Maya's Point of View:
"We had such a good connection. Then he leaves me money. No entiendo. What exactly about me screams puta?" the petite girl sitting beside me on the crate outback of Arturo's asked.
I shrugged. "Besides the two-hundred dollars on the bedside table?" I responded. "Look on the bright side, mi amiga, now you got two hundred dollars to spend on whatever you like" I added with a chuckle.
Marisa slapped my arm. "Eres una pendeja!" she exclaimed and crossed her arms with a slight pout on her face, which made me laugh at the stupid look on her face.
"Okay so it was fucked up, he's a stupid ass gringo who's got fucked up views on women" I said, partly to try and comfort her. "Was the sex good at least" I added with a raised eyebrow. I couldn't help myself.
"No!" Marisa exclaimed in frustration. "His dick was an average one, you know nothing noteworthy. It was over in like five minutes though" Marisa complained.
I put out the cigarette I'd been smoking and stood up, brushing the dirt off my butt. "So you had a bad night to say the least" I commented.
Marissa nodded, holding her hand out for me to help her up. I grabbed the hand and pulled her up to a standing position. "Yeah, I might take Flora to the mall and go therapy shopping" she noted. "Not with his dirty ass gringo money though" she quickly added, a look of disgust on her pretty face. With sharp facial features, high cheekbones and beautiful dark eyes framed by thick lashes, Marisa was most definitely one of the prettier girls in the neighbourhood. The boys had gone crazy over her since she was a kid. "I might just get a new outfit for tonight. We're going out, right?" Marisa asked.
I gave her an incredulous look. "You were out last night and you're going out tonight?" I asked her.
Marisa nodded matter of factly. "Mamá wants to spend some quality time with Flora, it was mi abuela who had her last night. Might as well take the chance when it presents itself" Marisa reasoned.
"Well, I got a double shift and then I gotta' get home to check on the kids" I told her as I opened the backdoor to head back inside.
I could hear her sighing behind me. "Prima, I know you basically raised those kids, but you're abuela is there with them. Don't forget to have some fun every once in a while" she advised me.
I walked through the door and down the narrow corridor, grabbing my apron from a cardboard box. "I do have fun every now and again" I replied as I pulled the apron over my head.
Marisa scoffed behind me. "Define fun. When was the last time you were out dancing. Can you even remember, Maya?" she questioned. I shrugged. I thought about it for a second. Four months ago I went to an old classmate's birthday party. That was the last time I could remember. "Aye, dios mío, you can't even remember. This just proves my point. You need to let loose. You're coming with me tonight" Marisa stated.
I tied the apron around my waist and glanced back at Marisa. "Does that mean I'm gonna' leave behind a trial of glitter too tomorrow?" I laughed.
Marisa gave me a mischievous smirk. "A girl who leaves behind a trail of glitter will never be forgotten" she stated as we walked through the door into the kitchen.
Nathan was working the kitchen alone today since Yaco had an appointment. The poor boy looked like he was about to faint any minute due to heat and exhaustion. I took pity on him. "Nathan, let me take over for a while. You go out back, get some fresh air and some water" I told the sixteen year old.
Nathan glanced up at me from behind the grill. "You sure?" he asked hopefully.
I nodded. "I got it, no hay bronca" I said with a small smile as I grabbed a cap from on top of the fridge.
"You're the best, Maya!" Nathan exclaimed and quickly pulled off his apron. I took his place and looked through the orders as he walked through the corridor leading out back. I immediately started frying up some burgers. I had worked here since I was ten when Arturo used to pay me a few dollars to clear the dishes from the tables. As I got older I started doing other tasks around the restaurant. Nowadays I could basically run the restaurant.
The sound of music floated back to the kitchen. Trumpets and a salsa melody filled the kitchen. Instinctively my feet started moving.
Todo aquel que piense que la vida es desigual
Tiene que saber que no es así
Que la vida es una hermosura, hay que vivirla
I sung along with the song as I finished up with the burgers. "Sam, the order for table seven is done" I called out to one of my colleague.
Samara swirled around and gave me a bright smile. "Damn, you're so fast in the kitchen" she complimented as she grabbed the orders.
"Years of practice" I commented before turning back to the grill.
