Frank pulled the van to stop in the school's parking lot beside Vanessa's car. Joe got out without a word and stepped over to greet his girlfriend. "Hi, hon," he said, opening her door.

"Hi," she returned, getting out and giving him a quick peck on his lips.

"Hey Franc," Joe added, seeing the girl get out of the passenger side as Frank came around the van to see them.

"Hi, Joe," Franc replied, giving Frank a cursory glance before smiling at Joe. "Van gave me a lift since my car is defunct."

"Franc...Francessca, this is Frank," Joe introduced his brother.

Frank winced inwardly. Although Joe didn't ignore him, he was treating him like a casual acquaintance; not even a friend. "Hi," Frank said, smiling at the new girl.

"Nice to meet you," Franc said. "I've heard so much about you."

"Good, I hope," Frank returned.

"Very," Franc admitted. "Well, I know it's early, but I better go inside. I have to stop in at the principal's office before school."

"I'll show you where it is," Vanessa offered, sensing the two boys had something they needed to work out.

Joe started to follow the girls but Frank stepped into his path. Joe stood silently, waiting for Frank to say what was on his mind.

"I'm sorry," Frank apologized again. "What I said last night, I didn't mean it the way it sounded."

"Then how did you mean it?" Joe asked, revealing no emotion.

"I just....how do I put this?" Frank asked himself, running a hand nervously through his hair. "I love you and I do worry about you. Too much," he added. 'That's why I want, no, I need you to start taking responsibility for yourself. I'm leaving," he explained. "I'm not going to be around to get you out of the jams you get into."

"In other words," Joe clarified. "You don't want me asking you for help."

"Not unless your life depends on it," Frank specified.

"Gotcha," Joe said, moving around Frank and starting to walk towards school so Frank couldn't see the loss Joe was feeling. "We'd better go or we're going to be late for class."

"Meet you at lunch?" Frank asked, following him.

"Sure," Joe replied brightly, plastering a smile on his face and turning back to look at Frank. If Frank wanted to be nothing more than friends, then he would accept it and move on. He had survived many tortures and hardships in his seventeen years and he would survive this one as well.

Joe had second period with Vanessa. As Joe took his seat beside her, she asked, "What's going on with you and Frank?"

"After school," Joe promised. Franc came in and took the empty seat behind Joe.

"How are you liking public school?" Vanessa asked her.

"It's not too bad," Franc answered. "I just had physics with Mr. Arnette. He's kind of fun."

"Yeah, he is," Joe concurred. "I've got him for fifth period."

A throat cleared disapprovingly and the three teens hurriedly quieted down and faced the front. Mrs. Howe shot the three a stern look then took roll. "We have a new student with us today," Mrs. Howe stated. "Francessca Wyndham." Franc gave an embarrassed smile.

"We are having our final exam which will count for thirty-five percent of your grade," she continued. "The test will cover everything we have discussed and all the chapters we have covered since Christmas break. Since Francesssca has not been with us, would anyone care to volunteer to help her study for the exam which will be one week from today?"

Several hands shot up. "Since you already seem to know Vanessa and Joe, I'll let them be your study guides," Mrs. Howe said to Franc.

"Thank you," Franc replied and smiled gratefully at her two firends. The class was spent reviewing some of the earlier items discussed in the semester. When the bell rang, there wasn't one student who wasn't relieved to be able to lay their pencil down.

"What's your next class?" Joe asked Franc as he stood up and waited for Vanessa to put away her pencil and notes.

"Geography with Webb," she replied.

"Great," Vanessa said. "It's hard to find," she continued. "It's near the cafeteria but you have to go around the back way to get in."

"And that's great because?" Franc demanded, her tone taking on a tone of hurt.

"It's great because I can walk you there," Joe explained. "That's my next class too," he added, grinning at Franc's relieved sigh.

"Come on," Vanessa said, leading the way out of the room. "You can drop me off at my French class along the way."

"How long have you and Vanessa been dating?" Franc asked after Vanessa had entered her next class.

"A little over six months," Joe answered. "We met her first day of school."

"Like the new girls, huh?" Franc asked impishly.

"I guess I do," Joe admitted, not feeling like going into detail about his childhood sweetheart and love, Iola Morton.

"Do you two ever fight?" Franc asked. "I mean, you two look so perfect together."

Joe scowled as an image of his brother flashed across his mind. "Looks can be deceiving," he commented ominously.

"Why do I get the feeling we aren't talking about you and Vanessa anymore?" Franc asked, her face wrinkling in concern as she looked at him.

Joe shrugged. "Frank and I kind of got into a fight last night," he admitted.

"He didn't look bad," Franc commented, coming to a stop and grabbing Joe's arm so he would stop and look at her. "You don't either," she added, then released him and the two continued walking.

Joe laughed. "Quarrel, then," he conceded.

"Want to talk about it?" she asked.

Joe didn't even have to think over her proposition. "No, but thanks."

"Anytime," she said before entering the room via the door Joe had just opened.

When lunch finally arrived, Joe and Franc met Vanessa, then entered the cafeteria and joined their friends. Introductions were made and talk soon turned to the forthcoming graduation. It didn't take long for the three juniors to feel left out. After attempting to break into the conversation on several occasions, Joe set down his fork and watched and listened to the animated conversation of his brother and friends. No, that's not right, Joe realized. All these people, his alleged friends, were really only his friends by association. Except for Vanessa and Franc, they were all seniors. All ready to leave without a thought to those who would be staying.

Vanessa saw the sadness start to overwhelm Joe and suggested they spend the rest of lunch outside. He smiled, thinking how lucky he was to have her. They stood and picked up their trays. "Mind if I go with you two?" Franc asked, nervous about being left alone with the seniors whom she didn't know.

"Not at all," Vanessa answered. She tried to get the group's attention to tell them they were leaving but Joe placed a hand on her upper arm.

"They won't even notice," he assured her. She listened once more to them making plans for a final senior bash and realized he was right. The three left the lunchroom and went outside. When the bell rang announcing the next class, the three went their separate ways after agreeing to meet at Vanessa's car once school had let out for the day.

Frank caught up to Joe later at his locker. "Where did you guys disappear to?" he asked.

"We showed Franc around the campus," Joe replied with a shrug.

"We're meeting at Mr. Pizza in twenty minutes," Frank informed Joe of the plans he and the others had made at lunch. "We've decided to go to the beach this Saturday and have a party there to celebrate the end of the school year."

"Sounds like you guys will have fun," Joe said, straining not to grit his teeth.

"You and Vanessa are invited," Frank told him, hearing the antagonism in Joe's voice.

"We have a major exam next Monday," Joe declined the invitation. "Vanessa and I will be studying at Franc's."

"Need some tutoring?" Frank offered.

"No thanks," Joe turned him down, Frank's earlier comments fresh in his mind. "I've got it covered." He closed his locker and snapped his backpack shut. "Tell Mom and Dad I'll be late. We're going to start tonight." With these words, Joe turned and left Frank standing in the hallway amid the lockers, a look of sorrow on Frank's face which Joe never saw.