Chapter 2:
For a few days, he looked up every time the door opened, hoping it was her. It never was. Eventually he stopped hoping. He went back to serving drinks and stocking bottles, upset that he had ever thought she would come back. "I didn't even talk to her," He thought. "She probably just stopped here on the way to somewhere else. Why would she come back?"
Schmidt had noticed Nick's newfound happiness wane and disappear. When Winston asked why Nick was smiling, Schmidt had told him, and when the smile was gone they both figured that she hadn't come back. They tried to get Nick to go out with them, but he was always working or hiding in his room. He was surly with them and they gave up trying to help. Winston said it would pass, he just needed more time.
Almost two weeks after he had seen her in that yellow dress, Nick was working a Friday night shift. It was busy. The bar was filled with people and pretty loud. Nick was used to this, but his current state of mind made him regret ever taking the job. A few women had tried to flirt with him, and he almost didn't notice. He was mad at himself. Mad for screwing things up with Caroline, mad for never taking chances, mad for being such a fuck up that he was 30 years old with a shitty job and no relationship, and mad that he had been too much of a coward to talk to her when he had the chance.
He was serving a group of men, probably just out of college, who were typical "bros." They ordered cheap beer and Nick grabbed them from the cooler. He opened the last one and handed it to one of the guys. "Thanks dude," He said and walked away. Nick nodded and as he turned towards the door, he saw her.
His jaw fell at the sight, but he quickly closed it not wanting to look creepy. She looked different. Her hair was up in a loose bun, bangs and tendrils framing her face. Unlike the sort-of 50's looking dress he had seen her in before, tonight she was wearing a short black dress that formed to every curve of her body. She also wasn't wearing glasses, although he thought he liked her better with them on. He was awestruck and dumbfounded. How could this be the same woman? But he was sure it was.
Behind her was her friend. She was certainly beautiful too. She was wearing a tight red dress, with her brown hair down like it had been two weeks ago. Her skin was almost caramel. Nick could appreciate her attractiveness but if someone had offered him both women and told him to choose, it would be no contest. "Yeah, like either of them would be into you," He thought.
While his mystery girl went to find an open booth, her friend walked up to the bar. Nick almost had a panic attack. He looked around to see if he could find anyone else to take her order, but he was alone behind the bar. He reached for a glass and began drying it, trying to look nonchalant instead of anxious.
"Hey, can I have a glass of rose' and a manhattan?" She was looking around the bar, looking for what he didn't know. He uncorked the wine, poured it, and set it on the bar before making the manhattan. She had her back to the bar, still looking around. He put the drink down next to the other.
"Here you go. Do you want to open a tab?"
She turned to look at him, "Um. Yeah. That's fine." He turned to walk towards the register.
"Oh wait," She called after him. He turned back around.
"What's up?"
"Have you seen two guys, probably in suits? One's black, pretty tall, the other's white, blonde hair?"
He looked at her skeptically, "There's a lot of people here tonight...and you just described half of them."
She laughed, "Oh duh. Sorry. I just can't seem to find them. I'm sure they'll pop up. Thanks again." She smiled at him, took both drinks and walked away.
"Probably their dates. Of course Nick! Girls like her probably have guys lined up around the block." He thought and sighed deeply. "And they're probably not bartenders." He went back to work.
Nick tried to ignore his urge to stare at her, but kept peeking glances. Eventually, two men joined them, their "dates." He watched as pleasantries were shared. He watched closer as one of the men very obviously flirted with her, and she touched his arm. Nick felt jealousy rise in his chest, but he tried to push it away. He had never even talked to her, it wasn't appropriate to be jealous.
The night wore on and a little before 1 am, the group got up and left. He kicked himself for not introducing himself a few weeks ago. If he ever saw her again, she probably wouldn't be available. He got home around 3, following a few drinks for himself he had had with Big Bob. He went to his room and promptly fell asleep. It had been a long night.
A few days later he was working another night shift, but it was Tuesday so there was barely anyone in the bar. Schmidt and Winston came to see him and have a few drinks after work. Schmidt was looking a little angry when he sat down. "I can't work with these women anymore!" Schmidt said, "Lemon ball me."
