When Frank and Joe arrived home, Joe grabbed more ice and trudged up to his room. He had to get this homework done. He knew during the fall, with all of the sports, if he fell behind on his homework it was all over. He also didn't want his mom fussing over him. He looked in the mirror at his shoulder. The bruising was worse than when he was in the nurse's office and it was still swollen and getting stiff.

"Oh great, this is just what I need," Joe said to his reflection. The phone rang downstairs and a few minutes later it rang again.

A second later, Frank poked his head in Joe's door to tell him that Vanessa was on the phone. As soon as his eyes landed on Joe's shoulder though he let out a low whistle. "Man you got nailed didn't you? Your shoulder looks terrible. It looks pretty swollen."

"Did you just come in here to harass me about my shoulder," Joe said then gasped sharply when he tried to get his arm back in his sleeve.

Frank watched for a second as Joe struggled to get his shirt on without moving his arm much. "Here let me help," he said as he reached out and gingerly pulled his shirt on.

"Oh, I almost forgot, Vanessa is on the phone for you," Frank said as he turned and left Joe's room.

Joe answered the phone, "Hey Ness. What's up?"

"How was practice?"

"It was fine. I think the team is finally coming together. We should be ready for the Southport game."

"Great! I wouldn't miss seeing you play in that game for anything! I was wondering, if you have time tomorrow after school could you come to the auditorium and help me hang up some of the backdrops I've created for the play? I really want to see them from a distance, but I can't put them up myself."

"Anything for you Ness. It will have to be after practice though," Joe added his voice somewhat strained from pain.

"Joe, are you upset about not getting a part in the play? If so, I understand if you don't want to come and help with the setup," Vanessa said. She had been trying to figure out if he had really been bothered by not making it.

Just then Joe heard his mom calling up from the kitchen, "Joseph, come down here please. I want to see this shoulder of yours."

"Thanks a lot Frank," Joe thought.

To Vanessa he said, "Look Vanessa, I can't talk about this now. I have to go. See you tomorrow," he hung up quickly before his mom got really upset.

"I'm fine Mom," Joe said as he walked into the kitchen and he ran his hand through his blond hair making a jumbled mess.

"I'll be the judge of that. And next time you're hurt at practice will you just tell me? I would prefer not to be the last to know," Laura said.

As Joe started to shoot Frank a nasty look across the kitchen table, Laura added, "Mrs. White called to see how you were doing and I had no idea what she was talking about."

Joe looked back at Frank and mouthed "Sorry."

"Oh Joe, this is the same shoulder you hurt before and the bruising looks terrible. I'm calling the doctor and see if he can get you in tonight," Laura said.

"If I have to," Joe said resignedly.

Later that evening, Frank was driving Joe home from the doctors. Laura had had a meeting to attend that she couldn't miss. She made Frank promise that he would listen to what the doctor had to say and tell her to make sure she got the real version, not the sugar-coated one Joe had been giving recently.

Frank knew Joe was steamed. The doctor told him he would have to miss practice for the rest of the week. "That's four days Frank! Today is only Monday! Coach Brown is going to be furious," Joe said when he got in the car.

"He'll understand Joe. You have a shoulder separation. If you don't rest it now, it will never get better. The Southport game isn't this weekend anyway. Just let your shoulder heal so you can catch those passes I throw your way," Frank said.

The next morning Frank insisted on carrying Joe's bag to his locker. Vanessa was at her locker at the far end of the row and heard Frank say, "I'm not babying you Joe. Your shoulder is hurt and you shouldn't be lugging these books around. Just relax and let me help."

"I'm sorry I've been so difficult Frank," Joe said. "I had in my mind what this fall would be like at school and it's just not working out that way at all."

"Well if you want to talk about it, just let me know. I'll even buy the pizza," Frank said with a smile as he walked away.

Just then Vanessa came up to Joe and looked him up and down. "Did Frank say you were hurt?"

"I got hit at football practice and hurt my shoulder. I'm out for at least this week," Joe said a little bitterly.

"Joseph Hardy, why didn't you tell me last night? Are you okay? What's wrong?" she asked with hardly a breath.

"Don't worry, Ness. I have a separated shoulder. It sounds worse than it is," he assured her. "I just have to ice it and go easy on it and it will heal fine. I guess this means that I can come right after school to help you with hanging up the scenery."

"Joe, you don't have to come and help me. I'm sure some of the guys in the play can do it," she said thinking about his arm.

"Ness, I said I would come and help, and I will." He turned his attention back to his the backpack he was packing. He mumbled to himself, "Where is my little notebook? It's been missing now for over a week and I really need to find it."

He had been using the notebook to write down his random thoughts as well as all of the plans for the surprise party he was planning for Vanessa and his ideas for birthday and Christmas presents for Frank. Joe really wanted to find it even though it didn't contain anything too personal.

"Okay Joe, then I'll wait for you in the auditorium after school," Vanessa said as she grabbed his backpack. "Let's go before we're late."

The day passed slowly as days in school often do. Finally the end of the school day came, and Joe headed towards his locker to pack up. Frank stopped by on his way to practice and said, "Joe, you're staying, right? I don't think you should be driving."

Joe sighed, "I know Frank. I'm staying. I'll be in the auditorium helping Vanessa with the scenery for the play. Come and get me when you guys are all done."

Joe headed off to the auditorium to meet up with Vanessa. "Hey Ness, what do we need to get done first."

"Well, they are using the stage right now for rehearsal, so we need to stay off of it until they take a break. We do need to push some of the costume boxes out of the dressing room in the back. And get the ladders in place so we can hang up the scenery when they are done."

Joe helped Vanessa push boxes, thankfully light, around for the better part of an hour and they got the two twelve foot ladders in place for later. She had just left to get them both a soda from the machine in the lobby, when Joe decided to watch the rehearsal from the wings.

He was disappointed that he didn't get a part in the play, but realistically, he knew that he wouldn't have wanted to miss football this season and the coach would not let him out of all of the practices so he could attend rehearsals. "Sometimes," he thought, "things work out for the best anyway."

As he walked towards the wings, his foot pushed under the heavy folds of curtain and struck something small. He bent down to pick it up and realized in the semidarkness that it was a familiar little notebook. He smiled triumphantly and thought, "What luck! I thought I had lost this thing for good. I must have dropped it during the auditions." He quickly put it in his pocket and continued to watch the play.