A Chance at Life

A Breakfast Kinda Mornin'

I feel Shelby move closer into me and I open my eyes to see that during the night we changed from cuddling to spooning. I put my head into her neck and start to kiss it. "Mmm, waking up with you is always the best" I hear her whisper.
"Good" I continue to kiss her neck and she turns around to face me. She kisses me as Fatin bursts in to the room and we quickly cover our naked bodies.
"MORNING!"
"Mornin'" Shelby looks at me disappointingly.
"Fatin, you do realize there's something called knocking?"
"How funny. Remember that one time-"
"We knocked! You were playing music!"
"Same thing" She moves to sit on the bed and doesn't take much notice in the fact me and Shelby were trying to keep our bodies covered.

Marty comes in with Dot and at this point we had not choice but to request clothes so we didn't slip since they all sat on the bed.
"Fatin can you grab me that shirt?" Everyone looks at Shelby and I can see her face go red. Fatin throws her the shirt and she carefully puts it on without showing herself. "Nice night was it? I supposed you'll be wanting a top too?" She looks at me and I just nod.
"Marty the uh bottom drawer" I point and she throws a T shirt at my head. "Thanks" I manage carefully enough to put it on as 4 pairs of eyes watched me.
"And you didn't even invite me"
"You and Leah disappeared yesterday for a awfully long time especially for two people who didn't even look at each other yesterday morning"
"Whatever" Fatin turns away from me as Dot stands up to look around.
"What's everyone doing today?"
"Some business party my parents are hosting for their partners and work firm. I love a party but after my disappearance for a day, I'm not allowed to drink or invite friends over" Fatin sighs as she lies down.
"We'll come crash it"
"Please do, Dot. It's a party full of men talking business with about 5 women I have to impress with their little black dresses"
"I'm going out with Aaron today so you'll have to house to yourself"
"Cool, I'll just find something to do until work"
"I can stay until 1 again?"
"Wanna go for breakfast?"
"Yeah"

I clap my hands to wake everyone up again from their phones."Okay time to leave, we need to get dressed and you can watch me put on a T-shirt but putting on fresh underwear is where the line stops" All 3 of them groan as they leave the room. "Pageant and daddy duties today?" I look up as Shelby starts to put on her makeup at my desk.
"Yep, as long as I turn up, I'm keeping him happy and off my back" We get up and get ready for the day. I head downstairs while Shelby does her hair and I walk into the lounge and see that Rachel and Nora have left.
"Early birds?"
"Swimming practice or something"
"Do you think Nora knows she's not attached to Rachel by limbs only by the womb...17 years ago"
"Dot!"
"I'm just sayin' you know..." I hear Shelby come down stairs grabbing her jacket on the way.
"I'm going out with Shelby so I'll catch you all later"
"Bye Toni! Bye Shelby"
"Bye guys"

We get into Shelby's car and she sets herself up. "You ready?"
"Whenever you are" I put on my seatbelt and she drives off.
"García's?"
"The one and only" the whole journey we blast out Rihanna's top hits and sing our hearts out. We arrive at the café at around 9:45 and we walk in and see Mrs García sat down behind the counter.

"Welcome back Shoni!" we watch as she burst into a horrible chesty cough.
"Hey Mari, are you alright?" Shelby runs round and pats her back.
"Quite fine, just a cough. Are you here to asking me about my sanitario or enjoy your morning with some pancakes?"
"Both, Mrs G where is Rami?" I say as I check the kitchen.
"Running late, he was supposed to be here for 9:30. Business is quiet so far so I feel quite already to run it myself"
"Mariana, if you are sick you should take time off" Shelby starts to clean up around the place as new customers come in.
"Shelby I'm quite alright"
"Take tomorrow off, we'll both come in and work for the day and you can rest. Both Toni and I have things to do today but Toni doesn't have work tomorrow and I'll tell my daddy that I'm here"
"Shelby-"
"Mariana García, it's 1 day"

Shelby serves the customers and I help cook until Rami finally arrived at 11:15.
"Rami! Where have you been?" I heard Marianna shout at him as they both walk into the kitchen.
"I was-"
"There's no excuse. You should stay at home when you have work the next day" She hits him with the dish towel.
"Mama! I wasn't partying! You know I can't work here all day everyday. I have my daughter, your la nieta to look after and my day job and my night job-"
I zone out through the rest of the argument until I finish the sandwich and hand it to Shelby.
"Do you still want breakfast?"
"Yeah"
"I'll get Rami to make us pancakes"

I take off my apron and sit down at the window table as Shelby finishes taking someone's order. She comes over with orange juice and lets out a huge sigh as she sits down. "What were they arguing about?"
"Rami being 2 hours late and Rami's daughter"
"I love little Maria, she was just a baby when I first met her"
"How old is she now?"
"2 or 3 maybe"
"You and Becca came here for that long?"
"Yeah, Mariana's family makes their appearances every now and then, I'm surprised you've only met Rami"
"I've only just found out that Rami and Mrs G were family"
"Mari has 2 daughters and 2 sons. Rami is the one of the youngest, with him being 21. You've never spoke to him about it?"
"I think I've had 2 conversations with him"
"Maria's mother left and Rami has had to raise her himself"

Rami comes out with the pancakes and brings us the syrup afterwards.
"Rami, when will I see little Maria again?"
"I've been super busy with work Shelby and this place obviously. I don't want her to get bored you know"
"I'll let you know next time we're coming and you should bring her. Me and Toni will take her out" I look confused at Shelby and she seems way too happy to even notice. Rami looks at me and I slightly smile, pretending I know what she's on about.
"Yeah alright cool" he walks off and I just stare at Shelby.
"What was that?"
"That was me giving you an opportunity to spend some time with a toddler" she smiles and eats her pancakes. I shake it off and pour syrup onto my food. We sit for the next hour eating and talking about things.

It reaches 12:30 and Shelby realizes she has to get back for the rehearsal. We clean up and take the dishes into the back.
"Hey guys we're going"
"See you later Shelb. Bye Toni" Rami waves and we hug Mariana goodbye.
"Now you get some rest okay" Shelby hugs her again and we leave.

"When will I see you again?" We pull up outside my house and just sit there as Shelby turns off the engine.
"Tomorrow for the café and then I don't know. I guess if you turn up to my pageant...I'll see you then" we kiss and I get out the car.
"Still thinking about it" I smile and close the door walking to my porch. I wave as she drives off and go inside.

"Marty?!"
"In here!" I walk into the lounge and see Marty cuddling up to Aaron.
"Hey guys, busy day?" I sit down on the single couch.
"Not too bad, we just went shopping"
"She made you stand there holding her pile of clothes didn't she? The 'might want' pile"
He laughs and nods. "Thought so, better you then me now!" I sit and watch tv with them until I had to get ready for work.

"I'll be home at 10 alright?"
"Okay! I'll be in bed and my mom will be too so don't forget your key!" I leave for work and spend the next 7 hours avoiding the new girl. If I got stuck with her alone I'd be forced to train her and I hated training people. I'm too impatient for that shit.

When I got home, the house was silent besides Helsby running up to me, meowing away. "Hey Helsby, are you ready for bed?" I pick him up and take him into my room. I put his blanket on to his side of the bed and change my clothes. "I'm sorry I don't spend as much time with you anymore. I'm always off doing something, do you want to watch The Arisocats? I know you like that movie" I get into bed and set up my laptop and put it in front of him, adjusting it so I can also see. I could feel myself falling asleep around 20 minutes later.