hardy boys fan fiction
FEBRUARY FLIRTATIONS
hardy boys nancy drew fan fiction
by
Aspen & Evergreen
Chapter 5
hardy boys fan fiction
THE CHAPTERS
The roar of a snowmobile drowned out any other sounds for a few seconds as one of the vehicles, clearly out of control and dangerously close, zoomed past. Frank, who had ended up sprawled in the snow beside Megan, sat up and glared at the miscreant with venomous hostility.
“HEY! What’s the big idea, you—”
The snowmobile slithered to a stop a short distance down the street, and the rider shut off the motor, climbed off and gave the machine a savage kick. He then turned and ran back towards the Hardys’ driveway, pulling off his woolen face mask as he did so and revealing himself to be one of their neighbors.
“I am SO sorry!” he exclaimed, sounding thoroughly exasperated. “I just got this thing, used. I was taking it out for a test run and the throttle got stuck! And then it took me a few minutes to get the brake to work, and by then I was almost on you! Are you okay? I feel like a total heel – I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s okay, Mark; it’s okay,” Frank hastened to reassure the young man. About Jeremy’s age, Mark Delaney and his wife and their infant daughter had moved to High Street a few months before. “We weren’t hurt. I got Megan out of the way – you’re okay, aren’t you, Baby?” He extended a hand to pull Megan from her snowbank. “Glad you stopped, though – if you hadn’t, I’d have had to track you down and have a few words. You need any help getting it back home?”
“Nah, I’ll just take it really slow.” Delaney sighed. “I really am sorry,” he added to Megan as she brushed herself off. “I’ll load it up on the trailer and take it outside of town next time I play with it.”
“Check the throttle,” Frank advised. “You don’t want it sticking like that.”
“I sure don’t,” Mark agreed, and shuffled off to retrieve his snowmobile. Frank and Megan went back inside the Hardys’ house, where Joe, Laura and Vanessa had retreated once they were assured everything was all right.
“You okay, Red?” Joe inquired solicitously as Megan entered.
“I’m fine, just chilly,” she replied. “Any more of that cocoa left?”
“Sorry, honey, it’s all gone, but I’ll make you a cup of tea,” Laura offered, and proceeded to do so as they gathered once more in the kitchen. The subject of Jeremy Isaacs’ love life was soon raised again.
“Do you guys think he’ll manage to do it?” Vanessa inquired. “Ask Amber out for a coffee date, I mean?” She absently twirled an ash-blonde lock of hair around her forefinger as she spoke.
“I bet he does,” Frank said confidently. “He seemed to be more steady once he had some ideas for things he could talk about. As long as he makes no mention of buying her shoes or eating her mittens, or something—” He waited for the shrieks of laughter to die down. “And don’t get the idea he’s dumb, girls. He’s perfectly articulate with most people – it’s just this Amber who’s got him flummoxed. Anyway, he should be fine. And who knows? Maybe she’s just been waiting for him to make a move!”
“If he hadn’t asked us for help she’d probably have been waiting forever,” Joe commented idly, serving himself another chunk of gingerbread. “Yup,” he mumbled through a mouthful, “we done good today!”
*****
Frank had survived a Forensic Analysis test, and was unwinding, munching on a slice of cafeteria pizza which he was sharing with Megan, when his cell phone rang. He pulled it from his jacket pocket and eyed the display, grinning when he saw it came up as the Bayport Police Department. “Bet it’s Jeremy,” he said to Megan, calmly adding ‘This is Frank,” into the phone.
“It’s Jeremy, Frank. I did it! I asked Amber out for coffee after work and she said yes!” The young cop sounded breathless with excitement.
Frank grinned at Megan, nodding. “That’s great, Jeremy. What time and where?”
“Uh...” Sounds of Jeremy fumbling with something in the background came through. “Taka Java on Old Orchard Drive. You know, near the old theater? She says that’s her favorite. We both get off at six, so we’re going then.”
“Great job! Was it as scary as you thought?” Frank teased.
“Worse!”
“Hey, the hardest part’s over now; you’ll have a great time getting to know each other. Trust me.”
