Disclaimer: Characters do not belong to me, but to the Stratemeyer Syndicate and Simon & Schuster. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: This is a continuation of "Bay of Peril." I appreciated all the reviews I got on that one, and I hope this story is as well recieved. Enjoy!!
****
Dance of Death
by Kristen Elizabeth
****
"Hey, Hardy. Phone call for you."
Frank Hardy looked up from his forensic anthropology book. His roommate was standing in the doorway to his room, holding the portable out to him. "Who is it?" he asked, pulling off his reading glasses.
"Your girlfriend," his roommate replied with an exaggerated wink.
Suddenly Frank's mood, which had been steadily declining as he realized just how much he'd have to study the differences between male and female bone structures before his final exam in three days, lifted. He closed up his book and stood, stretching his six foot frame of lean muscles before taking the phone. "You can go now."
He put the phone to his ear once his roommate had gone. "I can go now?" the sweet voice on the other end teased. "Well, if you insist."
"Don't you dare," Frank told her, firmly. "You're the best study break possible."
Nancy Drew, his girlfriend of six months, laughed. "What am I distracting you from?"
"Forensics. Bones and blood samples. Thank you so much, honey." Frank sat down on his neatly made bed. "How are you?"
"I'm fine," Nancy replied. "I have a biochemistry exam tomorrow and then my German final on Wednesday and then I'm done."
"Remind me again why you took German?"
He could almost see the impish look he loved so much creeping onto her beautiful face. "Because…" She adopted a heavy, husky accent. "German women are sexy, no?"
"I'd have to say 'yes' now," Frank chuckled.
There was a small pause before Nancy spoke again. "I miss you."
"I miss you, too. I'm not sure I can wait a week to see you." He frowned. "You're still coming, aren't you?"
"Of course! Did you get my email with my flight information?"
"I did. I just…I can't believe I get a whole two weeks alone with you."
"Well, your brother and your parents will be there, too, Frank."
Frank switched the phone to his other ear. "You're going to love Bayport at Christmas. It's quaint and…"
"Romantic?" she asked softly.
"Yeah. Very." Frank cleared his throat. "What are you thinking about?"
"You. Me. Some mistletoe hanging over…"
He cut her off. "Mom always puts some in the kitchen doorway."
"Actually…" Nancy hesitated. "I was going to say…over your headboard."
After he'd recovered from the shock, Frank let out a slow breath. "I suppose that is something we'll have to talk about, isn't it?"
"When you came up here for fall break, I wanted to, Frank. I mean…I'm kind of glad we didn't because it was probably too early then, but now…" She let the thought hang there. But when he said nothing, she quickly changed the subject. "I'd better go. I have a lot of German verbs to memorize and…"
"Nancy." Frank wanted nothing more than to reach out and touch her, but he had to settle for a gentle, "I'm convinced that any man who wouldn't want to make love to you is either gay or a moron."
A moment passed. "Good luck on your exams, Frank. I…I can't wait to see you."
He sighed. "I can't wait either. I'll call you soon, okay?"
"Okay. Bye."
"Auf Wiedersehen!" But she'd already hung up. Frank tossed the phone aside and flopped back onto his plain, navy blue bedspread. He'd hurt her just a little bit, and he'd probably hurt her a little bit more. But it was better than the alternative. Better than losing everything they had together almost as soon as they'd found it. And he'd be damned before he let that happen twice in his lifetime.
****
Halfway across the country, Nancy hung up her phone and curled her arms around an oversized throw pillow. There was a lump stuck in her throat that she couldn't quite explain. It happened a lot lately, whenever she thought about her boyfriend. Sometimes she wondered if it would be worth transferring this late in her college career if it meant she could be closer to Frank. The month they'd spent together after their San Francisco adventure and before school started had been four weeks of pure contentment. They'd spent long, lazy afternoons by her father's pool, gone on bike trips, watched all the cheesy Hollywood summer blockbusters and kissed for hours.
But not much more than that. And now, whenever Nancy pictured Frank's perfectly sculpted chest and remembered how his lips felt against her neck, soft and warm, driving her crazy, she couldn't help wanting more. There were times when they were lying in each other's arms, dozing in the sun that she'd almost wished that Frank could have been her first lover. Almost. She'd loved Ned…and some place deep in her heart always would…and no woman could have asked for a better first time experience. Still, part of her wanted to give Frank that special gift, and if she couldn't, she wanted to at least share that intimacy with him.
Nancy turned over on her side and stared at the stack of textbooks on her desk. Biochemistry, German, abnormal psychology, victimology, and international terrorism. "Come on, body," she told herself. "Get up, study, stop thinking naughty thoughts."
She was saved by the ringing of her phone. Thinking it might be Frank calling back, Nancy grabbed it before it could ring again. "Hello?"
"How's my favorite daughter doing?" Carson Drew's voice boomed through the phone line.
