ARMS OPEN: CH 4

Winston stumbled down the hall bare foot and bleary eyed, shuffling slowly towards the urgent knocking coming from the direction of the front door. Looking around the apartment for other signs of life, he found all bedroom doors closed and the living room empty.

"What? Ain't nobody else at home but me? I know I can't be the first one up. Y'all are being some lazy ass people right about now!"

The knocking came back louder and faster, drawing his attention towards the loft entrance "Okay, alright! I'm coming, gimme a second..."

Swinging the door open, he was presented with a short, dark haired man in uniform holding a huge bunch of red roses. Winston frowned as they were unceremoniously thrust at him alongside a clipboard for his signature. "Sorry, what's this? We didn't order flowers, man. Especially not at..." He looked at his watch "...oh, damn! It's 9:30 already?!"

The delivery guy tutted loudly and tapped his pen on the board "Well I've been standing here waiting for 10 minutes for someone to open the door. I was given strict instructions not to leave until these were delivered for a...uh..." He checked his paperwork "...Ms Day?"

"Ooohhh! These are for Jess? Ha! The roses are for Jess! Alright, that makes more sense." Winston laughed and sniffed the flowers, signing for them before the short man snatched the clipboard back and muttered something about hating his life on the way back to the elevator.

Turning around and kicking the door closed behind him with one foot, he rolled his eyes as the knocking started up again.

"What now?" he moaned, opening it once more and expecting to see the delivery man rubbing his fingers together for a tip. Instead, he found a flustered Cece with a frown on her face and stepped back as she hurried past him.

"Do you always welcome guests coming out of the elevator by slamming the door in their faces, Winston? Rude."

"Cece! Hey girl!"

At the mention of her name, Schmidt suddenly appeared from his room clad in his blue silk kimono, doing his best to act nonchalant with a nod of the head towards them both.

"Good morning, Winston...Greetings, Cecelia - so, to what do we owe the honour of your presence on this glorious day?"

"Just here to see Jess, as always..." Cece took hold of the bunch of flowers from Winston's grip "...I may as well take these beauties with me as I'm headed to her room anyways - I cannot wait to hear about her date last night!"

"Hey, Cece - how's your dalliance with the small Indian man going? Finally come to your senses about marrying him yet?" Schmidt called as he walked towards them.

"His name is Shivrang, for the hundredth time." She huffed, whilst being secretly pleased that her partnering with someone else was able to elicit such a response from him "We're good, don't you worry about me. You do you, boo." Cece turned on her heel and stepped quickly in the direction of Jess's bedroom.

"Ok, Cece. You keep telling yourself that, but know this! When you finally realise that you need a real man - which WILL eventually happen - you know where to find me!"

"Don't hold your breath, Schmidt." she replied, suppressing a small grin.

"I won't wait around forever!"

Winston laughed and gave his roommate a sympathetic pat on the shoulder "Dude, we ALL know that one's not true..."

...

Jess yawned loudly and rolled on to her back, hearing the animated voices from the outside her door and chuckling as she stretched her arms and legs out whilst still under the blanket. She lay looking at the ceiling, a smile spanning her face as memories of her date last night came flooding back. Her phone beeped and she pushed herself up to a sitting position, scooting back to lean against the pillows and reaching over to her nightstand. Seeing Logan's name on the screen, Jess jiggled her legs in excitement and swiped to read his message.

"Morning Ms Day. Thank you for an amazing evening in your wonderful company. I hope it will be the first of many...L x"

Squealing quietly to herself, Jess looked up as Cece entered her room without knocking. Closing the door behind her, she turned to face Jess with a huge grin then looked at the roses and lifted one brow "Date went well, I take it?! I'm assuming these are from the man himself?"

"Oh my gosh, they're so beautiful!" Jess sprang forward on to her knees and took the flowers, gazing at them and bringing them to her nose, taking in a deep breath of their delicate fragrance and closing her eyes. She felt like there should be birds flying in through her window, singing and chirping as she twirled on the spot in a flowing dress with the skirt fanning out around her.

"So. Tell me everything...everything..." Cece demanded, interrupting her daydream and flopping down on to the bed, crossing her legs and looking at Jess expectantly "...did you, y'know...sample his wears?"

"What? No! Cece, no...it wasn't like that!"

"Well what was it like?"

