"Hermana!"
Wilfredo yelled from the sala. "Your goofy looking friends is here." I walked to the living room.

"You know what to do." He walked to his bedroom. Once i heard the door closed, I opened the door. It was Jamal and Ruby. "Hey guys!"

"Valeria, so glad to see you!" Jamal cheered.

"Whats up Jamal." I laughed.

"Ruby wants you to come and crash a party." He grunted as he spilled the secret.

"Dude!" Ruby sighed.

"You guys know i cant do that. Willy is gonna be pissed."

"Thats why were aren't crashing. We're just observing. Cesar will sneak out get some drinks and we watch the party." I rubbed my face.

"If-"

"We wont get caught, I promise. When did i ever let you down?" I thought about it.

"6th grade, ms tompson class." Me and Jamal said at the same time.

"Okay!" He yelled. "Think about it?" I didnt have to even think about it. These guys are my bestest friends. I love them to death.

"Wilfredo! Voy a salir!" The boys cheered. I grabbed my keys and walked behind Jamal.

"So glad you came." Ruby smiled.

"Its not like i had a choice." I smiled back. Cesar and Monse stood in front of Rubys house. "Hey Monse! Hey Cesar." They gave me a hug.

"Thanks for coming, I didn't want to be the only girl."

"I always got you Monse." We hooked arms and walked to the party.

"Do you see him? I dont see him." Monse looked around.

"Something bad is happening. I can feel it." Thats the spirit Jamal.

"Pop a zannie, J." Ruby told him. "We can't see him 'cause he's being stealth."

"No doubt. He's got this. When has Cesar ever disappointed?" I told them.

"Mmm, fourth grade. Kickball tourney. We lost." Jamal said to my ear.

"Only 'cause I picked the kid with no skills." We turned around to see Cesar with 5 cans of beer. "And I'd pick you again." He tossed us the cans. "Loyalty trumps victory, compa. Ah." We opened our cans and took sips. Disgusting at first but good. "Take it in. This is about to be us." We looked around the party, people smoking, drinking, making out, oh yes definitely will be us. "This is high school."

"Ruby, you think your brother's gonna marry Angelica?" Monse asked.

"No idea. Mario tells me jack."

"What about that time he said Angelica has a dangler?" Monse and I chuckled. "But he said that." Oh Jamal, cant keep a secret for shit, but we love him,

"In private! Time and place, dude.
Oh, guys, check out Huerita at nine o'clock. Monse, Valeria, if you were girls-"

"We are girls." Monse rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, but if you were a girl like that, would you wear underwear?" Ruby looked at me.

"Probably not even a bra." I gently shoved Ruby. Ruby gasp or was it a groan?

"Oh, my God, I'm gonna die. I'm gonna die. I'm gonna die." Jamal panic and jumped off the box. I looked at why he panicked, the Freeridge  football players. Of course.

"Why are you gonna die?" I told Jamal.

"Those guys play for the 'Ridge. Did you know that last year alone over a quorum of kids"

"Died playing football?" I finished his sentence.

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

"No choice.My pops was a legend.It's family tradition." Jamal jumps down the box and start breathing. "I'm dead."

"You're not dead."

"Football spiral?" We nodded at Cesar. "Jamal, CTE is not in your future." Cesar, Monse, and i jumped as well.

"Chill out flaco." I patted his back.

"Guys, check out my game. Huerita just gave me the nod." We were about to jump but two cholos grabbed Ruby.

"Ah! Eyeing my girl, cabron?" He held Ruby by the neck

"No.God, no.I'm not into blondes." He choked it out.

"Easy. He does your mom's taxes." Cesar told him.

"Mrs.Guzman, right? Three thousand dollar refund. Schedule C, line 30, home office deduction." Ruby tells him. Another Cholo pops up.

"Seriously, dude? Yo, what are you doing, ese? That's Spooky's little bro, dawg." He smacked the dudes arm, letting go of Ruby.

"I didn't realize it was you, homie.
Hey, listen, tell Spooky Sad Eyes sends respects." They told Cesar and dipped.

"See? Thats why don't want to be here. Let's get out of here." I crossed my arms as Ruby rubs his neck,

"Thank God for your brother." Ruby thanks Cesar as we all walked away.

"Don't.Thank God for better things." There was a gunshot and we all sprinted out the allyway. Everyone screaming.

"Otra vez!" I yelled over the screams sprinted out.

"Oh, shoot! - Let's go!" There were more gunshots as we ran.

"That was a .38." Monse said.

"No, it was a .45." Jamal corrected.

"It was definitely.357." I called it.

"It sounded like a .44." Ruby breathed out.

"Wrong!" Jamal yelled. Another gunshot.

"357!" We all yelled it. I got it right! We made it  to Rubys house and we chilled.

"Angelica's pissed." I said as Ruby, Jamal and I were spying on Mario.

"She's always pissed."

"You would be too if you had a dangler." I laughed as Ruby said that. Jamal gave him a bitch face. "What?"

"She's making Mario cry."I pointed out.

"My brother doesn't cry." Ruby glanced at the window. "Dude, he's crying."

"Here comes waterworks." The three of us ran to the couch and acted normal as Mario came in the house.

"Were you guys spying on me?" Mario sniffed. We all nodded no but Jamal nodded yes.

"You okay, homie?" Ruby asked.

"Yes. No.I don't know." He cried and then he laughed. Not creepy at all. He looked at us. "Look at you.On the verge of high school. All the excitement. All the firsts. First parties, first football games, first love." Mario stood silent. "Want me to drop some knowledge?"

"Not really." We all said.

"High school, it's the foundation for the rest of your life." Here we go. "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?"

"I just don't want to die." Jamal whispered.

"Is Mario high?" Monse asked.

"Yes, he's high on life and memories and some seriously good indo." Mario chuckled. "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." He got angry but relaxed. "Anyway uh what I was saying, and you may want to write this down." Everyone, only Ruby and Jamal, were looking for something to write. "Don't go into high school without back-up. You guys need to stick together to survive. Got it? I'm going to college, mofos!" He screamed. "Now, kiss my class ring." He extended his arm at Jamal.

"What the freak? - Is he kidding me?" Jamal kissed the ring and Mario walked away.

"That's why you don't smoke that stuff." I announce. We all laughed but it cut off by Mario coming in again.

"Damn, I almost forgot. One last thing: don't bone Monse or Valeria." He walked away. We all started to crack up.

"Why would anyone want to do that?" Monse laughed.

"I mean have you see me?" I cracked up.

Translation:
Sala- living room
Voy a salir- im going out
Compa- friend
Huerita- blonde hair girl
Flaco- skinny boy
Cabron- asshole
Otra vez- not again