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

Chapter 8.3 - What Happened in Bridgeport

Juliet's POV

We rode into the parking lot of Wilt's and got off the bikes. We parked them by the door before going inside.

Callie, Chet, and Phil were going to be here soon, we got here early since Frank had to work and Joe was meeting up with Biff.

Frank opened the door for me and Joe, letting us in first. I walked in a was immediately greeted by Wilt. 

"Juliet, my dear! How are you? I had heard what had happened and--" Wilt started to rant.

"I'm okay, Wilt. I promise. Just some bumps and bruises are all." I reassured him. 

He brought me into a gentle hug and kissed me on the cheek.

"You scared the hell out of us, kiddo." He told me. 

"I'm sorry. But hey, all's well if it ends well, right?" I smiled at him. 

"Yeah, please, sit, sit. Relax." He said, gesturing me over to the ice cream bar. 

Frank went to the back and put on his uniform, coming out with his silly hat on. 

I chuckled at him and rolled his eyes at me playfully, knowing I was going to comment on it sometime during his shift. He made me a coffee and then got to work. 

While I sat there, I greeted people and talked with them, people wondering how I was doing. The questions got tiresome after a while, but I couldn't blame them. They were people who cared about me and well... they could only think about what happened to Jacob when they heard about me. 

After a while, I moved over to the corner booth so fewer people would see me. I would steal glances at Frank occasionally, sometimes catching him staring at me already. He would always give me a small smirk before turning back to what he was doing before. I helped Wilt by rolling up some silverware in napkins since it got kinda busy at one point.

Eventually, it came close to the time when the others would show up. Joe and Biff sat at the ice cream bar, drinking multiple shakes. Joe had just finished drinking and Frank saw this.

"How many is that?" He asked him. 

"It's only my second." Joe defended himself making me chuckle. 

"Gross." Frank stated which made me laugh. If he thought that was gross, what would he say at the BTS Brownie?

The door swung open moments later, the bell altering everyone. 

"Juliet!" Callie cheered coming in. Chet and Phil behind her.

"Guys, hey." I said, getting up to greet them. 

In a moment, Callie's arms were already around me, holding me gently. I wrapped my arms around her and we stood like that for a minute.

"I was so worried about you when Jesse called me and my Dad." She explained over my shoulder. 

"When she called me and told me what had happened, I didn't believe it at first. Are you really okay?" Chet asked me, coming over to us. I let go of Callie, allowing him to hug me, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close.

It was then that I knew I really worried my friends... I could tell Chet was worried because we always did those weird side hugs, never this more intimate kind. Phil did the same but Phil normally didn't hug people aside from his mom, so it took me by shock when he hugged me after Chet did.

"Yeah, do you need a cane? My Grandma has one you can use?" Phil offered, making me chuckle.

"Thanks for the offer but I'm good." I smiled at him before turning to the whole group. "Um... I already had this talk with Frank and Joe but I'm sorry for making you guys worry. I just... I had to protect them from the tall man..." I tried to explain my actions but they all shook their heads.