Having worked the night shift for the last five years, Tina had seen her fair share of weirdos. Being that the Nasty Burger was the only 24-hour establishment, it was the only place they had to go.

But then ghosts became a thing. Or, she supposed, they always were a thing.

With the supernatural presence of the undead amplified by the late hour, even her regulars started reconsidering leaving the safety of their homes.

A new normal eventually emerged and the night shift was mostly for late-night travelers and the occasional delinquent high schooler.

Tina didn't really mind and found the quiet comforting.

One night, around 3 AM, she had a sinking feeling that she wasn't alone. She looked up from the counter she was cleaning and saw the local ghost hero, Phantom, floating in the back corner booth.

Curious, she grabbed a menu and walked over. "Hello there. Can I get you anything?" She asked as if he were any other customer.

He looked up, and she was surprised to see the bags under his eyes, "A chocolate milkshake, please."

"Sure thing, sweetheart." She hadn't expected that, but didn't see any harm in filling the order. "Did you want whip cream?"

He nodded sleepily.

It was weird seeing him up close. He was usually just a black and white blur flying past or just a speck among the clouds. With him so close she could tell why all the local kids liked him so much. He looked like them, if you ignored the space suit thing he wore. He looked so alive.

He was so young it was hard not to pity him, a life cut short so soon.

She slid the fresh milkshake across the table, "I'd say drink it before it melts, but I don't think you'll have much of a problem with that." She teased.

He gave her a confused look as he reached for the glass, then noticed his hand and laughed nervously, "Oh crud, I forgot I was a ghost."

"That happen often?" She asked as she handed him a straw from her apron pouch.

"No, just tired." He phased the straw right out of the paper sleeve and dunked it into his treat.

"Didn't know ghosts could get tired."

He shrugged and took a sip, his aura flickering a bit brighter as he smiled.

She couldn't help but smile as he enjoyed such a simple pleasure. "Just holler if you need anything." She jerked her thumb towards the counter, "I just gotta reset the condiments before the morning shift, so I'll be right over there."

He nodded and accidentally got a dollop of whipped cream on his chin.

She tapped her chin to signal his mistake and he chuckled and a slight green blush spread across his cheeks as he wiped it away.

That was the first time the ghost kid came into the diner. It wasn't the last.