Chapter 9

They just sat there, staring at the words on the paper.

"Uh, nice prank?" Callie said uncertainly, then took a look at Frank.

Frank saw Callie looking at him then he said, "Maybe this is just nothing. We don't have to take this seriously. This could be just a prank or maybe somebody intended it for some one else and put it in Joe's locker by mistake or maybe, all of this is just a bad joke to make us look fools, putting ourselves through nothing. There are lots of possibilities, guys."

They looked at each other silently then laughed, easing the tension that had formed among them.

"I guess you're right, Frank," Vanessa said, then brushed her hand through Joe's hair.

Frank took off the gloves, put the paper back into the plastic and placed it back in his bag. He thought, It wouldn't hurt to keep it either. Who knows what importance it has for us soon?

Then there was a knock at the door and Mrs. Dawson entered inside.

"Now, that's enough. You three should go have your lunch quickly now and head to your classes. Don't worry about Joe here. After Mr. S talks to him, he'll be allowed to go home. I've called your mother already. She said she'll fetch you," she added to Joe.

Callie gave Joe a soft smile and said "Bye," while Vanessa kissed Joe's cheek and whispered something to him which made Joe whisper to her in return, then both girls left the room. Frank got his bag, squeezed his brother's hand and was the last one to leave the room. Then Mrs. Dawson said, "The principal's outside already. I made him promise that your talk with him would be a short one to keep that head of yours from stress and then Mrs. Hardy will get you." She gave Joe's hand a pat then left.

The door opened before the school nurse could touch it and the principal appeared, letting the nurse go out first before going in himself and closing the door behind him. Mr. Schneid was a fine-built man in his late forties. He has dark hair streaked with graying ones. The tall man took the seat that Vanessa occupied and looked steadily at Joe. Then he began talking.

"You're probably thinking that I've readied my sermon for you, but no need to worry Mr. Hardy. I just want to ask you a few questions."

Joe sighed in relief then said to the principal, "Shoot right away, sir."

The principal smiled and couldn't help believing how carefree Joe can still be even when he is with the principal. Then he continued, "Do you have enemies here at Bayport High? I know this could be just a joke or a prank but you got hurt pretty seriously, something that cannot be just put aside."

Joe tried to look serious and said, "Well, sir, if you're asking if I have enemies here in school, more or less, those could be the boyfriends of the girls that have a, well, crush on me, and there could be many of them," he said, trying hard not to smile.

Mr. Schneid managed not to roll his eyes but then thoughtfully said to the young man in front of him, "You can consider that as a joke and as a truth, Hardy."

"I know, Mr. Schneid," Joe responded then chuckled. "So what do we do now about it?"

"Lay low for a while, Joe," Mr. Schneid said. "We don't want you in any more danger. You had enough with your past and present, in case there are, cases."

"Lay low?! What does that mean, sir? I can't do that. You can't blame me though. My natural good looks can't be ignored by girls no matter what I do and…"

"… and one more word, I'll call Ms. Bender now to help us in this matter," the principal finished for him, making Joe speechless. "You thought I don't know about you and Ms. Bender, Mr. Hardy?" the principal asked, his green eyes twinkling with mischief. "Apparently, your display of actions is too obvious too miss so even I catch it."

Joe was simply stunned by the principal's response for him and couldn't help grinning.

"Now, are you sure you don't have other enemies? Worse, possibly? Are you and your brother on a case today that might have led to this?"

"None that I know of, sir," Joe said, his thoughts turning back to the mysterious but probably nothing note.

"Okay. I guess that will be all." Mr. Schneid stood up and shook hands with Joe. "Tell me if ever you have any more problems regarding this. And if you are right about those guys jealous of you," the principal chuckled, "tell me and I'll just know the perfect things to do. I was on the same situation myself when I was your age, even younger."

"Yeah, right, sir," Joe said with a laugh.

"I believe your mother is out there already, waiting for you," the principal said and then helped Joe get up and meet Mrs. Hardy.

***

Outside the school building, near the clinic, a cell phone rang.

"Hello?"

"You able to do it?"

"Yeah. He hit his head on the lockers and must have seen a thousand stars before getting knocked out. He's recovering now though. Now can you explain everything to me? I don't do things for nothing, ya know."

"Okay. Head right over here. Just pickup Marc on your way here, okay? I want to fill in the two of you."

"Yeah, yeah."

Chipz turned off his cellphone and left the school grounds, ready to meet again his old jail mate.