Love & Lies on Campus

Summary: When someone begins threatening the daughter of a prominent lawyer, Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys go undercover as law students to solve the case. Takes place several months after Nightmares and Dreamscapes.

Disclaimer: Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys are not mine. But I love them as though they were my own.

Author's Notes: Hi guys! Thanks so much for the encouraging reviews for my previous stories. Your feedback keeps me writing!

This is my first attempt at a story longer than a one-shot. *lol* It takes place several months after NM & DS. Since I don't live in the United States, I've taken the liberty of using my creative license with regards to the primary locations in the story. Happy reading!

Chapter 1

He called her name again and she looked up from her chocolate soufflé.

"Are you okay?" Ned Nickerson asked curiously. "You've been a bit quiet throughout dinner."

Nancy Drew smiled apologetically at her longtime boyfriend. "Sorry, I was just thinking about…" she hesitated, "something my dad told me earlier."

He didn't miss the deflection in her answer. "It's about a case, isn't it?" He placed his fork down beside his half-eaten blueberry cheesecake and leaned back in his chair expectantly. All that was missing were the folded arms against his chest and the picture would be complete.

Watching his defensive stance, Nancy thought sadly, since when did admitting I have a new case start feeling like a betrayal? She shrugged it off, not wanting to spoil the beautiful evening. "It's nothing really," she said dismissively. "Just one of dad's friends asking him a favor to look into something." She smiled and looked around the posh Italian restaurant. "So what's the special occasion for this fancy dinner?" she asked, changing the subject.

Ned grinned and leaned forward, his high spirits restored. "Two things actually. I have great news."

Nancy started to feel excited despite herself. "What is it?"

"I landed the job at Maguire," he announced proudly. "I'm going to be a sports agent!"

"Ned, that's wonderful news! I'm so happy for you!" Nancy jumped up from her seat to give him a warm hug. She knew how badly Ned wanted this job since he graduated from Emerson. He was the star quarterback on the varsity football team since high school and everyone expected him to pursue a career in sports after college.

"Yeah, I'm really excited," Ned beamed as he returned her hug. "I can't believe I'll be working for one of the biggest agencies in the country!"

Nancy smoothed the back of her turquoise dress as she sat back down and reached for her wine glass. "I think this calls for a toast," she said happily, lifting the flute. "To the bright future!" The crystal clinked as Ned touched his own glass to hers and echoed her words. He watched her as she took a sip of champagne and took a deep breath. "Nan, about the second thing…"

"Oh, I almost forgot," she laughed, her blue eyes dancing in the candlelight. "What's the second reason for this celebration?"

Ned cleared his throat nervously and looked down at the floral centerpiece between them, an elegant arrangement of peach roses and baby's breath. "Well, I was thinking... since I already graduated from college and I have this great-paying, stable job…" he trailed off. Nancy was watching him silently. "What are you saying, Ned?" she asked softly.

"We've been together for a long time, Nan," he continued seriously, meeting her eyes. "It would make sense to take the next logical step, don't you think?"

He reached into his pocket and brought out a small black velvet box, placed it on the cream tablecloth and pushed it slowly towards her with his index finger.

Nancy stared at the unopened box, her heart starting to pound. She was not expecting this at all. Five minutes ago she was thinking about the new case that required her to go undercover… and… her usually attentive mind faltered, losing its train of thought as all her senses blocked everything out but the box sitting in front of her.

"Nancy?"

Her wide blue eyes flew up to his nervous, amused face. "Are you okay? Do you need some water or something?"

"Ned…" she said breathlessly. "What is this?"

To her surprise, he suddenly burst out laughing. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to laugh… it's just that, you're a detective Nan. Isn't the clue pretty obvious?" He reached for the box and pushed back his chair to stand. "Maybe I'm not doing this the right way." She mutely watched him as he stopped in front of her and started to get down on one knee.

"Ned, wait," she blurted out, grasping his arm. "Please."

Ned looked confused. "Wait? Why? Nan, I don't know if you've caught up yet, but I'm trying to pro—"

"Ned, I can't," she interrupted him in a rush, holding up her hands to cover her face briefly, unable to bear seeing the hurt flash across his handsome face. "I'm so sorry."

He stood frozen in place, staring down at the top of her bent strawberry blonde head, wondering what was going on in that maddening head of hers right this moment. This has got to be the worst proposal ever, he thought miserably. He didn't even get to pop the stupid question and already she said no.

After a minute Nancy sighed, got up and took his hands in hers. Ned managed not to flinch away from her.

"Ned, I love you. You have to know that," she said gently. "But I'm not ready for this kind of commitment. I still have things I want to accomplish before settling down."

"Like what?" he asked, struggling to understand. One of his close friends had recently tied the knot with his girlfriend of six months. He and Nancy had been together much longer than that. It wasn't supposed to be this difficult.

