We spent a whole day at school without Monse. I had to take care these two ninos since all day they been nagging and bothering me. I needed Monse. It was strange, and it wasn't like her. We've called and text but nothing. I had a meeting, and We agreed to go to Monses to see how shes doing.

"Why weren't you at school today?" I asked as we were in her room. "You never miss school." Monse was in her bed, didnt move an inch.

"What going on?" Jamal asked her. She didnt respond. We all looked At each other.

"Its going to be okay." Ruby comforts her. "We'll find him."

"Hes dead." She whispers. My eyes fell. "Cesars dead." We just stood there, not knowing what to say next. We shortly left after she didnt say anything else.

"I feel bad for her." I said through the phone with Ruby. "I know he's not dead." I fixed my sheets for bed.

"Cesar's strong. I know he's safe." I sighed. "Princesa, its okay." The sound of his voice calmed me down. Made me feel safe in a way. "Anyword on Willy?"

"He's going on a run with Spooky later. It weird not having him around."

"He'll be back." Then we got a text from Monse, saying that we need to meet at her house now. "See you in a minute." We both hung up. I put on my chanclas and snuck out of the house. I waited for Ruby. He brought me a sweater and wrapped it around me as we headed to Monses. Jamal was already there and we headed in. Once we got to her room, it was Cesar. I ran into his arms.

"Im so happy you're okay." I pulled from the hug. We all sat in a circle, talking to Cesar.

"What about your brother? Maybe he can help." Ruby suggested.

"Spookys done with me. Not even Willy can help me. Its over." Cesar told him. Thats not Willy. It cant be. He loves Cesar. He's like a little brother to him.

"So what now?" Monse asks.

"I disappear." Cesar tells us, looking down. "Leave for good. Thats the only way to keep Latrelle away and keep us all safe."

"But what if you go to the cops?"

"And tell them what? That i was going to kill Latrelle, but the gun jammed?"

"Good point." Cesar sighs. "But if you redact the kill and the gun parts, the maybe-"

"My only option is to get out of town."

"Take the Rollerworld money." I said to him. I was willing to give him my half. "All of it."

"The only reason we went after the money was to get you out of the gang."

"I love you guys. But im only taking my share." He looks at us. "Do some good with the rest."

"We'll wire you your share."

"You cant." Cesar hesitates.

"What do you mean?"

"Im starting a new life." That hurt my heart. Nobody should do this, not even him. "New name. New everything." I shook my head. No.

"Then how do we find you?" Monse asks.

"You cant. Thats the point. No one can. Thats the only way all of us can stay safe. Once i get somewhere, ill email you to let you know im safe." I grabbed Monses hand. She was crying. "But...but that's it." She nods at him. "Oh and just one more thing."

"Anything." Ruby shyly smiles at Cesar.

"I cant be on the street with that kind of cash. Bring my share to the bus station at 7:00." He nods.

"So this it? Our last night together?" I was trying so hard not to cry.

"Yeah." Cesar sighs. Jamal pulls out a twinkie and a candle.

"And our last group birthday." Cesar cracks a small smile. Ruby lights up the candle and gives it to Cesar. Monse was sad. She didnt wanna look up.

"Make a wish." Monse tells him. Cesar blows out the candle and looks at Monse. Jamal, Ruby and I went to Rubys, pack some stuff for Cesar. I opened the door for Jamal as he came with three different backpacks.

"Since we dont know where Cesars going, ive done some deep dive environmental charting and narrow it down to three specially curated eco friendly go bags." He said as he places them down on the table. "Each contains turkey jerky, normal jerky and slim jims, a leather multi tool handi wipes, which are good for...well...other areas as well, dual pane infrared googles, water purification tablets-"

"Okay!" Ruby tells him. At least he's prepared. "This isn't show and tell."

"Whats in the bags?" I asked as I handed Ruby the money.

"Here are the differences. The city bag is replete with hand sanitizer and duct tape to over any and all motel peepholes. The country bag has bug spray, a confederate flag, and a harmonica and-"

"Why?" Ruby questions him.

"Have you been to the country."

"Touché." Jamal then continued.

"And my desert go bag has sunscreen and gold bond."

"Okay. I will defer you on the right go bag. Just make sure you save enough room for Cesars cash." I nodded. Jamal looks down at the bags.

"Im going with the city bag." He places the other two bags down and gave Ruby the bag. Ruby started to put the cash in. "She is beautiful." I frowned as he called the money a she.

