This chapter is shorter than usual. Honestly, it grew from one scene that I wanted to write. That, and I threw in something... interesting, I think one would call it.

Special thanks to MCR-1993 and cheer 95 for reviewing!

I do not own the Hardy Boys. (Yet. *evil laughter*)

Enjoy!


Add a grocery cart full of basic cooking ingredients to the mix. It should be placed between two of the Hardys, most likely one pushing it into the other.

"I don't get you girls," Chet said. "I mean, you haven't met the family yet, and you still act like they're the biggest threat to the place!"

Callie and Iola looked up from their spots at the cash registers. They were both working for Harley's Groceries that particular day, which was right after the boys helped the Hardys move in. Iola had dragged her brother with her to her job, and Callie had convinced him to talk.

"They sound dangerous," Callie said. "I mean, they were able to sneak past you guys without you even noticing! Doesn't that sound-"

"Were you listening at all, Cal? We had a whole discussion at dinner. Those guys help their dad. Their dad is a PI. It's kinda needed to be able to sneak around and fight if you want to survive.

"It makes sense," Iola said. "I mean, now that we know what actually happened at their old school-"

"What do you mean?" Callie turned to the other girl, surprised that Iola knew something she didn't. While it wasn't uncommon that Callie lacked any knowledge of the gossip that Iola had, it was also common that Callie knew more if she was willing to research the topic.

"The people that they were fighting were in a local gang and brought weapons into their school. Someone went to get a security guard when the gang started attacking. The three fought back."

"And put them in the hospital?"

"The gang had a lot of drugs in their bloodstream. Doesn't take a lot more than a few hits and such to make their bodies try and shut down," Chet said. "They were showing us their moves after dinner. They've studied a lot of fighting techniques."

"Oh." Callie tried to process the information in her usual way. Honestly, she couldn't recall a single name of someone who had studied any kind of fighting (defensive or otherwise) that didn't have some kind of bad reputation attached to them. However, Chet's words approving the teens would upset the balance.

A set of greetings interrupted her thoughts.

"Hey Chet!" A blond boy walked over to the cash register, flashing a smile. "What's up?"

"Hey Joe. Callie, Iola, this is Joe. Joe-"

"Callie, Iola. Got it." He looked at Iola with a question written in his eyes. "You're related to Chet?"

"Yeah, siblings."

"And Chet said no boy tries to date you-"

"Hey!"

"I guess it's because of him."

Someone else came up quietly behind Joe. Callie stared, wondering who the other person was. Didn't Joe have a twin sister…?

"Already flirting?" The voice was surprisingly a higher pitch, like a girl's, but lower than what Callie had usually ever heard on a female. She smacked the blond boy in the back of his head. "I can't believe you."

The older teenage girl looked over the newest person to be near the cash register. She was wearing baggy guy clothes, hiding most of her body. Her hair was cut exactly the same as Joe's. If it weren't for the subtle differences in body structure, anyone could confuse her with a guy.

"…is Madison. Or Mad. Or Maddie."

"Or girl without bo- Ow! Stop that!"

"You know, every time you open your mouth, I want to hit you."

"Same to you!" Joe turned around, and got Mad into a headlock. "You're the one who messed up my bunk!"

"Is this… normal?" Iola hesitantly asked, her eyes dancing with a hint of laughter and amazement.

"Define normal," Mad said, twisting her way out of the headlock. "In our family, this is."

"Speaking of which, our family's going to get pretty annoyed unless we do the shopping."

"Which means no flirting now."

"Hey…" He released his hold on his sister, but not before punching her in the arm. "Fine. I'll get the cart. What are we cooking, anyways?"

"Dunno. Frank just tossed me a list of things we'll need…"

The twins walked away towards the produce area, Joe making a detour to get a cart.

"Wow, they're… something." Callie couldn't help but let her gaze focus on the figures until they disappeared. "Doesn't seem like they're eager to make friends."

"Maybe no one likes them enough," Iola said, a sad expression seeping into her eyes. "Maybe they were too different for everyone."

"That would explain a lot," Chet admitted. "They seem really close to each other, but they don't like talking to other people too much. Maybe people from California just didn't feel too friendly towards them. I like them, though. They offered to make some dishes to let us try."

"They sound like cooks."

"They are! In fact, according to their parents, they cook almost all the meals in the house! Maybe they're as good as Ms. Hardy!"

"Maybe."

The conversation turned to summer plans, but Callie's mind was still on the twins. Or, to be more specific, their clothing. It was a very warm day, and most people that she had managed to see were wearing thin layers. But the clothing that both Joe and Mad had donned were more of the concealing side, therefore there was more material in the clothing, and therefore made it thicker.

Why?

Before she could continue to think about it, Joe had once again stood in front of them, leaning against the check out counter where Iola was. "I still think you're a nice girl, Iola."

"Hey, Hardy," Chet growled in good nature. "You have to go through me first."

"Defending your sister, Chet?" Joe laughed. "Alright, since it seems like I have to fight this knight for the- ow!"

Mad pulled back the cart slightly, smiling. "And you thought you could leave me alone with this?"

The blond boy rubbed his side where the cart had made contact. "Honestly, no, but the sweet princess was calling my name."

"Iola, if it means anything, I apologize on Joe's behalf."

"Hey!"

Callie couldn't help but laugh. "Here, I'll ring you up."

"Thanks."

Callie looked at the things that the twins had bought. There was vegetables and fruit of all kinds. A few meats followed, then flour, sugar, and other things that she thought would make for some interesting dishes.

She looked up again at the girl, and her eyes widened in shock. It was only the edge of a scar, but the difference between the skin unmarked and the skin mark was obvious. It went from the end of the girl's neck to under her shirt, which Callie had no doubt that it continued on.

"What-"

Madison gave her a look that made Callie lose all her words in her throat. Glancing at her brother quickly (who was engrossed with his conversation with the Morton siblings), she sighed softly. "A gang kidnapped us a few years ago. Wanted to show our dad who was better and all," she whispered.

Taking the hint from the other, Callie lowered her own voice. "Did he get it the worse?"

"Yes." The blonde girl swiped a credit card. "He lost the most, too."

Their eyes didn't meet until Callie handed Madison the receipt. They had lost any hints of joy or teasing in that moment. Instead, there was pain and untold destruction in the blue orbs.

Mad blinked, shielding the emotions with happiness. "Come on, Joe. You can flirt later."

In response, the blond boy stuck out his tongue before sighing dramatically. "She's right. We have to cook tonight. How about you guys come over tomorrow? We should be finished with setting everything up by then!"

"Sure!" Iola said, almost the same time Chet said, "If you keep hitting on Iola…"

"Frank'll keep him in line," Mad promised. As an afterthought for the two girls, she added, "He's our older brother."

"Brother isn't the word. I mean, he barely looks like us! Not to mention he loves his vanilla-"

"Not everyone is extreme as you." With a roll of her eyes, Mad pushed the cart towards the entrance. "Let's go, before I really slam this sucker into you."

"You're mean."

"Thank you."

Callie watched the retreating figures, ignoring the other two teenagers who were quarreling. The image of the scar flashed through her mind and the words whispered in her ears.

How much did Joe lose, anyways? And what kind of hell got to them?


Next chapter is Frank's turn to bond!