Warning: Mild profanity and crude humor.
Note: Revised for grammar on Saturday, January 16, 2021.
A/N: I've written a post-"Snow Job" fic before, but, in retrospect, it wasn't as good as it could have and should have been. So, I decided to completely gut it and make it better, now that my writing's better and I'm more self-aware. Woohoo.
(I guess this is fluffy? There's no angst, but I wouldn't call it 100% fluff. Actually, It's whatever you want to call it, honestly.)
"I have to admit: Caitlin knows how to dress, but will she ever learn how to dance?" Nikki snorted.
"I seriously agree with you, but have you seen Jude? Dude has two left feet and no rhythm at all." Jonesy burst into unrestrained laughter. He sobered after spotting Jude on the dance floor with his three girls of the evening; he wondered how his best friend scored three girls in one night, then let Jude's arrhythmic dancing amuse him once more.
Bright laughter, pop music, and bad dancing ruled the night. After coming back to the dance with Nikki in tow, Jonesy had been on the dance floor with her a couple times. His hands slid to her hips often (in hopes of touching her butt without being scolded). While the rest of their friends focused on other things—Wyatt did another set with Marlowe and the rest of his band, Jen disappeared with her date, Jude danced offbeat with his girls, and Caitlin beamed with joy over her Greeter-God date—Jonesy and Nikki had parted from the dance floor and conversed at the table on the gym's most secluded side.
Nikki stopped laughing long enough to say, "Yeah, but they're our friends."
"Yeah, they are, aren't they?" He grinned during a long pause. "You know, we're not friends anymore."
She cocked an eyebrow before letting it fall and smirking at him. "No, we're not. Not after tonight."
"So… it's official—you and me?"
Rolling her eyes, she confirmed, "Yes, Jonesy. You're my boyfriend, and I'm your girlfriend—for real this time."
"Sweet!" He placed his large hands on her much smaller ones, gazing at her. His voice softened, just as the DJ's music had. "I'm just really glad you took me back, Nik. I'm down to make us work again; I'll be a better boyfriend this time, I swear. I'll be—"
"Jonesy?"
"Yeah?"
"I get it." She chuckled. "It's not that you were a bad boyfriend the first time around. It's not like I was the perfect girlfriend either. We just weren't ready to jump into a relationship. The attraction was there…" She lost her train of thought as he caressed her palms. She didn't realize how much she missed his touch until now. The attraction had always been present. "But the timing was wrong. We didn't know what we were doing, and we didn't know what to call each other."
He scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish. "I remember being scared outta my mind to call you my girlfriend, honestly."
"This is exactly what I meant! Even though I liked you and you liked me, we weren't ready to handle an actual relationship. But now…"
"Things are different. A good different."
He leaned in as she said, "Mmhmm."
She closed her eyes and licked her lips in anticipation. He exuded warmth. He enticed her and invited her into his personal space. She recalled what made her fall for him so easily. The closer their lips became to touching, the more she knew she'd made the right decision in reuniting with him. She disregarded all the chaperones and all the people with their dates and friends. The intimacy of their table, away from prodding eyes and spotlights, eased her into him.
Her lips brushed against his own when the scream pierced the air. The noise disrupted the slow-dancing crowd and the (barely there) lip-locking. Jonesy and Nikki jolted away from each other, looking around the gym in confusion.
With wide eyes, Nikki asked, "Didn't that sound like—"
"Jen!" Caitlin called after she sprinted towards their table. "Ohmygosh, that sounded like Jen! We've got to go help her!"
Jonesy and Nikki exchanged brief, baffled glances before hurrying towards the gym's exit with Caitlin.
They found Jen sitting on the ground near the half-flight of stairs leading to the gym. Her date crouched beside her. Nikki peered at what Jen held in her hand, only to find a heel.
Nikki exchanged another look with Jonesy before the gym door opened. She turned around, seeing a group of nosy underclassmen who snickered once they realized what had happened.
If looks could kill, the whole pack of freshmen would already be murdered and buried.
"Scram!" Nikki yelled. Since she couldn't punch anyone, gesturing at them with her middle finger had to suffice.
Once they fled for their lives, Jonesy decided to block the door until they resolved the situation.
As Caitlin and Nikki approached Jen, they noticed her and her date talking before she motioned for him to walk away.
"Jen, are you okay?" Caitlin asked as Jen's date left.
"I'm fine. Just go back in and have fun without me. I'll be okay," Jen replied in a raspy voice (caused by her screaming, Nikki assumed).
Nikki crossed her arms. "You know you can't get rid of us that easy, Jen. We know something happened."
Jen sighed. "Bryan and I were walking around the school and talking, but, when we finally decided to come back to the dance—boom—one of my heels broke and I fell down the steps."
