My Second Chance Alpha Mate

Two

(Yashira)

I open my eyes and grab my phone to look at the time. Five in the morning. I sigh getting up and going to the bathroom to do my morning routine. I then go to my room, put on grey leggings, a black sports bra with a white tank top and black running shoes. I put my hair up in a ponytail and go down to the kitchen living grandma a note that I went for a run. I put on my headphone and head out of the house. I run for about fifteen minutes when I spot a trail going into the woods. It looks like someone had run through here before. I wanted to take it, but since this is my first time running out here, I preferred to play it safe and just keep running on the side of the road.

After I finished my run, I headed back to the house and took a much needed shower. I blow dried my hair and put it in a braid since I was going to help grandma at the diner. I put on a pair of black jeans and a grey tank top with black sneakers. I then head out to the diner which is in front of grandma’s house. I enter through the kitchen and go to the diner. Grandma looks at me and smiles.

“How was your run?” she asks.

‘It was good’ I signed.

“Good! Come and have some breakfast” she says gesturing for me to sit. She goes into the kitchen and brings out a bowl of oatmeal and some orange juice. I take a spoon full of the oatmeal and mentally moaned at the taste. It’s like the oatmeal back in school in Puerto Rico or the bakery.

‘This is amazing abuela’ I signed.

“Thank you, estrellita” she says and leaves when a couple comes in to get their order. After I finish eating, I take my bowl and cup to the kitchen where Jeffrey takes it. I then gran an apron and begin to clean up the dirty tables.

As the day passes more people come to the diner and I found myself cleaning and taking orders from those who knew I only did signed language and didn’t mind. Around three in the afternoon Sara, Jake, Tristen and another woman with bleach blonde hair and makeup caked on her face walk in.

“Yaya” Tristan squeals and hugs my thigh making Jake and Sara smile wide. I put the stuff I was carrying down and kneel.

‘Hello, Tristan. Are you having a good day today?’ I signed while mouthing the words slowly for him.

“Now I am” he says and hugs me again.

‘Can I give him a snack?’ I signed to Jake and Sara who nod their heads. Tristan pulls back and I stand patting a booth. He gets what I’m saying and takes a seat. I go to the kitchen and het a cup of milk and a small plate of chocolate chip cookies. I go back and put it in front of him.

“Mm… tank you, Yaya” he says and start to eat. I look at Jake and Sara.

‘Yaya?’ I signed.

“He can’t pronounce your name well, so he decided to call you Yaya” Jake chuckles.

‘I like it’ I grin making Sara chuckle too.

‘Do you guys want to eat something?’ I signed. That's when I hear someone snapping their fingers.

“Hey, you freak, get me a vanilla shake quick” the blonde bimbo says snapping her fingers. I see some of the costumers turn to glare at her. It’s not the first time I’ve been called a freak and it won’t be the last. I just don’t let it get to me.

“I’m sorry about her. Sometimes she can be a little-”

“Sometimes? You mean all the time. I can’t stand her. I don’t understand what the Al-Gabriel sees in her. Tristan doesn’t even like her” Sara says cutting off her boyfriend.

‘Do you guys want anything?’ I signed.

“I’ll have a coke, please” Jake says.

“Make that two please” I nod and go to make the bimbo’s shake when I see a costumer come in and takes a seat in the far end booth. I see Leon was currently busy, so I tap Sara’s shoulder and ask her to follow me. We walk to the lady who came in and she looks at us. I began to sign, and Sara translated for me.

“Welcome, may I get you something to drink?” Sara asks her.

“Yes please. I would like a coke with a piece of lemon please” she smiles.

“No problem. Here is the menu. I’ll be right back” Sara translates for me. I thank Sara and go behind the counter get the three Cokes one with a piece of lemon and make the bimbo's vanilla shake. Once I have it done, I give the vanilla shake to the bimbo.

“It’s about time, you freak” she says still typing on the phone. I then take the two cokes to Jake and Sara who were sitting with Tristan and the other coke to the lady. Leon was free at the moment, so he took her order and placed it in.

“I still don’t see why we come here every day. This place is a dump” the bimbo says making me look at her.

“This place is not a dump Ashley. If you don’t like it, you can leave. No one asked you to come in the first place” Sara snaps, and I swear I heard the bleach blonde bimbo growl. I decided to ignore her.

