ROAD TRIP

Hi, this story has nothing to do with my other story The Two New Family Members ( which I am still working on ). This idea just popped into my head so I felt like writing it.

Nancy, Ned, Bess, and George are off on a road trip across North America and are up for fun on the way. Hope you enjoy, please review. :) Oh, and Nancy, Bess, and George are 18, and Ned is 19. This story takes place sometime just after the end of the Files, and Ned is on summer vacation.

CHAPTER ONE.

I'm going out tonight

I'm feeling all right …..

"Man ! I feel like a women !" Nancy Drew, Bess Marvin, and George Fayne all sang in unison.

From the front seat of Nancy's red mustang, Ned Nickerson groaned. "Can't we listen to some guy music for a change ? We've been on the road for five hours and all I've heard is girly pop songs."

Nancy grinned and leaned across the front seat, rubbing her boyfriend's arm playfully. "Oh, come on – admit it, you love it. And you love the thought of being with three girls for the next month," Nancy teased.

Ned looked at her as if she were crazy, but then he reached over and slipped his hand into Nancy's, keeping it there as he headed off the interstate.

Despite his moaning and complaining, Nancy could tell that Ned, like her, was having a great time and was looking forward to the next month on the road.

The trip had been pretty spontanious. Just a week earlier Nancy had come up with the idea for a road trip with her two best friends and her boyfriend. Bess and George were both free for the summer, as was Ned, and Nancy was thrilled with the chance to spend a whole month with him during his time off when he eagerly said yes to the trip.

"So, Nan," George spoke up from the backseat, "Given any thought to where we're actually going or where we're spending the night ?"

Nancy shook her head. "Nope. I know it's not like me, but I wanted this trip to be completely uplanned. Today's Ned's day to drive and pick where we end up, and it can be your turn tomorrow, if you want."

George grinned. "Sounds good to me. And I'm sure Bess wont care – as long as there are plenty of cute guys waiting at each destination."

"Hey !" Bess exclaimed. "This trip is about more than cute guys – although I have to admit, that would be a bonus." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "By the way, Nancy, what exactly are we planning on doing about accomodation ? I mean we're going to be gone a whole month and we don't exactly have that much money."

"Ummm," Nancy said hesitantly. "Well, I was kinda thinking of camping. Ned has a tent and we packed it in the back. It's two bedroom so it should fit all four of us in, but we'll have to share matresses 'cause Ned only had two."

"What !? Camping for an entire month ? Sleeping on hard ground, cramped in a tent ? Nancy Drew are you crazy ?"

"No, she's just being practical," Ned spoke up. "Think abouth it, Bess. We don't have much money, and the tent's really quick to put up. It will be fun. I promise."

Bess crossed her arms and George laughed. "Now she's going to sulk for the rest of the day."

Bess stuck her lip out, "I am not. I would just rather sleep in a comfortable hotel with a bathroom, that's all."

"Well," Nancy said as Ned pulled off the highway into Ann Arbor, Michigan, "If you want to cough up fifty buck a night, be my guest, but I don't have that kind of money for every night."

Bess sighed. "I guess you're right. Oh, well – now there better be some cute guys in this campground."

Nancy, George, and Ned laughed. The old Bess was back.

"Finally !" Bess exclaimed later that evening. She sank onto the ground next to their tent.

"Bess that only took ten minutes – and it will be less next time if you help," George said to her cousin.

The four friends had just finished pitching their tent near a small lake just out of Ann Arbor for their first night away.

"Nan," Ned said, coming up behind her, "You wanna go for a walk ? You know, just us ?"

Nancy pretended to consider his suggestion. "Hmmm. I suppose we could sneak away for a few minutes," she teased.

Ned gave her a mock glare. "I was thinking more than just a few minutes."

With a smile, Nancy grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the lake front, calling "We're just going for a walk !" over her shoulder to Bess and George.

"Yeah, right," she heard George say.

At the lake front, Ned found a spot on the narrow strip of sand by the water and sat down with his back against a tree, pulling Nancy down into his lap.

Nancy turned toward him and slipped her arms around him neck. For a while the two of them just sat there quietly, enjoying being together.

After a minute, Ned pushed Nancy back gently to look into her face. "So, Nan."

Nancy smiled, "So, Ned."

Ned laughed. "Um, I just wanted to talk to you about – well… You know, I guess we'll be sharing a bed tonight – and every other night – and I just wanted to make sure you're ok with that.," he said, his cheeks slightly red.

"Oh," Nancy replied, feeling a light blush sweap over her own face. "Yeah, it's fine. I wouldn't have said yes to the tent if I hadn't been ok with it. I mean, that's the only choice we have for sleeping arrangements."

Ned nodded. "I just wanted to be sure, sinse we've never done that before. And I mean, it's not like anything's going to happen with Bess and George two feet away through a fabric wall."

Nancy laughed. "You're the greatest, Ned Nickerson," she said as she leaned forward and their lips ment in a long kiss.

Song at the beginning - Man ! I Feel Like a Women ! By Shania Twain.