Hola...

[MARGARITA JOSEPHINE RIVERA]

MJ sighed as she stood in the kitchen, waiting for the cook to slide over the empanadas that she was supposed to take out oh.. five minutes ago. MJ reached up, slamming her hand on the metal surface that separated them several times. “No me importa lo que ustedes dos estén hablando. Tienes que darse prisa. Estoy por mi cuenta. Si usted quiere tomar su tiempo cocinando, entonces usted necesita tirar en un delantal y me ayuda a servir puesto que usted tiene un montón de hora de tener su cabeza para arriba su asno!!” she said, giving them a ‘what the hell’ look when they turned and looked at her. “Gracias,” she said sarcastically, taking the plate before she left. The one downside of having a restaurant in a college town is that the servers they did hire, tended to not be responsible. Here she was on another Friday night, by herself.. which was especially sucktastic because they hosted a Margarita special every Friday night. She made her way through the packed little restaurant. She loved that it still had a cozy feeling, but even when the smallest of restaurants were packed full of people it could feel like you were drowning in busy work. Especially when you were responsible for making all of the margaritas. After dropping off the empanada she noticed that a new guy had come in and sat down by himself. She halted for a moment, pushing the hair from her face. He was really……tall. She stood motionless, snapping out of her trance when someone literally snapped their fingers at her. Oh, right. She was busy. “Sorry,” she said, shaking her head until she felt like she could focus again. After handling that customer she went to the back, grabbing a tray and placing two waters on there, a basket of chips and a small little skillet filled to the max with queso. She brought it out to the table. “Hey… you’re new here..” she said, making a slight face before laughing. “Sorry, it’s just.. I uh… Well we know the regulars. So.. “ she gestured to the hot skillet on the table. “That is extremely hot.. and we give it to all of our new customers.” she said, smiling. “I brought a water for you and your girlfriend, so.. if you want to look at the menu I can check back when she’s here. Did you want a drink while you waited?” she asked, slightly raising her eyebrows. She could hear someone at a table a few yards away from them yelling to get her attention. She looked over her shoulder, trying to gesture that she would be there in a second. She looked over at the guy at the table she was in front of, smiling apologetically. “I promise service is normally better than this.”

[JOHN MURPHY]

John pulled up in front of the little cantina, resting his bike on the kickstand before taking his helmet off and smoothed his hair back.  He'd left a jacket at home, sort of enjoying the warmth on his bare arms where his white t-shirt sleeves were rolled up a few times.  He wiped his hands on his jeans and glanced through the window.  Part of him was happy to be back near where he grew up, but then he also sort of missed the so-cal life he'd been living for most of his 20's.  But besides, he was only here for a couple of semesters so he figured he'd make the most of it.  He'd be able to do his school thing, see his family more, and slow things down a bit before he finished up his graduate degree.  And if there was one thing he knew was better back home than in California, it was the mexican food.  John absolutely loved mexican food, more than any other type of cuisine.  He could live off it probably.  John entered the little cantina, pleased to see it full of people.  That was a good sign, if it was full then the food was probably good.  And not only that, but there were Mexicans having dinner, so it had to be authentic.  John sat by himself, glad that the only open table had a good view of the bar for people watching.  He removed his sunglasses and laid them on the table, having a look around at the place.  After a few minutes a waitress came over to greet him, setting down waters and a skillet of queso.  He was about to politely tell her it must be for a different table, but she explained that she knew he wasn't a regular, and that new patrons got queso.  "Oh," he said surprised, but pleased, "Thank you, that's gracious."  John looked at her confused when she said for his girlfriend, which explained the two water.  He was going to correct her but figured it wasn't important.  "Uh, yeah, cold i just get a margarita, please?"  he shook his head when she mentioned service wasn't always like this, and held up one hand in understanding, "Oh no worries, take your time.  I'm not in a hurry," he added.  Even if he was in a hurry, he'd be slowing his roll now anyways if it meant getting to watch her walk back and forth across the restaurant. She was muy caliente.

