Riptide.
On an island in the sun we'll be playing and having fun
After calling Zara asking her what I can and cannot wear, I find myself wearing cut-off shorts and a sugar skull tank top. I shove my feet into a pair of boots and throw on a necklace and I’m out the door even before the sun rises. I’m downstairs making donuts, muffins and bagels while the sound of Damian Marley keeping me and Zara company as she trains me and prepares the cafe for patrons throughout the day.
“Around ten is when we start serving mimosas,” Zara informs me. “You know what that is right?”
“Champagne and orange juice,” I laugh, “my drink of choice when I’m on vacation. My mom banned me from making them on our vacations. Apparently I make them too good.”
Zara laughs, “then you're in charge. It’s 8 dollars for bottomless mimosas. That deal goes from ten til three.”
“Alrighty,” I smile as I continue getting this place ready for open.
**
Amber is barely audible over the bustle of people coming in and out of the cafe. Coffee Mugs are clinking against each other on the trays; people are talking about their vacation plans or just plans for the day; Zara is flirting with some of the older gentlemen and kids are laughing at their fathers. It’s chaotic but a good kind of chaos.
“Hey Ali Cat,” Makayla says and she walks into the cafe with another blonde behind her. “How’s working for Zara treating you?”
“It’s actually not that bad,” I reply as I clear a table for a young couple. “What brings you here?”
“I wanted you to meet my friend Grace,” she says pointing to the blonde behind her. “Gracie this is Ali, she’s new here.”
“Hey,” the other blonde says with a smile. “Welcome to Solana Beach.”
“Hey,” I smile back as I walk towards the kitchen, the girls following behind me. Zara must have let them when Zoey worked here, I think to myself. “So what are your plans for the day?” I ask them as I put the coffee mugs in the dishwasher.
“Mimosas here til three and then wait for your shift to be over with,” Makayla smiles. “When is that by the way? I know Zara’s nephew comes in for the afternoon and evening crowd.”
“I get out at three,” I inform them. “Zara has me in charge of Mimosas.”
“Please tell me you can make them?” Makayla pleas. “Zoey couldn’t for the life of her. They were so weak. It was almost like there was no champagne in them.”
“Don’t worry,” I begin to assure her. “Mine are a tad bit stronger.”
“Finally, a woman that knows how to make her drinks!” Gracie laughs as the three of us exit the kitchen. “What time is it? Can it be mimosa time yet?”
“It’s 9:50,” I tell her. “I don’t see why mimosa time can’t start a little early today. I’ll hook you girls up.” I smile as I head to the bar area to prepare their drinks as they take a seat outside.
**
Just as Van Morrison turns into Train, I clock out for the day. After saying goodbye to Zara, I head outside where Gracie and Makayla are finishing up their mimosas. I slip my sunglasses over my eyes as I take up the open seat between the two blondes.
“So you’re finally ours for the day?” Makayla asks, laughing. “Because I got plans for you?”
“Should I be scared?” I ask turning to Gracie, laughing a bit. “Does she have plans to kill me or something?”
“Not totally,” Gracie chuckles. “She just wants to kill the New Yorker in you and take you shopping for a new wardrobe.”
I turn to Makayla, “what’s wrong with my clothing?”
“You don’t have enough beach wear,” she replies. “I didn’t mean that to come out offensive. You have little to no clothing with you.”
“That’s because I stuffed all I could into two bags,” I counter. “I couldn’t take much with me.”
“And that happened for a reason!” She exclaims. “Come on, how can you say no to a girls day of shopping and mani/pedis?” I can’t help but to laugh at how excited she is about this.
“I guess I can’t say no.” I chuckle, “so when does this start?”
“Right now!” She squeals before jumping to her feet as she grabs my wrists and pulls me out of the seat. Gracie can be heard laughing hard as she follows us to Makayla’s car.
**
“Don't believe me just watch” all three of us scream in the car as we obnoxiously sing along to Uptown Funk. All the windows are down, the music is cranked up to as high as we can get it; this means we are getting a lot of attention from the people around us. The boys give us a smirk while the older people look at us as if we are openly worshipping the devil. I can’t help but to laugh at everything; it feels like highschool all over again.
Just as we pull into Sun Diego Boardshop, that Cups song comes on and I’m thankful when Makayla turns it off. All three of us get out of the car and Makayla locks it before we enter the store. My eyes light up at all the stuff and immediately I’m being dragged away by Gracie as Makayla goes crazy pulling clothing from the racks that she wants me to try on.
