I tugged down on the edges of my apron, frowning at the stains decorating the black fabric. They were barely visible, but still there. I shook off the thoughts, taking a deep breath before turning my attention back to the cash register. There were only a few days left of summer, only a few days until I could quit my job at Starbucks.

When the glass door opened, the small bells jingled, and I hurried to clean up everything on the counter. I might not like the job or the people, but I did like the pay.

A couple came over, the girl maybe fourteen, the boy sixteen. She had a mass of curly brown hair and dark skin that gave her a kind-of soft look. She did, however, have gold eyes that seemed to just hold power within them. The boy was almost a whole head taller than the girl, with a slightly grown-out military cut, and with the way he held himself, you would've thought he was in the army. But the casual way he talked and stood pushed that thought away.

Both of them wore purple shirts, the girl carried a long black ski bag, which didn't make any sense with her jeans and shirt.

"Hi there," The girl greeted me with a kind smile, one that made me want to smile back at her. Despite her smaller frame, the way she held herself showed authority. "Can we get a tall black coffee with vanilla sweetener and a. . ." The girl's voice trailed off, and the boy spoke up. "A tall vanilla latte with hazelnut and soy milk, thanks."

I nodded absently, punching the order into the computer, waiting for the couple to check and pay the bill before grabbing two tall cups from the drawer below the register. "Can I get names for these?" I asked, the marker hovering over one of the cups.

"Hazel and Frank." The girl supplied, and I scribbled down the names, Hazel for the latte, Frank for the black coffee. The two moved over to the collection desk, and I grabbed the order sheet and moved to make it.

I frowned at the order. It was ridiculous how girls want to be thin and pretty, Hazel's order for soy milk as a replacement for full-fat milk seemed ridiculous to me. It was just milk. I rolled my eyes, might as well just save the soy milk for people who actually need it. Hazel can do with normal milk.

A few minutes later, I had the latte and coffee all done, minus the soy milk. I brought the drinks over to the collection desk, sliding the cups into the brown holders, the familiar routine strangely comforting. "Black coffee with vanilla sweetener and. . ." My voice trailed off as I checked the other order. "Vanilla latte with hazelnut for Frank and Hazel!" I called out, repeating the order a second time before Hazel came over to me, Frank remaining at their table next to the windows.

The brunette's smile faded when she checked the drinks. "Excuse me, I recall ordering the latte with soy milk?" She asked, and I scowled. "Yeah, you did," I said, and Hazel's frown deepened, her next words coming out in a thicker accent, perhaps New Orleans. She motioned at the cup on the table. "This says full-fat milk. I can't take this."

I let out a sigh. "Listen, you don't need to be thin or pretty, just take the milk okay?" I said, hoping she'll take my advice, but instead, she just sighed, as if exasperated. "I understand the gesture, and I know where you're coming from, but next time you do this maybe make sure we're not ordering soy milk for another reason." She chided, and I frowned. How dare she? I was trying to help Hazel, and instead, she reprimanded me.

Hazel must've noticed my expression, because she just covered her face with her hands for a second, before looking at me again.

"The latte is for my boyfriend; he's lactose intolerant." Hazel explained, drawling out the words 'lactose' and 'intolerant' as if she were talking to a child. I made an oh face. I couldn't decide on an emotion to focus on; to be angry at Hazel for being rude, or be glad I didn't almost send a customer into the E.R.

Hazel's boyfriend, Frank, came over as he tugged on the corners of his shirt, resting his hands on the smaller's shoulders as he leaned down. "Is something wrong?" He asked, more to Hazel than me. Hazel shook her head slightly.

"It's fine. Though your drink has to be made again." She grumbled, checking the clock behind me whilst fidgeting with the top of her belt, which had a jewel in the middle that resembled a horse. I hurried off to make the drink, Hazel might have been shorter than me, but she was plenty intimidating. I would hate to know what her boyfriend can do.

I glanced back at the couple waiting, talking in hused tones. They seemed rather antsy, as if as soon as I hand them the drinks they were going to bolt out the door. Hazel at some point had pulled her ski bag to her side, keeping one hand on the bag. Frank had at some point moved his backpack, keeping it hanging off one side of his shoulders, hand clenched tight around the strap. The two looked around the cafe, like criminals scouting out a place.

"Here you go." I said, setting down Frank's newly made drink on the counter. He moved to take it, when a scream sounded from somewhere outside. The two whipped around, Hazel's long hair flying along with her movements. There was a vampire looking monster making her way to the Starbucks I was currently in.

The monster's form flickered between one of a cheerleader with red hair, to a donkey-legged vampire with identical red hair, except it was on fire.

I stumbled back, it was an Empousa. I had seen enough PSAs on television to know that it was one of the monsters from Greek mythology. I crawled up behind the counter, watching Hazel and Frank since they were right in front of me. The two made no move to run, instead jumping over the counter to my side of the counter.

I screamed, Hazel immediately shushed me. She knelt down, Frank doing the same. It occurred to me they were staying hidden. Hazel pulled her ski bag to the ground, unzipping it and revealing a long sword. My hand flew over my mouth, and I bit my lip to hold down the many questions I had. I glanced at Frank to see his expression, only to see him pull a sword similar to Hazel's out of his backpack, how, I did not no.

He put the sword on the floor, before slinging the backpack on his back, the empty bag morphing into a bow and quiver of arrows.

"Don't touch the gladius, understood?" He asked me, though it sounded much more like a command. I nodded meekly. Hazel and Frank nodded at each other before vaulting over the counter, facing the Empousa. I peeked over the counter to watch.

"Demigod scum." The Empousa hissed, dragging out her s'ses in a way I imagine a snake would if one could talk.

"I didn't get to finish Perseus Jackson, but I will finish you, daughter of Pluto and son of Mars." She vowed, earning a smirk from Hazel. it didn't make any sense why she would be amused, until I saw the tension in her shoulders. I had done some theatre in my high-school days, and it occurred to me that Hazel was playing it off, acting as if she wasn't scared.

Hazel got into a fighting stance. "We'll see, won't we?" She retorted, before charging into battle with Frank right behind her.