Happy New Year's everyone!

::::::5 days later

Beep beep beep

Nick sleepily opened his eyes looking at the time before satisfyingly pressing the snooze button on his phone meaning he could go back to sleep. He couldn't even remember why he set the alarm for 8 anyway so he rolled over before drifting back off to sleep.

Wait, he thought there must be a reason I set it.

Suddenly he remembered why he had set the alarm and sat up in bed pinching his forehead like he normally did when he was stressed. He had set the alarm on his phone ages ago because today was the day that he had been looking forward too a couple of weeks ago, but now that he dreaded more than anything. Picking Layla up from the airport and therefore breaking up with Layla day. It was genuinely going to be one of the hardest things he ever had to do and he was not looking forward to it one bit. He couldn't even focus on the fact that at least he could be with Jess as he was too filled with guilt.

The past 5 days Nick had to pretend that nothing was wrong as Jess didn't know about Layla and he didn't want her to find out. Yet he didn't want to cheat on Layla so he kissed and made out with Jess and they laughed together like they normally did. But anything beyond that Nick didn't want to do for fear of properly cheating on Layla. Last night Jess had even gone to the bar and waited till his shift was over while whispering in his ear that she wanted him during it. He had to make up some dumb excuse about being too tired despite his body was telling him that he wanted her too as he wanted to do the honourable and the more decent thing. Well the closest to honourable and decent as he could get as he had kissed Jess a lot, however he knew if he went all the way then he wouldn't forgive himself so he turned her down despite the look of hurt in her eyes as she knew he was lying.

He quickly got dressed and grabbed his keys before walking into the living room to be met with all his three roommates sitting down and staring at him in surprise as he never got up this early. Schmidt and Winston had arrived at the loft three days before and it had been tricky with keeping him and Jess a secret which is what they agreed before Schmidt and Winston arrived. But they had managed quite well and Nick even found it fun and exciting that they had to make up random excuses in order sneak off. They generally just went to the roof, to make out but sometimes the laundry room, the park and even in one of their rooms. Of course they always locked the door and stuff so they weren't caught and the secrecy and privacy was enjoyable for them both while they "got to know each other better."

"Nick why you up so early?" Schmidt asked, being the one to say what the others were all thinking.

"Um I have to go to um I'm going for a run," Nick lied, sweating profusely.

"Why is your forehead sweaty?" Jess questioned innocently. This remark made Nick even more nervous as he usually cracked pretty quickly. So he quickly yelled bye before running out the apartment as fast as he could.

:::::::

Nick anxiously stood at the gate next to all the cab drivers and other emotional people waiting to be reunited with their loved ones. He felt like he was going to faint he was so nervous. He just stood there blood pumping through his head, fists clenched and occasionally wiped sweat from his forehead on his shirt. His eyes rooted to the sliding doors, waiting for them to open.

After what seemed like forever they opened and a gust of people all swept out, running towards whoever was waiting for him. Suddenly his eyes were drawn to a petite brunette walking out of the doors, searching for him through the crowds. Layla. She was wearing a cute little black and red coat that really suited her and Nick could tell that she had made an effort for him as she was wearing more make up than she usually did and her hair was immaculately waved. He called out her name and his voice sounded all hoarse, probably because of how nervous he was. However she still heard him and her face lit up when she spotted him.

"Hey Nick," she beamed before hugging and kissing him. Nick reciprocated but this time he felt guilty like he was cheating on Jess. He had to end it with Layla, this love triangle was slowly killing him inside with all the stress. Yet he plastered on a smile and asked her about her Christmas as they walked to his car, him carrying her little red suitcase for her.

"Listen," he started as they both got into the car.

"Yeah," she replied earnestly gazing at him.

"Thank you so much for my Christmas present, it was so kind and thoughtful of you," he thanked her as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. As he did that he smelt the familiar smell of the perfume that both her and Jess wore occasionally wore which despite the fact that it was a nice smell, it made him made him feel very nauseous and uneasy due to the fact beyond the perfume that was that both her and Jess wear it and so it reminded him of Jess.

"You're welcome, I'm glad you like it," she replied coyly. "Thank you, I love the earrings you gave me, see I'm wearing them." She showed him, sweeping her hair behind her ears.

"You're welcome," Nick replied, feeling even more guilty. "So where shall we go?"

"Back to my apartment to get rid of my case," she suggested and so Nick sped off there. Trying not to think about what was coming after they arrived there.

:::::::

"Hey Nick you want anything to eat or drink," She called from the kitchen.

"No thanks," Nick called back wringing his hands worriedly as he sat on the sofa.

"So how was your Christmas?" She asked Nick, walking out her kitchen with a glass of water and settling herself next to him on the sofa.

"Boring and un eventful," Nick lied.

"Sorry to hear that," she said sympathetically stroking his hand.

"It's fine, look anyway Layla there's something I need to talk to you about it."

"Ooh sounds serious," she joked. "What's up?"