“Okay, I think I’m officially over shopping.” I groan as I collapse onto a bench outside of Sun Diego an hour or so after arriving. Gracie is quick to join me, leaving Makayla still on her feet.
“How did you survive shopping 5th Avenue?” Makayla questions. “I’m sure this is nothing compared to that.”
“I survived it by hiding vodka and redbull in my purse,” I respond truthfully. “I honestly hate shopping. I much rather order from online than having to head into the store.”
Makayla playfully rolls her eyes and lets out a chuckle, “let’s go get our mani/pedis now. Or are you against that too?”
I let out a laugh as I barely get back up onto my feet. “With the amount of clothing I have to tote to your care, I deserve a mani/pedi.” The three of us head to the car to start our journey to find a salon to get our nails done for tonight’s party…
**
“So how do you know the guy throwing the party?” I ask Gracie as she sits out in the living room while I get changed in my bathroom.
“Makayla knows him more than I do,” she responds. “When she gets back from her house I’m sure she’ll explain how she knows Brody.”
“How long have you been living in Solana Beach?” I ask her. I’m going to take this time to get to know Gracie. She seems a lot quieter than Makayla.
“Since high school,” she replies. “That’s when I was adopted into the Rogers family. Since then I lost myself in the world of psychology and surfing.”
“You surf?” I ask peeking my head out of the bathroom. “That’s awesome.”
“Do you?” She asks, “because you don’t seem the person that enjoys surfing.”
I can’t help but to laugh because I get that a lot. “Yea, I know the basics. It’s been like 8 years since I’ve gone surfing. I took a bunch of lessons when me and my girlfriends came out here for the summer.”
“I’m sure if you ask Brody or his friend Cash, I’m sure they’ll help you.” Gracie states. “They’re really nice guys and know more about surfing than anyone else here. Plus I think they really like helping girls because they can gawk at them in swimsuits.” She chuckles causing me to as well.
“We’re going to be great friends,” I announce as I come out of the bathroom. “And since we are great friends, pick an outfit you want to wear. That way it’s one less stop before we head to the beach for the party. I’m sure that will make Makayla happy; she seems to be the partying type.”
“You have no idea,” she laughs. “And thanks, Ali. You’re awesome.” I just smile as I head back into the bathroom to finish getting ready for the party tonight...
“Around ten is when we start serving mimosas,” Zara informs me. “You know what that is right?”
“Champagne and orange juice,” I laugh, “my drink of choice when I’m on vacation. My mom banned me from making them on our vacations. Apparently I make them too good.”
Zara laughs, “then you're in charge. It’s 8 dollars for bottomless mimosas. That deal goes from ten til three.”
“Alrighty,” I smile as I continue getting this place ready for open.
**
Amber is barely audible over the bustle of people coming in and out of the cafe. Coffee Mugs are clinking against each other on the trays; people are talking about their vacation plans or just plans for the day; Zara is flirting with some of the older gentlemen and kids are laughing at their fathers. It’s chaotic but a good kind of chaos.
“Hey Ali Cat,” Makayla says and she walks into the cafe with another blonde behind her. “How’s working for Zara treating you?”
“It’s actually not that bad,” I reply as I clear a table for a young couple. “What brings you here?”
“I wanted you to meet my friend Grace,” she says pointing to the blonde behind her. “Gracie this is Ali, she’s new here.”
“Hey,” the other blonde says with a smile. “Welcome to Solana Beach.”
“Hey,” I smile back as I walk towards the kitchen, the girls following behind me. Zara must have let them when Zoey worked here, I think to myself. “So what are your plans for the day?” I ask them as I put the coffee mugs in the dishwasher.
“Mimosas here til three and then wait for your shift to be over with,” Makayla smiles. “When is that by the way? I know Zara’s nephew comes in for the afternoon and evening crowd.”
“I get out at three,” I inform them. “Zara has me in charge of Mimosas.”
“Please tell me you can make them?” Makayla pleas. “Zoey couldn’t for the life of her. They were so weak. It was almost like there was no champagne in them.”
“Don’t worry,” I begin to assure her. “Mine are a tad bit stronger.”
“Finally, a woman that knows how to make her drinks!” Gracie laughs as the three of us exit the kitchen. “What time is it? Can it be mimosa time yet?”
