Joe caught a glimpse of Frank, Chet, and Biff watching from the corner of his eye. He didn't need their help, but it would have been nice had they offered. Apparently, Chet and Biff didn't care anymore about him than Frank did.
Joe pulled himself up straight and looked Aaron in the eyes as he took a step forward. Franc, who had been obscured from Frank's, Chet's and Biff's view by Joe and Aaron, came into their line of vision as she stepped in front of Joe and glared at Aaron, her hands planted firmly on her hips.
"Touch him again and I go straight to the principal," she vowed. "Which means, you won't be graduating this year."
Aaron shot a venomous look at Franc but she refused to back down so he looked back to Joe. "I'll catch you when your bodyguard ain't around," he sneered before stalking off.
"Are you all right?" Franc asked, turning to Joe and looking him over.
"I'm fine," he assured her. "I could have handled him," he added.
"I know," Franc agreed. "After what Vanessa told me, I think you can handle pretty much anything. But if you fought him, you both would have gotten expelled and I need your help with English and Geography, " she admitted, giving him a sly smile.
Joe laughed and retrieved his and Franc's bookbags. She took hers and went inside her home-room across the hall. Joe shouldered his bag and started down the hall to his room but Frank, Biff and Chet caught up to him and brought him to a stop.
"What was that all about?" Chet demanded, relieved because Joe hadn't had to fight him but curious as to what had started it in the first place.
"Nothing," Joe replied with a shrug, not willing to give them the satisfaction of knowing it had started when Aaron wouldn't take no as an answer to Franc going out with him.
"I'll catch up with you guys later," Frank told Chet and Biff, giving them a not so subtle hint that he wanted to talk with Joe alone. The two boys bid the brothers goodbye and headed off to their own homerooms.
"Did you want something?" Joe asked Frank.
"What was the fight about?" Frank demanded, all thoughts of the prospective hiking trip gone from his mind.
"Nothing I can't handle," Joe assured Frank as the warning bell for homeroom rang. "See ya," Joe added, walking away.
Frank didn't get a chance to talk to Joe again during school. At lunch, Joe, Vanessa and Franc had joined a group of juniors at another table. Frank caught Vanessa's eye once, but she quickly turned away. It was obvious she knew something was wrong between Frank and Joe but she wasn't going to cross Joe by talking to Frank.
When Joe got home later that night, Frank waited until the shower was turned off then logged off the itnernet. He wasn't going to give Joe time to fall asleep this time. He opened the bathroom door and stepped into the bathroom. Grabbing the knob on the door leading into Joe's room, he came up short, his nose barely touching the door as he registered shock at discovering Joe had locked his door.
Anger built up inside Frank and he lifted his hand to bang on the door but decided against it. If Joe didn't want him in his life anymore, then he wasn't going to argue. Frank released the knob and returned to his room.
The rest of the week went by quickly with neither brother bothering the other. They passed in the hall not acknowledging each other. At home, they rarely saw each other. Joe came in late and Frank left early. Mr. and Mrs. Hardy discussed the boys' attitude but decided they were going to leave it up to the boys to work out.
Saturday morning rolled around and Joe got on his motorbike and headed for the Wyndham's while Frank got ready and went to see Callie. It was the last day the carnival was going to be in town and Frank and Callie had agreed to meet their friends at the carnival. When they arrived, they saw Joe, Vanessa, and Franc were already there, having decided to take a few hours off and have some fun.
It was well after lunchtime when the teens agreed it was time for sustenance. They left their cars where they were and walked the block to Al's Grille. Gathering their orders, they went outside and sat at the stone tables in the sunshine.
"This has been so much fun," Karen enthused, lifting her burger with both hands and taking a bite.
"Just like old times," Callie agreed, shooting Joe a surreptitious glance before picking up a fry and popping it in her mouth.
"Joe and Vanessa said most of you were heading to college next fall," Franc said. "But, how are you going to spend your summer vacation?"
"Biff, Karen, Helen, and I are going to spend a month touring Europe," Chet volunteered the information.
"I'm going to hang around town with my folks," Callie said. "And Frank is going to attend the summer semester at Bayport University."