"Dad!" Nancy blinked. "Hi! What's…"
"I know it's late and that you're probably studying, and I'm sorry to interrupt, but…"
Nancy cut her father off. "It's okay, Dad. It's really good to hear from you."
"You, too, sweetheart. How is everything?"
"Busy," she replied, letting out a breath. "I had to register for spring classes the other day. Dr. Lehman's course on the mind of the serial killer filled up before I could even log on to the\ registration webpage, so I have to make a plea to the department to let me in so I can graduate on time."
"Sounds like you're on top of things."
Praise from her father wasn't rare, but it always made her blush with pleasure. "I'm doing all right. How are you, Dad? How's Hannah?"
"We're doing fine, just fine. Hannah's more than a little disappointed that you're not planning on coming home for Christmas, but…"
"I know, Dad, but I don't get to see Frank enough as it is and…"
It was Carson's turn to cut his only daughter off. "But…I told her not to give up hope."
Nancy frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
Her father took a breath. "Nancy, this is always a little difficult to talk about, but I've met someone."
"A woman someone?" she asked, hoping for an answer in the negative.
"Yes, a woman someone. Her name is Penelope Creel. We met at the grocery store a couple of weeks ago, and we've been seeing a lot of each other since."
"The grocery store," Nancy repeated.
Carson sighed. "Nancy, I want you to meet her. I think you'll really like her. She's a widow, an amateur ballroom dancer, and she teaches a few classes whenever she can. We're going to spend the holiday together…and I'd like you to be here, as well."
"Dad…it sounds like you're pretty serious about this." Nancy swallowed heavily.
"I am. Please, for your terminally ancient father…consider coming home for Christmas."
"Is there something more, Dad? More than just meeting the...the...your girlfriend?"
Carson hesitated just enough to indicate that he was holding something back. "Just, please, Nancy."
She looked up at the ceiling, holding back tears as best she could. She wasn't sure where they were coming from, whether it was the idea of not getting to spend time with her boyfriend, or whether it was the fact that another woman had entered her father's life. Whatever she was upset about, Nancy quickly decided to set it aside and do this one thing for the man who loved her unconditionally. "All right, Dad. I'll change my flight tomorrow. And…call Frank to explain."
"Nancy," Carson started. He paused for a moment. "Thank you." Another pause followed. "Hit the books, sweetheart. We'll talk tomorrow, okay?"
She nodded. "Yeah. Love you, Dad."
"I love you, too, Nancy. Very much." With that, her father hung up.
Nancy tossed the phone away as though it was on fire. "Merry Christmas to me."
****
To Be Continued
Author's Notes: This is a continuation of "Bay of Peril." I appreciated all the reviews I got on that one, and I hope this story is as well recieved. Enjoy!!
****
Dance of Death
by Kristen Elizabeth
****
"Hey, Hardy. Phone call for you."
Frank Hardy looked up from his forensic anthropology book. His roommate was standing in the doorway to his room, holding the portable out to him. "Who is it?" he asked, pulling off his reading glasses.
"Your girlfriend," his roommate replied with an exaggerated wink.
Suddenly Frank's mood, which had been steadily declining as he realized just how much he'd have to study the differences between male and female bone structures before his final exam in three days, lifted. He closed up his book and stood, stretching his six foot frame of lean muscles before taking the phone. "You can go now."
He put the phone to his ear once his roommate had gone. "I can go now?" the sweet voice on the other end teased. "Well, if you insist."
"Don't you dare," Frank told her, firmly. "You're the best study break possible."
Nancy Drew, his girlfriend of six months, laughed. "What am I distracting you from?"
"Forensics. Bones and blood samples. Thank you so much, honey." Frank sat down on his neatly made bed. "How are you?"
"I'm fine," Nancy replied. "I have a biochemistry exam tomorrow and then my German final on Wednesday and then I'm done."
"Remind me again why you took German?"
He could almost see the impish look he loved so much creeping onto her beautiful face. "Because…" She adopted a heavy, husky accent. "German women are sexy, no?"
"I'd have to say 'yes' now," Frank chuckled.
There was a small pause before Nancy spoke again. "I miss you."
"I miss you, too. I'm not sure I can wait a week to see you." He frowned. "You're still coming, aren't you?"
"Of course! Did you get my email with my flight information?"
"I did. I just…I can't believe I get a whole two weeks alone with you."
"Well, your brother and your parents will be there, too, Frank."
Frank switched the phone to his other ear. "You're going to love Bayport at Christmas. It's quaint and…"
"Romantic?" she asked softly.
"Yeah. Very." Frank cleared his throat. "What are you thinking about?"
"You. Me. Some mistletoe hanging over…"
He cut her off. "Mom always puts some in the kitchen doorway."
"Actually…" Nancy hesitated. "I was going to say…over your headboard."
After he'd recovered from the shock, Frank let out a slow breath. "I suppose that is something we'll have to talk about, isn't it?"