[MARGARITA JOSEPHINE RIVERA]

MJ smiled as he said that he would like a margarita, giving a quick nod. "Yeah, they're actually on special tonight.. Um... insider tip.. on the rocks is a lot better than frozen here. I hear the owner is kind of stingy on the blender. I think she's had it since the 80's. But she's a stickler for sticking with what works." she said, giving a quiet laugh. "Um...Sorry. Yeah. Margarita." she said, turning to walk away from him. MJ left the table, stopping at the one that had been trying to get her attention earlier. Of course they needed another round of shots. But MJ smiled, nodding at them as she took their order. College wasn't exactly paying for itself, and every tip she got was going toward her tuition. MJ moved away from the tables, heading to the bar where she started working on drinks. She poured the four shots for the group of men, before starting on John's margarita, taking just a moment longer than usual to make sure it was perfect. She could hear the cook yelling in the back that an order was up. Of course the hottest guy she had seen in a while would come in on a night when she couldn't really give him the attention that she would like. What was she thinking? Some long legged blonde was going to walk in any second, complaining about Starbucks and that she's worried that her pomeranian Princess was feeling abandoned. MJ went back over to the table, dropping off the shots before she came to his table again, setting the margarita down. "Anything look good yet?" she asked, not able to stop herself from smiling again. She looked over her shoulder as the door opened, half expecting it to be the blonde, but it was just her uncle to come work on the books. She took in a breath, looking back at the lanky, yet excruciatingly handsome customer, as she slid her hand into her back pocket. "Oh! Is the queso okay?" she asked, lifting her eyebrow slightly.

[JOHN MURPHY]

John nodded when she mentioned not to go with a frozen marg, glad for the tip.  "Sure, on the rocks it is then."  He watched her walk away, and then watched the table of guys who just ordered shots watch her walk away as well, just much more obviously.  Well some guys just weren't good at hiding it.  Sure, John was checking her out too, but you didn't have to be a dog about it.  Plus, John liked small girls.  Not necessarily skinny, just on the shorter side.  It was so cute.  This waitress had a cute ass too.  He loved being the quiet inquisitive type, no one ever thought he was a normal guy, he always got the, 'oh you're so sweet.'  But he checked out the ladies too.  He had game.  He was usually the dude who swept in and stole your girl.  He just also managed to do so very respectfully.  John glanced over the menu, unable to decide what h wanted.  he literally thought he would enjoy all of it.  The waitress returned and set his margarita down, asking what he wanted to order, "It all look's good..." he trailed off, furrowing his eyebrows as she asked about the queso.  "Oh, the queso  is out of this world, best I've ever had."  He looked up at her and pushed his menu away, "Alright, what do you recommend?  I will eat literally anything you bring out from the kitchen."  he liked doing this; some waitresses got really uncomfortable.  But the one's that were confident always brought you the best food.

[MARGARITA JOSEPHINE RIVERA]

