Set Fire To The Rain• Cesar Diaz

Seven

3rd person pov

"I've had adequate time to calm down, done some reflecting, meditated my BP down to 110 over 77. So you can see it now"

"Your money?"

"Mine and Lana's" he said rolling his eyes, "But now, our money. Look, who am i kidding? This is a whole lot of money and a whole lot of responsibility. I need to figure out what to do with it, and i need your help. So what do you say?"

"Can we see it?" Monse asked excitedly as Jamal unzipped the bag moved some gym clothes revealing the money

"Oh, my God"

"All right. I'm going to be late for dinner. Catch you guys later?"

"Yeah. yeah" Cesar nodded as Jamal did some weird dance moves before leaving

"Bye, Monse!" Lana called out as her and Cesar began to leave

"Bye!" she waved

Lana sighed as she sat on the doctors bed, she was getting her arm brace off along with the bandage on her stomach off

She was more than scared to see the bullet wounds, "Are you ready, Luella?" Ashely asked coming into the room as she nodded

"Im ready" she nodded, "Okay. Im gonna have you take your shirt off, we're gonna take your stomach bandage off, clean the wound up and check it. And then we're gonna take your arm brace and wrap off and see if the wound from your chest is still messing with your arm since its close to your shoulder" she explained as Lana let out a breath as Ashely took the bandage off

"Its healed nicely. There's obviously gonna be some scaring but we can give you some antibiotics for that, just make you sure to clean it with the stuff we gave you when you first came along with the cream" Ashley said throwing the bandage away before putting new gloves over

She slowly look off Lana's arm brace and then the bandage before moving it around asking if it hurt now and then, "It seems like its doing better. I would just keep an eye on it and let me know if it begins to hurt, at first dont use it so much since you're just getting the brace off. I recommend to ice it every now and then" Ashely smiled writing something down as Lana nodded

"Any questions?" Ashley asked glancing at the girl who shook her head, "None" she smiled

Dressed in black jean shorts, a light brow tank crop top, one of Cesar's hoodie's over, black high top convers, Lana was holding hands with Cesar, as they along with Monse, Ruby and Jamal walked down the stairs at school

"Its a new year" Jamal smiled, "And a new day" Monse added

"Finally we can get back to normal" Ruby chuckled

"Turner!" They heard the coach yell as Jamal closed his eyes mouthing something

"Guys, i got eyes on me"

"Me and Lana too. The post-shooting lookie-loos are in full forced"

"Oh, Ruby, Lana!" Someone called out as the two jumped and Jamal gasped, the random girl stood between the two before taking a picture with them

"I dont know how much longer we can be Bullet Boy and Bullet girl" Lana sighed

Ruby nodded, "I just wanna get back to normal"

"Normal?" Jasmin asked coming out of no where as Jamal jumped gasping once more, "Baby, you aint never been normal! You got that special sauce flowing through your veins. And probably all over that juicy nalga!" she spoke before giggling

"Jasmin, gross!"

"Ruby said i could sit with yall, so..." Jasmin chuckled as the four looked at Ruby, "Shoot! I forgot dessert" Ruby spoke up trying to get out of it

"Oh, you sit. I got you. Sugar-free sweets for my super-sweet treat, coming right up" she said before leaving

The four sat down at the table, "Oh, im sorry. But ever since my brush with death, i made a bargain with the big man. Or woman? Lets just say the universe to be gender-neutral" Ruby said looking up

"But part of that deal was to work on my karmic energy, be a better person, so shit wouldnt go sideways again. Part of that deal is to do charity, and Jasmin is my charity" Ruby explained

"Couldn't you have saved a rain forest instead?" Monse asked opening her pudding, "See? I knew this would be an issue" Ruby said shaking his head

"Speaking of commitment, we need to make one. What are we gonna do about the cheddar? We need a plan of action ASAP. First thing after school, all-hands meeting. This kind of gouda can get ripe real quick. And im not sure we can handle it if people start sniffing around"

"Cheesy. But i like it" Ruby smiled

"Yes!

"Right now, the money as is makes us targets. We need to wash the cash" Lana explained

"And we can use the cash to help Cesar survive" Monse added

"Okay. So where are we meeting?" Jamal asked

"My dad's coming home this afternoon" Monse said, "Okay, so we cant do it at Monse's. My house is pretty tense post-dig debacle, And Cesar never host. So, Lana, Ruby, its you"

"No. Your mom doesnt want me around"

"Shut up, Cesar. You practically live with me" Lana said rolling her eyes, "Plus our moms got a job all week, so we're good. Our house after school" Ruby added

"All right"

"Cool"

"We have to move the money. I cant be the keeper alone. It's not safe" Jamal said letting out a breath sitting next to Monse

"Abuelita, I reserved the table for a two-hour block. Did you not see my note on the fridge?" Ruby asked looking at her, but she ignored him

"Its fine. She knows about the money" Jamal said glancing at her and then Ruby

"Okay. Well, since we found the money, Ruby and I have done copious research" Lana said sitting up straight, "This is why we're best friends" Jamal smiled at the two

"You're best friends?" Monse asked looking between the three, "Yeah. I mean, Lana has always been my best friend. Lana gets to make out with Cesar, we get to be best friends. Its a trade off. Bestie's present" Jamal said pointing to the two as Ruby opened his notebook

"Oh, God" Lana sighed reading the book

'How to lose my virginity by 18.
Cesar's sloppy seconds.
Get Swole.
Court older women.
(Juniors and above)

"Ew! And no!" Monse said looking at him as he confusingly looked at the notebook, as everyone else was laughing as Ruby hurriedly turned the page