On my block: Monse and Cesar

Chapter 3

"Crap we gotta get to school." Monse yells as she runs back into Cesar's room and puts on the clothes she had on last night. "Calm down nena." He says as he holds her by her waist. "Cesar come on we have to go we can pick up my bag on the way. He kisses her and they start to head to her house. She fixes her hair and changes. "You know, when your dad's on long hauls I have no problem keeping you company." Cesar says while he waits for her to get out of the bathroom. "I'll think about it." Monse says as she grabs her bag. They start walking and soon Jamal and Ruby are close behind on their bikes. "Get out the way!" Ruby yells and Jamal mimics the sound of an engine. Monse just shakes her head and laughs but once Jamal and Ruby pass them Cesar puts his hand on Monse's back and he kisses her quickly. She wasn't expecting it and flinches but she still kisses him back. They smiled and looked at each other. "What if they turned around!" Monse says with a smile on her face. "I don't care I just really wanted to kiss you." Cesar says. The whole way to school Cesar rubs his hand against Monse's and occasionally held her hand. They got to school just in time for first period. "Hey Ruby can you sit next to Jamal for today?" Cesar asks Ruby. "Why?" Jamal asks. "Just do it." Cesar says impatiently. "Fine." Ruby throws his arms up. "So no one wants to sit with me? Cool, cool." Jamal says. "What was that about?" Monse asks. "Nothing maybe I just wanted to sit next to my girlfriend." Cesar said with a cheesy smile. "Shh! You can't be throwing that word around!" Monse says. "What word? Girlfriend? Is that the word you're talking about?" Cesar says. Monse kicks Cesar's leg under the table. Cesar just smiles and rests his hand on her thigh and she just rolls her eyes. "What happened to low key?" Monse asks Cesar as she glares at him. "This is low key." He says. He squeezes her thigh but she tries not to let him distract her. She moves his hand off her leg. So Cesar being Cesar decided to rap his arm around Monse and pull her closer, which didn't only make a loud noise from the chair scraping the group but Monse also almost fell out of her chair. Everyone looks back at them and Cesar just laughs. He didn't mind that much, he didn't even move his arm. "How about we skip second period?" Cesar asks. "Sorry can't, I have a lot of work that needs to get done." She says. "Can I at least have a kiss?" Cesar asks. "In front of all these people." Monse gestures at the almost empty hallway. He kisses her anyways then says, "I'll see you later... girlfriend." He walks away laughing and Monse can't help but smile.

*after school at Monse's house*

Monse's watching tv and eating pizza like she did most Friday nights when her dad wasn't home. Olivia calls her which is weird since she hasn't heard from her in a while. "What's up Olivia?" Monse asks. "Nothing much, just chilling with Ruby, and Cesar's on his way." She says. "Oh cool." Monse says. She was a confused why Olivia called her and why Cesar was there instead of with her. What was she thinking? She's not the jealous type. Expect for last night. "Is Cesar single?" Olivia asks breaking Monse's train of thought. "I don't know, I guess you'll have to ask him. Why?" Monse says. "Just wondering." She says. "Is that it?" Monse asks. She can't help but feel like Olivia was using her. "No." Olivia says. Oh thank God it's not just about Cesar. "Do you know where Jamal is?" Olivia really was testing Monse. No 'hey Monse you wanna come over?'. "Nope, probably pretending to play football or googling a new injury." Monse says. "You're probably right." Olivia says as she laughs. "No it's all good, bye." Olivia says. "Bye." Monse says but as she's about to hang up Olivia starts talking again. "Oh sorry not you, Cesar said he had something to do so he can't hang out. He's always so secretive." Olivia says. "Yup. Well gotta go bye." Monse hangs up before Olivia can say bye. A few minutes and a lot of scrolling through Netflix later, someone knocks on Monse's door. It couldn't be Cesar, he always used a window. She opened the door slightly and sees Cesar. She opens the door all the way and furrows her eyebrows. "Since when have you known how to use doors?" Monse asks. "Oh come on, you said keep it low key." He says. "And using my front door after ditching your friends is low key in what way?" Monse asks, not moving from the doorway. "What's more sus than climbing into a girl's window?" Cesar says. "True." Monse steps back and lets Cesar in. "Why are you here anyways?" Monse asks. "Wow, I just wanted to see you but I guess I'll go back to Ruby's. Plus I know you get lonely when your dad goes on long hauls, it's fine I'll just go." Cesar was annoying but he was right. "I have pizza." She says changing the subject. "Mhmm." He says. He gives her a hug and leaves his head on her shoulder. "Nothing's happening tonight. I hope you know that. I already changed into my pajamas." Monse says. "I know, I just wanted to be with you." He says. "Come on sit down." Monse says. They cuddle on the couch and Cesar closes his eyes. "This is all I want. This is what our lives should look like. Calm, quiet." Cesar says. "And pizza." Monse adds as she takes another bite. "You think we'll ever tell anyone about us?" Cesar asks. "Yeah and when we do, they'll be happy for us." Monse says as she shifts so she can see his face. "We just have to wait I guess." Cesar says. Suddenly the front door opens and Jamal, Ruby and Olivia walk in. Cesar and Monse sit up quickly. "We were bored. So what are we watching?" Jamal says as he throws himself in between Monse and Cesar. Well it was fun while it lasted. "I thought you were busy?" Olivia says to Cesar. "Yeah, I just felt like hanging out with Monse for a while." Cesar says. Monse's trying to hold back a smile but it wasn't working.