"Smells weird in here," Nick commented as they entered the front door.
She had to agree with him there. "Probably hasn't been used in a while. Snow hasn't fallen yet, so it's definitely off-season."
"I'm going to go crack some windows," Nick said, traveling throughout the small living room and into the tiny kitchen area, opening each window. There was a thermostat they could turn up when they needed it, but right now this place really needed to be aired out.
As Nick opened windows, Jess explored the rest of the cabin. There was a small hallway with a bathroom and three bedrooms.
"Hey Nick! Looks like two of us will have to share a bedroom!"
"Um..." was all she heard until he was right beside her. "Yeah, I guess so."
"You know who that's going to be, right?"
He rubbed the back of his neck, nervously, staring at her.
"Schmidt and Winston!" she declared. "They want to come up here late, they don't get to choose. It will be hilarious to see them both fit on that twin-sized bed." She laughed, turning around and heading back down the hall.
"I wonder where those guys are, anyway," she said, looking at her watch. Just then her phone chirped.
"Oh, a text from Schmidt," she said, tapping on the message to bring it up onto the screen.
Not coming. A storm is heading your way. I told you to check the report! Have a fun weekend with Nick! haha.
Her heart thudded. Snow. Storm. A weekend ALONE with Nick.
"Um, Nick?" she squeaked.
"Yeah?" he said, rounding the corner into the hall.
"Um, well, you're going to think this is funny..."
"What, Jess?"
"Ha, ha. I know I think it's funny."
"Jess, tell me!"
"Um, well, That was a text from Schmidt... They're... not... coming."
"WHAT?"
She cleared her throat. "Yeah, there's a um, asnowstormcoming."
"What?" he asked, stretching his neck toward her to hear her better.
"Um, a snowstorm."
"A what?!" The vein in the side of his neck was popping out.
"Chill out, Nick. Let's make the best of it. It could be really fun... hey, did you like my pun there?" She smiled proudly.
He glared at her, his mouth turning down severely at the corners. "No way, this is not happening."
"Nick!"
"Uh-uh." he said, waving his hands and backing away.
"Come on! We could cook dinner, take a walk outside before it starts snowing, play some games; I brought some cards. ...And there's always Truth or Dare."
"No truth or dare," he said. "Nope. Not going to happen."
She sighed. "Let's go for a walk, then."
He sighed deeply. "Alright, Jess, let's walk."
They made their way back to the lake again, taking the path along the shore. All was quiet except for the lapping of the water on the rocks, some ducks in the distance, and the wind beginning to pick up. Jess wrapped her arms around herself, shielding her body from the damp chill in the air. The sun was nowhere to be seen behind dark, ominous clouds.
Nick walked closely beside her, his head drawn into his shoulders against the chill. They didn't talk, but she enjoyed his silent, strong presence beside her. She mused about the fact that you know you're really close to someone when you can just be with them in silence, enjoying each others presence.
Suddenly, her left hand was caught up in his right one and she looked at him to see him looking intensely at her.
"Your hand looked cold," he said in a raspy voice. He covered the back of her hand with his other and vigorously rubbed it, creating heat. After a few seconds, his hands slowed, and he gently dropped her hand back to her side.
"Thanks, Nick," she breathed. He was so confusing lately. He'd kissed her and then the next day vehemently denied that it meant anything. And then he brushed his fingers over hers in the car, and now used the cold weather as an excuse to briefly hold her hand.
She shivered. The sky was getting darker and the chill was rolling in. "Let's go back and make dinner," she said.
After dinner, the sun had set and things outside were dark. It still hadn't started snowing yet. Nick began to wonder if Schmidt was lying just because he and Winston didn't want to come. He asked Jess to pull up the weather app on her phone, and sure enough a large storm was heading their way. Twelve inches were forecast in their area.
He didn't know what to think about being stuck in a cabin in the woods with Jess. It seemed like a blessing and a curse at the same time. It's so easy spending time with her; the way he could make her laugh, the way they could talk for hours about nothing, with voices quiet and relaxed, enjoying each other's company. But at the same time, he didn't quite know where the boundaries were anymore. That kiss changed everything. Before, he wouldn't give a second thought to the way she tucked her feet under his legs as they watched TV, or the way she would sometimes run her hand down his arm with a warm smile when she passed him in the hall. But now... they'd kissed. He knew that feeling now, the amazing feeling of having her in his arms, of feeling her reciprocate; giving in return what he was giving her. He'd never forget how she smelled so close up like that, the silky way her hair felt in his fingers, the softness of her lips. He didn't know how he would be able to keep his hands to himself this weekend, especially if they had to spend most of their time inside, hunkered down in the warmth while the snow blew around outside.
They sat in the living room area playing cards and talking. Jess kept getting up every few minutes to check outside for snow. The giddy way she waited for the first white snowflakes made him smile.
"What are you so happy about?" she asked returning to their card game.
"What? No. Nothing. Why?" he asked nervously when she'd caught him smiling.
"Oookay," she answered skeptically. Then her eyes grew wide and her mouth opened in a little "O". "Are you excited about the snow, Nick?:
"What? Me? No way. It's cold and wet and it's going to keep us inside for days."
"No, I think you are, Nick. We have to go for a walk in it once it starts."
"Nope, no way."
"I won't take no for an answer!" she exclaimed.
He frowned, not wanting to reveal to her that he in fact would really enjoy walking with her in the snow.
They stayed up way too late waiting for the snow. They had to turn up the heat in the cabin but there was still a chill in the air. Jess had wrapped herself in her comforter looking like she'd made a nest out of blankets. She was adorable.
The next time she went to the window she squealed "SNOW!" and grabbed his hand to pull him off the couch."Let's go, Nick!" He didn't let go of her hand even after they'd gotten outside. He watched the way she stared up at the sky watching the flakes fall.
"Nick, look straight up. the falling snow make you feel like you're flying through outer space!"
He did as she said and felt his stomach drop at the way it made him feel like he was flying. How could he have never seen this before, in all of the storms he'd lived through in Chicago?
She stuck out her tongue to catch some flakes and turned to him with a smile, her hand still tucked into his. "Isn't this beautiful, Nick?" He just smiled, not taking his eyes off of her. "Yeah, it is."