Stay
Theme song: Stay by Zedd
Judy stirred in her bed. She felt cold against her side and back, it was much less favorable to the warmth that was there a moment ago. She turned over and threw off the covers. Sitting up, she looked around her bedroom, searching for the source of the warmth and where he had gone.
The early summer sunlight shined through the vanilla colored blinds, fully lighting her generic colored apartment bedroom; at least the small, two-bedroom apartment she inhabited currently was much nicer than her old, closet-sized studio. Even though she lived alone, Judy typically kept the door to her room closed, a hold-over from growing up in a house where you had to fight for every bit of privacy you could get, but right now that door was left wide open for some reason. Through it she could hear someone shuffling around the living room; as well as a soft, muttered curse.
Getting out of bed, she took a quick glance in the mirror; she looked like a hot mess. Her eye shadow was smeared, along with her lip gloss, her hair was mashed and tangled, and her foundation had rubbed off – so much so that she could see herself blush as she remembered last night's activities that lead to this state.
Smiling, she picked up a ponytail holder off the vanity and fixed her hair, before turning back to the bed and grabbing the flat sheet. Wrapping it around herself, she checked the mirror again. Much better. It looked like a long purple gown once it was draped around her – sort of. Her hope was to have the upper hand in the coming conversation if she were covered.
Clothed with her modesty-preserving sheet, she made her way into the hallway, going towards the now constant string of mumbled speech. Stopping at the entryway to the living room, Judy leaned against the wall, holding the sheet closed at her side with one hand – it had the propensity to slide open over her leg in the short walk from the bedroom – and keeping it from falling off her breasts with the other.
In the room, Nick was on his hands and knees, looking for something beneath the couch. A part of Judy realized she should be miffed, he was trying to leave without her knowing, like this was some one-night stand. But the rest of her told that part to shut up and enjoy the view of his fine ass sticking up in the air. He had thrown on his button down shirt, but it wasn't covering his rear given his current position.
Judy savored the view for another moment before noisily clearing her throat. "Ahem. What'ca lookin' for slick?"
Startled, Nick's head shot up, straight into the underside of the couch, producing a soft thwump and a muffled 'son of a bitch'. After he properly freed himself, he stood up and turned around to face Judy. This gave her yet another view as, in his apparent rush, Nick had forgotten to button up his shirt front; leaving his lean, powerful chest exposed – among other things. She wasn't sure how he did it, but Judy had to admit, he managed to look goofy, cute, and sexy, all at the same time. He stood in the middle of the living room, running his left hand through his messy, red hair; while his right held his balled up boxers, his hard-won prize from the world of lost items that existed beneath all couches.
He was avoiding Judy's gaze, looking all around the room before settling on the pictures on the wall. That was particularly interesting, and said much about Nick in this moment; he was so embarrassed that he found it easier to stare down the photos of her family then face her. All while standing in the center of her home mostly naked. Which, for the time being, was perfectly fine for her.
Eventually, he cleared his throat and turned his head to her. As warm, green eyes met hers, Judy felt a flutter pass through her stomach; the damn butterflies from last night were back. He must have noticed a change in her because he smirked – his old, cocky swagger returning despite being caught flatfooted in his nudity. "Just looking for my clothes, Carrots," he answered smoothly. He would have stuck his hands in his pockets, if he had any; instead he motioned to her make-shift dress while rocking back onto his heels. "Something you apparently couldn't be bothered with. Odd, given that this is your apartment and it's literally full of your things. No reason to be so unprepared, Carrots."
"That's because I'm not the one trying to sneak out of my partners place, Nick."
At her accusatory tone Nick's confidence fled and he flopped down on the couch. "I'm sorry, Car-Judy," he sighed. "I just don't know what to do about…this." He waved his hand between the two of them.
Judy frowned as she made her way over to join him, sitting down in a rustle of fabric. Nick wouldn't dare say it now, or maybe ever, but Judy looked damn sexy. Hair up in a ponytail, accentuating her neck and slender shoulders, holding a slip of cloth over her naked form, hell he even thought the messed up make-up added to her beauty at the moment. He'd bet good money that she would still look good in a Lady Gaga-esque dress made of trash bags. Nick was smitten, fully, completely – and he couldn't bring himself to care.
Judy's voice snapped his attention back into place. "So you figured you'd leave before I woke up?"
"Well…it's not a strategy that's failed me before." He spoke sheepishly. "I mean, I haven't so close to someone before, Judy. Never actually allowed myself to care for someone as I do you."
She looked down, Nick's hands were fidgeting with his boxers as he sat, reaching out she grabbed them, causing his hands to still as they looked up to each other. She smiled softly when he continued to look at her, confused and worried. "Then stay, Nick. Stay here and we can figure this out – together. We don't go back on shift until late tonight, we have all day to define what we are. Maybe you can take me on an actual date this afternoon," she laughed, playful bumping his shoulder.
"Okay, okay, Carrots," he chuckled with her.
"Good. No need for running, Slick." She stood, grabbing her sheet again with both hands and making her way toward the hallway. "Now as for me, I'm going to shower and get ready for the day. Someone insisted on getting a little dirty last night."
"Yeah, it certainly wasn't this innocent, little farm girl I know," he drolled.
Looking over her shoulder, Judy smiled coquettishly and caught Nick's eye. Once she had his attention, she dropped the sheet and continued down the hallway to the bedroom, letting her hips sway a little more than was necessary, nearly causing Nick to fall off the couch as he leaned over to watch her.
From the bedroom, he could hear her call out. "You know, it's a shame my building's super still hasn't come by to fix the lock on the bathroom door."
Weather that was true or not didn't matter to Nick, he knew an invitation when he heard one, and he jump up from the couch to follow her. Whatever they were relationship-wise could be figured out later. For now, his day just got better.
