As I was writing this, I realized that Mick is harder to write than I thought. Even in the books, he was so focused on Nancy, it's hard write his actions/reactions to other characters. But I'm doing my best, and taking some liberties with his character. For those who know Mick, I apologize if it's off. For those who don't, don't take this verbatim. :) Also, I apologize for any formatting issues. Some of the 'conversation breakers' and such aren't showing up, so I'm using other stuff to show that this is a new event or place or conversation or such.
Chapter 2
Mick woke up the next morning with a headache. Being the son of a diplomat, he was used to traveling, and even more so since visiting anywhere from Australia always involved flying. But the long trip to the US, plus his excitement at seeing Nancy, really messed with him. Deciding he'd be better off just staying at one of the hotels rather than trying to drive to River Heights (since he wasn't too sure where he was headed, exactly), he crashed in the hotel bed just as soon as he checked in.
Now, showered, dressed, and in his rental car, Mick took off for River Heights. By the time he had gotten the rental, it was well past noon. But he knew he needed the extra sleep this morning, trying to knock off the jet-lag.
Mick glanced briefly at the directions he had jotted down, including home address for Nancy. He had about an hour drive ahead of him, and he hoped to clear his head of the jumbled thoughts.
He had been working out a plan in his mind, on how to surprise Nancy. And even now, with the excitement and anticipation building and the jet-lag slowly wearing off, he wasn't sure what he was going to do, much less say. They had parted on good terms, but it's been a while since they had last talked. But he knew her well enough to know that, if she still had feelings for him (and why shouldn't she?) she wouldn't deny them, when confronted.
He laughed at himself. "I'm not obsessed." He glanced in the rearview mirror and smiled determinedly at the sunglasses looking back at him. "I just know what I want."
NDHB NDHB NDHB NDHB
Mick glanced up as a waitress, probably about 19, her long brown hair falling gently over her shoulders, approached his table. The smile on her face told Mick he had her attention.
Mick flashed the waitress a smile, and the waitress's own smile grew wider. "Welcome to Main Street Java." She placed a menu on Mick's table. "What can I get you to drink?"
"Just some water for now, please, miss."
"The name's Erin, and you aren't from around here, are you?" Erin asked, interest sparking in her eyes.
Mick shrugged and laughed easily. "I guess my accent gave it away?"
Erin winked. "I know every cute face around here, and yours is one I would never forget!" she gushed.
Once he had arrived in River Heights, he stopped at a little café in downtown for food. It was a little restaurant, with a casual atmosphere and a laid-back look. The smell of coffee and pastries had greeted Mick when he walked in.
He smiled back at Erin, and ordered a sandwich, and actually trying not to flirt. Flirting was something he enjoyed, and came naturally. But right now, he just wanted food
As Erin walked away, with just a little extra bounce to her step, Mick's stomach grumbled. He glanced at the clock on the wall. Back home, it was still early morning. "Even my stomach is messed up," he muttered.
The door of the cafe opened, and three women walked in. Mick glanced in their direction reflexively. All three were chattering excitedly, their voices low. Mick looked back at the clock.
Then, like a lightning bolt, his eyes shot back to the trio, in shocked realization. He was staring at Nancy Drew, Bess Marvin, and George Fayne.
Normally not one to hesitate, Mick found his mouth felt like cotton and his cheeks flushed. He quickly glanced away, not wanting to confront them yet. Not here, in a place where they were comfortable and he was not. And not knowing Nancy's current "status," he wanted to be armed with more information before he approached her.
He heard the girls take a seat a few booths away from him. He sighed inwardly. He wasn't sure but Bess may have seen him. If he remembered right, she was always on the lookout for another "hunkster" and she so often repeated to him years ago.
Their voices grew louder, now that they were closer to him, and he could pick up on a few things that were said. As he waited for his food to arrive, he sat quietly, listening to what bits and pieces he could hear.
(to the girls table)
Bess squealed for the umpteenth time. "Married! I can't believe you are the first one of us! And Frank Hardy! Gosh, that still shocks me!"
Nancy giggled, something she seems to be doing more lately than ever, and poked her friend. "Bess! You were the first engaged! I'm just tying the knot before you." Nancy grinned. "As for Frank, be nice. It took us a long time before we felt that this was the right path for us."
