Hello roomfriends! I wanted to explore the Abby Day happenings in the loft before the show actually delves too deep into it, so expect some quick updates and completion in the next 4 days! Reviews welcome :)
Padding her way into the kitchen, Jess yawned and gave Winston a stilted smile. Lifting his coffee cup into a salute, he glanced back towards the hall. "Hey, " he started, "is Nick up yet?"
This was the end of their first week with Abby as a house guest, and the first week of Jess and Nick basically living together in his room. Really, not much had changed – Nick spent most nights in her room anyway, although she did miss the relative comfort of clean sheets. For all Nicks efforts to be a better person, he'd conveniently forgotten that laundry was as important as eating salad. And Jess was determined not to do it – why should she? Okay, maybe she'll do it, this one time. Jess rummaged through the cabinet, trying to find her favorite mug, the one with the fox on it. Spying it all the way in the back, she pushed herself onto her tip toes as high as she could and barely grasped the corner. Maybe she could sweet talk Nick into moving the shelves a bit lower for her.
"Jess?" Winston repeated, calling her back to the moment.
"Oh- um … I think so, he mumbled something about the beach being too damn cold, and how sand is just anorexic dirt, which turned into a rant about sidewalk chalk drawings being better than crayons and … I kinda just tuned out after that. Why, what's up?"
Winston laughed. "Yeah, that sounds about right. We're going to the beach today – he's gonna help me with my training exercises, for the entrance exam at the academy."
Jess chuckled. "Nick? Is helping you with physical training? Why not ask Coach?"
Winston sighed. "You think I didn't think of that? Believe me, Nick was not my first choice. But I already tried it with Coach, and lets just say, he's not as focused as I would have hoped."
Flashback to the gym:
Winston is laying on the weight bench, trying to lift while Coach is loading more weight on, talking with a randomly hot girl.
"Coach! Hey, I could use some help, man, I don't think -"
"Does your friend need help?" the girl asked.
"Hey man, it's too much weight!" Winston choked out.
"Nah, he's just whining, it's like who can't lift 300 lbs? And you wanna be a cop? Come on." he laughed. "Besides, my buddy here bet me I couldn't start a conversation with the most beautiful woman in the gym. Can I buy you a drink with his money?"
"It's happening!" Winston shouted before the weights finally brought the bar down on his chest.
End Flashback
Nick emerged from his room, rubbing the stubble on his cheeks and giving Winston a curt nod. Nick made his way over to the coffee pot, giving Jess a quick peck on her head. Jess smiled as he handed her a tea bag, and then filled his own cup. He turned his back to the counter, flashing her a warm smile as he lifted the hot drink to his lips.
"Hey man, you ready to hit the beach?" Winston asked cautiously, eliciting a groan from his friend.
"Why do you have to work out? Have you seen the cops around here? I think it's safe to say they're not running any marathons." This was Nicks first day off in two weeks, and he had planned on doing little else that sleeping and eating when his friend ambushed him about training last night.
"Come on Nick!" she said, looking him over. "Winston needs our support, and you should be happy to help him. Besides, would it kill you to do a push up or two?"
Looking down at his mid section, he frowned. "A push up or two? Who am I, Rocky?"
Jess shrugged. "Well, I'm going to be spending the day with Abby. She's been here a few weeks, I think it's a good time to feel out the area, you know, see what her job options are, maybe take in a few sights. I think it'll actually be -"
The front door opened and a kimono clad Abby came face to face with a confused Jess. Oblivious to the curious faces before her, Abby went to the utensil drawer and rummaged around. Not finding what she was looking for she asked" Do you guys have a rubber spatula? One with a wooden handle, not the metal one?" Jess and Nick remained silent, while Winston pointed to a jar on the counter. Spying the spatula, Abby shut the drawer and smiling, gave Winston a wink and turned back towards the open door. Pausing at the hallway, she turned back to her sister. "Um, I don't think I'll be able to make it out today. Rain check, k?" and closed the door behind her.
Jess moved swiftly to the door, with Nick and Winston following close behind, swinging it open only to see the tail end of the closing door of apartment 4C.
"I think your sister may have already found a job." Nick said.
Making a dash for 4C, Jess went for the door and banged on it. "Schmidt!" she yelled.
"Jess, Jess, calm down." Nick said, placing his hand on her shoulder. She shook him off and banged again.
"SCHMIDT!"
The door opened quickly, and a grinning Abby faced her sister. Jess peered over her shoulder to see Schmidt lying atop his kitchen counter, wearing a speedo and a fisherman's hat. "Abby, what are you doing? Schmidt! Is that my fishy hat?"
"We're deep sea diving." Schmidt replied with a wide grin. "Going deep down -"
"Ew!" Jess spat.
Abby pulled the door closed behind her. "Whaddya want Jess?" Abby asked impatiently.
"I want you to tell me what it is you think you're doing?"
"Don't you mean who?" Abby smirked, glancing over at a nervous Nick.
"Abby!"
Abby crossed her arms."What's the big deal? You're hooking up with your roommate! Besides, like you haven't wanted to try this one on before!" She said with a nod back towards Schmidt door.
"Wha – Nick! You told her about Valentines day?" Jess asked furiously, looking over at her shocked boyfriend.
"No!, I didn't!" He said, waving his hands over his chest.
"Ha! I knew it." Abby said with a grin and a point in Jess's direction.
"Wait what happened Valentines day?" Winston asked.
"Nothing happened." Jess and Nick said in unison. Jess turned her attention back to Abby. "Nick and I are different. This is just you being you, playing with a new toy."
"So? I don't hear him complaining." she said with a shrug.
"Abby, you can't just - Schmidt's my friend, and I don't want to see him get hurt."
"What, you don't think I might actually like him?" Abby asked, becoming agitated.
"No, I'm sure you like him, until you get bored. And then you drop him, like every other guy, then you''ll move on to Winston." Jess said matter-of-factly.
"Uh, Jess, I'm kinda involved -" Winston started.
Abby gave him a wink. "For now."
"See? Abby, these are my friends, you can't just come in here and be slu -" Jess stopped herself and saw the word register on her sisters face.
"What, Jess? Be a slut? Because that's what I am right? Well, maybe I've changed, okay? Maybe you're not the only one here who's grown up. You know what, I don't need this." Looking back over her shoulder, she called out. "Schmidt! Pack your bags, were going somewhere a little less judgy."
"But we were just about to see the barrier reef!" he said with a sigh.
Jess and Abby kept a glare between them, while Nick ran a hand through his hair.
Within 20 minutes, Schmidt and Abby had packed a bag and were on their way.
Jess had secluded herself in Nicks room, and wouldn't answer the door. Nick tried to talk Schmidt out of following Abby, grabbing his arm as Abby made her way to the elevator.
Nick spoke in a low voice. "What are you doing man? Jess is so pissed -"
Schmidt looked at the beautiful mess that waited for him and sighed. "You know what Nick, I don't really care. For the first time in months, I'm not thinking about everything that happened with Cece. Which, by the way, you and our girlfriend have conveniently forgotten about being a part of. Abby is amazing, she's wild and crazy, and I just – I need this." Schmidt looked earnestly at Nick.
Nick thought about this for a moment, remembering a time in his life where a wild and crazy stripper was a refreshing change. "Alright, I get it. Just, be careful, okay?"
Schmidt gave a nod and headed out to an impatient Abby. Closing the door, Nick turned only to be face to face with his own angry Day sister.