NESS

Nick held the small rock in his hand and sighed.

He didn't believe in these kinds of things. Throwing a rock into a lake and wishing his crush would love him forever? Nah. That's stupid.

But this was a group thing, they all did it for Jess. He did it for Jess. He couldn't let her down.
Even if it was throwing a stupid rock into a stupid lake just to see her somewhat happy.
Who would he wish for anyway? There weren't exactly new girls lining up in his life after his latest break-up just before Valentines Day.
He closed his eyes and the second he let go of that rock he could see it. Her face. Her smile. Her big round eyes under her shiny dark bangs.

Dammit.

The next day they arrived back at the loft, Schmidt left to go see his girlfriend, Nick had to go to work and Winston and Coach had decided to go watch a game.
And Jess did what she always did. She grabbed all the unhealthy sweet food she could find, made herself a tea and sat on the couch for a nice round of Dirty Dancing.
She sang along, as always, but it wasn't the same. She couldn't concentrate.
Ryan had let her down. Fine, she had been kind of okay with him going to England, but also she kind of hadn't. He should have known that. And he should have made sure to be there for her on her father's wedding day.
She deserved someone who would be there if she needed him. Someone who cared. She could still hear Nick's voice in her head. He always knew what to say... almost.
Noone could comfort her like he did. Even when she was a total mess, Nick found a way to make her smile again, to make the bad thoughts go away.

Jess didn't know why she felt tears welling up in her eyes and a burning lump forming in her throat, but she knew she needed comfort. Now.
After three failed attempts to call Cece and another nine unanswered text messages Jess gave up.
What would normal people do? Sighing she got up and walked to the kitchen, getting two bottles of Rosé and a wine glass.
Half an hour and half a bottle later she still didn't feel any better. She felt cold.
Nick would be home soon. Then she'd have someone to talk to, she thought, downing a freshly poured glass of wine in one big gulp.

Already feeling a little tipsy Jess got up to look for something warm to put on, something to comfort her.

Nick was tired. The bar had been busy and his shift had been stressful. Coach and Winston had stopped by for a couple of drinks after their game and had then proceeded to wander off with a group of college girls to go to some fancy underground club.
He just wanted to sleep. Stopping in front of the apartment door he sighed. Music.

Music coming from within the apartment. And not just any music, no, Nick knew this song by heart because throughout the past three and a half years he was forced to hear it hundreds of times.
He shook his head. Of course, Jess was going through a break-up. This was her thing.
Expecting to see his female roommate crying and singing in front of the TV he turned the doorknob and walked into the loft.

No singing. No crying. Just two empty bottles of wine, an almost empty glass, and a soundly sleeping form on the couch.
Nick stopped and looked at her. Was she wearing his red hoodie jacket? And how could she be sleeping when the damn TV was so annoyingly loud?
Thinking she looked too peaceful for him to wake her just yet, Nick went to grab a cold Heisler from the fridge and sat down on the brown leather sofa, just next to her head.
Just a few minutes later he found himself merrily humming along to hungry eyes when he felt Jess begin to stir next to him. She raised her head, looking at him through sleepy eyes.
„I'm happy you're home, Miller." she said drunkenly, then stretched a little just before curling up into a small Jess-ball again. This time putting her head in his lap and going back to sleep.

Nick sat there frozen, not daring to move. This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all.

His heart had started playing pong in his chest and he closed his eyes tightly as if that would get him out of the situation.

It was not that he felt uncomfortable, quite the contrary. He had never felt better, happier or more comfortable with any other woman. But this wasn't good.
He caught himself wanting to stroke her hair but quickly pulled his hand back, biting hard into his knuckles and then holding his mouth shut so he wouldn't cry from pain.
Throughout the rest of the movie he kept very still, then qiuetly turned off the TV.
„Jess," he whispered softly. „Jess." He held her head so it wouldn't fall on the couch when he got up.
„I'm gonna get you to bed now, okay?" She made a little noise, probably in agreement, and in one swift motion Nick scooped her up from the sofa and into his arms, starting toward her room.

Jess had put her arms around his neck and her head resting on his shoulder when Nick arrived in her room. He remembered carrying her to bed like this before and smiled to himself.
He put one knee on the edge of her bed to softly put her down, then proceeded to put the blanket over her small body and turned to leave the room when he heard her groggy voice.
„Don'go." Pong. In his chest. Again.

„Jess, I don't think..."
„Pleastay." He sighed. Who was he to argue with a drunken, half-sleeping Jess. He would stay until she was completely asleep again and then go back to his room.

He walked to the other side of her bed and slid under the covers.
„Thangyou" she said yawning, then turned around putting her arm over his chest and nuzzling her face in his neck. „My Nick..."
Dammit.

Jess awoke with a splitting headache, but despite that, she felt comfortable and warm.
Not quite sure about her actual surrounding she tried to remember the previous night.
There was Dirty Dancing. And wine. And Nick.
She opened her eyes in shock, realizing her head was resting on someone's chest.
That someone was snoring lightly, holding her to him with his left arm.
Then she remembered. Turning her head to look at him she couldn't help but smile.

He had carried her to bed, he had stayed with her when she had asked him. He had taken care of her. He was always there when she needed him.

Before Jess knew what she was doing she had pushed herself up a few inches, placing a soft kiss on his stubbly cheek, then resumed her previous position, not wanting the moment to end just yet.