Callie opened her eyes to see blue eyes staring back at each her. Blue. Not brown. Callie fell backwards and screamed, the whole theater turning around to see what was happening.
Callie ran down the stairs as Joe sat frozen in his seat. He slowly turned to see Vanessa's jaw on the floor, her eyes the size of dinner plates. Frank was staring at him with murder in his eyes. Frank clenched his fists and took a step toward Joe, paused a second, then went after Callie.
Vanessa's lips quavered before tears began to run down her face. She left the theater a few seconds after Frank. Joe sat for a moment, realizing how badly he had just screwed up. He slowly walked out of the theater, his head in a daze.
When Joe got to the lobby, he saw Callie with her head buried in her hands. When Frank approached her, she stiff-armed him, keeping him at arm's length. Vanessa disappeared into the bathroom.
The drive home was utterly silent. When they got to Vanessa's house, Joe started to slide out to walk her up the long gravel driveway.
"Don't," Vanessa snapped.
"It's dark out. Please let me make sure you're safe," Joe pleaded.
"Then Frank can walk me," she responded. "At least he can tell me apart from Callie." She slammed the door behind her. Frank walked her to the house, leaving Callie and Joe in the tension filled van.
"I'm sorry," Joe began, "I didn't reali-"
"You think!" Callie screamed. "Do you have any idea what it's like to look over and see your boyfriend completely disgusted with you?"
"I know what it's like!" Joe yelled back, leaning forward and pointing at Callie. "Frank's my brother, and Vanessa's my girlfriend. You only disappointed one person; I broke two people's hearts. And you started it!"
"I started it?" Callie shot back. "You ran your fingers through my hair which is half the length of Vanessa's. Did that not clue you into the fact that it was me?"
"Your hands were in my hair too. And yes, you did start it! You climbed on me like a-" Joe's voice cut off as Frank got back into the van.
"Am I interrupting something?" Frank's voice was icier than the slick asphalt outside.
Joe and Callie said nothing. When they arrived at Callie's house, Frank made no move to get out of the car. Callie touched Frank's shoulder and stared at him pleadingly, but he continued to face straight ahead. Callie left without another word.
"You can hate me all you want," Joe said, breaking the silence, "but don't be rude to Callie. It was an accident."
Frank didn't respond. When they reached the Hardy house, Joe got out and confronted him.
"I'm sorry, but you know it was an accident. It was just a kiss-"
Frank spun on his heel and shoved Joe up against the side of the van.
"Just a kiss?" he growled. "That looked like quite a bit more than just a kiss."
"Minor makeout," Joe offered weakly.
"What was your hand doing back there - trying to steal her wallet? Also, funny how I knew immediately that the person next to me wasn't my girlfriend. I think maybe, just maybe, you knew it too."
Joe pushed Frank away. "Are you saying I wanted that to happen? Say it to my face."
"I'm saying Callie was the only girl in town you hadn't locked lips with. Now you have."
Joe's temper flared. He swung an overhand right at Frank but slipped on a slick spot on the driveway and fell to his knees. Frank aimed a vicious kick at his head but also stumbled on the concrete ice rink. Joe and Frank began grappling on the ground. Joe, who had wrestled his freshman year, quickly got the upper hand. He had Frank's arm twisted behind his back when he heard the front door open.
"What are you doing?" Fenton Hardy bellowed. "You scared your aunt half-to-death. She ran into my study claiming there were hitmen out front."
Frank and Joe lay panting on the driveway.
Fenton slowly shook his head. "I don't even want to know. Just don't kill each other." He retreated to the warmth of the house.
Joe stood and extended a hand to Frank. Frank slapped it away.
The next day saw no improvement in Frank's demeanor. He sat in the kitchen angrily eating his breakfast as Aunt Gertrude ranted about the self-checkout machines in all the grocery stores.
"I mean really," she continued, "do I look like I work in a grocery store? Not only do I have to select my own groceries, now I must scan them, weigh them, and bag them myself. Did I forget my uniform? Should I be getting a paycheck for this?"
Her tirade was cut short as Fenton and Joe walked in.
"Frank, it's time to go," Fenton said.
"You two can go," Frank replied moodily, "I'll get there myself."
"You're letting your emotions make bad decisions," Fenton lectured. "You need to be able to control them. Bad decisions can get you killed. You, Vanessa, and I are all on the same flight. It makes sense for Joe to drive us all. Come on."
The hour-long drive to LaGuardia Airport was silent. Fenton decided to leave things alone. When Joe pulled up to the passenger drop-off, Fenton and Frank grabbed their bags and waited by the doors to give Vanessa and Joe a chance to say goodbye.
Joe tried to hug Vanessa, but she stepped back.
"Vanessa," Joe said haltingly, not sure how to apologize, "I'm sorry. I didn't know. I promise."
Vanessa shook her head. "I believe you, but it's not that. Seeing you with another girl made me realize something. I don't know if I can fully trust you." She paused before steeling her resolve. "Joe, have you ever cheated on me?"
Joe averted his gaze. That, combined with his silence, gave Vanessa the answer she had been dreading.
"That's what I was afraid of." Vanessa said. "Goodbye Joe."
The tone of her voice implied it was goodbye in more ways than one. She turned and joined Frank and Fenton.
Joe got back in the van and rested his forehead on the steering wheel. When Frank and Vanessa returned, he would find a way to make it up to them. He had to.