Chapter 1:

Frank was looking at his watch and tapping his foot with impatience. "Joe!" He looked at himself in the bathroom mirror as he tied his tuxedo tie. It wasn't straight and he was starting to get really annoyed with the stupid thing. "Crap…I hate bowties."

His mother appeared behind him. "Let me help you with that dear."

Frank turned around and his mother completely untied it and then retied it. "There…" Frank looked down at her. Her eyes were misty. "I can't believe it is your senior prom."

Joe came down the stairs at that moment. "I don't get why we have to leave so early."

Frank looked at his mother. "So that our parents can see us all off. We are after all picking up the girls from Callie's house."

Fenton came around the corner, he had a camera around his neck. "Are you ready yet? I didn't think boys took this long to get ready."

There Aunt Gertrude came up behind him. "They just want to look perfect for their girls Fenton…as they should. We raised them that way." She waved her wooden spoon at them. "And no misbehaving tonight boys. Remember your parents and I were young once."

Frank knelt down pretending to tie his shoe to hide any possibility of a blush. Joe addressed her. "Awe come on Aunt Gertrude…don't tell me you wouldn't love to have a great niece or nephew."

Laura Hardy swatted at her son's head. She had picked up on his sarcasm. "Not for a few more years…after you have attended college and are gainfully employed."

Frank finally stood up. "I agree to that."

Gertrude pulled out a sealed envelope. "Oh and Frank…this is for you. Its from Boston College."

Frank blinked he had sent in several applications to a few schools on the east coast. Boston College was one of the top choices. For many different reasons. It was a good school and it had his major of choice Computer Science. Then there was the other fact that he knew that Callie Shaw was looking to go there for their communications program. He took the letter from his Aunt and opened it.

The whole family watched nervously. Frank looked up and then smiled. "I got in…and…they offered me a full academic scholarship."

Laura Hardy hugged him tightly. "Oh Frank that is wonderful."

The phone rang cutting his mother off. Joe reached for it. "Yeah we're still here Callie."

Frank paled a bit. He gestured wildly to his brother. 'NO! NO! Don't tell her!"

Joe grinned at him. "Uh huh…we were just about to leave but Frank got an important letter. We'll tell you when we get there…"

Frank watched as his brother continued to talk to his girlfriend. "Uh huh…oh really. Well I'll let you tell Frank when we arrive…okay…yeah tell Van we are leaving now…We just wanted to make sure to give you enough time to look your best."

Frank laughed as he heard Callie's voice raise a few more notches. Joe laughed as he disconnected the line. "They are ready and wondering where the heck we are. We have reservations for dinner in at 6:00."

Frank looked at his watch. It was 4:45...they were supposed to be at Callie's in 15 minutes ago. "Damn! We are late!"

Fenton opened the door. "Come on…we shouldn't keep those two lovely ladies waiting."

Callie Shaw's house was only a few streets over from Frank and Joes home. Fenton and Laura drove the boys to the house. A black stretch limo was parked outside. The Hardys got out and went to the door. Frank didn't even have a chance to knock, Mrs. Bender had opened the door. "Well are we glad to see you boys. Vanessa and Callie were just about to lose their patience.

Joe gave his girlfriends mother a quick hug. "Sorry we're late Mrs. Bender."

Frank smiled over her shoulder at Callie's dad. "Hello Mr. Shaw."

"Frank…your brother…"

Before he could finish Frank could hear his girlfriends voice. "Frank…Joe if you two don't stop dawdling in the hall…we are going to get my daddy's samurai sword off the mantle."

Frank and Joe walked into the living room followed by there parents. Frank was temporarily speechless when he saw her. Callie he could see was wearing a pale pink dress…it had spaghetti straps and extenuated every curve on her small frame. Her hair was pulled into an elegant knot on the back of her head. Her face was flushed and she was smiling.

Joe was looking at his girlfriend. She was wearing a navy blue gown it had a full skirt and it was strapless. The blue really brought out her long ash blond hair and blue gray eyes.

Fenton said what his sons apparently couldn't. "You both look beautiful ladies."

They both giggled and went over and Vanessa kissed his left cheek and Callie kissed his right. "Thank you Mr. Hardy." Vanessa said.

Joe snapped out of his trance. "Hey what about me?"

Vanessa grinned. "Don't look at me…you're the one that clammed up. Your dad was simply being nice…so we were nice back."

Callie had pulled Frank into her arms and gave him a chaste kiss. He whispered to her. "You look gorgeous."

"Thanks." She blushed.

Frank had so many happy memories with her. They had been through a lot together. Earlier that year…Callie had almost died in an airplane crash. Now they were getting ready to head to their senior prom. They were both going to graduate together.

"Frank! You won't believe what just came in the mail for me! I got a full Athletic Scholarship to play Volleyball at Boston College. I'm so excited! They have one of the best schools of communication in the country!"

Frank kissed her. "That's great…look what I got in the mail today." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his own letter.

Callie took it when she got to the important part she squealed. "Oh Frank…a full academic scholarship…that's great…and at Boston College."

Vanessa came over and gave Frank a hug. "Congratulations…I know that was both yours and Callie's first choice and you both get free rides too. That is going to make your lives a lot easier."

Mrs. Shaw hugged Frank. "We are very proud of both of you."

"Thank you Mrs. Shaw. I really appreciate that." He took Callie's hand and gave it a squeeze. They still had a lot to talk about. But he could tell that she wanted to take the offer and Frank was pretty sure that he was going to take his as well. As tempting as it was. He didn't want to rush things.

Fenton put the camera up to his eyes. "Okay folks. Lets get this show on the road. Say cheese."