HDA - Classified Secrets by Cherylann Rivers Introduction

"I don’t know if I can do this any more," Vanessa Bender said to her good friend, Callie Shaw. They were sitting on the floor of Vanessa’s bedroom, looking through the latest magazine in search of the perfect prom dress.

"Well, you still have a week to decide. I mean, I’m sure you can find something. Look at all the choices!"

"That’s not what I mean, Callie."

Callie smiled gently at her friend, and reached out to squeeze her hand. "I know." Callie felt terribly for Vanessa. In the six months or so they had known one another, she and Vanessa had been through a lot together.

Callie had thought that this prom was going to be yet another event that they could go through as friends. She and Frank were saying goodbye to high school, attending their second and final prom together, and celebrating almost four years together. Since Junior and Senior proms were always combined at Bayport, Callie had been looking forward to this for quite some time. And, until their most recent case with Frank and Joe, everything had been going perfectly. However, now that Iola was back, Vanessa was considerably less than enthusiastic about even going to the prom. Callie tried to hold back her resentment towards Joe for putting Vanessa in this terrible predicament. Deep down, though, she knew it wasn’t Joe’s fault, and that he was hurting, too. With a sigh, Callie turned to Vanessa. "Talk to me."

"What can I say?"

"Well, you could say a lot. Are you and Joe together now? Do you talk? I mean, have you dealt with your… issues?"

Vanessa felt herself grow angry. "Ask Iola, Callie. I’m sure she’ll be able to enlighten you."

The hurt reflected in Callie’s eyes. "I’m only trying to help. I can’t help it if I speak with Iola. She was my friend, too."

Vanessa knew this, but she needed someone to lash out at. It didn’t seem like she could talk to anyone, other than her mother, and she wasn’t personally involved. "Well, Callie, why don’t you choose, huh? I mean, everyone seems to want to do that lately. Black or white. One or the other. Pick one, lose one. Let’s face it. You were friends with Iola a lot longer than me. You risked your life to try and save her. I, on the other hand, am the new girl. Joe’s pick of the last few months. It’s not like you and Frank. He loves you. You don’t have to worry about Frank saying, "Honey, will it be you or Jill? Maybe Denise? Nancy?" Vanessa couldn’t control herself.

Callie stood up, shocked. She soon found her voice, though, and met Vanessa’s eye. "You know what, Van? Frank is not the issue here. Neither, really, is Joe, or Iola, for that matter. I’m not even going to make this about me, either, as easy as you would make that. This is about you, and the choices you have to make."

Vanessa was quiet. Callie was right, as much as she hated to admit it. Letting out a deep breath, Vanessa looked at her friend. Callie didn’t deserve this. "I’m sorry, Callie. Really. What should I do?" She fought back tears. Normally, Vanessa was not overly emotional, but this was beginning to take its toll on her.

Much to her relief, Callie smiled. "Okay. Now we’re talking! Have you tried to talk to Joe?"

"No. It’s been awkward."

"I’d say. However, you probably should."

Vanessa had to ask the question she was dreading. "Callie. I want you to be completely honest with me here. You’ve known Iola a long time. You’ve also known Joe. Who…" Vanessa’s voice faltered. "Who do you think he would pick?"

Callie bit her lower lip. "Oh, Vanessa. That’s not for me to say. Joe, numbskull that he is sometimes, does love you. I know that. Anyone who saw the two of you together knew that. Yet Iola—she was his first true love. But I have a more important question for you."

"What’s that?"

"Do you want to wait around to see if he makes a decision? Do you really want to give Joe—or anyone, really- that much control? What does that say about you?"

Vanessa winced. Those were harsh words. They hurt, though, because underneath all logic and reason, there was a ring of truth to them. Resolving herself to be strong, she decided maybe she would follow Callie’s advice. "Okay, then, Callie. Help me to meet the man of my dreams, if Joe Hardy isn’t it. Any ideas?" Vanessa hated to say those words, but she decided that anything had to be better than sitting around and waiting for Joe.

