J.M.J.

A/N: Hello! You probably didn't expect me to start posting another story so soon. This is a story that is exploring a piece of Nancy's background that I had all planned out to talk about in the "Chapters" trilogy, but it didn't fit anywhere, so I thought I'd write a shorter story to explain it. That's what this - a short story to explore that, and to look at what a friendship between Callie and Nancy might look like. It's not necessarily in the same universe as my "Chapters" trilogy (although there's no reason why it couldn't be), so you don't need to worry if you didn't read that trilogy. Thank you for reading and thank you in advance for reviewing, favoriting, and/or following this story!

Chapter I

An Unexpected Encounter

Callie Shaw checked her phone for what must have been the thousandth time to see if her boyfriend, Frank Hardy, had replied to her text yet. She knew that he was on a case right now and probably didn't have too many chances to check his phone. Besides, the clock on her lock screen showed that she had only sent the text four minutes ago. She sighed and slipped the phone back into her purse. She didn't hold it against him for not answering – she was just so bored right now.

The eighteen-year-old blonde was sitting in the airport in Earlington, Wisconsin. Earlier today, she had never even heard of Earlington before, and right now she was wishing it had stayed that way. She had been on her way to the University of Phoenix for a scholarship competition, but the early January weather had other plans. A fierce snowstorm had forced her plane to reroute to land at the small Earlington airport. As of now, the snowstorm wasn't showing any signs of letting up, and Callie was stranded there until it did.

Although the airport was small, several other planes had been forced to land there as well, and so the place was crowded. If Callie hadn't been so reserved, she would have had more than enough opportunities to make some new friends, but that wasn't happening. Instead, she was staying quietly by herself, practically bored out of her mind and praying that the storm would let up soon.

She settled back in her chair, leaning her head against the wall behind it. Clearly, she couldn't telepathically tell Frank to answer her text, and her best friend, Iola Morton, wasn't answering either. Callie would just have to try to find a way to entertain herself. It was too bad that she hadn't thought to bring her sketchpad and pencils or a book or anything. The only thing to do, it seemed, was to people watch.

Most people were sitting around, looking at their smartphones. There was a group of college-age girls chattering to each other, laughing at some inside joke. A young couple had found the most secluded corner they could and were sitting hand-in-hand. Callie noticed that the young man looked a lot like Frank.

"Callie Shaw? I didn't expect to run into you here."

Callie started at the unexpected voice. She hadn't seen the speaker approaching her until she was right next to her. It was too bad that she didn't. Now she hadn't even a few seconds to prepare for this conversation, which Callie's brain was already telling her was not going to be pleasant. The speaker was the last person Callie wanted to see – Nancy Drew.

For a few awkward seconds, Callie's tongue wouldn't cooperate well enough to articulate a response. Finally, she forced a smile and said, "Nancy. What brings you to Earlington?"

"I'm guessing the same thing as you," Nancy replied, either oblivious to Callie's awkwardness or choosing to ignore it. "My plane got grounded here. I figured I was close enough to home I might meet someone I knew from there, but I didn't think I'd run into anyone from back east."

Callie twisted a lock of blond hair around her finger, unsure how to answer. She was always confused by Nancy. Like Frank and his brother, Joe, Nancy was an amateur detective. She had known Frank and Joe for years and was very good friends with them. Sometimes – every time she came face-to-face with Nancy – Callie wondered if they were too good friends. Nancy was very pretty, with strawberry-blond hair and a sparkling smile. She was also one of the nicest and friendliest people Callie had ever known. Looking at herself, Callie often wondered how Frank couldn't prefer Nancy over her.

"Do you mind if I sit down?" Nancy asked.

"Uh, sure, go ahead," Callie invited her.

Nancy took the seat next to her. "At least now we both have someone to talk to. This isn't exactly the most exciting airport I've ever seen. They've also only got that one little coffee shop, and the food there doesn't look too appetizing. I hope this storm lets up before dinnertime."

Callie glanced out the window. "It doesn't look like it will."

Nancy followed her gaze, and then looked down at the weather forecast on her phone. "You're right. There's a severe weather warning for this area into tomorrow morning. It could be a long night. Are you going to miss anything being stuck here?"

"No," Callie replied. "I'm headed to the University of Phoenix for a scholarship competition, but I came a few days early. I wanted to get a chance to visit the campus, but it looks like I get to be here instead."