"Why is money a she?"

"A boats a she."

"No, a boats an object. And you're objectifying women by gendering inanimate objects."

"Guys!" I yelled out, as they went off topic. "It's whatever. Okay?" They both nodded.

"You know with my cut, im finally going to build the Fortress of Jamalitude, guarded by professionally trained wolves. Not that I couldn't train them myself. And the fortress will be big. But not gaudy, nouveau riche big. Six bedrooms max. I care about my carbon footprint. My parents would have a room. Soundproof probably is best as we've learned." I shivered. Can we not talk about that. My eyes still burn when i see them. "Your room would have plenty of room for you and your sock." Ruby slowly looks up at him. I tried to not to laugh. "Monses would get lots of sunlight to inspire her writing, and it would be on the other side of the house so we wouldnt have to deal with her nagging. Val's room would have a nice place to have your trophies from world cups and championships, plus soccer jerseys that you worn on your games or traded with other players. And right next to Rubys." I smiled. That would be nice. "And Cesars room would have a big closet for all his black tanks."

"Well that's assuming we ever see Cesar again."

"You really think we'll never see him again?" I said softly. Ruby looks at me and shakes his head. Jamal took a seat.

"What are we doing?"

"What do you mean?"

"We're handling over a bag of cash to a 15 year old who cant get an apartment or a real job. Theres no guarantee he'll be safe. Spending cash makes him a target. And hobos are way scarier than gangs."

"Can you still say hobos?"

"We have to do something." I nodded my head. We can't do this.

"Que estás pensando princesa?" Ruby looks at me. Jamal and I gave a look. A look we both knew.

"We need to save Cesar." He said.

"That's exactly what we're doing. We're getting him out."

"No." Jamal stands up. "We buy him back in." Ruby looks at him. I mean thats the only way. The boys were going to Spookys, give him the money. "Where do you think you're going?" I turned around as I walking to my house.

"I cant go." I told him.

"Why not?" Ruby crosses his arms.

"Spooky hates since I left the Santos. I would be dead if I step a foot on his yard." I shook my head. "Good luck." I kissed Ruby and hugged Jamal. "This could bring Cesar back. I believe in you guys." I snuck back in. I stood up all morning, I couldn't stop thinking about Cesar. Ruby texted me that Willy was with Spooky and was probably a good idea that I stayed. Willy and Oscar didn't want to take the deal. I rolled my eyes. Bitches. It was time for me to head out to the bus station. I put on the sweater that Ruby gave me and made my way there. The boys were already there. Ruby gave Cesar the backpack.

"Unless something happened to her." Cesar was scared about Monse.

"Dont think that. Shes okay. Nothing happened to her." I told him to calm down.

"You don't know that. I went lurking on Latrelles girls house. W-what if he got to her? What if-"

"Don't go there." Ruby tells him. Cesar looks away and shakes his head. He went to hug Ruby.

"I love you compa." Cesar cried to Ruby. "From day one in kindergarten when you cried your ass off." They started to cry. I remember that day, Cesar and I went together, my dad dropped us off and became friends with Ruby.

"Yeah. Well who's crying now? I love you too. Id take another bullet for you." Cesar nods and looks at Jamal.

"And you." Jamal finger guns him. Trying to laugh it off. "Ill never doubt you again. It was an honor being your roommate. And your brother." Jamal ran into his arms. "Love you J."

"Love you too." Then me. I bit my lip. Just imagining my best friend from birth is leaving.

"I'll never forget about you." I ran into his arms. "I won't forget about how nice you are no matter what was happening. Having my back, and that smile that can make a person feel better." He whispers into my ear. "You are my sister. Te querio mana."

"I love you too." I sniffed as I pulled back from the hug. "Goodbye mano."  Cesar wipes his tears and looks at the bus. He walks off and gave us one last look. We all nodded.

"Wait! Cesar!" Monse yells out as she ran. I turned around. Cesar runs out of the bus and they hugged. From what we can hear from where we were, Monse was going to leave too, with him.

"You guys tell her! Tell her she cant come with me." Cesar begs us. We didn't say anything. Its not up to us. Monse steps onto the bus and Cesar said this that changed everything. "I slept with someone." We gasped. It cant be true. I can see that Monse was so broken. She pushed him.

"Got to hell!" She runs off. He walks up to us.

"Take care of her. Please." He hugs us. I ran off to catch up with Monse, so did with the boys.