Strange as IT Seems

Chapter 67: Parallel Pursuits

Nancy stares at the sticky note as she pours coffee for her boss.

It had been about a week since she received this call, but she had to study for a geometry test and didn't have the time to follow up until now. She goes back and forth in her mind about whether to jump on this story. While it's nothing like Russians under the mall or a small-town mayor letting them set up shop down there, it was interesting... it was something.

However, she's focused on the fact that she doesn't realize the coffee is overflowing.

"Oh Sh*t! Sh*t!" she hisses while scrambling to clean it up.

"Uh oh!" Bruce's obnoxious voice calls out from behind her. "Careful there, Nancy Drew. Careful."

Several of the other men snicker.

"Pouring coffee is a tough gig around here," Bruce carries o,n making his coworkers laugh.

Biting her lip, Nancy finishes cleaning up and leaves the sty of pigs.

She knocks before entering Tom's office.

"Coffee just the way you like it. Two sugars and two creams,"

"Thanks, sweetheart," Tom says, taking a sip.

Inhaling, Nancy decides to take a leap of faith.

"Tom?" she asks.

"Hm?"

"Do you think that maybe Damian or one of the girls could run and grab lunch today?"

"Damian, maybe, but everyone else is needed at their desks."

"I know, but... I really need to go to the doctor. I've been having some... issues... girl issues."

Tom nearly chokes on his coffee and coughs before looking down, embarrassed.

"Sure, sure, just check back in when you're done."

"Absolutely," she says before leaving her boss's office.

She hurries down to the dark room to grab her boyfriend.

"Oh, hey, come on the light!" Johnathan moans and turns to see his girlfriend. "Nancy..."

"Let's go..." she insists.

Scrambling to get his equipment, Johnathan hurries to catch up as Nancy goes out the door with her coat, bag and notepad at the ready.

"Look, I just don't think this is a good idea anymore," he says once he's caught up to her.

"Really? Because I think this is the best idea I've had in a while."

"Nance, you're a great reporter. I mean the stuff over the summer..."

"Which was stolen from me," she reminds him. She grinds her teeth at the fact that the Russians were in Hawkins, and Mayor Kline's corruption was covered by everyone else in the paper but her. Even though she found the evidence, including what Steve and Robin were put through, and made the story public.

"I know that, but..." Johnathan begins.

"Look," she stops in the street to face him. "You don't have to come if you don't want to, but at this point, I just need something that I can cover. It doesn't seem to count that I basically broke the best story that's ever happened in Hawkins, and yet I'm still the office gopher whose only job is to remember people's coffee and food orders. I'm just going to keep going, pushing forward. It's how the news works and it's how I'm going to work, okay?"

Johnathan looks at the embittered determination on his girlfriend's face. He knew there was no sense in trying to talk her out of it. He knew that Nancy could be stubborn and stick to her guns no matter what. He admired her for her grit. He's just worried that this gusto will get them in trouble.