MJ couldn't help but smile as he said that he liked the queso. She'd worked here since she could remember, but for some reason people enjoying her grandma's recipes always made her heart sing. "I'm glad," she said, thinking to herself that was an indicator that he might be coming back. She opened her mouth slightly when he mentioned that he would eat anything that came out of the kitchen. So was he ordering? Was he not waiting on a girlfriend? She looked him over, trying to decide what he might like. She bit the edge of her lip, giving a small nod before she pulled the chair out across from him and sat down. "Okay, " she said, turning the menu toward herself. "It changes weekly based on the quality of ingredients that the local farmers have... and the owner likes to mix it up," she said, taking in a breath. Clicking her pen she started writing on the menu. "You should try the Ultimate Quesadilla." she said, looking up at him. "Um.. so.. the owner's granddaughter made it one night on a drunken ...experience. It's a hardened flat corn shell, and then they top it with black beans, brown rice, you can choose steak or chicken.. but it's better with chicken," she said, writing things down. "Anyway, then they also put pico grande on it, wrap it on a soft tortilla.. and the best part..." she said, narrowing her eyes as she looked at him, "Lard. I mean.. it adds the flavor, you know? Put a coat of lard on it, put it in the fryer.. and then after that they pour queso on it, put a tortilla around it and... grill it..." she said, looking up and laughing quietly. "It's also really good if you get the cilantro sour cream on the side to dip it in. But, I'm partial," she said, twirling the pen in her hand as she watched him. "I'll put that in." she said, giving him a quick wink before she left the table. MJ finish writing a few things on the menu before taking it back to the kitchen. As she made her way back, the group of men who had been giving her grief since they came in spoke up. "Cariño realmente quiero una margarita. ¿Estás en especial esta noche también? Puedo llevarte de vuelta a mi casa Vamos, cuánto cuesta?. MJ stopped dead in her tracks, lifting her eyebrow as she turned to look at him. She stood still for a moment, trying to choose her options before she smiled slowly. She walk back over to the newcomer, taking the margarita from his hand as it was hitting his lips. "Excuse me," she said, taking the margarita over to the loud talker before dumping it on his head. "Como pene." she said, slamming the glass down before she went to make the newcomer a new margarita. MJ hurried this time, trying to finish the margarita up before she brought it over to him and set it down. "For future reference, that doesn't happen often here."

[JOHN MURPHY]

She looked like she was thinking it over in her mind before she finally decided to pull out the chair across from him and sat down, explaining a little about the menu and talking up one of the items in particular.  He nodded along, taking it all in, adding, "I mean, if there isn't lard involved, is it even mexican food?" he joked.  Sure there were plenty of dishes that didn't involve themselves with lard.  But then there were a lot of shit foods out there that would probably be better with lard.  he leaned back in his chair, wrapping his hand around the margarita glass, "You had me at drunken experience."  She got up to put his order in, shooting him a quick wink and he melted a bit.  Damn, she was cute.  He thought maybe he might  be back for more than just the queso.  After she had gone to check on the table nearby he slid his glass closer and lifted it to his lips to take a sip, overhearing the guy talking to her in Spanish.  John wasn't fluent, but he knew enough spanish to know what he said was incredibly rude.  And actually, if he was being honest, it sort of pissed him off ,and he didn't even know her.  He raised his eyebrows at the guy's comment, taking a sip of his drink just to be busy doing something when the drink was taken out of his hand.  John froze, not one for quick reactions, and watched as the waitress poured his drink onto the guy and then John couldn't help but laugh when she told the guy he was a dick.  John sort of assumed she would get him a new drink so he wasn't super mad; on the contrary it was nice to see a young woman stick up for herself for once.  When she did indeed return with a new drink he laughed slightly, flashing her a smile as he took a moment to really look at her, "Hey, that guy deserved what he had coming.  Just as long as there's always a margarita for me," he added, joking, since she'd taken his.

[MARGARITA JOSEPHINE RIVERA]

It was an interesting experience, because as busy as she had been and quite frankly still was, she found herself wanting to come to the table, wanting to let time slow down for just a moment. She tried not to smile as he suggested that the guy deserved it. When he mentioned that there should just always be a margarita here for him she stared at him for a moment, holding her breath though her lips were slightly parted.Holy shit, his smile... were angels actually singing? It was one of those smiles that came across so easily... as though he had no idea how effortlessly he was just putting ripples in her little world, making her heart go all sorts of bidi bidi bom bom. She actually felt her breath catch, trying to refocus as to what he had just said. “Actually,” she started, putting her hand out to him. “I’m Margarita,” she said, scrunching her nose slightly. "And I will be here any time you want me," she continued to think to herself, though knew better than to actually verbalize it. “And uh.. Margarita,” she said, using her other hand to point toward the door where the name was written in one of those tacky neon lights.. “That’s my grandma,” she said, leaning in slightly as she held his hand to whisper to him. “No pressure to like the food or anything,” she said, slowly taking her hand back. “So are you.. new to … I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name,” she said, looking at him hopefully.

