Ara Ara’s Mind

{AN: This is the start of me sharing my CW Nancy Drew fan fiction. This version of Nancy is so important to me because they allow her to be selfish, dumb, and imperfect. As well as having interesting characters surrounding her with their own interesting stories. The final season did not do these characters justice and I hope to one day give them the stories they deserve. This story is about George Fan and Ned Nickerson from episode 16 of season 1}

The freezer is cold, obviously, but George can’t feel it. Her body always feels like it’s on fire near Nick, for some reason. It’s something she wished she noticed before she blindly agreed to be co-owners.

Though, if she were honest, she didn’t mind not being the only one left behind when Nancy decides to play detective. It was nice to be accompanied by another person that couldn’t throw away their responsibilities for something Nancy randomly uncovered. And the fact that it was Nick wasn’t half bad either.

But she couldn’t do that right now. Not with him. Not with the store in shambles. Maybe later would be better. You know, after they figure out all the “co-owners” stuff. Maybe even after Nick got his own place. They were packed like sardines in every space they were in together.

The more George thought it about it, the more she thought that this timing was all wrong. Today was definitely not “test the waters” day.

George didn’t get the chance to tell Nick that she changed her mind, until Nancy’s case was completed. But now things were awkward and undefined.

George took a breath and went for it. “I think it’s best for you to stick to the couch tonight.”

It felt weird to say. Her offer for him to sleep in her bed had been genuine, but she needed space. Almost craved it. And yet there was a disappointment in her words that she hoped Nick wouldn’t hear.

Nick was surprised. Like maybe he forgot that her bed was even offered to him.

“Oh, for sure the couch.” He assured. “The couch is a great place.”

He wouldn’t even look up as he passive aggressively packed a box of frozen goods. But there was something in his face that seemed defeated. Like he expected everything to take this turn and has no one else to blame but George. Maybe it was the idea of comfort that he longed for or maybe it was George, she didn’t know.

George wished things could be different. She wished that the police never came in to search The Claw this morning. Wish that they could immediately be in sync when it came to the restaurant. Wished that co-owning a business wasn’t this difficult. She liked Nick, but not enough to jeopardize the business she worked to obtain.

“You know, so we can be co-owners.” She reminded him.

Losing The Claw was not a risk George was willing to take. Not after all they had been through with that stupid restaurant. As far as she was concerned Nick offering to co-own it was the best thing to happen it this dingy restaurant. She couldn’t jeopardize that just because her heat melted every time she looked Nick in his eyes.

A realization seemed to hit Nick as he leaned away from the box. He looked at Georg, which felt like the first time he looked at her all day. Like he could sense he heart melting in the middle of the freezer.

“Friendly co-owners.” He suggested.

“Yeah.” George confirmed as she watched Nick give an extremely friendly glance to her lips.

Maybe that’s the kind of friendliness she wanted in their partnership.

They held each other’s gaze. Waiting for the air to change or for the moment to be interrupted. George wasn’t sure what was going to happen; she wasn’t sure if what this was should be happening. But Nick was looking at her with those brown eyes and he was getting closer and closer. And if she were honest, which it was seeming like she wouldn’t be able to stop doing, she liked it.

There weren’t sparks when they kissed, but something warmed that freezer like it was flying into the sun. George started to loose herself in it.