"I'd like to finish college, for one…" She paused and took a breath, "…then after that, I was thinking of maybe joining the FBI or the CIA."

"What?" Ned exclaimed. Images of FBI agents clad in bulletproof vests, toting guns and pursuing terrorists through condemned buildings flashed through his mind. "FBI? CIA? Are you serious?"

"Well, I don't know yet," Nancy said defensively. "But I'd like to keep them open as options."

Ned blew out a frustrated breath and folded his arms across his chest. "Nan… you know I've always supported your love for mysteries. But we're not teenagers anymore. You're not eighteen anymore. Don't you think it's time you grew out of your amateur sleuthing?" he asked gently.

Nancy felt as though he had punched her in the gut. "Ned, my being a detective is not some adolescent phase I can just grow out of. It's who I am." To her shame, she felt tears welling up in her eyes. "Look, I'm sorry if I spoiled your proposal. But it's not fair of you either to spring this on me without any warning, especially since we've been so busy and we haven't seen each other in months." She blinked rapidly and gathered her shawl and evening bag. "I'll wait for you outside, okay?"

Ned clenched his jaw as he signaled for their waiter to bring the check. He looked down at the velvet box still fisted in his grip. She didn't even open it, he realized with a sinking heart.

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Taking a deep cleansing breath, Nancy stepped out into the cold night and wound her shawl tightly around her slender shoulders. Part of her wanted to hail a cab and get away from this whole evening.

She tried to picture herself married to Ned. It would be an idyllic, harmonious marriage, she knew. They would live in a nice two-storey house in the suburbs, have two or three kids, maybe a dog. Once she was a mother, Ned would probably expect her to have a safe, grounded, 9 to 5 job. A desk job in a multinational company? Or a teaching career maybe?

Lost in thought, she didn't hear his approaching footsteps. His quiet voice startled her. "So where do I fit in Nan?"

She turned and saw him standing there, looking handsome in his sports coat despite the troubled look in his brown eyes. She sighed heavily. "Where you always have, Ned. I don't want things to change between us."

"I think they already are," he said simply. "C'mon. I'll take you home."

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The ride back to Nancy's house was silent, the air crackling with a current of tension that had nowhere to go in the dark enclosed space.

Ned's heavy sigh eventually broke the tense silence. "Can I ask you something, Nan?"

"Of course."

"Is there something else you're not telling me? Is there—" he hesitated. "—somebody else?"

Shocked, Nancy turned to look at his profile illuminated by the streetlamps and headlights of oncoming cars. Before she could stop herself, a familiar image of a tall, handsome man with dark brown eyes and a warm smile appeared in her mind's eye. She gave herself a mental shake to dispel the image. "What? Of course not!" Heat rose to her cheeks.

Ned took his eyes off the road to give her a searching look. She met his gaze as evenly as she could.

With another sigh, he returned his attention to the road. "So, when was the last time you spoke to Frank Hardy?" he asked casually.

"Frank, it's okay," she said soothingly, laying a hand on his arm. "I didn't fall."

He opened his eyes and fixed her with an intense look. "But I did," he whispered.

Nancy bit her lip, a blush rising to her cheeks again. She subtly tilted her head to let her hair partially cover her pink cheeks like a curtain. "A few months ago, during our last case," she said quietly.

"It's hard to believe that Frank hasn't admitted his feelings for you," Ned marveled out loud. "The guy has obviously carried a torch for you all these years."

"…I don't know what will happen to us after tonight since we have our lives to get back to, but I want you to carry these words with you, wherever you go."

"We're just friends," Nancy said weakly. "We're committed to other people."

"Are you really, Nancy?" Ned asked softly.

"That's not fair," she said hotly. "Just because I'm not ready to get married shouldn't be a reason to doubt my commitment to you as a girlfriend." But even as she said the words, Nancy already knew they were a lie. She could clearly see herself writing the words on Frank's cast as he slept, without hesitation. She couldn't help watching him sleep for a few minutes after that, until Joe had stirred awake in the other bed.

She felt even worse at Ned's next words. "I'm sorry, Nan," he said, reaching over to take her hand. They turned the corner to her quiet street and came to a smooth stop in front of her house. "Look," Ned continued, "I'm not trying to pressure you or anything, but can you at least think about it?" His brown eyes pleaded with her.

Nancy looked down at their entwined hands. "Okay, Ned," she conceded. "I'll think about it." Looking up, she saw his relieved smile. "Thanks Nan."

"Good night, Ned." She leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek.

"Sweet dreams," Ned replied. "By the way, what's your new case about?"

Nancy smiled. She had to give him credit for trying. "I'm going undercover as a law student to find out who's been sending threatening notes to the daughter of one of dad's friends."

"Sounds simple enough," Ned said with a teasing smile. "Just don't go falling in love with handsome law students."

"I doubt that," Nancy laughed as she stepped out of the car.

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