What are these women doing? I'm never going to get out of this sari.

I'm at Cece's finally and she looks stunning in her wedding sari. Somehow Shivrang got the ink off of her face. Her aunts are wrapping me in my Sari and I feel extremely out of place. Staring straight ahead, I let these women move me this way and that. I let myself daydream but, I can only think about Nick and what I said to him this morning. I am so stupid!

"Jess….Jess…..JESSICA!"

"Oh sorry Cece. I'm a little out of it"

"I can see that. I need you to focus today. You are my maid of honor remember?"

"Of course I remember, and I still can't believe you asked me. I'm sure Nadia would make a perfect maid of honor"

"But she's not my best friend and something is not right with you today"

It would probably be a good idea to tell Cece what has been going on. She has been so focused on her wedding and we haven't had a real chance to talk.

"Cece can I talk to you about something?" I ask her shyly.

"Is that something, Nick?"

How does she know these things?

"Yes, it's Nick. Well I told you we slept together, and I think this could turn into something really amazing but, my dad talked to him."

"Uh oh" she says with a smirk on her face. She knows better than anyone how my dad can be.

In a rush I say to her, "He told him that he wasn't good enough for me and since then he has been so distant from me. And I went to his room this morning and when I was lying in bed with him I woke him up. Then I said love should be simple and ran off."

"Why did you run off?" Cece says a bit confused.

"Because I know he couldn't possibly ever love me."

"You love him Jess. More than just a friend, you are in love with him. I knew this was going to happen. He always points his feet toward you and you know what I say about that."

"Yes I now, but why would he want me?"

"Why wouldn't he Jess? You are smart, beautiful, funny, caring, and the whole package."

"Thanks Cece." I say with a smile and give her a big hug.

"I think you need to stand up and talk to him. Tell him what you want. Nick wants the same thing, I can tell."

**At the temple**

It's almost time for the wedding to start. Nick, Schmidt, Elizabeth, and Winston just pulled up. I rush to meet them since I ran off so fast this morning

"Where did you go this morning Day?" Schmidt asks holding on to Elizabeth's hand. Elizabeth is really good for him. I like her.

"I just wanted to get to Cece's since I woke up late"

I look over at Nick and he flashes a glorious smile at me. Where did that come from? Damn does he look sexy in that suit. He's all white shirt, black tie, I could eat him up.

"Hey Jess! You look wonderful!"

"Thanks Miller." He seems much happier.

"Can I talk to you for a sec before we go in?"

Uh oh what does he want to talk about now? My stomach churns and I can feel the butterflies going crazy in there.

"Yah uh sure what's up?"

He grabs my arm and ushers me under the pavilion.

"So I've done some thinking this morning and would you like to be my date? I mean my date for the wedding?"

"Of course I will be your date, you can't go alone."

He beams that smile at me again and replies "No and you are pretty fun at weddings."

Oh yah, when I pretended to be his girlfriend to make Caroline jealous. Wow how far we've come since then. He bows, I curtsy like an idiot and he places my hand in the crook of his arm.

"What a proper gentlemen you are."

"Gentlemen? You've seen nothing yet Day."

Really? Have I now?

I am absolutely giddy with happiness. Things are going smoothly and Cece is almost ready to go. As I am fixing her veil Schmidt barges in.

"Schmidt get out of here! GO!" I yell at him.

"Oh, well, this isn't the bathroom. Cecelia." He nods at her and abruptly leaves the room.

"I wonder what that was about."

"I don't know" Cece says, "I think he just wanted a sneak peek.

**Down the aisle**

After what seems like forever I am finally standing at the altar. Schivrang gallantly rode in on a white horse and is now standing in front of me. I smile at him, but think nervously to myself that something is going to go wrong. I'm not sure if it's because of what I said to Nick this morning or if it's just an off day but I have had this feeling in the pit of my stomach like something bad is going to happen all day.

I look over at my roommates sitting in a row by themselves. Schmidt is next to Elizabeth with his arm wrapped around her shoulders. Daisy finally showed up and is sitting comfortably next to Winston. I note that he seems so happy with her. And then there's Nick. My Nick. Sitting all alone with an empty seat next to him. I can't help but feel like that seat is meant for me.

The music begins and Cece walks down the aisle. She looks gorgeous. Everyone in the audience oohs and ahs at her. She and Schmidt lock eyes for a second. In that second I can see the look of uncertainty flash in her eyes. OH NO! This is not going to happen!

Cece finally makes it to the altar. She smiles a fake smile at Shivrang. Why didn't I catch this before? She doesn't want to marry him. Then why is she going through with this?