"What about you?" Franc asked Phil who had come along without a date.
"I'm going to visit my uncle in Los Angeles," Phil replied. "He runs a software company and he's invited me to explore the facility."
"He wants Phil to work for him after he finishes college," Joe put in, grinning at his friend.
"What about you and Vanessa?" Franc inquired, tilting her head sideways. "That pretty much leaves you two alone."
"Just me, actually," Vanessa answered. "Joe's going to be a counselor at Camp Broadstone for the summer. He's leaving before anyone else."
"Oh?" Franc asked in surprise.
"Yeah, I catch a train for the camp the morning after the last day of school," Joe informed her.
"Which means Joe's going to miss a great party," Callie put in. "It's at the Hardy's the night after graduation."
"You can come with Vanessa," Frank offered Francessca.
"As long as you don't mind hanging out with these old geezers," Joe cracked and received several curled up straw papers hurtling toward him as a reward. "We'd better head out," Joe said, looking down at his watch. "We've got a lot to do before dark."
"What are you doing?" Biff asked, curious as he watched Joe, Franc and Vanessa rise.
"Joe's been putting on a new roof for us," Franc informed the group, smiling gratefully at Joe. "And Vanessa's been helping me paint."
"Since when?" Chet asked in surprise.
"Since Monday," Vanessa answered.
"Want some more help?" Phil offered.
Joe glanced at Frank, a look most everyone noticed, then shook his head. "We've got it covered, thanks," he replied then herded the girls outside.
"All right, I've done my best to stay out of it but now you're pulling everyone into your dispute with Frank," Vanessa declared once they were out of earshot. "What's going on between you two?"
"Did you and your brother have a fight?" Franc asked. "Is that why he and Biff and Chet were going to let Aaron beat you up the other day?"
"What?" exclaimed Vanessa in shock. Franc told her about the confrontation in the hall. Vanessa glared at Joe. "Explain. Now!" she ordered, her eyes shooting sparks. So Joe told the girls about his quarrel with Frank last weekend.
"I'm sorry," Franc apologized. "This is my fault. If you hadn't been so nice..." she began but Joe cut her off.
"Don't even think that," Joe reprimanded her. "I should have seen this coming," he added. "Except for Vanessa, and you, all my friends are Frank's friends. They were Frank's friends first and just accepted me because of him. I guess now that Frank is leaving for college and won't be around any more, the guys don't think I matter anymore."
"I'm sure Frank doesn't think that," Vanessa said quietly, stunned at what Joe believed.
"Oh no? The fight we had wasn't because he was worried about me when he thought I was in trouble. It was because he had to cut his date short and come home because mom was worried about me." Joe shook his head. "He made it clear that he didn't have time for me anymore," he added sadly.
Vanessa pulled Joe to her and forced his head onto her shoulder. She had no idea what to say to him. She knew how close Joe had been to Frank and his rejection must have hurt him very badly. She vowed silently to give Frank a piece of her mind and then she was going to have it out with everyone else!
Franc saw the determination in Vanessa's eyes and smiled. Vanessa met her eyes. She knew Franc cared about Joe too, although Franc had been no more than a friend to him. And right now, it seemed, he needed all the friends he could get.
The three climbed into Vanessa's car and went to Franc's place. "Oh, I forgot. My car is fixed," Franc told the two as they exited the car. "Um, Vanessa, could you take me to pick it up after school Monday?"
"No problem," Vanessa readily agreed. "What was wrong with it?"
"I needed a new battery and a new alternator," she answered, grinning over at Joe. "Just like you guessed."
"Joe's good with cars," Vanessa told her. "He's fixed mine a couple of times."
"Just minor stuff," Joe admitted. He looked up at the roof. "I'm almost finished," he told them. "A few more hours should do it."
"Fabulous!" Franc said. "How about we celebrate tomorrow? We can have a pool party, just the three of us."
"And study for our exam," Joe added. "Two more days and we are free!"
"Three more days and you'll be gone for the whole summer," Vanessa reminded him with a frown. She was starting to miss him already.
"I'll write you twice a week," he promised, giving her a quick kiss onn the lips. "That's once more than I promised to write mom and dad."
