You can't do this alone. ~Frank Hardy x Reader~

Chapter 3.1 - Of Freedom and Pleasure

Juliet's POV

As predicted, I only got a few hours of sleep. That means my day was going to start by going to Wilt's and grabbing some coffee. I went downstairs and greeted my parents with a hug. I checked my list for the day and saw that I didn't have any pies to make today which was perfect, probably because everyone was going to be at the carnival tonight.

I got in my car and drove to Wilt's, bobbing my head along to the radio. I pulled into the parking lot and got out, seeing that no one else was here yet. I looked at my watch and saw that I had gotten there a few minutes before they were supposed to open. Eh, I'm sure Wilt won't care if I'm here early.

I walked inside and found Frank standing behind the counter - I had forgotten that he got a job here. I saw he was in the "Wilt's costume" and smirked.

"Mornin' Frankie, nice hat." I teased, coming up and sitting up in front of him.

He turned around and rolled his eyes at me. "Gee, thanks." He chuckled. I smiled back and yawned.

"How much did you sleep last night?" He asked me, knowing I was worried about everything.

"Not good. Every time I closed my eyes I could see the tall man staring at me like he did in the hotel." I admitted.

"Wait, he stared at you?" Frank's body language changed and he leaned on the bar towards me.

"Yeah, right after he came in, we made eye contact... his eyes were so empty and black." I shiver thinking about it.

"Crap." Frank whispered under his breath, but I heard it.

"What?" I asked him, confused at his sudden change in stance.

"That means he knows what you look like, he's seen your face." He tells me, my eyes widen in realization. I let my head fall and hit the table.

"I'm such an idiot." I scolded myself.

"It's not your fault, all we can do now is just keep an eye out for you too." He says.

I lift my head off the table and look at him.

"You can start looking out for me by making me a coffee." I said, chuckling slightly at the end.

"Sure." Frank smiled before turning around, he started doing... something, like he was figuring out the machine?

"Do you know how to work a coffee machine?" I asked him, laughing at his cluelessness.

"Please help me." He begged, turning back around and looking at me.

"Why am I not surprised by this?" I teased him before getting up and walking behind the counter where he was.

"Hey! We got coffee in the city, I just don't know how-- You gonna help me or not?" He defended himself.

"Step aside, Frankie." I smiled.

Frank watched me as I made the coffee, I told him where certain buttons were and how to know when it was done.

"Wait, why am I teaching you this, where's Wilt?" I asked him, laughing.

"I don't know. He's in the back, reading some romance novel." He explained.

"Ah, his favorite flower must be a rose then." I laughed, refereeing to the article we read yesterday. Frank chuckled at me and then shook his head.

The door swung open and the bell rang out loudly. Frank and I turned towards the door and smiled when we saw Callie and Chet come in.

"Hey, guys!" I greeted them, Frank doing the same after me.