Part of the Family
Chapter Two
by hbwgonnabe
But give me a little while. Joe's words echoed in Frank's head three months later. It was the first day back to school after fall break and he watched as Joe passed yet another opportunity to ask someone out. Word had gone out that Joe was once again a free agent days after Vanessa had left and girls all over Bayport had been openly flirting with Joe ever since but he had steadfastly refused to take any hints.
Frank frowned as Sarah Jenkins, a junior, walked away from Joe with a scowl marring her lovely features. "Don't worry," said seventeen-year old Callie Shaw, Frank's blond headed girlfriend of two years. "She won't give up on him."
"Neither will Shelia, Angela, Robyn, Kelly or Deanie," Frank said, naming the five most persistent girls who had been chasing Joe. "But Joe's being just as stubborn," he continued. "He hasn't even feigned an interest in anyone since Vanessa left."
"Have you talked to him about it?" Callie asked, her brown eyes searching his face thoughtfully. She hated to see Frank worry over nothing.
"No," replied Frank, sighing. "I didn't want him to think I was pushing him into a relationship he wasn't ready for."
"Maybe you should," suggested Callie. "At least give him a hint that you're worried about him. That should bring him around."
"You really think so?" Frank asked hopefully.
"I'm sure of it," Callie stated firmly. She knew Joe would never make his brother worry even if it meant going out with someone he didn't really want to go out with.
The bell rang sending everyone scattering for his or her homerooms. Frank made his way to Mr. Isley's room and took his seat. After calling roll, Mr. Isley stood up and smiled at the class. "Some of you had me for history last year and showed a marked interest when we covered Asia," he began. "The Bayport Museum has a special Asian exhibit open to the public beginning today." He continued to talk about the exhibit until the bell rang.
Frank grabbed his backpack and hustled off to his first class. By the time lunch arrived he had figured a way to get Joe out of the house for something other than practice or a game.
"What about Tracey?" Karen Black, Biff's sixteen-year-old girlfriend was asking Joe as Frank sat down beside Callie and placed his tray on the table.
"No," Joe replied with a shake of his head.
"Why not?" demanded Biff Hooper, one of the Hardys' best friends. His short blond hair and blue eyes coupled with his athletic frame made him almost as popular with the girls as Joe. "She likes you. Don't deny it," he quickly continued before Joe could interrupt. "She told Karen she did."
"Vanessa's been gone for over three months," chirped sandy haired Phil Cohen. He looked at Joe through green eyes that were hidden behind a pair of wire frames. "You can't mope forever."
"I'm not moping," Joe insisted. "I'm just not interest in any of the girls you've mentioned. I'd have a lousy time if I tried to date one of them which means they would too."
"Then you shouldn't go out with any of them," Frank put in.
"Huh?" demanded Chet Morton, another good friend of the Hardys and Iola's brother. His sharp brown eyes watched Frank curiously as he scratched his blond head in bewilderment.
"Don't go out with just anyone," Frank clarified. "Go out with us."
"We've been over this..." Joe began.
"Not on a regular date with Callie and me," Frank explained. "Although we have told you you're welcome to tag along. I mean, go with us, all of us, somewhere," he spread his hands to encompass the entire table.
"I go places," Joe defended himself.
"Practice and games don't count," said Tony Prito, an olive-skinned, dark haired youth of eighteen.
"I go to Mr. Pizza's at least twice a week," Joe pointed out defiantly, naming the establishment owned by Tony's family.
"Sure. After school," Tony agreed. "But you come; you eat; you leave. You don't hang out the way you used too."
Joe scowled. "Come on, Baby Brother," Frank pleaded. "If you mow the lawn one more time you're going to kill the grass. You have to start getting out again." Frank had begun to think that maybe Joe was afraid to meet someone because he didn't want to leave himself open to another heartbreak. He had to help Joe over his pain even if he didn't want help.
"What did you have in mind?" Joe asked, sighing in defeat. Everyone was on his case. Maybe if he did a couple of things with them they would leave him alone. Wishful thinking!
"Mr. Isley mentioned a new exhibit at the museum," Frank said, thinking Joe might be more agreeable to something slow the first time out. "Why don't we go there after school?"
"Practice," Joe said, shaking his head.
"Friday, then," Biff put in. "There isn't a game this weekend so coach is letting us have the weekend off."
"Okay," Joe agreed. "Can I eat my lunch now?"
The rest of the week passed all too quickly for Joe but, as promised, Friday after school he climbed into the van with Frank, Callie and Phil and headed to the museum where they were meeting Chet, his girlfriend, Helen Osborne, Biff, Karen and Tony.
Inside, the group went through the tour then remained to get a better look at the Asian exhibit. Not really interested, Joe returned to the display of rugs where he stopped in front of the only one he liked. On it was a fight scene between two warriors.
"It's one f the best ones here," observed a feminine voice from Joe's right.
Startled, he turned to look at the speaker. "I didn't hear you come up," Joe said, smiling at the attractive brunette whose hazel eyes were looking at the rug.
"The carpet on this floor is so plush, it's no wonder," she replied, her gaze turning to him briefly before settling on the rug once again. "The warriors are interesting," she said.