“I’d like to, but all the butterflies loose in my stomach are making it difficult! I don’t know how I’m going to make it through patrol this afternoon. God, Frank, what if something comes up while I’m on the street and I have to work late and stand her up, or something!?”
Frank rolled his eyes. “Positive thoughts, Jer. Positive thoughts.”
“Yeah, yeah, okay. I’d better be going, or my sergeant is going to chew me out – again. And then I will be late getting off work!”
“Jeremy? Good luck – and call if you need anything, okay?”
“Okay, Frank. Bye!”
Pocketing his phone, Frank surveyed his girlfriend across the table. “How would you like to go for coffee around seven this evening?” he suggested. “We could go to Taka Java out by the old theater on Orchard Drive.”
She looked a little doubtful. “You really think we ought to spy on Jeremy like that? He might not like it. We wouldn’t have liked it, back when we were first dating.”
Frank shook his head. “Not exactly the same situation. And I didn’t mean we’d just go and spy for the sake of horning in. What if he gets panicked?”
“Well....” She considered it, chewing her pizza meditatively. “I would like to get to meet Amber, or at least see what she’s like. But maybe we ought to wait until the third or fourth date before we go barging in. What do you think, honestly?”
Frank shrugged, grinning. “I think I’m out of my depth, is what I think! What’s the etiquette on helping a friend with a date? Do you hang out and make sure he doesn’t flounder, or do you let him get through on his own and don’t interfere?”
“Good question,” Megan admitted. She glanced up. “Maybe Joe will have some answers; here he and Vanessa come.”
The two newcomers wandered up, hand-in-hand. Joe was yawning and looked sleepy.
“I,” he announced, sinking into an empty chair, “just lived through a psychology lecture by Doctor Petes. I may never be wide awake again. That man could put a certified insomniac into a coma, I know he could.”
“Not very inspiring, then?” Frank inquired.
“Try dull as nails,” his brother groused, and yawned again.
Vanessa laughed, settling into a fourth chair.
“Well, maybe this will wake you up,” Frank said. “Jeremy called. He and Amber have a coffee date after work tonight.”
Joe sat up, abruptly more alert. “He did? They do? Where?”
“Taka Java. Megan and I were wondering if we ought to cruise by and sort of drop in on them...whaddya think?”
“I think we should,” was Vanessa’s opinion. “I want to see this Amber.”
“We wouldn’t have to be obvious about it,” Joe said. “We could just...happen along. A coincidence, that’s all.”
Megan snorted, but didn’t say anything.
“Not go until seven or seven-thirty,” Vanessa suggested. “Give them plenty of time alone, to talk and stuff...but that way we could see her and make sure she’s not—”
“SHIFTY!” three voices finished for her.
“Well...yes!”
*****
Taka Java was located on the first floor of what had once been an old brownstone townhouse. Several walls had been removed from the original structure to allow for more seating space, but the overall ambiance was quaint and cozy. It reminded Frank strongly of their Aunt Gertrude’s room, when she had lived with them, with homemade-looking crafts adorning the walls, and its blue chintz chairs at the small, round tables.
At seven-fifteen on a Monday evening, the place wasn’t crowded, although it certainly wasn’t deserted, either. The Hardys and their girlfriends entered quietly and stood for a few moments looking over the room.
Jeremy Isaacs was easy to spot, his red hair stood out like a beacon. He and a girl – most certain Amber – were seated at a table near the back wall, deep in conversation. As they watched, Amber began laughing in response to something Jeremy was saying to her, and they saw the young police officer grinning widely as well. Both his hands came up, gesturing to emphasize whatever it was he was talking about. He leaned forward across the little table, and Frank’s watchful eye caught Amber laying a hand lightly on Jeremy’s arm as she continued to laugh with him.
“Well, well, well!” Joe muttered softly. “Looks like our star pupil aced his first exam!”
“Yeah...” Frank breathed. Obviously something had put Jeremy at ease, since he was able to talk and laugh and tease with this girl who had had him tongue-tied and crimson with embarrassment just a few days before. “Let’s go sit down.” Frank gestured towards one of the larger tables intended for four persons.
