Back to You

Maria

Cesar's POV

Monse is coming by later to eat dinner with Oscar and I at his request. He wanted us to try some new recipes he was working on. Until then I'm should work on this presentation for work. I have to head to San Francisco tomorrow for this and hopefully I will justify staying in Freeridge.

"Cesar get the door!" Oscar orders from the kitchen.

"Yea yea," I guess Monse is early.

I head to the door and open it ready to hug her but it's not her.

"Hey baby I missed you," Maria squeals.

"Uh, Maria what do you want?" We messed around in Sophomore year when I saw through Instagram that Monse got a boyfriend. I'm not proud of it but I used Maria.

"To talk," wow that's so descriptive.

"I'm kinda busy," Presentations don't do themselves.

"It will be quick," she tries to convince me

"Fine, let's go to my room, I'm trying to get something done asap," this feels like a bad idea.

We head to my room and I just hope she doesn't waste too much of my time. I need to finish so I can spend the night with Monse.

"Alright talk," I command not even looking up from my work.

"We were so good together, I think we should try again," Maria smiles. Is she crazy?

"We weren't really together Maria," I roll my eyes.

"You don't think us being from Freeridge and living so close to each other now means something?" She inquires trying to edge closer to me.

"I don't, Monse is the only girl I'm interested in so you can just head home," I inform her.

"Maybe this will change your mind," she jumps on my lap and kisses me at the same time my room door opens.

"Ces, I made some of those cookies you- what the hell is going on here," Monse goes from sweet to pissed in half a second. I pushed Maria away as soon as I realise what she did but it's too late.

"It's not what it looks like!" I try to get myself out of this mess.

"Great to see what you think about our future together," Monse cries from my doorway. I see tears in her eyes as she turns away.

Fuck. What did Monse think happened?

"Damnit Maria I told you I'm not interested a million times," I say as I get myself away from her again.

"But Cesar we were so good together," she pleads trying to get near me

"No we weren't, we dated for two seconds in college. You being from the Ridge doesn't mean we are meant to be together. Honestly I was messed up for doing that but you were just a rebound. Monse is the only person I'm interested in," I yell. I've wasted too much time already.

"Mon I love you I want us to be together," I shout hoping she'll hear me and stop to listen.

"Monse please let him explain," Oscar pleads. He never asks nicely much less pleading. How does she get him to be so chill?

"Monse come back let's talk this out," I try to catch her but she's too far.

Monse's POV

I can't believe it, we were supposed to talk about us tonight. I ignore his and Oscar's shouts for me to come back and keep running home.

I get to the house, bolt my door and go to my dad's room knowing Cesar will try to come to my window.

I'm so stupid to think he wanted me back. To start thinking about a future for us. Was I just a way to spend time until this girl came back? He's just like Keith, I'm only enough for him when options are limited. My phone rings and I already know who it is. Damn he's persistent.

"Cesar I don't want to talk about it leave me alone," I scream into the phone.

"Uh oh, maybe I should call another time," I hear Jason on the other end of the call.

"Hey, sorry about that, it's complicated," I sigh

"I have some good news, the book is generating some buzz," Jason says excitedly

"Some?" Was this really worth a phone call?

"Enough buzz for the promotional tour to make sense, but there's a catch. We need you as soon as school closed for basically all the holiday break. And don't worry I can get your dad to wherever you will be between December 24& 26th. I know this is a lot to take in so I'll give you some time to think about it." He explains without missing a best.

Jason became a good friend this past year and has really done his best to make this project work with my other responsibilities.

"Nah, I need a break from Freeridge so I'm in," I respond without thinking

"Great, I'll send you the details in the morning, enjoy the rest of your evening," Jason ends

While Cesar's off with her I'll just go back to living my best life and working on my dreams. Time to forget about being with him once and for all, my heart can't handle this pain again.