‘So, you guys come here every day?’ I signed to Jake and Sara.

“Almost every day. Your grandma is awesome, and we love her food” Jake says and Sara nods in agreement.

‘I can’t argue with you on that’ I smiled.

“Sweetheart can I get some more coffee?” Albert one of the regulars asks. I give Jake and Sara an apologetic smile and go give Mr. Albert his coffee.

“Thank you, sweetheart. Can I also have the bill?” he asks, and I give him his bill.

“What about the coffee?” he asks pointing to the one I just gave him.

‘On the house’ I signed while mouthing it.

“Thank you” he grins. He pays for his bill and when he’s done, he leaves. I go to where he sat and clean up only to find a fifty-dollar tip on top of a napkin that says ‘you are a beautiful and kindhearted woman. Never change.’

“That’s sweet of Mr. Albert” Sara smiles as she looks at what he wrote. I nod and pocket the napkin along with the tip.

“We have to leave early, but we’ll be back. How much do we owe you for the cokes” Sara asks. I see the bimbo get up and walk out of the diner without paying. I run after her and stop her from closing the door.

“What’s your problem freak?” she spat.

‘You need to pay. Now or I’ll call the cops’ I sign.

“She says you need to pay now, or she’ll call the cops” Sara says. The blonde bimbo gets out of the car and gets in my face, but I don’t back down.

“I never pay. I always do what I want when I want” she smirks taking a threatening step towards me.

‘Not here and you don’t scare me, so pay up’ I signed.

“She says you don’t scare her and to pay up” Sara says as I take a step towards her.

“I guess we are going to have to change that-”

“Ashley pay up and stop looking for trouble” Jake scolds.

“Fine” Ashley rolls her eyes and pays for her milkshake. I go inside the diner and put the money in the cash drawer.

“How much do we owe you?” Jake asks.

‘Nothing. Is on the house’ I sign.

“Why did Ashley have to pay for her shake?” Jake asks.

‘She just got up and walked out like everything is owed to her instead of asking. I could’ve given it to her on the house, but when she did that, I didn’t like it and the fact that she tried to intimidate me… it doesn’t sit well with me. Plus there’s something about her that I don’t like’ I signed making Sara chuckle.

“Alright Yashira. We’ll see you around. Tell your grandma we said bye. Come Tristan we have to go” Sara calls. Tristan comes running and hugs my thigh.

“Do we have to?” he asks Jake.

“Yes, buddy. Your dad will be home soon” Jake says and Tristan’s eyes light up.

“Okay. Bye Yaya” Tristan says. I kneel and give him a hug.

‘Be good’ I sign, and he nods. They leave and I continue to work. Four o’clock comes and the phone rings. I look at Leon and he goes to answer the phone. I pick up the dirty dishes to take them to the back and place them in the machine to wash them. I press the button and it starts to wash. Leon comes in the kitchen looking a little stress.

‘What’s wrong?’ I sign while mouthing the words.

“Megan is not coming in today. She says something personal had come up, but that she’ll come in tomorrow” Leo says.

‘It’s okay. We can manage’ I sign and pat his back before heading out to the front. I look around and see that we don’t have many costumers. I turn and look at Leon.

‘Go on break. I’ll take care of everything until you come back, and grand ma should be back any minute’ I tell him. Grandma had to go to the store to get a few she needed. Leon nods and punches out before going on break. We get a few costumers and I take care of them. Leon comes back in just as grandma gets here and takes the groceries to the kitchen.

“Where is Megan?” Grandma asks walking in the diner.

“Called out. Something personal came up” Leon informs grandma who nods her head.

“Yashira, have you eaten yet?” grandma asks.

‘I’ll eat later’ I sign not looking at her. I wipe the table when suddenly grandma takes the cloth from my hand.

“I need you to go eat. You only had breakfast this morning” she says leaving no room for argument. I nod and go to the back to get a plate. I grab some white rice, beans, barbeque chicken, and some avocado. I grab a bottle of water and go sit on one of the booths. After I finish, I go back to helping Leon and soon we close up the diner. Grandma, Jeffrey, and I head back to the house.

“Goodnight, Yashira” Jeffrey says.

‘Goodnight, Jeffrey. Goodnight grandma’ I sign.

“Goodnight estrellita” grandma says. I go to my room get my pajamas and go take a shower before going to my room and going to bed.

***