"Well, I'm not sure whether it's a good thing or a bad thing you left early, then" Nancy said. "After all, if you hadn't, you wouldn't be stuck here now."
"No kidding," Callie answered.

"I was on my way home," Nancy continued. "I just finished up a case in Maine. I thought about taking a detour to Bayport, seeing how Maine's a little closer to there than River Heights is, but Frank said he and Joe are out of town on a case."

Callie tried to keep her expression from changing. Of course, Nancy would want to visit Frank in Bayport and of course, she'd be talking to him. Frank and Nancy were always talking. At any rate, Frank certainly always seemed to know what Nancy was doing.

"How have you been doing, anyway?" Nancy asked, once again either not noticing or not acknowledging Callie's reticence.

"Just fine," Callie said noncommittally. "Thanks. How about you?"

Nancy grinned. "Just fine. How about Frank and Joe?"

Callie wrinkled her nose ever so slightly. Was this some kind of test? Hadn't Nancy just said that she had talked to Frank recently? "They're fine," was all the answer Callie gave.

"Frank said they were on a case, but he didn't say what it was about," Nancy said. "He's probably told you all about it."

"Not that much," Callie replied. It struck her that she didn't really talk about Frank's cases with him all that much at all. He'd be able to talk about them with Nancy. Maybe that was why – Callie shook her head. She knew Frank didn't like Nancy better than her. Didn't she?

Nancy let out a deep breath and fell silent. She had a thoughtful expression on her face, and Callie had the uncomfortable feeling that Nancy was sizing her up.

"Am I annoying you?" Nancy asked finally. "I can stop talking if you'd rather." She didn't sound the least bit offended. In fact, she sounded completely sincere in worrying that she was annoying Callie.

"No, no, of course not," Callie replied, forcing a smile. She cast about for a reason she could give for her unfriendliness. "I'm just annoyed about – the snow and being stuck here. It's not you. Really."

"Mmm-hmm." Nancy nodded, but it was obvious she was unconvinced. "I guess it is pretty boring around here." She changed the subject abruptly. "University of Phoenix, huh? I always thought you'd go to art school."

"That's what I'd love to do." Callie surprised herself by her lack of inhibition as she burst out excitedly, but then art was her passion. She surprised herself still further by continuing, "I applied to several. Even the Royal College of Art in the U.K. It's just so expensive, and my parents don't see how it's a practical enough degree to justify spending that kind of money."

Nancy nodded understandingly. "Having to be practical is the worst sometimes. Maybe you could get a scholarship to one of those instead." A thoughtful look came into her eyes.

"I applied, but no luck so far," Callie said.

"I've thought about going to art school," Nancy commented. "I took art lessons in school, and my art teacher tried to convince me all of high school to be an artist instead of a detective."

Nancy would be good at art, too, Callie thought, just a trace of bitterness in her reflection. Was there anything Nancy wasn't good at? It wasn't fair that Callie, who was so ordinary, had to compete against someone as perfect as Nancy. She shook her head. That was ridiculous. She sounded like some kind of insecure, jealous loser.

"I didn't know you were interested in art, too," she said, trying to be friendlier. "I guess, honestly, I don't really know you all that much. Mostly just what Frank's told me about you."

"Which probably isn't any too flattering." Nancy chuckled.

Callie forced another smile, but it wasn't genuine. "Actually, it always very flattering."

A spark of understanding flashed into Nancy's mind. She blushed in humiliation. "Callie, I –"

Callie held up her hand to signal her to stop. "I know, Nancy. Don't –"

Right now, Callie wished something – anything – would interrupt this conversation before it got any more awkward. It was bad enough having to think to herself that she was being ridiculous and jealous – she didn't need Nancy realizing it, too. Or maybe Nancy should know about it. After all, if this was who Callie was, maybe she should stop trying to pretend anything different.

"Everyone get facedown on the floor. Now!"

The authoritative voice made the girls look up in surprise. Six or seven men were now standing in the middle of the room, each of them holding intimidating-looking automatic weapons. For a long moment, no one moved. Then, first by ones and twos and then everyone together, began to obey the order. Callie and Nancy exchanged a glance before they, too, slid from their chairs to the floor. As she lay facedown, Callie couldn't help but think that this was not what she had in mind when she wished the conversation would be interrupted.