So after the "Panty-Gate" episode aired, I literally couldn't sleep. I'm just such a huge Schmece shipper and I just can't wait for them to get back together. This story kind of just came to me out of nowhere, and I spent all night writing this first chapter so sorry if it doesn't seem realistic. Let me know what you think and I hope that you guys enjoy reading it.
Jess stood before three of her roommates, who were all sitting on the couch looking at her in confusion and slight curiosity. "Okay, so I've called you all forth for an official loft meeting to discuss a major issue that has recently arisen. "
"Jess," Coach began, "You don't have to worry. I'm not moving to New York for a few days. We will have plenty of time to hang out and say goodbye."
"Actually Coach, no offense, but something else came up that kind of trumps you leaving."
Winston looked back and forth between Jess and Coach. "What could possibly be bigger than Coach moving to the other side of the country?" he asked, although he was fairly certain that he already knew the answer.
"I have a question," chimed in Nick raising his hand. "If this is some big loft meeting, where is Schmidt?"
"He's at work." Jess said. "And that's exactly why I called this meeting now. It's about Schmidt."
"What about him?" Nick asked.
"Don't tell me he got back together with Fawn." Coach said angrily.
"No." Jess looked at Winston knowing he would be upset with her if she went through with what she was about to do. "Cece is in love with Schmidt!" She screamed at them.
"WHOA!" Nick and Coach said in unison, shock covering their faces.
Winston however, having already been privy to this information, tried to play like he was clueless, but he was a horrible liar. "What? That's crazy!"
Nick looked over to his childhood friend and was able to read him like a book. Not that Nick Miller ever read. "Hang on. Winston, you knew about this?" he asked causing Coach to look over as well.
"I mean…I…had a…feeling? Yeah. I knew. I've known for quite some time now." Jess was disappointed with him.
"Are you guys seriously shocked by this? I mean its Cece and Schmidt for crying out loud." She had a point. Schmidt and Cece were the loft equivalent to Ross and Rachel. And even when they weren't together, everyone knew that at some point the road would eventually circle back around to that idea.
"Well we all know Schmidt has been hopelessly in love with her for years, but to hear that Cece is in love with him. It's…" Nick trailed off at a loss for words.
Coach ended up finishing his thought. "It's like something we all kind of know in the back our minds, but we never actually say it out loud or think about it." This was outside of their wheelhouse. Since day one, it had always been Schmidt to be the one who chased an unavailable Cece.
"Yeah," Said Nick, "It's like Lord Voldemort."
Jess rolled her eyes at the Harry Potter reference. "Well we all better start getting used to it. ASAP."
"Why, are they getting back together?" asked Nick.
Coach was even more curious now. "Is that why he broke up with Fawn?"
"No. Schmidt doesn't know. And Cece has sworn us to secrecy." Jess pointed between her and Winston.
Nick shook his head. "Oh no. I hate keeping secrets. I'm no good at it. Have you learned nothing over the years?" He was referring to the first time Schmidt and Cece began hooking up. His back looked like a slip-n-slide all day long.
"Don't worry," Jess said. "It's not going to be a secret for much longer. I have a plan. And it's going to take all of you."
Coach rolled his eyes at her. He knew no matter what, that if Jess was involved, it would be a disaster. "Jess, just let this go. If Cece wants to be with Schmidt, she'll tell him when she's ready."
"No she won't, because she's getting ready to go hike Mt. Shasta as her latest effort to get over him and 'Find Herself'."
"You know she will kill us if we get involved." Said Nick with a hint of worry in his voice. Deep down, Cece always scared him just a little bit.
"Not if we have her permission." Jess seemed to have an answer for everything.
"How are you going to get that?" Winston asked. He's known about Cece's secret the longest out of all the roommates, and ever since he found out, Cece has threatened him repeatedly to keep him quiet.
"Cece doesn't know that Schmidt and Fawn broke up. I just have to let her know, and tell her that he's not over her."
"Did he tell you that?" asked Nick.
"No," Jess said. "But it's Schmidt. We all know he's crazy about her."
Winston agreed with her, but he still had some reservations about the idea of meddling. "True. But I highly doubt that Cece will jump on board with all this just because he's single now."
Jess gave them all a really sly look which made them nervous. "That's where you guys come in."
Nick, Winston and Coach all walked into the living room to find Schmidt sitting on the couch watching TV. Nick looked back at Coach and Winston for reassurance before they all sat down with him.
"Hey Schmidt," He said to him. "Can we talk to you for a second?"
Schmidt shrugged his shoulders, not taking his eyes off the television. "Sure."
Nick leaned in towards him, a move he only ever did when he needed to talk about something serious. Schmidt picked up on his body language and stiffened a little. "How are you doing? How are you handling the break-up?"
Schmidt relaxed himself. He hadn't figured the guys would worry about the latest change in his relationship status. "I'm fine guys. Fawn and I weren't even all that serious."
"Well, you know we're here for you, and we just want to see you happy right?" Coach said trying to be assuring.
Schmidt smiled at his roommates. "I appreciate that."
