Neither boy said anything and Joe hurriedly made two pieces of toast and poured himself a glass of orange juice before sitting down.

"Will’s not feeling well this morning", he remarked flippantly, "He’s going to stay home today."

Frank gave a little snort as he stood up and started to leave the table. Putting one hand up against the swinging door that leads from the kitchen to the living room, he commented, "Tired out from his late night work out is he?"

Joe gave a sarcastic little laugh, "What can I say we weren’t really in the mood for sleeping."

Frank’s jaw actually clenched so tightly that his teeth hurt as he said nothing but just left the room.

Finishing his juice, the younger boy heard the car leave the driveway and remarked dryly, "I guess I’ll be driving with Biff again today." And then he grabbed his hooded sweatshirt, put it on, and headed over to Biff’s house. It was a nice morning and he could use the exercise.

* * *

Still in shock, Frank couldn’t believe Joe was being so casual about all this. He heard them last night…it was horrible. His skin crawled just thinking about it.

But he had heard them.

Bile rose in the back of his throat as he remembered.

* * *

Biff was a bit surprised to see the blond figure coming up the driveway to his house. At first glance he had thought it was William but then the teen stopped at his car and hollered towards the house, "Yo Biff, Will’s sick today, can I get a lift with you again?"

It was Joe.

"Sure, I’ll be right there", he called back through the screen door wondering why he wasn’t driving with Frank. They couldn’t’ still be fighting could they?

Yelling good-bye to his parents, Biff grabbed his stuff and headed out the front door.

"Stay", he said to Sherlock and pushed him back as the large animal tried to push his way past him and out the door, "I gotta go to school!" With a bit of effort, he managed to push the pooch inside and close the door.

Behind him, Sherlock placed his large paws against the door and barked.

"Stupid mutt", the big blond boy muttered as he walked to the car.

Joe laughed at him, "Feeling a bit rambunctious this morning is he?"

Biff snorted as he unlocked the doors and slipped in behind the steering wheel, "Find me a morning when he isn’t." and then grinning he shot his friend a look, "are you still on for watching him for me? Dad said your folks are going to be gone this weekend as well."

"No problem, " said the blond Hardy, "I’m looking forward to it actually…it’ll be fun."

"Thanks", Biff said turning his attention back to the road, "I know Sher loves it when you look after him. And no matter how much he begs or wants it…no special privileges okay? I don’t want to come back and find him spoiled!"

Joe actually laughed, "Oh you won’t need to worry about that…at all!"

As they drove, Biff kept shooting little glances at his friend, happy to see him in better spirits this morning then he had been in for a while now.

"So how’s everything going?" he asked and Joe gave him a quizzical look as he answered slowly, "Fine. Why’d you ask?"

"Well", Biff said carefully, "I know that you were pretty worried about William moving in and you’ve been acting a bit off lately…so I thought…well…"

Joe laughed, "Nah I’m fine. It did take a bit of getting used to, but it’s working out great. I forgot how much fun it is to have William around."

"You’re sure?" Biff asked, "I mean you know you don’t have to hide anything from me."

"I’m sure Biff, "Joe reassured.

"So what about Frank?" Biff pressed, "Did you guys have a fight or something?"

"Or something", Joe said before looking out the window.

"Oh", said Biff, "you don’t want to talk about it."

"No its not that…really", Joe turned around and looked at Biff, "its just well I think he’s jealous about me and Will. You know being twins and all. And he’s just being a bit mean about it right now."

"Really?" Biff was surprised, "That doesn’t sound like Frank."

"I know", Joe admitted sighing loudly, "but he is."

Biff could see how upset his best friend was about this and hoped that Frank came to his senses and soon. It wasn’t really his place to interfere between brothers…

"Oh well. Keep your chin up, you know Frank. He can’t stay mad at you for very long", Biff admitted and then changing the subject he continued, "but I will admit, and don’t tell William, but it will be nice to just have you around for the day. You know…like it used to be." Biff finished conspiratorially and Joe just nodded and smiled back.

He knew exactly what Biff meant.

* * *

Once again Frank spent the day avoiding his brother and didn’t even speak to him during lunch. Biff watched with growing alarm as he could plainly see how Joe was trying to put on a brave face but it was clearly bothering him.

So the lunch ended up being a tense quieter affair then usual as their other friends also noticed the strain between the brothers. Joe kept watching Frank but Frank never even gave him so much as a look.

Finally unable to take the stress anymore, Iola grabbed Joe’s arm and pulled him to his feet, "Come on let’s get some air."

Frank actually seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when Joe left and the frown on Biff’s face deepened. This was definitely not the Frank he knew.