They drifted in that direction, but Frank angled his progress so as to catch Jeremy’s eye. “Hey, Jeremy,” he said, doing his best to sound casual.
The other man glanced up, and his eyes widened at the sight of Frank, Joe and the girls. “Frank! And...Joe. Uh – hi, guys. What brings you here?”
“The search for a better cup of coffee, of course,” Joe said. “Someone recommended it, so we thought we’d check it out.”
“We’re totally sorry for interrupting; we just wanted to say hi,” Megan dimpled engagingly.
“Oh! Well, sure – great! Uh – this is Amber Dougherty, She works in Records at the precinct. Amber, these nice people are Frank and Joe and Megan and Vanessa.”
“Hardy, Hardy, Bender and Wright,” Joe added their last names, pointing to each in turn.
“Yeah, sorry. You may have heard of the Hardy brothers at the station, and I was telling you about their mom, Laura—”
“Yes.” Amber smiled at them sweetly. “I’m pleased to meet you all. I didn’t realize Jeremy knew you personally.” She was pretty in an understated way – not drop-dead-gorgeous, although that was how Jeremy had seemed to see her – but very attractive. She had brown eyes, and long brown hair pulled back into a tidy French braid, and copper-wire-rimmed glasses with tiny rectangular lenses were perched on her nose.
“Well, we’ve met several times, anyway,” Frank said. “Mostly because of cases we worked on with Dad, and then when Jeremy was guarding our mom. It’s nice meeting you, too.”
“Let’s get started on the coffee analysis,” Vanessa urged, tugging on Joe’s elbow, “and let Amber and Jeremy get back to their conversation. Glad to meet you, Amber.” She nodded at them, smiling, but kept up the persistent pull on Joe’s arm. Frank and Megan excused themselves as well, and the four gathered around their table to decide on drink orders.
By the time they had ordered and received the beverages, Jeremy and Amber were preparing to leave. Frank, watching as closely as he dared without being conspicuous, noted that Jeremy helped Amber on with her jacket, and when the couple went out the door, her hand was tucked tightly into the crook of his arm.
“Hope we didn’t scare them off!” Vanessa mourned. “They left awfully suddenly, don’t you think?”
“Maybe....” Joe looked a little uncomfortable too.
“She’s cute, don’t you think?” Megan licked whipped cream off her upper lip, staring reflectively at a wall decoration.
“Very,” Vanessa agreed. “She looks like the right type for him. She certainly seemed to be interested in whatever stories he was telling her. And who knew that our shy Jeremy could make a girl laugh like that – with him, not at him – when he was so nervous!?”
“She must have said something or done something to help him along,” Megan said with approval. “Or maybe just being out and away from the police station made him more at ease. Whatever the case, it seems like she does like him.”
“And she’s not shifty?” Joe teased, grinning.
“And she’s not shifty,” Vanessa conceded.
They finished up their coffee and departed, feeling the little jaunt had been well worthwhile.
Around nine o’clock that evening, Frank’s cell phone rang again.
“I just wanted to say thank you,” Jeremy sounded incredibly happy. “I’m going to ask her out again. We had so much fun! I had to keep pinching myself to make sure I was awake and not dreaming it!”
“It looked like you were having a good time,” Frank agreed.
“What would you suggest for a second date? It’s not like I can just say ‘Hey, wanna go to the Policemen’s Ball with me?’ after having coffee once, after all. Would dinner and a movie be way too cliché?”
“Dinner and a movie sounds like a good second date. In fact,” Frank continued as an idea sprang to mind, “Megan, Van, Joe and I are double-dating on Thursday evening. The girls want to see that new romantic comedy that just opened last weekend. Would you and Amber like to join us, and then go to Angelo’s for Italian afterwards?”
Jeremy considered it a moment. “Maybe a triple date would be good,” he said at last. “Then I could see if she’d like to go out, just the two of us, on the weekend, or next week. Thanks, Frank!”
“Well, let us know what you two decide,” Frank said, preparing to end the call.
“I will – oh, hey, Frank?” Jeremy sounded like he was grinning now. “You know what? She DOES like to shoot guns!”
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The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.