Hey guys! Have ended up really enjoying writing, so here's round 2! In this I mention a liquor (yeah English spelling again, sorry) that is is a rose and cocoa flavour! This actually exists, I work in a bar sometimes, and the bar had to get rid of it for not selling, and I dunno why, but just think it would be the kind of thing Jess would drink, so yeah!

Enjoy, would love reviews, thanks!

Chapter 2

Nick liked hanging out with Jess. She was so easy to be around, and so funny and smart. He liked it when she'd make up songs to herself, or sing random themes tunes from the TV. He found it somewhat 'cute' that her pyjamas were full length flannel, rather than shorts and a vest, and he loved her choice of glasses and how adorable they looked on her.

This evening he had been telling her about what happened with Caroline, how he had no idea how to start telling her that, actually, he wasn't going to move in.

He walked into his new apartment, where his new-old girlfriend was stood by the window, putting up some beige organza above the windows. Nick hated it, he thought her taste in décor was dull and boring. It was almost trying to be a little minimalist, but failing at it.

Jess had just said goodbye to him outside when his roommates dropped him off at his new place, and Nick felt weirdly emotional. He didn't know why, but he felt sad, and like he was losing something. The farewell was horrible, not much was said, but the silence said more than any words could have. She looked pissed off and sad at the same time, and he would never forget the look on her face. When he walked back into the apartment, seeing Caroline stood there, a wave of sadness hit him like a tidal wave as he realised he'd never be able to just walk across the corridor and see her; she'd never offer him breakfast again, and he'd never offer her a cup of morning tea.

Snapping back to where he was, he realised he disliked the woman in front of him, he loathed what she had done to him and he had no idea what he was doing moving back in with her. He needed to get out, fast.

Nick's loud sigh sparked Caroline to look at him confused.

"Nick, is there something wrong?" She asked, as Nick's stance changed to crossed arms, and a look on his face, suggesting he was about to become really angry.

"I can't do this. I'm so sorry. I need to leave now. I can't really explain it, and I know you deserve better…well actually you kinda don't."

She knew why, he didn't need to tell her. The brunette Nick lived with was stunning, protective and quirky, in a way Nick clearly found endearing. And Jess positively hated Caroline. She saw the way Nick and Jess were crammed into the photo booth at that wedding, and she saw the way Nick looked at her. He was leaving to go back to Jess. The teacher girl. The weird girl. The girl who would choose to live with three men, maybe she did that to find a rebound, which has ended up being NICK.

"I'm so sorry Caroline. I can't help it, I'm sor-"

"Jess. HER. Why? It IS her, right?!" Her heart was racing, and she could feel her face flushing red, more so with each word. After forcing herself to calm a little, to reason with Nick, she managed to finish what she needed to say "Nick, you know I'm gonna be there for good, she's just…Jess." The last word was said was noticeable distaste.

"You won't be around for good, you never were, and that's exactly why I like her, she's just Jess!"

Silence and furious looks followed as Nick picked up the one box he'd managed to take upstairs before his startling realisation. He left the apartment to the soundtrack of Caroline's shouting at him. He was relieved he noticed this before bringing any more possessions up the stairs; she couldn't smash them up, and he could get back to Jess quicker.

Nick told Jess the entire story of his afternoon with his ex, and she basically asked him why he came back. He couldn't help but make a joke at her and move on. He wanted to tell her the truth so badly; however after he gave his answer the tone of the conversation went to awkward and quiet. Jess tried to break the silence, being equally avoiding of her previous question.

"So…did ya manage to get any goodbye sex? She musta been pretty twirly when ya arrived so…-"

"What? No, I wanted to get back here as fast as possible so I could see-", heis sentence had been rushed, and he needed to think of a lie to end it. He couldn't tell her that he wanted to get to HER fast…could he? "-so I could see uhh…you guys, I missed ya already. Especially Winston..."

"Nick! You aren't the kinda guy to get all sentimental and miss people. Especially not after a few hours. But since you MISSED us so much, whatcha say to a drinking game? I'm thinking 'Roxanne'?"

Nick had no idea what 'Roxanne' was, but was grateful for a way out of the one-on-one conversation for once, which was heading in the direction of a confession of who he came back for. At least if they drank, maybe it would make telling her a little easier.

"Well, I've got some old bottles from the bar. Should warn you though, it's stuff the bar couldn't sell, so gave me. It's not the nicest stuff out there.

"Anything will do for 'Roxanne'!" Jess ran out of Nick's room with excitement, to round up the other guys, she needed o be at least tipsy to forget the weird mood Nick was in. After ten minutes, everyone was round the table with a couple of shot glasses each, and weird spirits no-one had ever heard of in front of them. Schmidt was "rocking the 'mono".

"So, Roxanne is simple. I'm gonna play the song 'Roxanne' by The Police, and one team – Winston and Schmidt – will have to drink when the song says 'Roxanne', and the other team – Nick and I – will drink when it says "red light", don't worry it's equal. Play the song three times and we'll be suuuper-drunk!" She ended the sentence with her Daffy Duck impression, which made Nick smile, as well as the words 'Nick and I'.

Jess hit play…"Roooooooooxanne, you don't have to put on your red liiiight!"

Nick thought the liquors were disgusting, and could tell why they'd never sold, but Jess was loving her liquor, a pink one, flavoured with rose and cocoa. It suited her perfectly. After three plays of the song, and MANY shots later, Jess could feel it start to reach her head, she knew she wouldn't be able to drink much more, it would start taking effect soon. Schmidt seemed to be in the same situation as he made his excuses about not wanting to be so drunk as to spill alcohol on his precious kimono, and Winston did the same, but said he had work tomorrow, and his boss was enough to deal with when not hungover, let alone when his head was actually pounding.

When it was just Nick and Jess alone again, she felt the mood switch, as they'd just been delaying the inevitable conversation. Nick confirmed he was drunk, leaning back in his chair, and then making the move to get up. He turned to ask her if he could borrow blankets to make a bed on the couch, but before any words could come out, he noticed her staring at him. Their eyes locked for a solid and excruciatingly slow five seconds. So much was said in that glare, her blue eyes burning with want for answers. After much silence:

"Why did you come back Nick?"

"I already told you."

"No, you didn't, you avoided it. Why did you come back?"

"I told ya, I couldn't leave my friends here."

"Yet when the four of us were sat around the table just then, you hardly said anything to them, 'especially Winston'", she mimicked his tone when saying the same thing earlier. We gonna keep avoiding what we're…avoiding..?"

"I guess so...wait, what?"

"What?"

"Jess, you're my friend, I came back for my friend." He finished his sentence by moving closer to her. Jess could feel the distance getting less and less. She had to register what he said and make a logical response, but it becoming increasingly difficult the closer he got to her, and with him looking at her like that.

"You came back…for me?"

Nick could no longer hold back. He started to close the smaller gap between them. He raised his left hand and placed it on her cheek, cupping her face.

"Jess, I've said it before, and I'll say it again/ I like ya a lot, I'm VERY glad you're around." He moved in, she could feel the heat from his body against hers. She was so far past 'twirly' and needed him.

"Jess.." he sounded lustful, she looked lustful. Their lips were millimetres apart, they were so close…