Chapter 145: Diffusing the Situation
"Hi there, I'm Frank. And you two are?" Frank inquired, glancing at the two young women.
"Jane Foster," the blonde replied with a friendly nod.
"I'm Daisy Louise, sir," replied the raven-haired girl with striking looks.
"The guy I was sleeping next to inside, do you know him?" Frank gestured towards the RV.
"Wait, didn't you and Dr. Eric come back together last night?" Daisy asked, a bit confused.
"Yeah, I think so. We even got into a brawl," Frank said, slowly recalling the events of the previous night.
"Alcohol sure gets you into some messes," Frank muttered, rubbing his forehead.
"Care for some coffee?" Jane offered, holding out a cup.
"Much appreciated," Frank said, taking the cup with gratitude.
Since Eric showed no signs of waking up soon, Frank chatted briefly with the two women before heading out to retrieve his car from the bar. He returned to Pinkman's place to clean up, take a shower, and change into fresh clothes.
When Frank returned, Eric was still out of it, showing no signs of waking. Frank took this time to learn more about the trio's situation from the two women.
Jane and Eric were both astronomers with doctorates, while Daisy was Jane's assistant and friend, currently a graduate student.
"So, you're here to investigate some astronomical phenomenon?" Frank asked, trying to grasp the situation.
"Pretty much. There are some unusual star alignments and weather patterns," Jane explained, delving into technical details that went over Frank's head.
"My head's pounding," Eric mumbled as he stepped out of the RV, clutching his head.
"Here, have some coffee," Jane handed him a cup.
"Thanks," Eric said, plopping down on the RV's steps and taking a sip.
"You're up early, Frank," Eric noted.
Frank was someone who often blacked out from drinking, whereas Eric was the type who remembered everything even when drunk.
Eric recalled everything from the previous night, and instead of forgetting Frank, the shared experiences seemed to have forged a bond between them.
"Jane, any anomalies in the data?" Eric asked.
"Everything's normal and still moving west," Jane replied.
"We can stay another day, then head out tomorrow," Eric decided.
The trio—a pair of astronomers and a future one—discussed topics far beyond Frank's understanding.
Frank gathered that they were conducting astronomical research and tracking some celestial event with their equipment around New Mexico.
They'd be in town for another day, giving Frank and his newfound friend Eric time to hang out.
Although Frank and Eric had only met less than 24 hours ago, they hit it off immediately, sharing a camaraderie that made them fast friends.
Sometimes, friendships take years to form, while others can blossom instantly, lasting a lifetime.
With Jane and Daisy handling the data collection, Frank and Eric roamed the city, deciding to buy some drinks to enjoy later rather than heading to a bar, since Eric would be leaving the next day.
"Hold on," Frank suddenly pulled the car over.
"What's up?" Eric asked.
"I see someone I know—my nephew. Give me a minute," Frank said, stepping out of the car.
Frank spotted Walter's son, Junior, outside a large convenience store with two sketchy-looking boys. The trio huddled together, seemingly up to something.
It looked like they were pooling money and handing it to Junior.
"Excuse me," Junior said, stopping a man outside the store.
"What do you want?" the man replied, frowning with irritation.
"Uh, we forgot our IDs. Could you help us buy a pack of beer?" Junior asked cautiously.
Being underage, Junior couldn't legally purchase alcohol, so they needed a "helpful" adult to do it for them.
"Forgot your ID? How old are you? You know that's illegal, right?" the man scrutinized him.
Selling alcohol to minors is against the law, much like minors being barred from internet cafes.
"Illegal? I just forgot my ID," Junior said, nervously.
"I should call the police, see if you really forgot or if it's a lie," the man said, pulling out his phone.
Seeing the trouble, Junior's two companions bolted, leaving him behind.
"No, wait," Junior pleaded, sweating with anxiety.
"Wait for what? Youngsters like you should know better than to break the law. I'll have a word with your guardians," the man continued, enjoying Junior's distress.
"Hey, cut the kid some slack. If you're looking to vent, find someone your own size in a bar brawl. Picking on a kid solves nothing," Frank interrupted, placing a hand on the man's shoulder.
"Who are you?" the man asked, frowning at Frank.
"That kid you're hassling? He's my nephew," Frank replied.
"What kind of guardians let their kids..." the man began.
"Listen, if you're having a bad day, vent somewhere else. Don't make a kid your target," Frank cut him off.
If someone didn't want to help buy alcohol, they could simply refuse. But this man chose to call the police, which normal people wouldn't do, preferring to avoid unnecessary involvement with law enforcement.
Clearly, the man sought to humiliate Junior, relishing in his panic as a twisted form of amusement.
Perhaps due to unrelated frustrations, the man took it out on Junior, who happened to cross his path.
"What do you mean?" the man asked, his expression darkening as Frank exposed his intentions.
"Want to test your luck with me?" Frank raised an eyebrow.
"Hmph." After a moment's hesitation, the man snorted, shrugged off Frank's hand, and walked into the store.
(End of Chapter)