Percy slowly looked around the front of the store, trying to commit the newer faces to memory. A small frown invaded his features. It felt like he was just starting to remember everyone that worked in the mornings, but now, he also had to remember everyone who worked at night. There was an overlap of those with a fluid schedule who worked days or nights depending on the day.
Others had a set schedule for days or nights. The older folks usually worked mornings, and any teenagers typically worked at night. There were also a lot less managers at night, and that allowed him to relax a little. He felt like with the other managers around he always had to be moving or doing something, setting a good example.
On nights, it seemed like he would be able to relax a little more. Tonight was his first time, but he was enjoying it so far. Not as much as Reyna, though. A smile came to her face almost every time Nico walked up to her, and Nico looked just as happy. Percy wished Nico was as glad to see him as he is for Reyna. There were times when he felt like his cousin hated him.
Granted, Percy was sure that Nico hated everyone not named Reyna. That was probably true, so he wasn't too offended. The crash of thunder caused Percy to jump. It was followed by the sound of wind slamming into the door. He turned his head to look outside.
It was seven at night, and there weren't that many people shopping. Most of them seemed to be staying home in the face of the impending storm. Percy wasn't sure what the weather called for, but it did not look good.
Percy turned his head to look back at the front. Their manager for the front at night, Gwendolyn, was talking to Reyna. Gwendolyn, well Gwen, was nice enough. Percy hadn't talked to her much as she had been practically flying around the front to take care of any issues that the cashiers had.
They were all going to have dinner together, and Nico was the one who was volunteered to pick up the food. Percy turned his gaze back towards the doors, and a huge grin came to his face as he saw his favorite person walking inside.
"Annabeth!" Percy greeted with a big smile. He walked towards her. Annabeth was wearing her uniform from The Pantheon, with her jacket zipped up to hide the logo. There was a tired look on her face. "What are you doing here?"
"The power went out, so we all got sent home," Annabeth answered. She smiled back at him. "I think Mr. D ran out faster than all of us."
"That's impossible. He doesn't run," Percy shot back.
"I swear to God he did. I'll have to get the footage from Clarisse," Annabeth laughed. She slowly looked around. "You're closing tonight? Or just staying late?"
"I'm closing all this week," Percy answered. "Lupa, the store manager, wants me to learn how to open and close the store by myself, especially since Reyna will be going out for surgery soon."
Annabeth nodded, and they both jumped as there was an extremely loud crack of thunder. Percy placed a hand to his heart as Annabeth turned and stared out the door. Percy did as well as it started to pour rain. Not even five seconds later, a very angry and very wet Nico walked into the store.
Nico held onto two bags of food. He was also soaked completely, and his hair was matted to his forehead. Percy spoke, "Hey Nico, did you get wet?"
"I'm going to kill you, Jackson. I'll do it," Nico promised. He looked down at the bag. "Actually, I'll just throw your food back outside. Or give it to Annabeth."
"Hey, Nico," Annabeth greeted, smiling at him. "Sorry you got caught in the rain."
"I'll get a towel," Percy offered, but he felt someone brush by him. Reyna handed a towel to Nico and then grabbed the food from him. She handed it off to Percy.
"I told you not to get caught in the rain," Reyna scolded with a small smile. Nico rolled his eyes. "Here, give me your jacket so we can hang it up."
Nico shrugged off his jacket, and Reyna took it. She then pulled off her own jacket and handed it to Nico. His attempts to protest were met with a sharp glare. Nico sighed and put on Reyna's jacket.
"It's a little big on you," Percy commented. Annabeth hit his arm. "Ow! It was a joke."
"I can't tell if he's calling me fat or Nico scrawny," Reyna commented.
"Both, knowing him," Nico said. He dried off his hair the best he could. His gaze moved to Annabeth. "Shouldn't you be working?"
"The power went out," Annabeth explained. Her eyes moved to the bag. "I should let you guys eat."
"You can stay if you want," Reyna offered. Percy looked to his side in surprise. "We got some extra food."
"I don't want to intrude," Annabeth began.
"You're not intruding if she offered," Nico pointed out. He turned and walked towards the back. Annabeth looked at Reyna and Percy. She looked unsure of what to do.
"Are you sure?" Annabeth asked. Reyna smiled slightly.
"Of course I am," Reyna said. She looked at Nico's jacket. "I'm going to hang this up. You should stay, Annabeth. Especially since it's raining so hard."
Reyna turned and walked towards the back. Percy focused on Annabeth and gave her another huge smile. "You might as well stay. It will be nice to hang out with you."
"You should be working," Annabeth teased, but she nodded. "Alright, I'll stay. I'm paying back whoever bought the food."
Percy's smile grew and he led Annabeth towards the back. He led her down the hallway and towards the office that held some of their desks. Nico was still trying to dry himself off, and Reyna was setting the food out.
"Hey, Perseus. Or is it Percy?" Gwen asked as she walked up behind them. Percy turned to look at Gwen.