Callie hesitated. At last, she spoke. "Let’s go downstairs."

Puzzled, Vanessa got up and followed Callie. When they were in the living room, Callie questioned, "Have you got a paper? There’s a really wacky idea I have, but…. You never know!"

Vanessa looked at Callie in amazement. "Yeah, sure. Hold on a sec."

A few minutes later, Vanessa returned with a copy of the Bayport Times. "Okay, I give up. Tell me why you’re being so secretive."

Callie blushed. "I know this sounds crazy, but have you ever thought of answering an ad for a personal?"

Vanessa laughed in astonishment. "Um, NO. That is crazy! Only desperate people meet that way. Give me a break!" Vanessa kept giggling.

Callie, however, remained serious. "Listen. That’s not true. I’m going to let you in on a little scoop, okay?"

"Shoot." This had to be good.

"Vanessa, seriously. You know my friend, Liz Webling, right?"

Vanessa nodded. "Sure. Her dad owns the Times. She works there. Go ahead."

"Okay, well, check this out." Callie was becoming animated, and now Vanessa was hooked, if only to see the source of Callie’s enthusiasm. "She told me that here’s this guy who’s supposedly running ads in every paper in the country. EVERY one. Do you know how many papers that is?"

"He sounds rich!"

"All the better!" Callie laughed. "Anyway, no info is given on him, but he looks like a real catch. Every few days, he places a new ad, but you know it’s his. I’ll show you in a minute how. Anyway, the assumption is that he keeps meeting new women, but he’s still in search of his ultimate princess. When he finds her, they’ll live happily ever after. Doesn’t that sound romantic? It’s been going on for about four or five months now. So—well, I thought you might like to apply."

Vanessa started laughing harder than she could remember. "Callie! You are out of your mind!"

Callie fought back annoyance. "Won’t you at least look?"

Wiping tears from her eyes, Vanessa managed, "Sure! Bring on mystery man."

Flipping to the Classifieds section, Callie found the Personals. Vanessa was surprised to see that Callie had this ad circled in red. She couldn’t help herself from saying, "Hmmmm… should I tell Frank he has cause to be concerned?"

"Just read it," Callie said, blushing again.

Vanessa looked at the ad.

"SWM seeking SF.

Prince Charming still seeking his Princess.

Today, you must have the following qualities:

507 ways of smiling

9 times of 12 you’ll say you love me

love Lucky Charms

believe in secret chambers of the heart.

Are you my Cinderella?"

"Doesn’t he sound romantic?" Callie asked again. "Every week, he has new ‘qualities’ he’s looking for. However, he always ends it with that cryptic ‘believe in chambers of the heart.’ What do you think?"

"I think he sounds weird."

"Oh, Vanessa!"

"Come on, Callie! If you’re so enthralled by him, why don’t you write to him?"

"No—you should. Listen, Vanessa." Callie actually sounded normal again. "I don’t expect you to get chosen. Liz told me she got the inside scoop, and this guy chooses people from all over the country. At least you’ll feel like you’re taking control—well, sort of—of your own destiny. The most important thing is that while you make up your mind about Joe, you’ll be distracted for a little while."

Vanessa was dubious, but it did sound like fun, in an odd sort of way.

"Oh, all right. Don’t tell Joe, okay? Or anyone else!"

Callie laughed. "Come on! When do I tell Joe anything? But… you have to let me tell Frank. I think he’ll think it’s good for you, just to get your mind off things."

"I don’t know."

"Hey, you may very well wind up with Joe, not that I quite understand why you’d want to…"

Vanessa shot Callie a look.

"BUT, in the meantime, let’s have some harmless fun. Frank won’t say anything."

With a sigh, Vanessa acquiesced. Shaking her head, a smile crept to her lips. "Callie, what will you do if I DO get chosen?"

Callie laughed, too. "Then you better invite me to the ball!"

With that, the girls began writing the letter.

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation, The authors have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow them without express permission of the authors.