Khia

It's been almost a week since I've been staying here with Santiago and I was so grateful of his parents for letting me stay here. I looked at Santiago as he slept soundly next to me and ran my hand through his hair. Since he was asleep I figured now would be a good time to talk to his mom. Lately we've been kinda closer than ever and i was loving that. I sneaked out of the bed in my pajamas and was careful when i opened the door to get out the room. Walking down the stairs, I was lucky to find his mother in the kitchen cooking something up for breakfast for the family. She noticed me and pulled me into a hug.

"Buenos días",she said.

"Buenos días mamá",i said.

"How was your night? You woke up pretty early."

"Yeah just wanted to come talk to you before Santiago wakes up",i said pulling up a chair.

"What's on your mind mi amor?",she asked sitting next to me.

"Nothing i just wanted to say thank you for letting me stay here. I know I kinda invaded your space and all."

"Honey what space? We're Dominican we're used to people staying with us. Back at home, we all used to lived in that small house we went to and it was so crowded",she said as we both laughed.

"We're glad to have you here."

"Thank you again."

"No problem Honey",she said to me.

"Unfortunately I gotta go back home."

"Why so soon?"

"Well it's a lot for Santiago to bring me to and from work when he has work also."

"You think tiago minds? That son of mine would do anything for you",she said turning to the stove.

"I believe that too",i said laughing. His mom has been such a good person to me and I know some day I will repay her.

Moments later, tiago came downstairs dressed in his white and black jogger suit and all white nikes. I saw something shining on his bottom teeth and I had to keep myself from laughing.

"Nice to see my two favorite ladies early in the morning",he said coming to kiss me but I stopped him cause I noticed they were grillz.

"Hijo what are you wearing?",his mom said.

"What mamá?",he said opening his arms to see if there's anything wrong with his outfit.

"What are you wearing on your teeth Hijo?",she said holding the spatula with her hand on her hip.

"Oh these? Mamá it's fashion. It's called grillz",he said. His mom spoke something in Spanish to him and waved him off. Santiago gave me a hint that he wanted to talk in te livin room so I joined him there.

Crossing my arms I said, "what are you really doing with those in your mouth babe. You look silly."

"Does it make me look hood? If I'm gonna meet ya dad for the first time, I gotta show him I'm from the streets too."

I laughed and put my head on his chest.

"You didn't have to do all that babe."

"I do. He has no idea who he messin with babe",he said seriously.

"I love you",i said still smiling.

"If you loved me, you'd stay longer",he said looking at me.

"You know I can't tiago. Don't do that",i said caressing the side of his face. I kissed him softly and that turned into a full out make out session in the living room. He brought me closer to him and against the wall while putting his hands in my pants. I gasped and said, "your mom is right next door."

"She not paying attention to us hush",he said putting a finger over my lips.

"You ready?",Santiago asked me as we sat in his car in front of my house.

"Yea",i said realizing this could go bad or worse. Santiago loaded his gun that I told him not to bring and we got out the car. He grabbed my waist and said, "I ain't gone let nothing happen to you."

I believed him. He tucked the gun in the back of his pants and walked me up to the door. I unlocked the door with my keys and went in first. The house was awfully quiet until I saw my dad walking downstairs. Santiago stepped in the house and immediately my pops had his guard up. My father reeked of alcohol and white stuff was around his nose. He wore a beat up wifebeater with stains on it and a pair of jean shorts.

"Hey sweetie. I was beginning to think you was never going home",he said pulling me into a forceful hug.

"Who you?",he asked Santiago.

"Your daughter's boyfriend", Santiago said directly.

"Ha i didn't expect Khia to date someone like her daddy but hey",my pops said shaking Santiago's hand.

"I'm nothing like you",Santiago said causing my dad to raise a eyebrow at him.

"What you say to me?",my dad asked him.

"Nothing dad. Where's mom?",i said trying to distract him.

"Ya momma at work which means I get you all to myself today",he said underneath his breath but I heard it. If I heard it, I knew Santiago heard it because he immediately attacked my dad throwing left jabs at him and punches his way. I tried to break up the fight but Santiago pushed me back so I wouldn't get hurt. My dad had Santiago in a headlock and slammed him to the ground and all I could do is yell for them to stop but they wouldn't. So I dialed 911 hoping they could get here fast enough before my dad beats the hell out of my boyfriend. Santiago punched him in the gut and grabbed him by the throat putting him against the wall while my mom's portraits came crashing down, glass shattered on the floor. Santiago pulled out his gun and put it to my dad's head.

"Tiago no. That's my dad. Don't kill him",I yelled but Santiago didn't even acknowledge my voice.

"Freeze",we heard and immediately Santiago dropped his gun and both my dad and him put their hands up. The police got here faster than I thought.

"Do not move",the Caucasian policeman said approaching Santiago.

"Shxt",Santiago mumbled.

The policemen tied both of them in handcuffs and tears just flowed down my face. This is what I caused, I should've never told Santiago knowing this is how he will react. The police read both of them their rights and took them away.

Santiago was fighting them off.

"The Keys. Give my girl the keys. The f... wrong with y'all",he said.

"Oh she coming with us too",one of them said taking me to another car. There was 3 police cars in my house driveway. They had us each in a car. As they escorted me out of the house, I could see the neighbors who was already outside looking at us and shaking their heads in disappointment. I looked out and even saw trey coming out his car to get into his house look over and he had a worried look on his face. I looked down and hopped into the police car. I knew not to talk or tell them anything because my man was already gonna be booked as soon as he got there. The ball was in my court. When we got to the station, they sat me down for hours and offered me a cup of water and wanted me to speak but I told them no not until I could talk to Santiago. They refused so I threatened to leave and not talk at all. Reluctantly they finally allowed me to see Santiago. As they released him, they escorted him in the room with me. I looked at him and he looked so miserable. He wore the orange jail uniform and stripped him of everything he had. Even his grillz. He sat in front of me and I hugged him.

"No touching",the guard yelled.

"What did you tell them?",Santiago asked me.

"Nothing. I told them nothing babe. I don't want them to keep you here over night."

"Ight. But you know gotta tell them the truth. I ain't the real criminal here."

I looked down cause I didn't want to confess that my dad molested me and still is trying to. They would give him life.

"Babe. You gotta speak up",he said. I nodded my head but gave no answer.

"All this im doing is to protect you. Now you gotta protect yourself because look where I'm at now."

"I know babe. I know."

This was one of the hardest Decisions I've ever had to make.