"When you came up here for fall break, I wanted to, Frank. I mean…I'm kind of glad we didn't because it was probably too early then, but now…" She let the thought hang there. But when he said nothing, she quickly changed the subject. "I'd better go. I have a lot of German verbs to memorize and…"
"Nancy." Frank wanted nothing more than to reach out and touch her, but he had to settle for a gentle, "I'm convinced that any man who wouldn't want to make love to you is either gay or a moron."
A moment passed. "Good luck on your exams, Frank. I…I can't wait to see you."
He sighed. "I can't wait either. I'll call you soon, okay?"
"Okay. Bye."
"Auf Wiedersehen!" But she'd already hung up. Frank tossed the phone aside and flopped back onto his plain, navy blue bedspread. He'd hurt her just a little bit, and he'd probably hurt her a little bit more. But it was better than the alternative. Better than losing everything they had together almost as soon as they'd found it. And he'd be damned before he let that happen twice in his lifetime.
****
Halfway across the country, Nancy hung up her phone and curled her arms around an oversized throw pillow. There was a lump stuck in her throat that she couldn't quite explain. It happened a lot lately, whenever she thought about her boyfriend. Sometimes she wondered if it would be worth transferring this late in her college career if it meant she could be closer to Frank. The month they'd spent together after their San Francisco adventure and before school started had been four weeks of pure contentment. They'd spent long, lazy afternoons by her father's pool, gone on bike trips, watched all the cheesy Hollywood summer blockbusters and kissed for hours.
But not much more than that. And now, whenever Nancy pictured Frank's perfectly sculpted chest and remembered how his lips felt against her neck, soft and warm, driving her crazy, she couldn't help wanting more. There were times when they were lying in each other's arms, dozing in the sun that she'd almost wished that Frank could have been her first lover. Almost. She'd loved Ned…and some place deep in her heart always would…and no woman could have asked for a better first time experience. Still, part of her wanted to give Frank that special gift, and if she couldn't, she wanted to at least share that intimacy with him.
Nancy turned over on her side and stared at the stack of textbooks on her desk. Biochemistry, German, abnormal psychology, victimology, and international terrorism. "Come on, body," she told herself. "Get up, study, stop thinking naughty thoughts."
She was saved by the ringing of her phone. Thinking it might be Frank calling back, Nancy grabbed it before it could ring again. "Hello?"
"How's my favorite daughter doing?" Carson Drew's voice boomed through the phone line.
"Dad!" Nancy blinked. "Hi! What's…"
"I know it's late and that you're probably studying, and I'm sorry to interrupt, but…"
Nancy cut her father off. "It's okay, Dad. It's really good to hear from you."
"You, too, sweetheart. How is everything?"
"Busy," she replied, letting out a breath. "I had to register for spring classes the other day. Dr. Lehman's course on the mind of the serial killer filled up before I could even log on to the\ registration webpage, so I have to make a plea to the department to let me in so I can graduate on time."
"Sounds like you're on top of things."
Praise from her father wasn't rare, but it always made her blush with pleasure. "I'm doing all right. How are you, Dad? How's Hannah?"
"We're doing fine, just fine. Hannah's more than a little disappointed that you're not planning on coming home for Christmas, but…"
"I know, Dad, but I don't get to see Frank enough as it is and…"
It was Carson's turn to cut his only daughter off. "But…I told her not to give up hope."
Nancy frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
Her father took a breath. "Nancy, this is always a little difficult to talk about, but I've met someone."
"A woman someone?" she asked, hoping for an answer in the negative.
"Yes, a woman someone. Her name is Penelope Creel. We met at the grocery store a couple of weeks ago, and we've been seeing a lot of each other since."
"The grocery store," Nancy repeated.
Carson sighed. "Nancy, I want you to meet her. I think you'll really like her. She's a widow, an amateur ballroom dancer, and she teaches a few classes whenever she can. We're going to spend the holiday together…and I'd like you to be here, as well."
"Dad…it sounds like you're pretty serious about this." Nancy swallowed heavily.
"I am. Please, for your terminally ancient father…consider coming home for Christmas."
"Is there something more, Dad? More than just meeting the...the...your girlfriend?"
Carson hesitated just enough to indicate that he was holding something back. "Just, please, Nancy."
She looked up at the ceiling, holding back tears as best she could. She wasn't sure where they were coming from, whether it was the idea of not getting to spend time with her boyfriend, or whether it was the fact that another woman had entered her father's life. Whatever she was upset about, Nancy quickly decided to set it aside and do this one thing for the man who loved her unconditionally. "All right, Dad. I'll change my flight tomorrow. And…call Frank to explain."
"Nancy," Carson started. He paused for a moment. "Thank you." Another pause followed. "Hit the books, sweetheart. We'll talk tomorrow, okay?"
She nodded. "Yeah. Love you, Dad."
"I love you, too, Nancy. Very much." With that, her father hung up.
Nancy tossed the phone away as though it was on fire. "Merry Christmas to me."
****
To Be Continued