"It was...it was...romantic and dreamy and...and...like no date I've ever been on before!" Jess laughed and placed the flowers on her dresser before walking back to her bed and throwing herself down on her stomach, leaning on her elbows with hands under her chin like a teenager talking about her dreamy crush "Honestly, it was so great. He had a chauffeur drive us to the restaurant, then we were ushered inside past the queue of people like freakin' celebrities and given the best table in the place."

"Nice!"

"I ate the best damn meal of my life last night, Ceec, and then guess what?"

"What?!"

"The owner came out and told him not to pay...! That it was on the house as a thank you for all the work he'd done for them. Logan insisted, of course, because he's a gentleman and when the owner still refused, he whipped out his cheque book and donated $500 to their charity fundraiser for building an orphanage in Africa instead."

"Oh, damn..."

"I know! THEN, we went to the planetarium..."

"Huh?" Cece looked confused.

"...trust me, it gets better! So, we go to the planetarium and he does this secret little knock thing on the back door, it opens up because they're expecting us and inside is all set up with blankets and a picnic basket with strawberries and chocolate and all sorts - just for us. The whole damn planetarium!"

"So...did you...kiss under the fake stars or whatever?"

"Boy, did we!" Jess wiggled her eyebrows "Something about those kinda places makes me totally twirly! Plus we'd been drinking free champagne all evening at the restaurant and you know how those bubbles go to my head."

"So you did sample his wears! I knew it!" Cece pointed accusingly.

"No, I didn't. I mean I woulda...you've seen him, right? Mother, may I?! But...here's the thing Cece - we're getting hot and heavy and then he stopped me."

"What?!"

"Ya! He stopped me. He apologised profusely and insisted he didn't want me to think that's all he was after. That he was looking for more than a casual one night thing. That he was getting to the stage in his life where he wanted to think about settling down and how his playboy days were behind him, he'd just needed to meet the right woman. It was quite refreshing, actually!"

"Right...and?"

"And we lay under the fake stars, making out and talking about anything and everything! Did you know he grew up on a farm? And he loves horses. Ooh, can you imagine him as a cowboy? Come to mama, yeehaa!" Jess giggled.

"Hmm. Sounds like something straight out of the movies, for sure." Cece said quietly.

"He just has it so together y'know? He runs his own very successful company, he's smart and funny and easy on the eye and_"

Jess stopped talking and narrowed her eyes at her friend.

"What's wrong?"

"You're looking at me funny, Cece."

"Pssh! I am not!"

"You've got something to say, so c'mon..."

"Nothing, Jess! It's nothing. I'm really pleased that you had such a great time last night!"

"But...?"

"But what?"

"My dear Cece, don't you think I've known you long enough to read your facial expressions? Whatever it is, you can say it. I won't be offended...you don't like him?"

"No it's not that - he sounds great! It's just..." Cece sighed and tucked her knees up to her chest "...he sounds a little intense. All that stuff about settling down? It was your first date..."

"I don't think he meant anything by it. I'm pretty sure there's not an engagement ring hidden in those roses, but I can double check if you want?" Jess laughed.

"Maybe he didn't mean anything by it, but...are you sure this is what you want, Jess? I thought this was just a rebound thing? Is it not a little too soon for something serious? I mean, it wasn't that long ago you broke up with Sam. And you still haven't really spoken about all of that to me yet. Don't you wanna talk it all over, you usually love dissecting break-ups!"

Jess rolled on to her back and laced her fingers together across her chest. Sighing a little, she spoke quietly "No, I'm good. I've drawn a line under me and Sam. Gotta move forward, you know?"

The truth was she hadn't really known how to feel about breaking things off with Sam. If she couldn't completely understand it herself, how could she have talked to Cece about it?

"Ok, babe. If you're sure? Just letting you know I'm here for you."

"I know, thanks, Cece. Hey, could you do me a favour?"

"Sure, anything."

"Would you take the roses out to the kitchen for me? I need to put them in water but I'm gonna get changed first..."

"Okay. Meet you out there in five?" Cece got off the bed slowly, picking up the flowers and giving a small squeeze on Jess's arm before she left. Cece knew this was her way of asking for time alone so she wasn't going to argue or force the issue.