"Let me inspect the damage," Caitlin said. Jen handed her the shoe, and she held it against the light. "Ooh, it's pretty bad. No wonder they broke, though. They look kinda cheap. You should invest in some Italian shoes. They have amazing quality."
"Caitlin!"
"Sorry. I could talk about shoes for hours."
"Understatement of the year," Nikki deadpanned.
"But it is a good thing, since I just happen to have some backup shoes in my locker."
"Cait, you're a lifesaver!" Jen said as she sprung to her feet, pulling Caitlin into a hug.
Nikki placed her hands on her hips. "Well, I'm glad I could be of assistance."
"Hey, you came out here to see if I was fine. That counts as help too, Nik."
Nikki found herself wrapped up in a group hug and maybe—just maybe—smiled.
"Mind if I make this a foursome?" Jonesy asked as he approached the girls with open arms. As their hug ended, disgusted remarks greeted him. A broken heel barely missed his face. "Hey, no need to go all George Bush on me!"
Jen crossed her arms. "You're just lucky I can barely throw right now."
"Trust me: I got the message."
Caitlin grabbed Jen's hand and said, "Come on—let's get you into some new shoes!"
"Okay," Jen replied, following Caitlin to her locker.
"Do you want flats or heels?" Nikki heard Caitlin ask.
"After tonight, I don't think I want to see another heel again," Jen replied before they disappeared down a hallway.
"Now that that's over with," Jonesy started, causing Nikki to turn in his direction, "wanna head back in?"
She shrugged. "Sure."
He took her hand and led her into the gym, where they sat at their secluded table and talked for eons. She always counted on him for a fun conversation.
A while later, the DJ interrupted them and countless others with his announcement. "And now, here's the final song of the night: 'My Fantasy' by DawgToy. Enjoy."
As the song began, Jonesy's anticipating eyes burned Nikki's face.
"Wanna dance?" he asked.
She crossed her arms and looked away in protest.
"C'mon, Nikki. It's the last song of the night; I know it's your favorite, too."
She glanced at him. "Like you know what my favorite DawgToy song is."
"Okay, I don't know, but I'm willing to dance to this one with you."
He reached for her hand. She stared at his large palm, then allowed him to take it. Once he led her to the dance floor, she draped her arms over his shoulders. He held her waist with care, treating it like porcelain. It didn't take her long to rest her head on his chest, letting him sway her to the rhythm of the music. During the song's bridge, he grew brazen, wrapping his arms around her waist, daring to brush a hand against her rear.
She removed her head from his chest, giving him a look—not one of upset, nor one of shock. Her expression merely asked, "Really, Jonesy?"
He replied with a smirk boasting, "Of course."
She rolled her eyes before resting her head on his chest again. She didn't move his hand, however. It felt nice.
With every sway and turn, she could tell he tried his hardest to hold on and never let go, to woo her into staying with him—even though she'd already reminded him that she wouldn't go anywhere anytime soon. She'd reminded him that, after tonight, they would give their all to make their relationship work, no matter the outcome.
With the song's end approaching, he stopped his swaying, prompting her to lift her head in confusion. He used this opportunity to lean over, attempting to steal a kiss. Attempting.
She hastily pressed her index finger against his lips. "Jonesy—"
"Sorry to say this, but this marks the conclusion of Rockwood High's winter formal. Hope you had a good time." The DJ received an overwhelming number of awws. "I know, I know, it went by too fast, but there's always spring formal!"
While the crowd of students seemed none-too-pleased at the mention of next year, Jonesy furrowed his brow at her. "What's wrong, Nik?"
"Nothing," she said as she walked off the dance floor with him. "Just—wait until later, okay?"
He pouted yet complied. He had no other choice.
They met with their friends in the school's lobby, where they grabbed their heavy coats after standing in the ever-growing, coat-check line. They all huddled outside, braving the merciless and fierce January air just to make plans.
"So, whadda we do now?" Jude asked.
His friends looked amongst each other and shrugged.
"Maybe we should just go home," Wyatt said.
"No way!" Jonesy shouted, refusing to give up on the rest of this night. Plus, Nikki had promised him a chance to be together later on. He wouldn't let it end like this. "The night is still young!"
"Then what do you suggest we do, Father Time?" Nikki asked, crossing her arms.
Ah, the sarcastic bite he loved to hate and hated to love had returned. Luckily, he had a response. "Hmm... How about an afterparty at our place, just the six of us?"
"Sounds cool to me. I'm all for it." Jude gave Jonesy a thumbs-up while the others agreed to these plans.
"Nice," Jonesy said. "We'll all fit in Emma's van, right?"
When Jen's mom and Jonesy's dad got married, her mom thought it'd be a good idea to get a minivan to fit their blended families, but Jen didn't know when Jonesy found the time to drive it to the dance.
"Since when did you get the van?" she asked.
