I'm back, this time with what will hopefully be a multi-chapter full-length fic. I promise. Maybe. …Anyway, I've had ideas for a fic like this for a while now so I'm just going to start it and see where it leads.
Enjoy x
Nick stumbled out of bed, his head pounding from the hangover that had greeted him. He glanced groggily at the clock, seeing 4:00 am in a blur of red. As he ran his hand over his forehead, he saw a light in the apartment kitchen.
Naturally, Nick would've grabbed "The House Defensive Bat," or better yet called for Coach, yet hangovers were not great motivators. So, instead, he wandered into the kitchen.
There, he found Jess sitting on a red stool in her pink robe that he knew all too well. He couldn't ignore the fact that she had a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream on the counter, and there were approximately three different sizes of spoons surrounding it.
"Look, I'm pretty much in poor judgment right now but I've seen you eat more balanced breakfasts."
Nick's voice startled Jess and she jumped up, her bedhead hair mimicking her sudden movement.
"Jesus, Miller. Since when do you wake up earlier than 2 in the afternoon?"
He strode over to the refrigerator, grabbing some bacon.
"Seriously, Nick. It's 4am."
Nick grabbed the half empty ice cream carton. "Says Miss Phish Food," he said mockingly.
This resulted in Jess snatching back the pint from Nick and rolling her eyes.
Quietly, she muttered, "London has ice cream parlors. Maybe Ryan's at an ice cream parlor right now…"
Nick turned his attention away from the stove. After his bar marathon, he had completely forgotten about Ryan and Jess establishing their long distance relationship. Feeling like an ignorant idiot, Nick tried to rescue the situation.
"No, no you don't know that Jess. Maybe Ryan hates ice cream! Maybe he's lactose intolerant! Hell, maybe the thought of you eating it makes him sick!"
Jess, dumbfounded by Nick's incredible failure at cheering her up, grabbed her ice cream and slid off of her stool.
Nick had to urge to smack himself over the head with the frying pan, or perhaps slamming the refrigerator door would be enough to punish him.
Before he could say anything even more ignorant, Jess turned around and exclaimed, "I was this close! I was so close to finally getting a shot at something real, okay Nick? Do you understand how badly I wanted to move in with Ryan? It's like he – he was my chance at a start and now there's this huge mess of a delay that I can't avoid."
Nick couldn't tell if it was the early hour that hardened the impact of what she had said or if it was actually reality.
"I didn't realize that living here was such a burden, Jessica."
Jess sighed, rubbing her eyes.
"No. No, Nick. That's not what I meant, I just –" She decided she couldn't find the words, and resulted in shrugging her shoulders, defeated.
Nick shook his head and offered a small, but reassuring smile.
"Get some sleep, Day."
With that, Jess surrendered and retired to her bedroom. Sleep wouldn't come, however, thanks to Ryan. And, now, thanks to Nick.