"Of course buddy. So, what would make Schmidt happy?" Nick asked him trying to keep the mood casual and not let him on.
Schmidt shrugged again. "I don't know."
"Really?" Coach asked. "Nothing comes to mind?"
"Not really."
Nick was trying desperately to not be obvious, but there was no other way to casually bring up the topic. "Not even a hot, former model turned bartender who's taking college classes?"
Schmidt got confused "Cece?"
"Of course Cece!" Coach screamed from excitement.
Nick nodded his head trying to keep the excitement going. "We know how happy she made you. And we know you never got over her."
Schmidt hung his head down, looking ashamed. "I can't be with Cece you guys."
Nick heard his tone. "We're just saying…maybe you should give it another shot."
Schmidt seemed adamant this time. "No." he said sternly.
"Why not?" Coach asked.
"Schmidt, you deserve to be happy." Nick told him sincerely.
"No I don't." The guys all looked at each other, before looking back at Schmidt. "Look, after everything I've done to Cece, the last thing I deserve is to be happy. I broke her heart, and I'll never forgive myself for that. And besides, she and I are finally at a place where we are great friends. If I screw that up, and lose her from my life for good. I will have absolutely nothing. I appreciate you guys looking out for me, but…that dream is dead."
Schmidt got up to leave feeling beat. Nick had no idea that that was the way he had been feeling. Aside from the night Coach went on that date with Cece, Schmidt hadn't really tried to get her back after their last breakup, and he always found that odd. Now he knew he had been beating himself up about it. Coach and Nick shared a look, before looking over at Winston.
"Did you get it?" Nick asked him. Winston looked back and forth between Nick and Coach, trying to build the suspense. Aside from the last few seconds, he was really loving this plan.
Winston pulled out his phone from underneath the couch and showed Nick that there was a recording app launched on it. "I got it."
Jess knocked on Cece's door. It didn't take her long to answer, and when she did, she was in a good mood.
"Hey Jess! You have to see the stuff I just bought for my trip. It's amazing." Cece grabbed Jess' arm and lead her into the apartment showing off all of the hiking and camping gear she had just purchased.
Jess was glad to see her best friend in a great mood. Especially given everything she's been going through lately, but that only made the conversation she was there for worse. "Actually, about your trip. Cece, I'm glad you're trying to move on with your life, but…I don't think you should go."
Cece's smile quickly turned into a frown of confusion. "What? Why not?"
"Because. You're in love with Schmidt. And I think that you should do something about it."
"You know why I can't do that, Jess. He's in a relationship. I can't do that to him again. You remember how that turned out the last time." Cece thought back to the night of her wedding, and the disaster that followed. Schmidt was back with his former girlfriend Elizabeth, but Cece couldn't hold back her feelings any longer. She was minutes away from being married off to a man she didn't love, so of course all she could think about was the one that she did.
Fate had intervened in the form of her best friend and a badger falling from the ceiling and onto the altar. It was then that she had to admit, in front of everyone, that what she wanted was to be back with her unavailable ex. While she thought he had chosen her, he was really involved with both of them. His reasoning was that he didn't want to hurt anyone, and knowing him, it was most likely true. Cece had thought back on the situation many times since the break-up. And each and every time, she had blamed herself. If only she hadn't put all that pressure on him. He was with someone, and he was trying to move on after she had broken his heart by getting engaged. He was happy, and she ruined it. All she could think about was how karma had screwed her…hard.
Jess' voice snapped her back into reality. "Cece…he broke up with her yesterday." She looked up at her with eyes the size of baseballs.
"WHAT!?" Cece was beyond shocked. The last time she spoke to Schmidt about his relationship with Fawn, he gave her the impression that all was well and good, and they were going strong. But now, hearing this news, Cece wanted to scream and jump for joy.
"Yeah," Jess said. "He is officially back on the market. All you have to do is go get him."
Cece stood still and silent for a while. Jess was right, all she had to do was drive to him and tell him how she felt, but there was a voice telling her not to. If the past taught her anything, it was that the odds of this working were slim, and would only have one outcome…heartache. "No." She said with a straight face.
To say that Jess was taken aback was an understatement. She was almost at a loss for words, as well as her breath. "What? Cece, why not?"
"Because Jess. He doesn't want me." Cece's eyes began to water. If Jess knew her friend at all, she knew that she was fighting like a marine to withhold those tears from falling in her presence. There were many times in their lives where she let herself cry in front of Jess, but she would be damned if she shed a tear in front of her during a conversation concerning Schmidt.
"That's because he thinks you don't want him." Jess was getting a bit irritated at the stupidity her friends constantly displayed when it came to their relationship. "I swear to god you are both so stubborn."
Cece looked at her angrily. "You talked to him about this? Did you tell him how I felt about him?" She practically yelled.
Jess shook her head. How could Cece think she would betray her that way? "Of course not. But you need to hear this." She reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. Winston had sent her the recording of the boys conversation with Schmidt from earlier, and she had already cued it up to the most important part for this very moment.
