Author's Note: This story was written for the HDA's "So You Think You're a Writer" "Name? What's in a Name?" Story Contest. All author's had to write a story using the same story title. This is what copagirl came up with.
CHAPTER 1
Fourteen year old Joe Hardy frowned at his reflection in the mirror. He had been trying to straighten his hair for the last twenty minutes, but the ends kept curling. He definitely needed a haircut. The only time his hair curled was when it got too long. At the moment it was past his shirt collar. He wondered if he could get his mother to trim it. Yes, he was definitely going to ask his mother to trim off the curls! Joe leaned closer to the mirror. Was that a zit on his chin? He let out a groan. Just what he needed right now. He sighed as he moved back.
"Are you almost done in there? I'd like a chance to get ready too."
Joe glanced to his right to find his older brother Frank leaning against the door frame. Once again Joe wished he looked more like Frank with his lanky physique, wavy dark brown hair and dark eyes. Thankfully Joe had had a growth spurt over the summer and was now the same height as Frank, who stood 5'7". Their Aunt Gertrude said they had another growth spurt to go before hitting their full height. Joe hoped so.
"You need a haircut."
"I know, is Mom downstairs?"
"Yeah, I think she's in the kitchen with Auntie."
"I'm done." Joe turned to leave but Frank stopped him.
"Are you nervous about tonight?"
"No…a little. I mean it's been awhile since I've been to a boy/girl party."
"Don't be, this is just a mixer so the new students don't feel overwhelmed entering high school. I can show you around if you want, that way you won't get lost on your first day."
"Thanks Frank, I'd like that!" Joe smiled gratefully at his brother.
"That's what big brothers are for! Now go find Mom so she can cut those girly curls off you!" Frank laughed as Joe playfully swiped at him before leaving to search for their mother.
Frank flossed and brushed his teeth, then combed his hair. He leaned closer to the mirror intently staring at his face. He had discovered some peach fuzz a few days ago and was hoping he needed to shave. Even if he didn't need to shave, Frank wondered if he could still use some of his father's aftershave. Glancing at his watch he saw it was almost time to leave. Mr. Morton would be taking them to the school along with Chet and Iola.
Frank chuckled softly to himself as he went down the stairs. He knew that Iola had a crush on Joe. Unfortunately, Joe didn't feel the same way. Joe liked Iola but only as a friend. Frank was anxious to see Chet again. Chet and Iola had spent the summer in Denver, Colorado, helping an aunt and uncle who ran a dude ranch.
Frank found Joe sitting on the sofa looking forlorn.
"I'm sorry honey, but I just can't find the scissors to cut your hair." Laura gently patted her youngest son's knee, just as the doorbell rang.
"Come on Joe, that'll be Chet!"
It was on the tip of Joe's tongue to tell Frank he wasn't going, but then he remembered why he had wanted to attend the mixer. Samantha Carter was going to be there. Samantha was a cute strawberry blonde with green eyes, and Joe had a secret crush on her. He was hoping to have a few dances with her. He jumped off the sofa and ran past Frank, flinging open the front door.
"Hey Chet long time no…" Joe couldn't remember what he was going to say. He wasn't even sure he could remember how to talk! Iola Morton stood on the porch wearing a light blue sundress. Her hair hung down to her shoulders in soft waves. The first thing that popped into Joe's mind was 'Iola has curves!' She was no longer the skinny little girl with pigtails and knobby knees.
"Oh Iola, don't you look pretty!" Laura came up behind Joe, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"Thank you Mrs. Hardy." Iola giggled, took a step forward, placed her hand underneath Joe's chin and gently shut his mouth. Joe blushed a deep crimson color, wondering if Iola could see the huge pimple on his face.
"Hi Iola – wow!" Frank let out a low whistle, causing Iola to blush prettily. "Come on Joe, let's go!"
Laura waved to Mr. Morton and Chet as Frank, Joe and Iola walked to the car.
Frank slid into the front seat, squeezing next to Chet. Joe found himself in the back with Iola, and stayed as close to the door as possible. He heard Chet say 'hi' when he got in and Joe thought he might have mumbled a reply. He stared out the window, every now and then glancing at Iola.
Iola couldn't stop smiling. She had finally gotten Joe Hardy to see her as more than 'one of the guys!' She had been so worried that she would never get a figure – then while spending the summer at her aunt and uncle's she finally acquired some feminine curves!
Joe kept staring out the window. He could hear Chet telling Frank about his adventures at the dude ranch. Joe's mind was in a whirl. He wondered what had happened to his friend as he glanced at Iola. She was prettier than Samantha Carter! Although she had changed physically, had Iola changed in other ways?
