Thing He Loves Most (Peter Pan/Ouat)

Chapter Fourteen (part 11)

--*Present*--

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"Here you are," I chirped, putting on a friendly smile as I set two steaming plates of food in front of a couple. "If you need anything else just let me know."

Without missing a beat, I moved on to the next table to take their orders, pad and pencil in hand.

It was early afternoon and the diner was abuzz with hungry locals on their lunch breaks and waitresses working left and right, and this being my first real job, I was starting to feel the pressure. As well as the uncomfortable exposure of my work uniform.

I was more of a simple jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, but since the outfit--a red skirt that ended just above mid-thigh, a white fitted blouse with short-puffed sleeves, and an apron--was part of the job description, I was stuck with it.

At least until I found a better job.

I self-consciously tugged at my short skirt as I filled table four's drink order behind the counter. Earlier, I already had two older guys make it obvious that they were checking me out; one wolf-whistling, while the other made a not-so-subtle inappropriate comment. They were lucky that Granny just so happened to be standing nearby, so I had to hold myself back from doing something that could get me fired. On my first day, no less.

Granny was kind enough to offer me the job on such short notice, and I was more than grateful. She explained that her grand-daughter, Ruby, whom used to work for her, had quit recently and took off to 'find better things', which conveniently left her one waitress short. Now I had a means to pay back Tinkerbell for the money I borrowed, as well as set up a temporary rental agreement so I didn't feel like I was sponging off of her.

A loud ding brought my attention to the kitchen window, where the chef placed two plates, both containing a cheeseburger and fries.

"Table four."

I went over and took the two plates. Grabbing the two soda drinks I had filled at the drink fountain, I arranged the assortment on a tray before carrying it over to its proper table, just as another customer entered the diner and took a seat in the corner booth near the doors, their back to me.

Once I made sure that my current table was satisfied with their order, I started towards the now-occupied booth. As I got closer, I took note of the dark hood over the person's head and their face buried deep in the menu, half concealed.

"Hi, can I take your order?" I asked mechanically, pad and pencil in hand and using the empty tray as a support to write on.

"Yes," The person started, lowering the menu from their face. "The cheeseburger, is it any good?"

The pencil slipped from my hand and fell to the floor as my blood stopped cold, my eyes widening.

"Y-You," I stuttered out.

I threw an anxious glance around me, but no one seemed to notice him, too engrossed in their conversations and meals.

My eyes darted back to him. "What are you doing here?" I hissed.

He looked out of place in the navy blue hoodie and jeans he had suspiciously acquired--oddly different from his usual attire. In fact, he looked...normal. Anyone could've easily mistaken him for an average teenage boy, which is likely why no one seemed to have recognized him when he entered.

Pan cocked an eyebrow, his lips turning up into a smirk. "Now, is that any way to talk to a paying customer?"

"Don't you mean criminal?" I countered a little too loudly.