This'll wrap it up roomfriends. This story was a blast to write in so little time, so thank you guys who've kept up and all you who left reviews. Enjoy tonights ep!
Chapter 5
Jess went back to her room, and had no sooner closed her door than she heard a knock. "Go away Nick!" she yelled. But the door pushed open, and Jess spun to hide her tears.
"Not Nick." Abby said, closing the door behind her.
Jess let out a sigh of relief, and gathering herself again, launched into it. "Married, Abby? What are you doing?"
"I knew you would be like this! What's the big deal? It's just a piece of paper! I really think I love him, and he adores me! You're just jealous."
"Jealous!" Jess said astonished. "Why would I be jealous of you?"
"Because you thought it'd be you first, walking down the aisle in some dumb polka dot wedding gown -"
"I would not have a polka dot wedd -"
"Because you have everything figured out and are so much more mature -"
"Abby, you still go to frat parties! Last week you got drunk and tried to start a wet t-shirt contest in the school parking lot!
"Because it kills you that I'm actually moving forward and you, little miss perfect-put-together, are still just a bartenders girlfriend."
Jess stood in stunned silence as her sister glared at her. Abby made a move towards her. "Jess, I'm sorry, I -"
"Forget it, Abby. I'm done – we're done." Jess said, and stormed towards the door, swinging it open to the guilty face of Nick Miller.
"Jess." Pushing past him, she went for the front door. "Jess! Come on, will ya talk to me?"
Jess stopped, turning in place. "There's nothing to talk about Nick!"
"Look, about what I said before, I -"
"Don't worry about it." she said with a wave of her hand. "It's really no big deal. I mean, really, I'd say I'm more relieved than anything."
"Relieved?" he said, confusion and anger rising in his chest.
"Yeah. Now that Abby's married, it takes the pressure off, ya know? My parents can look forward to grandchildren and you and I can just .. keep on truckin'."
"Dammit, Jess -" he groaned.
"Besides, I've never been into that sort of thing anyway. Marriage and kids, and the picket fence – blech! That's not for Jess Day, this gal ain't the marrying kind!" she said with a gulp.
Nick nodded his head and made a turtle face. "Well, then. That's good to know."
"Good." she snapped back.
"Okay then," he said, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I, uh, gotta get to the bar to set up for Schmidt's after wedding bachelor party. So.."
"Yeah, I'll see you later then." she replied with a tight smile. Watching Nick leave, all Jess really wanted was her best friend. And then the realization hit her:
Oh my God – Cece. She doesn't know.
"How do you know?" Jess asked, surprised at both her friends calm and advance knowledge of the news. They stood in Cece's doorway for a moment, and when Jess recovered from her initial outburst, she followed Cece inside. Cece plopped down on the couch and sighed.
"Nick texted me. About the party. He figured I should know before the happy couple takes over the bar I work at, and he's getting Big Bob to cover for me." she said with a grateful smile. "I'm confused, though, as to why I heard it from him and not my best friend." she said, eying Jess curiously.
"I know, I'm so sorry, it's just been one of those days. Abby and I had a huge argument about how I'm so jealous of her getting married, then Nick fake proposed -"
"Wait, what?" Cece interrupted, putting her hand up.
" - and then I told him I'm not the marring kind, and now it's weird. Ugggh. I've made a mess." Jess said, toying with her hands in her lap.
"Is it true? Are you jealous of Abby?" Cece asked warily.
"No, of course not. I mean, do I want to get married? Yeah, sure, someday. Did I think it would happen before her? Maybe, sure, I mean, I'm more stable and I've known my boyfriend for more than a month and .." Jess drifted off, feeling Cece's stare boring into her.
"So, we're sticking with 'not jealous' then?" She said with a smirk.
"Shut up. How are you taking this?" Jess replied, changing the subject.
"It doesn't feel real, so I don't really feel anything right now. Just dreading seeing them together. Besides, he's free to marry whomever he wants, even if it is your skanky sister." she said, picking at her nails.
"Cece!" Jess exclaimed. Cece raised her eyebrows at her. "Yeah, okay."