[JOHN MURPHY]

She had paused and then explained that she actually was named Margarita.  "Oh," he said seeing now how what he said had sort of been unintentionally suggestive.  He cocked his head to the side, "The Margarita...?"  She explained that the original Margarita was her grandmother and he nodded, "Ahh."  Well now it made sense.  The owners granddaughter and all, with her quesadilla making drunken experience.  John shrugged at her comment about the food, "Well, if the queso is any precedent, I'd say I'm safe," he said, shaking her hand, "I'm John."  He took a drink of his margarita, and then continued, "Not new to the area, returning actually.  I grew up in the area, but I've been going to school in California."  he sort of wanted to ask her to sit down but knew she was working.  It was a shame really.

[MARGARITA JOSEPHINE RIVERA]

There it was. California. She nodded knowingly. So the tall blonde was in California waiting for him. Well, it figured. "So you're here to visit your family?" she questioned, looking over her shoulder as she realized that a few tables were trying to get her attention. MJ looked back at him, narrowing her eyebrows. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. You came in to relax, not be badgered by the waitress. I'll check on your food and let you relax," she said, giving him a smile before quickly patting the side of his arm and making her way to check on the other tables. The guy that she had poured a margarita on had gone to the bathroom to clean himself up slightly while his friends had already left money on the table and bolted. The rest of the tables were mostly regulars, so it was pretty easy to navigate her way through the organized chaos. She went into the kitchen, yelling at the cooks to ask about the Ultimate Quesadilla that she was waiting for, placing both of her hands on the counter as she waited. "Why are you blushing, bonita?" one of the cooks asked, laughing at her while shaking his head. MJ smiled sarcastically, taking the plate. She cleared her throat, adjusting her shoulders and fixing her shirt before she made her way back out to him. "Here you are.." she said, setting the plate down. "It's really hot, so be careful." she said, gesturing to his margarita. "Did you want another? I mean if you get a little too thirsty.. I have made a habit of keeping the bar open past hours for a select few,"

[JOHN MURPHY]

Even though he knew she was probably swamped with tables, he was glad to pretend like they were the only ones in the room and chat with her about trivial things.  He was going to tell her about his stuff with school and why he was back, but she cut him off, seeming to shake out of the quiet moment away from her work.  John waved his hand slightly, "That's okay, do your thing."  As soon as she left to tend to other tables he wished she could have stayed, but he couldn't monopolize her.  The rude guy and his friend's had left, and john glanced down at his watch for the time.  Yeah, he'd come in for a bit of a late dinner.  John watched as a family left money on their table and went on their way as well, leaving the later crowd around the bar.  Margarita returned with his dinner, and John smiled a bit, "Wow, that looks amazing," sliding his glass over to make room.  She asked if he wanted another drink and he nodded, "Yes, please, " smirking at her.  If she was gonna keep the bar open he might stay as along as she'd have him.  "Just so long as you're making the drinks."  Maybe at that point she'd actually sit down and have a drink with him.

[MARGARITA JOSEPHINE RIVERA]

For the rest of his meal, Margarita tried not to pay too much attention to him. No one liked the girl who tried too hard, and even if she wanted to.. it wasn't like she could neglect an entire restaurant for him. And it wasn't necessarily that he had come in too terribly late for dinner, it's just that there were some people who stayed way past for their closing hours. Those people just happened to be regulars that had come to feel like family over the years. She had brought him some fresh chips for his queso, a margarita re-fill or two. But soon it was just the bar drifters and his table left. MJ grabbed the tray which had stuff for a very quick simple guacamole, as well as two margaritas on it. She came over to the table, setting it down before she pulled a chair out and sat across from him again. "They're very impressed with the white boys taste," she said, trying not to smile as she looked up at him. MJ reached up, taking her hair out of her ponytail finally before letting out a sigh. Shift over. Mostly. She wouldn't have sat down with him out of not wanting to bother him, but she was also trusting her gut that was telling her that if he truly objected to being spoken to, that he would've gotten something to go and would have eaten at home. Though, it just wouldn't have been able to be here. Her grandma had a strict no take out policy. Food was meant to be enjoyed in company, at least that is how it had always been growing up for her. MJ sat quietly, carving the avocado out of its shell before placing it in the bowl and starting to peel cilantro, looking up at him. "So.. you are coming back from California," she said as though she were just recapping his own biography. "You must have family in the area.. And you're sitting in a cantina,..with margaritas and an empty seat across from you," she said, looking up at him with a smirk. "Ordinarily I wouldn't say this, but you've had a few margaritas to the point where I don't think you'll necessarily remember. But, ... is there a reason you're eating alone? Cause I can't see one,"

