

"Im not." I said as I grabbed a chip.

"Listen, your brother and Spooky-" i put my finger on his lips.

"Cesar, its a nice night to not talk about our brothers okay? I just want to eat and dance."

"Dance with who? Carlos?" I rolled my eyes.

"Its a fling."

"Then with who?" I turned to Ruby. Who was getting suffocated by Jasmin on my couch.

"Help me." He mouthed.

"With anyone." I said as I walked away. I started to talk to people and Cesar pulled me away and into the kitchen. "Seriously Cesar."

"Take a shot with me." He passed me the shot and we took it. He grabbed my hand.

"Woah! Cesar! No! Never in a million years." He looked at me. "Listen, whatever you have in your head right now, i dont want to get involved. If you and Monse-"

"You know?"

"Know what? That you guys like each other? Yeah, its kinda obvious, but Jamal and Ruby are stupid to see it. I would never hurt Monse like that. And I don't even like you. So dont even try." I sighed. "Cesar, we've been friends for a long time, i dont want to do that. I like someone else."

"Im sorry." I patted his cheek and left.

"Where did Ruby go?" I asked myself. I heard muffling under Jasmin.

"I'm here." I pulled him out of sleeping Jasmin. "I'm here! My breath is fading!" He was catching his breath. "Where am I?"

"Monse's."

"Oh, thank God. She threatened to drag me to Pimp Lane. That's when I passed out. Please tell me nothing happened. I'm all about consent."

"That's very kind. You deserve a dance." I pulled him to dance with me. "You guys aren't going to make us dance by ourselves, are you?" Ruby was happy again. I love his smile.