Outside the Alibi Room.
The moment Frank—who had been whining non-stop for the entire ride—got out of the car, Steve slammed on the gas and peeled out, giving Frank zero chance to continue his nagging.
Frank was pissed. He decisively flipped the bird at the retreating taillights and cursed viciously, "Fxxk you!"
Having vented, Frank finally shuffled slowly into the Alibi.
The instant he stepped inside, Frank felt infinitely better. It was like returning to a warm, cozy home. He let out a long sigh of relief.
Then.
The next second, he abruptly spotted Peg sitting alone at a table drinking. Frank's body jolted, that comfortable feeling vanishing instantly. He subconsciously cursed under his breath.
Fxxk!
Why is that damn woman here?
Frank hurriedly turned his head, pretending he hadn't seen her, gritted his teeth, and speed-walked toward the bar.
Peg saw him. She let out a cold laugh. "Frank. Sit here."
It wasn't a request; it was a command.
Frank froze in his tracks, panic rising in his chest.
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.
Frank gritted his teeth. Even though he was incredibly unwilling, his cowardice won out. He dragged his body over and sat down opposite Peg.
Peg raised her glass and looked at Frank.
Honestly, with just one glance, Peg couldn't control the surge of intense disgust she felt. She didn't want to look at him for another second.
Actually, this was pretty reasonable.
Most normal parents, seeing their son turn out like Frank, would probably feel unbearable disgust and regret ever giving birth to him.
Peg downed the liquor in her glass in one gulp, suppressing the churning nausea. Feeling a bit better, she immediately called out to Kevin, "Four whiskeys on the rocks."
Then, she hesitated before asking Frank, "You look like you're dying. What happened?"
Frank really didn't want to hear the word "dying." The vein on his forehead throbbed as primal fear gripped him. "I don't know either. Suddenly hurt all over."
"Did you see a doctor?" Peg asked casually.
"Went to the ER. Doctors couldn't find anything wrong. Thought I was faking it and kicked me out." Frank got angry just mentioning it.
Peg was amused and chuckled.
The truth was, since coming back a few days ago, Peg had heard plenty about Frank's shameless exploits. She knew all about his "glorious history" with the local hospitals.
"The fact that those doctors were even willing to check you is impressive enough," Peg laughed. "Maybe you'll die before me."
Frank was truly afraid of death. Hearing this, his expression twisted violently. "Impossible! My time hasn't come yet!"
"Heh." Peg sneered, too lazy to argue the point. "I went to see Clayton and the other two today. Gave them some money. They're all doing pretty well."
Hearing this.
Frank instantly panicked. His ugly, aged face contorted rapidly. "My damn brothers??? What did they do for you!! You gave the money to them??"
Truth be told.
Seeing Frank's ugly reaction, Peg felt incredibly satisfied. Her smile widened. "That's my money. I'm happy to give it to them, and not happy to give it to you. You got a problem with that?"
"Fxxk you!!!!" Frank's rage spiked. He stood up abruptly and screamed, "I'm your fking son too! You came back and asked me to take care of you, and I did! And now you give them money but not me?"
"I'm never fking serving you again! I'm waiting for you to die! Once you're dead, I'm throwing your corpse into a ditch!!"
"Fxxk!"
Frank unleashed a torrent of abuse. Finished, he stomped furiously to the bar and slammed his ass onto a stool.
Just then, Kevin finished pouring the four whiskeys Peg ordered and was about to carry them over.
Frank saw them and said decisively, "Give them to me!"
Kevin glanced at Frank and ignored him without hesitation.
Heh.
What a joke.
Frank had no money to pay the tab.
Peg paid immediately.
Of course the drinks go to Peg.
Kevin carried the tray and moved briskly past Frank.
"!!!" Frank looked like he was about to explode. Then, quite predictably, he launched into another stream of cursing and grumbling.
Kevin, Kermit, and the others were used to this. They continued drinking and laughing as usual.
Frank was like an isolated, contented idiot in a noisy world.
---
Night fell.
Carl got off work and was dropped off by Mickey at 2114 North Wallace.
He went inside and looked around—Peg wasn't home.
Carl called her and found out she was at the Alibi Room. He immediately headed there, not even realizing that the thought of going to the Gallagher house hadn't crossed his mind once.
Carl walked fast. With money in his pocket, his steps were light and cheerful.
He arrived at the Alibi in no time and found Peg.
Seeing Carl, Peg gave a genuine smile. "How was work today?"
Carl smiled too. "Pretty chill. Didn't really do any work, just ran around with Mickey. But in a while, when they start building that shooting range, there'll be work. And then I get to see lots of guns!"
Just thinking about it made Carl excited.
Peg reached out and gently rubbed Carl's head. "Kid, you really shouldn't be named Gallagher."
Carl didn't get it: "???"
"Have you had dinner?" Peg asked, not bothering to explain.
"Not yet," Carl replied.
"Then let's go to Dexter's place for dinner. My treat," Peg smiled.
Carl nodded happily immediately. "Okay!"
Agreed, they got up and left.
Frank turned his head, watching Carl. He hesitated for a long while, but in the end, he didn't have the courage to try and scam Carl out of money in front of Peg. Frustrated, he chose to give up, muttering a quiet curse. "Fxxk!"
---
Love-struck Ian was still with Mickey, eating dinner, with zero intention of going home.
Lip had just finished a round with Karen in the old ice cream truck. He was currently on his way to get dinner, also in no rush to return to the Gallagher house.
It's interesting.
Relationships, in a way, really were the Gallagher family curse.
In the original show.
Frank, who was originally just "regular bad," met the psychotic Monica and sprinted down the road to becoming a total scumbag.
Fiona, around her late teens, started sleeping around like crazy. After sleeping with too many men—and specifically after Steve—her taste in men became "impressive" to say the least, ruining her already messy life completely...
Ian, because of Mickey, impulsively joined the army, went AWOL, and then got involved with one disastrous guy after another...
Lip...
Heh.
A perfectly good college education, destroyed because of women.
Later, he met Tami—another piece of work—and was frantically trying to sell the house for her...
And don't even get started on Debbie.
Tsk, tsk.
These doomed relationships tortured the four of them half to death.
Thinking about it, it really is fascinating.