Jess closed her eyes as the door clicked shut, taking a few deep breaths as thoughts of her break up with Sam swam back into her mind. That stupid marriage convention. Those stupid games. It just made everything so clear to her that things were not going to work. The physical compatibility test had left her with a sinking feeling. They didn't match up at all, awkward angles and clashing heads. He was much better suited to the tall, athletic woman to his right. Don't even get her started on the damn newspaper table test. What a complete bust that was. It fell apart the minute the phone book was dropped on it. She'd watched as it collapsed in a crumpled heap like a perfect metaphor of her relationship with Sam. All Jess could hear in her mind were the words of the host to the next couple across 'Strong table - strong couple!'

It repeated over and over, like a broken record. She had looked at him, as he just stood shrugging and laughing, but that's when she knew. She and Sam weren't a strong couple. They liked each other, they had fun together but, really - where was it going? They were walking alongside one another down the same road, but clearly in different lanes.

Jess stood up and walked to her closet, still feeling that pang of guilt as she remembered the look on his face when she told Sam perhaps they'd be better off apart. He hadn't seen it coming and, for that, she felt terrible. Sometimes she wondered if she should have tried harder to fix it, or if there hadn't have been that moment with Nick outside her door, would she still be with Sam? Was that...that...whatever it was...the catalyst for her concluding they just weren't working? Perhaps it was. Jess still couldn't decide if that was a blessing or a curse, but she knew it didn't feel like a serious relationship, and if she wanted to start thinking long term about her future - which she did - she had realised now that she needed to be with someone more well suited to her.

Someone on her wavelength. Someone like...Logan? She smiled at the thought of him and, okay, maybe it was a little too early to be thinking of him that way, but fate brings people together for a reason. She truly believed that. She hadn't been actively seeking anyone out after Sam, but there Logan was. Dropped right into her lap like a gift from above and she really did have a good feeling about this guy. Jess hurried to finish getting dressed - there were roses out there with her name on that needed attending to.

...

She's biting on his bottom lip in that way that drives him wild, right on the edge of pain but gloriously sexy at the same time. His fingers are tousling her hair, yanking her head back slightly and pulling away so he can kiss the bare skin of her throat. She's moaning as he does and his trousers are so tight he could practically burst free of them whilst they are stood in the hallway between their rooms. She's rubbing her palm across his bulge now, and he growls against her open mouth, his breath hot and ragged as she teases him through the material. He's grabbing at her skirt, raking his hands up the back of her soft thighs and she's whispering his name breathlessly "Nick...don't stop...please, I want you". He's struggling to control himself and is cupping her face in his hands, trying to ground himself slightly in this moment that threatens to carry him away. Her eyes are big and wide, staring back at him full of want. He can't take it any more, he has to tell her how much he wants her, needs her, so he opens his mouth to speak "Jess...", but her door has shot open behind them and everything has gone dark. He's looking at the panicked expression on her face which matches his own and sees a tall figure step out from her bedroom, placing a hand on her shoulder. He's going to tell that Sam to fuck off once and for all. Jess wants this, wants him. So he straightens up, still resting his fingers on her cheek and is looking over her shoulder. But it isn't Sam who is looking back at him. It's Logan. And Logan is stepping forward, resting both hands on her shoulders now and Nick has no words to speak. They've deserted him. So instead he is pleading with her silently "Don't go..." And she's opening her mouth to answer him but suddenly is gone from his grip. He's looking down at the floor and the ground is moving beneath him, stretching out and putting distance between them. Her arms are reaching for him so he takes a step closer, but the floor continues to move. Every step he is trying to gain, the ground is moving further, forcing the separation. "Nick!" She's calling for him, but he just can't get to her. He's angry now, shouting at her to come back but all that's doing is pushing her closer to Logan and he's right behind Jess, pulling her to him and stepping back into her room. He's sneering at Nick and closing the door in his face "I don't think so, Mr Porta Potty..."

"No!" Nick yelled, waking himself up with a start and feeling his heart hammering against his chest. His breathing was fast and his brow dripping with sweat. Falling back against his pillow, he squeezed his eyes closed and forced himself to take some slow, measured breaths to calm down. It was just a dream.

