Call Me Cupid

Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the book characters.

Thanks once again to Wendylouwho10 for reading over this for me!

Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Setting is kinda blue spine and AU. Joe and Iola are 16, Frank and Callie are 17.

Summary: J 16/F 17. What happens when the girl you like has a crush on your brother? Add in Valentine's Day dance and a rash of robberies and you have the makings of a dramatic holiday season. (This story was inspired by an HDA Valentine Contest prompt involving the word 'Cupid.')

Author's Notes: :-) Cherylann- Well, I guess I'm posting this earlier than the weekend! I decided not to wait.
Everyone who's reading: Since this obviously has Valentine overtones, I wanted to get it rolling before Valentine's Day and so I haven't read it 50 million times like I usually do, so there may be a few more typos than normal because even at 50 million times I didn't catch them all! If I find glaring ones, I'll probably fix them and resubmit.

Chapter One

Joe sat glumly as he listened to his friend, Chet Morton, vent.

"I'm telling you, Joe. If I have to hear one more time about the dimple that forms on your brother's cheek when he smiles I may just have to slit my own throat." Chet said with exasperation. When Joe didn't respond, he stopped and looked at the younger boy sitting slumped on the end of the couch. "Hey are you even listening to me?" Chet plopped down beside Joe, his weight causing Joe to slide slightly toward the heavier boy.

Grabbing the armrest and anchoring his position, Joe grumpily replied. "I heard you and you aren't the only one tired of it you know."

"What do you mean?"

Wishing that he hadn't said anything but knowing that he had to give a response, Joe sighed and said in a falsetto imitation of Iola's voice, "Um, Joe? What's Frank's favorite meal? What does he like to do around the house? What's his favorite color?"

Chet's nose wrinkled in disgust and he made a gagging sound. "Ugh, man! You have it worse than me. But then that's what you get for being Frank's brother and her best guy friend." Chet paused as he looked at Joe, "Probably best friend." He elbowed the Hardy boy, "Besides me of course."

Joe said nothing but turned his head away toward the basketball game halftime show on the tv.

Chet punched him in the arm a second time. "I mean, we've known you guys since we moved into the area in elementary school. It's almost like she's your sister too." Chet paused and frowned, "Wait, I take that back, that sounds EXTREMELY creepy and gross considering her crush on Frank." His face lightened as he said, "But you know what I mean. Frank doesn't think of her like THAT. It's just all funny the way Iola's crushing on him, don't you think?"

Joe said nothing as Chet's attention went back to the announcers debating the merits of the plays in the first half. His eyes drifted to the kitchen door in the Morton house as his brother and Iola came from the kitchen. The petite brunette was laughing animatedly at something Frank had said and her eyes were sparkling as they looked at his brother. Joe tore his eyes away from the pair and put them firmly on the tv. Bayport College was up by eight at the start of the second half. He would focus on the game. Iola's laughter floated over to him as he sighed. I wish the game was over.

.**********.

"You're awful quiet," Frank said as the brothers drove back to their house after the game.

"It was just a long night," Joe said as he looked at the road ahead.

"I've never known you to get tired, Joe," Frank said with a laugh. "And BC (Bayport College) won!"

Joe worked to put some energy into his voice. "Yeah, that was exciting." He decided to change the subject and asked, "Did you see that news crawl about the robbery over in Southport? Definitely sounds like that same band of robbers struck again." And that was all it took to get Frank focused on something besides Joe being quiet. He breathed a sigh of relief. The half dozen robberies in Exeter and Southport had drawn the boys attention once it had been determined it was the same guys committing all the robberies.

As they neared the house and talk about the robberies was exhausted, Frank twisted his hands on the steering wheel. This time Joe took note that Frank seemed a little nervous. "Something bothering you, Frank?"

Frank's eyes stayed focused on the road. "Yeah, kinda."

Joe laughed. "Well? Going to keep it a secret or share it?"

"I'm just a little nervous about sharing it."

This made Joe sit up straighter in the seat. "What do you mean? Are you worried about telling me something?"

Frank's hands twisted on the wheel again. "I'm worried about what you and everyone will think."

"About what?"

Frank was silent as he turned into the Hardy driveway. He shut off the engine and sat with his hands in his lap. "What would you think if I asked Iola out?"

Joe was stunned. "Iola?" His voice practically squeaked so he cleared his throat and asked, "You want to ask Iola out?"

Frank shrugged as he turned toward his brother. "She keeps dropping hints. I'm not dating anyone. She's not dating anyone."

"That's not a reason to go out," Joe said carefully.

"We're good friends."

Joe was quiet. "Just because you're friends doesn't mean you need to date."

"I know." Frank looked intently at his brother. "So you think it's a bad idea."

"I just think you should think about why you're doing it and make sure it's what you really want. After all, we are all friends. You got to think about what would happen if you broke up."

Frank looked down at his hands which were playing with the key fob. "Yeah, that's the best reason for not asking her."

"Then think on it. Don't rush." Joe wanted to be out of the van and out of this conversation as soon as possible. "I mean there's no rush right?"

Joe hurriedly opened the door of the van and then was frozen in his seat when he heard Frank say, "Well, there's the Valentine's Dance next month…" His voice trailed off and Joe moved back into his seat and closed the door.

"Look, Frank." Joe took a really deep breath and willed himself to be calm. "If you care about her that much, then ask her." His voice was barely a whisper when he finished. "Just think about it," he finished in a stronger tone. This time he did exit the van and made his way to the house without a backward glance. His heart was hammering in his chest as he realized that he had just told his brother to ask out the girl that he was falling in love with.

After speaking briefly with his parents in the living room, Joe headed up to his room. He had a lot to think about. Chet and Iola had moved to the Bayport area when Frank was in 5th grade and Joe was in 4th. They were a natural pair up with Chet having classes with Frank and Joe having them with Iola. The Morton farm had been a great place to go and explore with all their friends. And while Joe had played with Chet and Frank, he had also done so with Iola because she was a tomboy and included herself in a lot of what they did. Climbing trees? She was determined to go higher than they could and usually she did being a lighter weight. Playing in the creek? She was there all the time, splashing them as much as they splashed her. Shooting arrows in the forest? She had her own bow set and while she wasn't as good a shot as Frank and Joe, she was better than her brother. It was the same for everything they did.

And then last year when they were fifteen, Joe had noticed something about Iola. She looked… different in her bikini top and shorts. Her body curved in places it hadn't before. Sure he had noticed some of that the year before when they were fourteen, but Iola had blossomed at fifteen. That was when she had gone out on a few dates. All of them had dated… just not anyone in their circle of friends.

Right after Thanksgiving, Joe had decided to ask Iola out. He had even gotten her a Christmas present. Nerve was all he lacked and he was working his way up to it when she started asking questions about Frank. Things went downhill from there. He had waited too long to speak up and now she had a crush on his brother. Joe groaned as he turned out his light and got into the bed. His brother.