"First thing I did before going to the mall. Prince Charming's gotta ride in on a stallion, not a donkey, Jen. I wouldn't have minded the Porsche, though."
She rolled her eyes and walked to the car with the rest of their friends.
As soon as they made it to the van, Jonesy slid the door open for Caitlin and Nikki, earning positive commentary from both of them.
Nikki smirked and said, "What a gentleman," while Caitlin squealed, "Ooh, major boyfriend brownie points!"
As soon as everyone got comfortable, Jonesy took the wheel and took off.
They filled the car ride to the Masterson-Garcia home with whimsy, fun, and winter-formal banter. Jonesy definitely wanted to know how Jude's night with "not one, not two, but three girls" went. Jude divulged to the gang that he and his girls had a great time, and he kissed them all goodnight—on the cheek, of course.
Nikki kept quiet, staring out the window on her side. Clouds rolled in and covered the full moon, but she didn't think too much of it.
By the time most of the conversations fizzled out, Jonesy pulled into the driveway. The van came to a gradual halt.
"And we're here. Go nuts," he announced.
The gang got out the minivan and ran into the house once Jen unlocked the door. All of them except for Nikki.
She stood on the porch with her arms crossed, watching as her breath left her body and resembled smoke wisping into the air.
Tonight's events ran through her mind. She had confessed the whole truth to Jonesy, all the feelings she couldn't suppress anymore, and he had done the same for her. Vulnerability overwhelmed her to the point where—boom—she had completely fallen for him again, though she hadn't ever stopped. Then, the kiss happened, sealing everything. She licked her lips whilst thinking about it.
She hoped Jonesy realized this as the later she had been talking about, a moment to talk without bright lights and stares cast upon them.
She turned around when footsteps approached, pleased to find the man of the hour himself standing in the doorway.
"Hey," she said.
Jonesy grinned in a way that made her insides flutter. His words didn't help it cease. "Hey yourself, gorgeous."
"And there's the flattery I missed."
"Hey, I've hit on you a lot before. It was just more subtle when we weren't dating."
"Wow, you know how to use the word subtle." She smirked, speaking in her most alluring voice. "You know a big vocabulary is such a turn-on, right?"
His eyes widened. "Really?"
"Nah."
"Tease."
She stuck her tongue out at him.
"So, why didn't you kiss me?" he asked, throwing her off-guard.
"Because… we were on the dance floor, and it was packed with people. I didn't feel—I don't know—comfortable making out in front of everybody."
"You didn't care what they thought before."
"Yeah, but it's different this time. It's me and you."
"I swear we were gonna kiss at the table earlier; it was just me and you then, and you were all for it."
She recalled the way her lips had brushed against his before speaking again. "That's because we were cut off from the rest of the world, or at least that's what it felt like. That was our secluded little space, I guess."
"So, do you still want to kiss me?"
"Jonesy, what kind of stupid question is that? Of course, I want to kiss you. I've wanted to get you alone and make out with you this entire night. It's just, when we were dancing to that DawgToy song"—which might now be her favorite—"I thought it was too soon to go all out in public. I knew that if we started kissing right then and there that it would turn into something more."
"For real?"
"Yes, for real. Now kiss me like you mean it."
He pulled her into an embrace. She hastily threw her arms over his shoulders, just as he'd moved his arms to her waist. Despite the clumsiness of maneuvering around each other's heavy winter coats, she lost herself in this kiss, so full of unbridled joy and sincerity.
As lips crashed and tongues moved, she fell in love with how he pushed boundaries. This kiss-turned-make-out sent her over the cloud-covered moon (not that she would admit it). While the kiss at the ice rink signified their reconciliation, this moment overshadowed that one. She found the wait for this moment worthwhile. Worth living for and worth dying for all in the same breath.
Minutes later, she parted from him and looked around, noting how snow fell to the ground. Her lips tingling, she instantly missed his.
"Wow... you really meant it," she said after catching her breath.
"You should know me by now, babe; I never half-ass a kiss, especially a kiss with you." He purred.
She rolled her eyes before taking his hand and leading him into his home. "Come on, Casanova. Let's make out without getting frostbitten."
When they stepped into the small foyer, he smirked as he took her hat and coat, hanging his own winter clothing afterwards. "Mmm, I'd like that."
"Of course you would." She stood on her tippy-toes, pressing her lips against his until a shout from the living room interrupted them.
"Aw, crap—I left the zamboni at school, dudes!"
Nikki raised an eyebrow at Jonesy, who already grabbed his coat and car keys.
"Dammit," her boyfriend muttered before sighing. "C'mon, Jude, I'll drive you back!"
She didn't have to be a mindreader to know her boyfriend's thoughts.
"Don't worry, I'll be here when you come back." She pecked him on the cheek. "The night is still young, isn't it?"