He groaned and reached for the glass of water at the side of his bed, his mouth so dry he gulped the entire contents down in one go. Nick had gotten so drunk last night after Jess had left on her date that he could barely remember stumbling to bed. He wasn't expecting it to be a bundle of fun watching her go out with another guy, but hadn't been quite so prepared for the force at which the emotions had hit him right in the solar plexus. And of ALL people to be dating...it had to be that idiot. Perhaps he really had misread any signal he thought he had received from Jess that there was maybe something more between them. If she was going after guys like THAT, then Nick guessed he ought to really focus on getting her out of his head and forgetting about the whole sorry notion completely. He was back to being her boyfriend without the rewards, picking out fucking outfits and sending her off looking amazing all for someone else's benefit. He banged his fist down on the mattress, annoyed with himself as this was clearly all his fault for not having any balls in the first place. Throwing his covers back, Nick discovered he was still wearing yesterday's jeans, but had somehow miraculously remembered to remove his socks. Managing to sit himself up, he ran a hand over his face several times and half-heartedly reached for some clean clothes from his dresser. A shower could wait until later. Right now he needed painkillers and food to rid him of the hangover from hell. He emerged from his room and winced at the sunlight, bringing an arm up to shield his eyes as he staggered towards the kitchen.

"Nicholas! So glad you could join us in the land of the living!" Teased Schmidt on his way to the bathroom.

"Yeah, man. I was about to call 911 to send a search party looking for your ass...but then we heard you cry out like a little girl and thought maybe you'd caught sight of your own reflection in the mirror this morning 'cos, damn...you look rough, Miller!" Winston joined in as Nick gingerly perched on a stool at the kitchen island, holding his head in his hands and moaning "Why is everyone shouting?!"

"We're speaking in our normal voices Nick..."

"Well, stop! It hurts! My head is going to explode..."

He opened his eyes just enough to see a large glass of orange juice and two pills placed in front of him. Looking up, Jess was smiling sweetly at him from the other side of the counter. He nodded his gratitude and ducked his head back down, the throbbing in his temples becoming unbearable.

"Drink that, take those..." Jess instructed in her sing songy morning voice "...aaaand, eat this." She finished, laying a plate of bacon and eggs in front of him and stepping back. Nick could almost cry at the heavenly smell of the cooked breakfast sitting before him, his brows rising in surprise.

"Thank you, Jessica...but, why are you making me food?"

"Yeah, where was my damn breakfast?!" complained Winston "After I got up when no one else would to sign for your flowers from lover boy and everything!"

Nick's mouthful of bacon nearly got stuck in his throat but he forced it down with a gulp of juice.

Flowers?

"Flowers?" He asked, trying to keep his voice neutral.

"Winston - I made you pancakes yesterday! Besides, this is a thank you breakfast for Nick because he made an awesome choice with my date outfit last night, so there...and yes, flowers...see?" She held aloft the roses and sniffed them once again "They're from Logan, obviously! Aren't they amazing?!"

"Super..." Nick replied with as much enthusiasm as he could muster, letting his smile fade only once she had turned her back to continue rooting through the kitchen cupboards.

Winston sidled up to Nick and stole a piece of bacon off his plate before his hand could be swatted away. Keeping his voice low, he whispered "You helped Jess pick her outfit for her date?! Man, what did we already talk about...set your boundaries, Nick!"

"Yeah, I helped her - so what? Drop it, Winston. It's no big deal."

"I got one word for you, my friend - Flufferrrrrrr..."

"Shut up" Nick warned, shooting him a look as Jess returned to the island.

"Boundaries..." Winston said, almost imperceptibly, before retreating to his room.

"I knew this was here somewhere! I think someone must have moved it - what have I told you guys about touching this?!' Jess was cradling a large jug made from blue and white glass in her arms.

"Jessica, who would want to touch that thing?! It's hideous!" Scowled Schmidt, returning to the kitchen after his shower and choosing to sit opposite Cece at the dining table.

"Hey! This was my grandmother's jug that was passed down to me, it holds significant sentimental value!"

"Why in God's name are you using it for your roses, Jess? It's not even a vase! We have dozens of very aesthetically pleasing vases you could choose from, yet you search out that monstrosity? That ugly thing looks like it belongs at the bottom of the ocean with the rest of the relics from the Titanic!"

"JAR!" Called all three of the others in unison.

"I think it's beautiful...look how the colours of the glass swirl together and the way it catches the light. It's so pretty!" Jess pouted as Schmidt scoffed and rolled his eyes "Shut up, Schmidt. I like it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - right, Nick?"

'It certainly is...' he thought, keeping his eyes fixed on her and his mouth firmly shut as he nodded silently in agreement with his mouth full.

...