"I think we need to break up," Nick said guiltily, avoiding her eyes.

" ?" She stuttered, startled by the sudden turn of the conversation.

"I think we need to break up," he repeated again quietly even though he knew she was saying it rhetorically. He felt bad about not having the decency to look at her when saying it the previous time so this time he looked her in the eye as he said it.

Slowly he saw he big brown doe eyes start to tear up and so he before he started getting upset himself he started talking again.

"This sounds like a cliche but I genuinely mean it; it's not you it's me. You are beautiful, thoughtful, funny and kind but I just can't be with you. You deserve better than me." He explained watching the a tear run down her face. She made no attempt to wipe them away and conceal her pain, she was honest, sensitive and upfront unlike him. And she wasn't even doing the sobbing, loads of tears kind of crying where he could just put his arm around her, and let her cry. She was doing the whole silent, non whimpering crying with individual tears running down her heart shaped face which made him feel even worse.

"I'm so sorry Layla, you don't deserve this to happen to you and I wish I could still be with you but I can't, this isn't what I want anymore. I cannot apologise enough, the last thing I wanted to do was hurt you," He said sadly.

"Can I ask you one question?" she questioned, her voice shaking.

"Of course, ask me as many questions as you want," Nick answered, nodding his head.

"Is it because there's someone else, someone who entered the picture while I was away?" She guessed.

He had to be honest with her, he owed her that.

"Yes," he replied sadly as he watched her the tears continue to run down her face. She looked so sad and he wished he could take it all back, take away all her hurt and sadness and pain.

"I'm sorry, it was someone who I had liked before you came along and suddenly she was single and it just happened without me thinking. I didn't sleep with her though if that's what your thinking."

"Do you love her?" She asked.

Do I love Jess? He thought to himself.

"I don't know, maybe, I think so," Nick confirmed.

"I'm so sorry," he repeated.

"It's fine Nick, I guess you can't help who you fall for," she gulped finally wiping away the tears. "If you love her than, I'm glad you ended it with me rather than stringing me a long I guess. It just wasn't meant to be I suppose."

"Do you want those plane tickets back?" They must have cost her a lot of money so he felt guilty about just taking them.

"No you keep them, think of me if you use them," she smiled weakly.

She was finally putting on a brave face but that made Nick feel even worse, and she still looked so sad that Nick felt like crying himself.

He put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head and started stroking her hair as she buried her face into his chest.

"I'm so sorry," he kept whispering to her again and again on a loop. After a couple of minutes she lifted her head up and took one final long look at him.

"Goodbye Nick," she whispered mournfully, looking up at him with her big doe eyes that reminded him of Jess'

The way she said that final goodbye made a tear escape out of the corner of Nick's eye as there was so much emotion in it. Slowly he kissed her on her cheek, stood up and walked out. He paused once and looked back at her their eyes locked and she nodded, telling him to go before she truly let herself cry. He gave her one last 'sorry' and walked out her door. Once he had closed it behind him he sighed and put his head in his hands. In some ways it would have been better if she went mental and shouted at him and stuff. But instead the way she handled it so graciously made him feel so bad and so guilty. He was definitely the most horrible person who ever lived.

::::::::

The elevator door pinged and Nick walked towards the front door to the loft still feeling terrible at what he had done.

"Hey Nick," Schmidt and Jess greeted him as he walked in the door.

"Nick what's wrong?" Jess asked him when she saw the state he was in, she walked over and gave him a hug which he had to admit did make him feel a little better.

"Yeah Nick, what is it?" Schmidt said reinstating what Jess said. "Trouble in paradise with your girlfriend?" He joked sarcastically, trying to lighten whatever the situation was that's as dragging Nick down.

Nick was about to nod before properly realising what Schmidt said.

"Girlfriend?" Jess questioned drawing away from the hug, looking at him confusedly.

"Yeah haven't you met her? Her names Layla, she's a sexy brunette. She gets a 9 on my Schmidtness rating," Schmidt laughed offering Nick a fist pump.

Instead he was met with an angry looking Nick.

Nick looked at Jess, trying to figure out how to salvage the situation however she had that same expression of hurt that Layla had earlier that day and he knew that whatever he said she wouldn't believe him. He couldn't believe how quickly a day could go from crap to rock bottom. Without saying anything Jess turned away and walked into her bedroom.

I have screwed up so badly, I broke up with Layla to be with Jess. Now Jess probably won't want to be with me. Nick thought sadly.

"What was that about?" Schmidt asked. Nick just ignored him, not caring what Schmidt could now know from the situation and headed for Jess' room.

"Jess," he called softly, knocking on her door. He could hear her crying and he had the instinct to want to comfort her and hug her.

"Jess can I come in?" He asked again. However before he could turn the handle he heard the lock in the door click. Sadly he slid down the wall so he was sitting outside her door. He needed her to know that he needed her and that he didn't mean for any of this to happen. She had to know this and he knew that he would wait there all night if he had to.

Thanks for reading!