Joe stared out the car window his emotions hopelessly tangled.  When he thought about the way Iola had thrown her arms around his neck, called him her hero and kissed him, Joe’s heart melted. 

‘Man, if I knew girls were this much fun I would’ve started liking them a long time ago!’

Thinking of what could have happened to her, had he not forgotten his algebra book, Joe felt a chill, which was quickly replaced with rage.

‘They’ve got no right!’ he thought angrily.

The harassment and abuse he and the other boys had endured in the name of building team spirit was bullying.  Being held down so Steven could punch him with no fear of retaliation was assault – plain and simple.  Demanding that students procure copies of test answers for him was nothing but theft.  And ‘breaking in’ freshman girls was…

‘Date rape?’ Joe shuddered. ‘No way Steven.  You are not getting away with this anymore!’  Joe’s anger had reached the boiling point. ‘The punching, hitting and pinching I could’ve lived with. Expecting me to ask Frank to steal for you crossed the line. But then you put your hands on Iola!’  Joe felt his stomach turn at what he’d seen less than an hour earlier. ‘That was the last straw.  You’re gonna pay, Miller.  I don’t care if I never play football again.'

By the time Phil pulled into the Hardys’ driveway, Joe’s anger had been replaced with fierce determination – and a plan.  The hazing, abuse and assault that had run rampant at Bayport High over the years was going to end tonight!

“Thanks for the ride, Phil,” Joe said as he gathered up his things and opened the door.

“No problem,” Phil replied.  Eyeing the new bruises on Joe’s face he asked, “Are you sure you’re okay?  I mean usually I can’t get a word in edgewise with you, but you didn’t say one word all the way home.”

Joe flashed him a smile. “Never been better, Phil!  Thanks again!”

Slamming the car door, Joe ran across the lawn and up the porch steps, throwing the door open. “Hey, Frank! Where are you?” he yelled, having realized he’d need Frank’s help in order for his plan to work.

“We’re in here,” Frank’s voice echoed from the kitchen.

‘We?’ Joe thought, puzzled. Their parents had mentioned going to a dinner party that evening so Joe wondered who was with Frank.  Barreling into the kitchen, Joe came to a sudden stop, dropping his backpack on the floor.

“What is SHE doing here?” he demanded, glaring at Callie Shaw.

“Helping you!” Callie snapped back, immediately on the defensive.

“Joe, what happened to you?!” Frank cried out, now seeing the bruises on Joe’s face.  Scrambling to his brother’s side, Frank peered at the new injuries Joe had acquired.

“Last time I saw you, you were throwing yourself all over Steven Miller!” Joe spat out, ignoring Frank. “And I never asked you to help me with anything!”

“Frank did!  He’s obviously concerned about you!” Callie retorted hotly.  “Not that you’d notice since you’re so wrapped up in yourself!”

“Enough!” Frank yelled, resulting in sudden, deafening silence.  Exhaling loudly he turned to Joe first. “Callie was just pretending to be attracted to Steven so she could get information out of him.”

“You know, play the dumb, adoring female,” Callie added helpfully.

“If the shoe fits,” Joe said under his breath.  Looking away, he crossed his arms over his chest.

“Joe!” Frank snapped crossly, before looking at Callie apologetically. “Since Joe didn’t know what you were really doing, it’s easy to see how he could misunderstand when he saw you and Steven.”  His eyes flicked hopefully between Joe and Callie.  “See? Logical explanations for everything. So… how about a truce?”

Callie and Joe stared at each other with animosity, each silently staking a claim to Frank that didn’t include the other one.  Pulling out a chair across from Callie, Joe flopped down in it, his angry gaze fixed on the pretty sixteen-year-old.

Callie eyed the younger Hardy and wrinkled her nose slightly.  He was brash, outspoken and obviously thought nothing of engaging his mouth before his brain! So far she was not impressed with him. However, she’d heard the Hardy brothers were extremely close.  If she wanted more than a couple of dates with Frank Hardy – and she most certainly did – Callie realized she’d have to tolerate his younger brother.

On the opposite side of the table, Joe openly glared at Callie.  How dare she throw herself on Miller and then show up on their doorstep and turn her charms on Frank!  Feeling Frank’s eyes on him, Joe glanced at his brother, saw the pleading look in his eyes and sighed.  Frank really liked her!  If this infatuation turned into something long term, he knew he’d at least have to figure out how to put up with her.  He narrowed his eyes and frowned, looking at Callie.

‘If I ever find out you were two timing my brother…’

“Well?” Frank asked, strategically having positioned himself between Callie and Joe.

“I’m all for a truce,” Callie said brightly and then turned her dazzling smile on Joe. “Why don’t we start over?”

“Yeah, whatever,” Joe mumbled, still not sure this girl could be trusted.

Joe thought he heard an audible sigh of relief from his brother, who was now rustling around in the freezer.  He emerged with a frozen bag of peas and thrust them at Joe.

“Ice pack,” he said simply. 

“Guess it’s better than eating them,” Joe groused, gingerly placing the frozen food against his cheek and chin.

“Now what happened to you?” Frank asked again, concerned at Joe’s battered appearance.

Joe eyed Callie questioningly and looked back at his brother, remaining silent.

“She knows what’s going on Joe. She wants to help,” Frank prodded him. “I trust her.”

‘That’s low,’ Joe thought.  Frank looked at him beseechingly. “Why couldn’t you just stick to tutoring her in geometry,” he muttered under his breath, knowing Frank wanted another excuse to work closely with Callie Shaw.

“After she left,” Joe nodded at Callie, “Steven and his buddies went looking for a new conquest… one they could use to send Chet and me a message.”

Callie frowned, puzzled, while Frank gasped. “Iola Morton?!”

Joe nodded disgustedly.

“Did they… was she… is she all right?” Callie asked worriedly.

“Why do you think I look like this?!” Joe exclaimed wincing as he did so.  “Yeah, she’s okay.”

Joe went on to explain how he had forgotten his algebra book and was on the way back to his locker when he heard Steven and his buddies taunting someone.  After describing his own failed attempt at a rescue, subsequent beating and the opportune appearance of Biker and his friends, Joe found himself staring at an open-mouthed Frank and Callie.  Finally Frank turned to Callie.

“I think this is a little more than you bargained for.  Maybe you should…”

“Not a chance!” Callie shook her head vigorously.  “No way!  I don’t know Iola very well, but she seems like a really nice person and they can’t be allowed to get away with what they did to her!”

“You got that right,” Joe agreed, fire flashing in his eyes. “And they’re going down tonight.”

“You’ve got a plan?” Frank arched an eyebrow.

“Yeah… but I need your help to make it work.”

“Our help,” Callie corrected him, with a smile.  Leaning forward slightly, she looked Joe in the eyes.  “Now let’s hear your plan.”