As the ceremony begin I see Schmidt and Winston leave. What are they up to? Unexpectedly, I hear an odd sound in the air ducts above my head. Is that scratching? Growling? Where are Schmidt and Winston? Cece and Schivrang have said their vows and are now about to say I DO.

I still haven't processed what happened next.

Right before Cece and Schivrang are made husband and wife, a badger falls out of the air duct and onto the priest's head. Then a pretty blonde stands up from the audience and exclaims "Schivrang I love you!"

Schivrang walks to her and plants a strong kiss on her lips. Shocked, I look over at Cece and she looks relieved.

Come to find out the hot blonde was an ex of Shivrang's named Elaine. He had dated her before Cece and was going to marry Cece to make Elaine jealous. I'm still not sure how Elaine got invited nevertheless, I am happy to see that Cece is ok with this. They both decide to continue with the reception. As were leaving I see Nick standing out front, under the pavilion again. He looks nervous, yet has a sparkle of excitement in his eye.

"Hey good looking" I say jokingly to him. He turns and smiles at me. I fall weak at the knees when I see that smile. I'm screwed.

"Hey Day, you ready to go? I thought I could ride with you. If that's ok?"

"Sure" I say, fiddling with my tiny pink clutch trying to find my keys. Finally, I dish them out and Nick grabs them from my hand. He opens my passenger side door and winks at me.

"What are you doing Nick?"

"Only being a gentleman." Is he flirting with me?

The silence between us on our way to the reception is deafening. Why aren't we talking to each other? He reaches for my hand and I let him take it. As he rubs his thumb across my knuckles I relax. Being us is much easier when no one else is around.

I'm the first to break our silence. "Nick I'm sorry about this morning. I don't know what I was thinking."

"It's ok Jess. But, I don't want to talk about it right now. I just want to have fun with my hot date"

"Hot date, huh Miller?"

"You got it Day, MY hot date", exaggerating on my.

We reach the reception hall. Sticking with his gentlemen act, he crosses over to the passenger side, opens my door, and helps me out of the car. I curtsy at him and smile. I have never curtsied so much in my life.

With my hand in the crook of his arm once again, we walk into Cece's reception together. We reach our table and everyone looks at us. "Yuck!" says Schmidt. "What is this?" He almost looks disgusted. "Don't worry about it Schmidt" Nick replies. I pull his arm tighter, feeling pretty happy that he didn't say "nothing".

"You want to dance?"

"Why not?"

He ushers me to the dance floor and we start doing the chicken dance. This is simple, I like simple.

After a few dances the D.J. plays a slow song.

We both look at each other, not exactly sure what to do. But he pulls me into him and wraps his arms around me. For being a guy who doesn't like hugs he has done a lot of holding me lately. However, I could care less. I feel safe here in his arms. I have never noticed how strong they are. As we begin to dance I see Cece looking at us and smiling. Winston and Daisy are at the table drinking and laughing. Schmidt and Elizabeth seem to be having an argument at the back of the room.

"Jess" Nick whispers in my ear.

I pull him closer to me and rest my head on his shoulder. I love the way he smells. He has cologne on but I can still smell his "Nick", smell.

It's here, in his arms, that I realize that I will not lose him. Cece is right, I am in love with him. Everything with Nick is easy. Even though we don't always see eye to eye, he makes me a better me. He is always there for me, can make me laugh, and doesn't judge who I am. I need to stand up for what I want.

I can do this. I can do this.

"Nick I need to tell you something."

"Ok go for it." I think he can tell I'm nervous because we stop moving.

"Nicholas Miller, you are my best friend. I never knew that when I moved in with you three that I would care so much about all of you. Or that you would become my family. But Nick you mean so much more to me. You are caring, funny, and sweet. You make me happy Nick and I want to be with you. I want to take care of you and love you. This might seem like a mess but it's my mess and I want to be in this mess with you. I love you Nick"

He stares at me in shock.

"Nick, please say something."

"Jess…..I…..I….I don't know what to say."

"You don't feel the same way do you?" I ask him. I feel rejected and crushed.

"Jess, I don't know."

I pull away from him. I can feel the tears rolling down my face. I knew it, I knew it! Why would he ever want to me with me? How could he love me?

"Nick, I'm sorry I can't stay here."

I leave him standing in the middle of the dance floor. As I run to the door I run into Cece. I give her a big hug and tell her I will call her tomorrow. She calls after me but I keep running. I can't stay in that building anymore. The room that holds Nick, and the dance floor I just poured all my feelings onto.