Oh, oh, oh, ay, no hay que llorar
Que la vida es un carnaval
Y las penas se van cantando
"Maya, come dance with us!" Marisa called from the front. I bent down and looked through the rectangle shaped hole the wall to see Marisa, Samara and Imani dancing to the music.
"I got the kitchen, fool" I called back and turned around to see Nathan standing there with a small smile.
"I can take over and you can go show off your moves" he said with a kid smile. I simply nodded and pulled off my cap, putting it back where I took it.
As I walked into the front part of Arturo's, the part that the guests occupied, the sound of Marc Anthony's voice echoed through the speakers.
Voy a reír, voy a bailar
Vivir mi vida la la la la
Voy a reír, voy a gozar
Vivir mi vida la la la la
All three of my waitressing colleges were dancing together, swirling around the impromptu dance floor between the tables. Some of the guests were clapping along.
As Marisa swirled around, she took notice of me exiting the kitchen. "Ven aqui!" she ordered. "Remember, diviértete!" she reminded me, her dark eyes sparkling with laughter.
I sent her a glare before joining the rest of the waitressing staff, swirling around the floor.
A veces llega la lluvia
Para limpiar las heridas
A veces solo una gota
Puede vencer la sequía
It didn't take long for some of the guests to join in on the dancing. A young boy, who I knew was in the same grade as my younger brother Miguel, asked me to dance with him. He was so nervous that I could not deny him.
Voy a reír, voy a bailar
Vivir mi vida la la la la
Voy a reír, voy a gozar
Vivir mi vida la la la la
Eso!
The boy was a surprisingly good dancer. Someone had obviously taught him well. As the song came to an end, he brought my hand up and placed a small kiss on it. "Gracias por el baile, señora" he said with a shy smile.
I smiled back. "It was my honour" I said before bending down and placing a kiss on the boy's cheek, whose face immediately became red as a tomato.
"If you're giving out free kisses, I wouldn't mind getting one" a masculine voice said from behind me. I turned around and noticed a gringo. As I turned around I realised the man was standing quite close to me. I took a step back to create some much needed space.
"Sorry, they're not available to everyone" I stated. He had emerald green eyes that roamed all over my body. I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling uncomfortable around the man.
"You're a real beautiful girl, maybe you'd let me take you out sometime?" the man questioned.
"Sorry, I don't think that's a good idea. I have a boyfriend" I told him politely. He seemed like such a pendejo and I had no interest whatsoever to go on a date with someone like that. Mentioning his name made me realize I hadn't answered Diego's text earlier.
"You look real good in those shorts, such a perky ass" he commented. Before I could respond, he continued what he seemed to think was a compliment. "I bet you would look even better without your clothes on, though" he said suggestively and took a step forward.
"Not interested" I told him as I turned around and walked towards the counter. I could hear his footsteps following mine. "I bet all the boys are all over you" he stated.
"She told you she ain't interested, cabrón" I cannot remember the last time I was so thankful to hear that dark, booming voice. It belonged to Ramón Guzman aka. Sad Eyes. Although he preferred to be referred to as Sad Eyes, he had a soft spot for one of his oldest friends and she was one of few people who were allowed to say Ramón. "Go away. Now" Sad Eyes ordered the middle aged man.
The man glanced between Ramón and me, looking like he was trying to decide if it was worth the fight. "Ahora" Ramón barked, taking a threatening step forward and sizing the man up. That seemed to be the man's limit who shot me a last look before turning away and walking out of the diner.
I took a step forward and wrapped my arm around his midsection pulling him into a side hug. Ramón wrapped his arm around my shoulders and placed a kiss on top of my head just like he did when we were kids. Although the same age, Ramón has always been about a head taller than me. My father and his mother were childhood friends so we've known each other our whole lives. "Eres el mejor primo" I grinned.
Ramón grinned back at me, but there was an angry flare in his dark eyes. "Ain't no puto talkin' to my prima like that" he declared.
I noticed Samara glancing over at us from the counter. I glanced up at Ramón who seemed obvious to the female attention he was getting. "When are you gonna' build up the courage to ask my beautiful colleague out?" I queried.
