Cece has not given up the idea of a Nick & Jess union anytime soon.
But she's decided that perhaps she needs to try a different tactic.
As Jess tries on a couple of dresses for her date that night- a banker- Cece looked up from her issue of Cosmopolitan, boredom evident across her features.
'How about this?'
Jess twirled around in a modest dark green dress, batting her eyelashes.
Cece shrugged. After all, Jess had a completely different style from her. It certainly suited her schoolteacher look, but she herself usually aimed for the whole 'knock-out' thing.
'Its pretty,' she conceded.
'Come on Cece,' Jess pleaded, 'Luke is a big shot lawyer, I need to dress to impress. Not like a schoolteacher. More sophisticated and adult.' She gestured wildly.
Cece sighed, and walked over to Jess' closet. Smiling slightly at all the colour coded dress-and-cardigan outfits, she reached an arm into the depths of the closet and pulled out a lacy blue number.
'Woah-' Jess gasped, 'I didn't know I had that.'
Cece let the silky material flow through her fingers, her face unreadable.
'I don't even remember buying that, you'd think I'd remember it.'
Cece smiled knowingly at Jess and tapped the side of her head.
'Drunk shopping, bitch.'
Jess stared at the dress as Cece put it up nicely on a hanger.
'There's no way I could wear that for dinner with Luke-' Jess protested, 'it's so this-is-our-first-date-but-I-already-wanna-sleep-with-you-ish.'
Cece groaned.
'Just put it on, Jess.'
Jess rolled her eyes and grabbed the dress, disappearing behind her screen.
Cece grinned.
'You'll be a stunner.'
Nick sat in front of the TV, frowning as he nursed a beer bottle. Another night, another date for Jessica Day. That girl seemed to have a never-ending line of guys to go out with. And why wouldn't she?
Jess Day was a genuinely good person. And beautiful to boot.
What kind of guy wouldn't wanna go out with her?
To add to her string of virtues, she also made badass pancakes, generously loaded with blueberries. Best pancakes he ever had, hands down.
He took a swig of his beer.
That was something he always to look forward to every morning. Warm blueberry pancakes and a wide blue-eyed smile.
'Come on Jess,' Cece's muffled voice came from the bedroom.
Nick looked up.
And nearly had the air knocked out of him.
Jess looked… Fantastic. She was wearing something completely unlike what she usually wore. It was blue and lacy, and the blue matched her eyes. And it was low-cut. And tight. And that was all he knew.
'…Nick!' Jess yelled.
'Jess?' he answered stupidly.
'Nicholas, you were staring,' Jess winked.
'Um, yeah,' Nick rubbed his scruffy face embarrassedly.
'You look really great.'
Cece watched this exchange feeling extremely pleased with herself.
'Thanks,' Jess replied, looking suddenly shy.
An awkward moment passed between the two of them, till Jess picked up her handbag, and straightened up with a bright smile.
'I'll be going then, have a good night- Cece thanks, and you too Nick,' Jess saluted, started to make her way out of the door.
Nick blinked. Wait, she was going out like that?
Dressed like that?
On a date?
With some random guy who was a banker?
He scrambled up from the couch, sloshing some beer down his shirt. There was no way in hell she was going out with some banker dressed like that. She looked like Jasmine from Aladdin with blue eyes and just slightly more conservative clothing. The banker would totally jump her. He'd be crazy not to.
And he would be deprived of blueberry pancakes and wide blue-eyed smiles tomorrow morning.
'JESS!' he yelled, just as the door closed.
The door creaked open, Jess looking quizzical.
'Yeah, Nick?'
Nick's resolve suddenly died on him. She looked lovely, was a lovely person, and she deserved a lovely evening with a lovely man (even if he was a banker).
But she looked like Jasmine.
He cleared his throat nervously, 'You sure you don't want a cardigan?'
Just to cover up her chest, at least.
Jess brightened up.
'That's a great idea. It might get chilly later tonight- thanks Nick!'
She grabbed a coat off the rack, raced forward and gave him a quick hug, and waved as the door shut behind her.
Nick was left with a quickly warming bottle of beer in his hand and the ghost of a hug on his left shoulder.
'Saw what you did there, Miller,' Cece smirked.
Nick cocked an eyebrow at her.
'Don't act too late, or she'll be wearing dresses like that for another man every night,' Cece continued, as she picked up her handbag.
'Wait- Where did she get that dress from anyway?' Nick asked incredulously.
'I planted it in her wardrobe- you're welcome.' Throwing her handbag across her back, Cece proudly walked out the door.
Nick made a Aladdin reference on last week's episode, and it made me laugh like crazy. So I did it here too. Hope you enjoyed this! Please review if you did (:
I'm focusing more on a progressive 'will-they-won't-they' story. With Cece meddling, because everything is loads more fun and scandalous that way (; Thanks for reading!