So, thanks to Amanda for encouraging me to post this (: It's going to be a collection of all my short Niff writing, emphasis on SHORT. Just little scenes and snapshots of them that I wrote on a whim. NOT a continuous story, each "chapter" is stand-alone, not connected to the other chapters!

Starting off with this one, based on the musical Waitress loosely. Enjoy (:

Don't own Glee (or Waitress).

It started in late spring, when the days were getting hotter and the diner was getting busier. The diner had many regulars, it was good food and well-known around the town. So it wasn't unusual when the blonde boy started coming in weekly, always all smiles. All smiles directed at Nick.
"I'll have the number four please." He smiled. His name was Jeff. He always requested Nick as his server. He always got the number four. He always found a new way to make Nick blush.
"Sure. Anything else?" Nick asked, though he already knew what was coming.
"How much does a date cost?" Jeff cracked, and Nick couldn't help but smile. It was flattering. But Nick wasn't really about the idea of getting a boyfriend right now. He had other stuff on his plate.
"It's priceless."
Jeff laughed, sipping his coffee. "Then just the breakfast, Duval."
Nick headed back to the kitchen, putting the order in. He and Jeff went to school together, but rarely saw eachother around. They were part of different crowds. Jeff was always with the Warblers, and they were a tight-knit group. Nick was always hesitant to audition, his stage fright was a little too big of an issue. He sighed, visiting other tables before bringing Jeff his food. "Enjoy."
"I will."
It got busy then, and Jeff left before Nick had a chance to say goodbye. But the back of the bill had a bunch of cartoon hearts and rainbows on it, scribbled with pen. Nick saved it in his pocket and smiled for the rest of the night.

"I'll have the number 781, 854, 6362." Jeff said, tipping his chair on the back legs. It was a few weeks later, and Nick had the drawing tacked to his bulletin board at home. But he'd never tell Jeff that.
Nick raised an eyebrow as he laughed. "That is definitely not a number on the menu."
"Silly me, that's my number." Jeff grinned, obviously pleased with himself. "I can write it down for you."
He laughed, rolling his eyes. "How about we stick with numbers one through twelve, okay?" He motioned to the list of meals on the menu, and Jeff sighed dramatically.
"Fine, my usual then. But you're getting a horrible tip."
Nick only swatted Jeff with the menu, laughing as he carried it back to the kitchen. This boy.
"What's so funny?" Olivia asked when she saw him smiling, leaning against the prep table. She was a college student that had become quite fond of Nick, they'd been working together for a couple years now.
"Jeff." Nick tried not to smile when she clapped.
"Are you two dating yet? He never stops flirting with you."
He smiled a little, hugging menus to his chest. "He's sweet. And funny. And nice looking-"
"Do you have a point?" Olivia teased, and Nick laughed.
"But I don't think dating is a good idea, Liv. I'm really busy with school and work and everything. And I don't know how serious he actually is about dating. It seems like he just wants to keep things light."
"It seems like /you're/ just making excuses." She countered, pulling the menus from his arms.
He sighed, peeking out of the kitchen to look at Jeff quickly, who was doodling on a coloring sheet meant for kids. "They're not excuses." They were excuses. But he had reasons, he just didn't feel like broadcasting the fact that he was scared to be in a relationship.
"Mhm. His food is ready." She pushed it towards him.
He took it and headed back out into the restaraunt, taking a deep breath and handing it to him. "What are you drawing?"
Jeff smiled, twirling a crayon. "I was actually writing a poem."
Nick crossed his arms, trying not to laugh as he looked over his shoulder. "Yeah? What does it say?"
Jeff picked up the paper, turning it away from him. "It's better if I read it out loud."
"You're not seriously going to-"
"It's called, 'Check please'." Jeff cleared his throat. "Since the moment you took my order, I can't stop thinking of your smile. It's sweet and soft and crooked, and makes me want to stay awhile."
People in the restaraunt were turning to look, and Nick felt his face burning as he laughed, trying to grab it. "Jeff-"
"I sit down every week, and try to make a pass. 'Cause every time you walk away, I can't stop starting at your-"
"Jeff!" He finally snatched the paper, holding it away from him. "You're impossible."
Jeff only smiled. "I wasn't done yet."
"Let him finish!" Someone called, and various others chimed in their agreement. Nick shook his head, crumpling the paper and dropping it on the table. There was way too much attention on him now.
"You just don't take a hint, do you?" Nick took a few steps back towards the kitchen, but Jeff was speaking again. Apparently, he'd memorized it.
"I request you as my waiter, just so I can shoot the breeze. Our time's too short and I want much more but I have to say, 'check please'."
Everyone was laughing and clapping, and Nick knew he must be flushed completely red. Jeff grinned and bowed. "Pretty good, right?"
He wasn't used to things like this at all. All he could say was, "Your food is getting cold." And then he was ducking back into the kitchen, his heart beating fast.
"You're not gonna give him a chance, Nick?" Olivia said after a minute. She'd heard it from the kitchen.
Nick swallowed. "I don't have to give him a chance if I don't want to. Giving chances is... walking to the edge of a cliff. It's dangerous, you could fall."
"Are you telling me you don't think he would catch you?" She crossed her arms, and Nick shrugged a little. He didn't know what to think about a boy so different from himself. "You're not gonna get anything unless you go to that cliff's edge and see what you're missing." She left the kitchen to go to her tables, leaving Nick to process what she'd said.
Jeff was just some boy from school with the tendency to flirt. And sure, maybe Jeff wanted a little more than to just flirt with him, maybe he wanted a real date. The scary thing was that he wanted a date, too. But he knew the second they went out together, when Nick couldn't flee to the kitchen when he got shy, Jeff would realize that he was boring and nervous and not boyfriend material. So they shouldn't date. It was just easier that way. More simple.

