There was a stunned silence in the Hardy household. Fenton had gone to get an icepack for Joe. Mrs. Hardy had gone to her room, sobbing over the fact that her sons had fought in such a vicious manner. Aunt Gertrude simply didn't want to talk about it. Rumors flew through the neighborhood that Joe had been flirting with Taylor and that was what had caused the fight. At school, no one knew what to think. Frank was avoiding Joe as if he had the plague, and Joe was sporting a black eye. Taylor was sending looks so deadly to her brother-in-law that teachers were shocked that Joe didn't fall over dead. Chet and Biff refused to take sides in the matter. Iola steered clear of the subject, and simply said that the sooner school ended, the less like a battle zone Bayport would feel like.
At the graduation, Fenton attempted to get his sons talking to each other. Frank ignored Joe as he informed his parents that he was considering re-opening the business that Taylor's uncle had owned. Mrs. Hardy gave a weak smile and said, "That would give a lot of people a new start." Taylor linked arms with Frank and smiled slightly as her in-laws greeted her. Joe kept an eye on Taylor as she gave him pointed looks and said nothing at all. Next to her, Killer stood still, wearing a large blue bow. The dog now and then attempted to pull the bow off. Mrs. Hardy glanced at the dog and then at Frank. Seeing the look, Frank quickly explained, "He's here more or less to protect Taylor. We've had a few…phone calls."
"What kind of phone calls?" Fenton asked, hoping that Joe would join in the conversation.
"The kind that no one says anything and then hangs up. I traced three of them." His gaze was ice when he finally turned toward Joe. "Surprise, surprise on where they came from."
"Wait a second." Joe gaped for a moment as a crowd started to gather. "Are you saying that I'm stalking Taylor?"
"Why not?" Taylor spoke up. "You might want to finish what you started, and that terrible man couldn't do. With me out of the way, there won't be another Westbrooke on the planet."
"You're crazy!" Joe now glared at her. "How do we know you're not making the whole thing up?"
"And why would I do that?"
"Revenge for what happened to your father?"
"That's right." Taylor's voice dripped poison. "I came all the way from England to darken your good name, and turn your brother against you for someone that you killed, a man that I only knew through letters and a phone call once and a while. I did all of that and had my uncle killed just for you. Your ego is something that I find to be over-inflated, and in honesty, you have no idea how STUPID that sounded." With that said, Taylor stalked away. Frank glared at Joe and snarled, "If you EVER come near her again, I will make sure you wish that you hadn't." He then turned and walked away.