"Percy. Nice to officially meet you," Percy said as he held out his hand. Gwen shook his hand and smiled at him. "Did Reyna tell you that you'll be showing me how you shut down the registers?"
"She did," Gwen answered. Her gaze moved to the side, and she smiled at Annabeth. "You must be Annabeth. I've heard Thalia talking about you. Nico too. He actually says nice things about you."
"I didn't know Nico could be nice," Annabeth joked.
"You should see him on the night shift," Gwen commented. "Especially around kids! One kid lost her parents, and Nico waited with her until they came back up. She was enthralled by him telling her about that card game he plays."
"It's not just some card game," Nico chimed in from across the room. Percy looked at his cousin. "And, I have never said a nice word about Annabeth. Ever."
"Love you too," Annabeth called back to him. Nico rolled his eyes and helped Reyna move a few chairs, so they could all sit around the same desk. Then, he sat down with his carton of food and cracked it open. Percy led Annabeth towards the table.
"Here," Reyna offered as she held out an extra carton of food. Percy realized it was pretty much what he had gotten, but it looked like the restaurant had messed up on some of the toppings. "We got some food for free because of the wait and issues with the order. I think Nico got extra chicken tenders if you want some."
"Make me sound like a child," Nico grumbled as he ate a few of his fries. Percy grinned and sat down at the table.
"They have the best chicken strips in the world," Gwen said as she sat down and grabbed her food. She sat next to Percy, and Annabeth took up the space on his other side. Reyna stared down at her phone for a few moments before grabbing her food and sitting between Nico and Annabeth.
"Thank you," Annabeth began. "I really hope I'm not intruding."
"She's being annoying already with this whole 'feeling bad' thing. Can we kick her out?" Nico asked, and Reyna gently hit his arm. "Hey! She works for the competition!"
"Can't you see we're trying to indoctrinate her?" Gwen asked quietly. Annabeth smiled as she looked around the table. "Did the power go out for you guys? The parking lot looks pitch black."
"It did," Annabeth confirmed. She sighed. "We had to usher all of the customers out, and they can get pretty testy when they can't get their items. Then, we did our best to lock up. I was still locking the doors when our store manager ran out."
"You did say he was a pretty crappy store manager," Reyna commented as she leaned back in her seat. She placed her phone on the counter, and a small frown came to her face.
"I still think that we should trade him for Lupa. Mr. D loves Percy," Annabeth teased with a small smile. Percy gasped in mock shock as he opened his own carton of food. He ate a few fries.
"I don't want you corrupting Reyna or Lupa. Or anyone else here. They're actually cool and fun," Percy quipped back with a playful sneer.
"Reyna is neither cool nor fun," Nico butted in. He opened his carton of macaroni, and an alien fork stole some of his noodles from the bowl. "Hey!"
Reyna simply shrugged as she took a bit of her ill gotten noodles. Nico glared at her with a look of rage that had made Percy wither before. It only caused Reyna to smirk. Nico spoke, "I will kill you."
"No, you won't," Reyna said. She focused back on her own food, but her eyes kept moving to her phone. Nico sighed and snatched her phone up. "Nico…"
"Screw your mom," Nico said as he pocketed Reyna's phone. "You're at work and shouldn't be texting. What does she want from you anyway?"
"A charity event," Reyna muttered. She sighed and focused back on her food.
"The biggest charity would be your mom leaving the country," Gwen added in. Percy noticed the small smile that plastered Reyna's face. "Is Hylla stopping by anytime soon?"
"She's so much cooler than you," Nico stated.
"I think Reyna is pretty cool," Annabeth interrupted. The smile on Reyna's face widened, accompanied by a small blush. "Jason is nice and all, but he's kind of boring."
"I've known Jason since he started here, and he has always been a gentleman. But nothing else. I swear he's a robot or some kind of alien," Gwen said. "And now he's a traitor. Pretty fitting that the most scandalous thing he would do was leave us."
"At least you got me instead," Percy pitched in. Nico rolled his eyes, but Gwen nodded her agreement with a happy look.
"I still miss you," Annabeth said, and Percy's gaze shot to her. She wore a warm smile. "It's just not the same without you."
"I miss you too," Percy replied. Nico scoffed.
"Oh my God. Just get a room," Nico groaned. Percy felt his face burn, and Annabeth blushed as well. "I'm trying to eat here."
"Don't let him talk to you like that," Reyna interrupted. "I've seen how he and his little boyfriend act. All I wanted to do was get some milkshakes, and these two made out in the booth. It was only us in the diner, thankfully. Who knows how many children they would have scarred."
"You're just jealous," Nico countered.
"Will is pretty hot," Reyna agreed with another shrug. "I would love to bone a doctor, or are you the one getting boned?"
Nico's face turned cherry pie red, and he choked on his food. Reyna gently slapped his back. Percy couldn't help but laugh as he watched. He was so used to Nico being stoic and quiet. To see him flustered was a new experience.