The night seemed to drag on from there, and he cursed the fact that the diner was open until 10 pm. He was closing up the place, and he wouldnt get out of there until 11. It wasn't until after they closed that he went to Jeff's now empty table to clean it, and saw the crumpled poem still lying there. Maybe he'd been a bit harsh. Jeff was just trying to be funny. He saved the poem, smoothing it out and reading it over. It /was/ funny.
"I knew you liked it."
Nick nearly stumbled as he turned, seeing Jeff entering the restaraunt. "Holy shit. You scared me."
Jeff laughed, going over to him. "Sorry."
"We're closed." He added, but he was glad he hadn't locked up yet. It was only him and Jeff there.
"I forgot to give you your tip."
He shook his head. "You don't need to tip me."
"No, I'm giving you a tip. As in, words of advice." Jeff flashed his half smile. "Stop holding back."
"I'm..." Nick just looked at him, feeling way too exposed. What was with everyone and telling him how to live? "You can't just say that to someone, I'm not holding back."
"Then why haven't you auditioned for the Warblers?"
That one surprised Nick, and he stammered for a second. "I'm not good enough."
Jeff rolled his eyes. "Bullshit. You're holding back."
"I'm not!" He protested, but knew how fake it sounded. After a minute, he sank into the booth, resolve weakening. Jeff sat across from him. "I don't want to audition and not get in." Nick muttered, playing with Jeff's poem sheet.
"You might not get in. But you definitely won't get in if you never audition." Jeff said, watching him closely.
"I definitely won't get in either way."
Jeff put his hand over Nick's on the table, stilling it. "Do I need to write you another poem? Something to boost your confidence?"
Nick chuckled, finally meeting his gaze. "Not necessary."
"I'll do it, don't doubt me." Jeff's smile grew again, and Nick hoped he wouldn't move his hand.
"I'll audition." He breathed out, nodding a little. Jeff whooped.
"There you go! You'll crush it." How Jeff had so much faith in him, he didn't know, but he'd take it. "Then once you get in, we can see eachother way more."
"Oh, so this was just a ploy to get in my pants." Nick teased, pretending to pull his hand from Jeff's grasp.
"I mean, it would be an added bonus."
Nick laughed as he stood, straightening his apron and pointing to the door. "I really do have to lock up."
"I can wait here, we can hang out when you're done." Jeff reached for his outstretched hand, and Nick withdrew it.
"Goodnight, Jeff." He smiled, opening the door for him.
"Any day now, I'll win this eternal struggle." The blonde said dramatically, walking through the threshold. "And I'll write the most amazing poem you've ever seen to capture the moment forever."
"Uh huh." Nick shut the door, but before it closed all the way, he leaned outside, pressing a kiss to Jeff's cheek. "Thank you."
"For the poem?"
"For the confidence boost." Nick smiled a little.
Jeff tilted his head. "But the poem too."
He laughed, shaking his head as he shut the door and made a show of locking it, waving to him through the glass. Jeff put his hands over his heart and walked backwards away from the diner, blowing kisses.
Nick was doing it. Taking chances. As he watched Jeff finally retreat, he smiled to himself. He thought that maybe Jeff would catch him if he fell. And he thought he might be falling.