After Joe had finished the work on the roof he went inside to find the girls had finished painting the living room. "This place is starting to look really nice," Joe commented.
"I totally agree with you," Vanessa concurred, smiling at Franc.
"You two staying for dinner?" Franc asked. "There are some steaks in the fridge."
"Can't. My mom's plane is due in at ten tonight and I have to straighten up before she gets home," Vanessa excused herself. "But I'll see you tomorrow."
"Great," Franc agreed. "About one?"
"We'll be here," Joe accepted, following Vanessa out to the car. He had left his motorcycle at her house earlier that morning.
"Oh, no," Vanessa said when they had almost reached her house.
"What's wrong?" Joe demanded, shooting her a look with his sharp blue eyes.
"I forgot. I have to run by Maggie's Boutique with mom tomorrow. It opens at one," she informed him, her smile turned upside down.
"That's okay," Joe said. "I'll ride my bike over to Franc's tomorrow and tell her you'll be a little late."
"You don't mind going without me?" she asked.
"It won't be as much fun," he admitted gallantly. "But it won't be for long."
Joe got out of Vanessa's car and walked her to her door. He kissed her good night then got on his motorcycle and rode home.
"Hey, baby," Mrs. Hardy said, seeing Joe come in through the kitchen door. "How's the house going?"
"The roof's done," Joe admitted proudly. "We're going to relax by the pool and study for our English exam tomorrow afternoon."
"That's nice, honey," Mrs. Hardy replied. "Dinner's about ready. Wash up and get your brother."
"Yes, Ma'am," Joe agreed and hurried upstairs. Joe went into the bathroom, washed his hands and then knocked on the connecting door to Frank's room.
"My door is unlocked," Frank called out. He had been waiting all week to say that!
Joe opened the door and poked his head in. "Mom's putting dinner on the table," Joe said then backed up and started to close the door.
Frank leapt up from his desk and grabbed the door, pulling it all the way open. "Inside," ordered Frank. Joe looked rebellious so Frank grabbed his arm and pulled him into the room and over to the bed before releasing him.
Joe waited until Frank let go then made a run for the door but Frank was quicker. He snagged Joe's arm and pushed him down on the bed.
Joe pulled himself up straight and looked Aaron in the eyes as he took a step forward. Franc, who had been obscured from Frank's, Chet's and Biff's view by Joe and Aaron, came into their line of vision as she stepped in front of Joe and glared at Aaron, her hands planted firmly on her hips.
"Touch him again and I go straight to the principal," she vowed. "Which means, you won't be graduating this year."
Aaron shot a venomous look at Franc but she refused to back down so he looked back to Joe. "I'll catch you when your bodyguard ain't around," he sneered before stalking off.
"Are you all right?" Franc asked, turning to Joe and looking him over.
"I'm fine," he assured her. "I could have handled him," he added.
"I know," Franc agreed. "After what Vanessa told me, I think you can handle pretty much anything. But if you fought him, you both would have gotten expelled and I need your help with English and Geography, " she admitted, giving him a sly smile.
Joe laughed and retrieved his and Franc's bookbags. She took hers and went inside her home-room across the hall. Joe shouldered his bag and started down the hall to his room but Frank, Biff and Chet caught up to him and brought him to a stop.
"What was that all about?" Chet demanded, relieved because Joe hadn't had to fight him but curious as to what had started it in the first place.
"Nothing," Joe replied with a shrug, not willing to give them the satisfaction of knowing it had started when Aaron wouldn't take no as an answer to Franc going out with him.
"I'll catch up with you guys later," Frank told Chet and Biff, giving them a not so subtle hint that he wanted to talk with Joe alone. The two boys bid the brothers goodbye and headed off to their own homerooms.
"Did you want something?" Joe asked Frank.
"What was the fight about?" Frank demanded, all thoughts of the prospective hiking trip gone from his mind.
"Nothing I can't handle," Joe assured Frank as the warning bell for homeroom rang. "See ya," Joe added, walking away.
Frank didn't get a chance to talk to Joe again during school. At lunch, Joe, Vanessa and Franc had joined a group of juniors at another table. Frank caught Vanessa's eye once, but she quickly turned away. It was obvious she knew something was wrong between Frank and Joe but she wasn't going to cross Joe by talking to Frank.
