Joe was just turning the corner when he heard what sounded like a loud explosion. He looked worriedly over at Vanessa. “Frank,” he choked out before he turned around and ran back.

“Oh my goodness – Frank, are you hurt?!” In two strides Callie was by his side.

Frank was brushing some of the confetti off his hair and shoulders.

“I’m fine – just a little startled.” He gave Callie a reassuring smile and put his arm around her shoulder.

“Frank – are you all right – what happened?!”

A worried expression on his face, Joe gave Frank a good once-over, then looked curiously at the confetti lying on the floor.

“Just somebody’s idea of a practical joke and I’m all right,” replied Frank in a calm voice.

Although he sounded calm, Joe could tell that his brother had been shaken up.

“Who would do something like this?” asked Vanessa. “ And I wonder how they pulled it off – where’s Phil when you need him?!”

“He’s still out sick,” Joe answered. Phil Cohen was a good friend of Frank and Joe. He was also known as a ‘wizard’ with gadgets!

“Poor Phil – who would have thought he’d get mononucleosis!” Callie sighed.

“Yeah and the sad part about that – he didn’t even have the fun of kissing a girl to get it!” Joe tried to pull off a forlorn expression but the corners of his mouth kept twitching until a smile finally escaped!

“Excuse me, Vanessa,” Callie said as she leaned over to swat Joe’s arm.

Frank was going to tell Joe and Callie to behave when he noticed a small crowd was now gathering. It was only a matter of time before a teacher or the Vice-Principal would show up.

“All right – what is going on here?!”

Frank cringed when he heard the unmistakable voice of the Vice-Principal, Mr. Chaney.

“Looks like somebody’s after the Hardys,” sneered Jason Morgan, a tall, stout teen with light brown hair and eyes. Jason was a bully who liked to pick on the younger classmen.

“Shouldn’t you be leaving for your class, Jason – or do you want another week of detention?” asked Mr. Chaney in a stern voice. He then turned his attention to the other students. “Everyone on to your classes!”

Frank gave Joe a look that told him to leave also. Not wanting to leave his brother, Joe frowned. A silent war was going on between the brothers as the other students dispersed. It was only when Mr. Chaney stepped between them and gave Joe a stern look that the younger teen turned to leave.

“Now, Frank,” began Mr. Chaney.

Vanessa could tell that Joe wasn’t very happy that he had to leave Frank.

“Who do you think pulled that prank?”

Joe just shrugged his shoulders, and then he paused for a moment.

“There was this guy in the parking lot but – I don’t think he would have had enough time to set it up.”

“Guy – what guy?” asked Vanessa, filled with curiosity.

“I don’t know – Frank and I have never seen him before. We think he might be a new student,” Joe replied.

They had reached Vanessa’s locker, Joe waited while she took out the books she needed. Once she was done, they hurried so Joe could get his books. As they walked down the hall, the school office door opened, almost hitting Joe in the face.

Hearing Vanessa gasp, the young man turned to apologize until he saw Joe.

“Oh, it’s you! I’m sorry I didn’t hit you!” he sneered.

“I take it this is the guy you met in the parking lot!” Vanessa commented while she moved in front of Joe, trying to keep her hot-tempered boyfriend from lashing out.

Joe and the other young man were the same height and build. With Joe’s light coloring and the other’s dark, it was as if they were night and day.

Vanessa tugged on Joe’s arm when she heard the tardy bell ring but he wouldn’t budge.

“Is there a reason you’re not in class, Joe Hardy?” asked Principal Hayden, who was returning from the cafeteria. He turned his gaze on the dark-haired teen. “Who are you? I’ve never seen you here before.” The principal stared warily at the young teen.

Flicking back his dark hair, he replied: “I just transferred here – name is Zane Williams.”

“And I’m Principal Hayden – now why don’t all of you head for your first class?”

Zane smiled at the principal. “I’d love to – could you tell me where to find room 100?”

Principal Hayden turned to Joe. “I believe that’s Mr. Walters’ American History – Joe, don’t you have that first period?”

“Yes, sir,” Joe replied through clenched teeth.

“I thought so – you can follow Joe, Zane. Vanessa, you better head to your class.”

“Yes, sir – I’ll see you later and”….she lowered her voice…”behave.” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and left.

Without saying a word, Joe turned around and started walking towards his class with Zane following him. They walked in silence for a few moments.

“How long have you and – Vanessa? – been going together?”

Joe didn’t bother to reply, he just kept walking.

“Hey, just trying to make conversation!” Zane said, shrugging his shoulders. He glanced slyly over at Joe. “Since you didn’t say you were going with that hot babe, I guess she’s—”

Joe grabbed Zane by the arm, slamming him into the lockers. “You leave her alone! She’s already seeing someone and that would be me!”

Joe glared at Zane who was trying not to smile. He finally let the other teen go.

“You can find the class room yourself!” Joe said as he stomped away.

*****

It wasn’t until lunch that Chet, Biff and Tony found out what had happened to Frank’s locker.

“Why would someone try and scare you like that?” wondered Biff out loud.

“Yeah, are you two working on a case?” asked Chet.

“No – we aren’t even helping Dad with anything,” replied Frank.

“Well with you two it could be anyone!” Tony smiled over at his friends.

“Oh so true!” Callie exclaimed with mock dismay. This caused the group to erupt in laughter.

“This looks like the table to be! Lots of laughter and two very pretty girls!”

Joe let out a groan when he spied Zane standing behind him with a lunch tray in his hands. Squeezing himself in, Zane sat as close to Vanessa as he could.

“I know your name, but who are you, beautiful?” he asked leaning over to get a closer look at Callie.

“Callie…and this is my boyfriend, Frank Hardy.”

“Oh, so you’re Frank Hardy. I’ve been hearing a lot about you!” Zane said with some disdain.

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency 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 original characters without express permission of the authors.