Once Joe and Iola left the conversation picked up again around the table and quickly Frank was so engrossed with talking to Phil about the science project grades that everyone soon forgot the strife between the brothers.

Everyone except Biff, that was, who just continued to watch Frank with a vexed look growing on his face. He decided he needed to talk to the older Hardy when he got chance, whatever was going on needed to be fixed.

Unfortunately he did not get a chance that day.

* * *

"Thanks", Joe said to Iola as they walked arm and arm out of the cafeteria and towards the front door not stopping until they got to a private little spot around the back of the school.

Iola leaned back against the wall and stood on one foot with her other bent up behind her, pressed against the wall for support.

"Oh you’re welcome", said the pretty pixie faced girl. She tossed her raven black hair and did her best southern drawl, " twern’t nothing sir."

Joe laughed as he turned vibrant blue eyes to the younger girl and smiled making Iola’s heart beat madly in her chest. Joe was really noticing her…really. She could tell.

Since she had first met the blond haired boy, she had a crush on him. As she grew so did her infatuation with her brother’s best friend’s little brother. And any chance she got to spend alone with him made her excited and nervous.

"I wouldn’t say that", he said turning to the girl and reaching out to gently touch her cheek. She shivered at the contact and he smiled a bit wider, "hey what’s wrong…I don’t bite."

"I...un…", Iola laughed nervously as he placed one hand next to her head on the wall and leaned in towards her face. Closing her eyes, she gulped in anticipation wondering if this was finally it…their first kiss.

And then when she felt his lips on hers, an excited little shudder ran through her body as she responded to him and raised her arms up and around his neck drawing him in closer to her.

After a few moments, Joe pulled away and let out a small breath, "Wow, "he said his voice husky and low.

Iola blushed as she stared deep into his blue eyes and saw the little flicks of sapphire that burned deep within them, "Wow…yourself", was all she trust herself to say.

The sound of the bell ringing broke the spell with a quick peck on the check, Joe moved away from her and started back to the front of the school but not before calling out, "I’ll call you…later!"

Iola Morton stayed there for a few more moments lost in her own world. Then pushing away from the wall, she felt like skipping, but forced herself to walk. Her head was high on emotion…

* * *

At the end of the day, Joe headed towards the parking lot. He saw Biff coming out of the school and slowed down so that he could get closer. Then when he figured Biff was in earshot, he made a beeline towards where Frank was unlocking the door of their mother’s car.

"Frank", Joe called out, "wait for me!"

The brown haired boy stiffened as he heard his brother’s voice but didn’t turn around. He just opened the door as Joe continued talking, "Whew what a day. Mr. Paul gave us a new…" his words broke off as he tried to open the passenger door but he couldn’t. The door was locked.

Frank started the car engine but didn’t unlock the car door.

"Let go of the handle", his voice was like ice and Biff actually bristled at the tone. He had never heard anything like this from Frank before.

"Frank…please", Joe’s voice was contrite as he tried to persuade the older teen, "I’m sorry…whatever it is…I’m sorry!"

Biff started towards his friends but at that moment Frank started to back the car up slowly and Joe let go.

Watching in mute shock, Biff couldn’t believe what he had just seen. And beneath his shock was an anger that the older boy was being so unreasonable about whatever had happened between them. Joe had apologized…

In all the years Biff had known the brothers had never seen Frank act like this…not even to people he didn’t care two bones about. Much less his brother.

It just didn’t make sense.

Swinging a brawny arm around his friends’ shoulders, Biff shrugged, ‘Come on shortie, I’ll give you a lift". In the back of his mind, he was really wishing he wasn’t going away in a couple of hours. He had a strong feeling Joe was going to be needing a friend this weekend.

And Biff had no way of knowing just how right he was.

* * *

Hot tears burned Frank’s cheek as he pulled away. This was so hard. As much as he wanted to just unlock the door, let his brother in, forgive him and move on….he couldn’t.

Burned in his mind was what he saw and more recently what he heard.

The bile in his throat helped strengthen his resolve and hastily he brushed the tears away.

When did everything go so wrong? He asked himself over and over again, all the way home.

* * *

A sly feral grin graced Joe’s handsome face as he let Biff consol him. Slipping into the front seat next to the bigger boy, he smiled smugly, this had been easier then he had even thought it was going to be.

* * *

In the closet of his room, Joe Hardy waited…body sore from the position it had been forced to hold…shoulders ached from being stretched behind him…hands…feet numb from being tied so tightly…lips chafed and dry from the gag…for so many long hours….too many…since the previous night.

But the worst was what his mind was doing to him.

He knew what William did last night…he knew and was abhorred.

And in that one moment…locked on one side as Frank was made to listen on the other side, Joe realized he was truly alone.