PROMISE ME (OSCAR DIAZ x OC)

Chapter Twenty-Nine (Alana)

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Alana

June

Oscar hasn't stopped laughing at Jasmine all fucking night since we got to Summer Night Lights here in Freeridge. It was funny at first when he started making jokes about her getting barfed on at the pool.

Now it's just really fucking annoying. Because then him joking about her getting puked on turns into him joking about me puking after that.

"Yo, I swear to God I think I saw an entire churro on your back!" He laughs and Jasmine has lost all of her usual joy. Annoying or not- I feel bad for Jasmine right now.

"Ha-Ha-Ha!" Jasmine mocks his laugh at him. "So fucking funny, Spooky." She turns to all of us. "I'm going to get some drinks. You want anything?"

"I'm all set."

"I'll take a Corona. But I won't need a lime, I'll just grab one out of your hair." Oscar adds in with laughter again. He turns to me. "Come on, baby. That was funny!"

"It was funny an hour ago. It's not funny anymore." I cross my arms and rolls my eyes. "I'm sorry but no one else is laughing. Just you."

Oscar pauses and then looks past Cesar. When I turn to look I see purple. Which means 19th street. I grab onto his hand and he slips it from my grasp. "Give me a minute." He says as he grits his teeth. "They won't start shit here but I'm just going to see what they want."

"Oscar, please-"

It's too late. He's already making off toward them and leaving me alone with Monse and Cesar. I look down and can hear how awkward it is. Cesar clears his throat but to my surprise it's Monse who speaks up.

"So how are things going with you and Oscar? Ruby said you guys live together."

I nod and look up at her slowly. "Yeah, it's good. How often do you hear from Ruby?" I haven't heard from my own brother in weeks. Since the block has been quiet he doesn't come around much. And since Latrelle was part of the group of Prophets who got picked up and put in jail, he hasn't been as dead set on revenge anymore either.

"He's alright. He's been with Jamal more so that's a good thing. Bringing him somewhat back to who he used to be. It's just he's still so..."

"Hateful?" I cut in. "Ruthless? Stupid?"

"Stupid." Monse agrees with a nod. "That's the word I was looking for." Both of our glances look to Oscar as he talks with the boys in purple. I look away and Monse looks at me again. "For what it's worth I think you and him are good together. You bring out the best in each other. I've never seen Spooky laugh as much as he did tonight and I think he's just trying to make you laugh because you did at first."

Cesar agrees. "Oscar would do anything to keep a smile on Alana's face."

"Yeah well I don't like that it's due to Jasmine's turmoil of the day. And my own." I look as Jasmine comes back with three giant Slurpee cups. "Girl, what the hell-"

"Forties." Jasmine giggles. "Drink up, boo."

"Girl how did you even get these? Did you show your boob again?" I grab the cup and take a sip. I should probably save some to share with Oscar when he's done talking to 19th street but getting tipsy and potentially drunk with the girls while Cesar babysits us sounds a whole lot better.

"Fake ID from Chivo. I forgot you didn't come with us to get them." Jasmine shrugs as she opens the top of hers.

"Cesar!" Officer Hammel hisses and we all stand there blankly.

Cesar goes over toward him and suddenly the three of us girls have the tops off our cups and are chugging our forties. Which we really don't need to do because they're covered drinks and we're at a fair that sells alcohol and as long as we don't act stupid, even though clearly we are, we won't get caught.

-

We're on the swings and I don't know how the fuck we got over here. I don't even remember opening up to Jasmine and Monse as much as I have but holy fuck it feels good to actually talk to girls about what goes on in my life.

The last time I confided in a girl about anything was Olivia and then I lost her quicker than I had found her. I tried to swallow back the pain and emotion that was brought to surface at the memory of her but I know she wouldn't want me to be sad or ruin this good time. She'd want me to have friends that are girls and talk to them about things. Things I still hadn't been able to fully tell Olivia because I was scared to trust anyone.

"Monse you need to just tell Cesar what you want and how you want it." Jasmine says in a slur. We're all slurring at this point. Slurring and swaying. Which is probably why swings are a good and possibly also horrible idea for us. "If you want him then just go for it. Be honest with him-"

"Just don't get knocked up." I tell her with laughter. "I cannot have no babies in that house. Especially not with Ray living there. Oscar referred to him as like having a pet dog today. He's messy and everything smells because he doesn't clean. Adding dirty diapers into that house would make it worse and Oscar and I would hate you and Cesar for that."

"I'm on the pill. And we use condoms. Double win." Monse says. "And we've had a bit of a dry spell. Especially since I found out he cheated on me with Paula."

"Ugh." I groan. "That girl was nothing but drama at Dwayne's. She once asked me how to spell Dwayne... While we were at work. In front of the sign. Wearing our work shirts."

"What a moron." Monse groans. "I guess she wasn't an upgrade from me."

"Girl these boys can't get any better than us." I wave my hands up and down my body. "If Oscar ever tried to leave me I'd probably kill him. No exaggeration. I'd try- wouldn't succeed but I'd hurt him enough to where he'd need to rely on me."

"That's insanity." Jasmine says with a straight face and then bursts out laughing. "You know, I heard Ruby got himself in with some girl in our grade. Jamal said it was just to get his mind of Olivia but I think he feels some sort of relief now that Latrelle is locked up so now he can sleep around."

"I don't want to hear about my little brother getting laid. As long as he don't bring him any babies either. Mami and Papi would kill him."

"And you?" Jasmine looks at me. "Do you and Oscar-"

"Not for a long ass time." I tell her with warning. "I want to get really good at dress making and I want Abuelita to really trust me with taking over the business. And Oscar said that once Cesar goes to college his bedroom can become my at home office. Where I can make the dresses in peace and shit. But I think I just want to move to a new house. In a somewhat nicer neighborhood. One that people won't remember that Oscar lives there and try to blast the windows up."

"That's a good idea." Monse says but she stops when Cesar approaches. "What?"

"I have to go and check on Ray over at Dwayne's. Guess he needs some help and can't figure it out on his own. I hate to do this to you but-"

"I'll get her home safe, mijo." I tell Cesar and he looks like he's seen a ghost. "Don't look at me like that."

"I've never seen you drunk before." Cesar looks around. "Oscar is going to kill me."

"If he didn't kill you before he won't kill you now, plus- you're not strike worthy." I tease as I rise to my feet. "Come on girls, let's go check out the rest of the games and shit."

Jasmine, Monse, and I head to the middle of the park and Jasmine gets this brilliant idea to do a dancing video. Monse records her but I'm off camera in my own little world. Oscar walks over and stops me.

"What the hell?" He mutters. "Are you- Are you fucking drunk? You never get drunk. You know your limits, mi amor. Come on, we're going home. Let's go. Now."

I bit my lip at him and tug on his shirt. "Take me home so you can fuck me senseless?"