[JOHN MURPHY]

John ate his meal, enjoying it until the last bite.  She was absolutely right about this quesadilla though, it was magnificent.  Something of epic proportions.  Things had obviously eased up in the room, and it seemed like the vibe had changed to more of a night crowd.  He looked up when she came over with a tray of stuff and two margaritas; he hoped one of those was for her and he would get to get to know her a little.  He'd been pretty far removed for a handful of years so a lot of people he used to know had either moved on or just weren't in the same place in life.  He knew moving back here he would have to try and meet some knew people anyways.  John let out a laugh, watching her take her hair down and tell him that the cooks were impressed with him, for a white boy.  There was something about people of minority telling you you were pretty fly for a white guy that made you feel accepted, especially nowadays when it seemed being a white guy was the most uncool thing you could be.  He watched her begin to make up some guacamole, he assumed, returning to their previous conversation about what brought him into town.  He nodded and took a sip of the fresh drink she had brought, confirming that he had family in the area, but offered a half smile when she stated she couldn't see a reason why he might be eating alone.  He sat back in his chair, shrugging and smoothed his hair back, making an effort not to look at the way hers had fallen over he shoulders in thick waves.  "Maybe I'm an oddity, but solitude doesn't bother me.  Not that I don't appreciate the company when offered, because I do," he smiled, to clarify that he did indeed enjoy that she'd joined him.  "It's just been a long time since I've lived here, not a lot of the old people are still around.   And I uh..." he thought for a moment thinking back on some of his worst times, "I was pretty removed from my old life here, when I was living out in California."  Even at times he felt removed from his life at school in Berkeley, those summers in LA when he'd made some of his worst choices.  "How about you, have you grown up here then?" he asked, wanting to find out more about her.

[MARGARITA JOSEPHINE RIVERA]

MJ watched him as he spoke, robotically peeling the cilantro off without looking at it as though she'd spent years doing it. "Mm.." she said, narrowing her eyes at him jokingly when he mentioned enjoying solitude. When she was done peeling the cilantro she reached down to pick up a napkin and wipe her fingers off. To be fair, she had seen that a lot of people would leave Arizona to go to California for school. It's just that the lifestyle was so different, that people often found themselves coming home. When he asked if she had grown up here, she instantly smiled before slightly holding her hands up to gesture to the restaurant. "Literally." she said, giving a quiet laugh before she picked up the limes to finish the guacamole. "My grandma raised me.. with the help of my uncles, and the randoms that she seems to just sort of adopt off of the streets throughout the years," she said. MJ finished the guacamole, pushing it between them so that they could share it before she picked up her margarita and took a sip of it. In any other conversation she felt like she had to declare her worth, that she had to explain that she was going to school and getting an education. But she didn't feel like he was judging her or that she had to explain herself. "Anything you miss from California?".. or anyone.. "Bonita, we brought you two some shots," the regular said, laughing as he patted her on the back. "Helping yourselves to the bar again?" she said with mild amusement as she looked up at him, but he was already heading back to the bar, laughing with his friends about something she was sure was at one of their expense. Margarita looked down at the tequila shots before looking back at John. "If I had to guess..." she said coyly, breaking a chip in half as she started to get some guacamole. "They're trying to see how much a .... suburban guy over six feet tall can hang," she said, picking up one of the shot glasses.