"I guess," Joe agreed half-heartedly. She turned to him once again, her gaze questioning. "I'm not really into this stuff," he admitted. "My friends just dragged me along.
"Me either," she confessed. "My dad insisted I come with him. Why waste time on the past when there is so much going on in the present?"
"Exactly!" agreed Joe with a big grin. Finally! Someone who understands.
"Where are your friends?" she asked.
"They are looking at some of the displays," Joe said. "Looks like you lost your dad too," he added.
"Dad's discussing something with the curator," she replied. "So, how did you let your friends talk you into wasting a Friday afternoon at the museum?"
Joe shrugged. "My girlfriend moved out of the country and they thought it was time I started dating again but since I haven't found anyone I want to date, they conned me into joining them here for an outing."
"When did she move?"
"Two months ago," Joe answered.
"They're right," she stated. "It is time you started dating again."
"Are you asking me out?" Joe flirted with her.
"Only if it means getting me out of here," she retorted.
"Done," agreed Joe at once. "I'm Joe," he introduced himself.
"Marie," she returned the introduction with a beautiful smile. "Let me tell my dad I'm leaving...er, you will drop me off at home later?" she asked.
"Of course," Joe replied gallantly. "Where do you live?"
"On Sunset Drive," she answered.
"That's why I haven't seen you around Bayport High," Joe said. "You must go to Bethany."
"Actually, I go to a boarding school in England," she corrected him. "But I'm home for a couple of weeks vacation and I am trying to convince Daddy to let me stay in the states and go to school around here." She smiled at him. "You go find your friends and I'll let my dad know I'm leaving. I'll meet you at the exit in ten minutes."
Joe found Frank, Callie and Phil first. "I'm going to cut out," he said. "Can you catch a ride with Biff or Chet so I can take the van?"
"Forget it," Frank told him crossly. "You promised you'd have a good time this afternoon."
"And I will," Joe said. "Just not here. I met this girl while I was checking out one of the rugs," he explained. "She likes this stuff about as much as I do but her dad made her come."
"And she's going to leave with you?" Callie asked a bit skeptically.
"Yes. Her name is Marie and she lives on Sunset Drive," Joe said.
"I guess just because she goes to a neighboring high school that is no reason not to go out with her," Frank said thoughtfully. Joe did not correct him. "Okay. We'll beg rides. Have a good time and don't be too late."
"Eleven forty-five at the latest," Joe promised. He left the threesome, whistling.
"He's baaack," Phil said, grinning as Joe's whistle faded away.
Chapter Two
by hbwgonnabe
But give me a little while. Joe's words echoed in Frank's head three months later. It was the first day back to school after fall break and he watched as Joe passed yet another opportunity to ask someone out. Word had gone out that Joe was once again a free agent days after Vanessa had left and girls all over Bayport had been openly flirting with Joe ever since but he had steadfastly refused to take any hints.
Frank frowned as Sarah Jenkins, a junior, walked away from Joe with a scowl marring her lovely features. "Don't worry," said seventeen-year old Callie Shaw, Frank's blond headed girlfriend of two years. "She won't give up on him."
"Neither will Shelia, Angela, Robyn, Kelly or Deanie," Frank said, naming the five most persistent girls who had been chasing Joe. "But Joe's being just as stubborn," he continued. "He hasn't even feigned an interest in anyone since Vanessa left."
"Have you talked to him about it?" Callie asked, her brown eyes searching his face thoughtfully. She hated to see Frank worry over nothing.
"No," replied Frank, sighing. "I didn't want him to think I was pushing him into a relationship he wasn't ready for."
"Maybe you should," suggested Callie. "At least give him a hint that you're worried about him. That should bring him around."
"You really think so?" Frank asked hopefully.
"I'm sure of it," Callie stated firmly. She knew Joe would never make his brother worry even if it meant going out with someone he didn't really want to go out with.
The bell rang sending everyone scattering for his or her homerooms. Frank made his way to Mr. Isley's room and took his seat. After calling roll, Mr. Isley stood up and smiled at the class. "Some of you had me for history last year and showed a marked interest when we covered Asia," he began. "The Bayport Museum has a special Asian exhibit open to the public beginning today." He continued to talk about the exhibit until the bell rang.
Frank grabbed his backpack and hustled off to his first class. By the time lunch arrived he had figured a way to get Joe out of the house for something other than practice or a game.
"What about Tracey?" Karen Black, Biff's sixteen-year-old girlfriend was asking Joe as Frank sat down beside Callie and placed his tray on the table.
"No," Joe replied with a shake of his head.
"Why not?" demanded Biff Hooper, one of the Hardys' best friends. His short blond hair and blue eyes coupled with his athletic frame made him almost as popular with the girls as Joe. "She likes you. Don't deny it," he quickly continued before Joe could interrupt. "She told Karen she did."
"Vanessa's been gone for over three months," chirped sandy haired Phil Cohen. He looked at Joe through green eyes that were hidden behind a pair of wire frames. "You can't mope forever."