"Lemon ball you? Really Schmidt? Is working with so many women, causing you to actually become a woman?" Winston said laughing. Nick joined him and Schmidt gave them a death stare of sorts.
"No. I am not turning into a woman, Winston. Lemon balls are a delicious beverage and I know how much you like fruity drinks, so don't even play!" Winston looked offended, but then silently agreed with him.
"Here's your lemon ball Schmidt." Nick said gruffly, "Winston?"
"Oh just a beer I guess." Nick opened a Hiesler and handed it to him. "What's going on at work Schmidt?" Winston said, hoping he would be less high strung tonight if he talked about it.
"Well, one of them is out for my job, I think my boss wants to sleep with me but I keep misreading the signals, and my other boss is pregnant and won't invite me to the baby shower!"
Nick chimed in, "Why do you want to go to a baby shower?"
"Because, Nicholas, I am all but ignored at the office, and if I can impress my boss by caring about her fetus, I'm going to do it!"
"Yuck, gross man." Nick said as he stuck out his tongue, illustrating his disgust. Winston just laughed and continued talking with Schmidt.
But Nick didn't hear another word because at that moment, she was back, and she was alone it seemed. She walked through the doors wearing a sweater and jeans and again he was amazed that she appeared to look good in anything. She sat near the bar, but at a booth...
"Nick?" Winston said, realizing he hadn't heard him. Nick looked back at his friends.
"Uh what...huh?"
"Did you just have a stroke or something?"
"No...it's her." He couldn't stop himself from saying it. Schmidt started to look around, "Who?"
Nick lowered his voice and pointed discreetly, "The girl I told you about." Winston and Schmidt both turned to look. "No! Don't look at her!" Nick scream-whispered. It was too late, but thankfully she didn't seem to notice.
Winston smiled, "Ah ha. Mystery girl. Well she's pretty cute. You gonna actually talk to her tonight?"
Nick sighed, "Probably not." Schmidt whipped his head back to Nick, "What? Why not? She's not here with a date. She's wearing jeans for God's sake. And it's a Tuesday, so if she's here drinking by herself, she's probably just as miserable as you!" Schmidt smiled, obviously proud of himself.
"Thanks Schmidt."
"Hey, I'm really gonna need you to step it up tonight. No sad sack Nick Miller. You like her, so just go talk to her." Nick was a little shocked at Schmidt's kindness in the moment.
"No, I can't. That breaks the first rule of bar-tending. Never cross the bar, cause once you cross the bar, it get messy."
Winston sighed, "He's still not over Caroline." Schmidt nodded in agreement.
"I'm over her. I just don't wanna mess up this perfectly nice girl's life."
Schmidt was done with Nick's stubbornness. "Fine, Nick. Whatever you say. I think Winston and I are going to shoot some hoops." He motioned his arms like he was shooting a basketball, but it looked hardly anything like a real shot. Winston looked surprised, "We are?"
Schmidt elbowed him, "Oh right...yeah...shooting hoops... See ya later Nick."
Schmidt and Winston got up. Nick barely noticed, his eyes were fixed on the girl, but he heard Winston's goodbye and replied, "See ya." without looking at them. Winston and Schmidt headed to the door.
"Were not really playing ball right now Schmidt, right? Cause you suck." Schmidt scoffed, "I do not suck! But no were aren't, I just think Nick might make the right decision if we're not pressuring him." Winston looked impressed, "Wow man, you can be nice sometimes? Who would a thought?" Schmidt glared at him as they walked out the door.
The night went on, and no one ever came to meet her. Nick busied himself with stocking, but couldn't stop thinking about talking to her. Pausing behind the bar, thinking over his options, he walked back and forth, ringing his hands and trying to psych himself up. After a few minutes of this dance, he crossed the threshold to the other side of the bar and began to walk towards her.
He walked to the booth and stood next to it. She looked up at him.
"I'm Nick." He said, eyes closed, fully expecting her to ask him to leave or something. He slowly opened his eyes, and she just smiled and motioned him to sit down. When he did, she looked at him and said, "I'm Jess."