Set Fire To The Rain• Cesar Diaz

Nine

3rd person pov

Lana screamed awake her hands immediately went to her stomach, she let out a breath as she noticed she wasn't bleeding

It was a dream, well a nightmare, "Lana, hey, hey" Cesar spoke up crouching in front of the girl, he placed his hands on her face notching she was breathing heavily

"Hey, you're okay" he whispered as she looked at him placing her hands over his, "You're okay. I'm right here" he whispered pulling her into him

"You're safe. I got you" he whispered rubbing her arm as she began to calm down a little, "Do you wanna talk about it?" he asked softly as she shook her head

"Can you just hold me for a second" she whispered as he kissed the top of her head

"Dude, we need to relocate the green fast. Like crazy fast, cause I'm going crazy" Jamal said letting out a breath looking at Cesar, and then Lana who was leaning against him half asleep

"I feel you. We dont get more than a couple hours of sleep these past few nights. She's having these nightmares' and she screams away" Cesar explained

"A couple hours? Then you dont get to complain. Cause I'm talking total sleep deprivation. Like, no sleep. You know, maybe Ruby was onto something with his whole Karma thing. Maybe i need to make amends for digging up school property" Jamal said, "No offence, Lana, you know you're my fav"

"None taken" she mumbled

"Isn't that what you're doing?"

"Yes, but it goes deeper than that. Maybe i screwed someone over in the process of getting the money" Jamal sighed, "Who?"

"No one. Nothing. Im just playing around with a "what if?" Jamal said swinging his arms around, before putting more towels in the washer

"You have muscles. I can use those" Jamal said pointing at Cesar, "Meet me at my house after school" he added

"Protection from what?" Cesar asked confused, "Doesn't matter. I need you to be my bagman. My bodyguard."

"Um. A bagman inst a bodyguard"

"Whatever, its the same thing"

"No, its really not"

"A man carried a bag... he's a bagman"

"I think Jasmin might be the Candyman" Ruby spoke up walking over to Lana, Monse and Cesar, "I'm starting to feel really paranoid. Its like every time i say her name a few times, she just appears" Ruby sighed, the four gasped scared as Jamal came out of no where

"Sorry. Did i scare you? There's a lot of that going around lately. Its like one second you're minding your own business and then bam! Beady eyes and rosy cheeks staring right at you" Jamal said wide eyed as Ruby put his arm on his shoulder

"I know what you mean. Although i wouldnt really say Jasmine has beady eyes" Ruby added as Jamal looked at him confused, "Jasmin? Who said anything about Jasmin?"

"I did! Cause every time i say her name a few times, she just appears. Its like, "Jasmin, Jasmin, Jasmin!"

"Boo!" Jasmin smiled coming out of no where as the five jumped, "I found you!" she smiled going and grabbing Ruby

"You did" he sighed, "What's wrong? You look pale. Are you okay?"

"No! Im not okay!" he yelled as him, Jasmin, Monse and Jamal sat on the steps, "Hey, we'll catch you guys" Cesar waved to the four

"No, im not cool wiht this. Why cant they money just stay with you?" Ruby asked looking at Jamal who rolled his eyes, "Because its your turn!" he yelled as Ruby glared at Cesar

"Im just the bagman" he shrugged as Ruby turned to Lana, "Im just the bagman's girlfriend" she shrugged

"Where's Monse?", "Not coming" Lana spoke up

"If shes not here to vote, how are we supposed to make any decisions?" Jamal asked as Ruby grabbed his phone, "I designate Ruby as my proxy" Monse said from a voice recording

"Ill allow it"

"Okay. So lets get started. Anybody got any ideas?" Ruby asked as Jamal put his hand up,
"Right here. I think we draw up a fake business plan for an Owl Café. Owl Pacion's Cappuccinos. Get investors to front us the startup money, then using that money, make our "business" look even more legitimate and attract eve more investors-"

Ruby grabbed his phone before playing another recoding, " Jamal, its a bad idea"

"How am i supposed to debate with her if she's not even here?" Jamal asked looking between the three

"There's no debate. Its a bag idea" Abuelita spoke up, "And a Ponzi scheme" she added

"We know"

"Actually, it sounds like you dont. What you need is a cash business so you can take your old bills, which you cant use, and turn them into new bills, which you can" Abuelita explained sitting on the couch as she began to knit

"Well, everyone in favor of using Abuelita's cash business to turn out old bills into new bills say "Aye" Ruby smiled as they all put their hands up, Ruby even put two up

"No. No. I mean.... Yes, it could work" she began as the four got up and moved to the living room, "Maybe. But its going to take some time. And... I get a little something on top of my 20% share of the money, right?"

"What? How can you even make this about money? We're family!" Ruby asked

"And you should never do business with family, which is why i shouldn't even be thinking about helping you" she said as the four sighed

"Well, 20% is out of the question. We're already splitting the money five ways, even though i think Lana and Cesar should get one share"

"Shut up, we're dating not married"

"Four ways?" Abuelita questioned as the four winced a little, " Insult upon insult! You want to cut me out. And you! This pendejos, besides Lana, didnt even believe in you. They called out pathetic"

"I never said that" Ruby said raising his hands in defense once Jamal looked at him, "But he thought it. And thats worse"

"So we should split it me, Abuelita and Jamal" Lana smiled as someone knocked on the door, "Get that, Ruby" Abuelita and Lana said at the same time

Ruby opened the door only to reveal Jasmin holding a bag of hot Cheetos, "Hey!"

"What?" he sighed, "Flaming hot Cheetos with chili, extra lime from Raúl's truck!" she smiled proudly

"Raul's retied" He said confused, "I know, it took like three hours, round-trip!"

"Well, its not long enough!" he said grabbing the bag from her, "You just dont get it, do you? Well, see if you get this" he said before shutting the door in her face, he opened it after a second, "You forgot the chamoy"

"I...I didnt want it to get soggy" she said grabbing it from her shirt, he grabbed it from her before shutting the door once more

He turned around walking back over to the couch to see the four looking at them mouth agape, "What?"