5 Chapter Five

It was almost weekend. Axel got up from bed, unaware of his surroundings, he proceeded to have a bath. "It's Thursday" August said. "I know" Axel replied. "I have something to do today, you coming?" Axel continued.

"What thing?" August asked.

"My dad needs me" Axel replied.

"You know you don't have to do anything you don't want to do" August said.

Axel wore his top, walked towards the door, "I'm a Martinez" he said while opening the door. "Axel" August uttered. Axel left.

Diego walked towards Axel's car. "Vámonos" Diego uttered, they entered the car and drove off.

"Clara, what are you doing here?" I said to Clara as we watched the car drive away. Clara spent the night with Diego, I was quiet surprised to see how outside. "You don't have morning classes" I uttered.

"I just wanted to see Diego off" she replied. "Where are they going this early?" I asked. "Meet I and August at the café 12 o'clock" she said, walking away. "Okay" I said and walked to class.

Did they want to tell me something?

Classes were over. I had only two classes today so I wasn't pressured that much.

"On my way" I texted Clara as I walked towards the café. I opened the door lightly.

"Over here Stella" August called out. I walked towards them and sat down.

"Hey guys" I said. "Stella, you are one of us now, you deserve to know everything for a better understanding" Clara uttered. "I deserve to know what exactly?" I asked.

"Let me get us some soda" August insisted.

"I want you to stop feeling weird around us" Clara said. "But I don't feel weird around you guys" I replied. "Listen, I know you're curious about the whole Diego and Axel thing, so I and August are going to tell you everything but don't make it awkward later on" she said. "Tell me" I replied.

"Here you go" August handed us our soda before taking his seat.

"What do Puerto Ricans do in LA?" Clara asked. "I don't know, I've never really known Latinos until I met Diego and Axel" I replied.

"Latinos are so many in LA, most of them deal with drugs and stuffs" August said.

"But not Diego and Axel right?" I asked awkwardly.

"Have you watched this movie, the tax collector?" Clara asked me.

"Yeah my brother made me see it" I replied.

"Axel and Diego are tax collectors" August said.

What?!

"Hold on, what?" I asked.

"Let me break it down for you. There were two gangs back in the days, The Gracias and the Martinez. The Gracias were the most dangerous gang in the hood, back then, the Martinez kidnapped a Gracia, chaos and shit went down. one of the Martinez fell in love with the hostage and they ended up getting married which led to the gangs working together, right now, Axel is the heir to the Martinez" Clara explained.

He's the heir to a gang!?

"So who were the Martinez and Gracia back then?" I asked.

"Axel's parents" August replied.

"Wait, I don't get it. His mum was a Gracia and the Gracias where the most dangerous gang?" I questioned.

"Aliyah Gracia, daughter of Paco Gracia, the most dangerous gang leader in Puerto Rico, moves to LA with his family to continue the family business, selling drugs and collecting money from drug dealers. Santiago Martinez, his mother was part of the gang as his uncle was the leader of the Martinez, Santiago became the heir. When Aliyah was kidnapped, she was about the same age with Santiago and so they shared a connection and bonded their families together, get it?" Clara explained further.

"Oh yeah I do" I uttered softly.

"Listen, we aren't saying this to scare you or anything, we just want to protect you. We've lived and grew up with Axel and Diego, we know how things go down, you just need to be careful Stella" August said.

"Is Axel dangerous?" I foolishly asked.

"I see you have a thing for him" August said.

Hell yeah I do!

"No, I just want to know, you know, so that I can protect myself" I said.

"Axel isn't dangerous. He's not like the rest, not even like Diego, Axel doesn't talk much or engage in anything, although he runs errands for his family, look at the bright and good side of him okay" Clara said.

"Sure" I said, sipping my can of soda.

I have to call Stacia.

I brought out my phone, dialed Stacia's number as I watched Clara and August chatter.

"Hey" I said, leaving to the table, "I'll be right back" I assured Clara.

"Hey, what's up?" Stacia said. "Nothing exactly, I called because its been a while since we talked to each other, I miss you" I said. "Look who came running back, I thought you've made all the friends in the world" she replied. "Shut up" I uttered. "So, anything interesting going on?" She asked. "Nothing, just that I found out the cute boy I somehow you know, kinda have a crush on is-" I said as she cut me off.

"Is what? Gay?" She asked. "Not gay, he's going to become the leader of a gang" I said. "That's it?" She asked.

"Yeah" I said. "I thought he was gay, I wanted to make fun of you, alright he's a gang leader, that's not that bad if you look at it" she said.

What the hell is going through her mind!

"Stacia" I uttered. "Look Stella, it isn't that big a deal, as far as he isn't pointing a gun at you or doing something bad, its okay, just leave him okay and don't say stupid shits" she said. "Yes ma'am, well I have to go" I said. "Love you" she said as I cut the line.

I walked back into the café, sat down and drank my soda.

"Do you have something else to do? You could hang out with us" August said.

"Nah, I just need to study for a couple of tests" I replied.

"Oh alright then, I don't have classes till next week" he said.

"Do you see that girl over there?" Clara said to august as she pointed her finger to the direction of a brunette sitting and having lunch alone.

"Damn, she's pretty but not my type" He replied her.

"No girl is your type,what is wrong with you dumb fuck" Clara uttered at him.

"The right one will come soon, I can just feel it" he said.

"Yen yen yen" Clara said mockingly.

As they chattered, the only thing running through my mind was Him.