When Joe got home later that night, Frank waited until the shower was turned off then logged off the itnernet. He wasn't going to give Joe time to fall asleep this time. He opened the bathroom door and stepped into the bathroom. Grabbing the knob on the door leading into Joe's room, he came up short, his nose barely touching the door as he registered shock at discovering Joe had locked his door.
Anger built up inside Frank and he lifted his hand to bang on the door but decided against it. If Joe didn't want him in his life anymore, then he wasn't going to argue. Frank released the knob and returned to his room.
The rest of the week went by quickly with neither brother bothering the other. They passed in the hall not acknowledging each other. At home, they rarely saw each other. Joe came in late and Frank left early. Mr. and Mrs. Hardy discussed the boys' attitude but decided they were going to leave it up to the boys to work out.
Saturday morning rolled around and Joe got on his motorbike and headed for the Wyndham's while Frank got ready and went to see Callie. It was the last day the carnival was going to be in town and Frank and Callie had agreed to meet their friends at the carnival. When they arrived, they saw Joe, Vanessa, and Franc were already there, having decided to take a few hours off and have some fun.
It was well after lunchtime when the teens agreed it was time for sustenance. They left their cars where they were and walked the block to Al's Grille. Gathering their orders, they went outside and sat at the stone tables in the sunshine.
"This has been so much fun," Karen enthused, lifting her burger with both hands and taking a bite.
"Just like old times," Callie agreed, shooting Joe a surreptitious glance before picking up a fry and popping it in her mouth.
"Joe and Vanessa said most of you were heading to college next fall," Franc said. "But, how are you going to spend your summer vacation?"
"Biff, Karen, Helen, and I are going to spend a month touring Europe," Chet volunteered the information.
"I'm going to hang around town with my folks," Callie said. "And Frank is going to attend the summer semester at Bayport University."
"What about you?" Franc asked Phil who had come along without a date.
"I'm going to visit my uncle in Los Angeles," Phil replied. "He runs a software company and he's invited me to explore the facility."
"He wants Phil to work for him after he finishes college," Joe put in, grinning at his friend.
"What about you and Vanessa?" Franc inquired, tilting her head sideways. "That pretty much leaves you two alone."
"Just me, actually," Vanessa answered. "Joe's going to be a counselor at Camp Broadstone for the summer. He's leaving before anyone else."
"Oh?" Franc asked in surprise.
"Yeah, I catch a train for the camp the morning after the last day of school," Joe informed her.
"Which means Joe's going to miss a great party," Callie put in. "It's at the Hardy's the night after graduation."
"You can come with Vanessa," Frank offered Francessca.
"As long as you don't mind hanging out with these old geezers," Joe cracked and received several curled up straw papers hurtling toward him as a reward. "We'd better head out," Joe said, looking down at his watch. "We've got a lot to do before dark."
"What are you doing?" Biff asked, curious as he watched Joe, Franc and Vanessa rise.
"Joe's been putting on a new roof for us," Franc informed the group, smiling gratefully at Joe. "And Vanessa's been helping me paint."
"Since when?" Chet asked in surprise.
"Since Monday," Vanessa answered.
"Want some more help?" Phil offered.
Joe glanced at Frank, a look most everyone noticed, then shook his head. "We've got it covered, thanks," he replied then herded the girls outside.
"All right, I've done my best to stay out of it but now you're pulling everyone into your dispute with Frank," Vanessa declared once they were out of earshot. "What's going on between you two?"
"Did you and your brother have a fight?" Franc asked. "Is that why he and Biff and Chet were going to let Aaron beat you up the other day?"
"What?" exclaimed Vanessa in shock. Franc told her about the confrontation in the hall. Vanessa glared at Joe. "Explain. Now!" she ordered, her eyes shooting sparks. So Joe told the girls about his quarrel with Frank last weekend.
"I'm sorry," Franc apologized. "This is my fault. If you hadn't been so nice..." she began but Joe cut her off.