"Speaking of hot, that cute barista was asking about you," Gwen chimed in. Percy's attention zipped to her. "I was talking you up, and he seems interested."
"I don't know," Reyna said after a few moments, looking down at her food. "I just don't think it would be right to date anyone at the moment, especially when I'm having surgery next month."
"That barista is kind of cute, but definitely not your type," Nico remarked as he finally cleared his throat and took a sip of his drink. "But, you shouldn't hold yourself back from dating even if you are going to have surgery. It's not like you have to be super involved to start with, but you can afford to take someone out every once and awhile."
"Is there anyone you have an eye on?" Percy asked. He felt Annabeth nudge him, and Nico's foot kicked his shin from across the table. Was that too forward?
"Um, yeah. There is," Reyna admitted. Her eartips turned red as she looked back down. "I just don't know if she would say yes. We don't really know each other that well."
"Reyna, anyone would be lucky to date you," Annabeth assured gently. Reyna slowly looked at her. "I know we haven't talked much, but I can see that you're a decent person. You should just take the chance and ask this lucky lady out."
Before Reyna could say anything, they heard sirens. Reyna cursed and stood. She hurried out of the office, talking on her radio. Nico sighed and closed up Reyna's food. He stood from the chair and grabbed his own food, walking away.
Percy looked up at the roof and frowned. Gwen spoke, "Those are the tornado sirens. Has Reyna gone over that protocol with you?"
"No," Percy answered. He closed his carton and stood. Annabeth followed his example, and the three left the office. "I know that we're supposed to go to the back of the store."
"Yeah. We'll gather all the customers and workers back by the dressing rooms. Anyone who wants to leave can, but we stop checking everyone out the second that the sirens happen," Gwen explained as they heard a voice over the intercom telling everyone to gather back by the dressing rooms.
Percy turned on his radio as they made it back to the floor. He saw that there were a few carts near the front that had been left there as everyone went to the back of the store. Percy was about to head back there when he saw another person stop at one of the lanes. The man started to unload his stuff.
"Sorry sir," Gwen began as she looked at him. "We're not checking anyone out right now."
"Well, I need to get home," the man said as if he was stating a fact.
"We can't check you out right now, sir. The tornado sirens are going off, and we're supposed to make sure everyone goes to the back of the store," Gwen explained.
"I know the sirens are going off. That's why I'm trying to leave," the man stated. "Are you a manager?"
"I am," Gwen confirmed as she crossed her arms.
"Well, I want to speak to your store manager," the man snapped.
"Which would be me," Percy interjected. "And, we take the safety of our customers and workers first. That is why we can't check you out. We'll gladly check you out once it's safe. For now, we advise that you head to the back with everyone else for your own safety."
The man stared at Percy for a long moment. Then, he turned and stormed out of the store, leaving his cart behind. Percy let out a sigh, but he felt Annabeth nudge him.
"That was great," Annabeth complimented. Percy glanced at her and smiled. "I wish I could be as smooth as that."
"Beth, you literally taught me how to do that," Percy began. "I've watched you deal with plenty of angry customers before."
Annabeth blushed a little, and Percy grinned at that sight. He nudged Annabeth and then led her towards the back of the store. He saw most of the workers were gathered back there with a few of the customers. One of the cashiers was passing out water bottles, and the other gave out snacks.
Percy and Annabeth made their way towards Nico. He was sitting on the ground and still eating his food. Percy stood next to him and said, "So, that barista isn't Reyna's type?"
"Nope," Nico answered. "Reyna's type is annoying brunettes who can't admit they've been crushing on their manager. So be careful, she might ask you out."
Percy stared at his cousin, and an evil smirk came to Nico's face. Percy turned his head to the side to tell Annabeth that Nico was just messing around, but he saw that Annabeth had been stopped by Gwen before she could make it there. A relieved sigh left him.
"Honestly, it's painful to watch the two of you dance around this. Just get over your nerves and ask Annabeth out. I keep telling Thalia to ask Reyna out, and she doesn't. If you two would just listen to me," Nico muttered. He shook his head and looked annoyed as he ate another bite of his tenders.
"Annabeth just got over a bad breakup," Percy began.
"Which would have never happened if you just admitted your feelings," Nico said, and he looked up at Percy. "I keep telling Thalia the same thing, and she keeps not doing it. You two can't just expect the world to stop for you and give you what you want."
Percy looked away. Nico made it sound so easy, but it was still too soon to ask Annabeth out. She had to still be hurting from her breakup with Luke, and what if she didn't want to date Percy? The last thing he wanted to do was ruin their friendship by asking Annabeth out.
"You're helpless," Nico grumbled under his breath. He shook his head and focused back on his food. Percy crossed his arms and felt irritated at his cousin's bluntness. His gaze moved back to Annabeth. She was talking to Gwen still, and there was a smile on her face. Percy would ask her out. Sooner. Or maybe later.