PROMISE ME (OSCAR DIAZ x OC)

Chapter Forty-Two (Alana)

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Alana

Freeridge

If I could claw out Ruby's eyes I would. I mean, I basically did but that was until Papi yanked me off of him. Vero laughed the entire time like the fucking cunt she is. She's lucky I won't hit her because she's pregnant.

Pregnant... My little brother is such an idiot. I know everyone had their own feelings about me having Mia, that caused some sort of uproar with my family but they got over it quick. Mami damn near fainted when I told her. I waited as long as possible to tell her.

So long that I knew I was having a girl before I told her. Hoping that telling her it's a girl would have softened the blow. Which she didn't even let me get that part out until after an hour of screaming at me and Oscar.

Yeah... She sat him down and screamed at him and I had never seen him so quiet in my life. He just sat there and took it. No look of anger or anything in fact... He looked hurt to be screamed at by Mami but that just means she loves him and sees him as family.

A few times she dropped that she was disappointed because we both have so much going for us. So much to do with our lives before having a baby and she was right. Oscar was thankfully able to get his GED with help from Mr. Galindo and has completed culinary school but it hasn't been easy.

I went into labor while he was taking one of his exams. Thank God that Mia took a while to come or else he would have flunked out of his GED. I told him not to come until he was finished with his testing, he passed with flying colors because he's actually a genius under all that hard Santo shit.

Having a baby has been hard. I didn't want that for Ruby. I didn't want him to go through what I went through and for him to be tied to Vero for the rest of his life now? There is no escaping her. She might act like she's so overly in love with him right now but what happens when she's done with him? What happens when she takes that baby and runs? Or leaves that baby with Ruby and runs? Girls like her run. They don't stay put.

Vero is who I was when Oscar first got locked up. She's got a big ass ego because her man runs shit. She thinks this is all one big game and funny and that her life, her baby's life, and Ruby's life aren't in constant danger.

One slip. That's all it takes. One fucking slip and Ruby is done for.

After Ruby went into his room and Vero went home, I sat down on the couch with Abuelita who was holding Mia as she slept peacefully for the first time in a long time. Mia didn't sleep well for many people. Only myself, Oscar, Ray and now Abuelita.

"She's comfortable with you." I say as I ice my hand. My knuckles are torn up from wailing on Ruby. I know his face is probably fucked up right now. I should apologize for losing my temper but the things he said...

The things he lets Vero say to me. I can't forgive him for that because no matter how much Ruby and I fight I would never in a million years let Oscar say anything like that to Ruby. The thought wouldn't even cross Oscar's mind.

Abuelita looks down at her and chuckles. "I remember Geny being so upset that you were pregnant, mija... But when you first told me I was so happy. A great grandbaby... I get to meet my great grandbaby. And she's the perfect mix of you and Spooky."

"Abuelita." I raise my brow at her and shake my head. "That's not his name."

"Eh, always Spooky to me." She chuckles and then kisses Mia on the head, rocking the chair gently and then tucking away one of Mia's curls. "We need to make her a dress, mija. Her birthday is soon."

"Her birthday is in six months, Abuelita. It can wait." I laugh and look at the news on the TV when I see that they're standing on the side of the highway. I've driven past it a million times but something about that spot...

It's ringing in my head until it hits me.

Breaking News! A cover up uncovered. Police are searching for whoever hid a body in the hills of the Los Angeles forest right off the highway right here. The human remains were found early Tuesday morning by a hiker who chooses to remain anonymous after alerting police. If anyone has any information please contact the LAPD.

My stomach drops and immediately I get up and barge right into Ruby's room. He's sitting on his bed with his phone in his hand. A ghostly look in his eyes when he looks up at me. He flips the screen around to the same news alert that's on the TV.

"They found her..." He says and I close the door behind me. "What do I do?"

The world stops for a moment and even though I just beat the shit out of this kid I realize he's just that- a kid. Ruby is still a kid and he's my little brother. He needs me now more than ever. He killed Cuchillos and they just found her body and on top of that he's having a fucking baby... I pull him into my arms and I just hug him.

"Alana... What do I do?"

Tears slide down my face because this? This isn't a problem I can fix for him. Oscar can't fix this. Jose can't fix this. When they test that bullet and find Ruby's prints he's fucked. All it takes it someone who wants to see him go down for this to turn their back on him and rat him out.

"You keep doing everything you've been doing... You go to school. You keep up your grades. You apply to good colleges and get a real job. Cover up that fucking teardrop on your face and save up money for that baby. They're not cheap and diapers? They blow out diapers like it's no one's business."

There's a soft knocking at the door and it's my little sister, Luisa.

"What do you want?" Ruby groans but I scoff at him and turn to my sister.

She's nine now and has a mind of her own and isn't as irritating as she was when she was smaller. I look at her and I know she's been shoved aside for Ruby's bullshit and my own. Even when Mario was home it was the same song and dance.

"Abuelita needs help with moving Mia. She can't lift her on her own and she doesn't want to wake her up or drop her." Luisa says softly and I notice the look in her eyes.

"I'll grab her." Ruby says softly and I shoot him a concerned look. "What? I need practice anyways. Don't worry- my hands are clean."

"Don't drop my kid." I warn him and as he exits the room I look back at my baby sister. "What's going on with Abuelita?"

"I don't know." She says. "She doesn't work as much as she used too and she's all... Sentimental."

"I noticed that too." I swallow hard. "Her hands shake more when she's trying to sew together lace flowers."

"She taught me to make them." Luisa says. "She's been teaching me everything that she taught you and she said if I ever need help to ask you because you've becoming better than she ever was."

Something is going on with Abuelita... And that hurts my stomach to think about. I'm not an idiot and I know what it looks like when someone is getting their affairs in order. This? Teaching Luisa and becoming weaker? There's something that Abuelita isn't telling me but I'm not going to force it out of her.

"Did you notice she barely ate at dinner?" I asked Luisa.

She nods. "She drinks Ensure all the time. It's rare for her to eat. If she eats she gets sick or just loses her appetite."

I hold my little sister in my arms. "If it's ever too much you know you can come over and see me and Oscar. You can sleep over and we can have a girls night- face masks and movies and all that fun stuff."

Luisa smiles. "I might take you up on that but only if you promise that it won't be a one time thing. I miss you being here even if I used to annoy you. I just always wanted to be like you."

"Don't be like me, mija. Be better than me."