Its been a month since the dance. Monse left for Brentwood, and told me that Cesar and her are over. Im glad shes there. Im so happy for her. And for Ruby, that man is so sad. Ive tried to make him happy but it doesn't work. I thought maybe leaving him, give him some space will work. I told him that if he needs anything, to call me.

"Hey." Willy said as he came in my room.

"Whats up?"

"Wanna come to the party?" He asked. I sighed.

"Spooky hates me." I told him as I finished folding my laundry. He hates me because I left the Santos, making Willy take the hit.

"He doesn't hate you." I gave him a look. "You know how he is."

"You guys can go. Ill be fine."

"Are you sure?" I nodded. "Okay, we'll be home around 11 or so. And Luis will be with Jackys sister." I nodded Willy comes up to me and kisses my head. "Stay out of trouble."

"You first." He laughs. Soon as I heard them leave, I decided to clean. I picked up my room. As I put some dishes in the kitchen, I stopped in front of my fathers bedroom door. I haven't been in there for years. I didn't have the guts. I placed my hand on the knob and went in. His room still smelled like him. Everything was in boxes, but the room stayed the same. I started to look through the boxes. I saw our baby photos with me, Willy and him. Mostly is was all us, none with Celia. I laughed as I saw one with me and my dad sticking our tongues out as Willy took our picture.

Flashback: We were kids, Oscar and Mario were playing with Willy as I sat with my dad, but playing around with Cesar, as my dad was talking with the dads. Willy decided to play around with the camera. We were outside, since it was a nice hot day.

"Here, let me take a picture!" Willy smiled as he told my dad and me.

"Bien aqui mariposa." He puts me on his lap.

"Can we do silly faces papi?" He nods.

"Anything for you." We both stick our tongues out. Willy took the photo. "Thats ones a keeper." He looks at us. "I love you both so much. Never forget that. I will love you till the day I die."

Flashback over: i wiped my tears away. I placed that photo to the side, keeping it with me. Took out some of his old soccer gear, old clothes, then It came to his journal. I started to read it. Oh my god. No way. He was with the plan, the Rollerworld money with Lil Ricky!

"Clever son of a bitch." I laughed. It explains that him and Lil Ricky thought about it and went with it. I read more about how my dad helped some guy named Chivo out with a fight that he had with Lil Ricky. And read about us. My eyes widen as he had a statement saying we have his will when I turn 18. And then some letters fell out of the book. I saw a couple address to Willy. I put Willys to the side. I opened a little box that had some of his chains, i put one on, a little cross. I found a gun, i stared at it. I placed it in his dresser and went back to the box. Then there it was, his phone. I grabbed my phone and started to dial his. I let his almost dying phone rang.

"This is Chico, you know what to do. Bye." His voice. It brought so much memories. I need to hear it. I called it again, just to hear it again. I bowed down, crying. The things I would do to hear his voice one more time. I sniffed as i saw one letter addressed to me. I opened it up.

Mi Mariposa,
You might reading this thinking everything that is happening is bad. Now, this isn't your fault. You have been through so much and it hurts. Its all on me, i can take the blame. Your mother isn't your fault, all she wanted was money, power, and shes just a drunk. She was in a dark place, she was with the 19th streets gang, i took her in and i just should've seen the signs. I should've taken you and Willy away from her. I wish you never heard her say that she never loved you, but I love you. You are my reason my life got better. Same to your brother. I know Willy is taking good care of you, and you'll turn out to be a wonderful, beautiful women. You are a strong girl. Never forget that I love you.
-papa

I held the letter close to me, still crying. Why did you have to go. I sat in the room, crying to myself. Even being a Santo, he had a heart. Never hurt anyone unless he had to. My dad never deserved what he got. He was a good man. I gently put everything away. I grabbed some stuff i wanted to keep into my room, putting up the photo on my wall, placing the letter in my nightstand and the phone. I looked at a picture with my family, including Celia. I went out and went to Rubys. I knocked on the door. Rubys mom answered.

"Valeria! Hi!" She greeted me.

"Hi Mrs. Martinez." I smiled at her.

"Rubys not here-"

"Im actually here for you." I told her. She let me in. We sat on the couch.

"What can I help?" She asked me.

"I want to say thank you for helping my family, when my dad died, when my mom left. Thank you."

"Its nothing. No worries."

"Did you know my mom? When she used to live with us?" She sighs.

"Celia, she was a very cold women. She never really associated herself with anyone on the block." She looks at me. "She was quiet but likes to start something she cant finish." I nodded. Sounds like her. "She never really, like being around with anybody." She takes a minute to see me, tearing up. "Valeria, que paso? Estas bein?"

"How come she never loved us?" She pulls me in for a hug.

"Ahh mija. I wish I knew."

"Thank you for being a mother to me." She hugged me tighter. I cried on her shoulder.

"Sometimes we cant explain why people dont love you. But its never your fault. It was never you." She pushes my hair back. "Sometimes its better to love the people we love now." I nodded my head. "I want you to know that you are loved here. You can come over and talk to me whenever youll like. You're like a daughter to me. Weird to call you my daughter since you're dating Ruby, but you get the point." She made me laugh.

"No i get it."

"Valeria, you know that your parents dont define who you are. You dont have to be like them. Be you. Celia is not you. Don't forget that." I stayed there for a while. Mrs. Martinez is such a wonderful, amazing women. I really do wish I had a mother like her. I closed the gate and saw Mario.

"Hey!" He said with a smile. I gave him a shy one back.

"Hi Mario." I walked past him.

"Wait." He says as i was about to head home. "So you and Ruby huh?" I chuckled. "When Ruby told me, I didn't believe it because the man had a crush on you the day he met you, and just now? I was like nah. But when I saw you kiss him and holding hands, i was mistaken. Im happy you both are together."

"Its fate you know."

"I did say to take care of him. Thanks."

"No problem." Mario comes up and hugs me. I gently pushed him off and headed home, to a dark, empty house. I walked in my dads room, and laid on his bed. I saw on his nightstand was a photo of me and Willy. I smiled. My eyes started to shut and then I snoozed off.

"Hey, val." Willy whispers to me. He gently woke me up.

"Hmm?" I hummed.

"Wanna stay?" I nodded. "Okay." He kissed my head. I feel back to sleep again. I started to dream about us, us being a family again. As if my dad never died. He loves Ruby, Willy was never in the Santos, I was never in it either, Willy went to the police academy, and we lived far away from Freeridge, starting a new life. But it was all a dream.