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When Frank walked back into the house, what he saw in the living room caught him completely off guard. He couldn't believe it. Nancy was kissing Luke. He felt a sharp pain go through his heart.
But then he caught himself. What was he doing just staring at them? He was acting completely immature. He hadn't completely closed the door, so he quietly backed out and closed the door softly.
Luckily, Joe was already in the house so he couldn't see what Frank was doing. He waited a few seconds and then made as much noise as possible opening the door. He knew he was being completely childish but he didn't want Nancy to know he had seen her kissing Luke.
When he walked into view of the living room, they had broken apart and were looking at him. He saw Nancy rub her lips.
"Sorry about all of the noise." He said. "I tripped over my feet."
"It's okay." Nancy said. "Luke and I were just talking."
Kissing, Frank thought to himself. He felt another pang hit him. She had lied to him and for some reason that hurt more than seeing her kiss Luke.
"Where's the room?" Frank asked, wanting to get away from them.
"Upstairs. First room to the right." Luke said.
"Thanks," Frank said and walked back upstairs.
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Nancy watched Frank as he walked upstairs. Had he seen her and Luke kissing? she wondered. They had pulled apart as soon as they heard him coming in the door, but she couldn't be sure. She thought she had witnessed a pained expression on his face. If so, he had been quick to cover it up.
Nancy looked at Luke and bit her lower lip. She could feel herself begin to blush.
"Are you all right?" Luke asked.
Nancy nodded and gave a faint smile. "I'm fine."
"You don't look fine." Luke said. "Do you regret kissing me?"
"No," Nancy said. "It was wonderful. It's just–"
"Frank." Luke finished for her.
"Yeah." Nancy said. "I know I shouldn't worry about it, but we have a history together."
"You care for him, Nancy." Luke said. "It's perfectly natural for you to feel this way."
"I do care for him." Nancy said. "But we never acted on anything and I know I'm free to do whatever I please. I just feel like I'm dangling this in front of his face."
"If you're worried about me being upset by any of this, don't be." Luke said. He took her hand and held it. "I like you, Nancy. And I think you like me too."
"I do." Nancy said.
"Good. Then don't care what Frank or anyone else thinks of this or says of this if it makes you happy." Luke said. "I haven't met anyone like you in a while and I'm happy now. So let's not spoil it by any of this talk about hurting anyone's feelings."
Just then a low grumbling filled the air and Nancy started to laugh.
"I'm sorry. I think my stomach has something to say." she said.
"Well, let's fix that right now." Luke said. "I'm about to introduce you to a Luke Medina specialty."
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Joe looked on in surprise when Frank threw the door open to their room. He threw his duffel bag onto the floor and sat down in the bed.
"Problems, Frank?" Joe asked.
Frank just looked at Joe in disgust.
"Before you really start to enjoy the go-to-hell look you're giving me, maybe you want to tell me if I'm the cause of it." Joe said.
Frank sighed. "It's not you, Joe. You just happen to be the unfortunate victim."
"So, what's going on?" Joe asked.
"Let's just say Luke has a new way of healing Nancy." Frank said.
"English, please." Joe said.
"I saw them kissing. But of course I had to act like I didn't. And then Nancy tells me they were just talking." Frank said.
"Do you honestly think she would just come out and say they were kissing?" Joe asked.
"No, I guess not." Frank said.
"Frank, give her credit. She just separated from Ned and it's not like you're jumping at the chance to be with her. You're still with Callie. Be supportive if her and happy for her. She's beginning to move on with her life." Joe said.
"Thanks a lot, little brother." Frank said.
"Hey, you didn't ask for the pep talk so I gave you the you-need-to-get-over-it talk." Joe said.
They both looked up when a knock sounded on the door. Luke poked his head in.
"I'm about to put some steaks on the grill if you want to help." Luke said.
"Sure thing." Joe said. "I'm starving."
Joe looked at Frank and he stood up.
"You better let me help you, Luke." Frank said. "If you let Joe help, you'll be eating charcoal steak."
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Luke had a huge grill set up on his back porch, so they all sat outside, cutting up while he grilled steak and potatoes. Since it was such a beautiful day out, they decided to eat there as well.