George snorted. "You're not kidding! For two incredibly-intelligent people, you sure are dumb when it comes to relationships."
Bess sighed dramatically. "Not dumb, more like, careful, guarded, cautious." She smiled wistfully. "It's so romantic! Neither wanted to hurt the other after awful breakups, and in the end, they couldn't deny their own passionate feelings toward the other!"
Both girls laughed. "You are completely hopeless, Bess Marvin!"
Bess swatted her cousin. "Leave me alone! I can't believe I'm the only one who appreciates the trials of true love!"
(Mick's table)
"Wedding? Engaged?" Mick repeated slowly. He strained to listen closer, trying to figure out who was getting married.
A waiter brought Mick his food, and noticing his preoccupied look, turned and left, without saying a word.
Mick absently picked up the sandwich. Please, don't be Nancy, he wished silently. He could feel his heart pump faster as he listened.
(Nancy's table)
"So how about cooking? Cleaning? Are you ready for the domesticated part of married life, Nan?" Bess teased. She knew Nancy was more of an outdoorsy girl. Not as much as George, but definitely more so than herself.
Nancy laughed nervously. "Well… I've warned Frank that I'm not exactly Martha Stewart. I think that actually relieved him." Nancy tapped her glass of tea. "It's just going to be a lot of trial and error I think. I mean, I can clean, and I can cook basic stuff. I learned a lot from Hannah, but… well… I'm not the fastest learner."
George swirled her straw thoughtfully around her glass. "I think you'll be fine. Me, I'd be more concerned about the 100 factor."
Bess glanced at George with an amused look. "Nancy probably doesn't know what that is. She didn't grow up with Gramps lecturing all us grandkids about etiquette and manners and 'a woman's proper place.'"
Nancy looked quizzically at the cousins. "100?"
George leaned back in her chair. "Gramps always lectured us about being little ladies. His idea, and remember, he grew up in the south, deep south, where the wife was supposed to be barefoot and pregnant."
Bess snorted her obvious disapproval.
"Anyway, he would lecture us all the time about this. Aunt Vicki, however, would remind us that for a marriage to work, each spouse had to give 100 of everything. Time, work, effort, love, and so on." George smiled.
"And it's true. Our entire family holds that principle and so far, we've had no major issues." Bess looked at Nancy, her face so serious that Nancy almost shuddered. Bess placed her hand on Nancy's arm.
"Nan, we love you dearly, and we love Frank almost as much. We just want the best for you two. And if you ever need anything, to talk or to rant and you can't go to Frank, please remember us."
Nancy nodded. The serious look on her face and tone of her voice almost made her want to cry. A small lump formed in her throat. "I love you guys!"
George tapped her glass with her spoon. "Hear hear! After lunch, desserts are on me!"
Bess's face lit up, and the look that was so out of place quickly vanished. "You're on!"
(back to Mick)
Mick realized with a sinking heart that it was Nancy who was getting married.
Could it be that boyfriend? He realized he never got the guy's name. Nancy never mentioned his name, or any other details about him. Only that she had a boyfriend.
"But, in that case…" he trailed off. Surely, he still had a chance. They had shared much more than a little spark back in Europe, and she hardly mentioned the boyfriend that summer. Even in Australia, he knew they still shared something special.
And she wasn't married yet. He picked up his sandwich.
Nancy, Bess, and George rose from their seats, and after paying, left the café. He watched their retreating figures, and sat back, his confidence slowly coming back.
She wasn't married yet. He still had a chance. He made her forget about the boyfriend once before. It was years ago, but he knew he could do it again.
He still had a chance, because she wasn't married yet. He smiled. "Just you wait, Drew." He said aloud. You forgot about the boyfriend on two different trips, he thought. I'll win your heart back, full force, this time.
NDHB NDHB NDHB NDHB
George unlocked the doors to her car, but before getting in, she turned back to Nancy. "Do you want to head back home, or do you want to go somewhere else?"
Bess hugged Nancy. "I don't want her to go home! Oh, Nancy, once you are married and have moved, we're not going to be able to have all these great times together!"
Nancy smiled softly and hugged Bess back. "I'm just getting married. And it's not like I'm moving halfway around the world!"
"But it won't be the same!" came the tearful reply. "We can't go on our shopping trips anymore! Or have girls' night out! Or talk about boys!"
