Chapter Twelve

Three years ago

Fourteen-year-old Joe Hardy burst into his older brother's room, a baseball cap donned backwards on his head. "C'mon, Frank! We're gonna be late!"

Frank paused in his search through his closet and frowned in confusion. "Late? Joe, what're you talking about? My date with Callie's not for another hour."

Joe's face fell. "Date? We were s'posed to go to the game today, remember? You promised!"

Frank felt his heart twist in his chest at the look of disappointment on Joe's face. "Oh, Joe, I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you. Tomorrow; we'll spend the whole day together."

Joe pulled off his cap. "That's what today was for. 'Cause you forgot about our plans last week. Ever since you started goin' out with Callie, you've forgotten all about me."

"Joe . . ." Frank choked out.

Joe sighed. "Forget it, Frank. Have a good time. I'll see you later." He slunk out of his brother's room dejectedly.


"Frank? Frank!"

Frank jumped, startled, then looked up into Callie's brown eyes. "Oh . . . sorry, Callie. I was just thinking. What were you saying?"

Callie smiled across the table. They were at Mr. Pizza, eating an early dinner before heading out to catch a movie. "I was saying how much I'm looking forward to going to see this movie. Iola tells me it's really good."

"Yeah," Frank agreed distractedly.

Callie's brow furrowed. "Did you know that Iola stars in it as the alien ambassador from Pluto? And that Chet plays a ballerina?"

"Uh-huh," Frank mumbled.

Callie crossed her arms. "Frank Hardy, you haven't heard one word I said! What is with you?"

Frank sighed. "Sorry, Callie. I can't get Joe out of my head. When I asked you out tonight, I completely forgot I had already made plans with him."

"Joe's your brother," Callie pointed out. "He understands."

"I don't think so," Frank replied, playing with his straw. "He was pretty upset."

"He'll get over it," Callie insisted. "Cheer up, Frank. The carnival's in town this Saturday. We'll have a good time."

"I can't go," Frank told her. "I promised Joe we'd do something together this weekend to make up for canceling on him."

"You promised me!" Callie pouted.

"I'm sorry, but Joe's my brother," Frank protested. "I have to spend time with him, too."

"Fine." Callie gathered her sweater and purse and stood. "Since I don't have your attention tonight anyway, I'm going home. Don't bother calling unless you can find some way to have fun that doesn't involve moping about Joe."

"Callie-," Frank began, but it was too late. Callie turned and left in a huff.

"Girl problems, Frank?"

Frank eyed Tony warily as the boy slid into the booth across from him. "It's nothing."

"Didn't look like nothing," Tony commented. "Come on, give. What happened?"

"Really, Tony," Frank insisted. "I'm just having a little trouble juggling Callie and Joe."

"Oh?" Tony asked.

"Yeah," Frank replied. "I've only been going out with Callie for a month, but I really like her. Only, she expects me to take her out every free night I've got. But because of that, I've been leaving Joe in the dust. The look on his face earlier . . . I feel terrible."

"Tough luck," Tony sympathized. "But, you know, Joe's always been a big part of your life. He's not going to let you go without a fight. Maybe you should talk to him. Make him understand your side of it."

"You're right," Frank conceded. "Thanks, Tony. I will."


Frank found Joe in their backyard, sitting high in one of the trees and staring up at the slowly darkening sky. The older boy came to a halt below him.

"Hey!" he called.

Joe glanced down, then returned his gaze to the sky. "What're you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with Callie?"

Frank scuffed his feet. "Joe, I feel really bad about today. And last weekend, and all those other times."

"Well, don't," Joe shot back. "I'm a big boy, Frank. I don't need you around to have fun."

Frank tried to quell the rising anger, but was only partially successful. "Look, what do you want from me? You and Callie both are trying to pull me in two different directions! When will you two learn that I care about both of you?"

He turned and stomped back to the house. Joe watched him go, confused, then swung down to the ground.

Something must have happened on his date with Callie, Joe realized. He knew his levelheaded brother rarely lost his temper, especially with him. Hurrying to the garage, Joe grabbed his bicycle and pedaled quickly from his house.

The ride to Callie's house took him twenty minutes. Joe parked his bike on the driveway, ran up to the front door, and rang the bell.

Callie answered. "Joe? What do you want? It's getting late."

"Sorry, but I have to ask what happened with Frank," Joe told her.

Callie stepped onto the front porch and pulled the door shut. Folding her arms, she scowled. "It's what didn't happen. Frank was so wrapped up with you that he couldn't concentrate on me."

Joe was taken aback. "Me? Why?"

"Something about blowing you off lately," Callie replied. "And he felt so bad that he's blowing me off this coming weekend. You know, Joe, I really like Frank. But I can't go out with someone who isn't completely with me, physically and mentally."

Joe was stunned by this news. "So . . . when he's with you, he's still mentally with me?"

Callie nodded.

Joe ran a hand through his thick blond hair. "Look, Callie, Frank's my brother, and I love him. He's always been there with me and for me. This is the first time he's ever ditched me for someone else, and I guess I wasn't expecting it. And it's not fair for Frank to have to choose between us."

"So what do you suggest?" Callie asked.

Joe shrugged. "Frank's having trouble keeping plans straight, so why don't we help him out?"

"How?" Callie wanted to know, interested.


Next Saturday

Bright, colorful lights twinkled down on the small group of teenagers as they made their was across the carnival. Biff and Tony were arguing over where to go next. Phil was busy counting his tickets while Iola and Chet shared a funnel cake. Frank walked between Callie and Joe, trying to get information out of them.

"Come on, what made you change your minds?" Frank demanded yet again.

Joe rolled his eyes. "What does it matter?"

"Really," Callie agreed. She slipped a hand into Frank's and winked secretly at Joe. "Who wants to go on the Spider?"

Frank slung an arm around Joe's shoulders. "Let's do it!"