A/N: Hey guys! I am back with another story! So basically, this story will only make sense if you've been following spoilers about upcoming episodes like (and turn away if you don't want to be spoiled now!) more kissing between nick and jess, the schmidt-jess kiss, and just all the spoilers in general. Every chapter will deal with an upcoming episode. This one is on "Parking Spot". I already have the next two chapters mapped out so depending on your response, I will keep updating!

This was written in a hurry because I just couldn't keep these images to myself anymore! It's not the most well-written piece but I hope you guys enjoy it anyway.

I don't own New Girl or anything to do with it. Promise!

Chapter 1:

Jess heaved a sigh as she plopped down on her favorite spot on the living room couch. She was exhausted but content—the parking spot was all hers after a nightmarish 8 hours of yelling matches, underhanded ploys, and competition with Schmidt. She grabbed her glass of pink wine off the table behind her and sipped some relaxation. Things were good.

Things would've been better, though, if her and Nick could stop being so awkward around eachother. Conversation was difficult to have when the air around them was so tension-thick, hugs were completely and utterly out of the question. She was conflicted herself. On the one hand, she missed her best friend. And on the other—she was relishing the chase. Was it even a chase? Didn't chases lead somewhere? She wasn't sure what it was but she did know that the hours she'd spend recounting their stolen moment of intimacy every night before she slept was not time wasted. The memory of it, the sight of him made her excited and giddy and terrified and embarrassed all at the same time. An interesting state of affairs, if nothing else.

The sound of the door opening snapped Jess out of her daydreaming and she turned to see a very tired Nick slowly making his way towards her. They shared a quick smile and quickly broke eye contact. Nick chose a spot on the couch that was close to her but not tooclose—just to be on the safe side of things. He threw his head back, closed his eyes, and yawned.

"Crazy day, right?" Jess asked casually, understanding that something needed to be said before the air became dense again.

Nick chuckled softly to himself, opened his eyes, and turned his gaze to her, head still resting on the couch. "Crazy even for this place, yes" he said as they exchanged another smile, soft and meaningful. He felt another yawn coming and pulled his arms back as one does while yawning, grazing Jess' shoulder in the process.

"Oh sorry um, yeah, I didn't mean to touch you, that was weird wasn't it, really sor-"

"Nick, come on-"

"No I really didn't mean to-"

"It's not a big deal-"

"Yeah but I just wanted to make sure you didn't get the wrong id-"

"Okay seriously?! This is getting ridiculous. When are things ever going to get normal between us?"

Nick's response was a defeated sigh and the slightly sad-version of his turtle face, eyes closed, temples being rubbed.

"I don't know Jess. Sometimes I wonder if we can ever really go back to the way things were. Maybe we need a new normal?"

"Hmm. And how exactly do we get that", Jess responded, placing her glass of wine on the table and turning her attention to Nick.

"Okay. I know. Let's talk about the things we used to talk about with eachother. Let's see what happens. I'll start. So...I um. Right, okay so the other day...Okay I got nothing. You go"

Jess struggled to find something to say. She would usually talk to him about the men she was seeing but she had zero interest in anyone after her breakup (after the kiss?) and nothing interesting was happening at work. "I'm drawing a blank. Sorry".

"Okay no, that's fine. Let's umm...maybe we can try and hug again? Face our fear, head on!"

"Miller, our hugs were never not awkward. It's more a difference in degree than in kind nowadays"

"You're right. Okay, sorry, I'm out of ideas. You got any?"

Jess actually did have an idea. One that had been occupying her mind since she shared her awkward kiss with Schmidt earlier in the day. One that she did not want to articulate, particularly in front of Nick. One that ended up making its way from her brain to her mouth before she even knew it.

"Well..actually. Yes, yeah, okay actually I do have an idea. But you have to promise to be open to it"

Nick nodded, earnestly, turning to give her his undivided attention.

Jess continued. "So I was thinking—the kiss made things awkward, right? Because I mean whatever, the way it ended up being and the timing, we had spent the entire night building it up and whatever because of the game. But kissing Schmidt today made me realize that it's not the ACT of kissing that makes things awkward but the circumstances in which you do it. Are you following me?"

Nick mumbled a "not really" through his now much more bemused turtle face.

"I kissed Schmidt today. It was nothing. No awkwardness. Because there was no night of build-up, no special circumstances. So basically what I'm saying is—let's kiss again"

Nick stared at her incredulously, eyes wide, a laugh gone unsuppressed. "You're kidding, right?"