The bar was super crowded as Jess pushed her way through the door. How does Schmidt even know this many people she wondered. Nick had thrown this together in such a rush that they didn't even have time to take down the decorations from the Valentines Bash from last week. But considering the occasion, they didn't seem out of place. She hadn't wanted to leave Cece, but she swore she was fine and insisted Jess go "mend fences". Taking a glance around, she didn't see Abby, but she spied Schmidt and made her way over to him.
"Schmidt!"
"Jess! Hey you made it! Nick said you might not feel up to it, but I'm glad you're here, he's been a real buzzkill. Think you could open up the gates a little, let him wander through heaven a bit?"
Jess winced. "Ew, Schmidt! Just stop being gross for a second. Is Abby around?" she asked.
"Yeah, she stepped out back to take a breather, said the music was giving her a headache. We're gonna have to work on that, ain't no way Schmidtty can live without hearing Daft Punk at least once day."
She moved past him and towards the back door, opening it to the quiet and fresh air outside. Jess found Abby in the mostly empty parking lot, sitting on a curb. She made her way over cautiously, her sister purposefully not looking at her.
"Hey." Jess said.
"Hey." Abby returned, still not making eye contact.
Jess took a seat beside her sister and folded out the hem of her dress. It was cool tonight, and she rubber her bare arms, wishing she'd grabbed her cardigan on the way out.
Taking a deep breath, Jess began. "So maybe I was a little jealous. It's just – ugh – I thought I'd be there by now, you know? And I have it so much more together than you."
"Hey now! I'm a married woman. Give me some points for such a grown up move."
"You married Schmidt, though." she said.
Abby smiled to herself and Jess continued. "I'm not trying to hurt you. And I'm not saying I don't believe you love him. I just want you to be sure. It's not enough to 'think' you love him. Schmidt doesn't do things halfway, he - uggh I can't believe I'm going to say this – he crushes them."
Abby laughed. "Yeah, he's pretty tenacious."
"He's my friend." Jess said. "I don't want to see him get hurt. I don't want you to be the one that hurts him. But if you';re serious about this, I'm one hundred percent behind you."
Abby nodded her head in silent agreement.
"What about Nick? Do you see a future with him?"
"I did. I do."
"Well then, maybe I'll get to dance at a wedding after all." she said, putting her arm around Jess's shoulder. Jess smiled at the thought and looked up into the clear night sky.
"There she is! The lil' missus!" Schmidt exclaimed upon Abby and Jess's return to the bar. Jess watched her now brother-in-law lead Abby off into the crowd, and a familiar hand pressed into the small of her back.
"Hey" she heard Nicks voice breathe into her ear.
"Hey" she replied, leaning back into him. He brought his arms down around her waist, hugging her, rocking her slightly back and forth.
"How's Abby?" he asked.
"You mean Mrs Schmidt? Better than I give her credit for."
"Jess, can I say somethin?" Nick pulled back, turning Jess around gently by the elbow.
"No, I need to say something first. Nick, I am the marrying kind! I do think about it. More now, than with anyone before, because I love you so much! And I'm sorry I was acting so crazy today, it's just this whole thing -"
"Jess." he interrupted.
"No, let me finish. I did think I'd be married by now, and I just hadn't realized how late I was to the game until Abby and Schmidt … and I'm not putting any pressure on you, and it's okay that you're not ready -"
Nick quickly and softly placed his hand over her mouth as her words trailed of into muted mumbles. Slowly he removed his hand bringing it down her arm and into hers.
"Jess, I am ready. I've been ready. But I don't think we're ready. When I propose, it won't be during an argument. And it won't be a joke. And it'll happen, sooner than later." He brought his hand up to her cheek, gently stroking the soft curve. He smiled at her, and watched as her own smile lit up her watery eyes. "You're it doll."
She was breathless as he cupped her face and kissed her. The closing of her eyes released a stream of tears down her flushed cheeks. That kiss held everything, every word he had said and the promises they contained. He pulled away to find her eyes still closed, and with a smile kissed her again.