"Don't even think that," Joe reprimanded her. "I should have seen this coming," he added. "Except for Vanessa, and you, all my friends are Frank's friends. They were Frank's friends first and just accepted me because of him. I guess now that Frank is leaving for college and won't be around any more, the guys don't think I matter anymore."
"I'm sure Frank doesn't think that," Vanessa said quietly, stunned at what Joe believed.
"Oh no? The fight we had wasn't because he was worried about me when he thought I was in trouble. It was because he had to cut his date short and come home because mom was worried about me." Joe shook his head. "He made it clear that he didn't have time for me anymore," he added sadly.
Vanessa pulled Joe to her and forced his head onto her shoulder. She had no idea what to say to him. She knew how close Joe had been to Frank and his rejection must have hurt him very badly. She vowed silently to give Frank a piece of her mind and then she was going to have it out with everyone else!
Franc saw the determination in Vanessa's eyes and smiled. Vanessa met her eyes. She knew Franc cared about Joe too, although Franc had been no more than a friend to him. And right now, it seemed, he needed all the friends he could get.
The three climbed into Vanessa's car and went to Franc's place. "Oh, I forgot. My car is fixed," Franc told the two as they exited the car. "Um, Vanessa, could you take me to pick it up after school Monday?"
"No problem," Vanessa readily agreed. "What was wrong with it?"
"I needed a new battery and a new alternator," she answered, grinning over at Joe. "Just like you guessed."
"Joe's good with cars," Vanessa told her. "He's fixed mine a couple of times."
"Just minor stuff," Joe admitted. He looked up at the roof. "I'm almost finished," he told them. "A few more hours should do it."
"Fabulous!" Franc said. "How about we celebrate tomorrow? We can have a pool party, just the three of us."
"And study for our exam," Joe added. "Two more days and we are free!"
"Three more days and you'll be gone for the whole summer," Vanessa reminded him with a frown. She was starting to miss him already.
"I'll write you twice a week," he promised, giving her a quick kiss onn the lips. "That's once more than I promised to write mom and dad."
After Joe had finished the work on the roof he went inside to find the girls had finished painting the living room. "This place is starting to look really nice," Joe commented.
"I totally agree with you," Vanessa concurred, smiling at Franc.
"You two staying for dinner?" Franc asked. "There are some steaks in the fridge."
"Can't. My mom's plane is due in at ten tonight and I have to straighten up before she gets home," Vanessa excused herself. "But I'll see you tomorrow."
"Great," Franc agreed. "About one?"
"We'll be here," Joe accepted, following Vanessa out to the car. He had left his motorcycle at her house earlier that morning.
"Oh, no," Vanessa said when they had almost reached her house.
"What's wrong?" Joe demanded, shooting her a look with his sharp blue eyes.
"I forgot. I have to run by Maggie's Boutique with mom tomorrow. It opens at one," she informed him, her smile turned upside down.
"That's okay," Joe said. "I'll ride my bike over to Franc's tomorrow and tell her you'll be a little late."
"You don't mind going without me?" she asked.
"It won't be as much fun," he admitted gallantly. "But it won't be for long."
Joe got out of Vanessa's car and walked her to her door. He kissed her good night then got on his motorcycle and rode home.
"Hey, baby," Mrs. Hardy said, seeing Joe come in through the kitchen door. "How's the house going?"
"The roof's done," Joe admitted proudly. "We're going to relax by the pool and study for our English exam tomorrow afternoon."
"That's nice, honey," Mrs. Hardy replied. "Dinner's about ready. Wash up and get your brother."
"Yes, Ma'am," Joe agreed and hurried upstairs. Joe went into the bathroom, washed his hands and then knocked on the connecting door to Frank's room.
"My door is unlocked," Frank called out. He had been waiting all week to say that!
Joe opened the door and poked his head in. "Mom's putting dinner on the table," Joe said then backed up and started to close the door.
Frank leapt up from his desk and grabbed the door, pulling it all the way open. "Inside," ordered Frank. Joe looked rebellious so Frank grabbed his arm and pulled him into the room and over to the bed before releasing him.
Joe waited until Frank let go then made a run for the door but Frank was quicker. He snagged Joe's arm and pushed him down on the bed.