Hi and welcome to my first FanFiction story that is like...you know...not a OneShot, lol. The chapters are kinda short, but the story itself is long! And, the whole thing's written in Nancy's POV (point of view) just for you to know. I rated it T, just in case. I do not own Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys, only the new characters that show up in my story. Enjoy!

I knew it was coming, so I didn't bother crying. I knew something was wrong just by the way Ned's voice sounded over the phone. Meet me at Manny's, his voice echoed in my mind. Our favorite diner. The diner we spent our first date at.

I sat at the first table I saw, practically floating all the way to it. I didn't want to believe it was going to happen, but I knew it would. I'll be there as soon as I can, I heard Ned's nervous voice inside my head. Nothing felt real. I felt motionless where I sat, and everything around me was a distinct blur.

Ned and I hadn't been all that close recently, since I haven't had many cases lately. It seemed we were better apart then together, which was weird. I couldn't believe it was actually going to happen, but part of me was relieved.

"Hey," Ned said quietly, sitting across from me at the booth.

"Hey," I returned, monotone-ly.

"I'm sorry I called you so early today."

Had it been early? I tried to think back, skipping the way Ned's voice had sounded over the phone. What I had been wearing. My pajamas with magnifying glasses scattered over them. Yes, I guess it had been early.

"And I know this is very sudden."

Not really, I wanted to say. And it was true. I knew it was coming. We didn't talk as much as we used to. I was actually surprised to get the call from Ned; despite the time I received it. If he hadn't done it, I'm sure I would have…eventually.

"I think…" He paused, rubbing the back of his neck. "I think we should…"

It was difficult for him. I wanted to smile at how terrible he was doing this, but the muscles in my cheeks were frozen, as was every other part of my body.

He began repeating the same line, "I think maybe, we should-"

"Break up?" I finished, my voice cracking. I'm not sure if it was because I was on the verge of crying or just because I hadn't said a word since the phone call earlier that day.

Ned's eyes blinked a couple times, and I almost wanted to hear him say something like, "No, I think we should get married", or, "Actually, I was gonna say we should take a trip!" But instead he nodded.

I nodded along with him. He apologized and came over to hug me. A normal gesture that would make my heart melt, but this time my heart remained frozen, like my muscles and everything else in my body.

He left soon after, head down, but I stayed. I just sat there, collecting my thoughts. I wondered how I could have been so surprised when I knew it was coming.

I left about an hour later. I ordered a coffee but I didn't have the stomach to swallow it. I drove back home in my blue roadster; surprised I made it back without crashing at all. At least, I don't think I crashed.

When I entered the doorway, Hannah asked me, "How was your date with Ned?"

We broke up, I felt like saying, but I didn't. I didn't feel like answering the questions that would surely follow.

I didn't trust my voice, so to answer her; I forced my cheek muscles to smile. Then, without another word, I headed upstairs.

I called Bess and told her what had happened, and although she had acted surprised, her voice told otherwise. She knew it was going to happen. Everyone knew it was going to happen. I guess the only surprise was when it was going to happen.

After hanging up with Bess, it was pretty much time to go to bed, so I decided to change into my pajamas. But when I opened the door and looked at myself on the full-length mirror on the door, I noticed I was already in my pajamas.

I never changed since the phone call, I realized. And for the first time that day, I laughed. I laughed as I shut my closet door. I laughed as I turned off my light. I laughed when I crawled into bed. I laughed myself to sleep, causing all the sadness of the day to wipe away. It felt good.

The next day, I woke up and got ready, unlike the day before. I had chosen a pair of Levi's, a cute little "Think Green" t-shirt, and some Converse my father had bought me for my birthday last year.

Then I headed over to the mirror to fix my hair and put on my makeup, and the smile I woke up with faded.

I looked down at my neck and the locket around it. The locket Ned gave me just before my trip to Venice. I closed my eyes, and for the first time since he gave it to me, I yanked it off, stashing it away in one of my many jewelry boxes.

My smile returned when I found a surprise I was not expecting downstairs.

"Nancy," Hannah called. "You have some visitors!"

I rolled my eyes. Must be Bess and George.

I walked into the kitchen and stared wide-eyed.

"Hey, Nancy," Frank said, buttering a piece of toast.

Joe was too busy munching on his eggs to say hello.

Hannah stood behind the brothers and lipped at me, "Cute."

I giggled. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Looking for you," Joe said, mouth full of eggs.

"Why?"

"We're on a little case," Frank smiled. "Thought we could use your help."

A case. I hadn't been on a case in over a month. I definitely needed that. "What's the case?"

Frank looked hesitantly at Hannah, then at me.

"Hannah…" I began.

"Say no more," She smiled. "I'm gone." She walked out of the kitchen, a coffee pot in her right hand.

"What's the case?" I repeated, when I was sure Hannah was out of earshot.

"It's a case with ATAC-"

"Obviously," Joe interrupted.

"The undercover work were doing, well…" A blush crept up Frank's neck, then to his cheeks.

Joe rolled his eyes. "We both need girlfriends."

"Fake girlfriends!" Frank blurted.

"Our case packet said something about several couples getting death threats the day they check into this hotel."

"You need a 'fake' girlfriend for that?" I questioned.

"The hotel is couples only," Frank explained. "Even the staff has to be a couple. It's weird."

"I already got Bess on board with me," Joe continued. "But since George is visiting her grandparents or whatever, Bess suggested Frank take you."

"What else did Bess tell you?" I asked.

Frank and Joe looked at each other, "Nothing."

I nodded, seeming kind of relieved by that. I guess I wasn't in the mood for, "I'm sorry about what happened".

"Alright, let's do it!" I smiled.

"You sure Ned will be okay with it?" Frank wondered, shuffling his feet.

I twitched at his name. "It'll be fine."

Hope that was an okay first chapter! I'll try to add more and more chapters like everyday or every other day. Please R&R!