[JOHN MURPHY]

John dug into the chips and guac, not fully sure how he was still able to eat anything else at this point but it was just really good guacamole.  So she'd grown up around here too, raised by her grandmother.  John thought that was nice, though he wondered about her parents.  He didn't know her well enough to  pry and if she wasn't offering an explanation he'd just leave it at that.  he leaned forward, asking, "Seems like a good place to grow up, a good support system."  He scooped up some guac on a chip and shrugged when she asked if he missed much from California, "Right now, no, I don't miss California.  This has been a good escape from all that.  It's not all it's cracked up to be sometimes."  It sure had been the escape he needed, anyways.  Or at least it removed him from the problem for long enough not to fall back into whatever hole he'd been in.  He wasn't ready to go back there, maybe he would be two semesters from now when he didn't have a choice.  John was surprised when someone brought shots over but he was beginning to see it was really like a little family here.  Clearly they cared about her more than just their waitress, as they seemed to be sizing him up as she suggested, seeing if he was worthy maybe.  If it was drinking they meant, they had no idea.  But he thought maybe they were concerned with more than just that.  "Well, I've been known to hold my tequila pretty well, but I'd also guess that wasn't their sole concern," he added knowing now that he was probably sitting with what everyone saw as their 'granddaughter' or 'neice'; he had the feeling that if he someone messed this up he'd have some uncles to answer to.

[MARGARITA JOSEPHINE RIVERA]

Mary watched him, unable to stop the smile that grew on her lips. The men in her life were very overprotective of her. That came from the fact that a lot of them had been friends of her father. When he died, they seemed to be afraid that she wouldn't have a male figure in her life. Except at every daddy-daughter event, she literally had 5 guys with her. She never had to stop dancing, because one of them always stepped in. She never had to feel like she was alone. When he mentioned he wasn't sure that was their only concern, she narrowed her eyebrows slightly, turning to look over her shoulder at the group of men who for the most part were lost in their own conversation for the moment. "Okay," she said with a smile, transitioning herself to the idea of having a shot. If there was ever a shift where she needed one, this was it. Considering she was the only young female in this place right now, you think she would be a little more wary about having a drink. The only other women were at the bar, were old enough to be her mother and were married to a couple of the guys. But they were family, this was home. In a lot of ways it was where she felt safe. But she also knew, if she was going to something great in the world, she needed to get out of her comfort zone. And then low and behold this guy walks in, looking like her ticket out of here. "Cheers," she said, tapping her shot glass against his quickly before taking the shot and picking up a lime from the guacamole she was making to suck on it. "How many margaritas have you had?" she asked,realizing that he might have had enough to be okay with dancing. "I want to dance," she said, clapping her hands together. Mary stood up, tossing back another one of the shoots quickly, letting out a quick breath at the sting of the alcohol. "Come on," she said, walking over to the music. "Come on guys.. we don't have to listen to mariachi stuff all the time. Trump's going to build a wall around us," she teased with them. "Okay, so ... this band doesn't make a ton of music you can dance to," she said, scrolling through her iPod that was attached to the sound system. "They just have songs that literally speak to my soul.. like... " she said, taking in a breath as she turned to look at him. "Have you ever felt something, but you can't articulate it the right way? You can't find the right word to express exactly what you're feeling, and you think that the whole world will think you're insane.. because you just .. can't express it the way it deserves? This band totally does it. I mean they're like.. the greatest poets of our generation. Totally underrated. But I listen to them after a crazy shift. Tequila and these guys... mellows me out," she said, laughing at him. "And now you think I'm insane," she said, looking back at the playlist to try and find one that you can dance to. She tilted her head back and forth, debating between I Want You and Color. Give It To Me? Everything I Ask For. Mary puffed her cheeks out, scrolling through the danceable options. "I'll just put it on shuffle," she said, hitting play before turning to look at him and putting her hand out toward him.