A/N: I don't own PJO.
Frank Zhang sat at the last table in the diner, a small one meant for two. He looked around hopefully, thinking Kiara would be here soon. He was planning to invite her to a fancy dinner, something better then this crappy diner. And he was planning to propose at said dinner. Frank and Kiara had been dating since high school, and he was ready to take the next step. Percy had helped him pick out the ring, and Percy should know. He'd just recently proposed to his own girlfriend, Annabeth.
The bell on the door jingled faintly, and Frank looked up. He scanned the parking lot for Kiara's car, but it wasn't there. He sighed and slumped. The diner was packed, and he'd already refused two offers to order. Soon he would be kicked out, and Kiara would be so disappointed. Frank waved the waitress over. She looked exhausted, and he couldn't blame her. It was seven in the evening, in a small diner, on a Friday.
"What would you like to eat?" she asked, trying to keep her voice pleasant.
"I'll just have a hamburger, thanks," he said, glancing at the waitress's name tag. Hazel, it told him. Hazel left, and Frank resumed searching. Finally, the bell rang again, and Kiara walked in, talking and laughing, to another guy.
"Hey, Kiara! Over here!" She just ignored him. Hazel, now standing at the front counter, glanced at Frank and frowned. For some reason, Frank was glad she cared. Kiara and Mystery Guy asked for a seat, but Hazel told them the diner was full. Only then did Kiara see Frank. Her eyebrows shot up, and she ran over to his seat.
"Kiara, who is that guy?"
"He's Kyle. My new boyfriend," she said in a high, squeaky voice that Frank used to love but now found really annoying, then covered her mouth. "Oh, my, I meant, you know what, we're breaking up!" She yelled the last part, and everyone turned to look. If he wasn't occupied with righteous fury, Frank would have wanted to sink into his seat and not look up. Kiara turned on her heel and stomped away, Kyle in tow.
Later, after Frank had finished sulking and was getting ready to deny all that had happened, Hazel came up with his hamburger.
"So, what was that earlier?" she asked, her voice showing concern.
"My girlfriend, ex now, was cheating on me." Frank didn't like the sound of those words.
"Well, that sucks." She didn't press. Frank finished his hamburger and paid the bill. As he was leaving, he saw Hazel leaving too.
"Shift's over," she grunted.
"My place's close, you?" Frank had no idea why he'd just said that.
"Yeah. Wanna walk together? I like you."
"Sure!" Something about Hazel made Frank want to know her. He didn't know what it was, but he wanted to find out. As they walked, Hazel told Frank about her own dirty rotten cheating ex, Leo, who had dumped her with a text for a girl who had every guy back in college. He'd probably be whining at her door within a month, but she was going to tell him no and slam the door in his face. Frank ranted about Kiara.
They found that being dumped on the same day wasn't all they had in common. Frank liked Hazel's optimism and her weird sense of humor. Maybe that day's events were fate. Frank had lost someone only to find someone better. He saw some of himself in Hazel.
"So, see you around?" Hazel said as they parted. She whispered her number in Frank's ear, and he knew he'd be calling her soon. He whispered his own.
"Yep." And Frank knew he was definitely going to see Hazel again.
Live from the dam snack bar,
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