Jacky and Luis were taking a nap as me and Willy were out in the back, fixing his car. It was good to have him back, alive. Man if he actually died, I think I wouldn't have survived on my own. Things were getting back to normal and I can breath again.

"Can I ask you something?" Willy asked from under the car.

"What?"

"I was talking to Jacky about it and I'm thinking of leaving the Santos." My head went up. Willy slid out and wipes his face with the towel to get the car oil off. "Oscar is on it to. Listen mana, how am I going to raise my kid you know? I don't want Luis grow up with the gang."

"That sounds like a great idea." I tossed him a drink from the cooler. "That means-"

"Don't worry about it." I can't have him getting kicked again. You want out? You gotta be kicked the living shit out of you. That day when Willy took the beating for me, I cant repay him. He shouldn't have. But, that's what big brothers do, protect. Just like he's been doing his whole life. "Have you talk to-"

"Lets not, okay?" Its been a bit silent between the crew. Ever since we all fought, I think, we should take a break. "Is this what you want?"

"Si. We can finally live without fear." Yeah... Willy saw how upset I was. "Come help me fix this." He pats my back and we headed to the car. We started to fix the engine. Jacky came out back with Luis and let him walk around the yard. My phone buzzed, so I decided to take a break and answer who it was.

Monse: When can we all hang out?

I stared at my phone. It was for the crew. I didn't know what to say. I'm still upset for what had happened and the words that were exchanged.

"Who is it? Ruby? Tell lover boy-"

"Its from nobody." I tapped the phone on my hand and put it in my back pocket. I just ignored it. Maybe I have to take a break. Its for the best.

—

Monse was leaving, for real this time. She was heading out to that boarding school in Maryland. The crew, including, Jasmine we're waiting for her to come out. Its been a while, I know that she's probably unpacking and talking to her dad that its a bad decision and that it's stupid to go. It was weird because some of us haven't texted each other. Like I haven't texted Cesar at all since them, talked to Jamal yesterday and Monse a few days ago.

"Damn what she doing?" Jasmine huffs.

"Debating its a shitty idea to go." I picked at my nails.

"Monse is Monse." Jamal stood there. Here came her dad, Cesar and her out of the house. They packed the car and was set.

"You know those girls probably all have doo doo outfits. You probably all have to share the same doo doo outfits." Jasmine said as we looked at Monse.

"No, we dont have uniforms." Monse smiles.

"Oh no! So you're on your own? Care packages forthcoming okay? Imma send you clothes. Im gonna bling you out your thang."

"I got her Jasmine." I stepped up, giving Monse a basket. "I made you a Pinterest mood board. You can have some inspiration on outfits to wear when you are over there, I don't want you to get picked on. Also i got you some cute jewelry and cute shirts too."

"She came in clutch." Jasmine walks away. She then turns back. "Oh just so you onow, since you're gonna be with all girls, scissoring really isn't a thing." I playfully rolled my eyes.

"But if it is, send pictures."

"On the group chat please." Boys. Jamal showed Monse his go bag he made her. "Its an East Coast hoity toity girl school go bag."

"We packed it together." She awes. "It has an eye mask."

"Boat shoes."

"Earrings of RBGs dissent collar."

"An ascot." They started to list.

"Just letting you know, I had no say in that." I told her. "Sorry in advance."

"This didn't fit in the bag, but it was made with a lot of love." It was a picture of us four and Jasmines face around the frame. "And glue."

"I love this. Thank you. Im gonna keep it by my bed in prime viewing position, where I can always see it."

"Oh and uh, one last thing that didn't make the bag." Cesar comes up and kisses her. Real smooth Diaz. It was getting uncomfortable as the kept going. Even Monse's dad had enough.

"Okay okay okay. We want in on that action too." We all huddled and hugged. I cant believe that this was happening. We broke it up the hug and Monse went in the car.

"Okay, you take care of them." She tells me.

"Dont worry, i got them." I nodded.

"Yeah she do! Val got that bad bitch energy!" We all laughed. I mean I know I do.

"I love you guys."

"Love you too." We all said.

"Hey, be good to each other. If you fight, think of me, in your faces, gluing the crew back together. Promise me nothings gonna change."

"Nothings gonna change." We watched her leave.

2 years later

There was beautiful Valeria, sitting down with her new group of friends. Ever since Marisol Perez told Val that she was one of them, she fit right in. It was just Marisol, Natti, Chris and her.

Chris was complementing Valeria on her new lipstick she was wearing, while Natti was talking about her dick appointment she had last night and Marisol scrolling through tiktok.

Val was now the popular girl at school. She was the queen. Everyone worshipped her and her new crew. Valeria changed a lot, her style, her hair, and it was for the better. She was finally herself. Who she meant to be.

The quad were sitting outside since it was after school, she saw Ruby and kissed her best friends goodbye and reminded them about kickback at her house tonight. Val linked her hand around Rubys arm as they walked out. She went on and on to Ruby about the party and how Elio was being a pain the ass. She walked passed Jamal, she ignored him, almost forgetting who he was.

Valeria and Ruby got in her car and they drove home. They got to her house, making out in the front porch. You can see the Santos tattoo she had on her arm as she runs her hand through his hair.

The door opens and Luis comes running out, interrupting the session. Val picks him up and gives Ruby a high five. They went inside as they saw Jacky's mom grabbing Luis and now heading to her place to babysit him. The place was now for themselves for a couple of hours until the kickback.

Willy was gone, Oscar left, Cesar and Val stopped talking to each other, Jasmine and her talk every once in the while and Valeria was angry at Monse and dropped her. It has been a crazy 2 years. It seemed normal now. Almost too normal.