The Hybrid

6. Neptune

Percy's first shift at Mellie's Diner wasn't going at all like he imagined. He expected some sort of introduction or a chance to meet Mellie herself, but instead, the moment he stepped inside, a burly, middle-aged man with a baseball bat in hand shoved a notepad and menus at him. Percy almost toppled over from the sudden impact. 

"Here. Take these," the man grumbled. "You're workin' today, right? Well, get to it. Tables ain't gonna serve themselves."

"Uh... right," Percy muttered, blinking as he fumbled with the notepad. He glanced around the busy diner. The clatter of dishes, sizzling of the grill, and low hum of conversations filled the room. It was overwhelming, but he figured if he could survive his first few days at school, he could handle this.

Taking a deep breath, Percy headed toward the counter, trying to remember everything Hazel had told him during their brief conversation earlier in the parking lot. He caught a glimpse of Leo and Hazel moving between tables, but oddly, they never seemed to be in the same space at the same time. It was almost as if they were avoiding each other. That struck Percy as strange, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. He had tables to manage.

Hazel spotted Percy hovering by the counter, clearly unsure of what to do next. She waved him over with a friendly smile. 

"Are you okay, Percy?" she asked, wiping her hands on her apron.

"Yeah, I think so. Just... first-day nerves," Percy replied, forcing a smile. "This place is... intense."

Hazel chuckled, glancing toward the kitchen. "Yeah, it gets like that. But don't worry too much. Just don't anger Coach Hedge, and you'll be fine."

"Hedge?" Percy frowned, glancing toward the kitchen where the burly man with the bat was barking orders at the cooks. "That guy?"

"Yup. He's the boss when Mellie's not around. And trust me, you don't wanna be on his bad side." Hazel clapped her hands before laughing sweetly again. "Now, take the back ten tables. Those are yours. Just keep the orders straight, and you should be fine. Great even."

Percy nodded and headed to his section, though his stomach churned with anxiety. He glanced around, taking stock of the tables he was responsible for. Most were still empty, but one in the far corner was occupied by a middle-aged couple. They were quietly talking, their voices low and calm.

Alright, I can do this, Percy thought as he walked up to them, notepad in hand.

"Hi, I'll be your waiter today. What can I get you folks to drink?" he asked, offering what he hoped was a confident smile.

The couple immediately stopped talking, turning to look at him. The woman, with warm brown eyes and graying hair, gave him a polite smile, but something in her expression seemed... off. Her husband, a tall, weathered man with a strong jaw, looked Percy up and down, and Percy couldn't help but feel like they were sizing him up.

"You're Percy. You must be the new boy," the woman said, her voice soft but firm. "The one who just moved into town, right?"

Percy blinked. "Uh, yeah. How did you—?"

"Small town. Word travels fast," the man interrupted, his tone gruff but not unkind. "I'm Frederick Chase, and this is my wife, Helen."

Percy nodded slowly, his smile faltering slightly. 

"Nice to meet you both."

There was a brief, awkward silence. Percy shuffled his feet and cleared his throat. "So, uh... what can I get you to drink?"

Helen took a gulp, like she was the nervous one. She leaned slightly toward her husband, effectively away from Percy, before answering, "Just water for me, thanks."