Joe and Iola had a rocky start to their friendship, having met when Joe was five years old and Iola four. Joe and Chet had been in the same kindergarten class. Some first graders were teasing the plump Chet Morton when Joe came to his 'rescue' only to find himself in trouble when the two first graders decided to use him as a punching bag. Chet had tried to help and received a bloody nose. Frank happened to be searching for Joe in the play yard when he saw Chet get hit and Joe already on the ground. The next thing Joe knew, Frank and another boy, whose name was Tony Prito, had come to their rescue. Chet had invited Frank, Joe and Tony over to his house, which turned out to be a small farm. Chet's four year old sister Iola had immediately joined them. At first Joe balked that a girl wanted to play with them. But Iola proved to be as much as or even better than any boy Joe knew. Joe recalled the countless times he and Iola had played 'Cowboys and Indians', 'Pirates at Sea', hide and seek and other games. He glanced over at Iola again, not sure how to behave around this 'new' person she had become.
"Hey, you okay back there, Joe?" asked Chet.
"Huh? What? Oh…um, yeah, why do you ask?"
" 'Cause you've been awfully quiet back there!" Chet grinned wickedly at Joe. " You must be nervous about seeing Samantha! I heard that she'll be at the dance."
Joe didn't notice the hurt expression on Iola's face. He was too busy trying not to blush while he glared at Chet. Frank elbowed Chet in the ribs to stop him from teasing his brother.
*whenthegoinggetstough*thetoughbungleinthejungle*
Samantha Carter tossed back her head, causing her strawberry blonde hair to swing back and fall gently across her shoulders. She had been anxiously awaiting the day she would enter high school and could finally work her charms on Frank Hardy. Unfortunately she had heard through the grapevine that some new girl by the name of Callie Shaw had captured Frank's eye. Now Samantha was setting her sights on Frank's younger brother Joe. She knew that Joe had a crush on her so it would be easy to get him. Then once she did, she could come between Callie and Frank.
"Oh my God, is that Joe Hardy?!" squealed Melinda Johnson, a member of Samantha's entourage.
"Like the commercial says, milk has done his body good!" cooed Ellen Baily, patting her dark blonde hair.
"I thought you said he was scrawny," said Mindy Barnes. "He sure doesn't look scrawny to me!"
"I heard that Joe has the most beautiful blue eyes you ever saw!" gushed Melinda.
"He does! And they're sooo expressive!" sighed Ellen.
Soon Frank and Chet appeared, followed by Iola.
"Who is that girl? She looks so familiar." Mindy stared intently at the group. Suddenly Melinda let out a gasp.
"Oh my gosh…that's Iola Morton!"
"It can't be," said Samantha.
"Oh it's definitely her! And it looks like Joe is crushing on her!" smirked Ellen.
Samantha glared at her friends as she smoothed her light green dress and made her way towards Joe.
*whenthegoinggetstough*thetoughbungleinthejungle*
Joe was feeling awkward when he entered the gym. Chet headed for the punch bowl, while Frank spied Callie and left to join her. Iola stood next to him, her hands behind her back. I'll Be There For You by Jon Bon Jovi began to play. Joe knew it was Iola's favorite song. He was gathering up his courage to ask her to dance when…
"Hi Joe, let's dance!" Samantha slipped her hand in his. Joe looked over at Iola, a confused expression on his face.
"Oh I'm sorry – are you with Iola?"
Joe was glad that the lighting was dim, he was hoping Samantha couldn't see him blushing.
"What?! No, we're just friends!"
"Good, let's dance then." Samantha dragged Joe onto the dance floor. He didn't see the hurt look on Iola's face but Samantha did.
Once on the dance floor, Samantha wrapped her arms around Joe's neck and pressed her body close as they slow danced. She made sure Joe's back was to Iola.
"Don't worry, Joe doesn't like her. Not really anyway. He just thinks he does." Iola turned to see Callie Shaw by her side.
"How do you know? From what I heard you just moved here."
"True, but I've spent a lot of time with Frank this summer. Something tells me that Joe isn't into conceited snobby girls like that one!"
"No he's not but he's only seen the 'nice' side of Samantha Carter."
"From what Frank has told me about his brother, he's really smart. He'll soon find out what a fake she really is. Just be patient."
Iola turned back to watch Samantha shamelessly throw herself at Joe…and hoped he would see it soon.
*endofchapter*endofchapter*
Side Note: Please read the author's profile. And thank you for reading!