He gave me a wide eyed look. "Cállate, Maya, I don't need all these people up in my business" he whispered.
"You mean you don't need Marisa all up in your business" I corrected him.
Ramón nodded as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "My sister loves chisme and has the biggest mouth. She'll embarrass the shit out of me and you know it" he claimed.
I glanced over at Marisa and knew that he was probably right. I knew that if it was some serious, heavy shit she'd keep her mouth shut, but she wouldn't consider her baby brother's crush that serious. "Okay fair point, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't ask her out. She's better for you than all those putas hangin' around you 'cause of the cross" I said, gesturing towards the cross he'd tattooed on his upper arm.
"Nah, you know I got a ruca" Ramón stated.
I rolled my hazel eyes. "Yeah, that you keep stepping out on and you know how I feel about that" I said pointing a finger at him. "Plus the only reason she is with you, Ramón, is because you're a Santo. The minute it starts getting heavy, she's gonna' dip. Watch and see." I warned him. He simply glared at me, probably because he knew I had a valid point. "Besides, I know you like her" I added in a sing-song voice.
Ramón shook his head. "Nah, I don't" he stated.
"Ramón, I see the way you look at her. You can't trick me, primo" I said with a mischievous smile. "Now go sit down with your compas and I'll come take your order in a minute" I instructed before standing on my toes and placing a quick kiss on his cheek.
"More coffee, Beto?" I asked with a smile as I walked over to the table currently occupied by the Santos. Although I was not a member myself, I was heavily affiliated with the gang. From my deceased mother to my incarcerated Aunt and to my childhood friends; I knew a lot of people in Los Santos. Beto, the bald heavily tattooed middle-aged man sitting in front of me, was married to my maternal aunt, Maritza. "Always, princesa" he responded with a smile. I filled his cup up.
Beto was sitting on one of two chairs. The other one was occupied by a man whose real name I didn't know, only his street name which was El Demonio. He had dark, frightening eyes that could make the toughest of the toughest run for cover. I'd heard that he was crazy, like really crazy. Ramón was in the booth, as was Armando who used to hang around the house next to mine so I knew him. There were two younger boys as well. I recognised them from school. Hector and Pedro, I think.
"You need a ride home?" Ramón asked, knowing that my car had broken down a couple of days ago. If it wasn't for the fact that it had been my father's car and that I couldn't afford a new one, I'd probably send it to the chop yard. It broke down every three months.
I shook my head. "Nah it's all good, Nathan offered to drop me off" I told him as I gathered the dirty dishes from around the table.
Ramón gave me a confused look. "Who is Nathan?"
"The new cook" I explained, gesturing towards the kitchen where his head popped out. "You were talkin' to him earlier" I added.
"Ah shit" Ramón said, rubbing the back of his head. "I've been calling him Noah for like two weeks" he said making the rest of the table including me burst into laughter.
"The youngin' too scared to correct you, man" Beto laughed.
Ramón just glared at his fellow Santos. "A'ight, you done laughing at me?" he said. "'Cause I'm ready to go. We got a party to get going" he said standing up from his seat.
The others stood up as well. Beto bent down and placed a kiss on my cheek. "Hasta luego, kiddo" he said before walking out with Demonio following him, barely acknowledging me as he passed by. Not that I minded.
Armando gave me a smile as he passed me by. "See you around, vecina" I returned his smile. I'd had the nickname since I was a kid. Living next to the Diaz's who were Santos royalty, had made me la vecina, the neighbour.
The two younger boys quickly walked past me. "Bye" they blurted out before walking out of the shop. I raised an eyebrow and gave Ramón a questioning look.
"They might have commented and I might have told them what would happen if they kept doing that" he shrugged.
I shook my head at his antics. "You know, you can't scare everyone off" I commented.
"Obviously or I'd scared off Daniel by now" he responded.
"Diego is his name, you better learn it 'cause he is mi novio" I said, pointing my finger at him.
"What a pinche downgrade" he said, once again voicing his opinion on my boyfriend of one and a half year.
I gave him a dark look. "Don't go there, pendejo." I warned him.
Ramón held up his hands in surrender. "I gotta' go" he said before placing a kiss on top of my head. "Llámame si me necesitas" he called out as he walked out the door.