“It’s 9:50,” I tell her. “I don’t see why mimosa time can’t start a little early today. I’ll hook you girls up.” I smile as I head to the bar area to prepare their drinks as they take a seat outside.
**
Just as Van Morrison turns into Train, I clock out for the day. After saying goodbye to Zara, I head outside where Gracie and Makayla are finishing up their mimosas. I slip my sunglasses over my eyes as I take up the open seat between the two blondes.
“So you’re finally ours for the day?” Makayla asks, laughing. “Because I got plans for you?”
“Should I be scared?” I ask turning to Gracie, laughing a bit. “Does she have plans to kill me or something?”
“Not totally,” Gracie chuckles. “She just wants to kill the New Yorker in you and take you shopping for a new wardrobe.”
I turn to Makayla, “what’s wrong with my clothing?”
“You don’t have enough beach wear,” she replies. “I didn’t mean that to come out offensive. You have little to no clothing with you.”
“That’s because I stuffed all I could into two bags,” I counter. “I couldn’t take much with me.”
“And that happened for a reason!” She exclaims. “Come on, how can you say no to a girls day of shopping and mani/pedis?” I can’t help but to laugh at how excited she is about this.
“I guess I can’t say no.” I chuckle, “so when does this start?”
“Right now!” She squeals before jumping to her feet as she grabs my wrists and pulls me out of the seat. Gracie can be heard laughing hard as she follows us to Makayla’s car.
**
“Don't believe me just watch” all three of us scream in the car as we obnoxiously sing along to Uptown Funk. All the windows are down, the music is cranked up to as high as we can get it; this means we are getting a lot of attention from the people around us. The boys give us a smirk while the older people look at us as if we are openly worshipping the devil. I can’t help but to laugh at everything; it feels like highschool all over again.
Just as we pull into Sun Diego Boardshop, that Cups song comes on and I’m thankful when Makayla turns it off. All three of us get out of the car and Makayla locks it before we enter the store. My eyes light up at all the stuff and immediately I’m being dragged away by Gracie as Makayla goes crazy pulling clothing from the racks that she wants me to try on.
“Okay, I think I’m officially over shopping.” I groan as I collapse onto a bench outside of Sun Diego an hour or so after arriving. Gracie is quick to join me, leaving Makayla still on her feet.
“How did you survive shopping 5th Avenue?” Makayla questions. “I’m sure this is nothing compared to that.”
“I survived it by hiding vodka and redbull in my purse,” I respond truthfully. “I honestly hate shopping. I much rather order from online than having to head into the store.”
Makayla playfully rolls her eyes and lets out a chuckle, “let’s go get our mani/pedis now. Or are you against that too?”
I let out a laugh as I barely get back up onto my feet. “With the amount of clothing I have to tote to your care, I deserve a mani/pedi.” The three of us head to the car to start our journey to find a salon to get our nails done for tonight’s party…
**
“So how do you know the guy throwing the party?” I ask Gracie as she sits out in the living room while I get changed in my bathroom.
“Makayla knows him more than I do,” she responds. “When she gets back from her house I’m sure she’ll explain how she knows Brody.”
“How long have you been living in Solana Beach?” I ask her. I’m going to take this time to get to know Gracie. She seems a lot quieter than Makayla.
“Since high school,” she replies. “That’s when I was adopted into the Rogers family. Since then I lost myself in the world of psychology and surfing.”
“You surf?” I ask peeking my head out of the bathroom. “That’s awesome.”
“Do you?” She asks, “because you don’t seem the person that enjoys surfing.”
I can’t help but to laugh because I get that a lot. “Yea, I know the basics. It’s been like 8 years since I’ve gone surfing. I took a bunch of lessons when me and my girlfriends came out here for the summer.”
“I’m sure if you ask Brody or his friend Cash, I’m sure they’ll help you.” Gracie states. “They’re really nice guys and know more about surfing than anyone else here. Plus I think they really like helping girls because they can gawk at them in swimsuits.” She chuckles causing me to as well.
“We’re going to be great friends,” I announce as I come out of the bathroom. “And since we are great friends, pick an outfit you want to wear. That way it’s one less stop before we head to the beach for the party. I’m sure that will make Makayla happy; she seems to be the partying type.”
“You have no idea,” she laughs. “And thanks, Ali. You’re awesome.” I just smile as I head back into the bathroom to finish getting ready for the party tonight...