Schmidt - Look, after everything I've done to Cece, the last thing I deserve is to be happy. I broke her heart, and I'll never forgive myself for that. And besides, she and I are finally at a place where we are great friends. If I screw that up, and lose her from my life for good. I will have absolutely nothing. I appreciate you guys looking out for me, but…that dream is dead.
Jess pressed the stop button and put her phone away hoping that that had worked. "He wants to be with you, but he is still beating himself up for what he did. You both need to forgive him and move past it because once you do, you guys would make each other so happy."
Cece averted her eyes, trying to control the tears and suppress the lump in her throat before she could meet Jess' eyes. After a deep breath and a moment to think on it, she looked back at her best friend with remorse. "I'm sorry Jess. I just…can't." her voice broke. "He was right. We're finally in a really good place. I can't risk screwing that up."
Jess nodded her head. Not in agreement, but in defeat. If Cece was going to insist on standing in the way of her own happiness, then there was nothing she could do to stop her. Her plan had officially been thwarted.
Schmidt was sitting alone at the bar, nursing his double bourbon. He was surprised at how dejected he was feeling. It wasn't even about the break-up, because he really was content with his decision. He was thinking about what he had confessed to his roommates the day before. Schmidt usually tried not to think about the idiotic thing he had done, but the truth was, he thought about it constantly. It still haunted him. He considered that his biggest regret. Schmidt took another sip of his drink to prepare himself for another round of internal self-deprecation when he heard a familiar and knee-weakening voice approach him.
"Hey Schmidt." Cece greeted him from behind the bar. Every time he heard her voice, or saw her smile, or even just her gorgeous, flawless face, he could literally feel his heart skip a beat.
With just a simple greeting, she was able to pull him from his gloomy mood and put a smile on his face. "Hey. I didn't know you were working today."
"Yeah. I picked up a few extra shifts. Getting some extra cash before I leave. I'm going to go climb Mt. Shasta." Her tone oozed confidence. It was one of his favorite of all her features.
Schmidt was impressed and a little shaken. "Really? Wow. What brought that on?"
Well you remember that book I've been reading. It talks a lot about soul-searching and self-empowerment and it kind of gave me an idea. I know it's stupid…" She trailed off preparing herself for the ridicule she was sure would follow her revelation, but was shocked when it never came.
Schmidt shook his head. "No it's not. It's…amazing." Cece looked up at his in astonishment. He was always surprising her. "Congratulations Cece. And good luck. I'm really happy for you."
Cece smiled at him. "Thanks. So anyway, how was your day?"
Schmidt gave a heavy sigh. "Oh just another long day at work. Same old boring stuff."
"I uh…I heard about you and Fawn. I'm sorry. You want to talk about it?" despite everything that had happened between them in the past, Cece wanted nothing more than to be friends with Schmidt. So much so that she was willing to listen to him vent about other areas of his life that she couldn't be a part of.
Schmidt allowed a slight smile to form on his lips. "Actually…I'm totally fine."
Cece looked at him stunned. "Really?" she asked.
"Yeah. I mean, what Fawn and I had…it wasn't…you know it wasn't real."
Cece searched his eyes and saw that he was being completely truthful. He really was fine. She knew just how to read him. "Well, I hope that you do find something real. You deserve to be happy Schmidt."
His face fell, and his eyes with it. He was growing to hate that word. "No I don't." he said to himself so quietly it was almost a whisper, but Cece had heard it as well as saw the look on his face. He had momentarily checked out mentally.
Cece tried to get him to meet her gaze, but he was somewhere else. "What?" she asked a little concerned.
Schmidt shook himself out of it and tried to play it off as if it never happened. "Nothing." He looked back up at her and forced a smile. "I'm going to head home. I'll see you later." He got up to leave, throwing some cash down on the bar, then stopped. "Hey Cece." He said turning back towards her.
"Yeah?" she asked with a sweet and innocent tone that gave his stomach butterflies.
Schmidt looked deep into her eyes to assure her that his next words were more than sincere. "I'm really glad we're friends."
Cece looked right back into those gorgeous green eyes she loved so much. Those in combination with the words he had just spoken were just enough to make her momentarily forget how to breathe. "Yeah…me too."
Schmidt gave her one last smile before walking out the door. Cece stared after him longingly. Part of her was hoping he would re-emerge from the door, walk right towards her, jump over the bar and plant his lips onto hers. It was a long shot, but she didn't mind dreaming for a bit. The daydream sequence grew old after a while. She just stood there and thought through things for a moment before pulling out her phone to call Jess.
Cece waited desperately for her friend to answer the phone. With each passing ring she decided she wouldn't blame her if she never picked up. But for this occasion, she would definitely want to. Cece finally heard her friend on the other end answer with a sullen tone, but she had the only cure for that. "Hey Jess…you were right. Whatever you were planning…I'm in."
So that's the first chapter. Hope you guys liked it. Again, I pretty much wrote this in one night so sorry if it's a little out there. I just needed to satisfy my Schmece addiction until the season finale. I'm working on the next/last chapter. I will try to have it up before the season finale airs. Let me know what you guys think of it so far please. Thank You!