"I'm not moping," Joe insisted. "I'm just not interest in any of the girls you've mentioned. I'd have a lousy time if I tried to date one of them which means they would too."
"Then you shouldn't go out with any of them," Frank put in.
"Huh?" demanded Chet Morton, another good friend of the Hardys and Iola's brother. His sharp brown eyes watched Frank curiously as he scratched his blond head in bewilderment.
"Don't go out with just anyone," Frank clarified. "Go out with us."
"We've been over this..." Joe began.
"Not on a regular date with Callie and me," Frank explained. "Although we have told you you're welcome to tag along. I mean, go with us, all of us, somewhere," he spread his hands to encompass the entire table.
"I go places," Joe defended himself.
"Practice and games don't count," said Tony Prito, an olive-skinned, dark haired youth of eighteen.
"I go to Mr. Pizza's at least twice a week," Joe pointed out defiantly, naming the establishment owned by Tony's family.
"Sure. After school," Tony agreed. "But you come; you eat; you leave. You don't hang out the way you used too."
Joe scowled. "Come on, Baby Brother," Frank pleaded. "If you mow the lawn one more time you're going to kill the grass. You have to start getting out again." Frank had begun to think that maybe Joe was afraid to meet someone because he didn't want to leave himself open to another heartbreak. He had to help Joe over his pain even if he didn't want help.
"What did you have in mind?" Joe asked, sighing in defeat. Everyone was on his case. Maybe if he did a couple of things with them they would leave him alone. Wishful thinking!
"Mr. Isley mentioned a new exhibit at the museum," Frank said, thinking Joe might be more agreeable to something slow the first time out. "Why don't we go there after school?"
"Practice," Joe said, shaking his head.
"Friday, then," Biff put in. "There isn't a game this weekend so coach is letting us have the weekend off."
"Okay," Joe agreed. "Can I eat my lunch now?"
The rest of the week passed all too quickly for Joe but, as promised, Friday after school he climbed into the van with Frank, Callie and Phil and headed to the museum where they were meeting Chet, his girlfriend, Helen Osborne, Biff, Karen and Tony.
Inside, the group went through the tour then remained to get a better look at the Asian exhibit. Not really interested, Joe returned to the display of rugs where he stopped in front of the only one he liked. On it was a fight scene between two warriors.
"It's one f the best ones here," observed a feminine voice from Joe's right.
Startled, he turned to look at the speaker. "I didn't hear you come up," Joe said, smiling at the attractive brunette whose hazel eyes were looking at the rug.
"The carpet on this floor is so plush, it's no wonder," she replied, her gaze turning to him briefly before settling on the rug once again. "The warriors are interesting," she said.
"I guess," Joe agreed half-heartedly. She turned to him once again, her gaze questioning. "I'm not really into this stuff," he admitted. "My friends just dragged me along.
"Me either," she confessed. "My dad insisted I come with him. Why waste time on the past when there is so much going on in the present?"
"Exactly!" agreed Joe with a big grin. Finally! Someone who understands.
"Where are your friends?" she asked.
"They are looking at some of the displays," Joe said. "Looks like you lost your dad too," he added.
"Dad's discussing something with the curator," she replied. "So, how did you let your friends talk you into wasting a Friday afternoon at the museum?"
Joe shrugged. "My girlfriend moved out of the country and they thought it was time I started dating again but since I haven't found anyone I want to date, they conned me into joining them here for an outing."
"When did she move?"
"Two months ago," Joe answered.
"They're right," she stated. "It is time you started dating again."
"Are you asking me out?" Joe flirted with her.
"Only if it means getting me out of here," she retorted.
"Done," agreed Joe at once. "I'm Joe," he introduced himself.
"Marie," she returned the introduction with a beautiful smile. "Let me tell my dad I'm leaving...er, you will drop me off at home later?" she asked.
"Of course," Joe replied gallantly. "Where do you live?"
"On Sunset Drive," she answered.
"That's why I haven't seen you around Bayport High," Joe said. "You must go to Bethany."
"Actually, I go to a boarding school in England," she corrected him. "But I'm home for a couple of weeks vacation and I am trying to convince Daddy to let me stay in the states and go to school around here." She smiled at him. "You go find your friends and I'll let my dad know I'm leaving. I'll meet you at the exit in ten minutes."
Joe found Frank, Callie and Phil first. "I'm going to cut out," he said. "Can you catch a ride with Biff or Chet so I can take the van?"
"Forget it," Frank told him crossly. "You promised you'd have a good time this afternoon."
"And I will," Joe said. "Just not here. I met this girl while I was checking out one of the rugs," he explained. "She likes this stuff about as much as I do but her dad made her come."
"And she's going to leave with you?" Callie asked a bit skeptically.
"Yes. Her name is Marie and she lives on Sunset Drive," Joe said.
"I guess just because she goes to a neighboring high school that is no reason not to go out with her," Frank said thoughtfully. Joe did not correct him. "Okay. We'll beg rides. Have a good time and don't be too late."
"Eleven forty-five at the latest," Joe promised. He left the threesome, whistling.
"He's baaack," Phil said, grinning as Joe's whistle faded away.