Randy Hardaway

"*You don't hear much complaining in Serenity. Randy always manages to find something, though. It's almost as if he's daring the universe to do a better job, no matter how great things already are.*"
—Eli Frieden, *Masterminds*

**Randy Hardaway** was famous in the town of Serenity, New Mexico, for his "challenges", and is best friends with Eli Frieden. Randy was sent to McNally Academy, a boarding school outside Pueblo, Colorado, because of his suspicions that something screwy was going on in Serenity. Before leaving, Randy wrote a letter about his suspicions to Eli and hid it in his pool filter.

When Eli, Amber Laska, Tori Pritel and Malik Bruder escaped from Serenity in *Masterminds*, they headed to McNally Academy and hid out with Randy for a few days while they decided what to do next.

## Biography

Around 2002, Randy Hardaway was born in Serenity to Mr. and Mrs. Hardaway. Afterward, his younger sister was born, and at six years old, he visited his grandma outside of town. Randy and Eli were best friends their entire lives, and they kept small treasures in an old coffee can in the Hardaways' tree house. They made trading cards of the Surety there for their own enjoyment, and also figured out how to hack into and alter video games together.

About a year before *Masterminds* took place, Randy broke his ankle and had to be cooped up at home. During that time, Eli was with him more often than usual, and they invented a new challenge—crutch-ball home run derby.

### *Masterminds*

Randy created a challenge for himself and Eli where he threw a boomerang out of the tree house for his friend to catch while jumping off the diving board and doing a cannonball into the pool. Unfortunately, it backfired, and the boomerang ended up in the pool filter. Randy then invited Eli to view a sports car he had seen with his dad while hiking a few miles out of town earlier, refusing to take no for an answer. However, Eli fell ill from the effects of the border, and Randy attempted to help him up before the Surety arrived in their helicopter and knocked Randy over.

Shortly afterward, Randy broke the news to his friends that he was being sent to live with his grandparents in Colorado (in reality, he was being sent to McNally Academy). He was scared to move away from the town and sent a lot of time packing, unable to visit Eli while he was in the clinic.

Not long later, Randy was thrown a going-away party at school, with a cake and his favorite chips. He received a hug from Mrs. Laska and turned bright red when asked to give a speech. The next day, Randy and his family packed the car. He received a sheet of paper with Eli's email address and told his friend that he would write, then was driven away.

Before that, Randy had written Eli a letter telling him the truth and his suspicions about Serenity, hiding it in the tree house. Eli found it two weeks later and began to believe its contents, eventually leading to his escape from Serenity along with Amber Laska, Tori Pritel, Malik Bruder and Hector Amani.

While in McNally Academy, Randy lived in room Hayden thirty-three along with his roommate Kevin, and was known for sleeping until five minutes before class started. When Eli knocked on the door, he invited them in with a grin.

### *Criminal Destiny*

Randy attempted to teach Eli and Malik how to play poker using food as their stakes, winning the game. Kevin and another friend helped Randy find the food to feed the clones, who he was hiding in the academy. Everyone else only knew that they were runaways from his hometown. Randy was also peppered with questions by Amber about the campus and schedule for her runs. Not long later, when the Surety were first spotted in the area, Randy received a phone call from his parents asking "all kinds of nosy questions". As the officers entered the school, he told the others about a bus that leads into Pueblo and helped them escape.

## Personality and traits

Randy can be a troublemaker. Eli described him as being a crab in the way that sometimes nothing can satisfy him, and he refuses to take no for an answer. Randy is also adventurous, which is shown when he decides to bike out of town to show Eli a sports car. It's also said that Randy can make a game out of anything.

The only time Randy was ever embarrassed was when he was thrown a going-away party at school. He occasionally lies to stir things up a little, but always confesses when his lies could hurt someone. While at boarding school, Randy is known for skipping breakfast and sleeping until five minutes before class.

## Physical description

Randy Hardaway has unruly hair. When he is excited about something, his eyes seem to dance.

## Relationships

### Family members

Randy has a mother, father, and younger sister, whose first names are unknown. Randy's parents were most likely supportive of Project Osiris, as they agreed to send Randy away to McNally Academy because he knew too much. Randy and his father sometimes took walks together, which is how they found an old, abandoned ranch a few miles out of town.

### Eli Frieden

"*He doesn't exactly bring out the best in me, but we have a great time together, and that counts for a lot. He does the things I daydream about but don't have the guts to try.*"
—Eli Frieden, *Masterminds*

Randy and Eli were best friends for their entire lives. They lived less than a hundred yards from each other and used Randy's tree house as a clubhouse, keeping small treasures there in an old coffee can. Just before Randy left Serenity, he left Eli a letter hidden in his pool filter telling him of his suspicions of their town, leading to Eli, Tori, Amber and Malik escaping from Serenity.

## Trivia

* Randy's favorite chips are fiery jalapeño and lime.
* He is the best water polo player on his team in Serenity—Team Community.
* Randy and Eli always raced a few laps after water polo practice.
* He kept a coffee can in his treehouse, which functioned as a treasure box.