Chapter 9

     I ran back to my family and Mamá Imelda hugged me so tight I thought I was gonna blow up. And so did Miguel. "Lexi you were awesome!!" Miguel said smiling very happily. I looked at Mamá Imelda, ready to be yelled at for breaking the promise...... but it never came. Instead she smiled at me. "Sí mija, Miguel is right, you were amazing out there." Mamá Imelda said softly.               I had to do a double take because I thought I didn't hear her correctly. Papa Héctor was smiling at me too. "You know niña, you really do look like the copy of Imelda, when you were out there I thought I was seeing double, you even sounded just like her!" Héctor said, not really excepting much of a response since he learned very quickly I was always on Mamá imeldas side no matter what.              "Thank you" I said and gave him a small smile that said 'I see how you two look at each other so just kiss already damnit'.               Mamá Imelda then had me in a bone crushing hug for a few minutes and then let go. I moved back to stand next to Miguel.              Mamá Imelda looked at Héctor and gave him a small smile before turning back to us. "We give you our blessing, to go home, put our photos back on the ofrenda, and to never-" she was cut off by Miguel. "To never play music again" he said sounding extremely sad and disappointed. "And to never forget how much your family loves you" Mamá Imelda said instead and Miguel looked up with a wide smile and I smiled a bit to.             Right as we were about to touch the peddle to go home, De La Cruz grabbed Miguel by his hood and pulled him away, Mamá Imelda lunged at him but De La Cruz shoved her to the ground. Me and Héctor made sure Mamá Imelda was alright then ran after Miguel and De La Cruz.            I looked back and saw Tía Rosita and Tía Victoria doing something with cameras. I just made eye contact with both of them for a split second and then turned back and got as close to Miguel and De La Cruz as I could.          "Let him go Ernesto! He's just a boy!" Héctor pleaded. "The boy is a threat!" Ernesto yelled. I didn't dare move, my eyes were glued on where Ernesto was standing and Miguel. The sudden realization hit me that Ernesto was going to throw Miguel off the roof.          "I am willing to do whatever it takes to seize my moment! Whatever it takes." Ernesto said angrily.            Then he walked closer to the edge and threw Miguel off. I've never ran so fast in my whole life. I threw myself down and I was halfway over the ledge. Mamá Imelda and the rest of the family caught up. They look over and saw I had Miguel's shirt caught in my grasp. With Miguel still attached.             They quickly grabbed Miguel and pulled him over the edge but made sure Ernesto didn't see. It was then that Tía Rosita and Tía Victoria helped me up and I stood up but doubled over when an extreme pain rippled through my abdomen.