George chuckles. "How old are you, again, Bess? 16? 17?"
Nancy winked at George, still holding Bess. "Bess, you know I'll come visit! And besides, I'll be living so close to New York, you can come visit me, giving you a perfect excuse to go shopping in the Big Apple!"
Bess sniffled, fighting back more tears. "Yeah." She glanced up at Nancy. "You're right, as usual." Then she grinned. "Of course I'll have to come around Christmas, oooh! And of course every spring when they release the summer fashions."
George and Nancy laughed, exchanging knowing glances as Bess rambled on. Bess was still a shopping maniac.
"Bess, you might want to check your mascara," George pointed out dryly, referring to black smudging on Bess's face.
"Oh, my gosh!" Bess jumped in the passenger seat and began fumbling through her purse, after pulling down the vanity mirror. "How awful it would be if some gorgeous guy just happened to walk by right now!" She squeaked, pulling out a tissue and more mascara.
George shook her head and slipped into the driver's seat, and Nancy climbed in back.
Bess glanced in the mirror, catching Nancy's eye. "So how's the packing coming, Nan? You still have plenty of time before we move you into the new house."
Nancy's eyes shifted to the window, as George pulled into the street. "It's," she paused, remembered the photo. "It's coming."
George glanced warily at Nancy in the mirror. "Nancy?"
"I'm just going through a bunch of old photos right now. You know, memories."
Bess's eyes widened. "Of Ned? But I thought you two decided to be friends." After the breakup, they decided to be friends, not best friends, or close friends, but to at least keep in touch. They had shared so much together, that it was impossible to completely cut off ties with each other.
Nancy gave a half-grin. "Well, not really. More like pictures from our summer travels in Europe." She picked at some lint on her shirt. "More specifically-"
"Mick." Bess offered quietly.
"Didn't you and Mick decide to just be friends, also?" George asked, remembering her conversation with Nancy as they left Australia.
"We did, but unfortunately, seeing those pictures brought back old feelings with Mick." Nancy sighed. "He was always so persistent, and couldn't take no for an answer. Even after I told him about Ned."
Bess continued to sit quietly, her makeup perfected. Her mind raced. She was nearly positive she had seen Mick in the café, but, why would he be in River Heights?
The obvious answer, she realized, was Nancy. Bess knew the heart better than most. And she knew Mick was the type who would go to such lengths when it came to love. Was this even possible?
George glanced at her cousin, who was staring down at her hands. "Bess? You're alwfully quiet, completely unlike you. What's wrong?"
Bess shook her head. "Nothing's wrong."
Nancy's ears perked up. "C'mon, Bess. This isn't like you."
Bess didn't say anything. She knew she couldn't hide anything from Nancy's detective instincts. But should she really tell her who she thought she saw? The girl was about to get married, after all, and it had been hard enough to even get them to that!
"Bess, do you know something we don't?" George asked.
"You know we're just going to hound you til you tell us! And don't lie, either! We can see through those!" Nancy leaned forward against the seatbelt restraint.
Bess sighed, defeated. "I'm only telling you because I think you deserve to know, and that you'll never leave me alone if I don't." She hesitated. "Back at the restaurant, when I thought I saw someone I knew.. well.. it was true."
Nancy and George exchanged quizzical glances in the rearview mirror.
"Who did you think you saw?" Nancy asked slowly.
She took a deep breath, held it, and exhaled slowly.
"Mick Devlin."
Nancy sat back, but with the way her chest felt, she might as well have been punched back into the seat.
"Mick," she repeated slowly. It can't be, can it? And of all times?
George was almost as shocked. "Oh, Nancy, you know it's not him. He's all the way in Australia, and you're here. You're getting married! It was probably some guy who looked a lot like Mick."
Bess nodded. "Right, it's probably just a coincidence."
"Maybe." Nancy said. "But you know I don't believe in coincidences."
Was it okay? This chapter fell onto e-paper really fast, and it almost scared me! All comments and such are STILL VERY welcome! Thanks to all who have reviewed. Your reviews have really encouraged me to keep with this and even given me a few ideas. THANK YOU!
Also, for those who are dying for the mystery. It'll start next chapter, but won't be much until the chapter after THAT. Sorry, it's taking a lot of time to get there, and this time, the story is focused on.. well.. you can already tell.. the characters themselves!