They all ate and laughed while they told embarrassing stories about each other and themselves. They carried on for hours and finally around nine o'clock they carried the dishes inside and cleaned up.
When they were done Nancy stretched her arms over her head and yawned. "I hate to be a party-pooper, but I think I'm going to call it a night. You guys have worn me out."
"You were right there with the best of us." Luke said.
"You would blame it on us, wouldn't you, Nancy?" Joe said.
Nancy smiled and threw a throw pillow at him. He caught it right before it hit him in the face. "You make such an easy target, Joe."
"Good night." Nancy said.
Frank watched her as she made her way up the stairs. When she was out of earshot, het let out a big yawn.
"I think I'm going to hit the sack, too." Frank said.
Joe looked pointedly at Frank and Frank shot him a look that told him to back off. Joe just didn't understand that he had to talk to Nancy.
"Hey, aren't the Yankees playing tonight?" Joe asked.
"Yankees?" Luke said, scoffing. "Man, it's Boston all the way."
Frank heard the game come on as he walked upstairs. He stopped at Nancy's door and tapped lightly. She opened the door and smiled at him.
"Hey, you." she said.
"Hey." Frank said. "Can we talk?"
"Sure." Nancy said and opened the door for him. He watched as she walked around without the crutches.
"Did you ditch the crutches?" he asked.
"They were more trouble than they're worth." Nancy said. She sat down on the edge of her bed. "So, what did you want to talk about?"
Frank took a deep breath. This wasn't going to be easy. "What's the story with you and Luke?"
"Excuse me?" Nancy asked, taken aback.
"You two seem to be getting quite chummy." Frank replied.
"Frank, please tell me you did not come up here to talk to me about Luke." Nancy said.
"Actually, I did." Frank said. "Well?"
"Does it matter if we are?" Nancy asked.
"I just want to know." Frank said.
"Why?" Nancy demanded.
"Please, just tell me." Frank said.
"Unbelievable!" Nancy said. "And if you must know, yes, we are getting to be close."
"Be careful, Nan." Frank warned.
"Not this again, Frank. I thought we had ended this discussion." Nancy said.
"I just don't want you to get hurt." Frank said.
"No, you just don't want to see me with anyone else. Guess what, Frank?" Nancy didn't wait for an answer. "I don't care. I am sick and tired of waiting for you. I have a life too, you know. And every aspect of it does not revolve around you and I do not need the 'Frank Hardy seal of approval'."
"Why did you lie to me about kissing him? Are you ashamed of it?" Frank asked.
"Were you spying on me?" Nancy asked, outraged.
"Well, it was pretty hard not to notice when you two were kissing in the living room for all to see. You should have sold tickets, Nancy. I'm sure you would have had a sold-out crowd." Frank said.
"I will not listen to this, Frank. There isn't anyone that I'm with that you'll ever approve of. And I do not want another repeat of our last argument." Nancy said.
"I don't want to argue either." Frank said.
"You're the one who came up here demanding answers." Nancy said.
"Because I don't trust the guy! There, I've said it again!" Frank said. "Why is he never around when you hear things or when you're attacked in the middle of the night in a bedroom that is directly above his? Huh? Have you even asked him that?"
Nancy stood up and walked past Frank. She opened the door and walked out of her room.
"I'm not listening to this anymore, Frank." Nancy said.
Frank grabbed her arm before she could go downstairs. "I am trying to protect you, Nancy."
"I don't need your protection." Nancy said and tore her arm away from him.
She pulled away from him so hard that she lost her footing. She reached for Frank and he tried to make a frantic grab for her, but it was too late.
All he could do was watch helplessly as she tumbled down the stairs and fell into a heap at the bottom.
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Author's Note: Well, let's see how many people I just ticked off on this chapter. I can only imagine what the reviews will be. I'm sure a few are even plotting my death. It's suspense, baby! As I said in my last chapter, I am a huge Nancy/Frank fan. Just keep reading and all will be better. I won't promise anything, though, because I'm sure to disappoint someone...
