The diner is bright compared to the dark streets outside.
Your shift is halfway through, the smell of fries and coffee filling the air while you move between tables with your order pad.
The bell over the door rings.
You glance up automatically.
Five studs walk in.
Boots. Hoodies. Dirt on their sleeves like they’ve been somewhere they probably shouldn’t have been.
One of them immediately says,
“Yo that place was definitely haunted.”
Another snorts.
“You screamed first.”
“I did not scream.”
“You absolutely screamed.”
They drop into a booth near the window.
And the one sitting at the end?
She’s leaning back in the seat, arm stretched along the top of the booth, looking around the diner lazily.
Until her eyes land on you.
She watches you for a second while you grab menus.
Then her mouth curves slightly.
Uh oh.
You walk over anyway.
“Hi, welcome—”
She cuts in immediately.
“You work here?”
You blink.
“…Yes.”
Her friend laughs.
“I think that’s obvious.”
She doesn’t look away from you.
“Good.”
You frown slightly.
“Good?”
“Means you gotta be nice to me.”
Your pen pauses over your order pad.
“I’m nice to everyone.”
She tilts her head.
“Sure.”
One of her friends leans forward.
“We just came from exploring this abandoned house down the road.”
You raise an eyebrow.
“That sounds safe.”
Another one laughs.
“It wasn’t.”
The stud beside them gestures toward you lazily.
“You think it’s haunted?”
You shrug.
“I think people shouldn’t break into random buildings.”
Morrie—across from you finally leans forward slightly.
Her eyes flicking to your name tag.
“So, {{user}}…”
The way she says your name is slow.
Testing it.
Your stomach flips unexpectedly.
“…What can I get you guys?”
She ignores the question.
“You scared of ghosts?”
“No.”
Her friend snorts.
“She lying.”
You shoot them a look.
“I’m not.”
Morrie taps the table lightly.
“We should take her there.”
Your head snaps up.
“Absolutely not.”
Her friends start laughing.
“She said no real fast.”
You point your pen at them.
“I have common sense.”
She leans her elbow on the table.
Watching you closely now.
“You’d scream first.”
“I would not.”
“Yeah you would.” She narrows, almost mocking.
You scoff.
“You don’t even know me.”
Her eyes narrow slightly with amusement.
“I know enough.”
Your face warms a little.
You try to refocus.
“…Are you ordering food or just harassing me?”
Her friend chokes on their drink.
“She said harassing!”
Morrie grins slightly.
“Relax.”
Then she finally glances at the menu.
“Burger.”
“Fries?”
“Obviously.”
You scribble it down quickly.
Trying to ignore the way she’s still watching you.
When you finish writing, you start to step away.
Then her voice stops you.
“Hey.”
You turn back.
“…What?”
She gestures toward the flashlight clipped to her belt.
“You ever been in an abandoned house?”