"No! I'm serious! If we kiss again, we'll realize it's not a big deal because this time, I know it won't be awkward." Jess wondered about her own motivations while she argued her case—she knew she kinda did want to kiss Nick again but she also genuinely believed another kiss would repair rather than further rupture their platonic dynamic.

Nick thought about the strange suggestion. Kissing Jess again? He'd be lying if he said he hadn't thought about, hell actively hoped for the prospect. And her theory didn't seem completely ludicrous. She was right about her kiss with Schmidt—maybe it was True American and the fact that she was dating Sam that made an otherwise insignificant act significant.

Nick cleared his throat nervously before answering. "You know what? Okay. Yeah. We can do this. Lets do this. What's the harm, right?"

"Right" Jess replied, a nervous smile on her face.

"Are Schmidt and Winston home? I really don't want the Sharons to be put through any more suffering tonight and I definitely don't have the energy for another interrogation"

"Sharons?"

"Just—forget it. Are they home?"

"Winston's asleep. Schmidt's not home".

The matter-of-fact words were uttered and that density came rushing back. Nick's response was a half-smile and a slight shift close to Jess. Jess pursed her lips-excited, giddy, terrified, embarrassed—and moved closer too.

Nick grabbed her shoulders and rubbed them gently. "Okay Jess" he whispered. "I'm gonna make it quick and it's going to be no big deal"

Jess grabbed his wrists then slowly rubbed his half-exposed forearms back and forth, and whispered back "Sounds good, Miller".

"Okay."

"Okay."

Nick moved his hands from her shoulders to her face, moving in slowly and surely for the kiss that would make things normal again. At first, his lips only gently brushed hers, his eyes still open and hesitant, hers closed and waiting. She moved her head gently so that forehead caressed forehead as the deafening sounds of bated breaths caused heart rates to quicken and anticipation to build. He moved in and gave her a short but full kiss on the mouth, his hands still cupping her face, hers grabbing his arms near his elbows. The kiss only lasted a few seconds but he didn't move away and she didn't either. The proximity was dangerous and promising. Jess' eyelids fluttered open for only a moment, to be met by Nick's deep stare and before any of them knew it, lips met lips as Nick wrapped his arms around her waist and she dug her fingers into his hair. It was a slow, deep, hungry kiss as Jess pulled Nick closer to her, chest to chest, her legs wrapping themselves around his torso as he laid her down onto her back, his hands exploring her thick hair, her slender but curvy silhouette, the outside of her upper thigh. Their first kiss was silent but this time was a frenzy of loud breathing, high-pitched moaning sighs, and muffled, desperate groans. Fingers sometimes interlaced when Jess wasn't holding onto Nick's back for dear life or Nick would stop running his hands up and down her body.

Overwhelmed and out of breath, the kiss was broken with the sound of the room clock ringing on the hour. It ended almost as suddenly as it intensified as Jess gazed up at her roommate, chests still heaving, breath still being caught. Nick was holding her wrists above her head as he looked down at his beautiful roommate, absolutely dazed and utterly confused. Both wondered the same thing: what the hell was that?

Feeling like hours had gone by since they broke the kiss, Jess spoke up hurriedly and nervously. "Hah, see! All better", releasing herself from his grip and attempting to sit up straight.

Nick followed suit, coughed nervously, and shifted his weight off her, sitting up himself. "Yeah! You were right. Totally normal."

"Yeah. Totally."

They sat silently, staring ahead.

Jess quickly cleared her throat and spoke up. "So umm. Good. Yes. So that's done. Excellent. Right." She proceeded to fake yawn. "Aaaaahhh, man am I tired. Alright Miller. Congrats on attaining the new normal"

Nick feigned a smile and responded all too quickly. "Yeah! So normal! Good idea Jess. Don't know why we didn't try this earlier".

"I know, right". They both laughed. Pretending. Afraid. Aching to escape.

"So I'll see you in the morning then, Jess"

"Yes, in the morning tiiime when the weather is fiiiine"

"(fake laugh) Yeah"

"Cool."

"Awesome."

"Okay."

And with that, both hurried to their rooms and shut their doors. Jess slid down to the floor, back still against the door. Nick leaned one hand against his wall and massaged his temples with his free hand.

What the hell was that?

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed that! Just a little ditty I quickly churned out. Next chapter will be on my version of "Tinfinity" and what happens at the party. The one after that will be on "Guy's Night" and so on. Do take out the time to review because I do have a certain narrative in mind and your reviews will get me writing! Thank youuuuuuu! :D