Nancy stared at Nicholas and Brady. "You're kidding me, right?"
"Nancy, this has gone far enough. This guy is a loser and has no self-esteem." Nick pleaded. Brady glared at him.
"Nicholas is a criminal, Nancy."
"And WHY are you two hating on each other?" Nancy asked in her detective voice.
"Because they both have huge crushes on you, Nan." Bess laughed from the speakerphone on Nancy's cell phone. Brady and Nick jumped about a foot in the air.
"Your friend was listening?" Brady yelped.
"Yes, and she knows boys much better than I do, I'm sure. Now you two need to GET A GRIP. Bess, you should go."
Nancy's cell phone clicked off as Bess hung up.
"Nancy…" Brady put on his 'movie-star' voice. "Nancy… don't you realize? I'm a famous movie star. Girls halfway around the world are crushing on me at this very moment."
"And I'M on a campaign to save theatres around the nation. It's a good goal, Nancy. C'mon! HE'S the face of Generica. He's the one who supports cardboard box malls and all that evil that's taking over America."
"Generica?" Brady looked at Nick, confused.
"The United States of Generica? Get with the program!" Nick groaned. Nancy burst out laughing.
"You two are ridiculous, I swear… and I don't want to go out with either of you. I've already GOT a boyfriend!"
"What!" They both yelped.
"Ned Nickerson. He's the most amazing guy…"
Suddenly, Nancy's cell phone rang. "It's Ned," she said, checking the caller I.D. "I'll be just a minute."
"Ned! Hi! How are things back in River Heights?"
"Um, great! Listen, Nance, I hate to tell you this over the phone, but…"
"If you don't say it then I will!" A girl's voice broke in. Nancy knew that voice. It was George. "Nancy, Ned and I…"
She was cut off by Ned's frantic voice. "Nancy, I don't want to go out with you anymore. You have no time for me. I'm sorry, but I just asked out George, and she said yes."
"And it was the best decision of my life," George interrupted.
Nancy slid her phone shut, her eyes glued to it like maybe it was playing a joke.
"Nancy…" Brady rushed over to her, and she remembered: the cell phone had been on speaker the whole time.
"Leave me alone." Her voice cracked.
"But… now Ned's gone." Brady sounded hopeful, and Nancy laughed coldly.
"You don't understand, Brady."
"I do, Nancy." Nick spoke up from a few feet away. "I got dumped by my girlfriend when I started helping HAD IT full-time. She grabbed the nearest guy, who happened to be my old best friend, and they got married a few months later."
"Nicholas…" Nancy was rendered speechless. "Gosh, I'm so sorry."
"It's okay. I'm over her. I've found a new girl I've got my eye on."
"Me," Nancy completed.
"He's not worth it, Nancy." Brady interjected.
"What do you know? You two barely even know each other! You met five days ago, three days before the demolition was scheduled to be held."
"We know each other well enough. We've both got our reputations…" Nick started. They both finished at the same time…
"Your BAD reputation, I/YOU mean." They stared at each other accusingly as Nancy gaped.
"You two do realize that I've just had something traumatizing happen to me?"
"Yeah, well, your problems don't matter, Nancy," Nick snapped without realizing what he was saying. Then he realized, and his eyes widened. But Brady had already snapped Nancy into his arms.
"He didn't mean it. Your problems are pretty important too."
"More important than your receding hairline?" Nancy managed a smirk. Brady nodded.
"I'll make bald look good, if it happens."
Nancy laughed. "Self-help book, right?"
"Yeah. Guess you saw THAT, too."
"Yep. It's okay, we all need some help in some areas…" Nancy grinned a little, causing Brady to sigh with relief.
Then Nancy struggled out of his arms, and Brady sighed. Nick smirked at him.
"Guys, just… just stop." Nancy's voice was quavering. "I just need some time to think. My boyfriend just dumped me and asked out my best friend. What's going to happen next? I get kidnapped?"
"Nancy, come on! Please, just consider us. Me, at least." Brady groaned. "I'm the famous one, the one that could get you noticed!"
"I'd need a stage name, though, right?" Nancy's voice was dripping with sarcasm.
"No, I LOVE the name Nancy Drew."
"Yeah, so do I!" Nick quickly chimed in.
"Thanks, Brady, but no thanks. I need to get home to River Heights."
"Why? There's nothing left for you there."
"I've got Bess…" Nancy tried.
"Call her. See if she's still supporting you."
"All right, I will!" Nancy dialed Bess's number. After a moment, Bess picked up.
"Oh, hi Nancy. Did you hear the news about Ned and George? Isn't it great? They've liked each other for YEARS, Nan! All it took was a little prodding…"
"YOU did this?" Nancy burst out.
"Well, yeah, I did. Why? Nancy, what's wrong?"
"You got my boyfriend together with my best friend? Bess, how could you? Why did you…" Nancy hung up. Brady grimaced sympathetically. Nick just smirked. Brady was definitely the nicer guy, that was for sure.
"All right, you two. I surrender. There really is nothing left for me in River Heights. So… what now?"
"You move in with me, and we tour the world. It's obvious that you would be great in movies. You could work with me in my next show: The Face of Time."
"How about the Rise of Generica?" Nick mumbled. Brady rolled his eyes.
"C'mon! Auditions just started! You could play Kayla, the girl who falls in love with me."
"Really? Really, Brady?"Nancy stared at him. "You really think the best thing for me to do is play a lovesick fool in your next movie?"
"Yeah! Please,Nancy? I don't want to have to settle for someone I just met an hour ago."
"You met me almost a week ago…"Nancy was getting confused.
"We're FRIENDS, Nancy. Bonded by trauma, you might say."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, okay, I'll try for the part, okay? I'm not saying I'll get in…"Nancy relented, and Brady grinned.
"Thanks, Nancy. It means a lot to me."