Chapter 7

[Saturday]

"So do you know the plan?" questioned Jess sternly as she began tidying around the apartment. If this was going to work, they needed to do it right. She had it all worked out, the plan was to stage a fight as soon as her friends walked through the door and when they saw that Nick and herself weren't on good terms they would never expect they were dating. It was perfect. Everything would go smoothly and no one would be any wiser of what really was going on

"Yes you've been through it so many times Jess, I think I could do it sleeping" smiled Nick, this was bizarre, absolutely bizarre, what on earth was she thinking? Staging a fight...like that was going to work. He already had doubts and they hadn't even attempted to make it work. He knew their friends, they knew them; they wouldn't believe such bad acting.

Nick sat relaxed at the kitchen counter top, reading the daily newspaper. Normally, he would scan pass all the important stuff and go straight to the comics but today he had his serious face on, it was time he looked for a better paid job. Being a bartender was fun, but sometimes Nick needed something more in his life than just serving drinks...something more exciting. As well as that, he needed something to take his mind off ... whatever this was

"Nick I just got a text off Cece...they're coming" he chuckled at her panic expressions, why was she making a big deal out of this...they would be fine with it

"Nick...Move!" She was practically there, forcing him off his chair. He walked over to the bedroom preparing himself for his as Jess would put it, big entrance.

She stared unblinkingly at the door, as she heard the rustling of keys and finally the turning of the door knob. Her heart was pounding, she needed to get ready, it was show time

"Hey, We're back!" yelled Schmidt as the door flung wide open. He looked around to see an empty room...an extremely tidy room. He hadn't been there and the place still looked tidy, he was impressed. He had taught them well.

"Nick? Jess?" the three friends began making themselves at home, dragging sleeping bags into the living room and collapsing one by one on the sofa.

The last five days were pretty awful, they spent most the time in a leaking tent and ended up having to huddle together to keep each other warm. It wasn't a moment to remember, Schmidt shuddered at the thought.

"Nick...I've told you to...how dare you..." he could hear muffles sounds gaining increasingly louder from the distance, before long he saw an agitated Jess walk out her room

"How many times have I told you, to stop stealing my shampoo Nick" Cece stared at her friend standing there with the purple herbal essence bottle in her hand, waving it at Nick...this wasn't usual behaviour, normally Jess was very fond of sharing is caring but today, not so much. Something was off about this picture, but she couldn't figure out what

"It makes my hair feel slinky smooth, why can't you share with me Jess?" he could almost feel the heat radiating from her eyes; he knew he wasn't keeping to the script, but if he was being honest, the plan wasn't going to work anyways so why not play it up and make it more interesting.

"I can share... just not with you...there! What have you got to say to that smarty pants?" there was silence, this actually was ridiculous, the worried looks on their friends faces just made him want to laugh...and so he did

"Nick! I'm being serious!" she was giving him the wide eyed what-do-you-think-your-doing look. Laughing was not part of the plan. He was NOT sticking to the plan, she had a gut instinct that he would bail, she knew it

"Okay guys" he chucked between words "I'm gonna come clean...this isn't real, this whole thing is a lie"

"So you and Jess aren't fighting?" questioned Winston, throughout the whole thing, he sat their open mouthed, fascinated with the whole thing. It had always amused him to see Jess and Nick fight, they normally acted so immature.

"Nope, it's all fake. Just one big constructed act!" laughed Nick finally, Jess's face was showing a forced smile, this was definitely not part of the plan, she thought to herself. They were going to hate her, she could see it now, she would be there sitting alone in the apartment while they all laughed and giggled, she would be an outcast. An outcast, in her own home!

Trust Nick to make her an outcast, mumbled thoughts brushed into her mind, as Jess stood there quietly trying to listen to what was being said

"It was very believable, so congrats on your acting skills, but why act in the first place? " said Schmidt as he began walking nearer to where they stood. He felt the distance between them was clouding his judgement on what was real and what was not. Or he just felt like moving forward

"Because my dear man, Jess and I are dating" the silence that followed after made Jess cringe. She knew it, she knew they wouldn't approve, but no one listened to her. She wanted to laugh in Nick's face and shout I-told-you-so but the time wasn't appropriate so she held her tongue

There was a gasp, and Jess clenched her eyes shut this wasn't going to be pretty

"Finally" the three said in union, as smiles spread across their faces

"See I told you...what?" frowned Jess as her eyes were now focuses on theirs. Cece were grinning from cheek to cheek and deep down Jess didn't like it...what has she been saying to them.

"We all knew this would happen, we set you up. Planned this whole camping trip, just so you two can get some alone time" Jess swore Schmidt winked at her but carried on listening "and looks like it was a job well done guys" he smiled, high fiving Cece, then Winston. They all looked pretty proud of themselves, and Jess felt a bit stupid now, she felt tricked and cheated of her rights...or something a long those lines

"So wait, you all knew that I liked Nick? Like all of you?"

"Yeah about that, I may have said let's say accidentally said a few things" smiled Cece, who finally decided to speak up as her eyes decided to look down. It was her idea, she created the whole plan, it was just a matter of getting the guys in on it and she had to admit, she was pretty proud of herself.

Her best friend now has someone to love. Although, she thought, looking at Jess's face, I may not live to see how it all ends

After talking it all over, everyone had finally come to terms with the plan; both of them and were able to laugh it all over. Jess was happy that Cece did what she did, if she didn't she wouldn't have been able to truly be with Nick and that was all she wanted. She now sat cuddled to his chest with his arm wrapped tightly around her back. She missed everyone; she missed Schmidt and his OCD cleaning, Winston and his calmness and Cece just being there.

It was nice, how they all sat there together watching a clip from dirty dancing. Jess enjoyed the moment and was ready to finally embrace the future of Nick and Jess.

The End.

I hope you all enjoyed my fanfic, please review and tell me what you thought it of it all, I love hearing what you've got to say. Alas, this is the end of 'I dare you' but don't worry, as one door closes another opens, and I'm sure there will be another story on the way, so keep your eyes peeled and your emails open ;) Thanks again!

© Ms Zola, May 2012