A/N: Hey guys! I'm so glad people haven't given up on this story! I'm really enjoying getting back into writing it and hoping to get the next couple of chapters up quicker.
Obviously this is essentially a Nick & Jess story because well come on they are just amazing together! But I also want to try and bring the other characters stories in as much as possible. But don't worry there will still be plenty of Ness fun :)
Nick wasn't really sure when or why it happened but sometime in the weeks following the wedding that never was he started writing again. He didn't tell anyone, he didn't need the snide comments from Schmidt or the Winston guilt trip or worst of all the Jess Day excitement and enthusiasm.
Having re-read his first draft of Julius Pepperwood – Zombie Detective Nick decided it was…well, abysmal. Initially he decided to start over, forget Julius and his zombie clients, come up with something fresh and new but for some reason he just couldn't let the story go.
Nick had a feeling that maybe it had something to do with Julius's sidekick. Nick noticed as he planned out the plot line of his new novel the story had evolved from blood-filled zombie adventures to have a more…romantic feel. Julius seemed to be spending more and more time with his gal Friday, Jessica Night.
What surprised Nick most about his new version of Pepperwood was that it was actually good. Even if it was to Nick's novice eyes it seemed smart, funny and genuinely intriguing.
Nick had no doubt to the reason for his sudden burst of inspiration. The irony of the similarity between Julius constant desire to be around his spunky know-it-all sidekick and the reality of Nick's own preferred way to spend his day was not lost on the author himself.
With the exception of Nick's shifts at the bar, he and Jess barely spent much time apart. They were both making the most of her teacher summer vacation and enjoying their summer romance.
That was why Nick was so disappointed to wake up this morning alone with a beautifully scribbled note from Jess saying she had gone to CeCe's. Nick guessed it was probably a 'girl emergency' and decided he was better off not knowing the full details of CeCe's lady problems.
So Nick took his unexpected (and frankly unwanted) free morning to work on Julius and Jessica's next adventure fighting the forces of the un-dead whilst struggling with their growing attraction to one another.
Nick was busy typing, making numerous spelling mistakes when Schmidt burst into his room, without knocking of course.
"There you are Nick I have been looking for you everywhere!" Schmidt snapped.
Nick quickly thrust the lid of his laptop shut and spun around to face his roommate. "Here I am in my room, how shocking."
Schmidt eyed him suspiciously, casting a quick glance at the now closed computer; Nick's nervous behaviour had not gone unnoticed.
"What were you doing on the computer?" Schmidt asked.
"Wha…I…err…" Nick could feel the sweat forming on his back as his brain struggled to come up with a plausible lie. "…Nothing."
Narrowing his eyes Schmidt stepped forward, hand on his hip. "Oh Nick you cannot possibly still be looking at porn with all the rule-breaking and ear damaging sex you've been having!"
Nick grinned at Schmidt's words; he and Jess were very much enjoying their revolution against Schmidt's one man dictatorship, most recently last night in the shower where they had used Schmidt's brand new papaya body gel, which Nick knew Schmidt was still pretty pissed about.
Despite how much Nick knew he would enjoy teasing Schmidt he wanted to keep the attention away from the true contents of his laptop so instead quickly changed the subject.
"What do you want Schmidt?" Nick asked.
"Well Nicholas…" Schmidt went to sit down on the edge of Nick's bed but stopped himself as he noticed something that caught his eye.
Eyebrows raised Schmidt bent down and slowly pulled a small piece of bright pink lacey material from the beneath the mess of tangled sheets.
"Very nice." He said with an impressed nod as he held the panties up to the light.
Nick jumped up immediately, "Give me those!"
"I never knew hot pink was your colour Nick." Schmidt said with a snigger.
Nick glared and snatched Jess's underwear from Schmidt's grasp and glared. "Is there a point to your presence in my room Schmidt?"
Schmidt laughed and sat down on the bed. "Yes actually Nick, what are you doing tonight? More accurately what are you and Jess doing tonight?"
"Why?" Nick asked dubiously. "Because I think I can safely speak for Jess on this one and say a threesome is not happening Schmidty."
"You wish you were so lucky." Schmidt said rolling his eyes as Nick sniggered. "No I was thinking more of a foursome actually…"
Nick's grin fell instantly and was replaced by a look of horror; as much as he hoped this was a joke with Schmidt you could never be too careful.
"Listen Schmidt I…I don't think…" Nick began.
Schmidt waved his hand airily cutting him off, "Calm yourself Nick as if I would ever enter into any act of sexual congress with you, even if it did include Jess. I mean it just wouldn't be enjoyable…I'd spend the whole time coaching you."
Nick glared at him, not so much angry at the swipe at Nick's sexual prowess but Schmidt's mention of Jess, even in an off-hand comment.
"Anyways Nick when I said foursome what I meant was…a double date." Schmidt said slightly sheepishly.
"Oh." Nick said genuinely surprised. "Ok, so I guess this means you finally made your choice?"
Schmidt nodded. "Yep, you were right Nick when I thought about it, about what you said…the choice was so clear to me."
Nick opened his mouth to ask exactly who this right choice was when he heard the answer call from the kitchen.
"Schmidt, you ready to go to lunch?" called a voice Nick recognised instantly, calling his mind back to his college days.
"Coming." Schmidt called back then turned to Nick. "Listen check with Jess about tonight, but it would mean a lot if you guys came."
"Sure man, we'll be there." Nick said with a nod.
He watched as Schmidt left the room and suddenly understood CeCe's emergency.
"I mean I just don't get it!" CeCe yelled waving her arms frantically. "How could he pick her?"
Jess sat on the couch and watched as her best friend paced back and forth ranting before her and was reminded of a time not so long ago when their roles had been reversed. Although Jess's romantic drama had a much more happier end than CeCe's.
"I don't know Ceece." Jess said softly. "What exactly did Schmidt say?"
CeCe let out an exasperated sigh, "I don't know I mean its Schmidt…he always talks in these weird riddles and metaphors…he came over last night and said he wanted to talk. I figured he'd finally decided who he wanted to be with and…I thought he'd picked me…"
Jess's heart ached as she heard the pain in her best friend's voice.
"When he showed up, he'd said the usual spiel about how hard this all was and that he didn't want to hurt anybody…" her voice trailed off slightly as she tried to composed herself. "He said all this stuff about big things and who would be there…and then all this crap about how we're from different worlds. I'm a model not a Martian for god's sake!"
CeCe clenched her fists and let out a furious screech, "He's just so infuriating! This is like the whole damn White Fang thing all over again!"
"CeCe…" Jess said soothingly.
CeCe stopped pacing and her breathing slowly began to calm, the anger faded and Jess saw the hurt and pain etched on her face.
"I called off my wedding for him…" CeCe said her voice breaking as she held back the tears. "He told me that he wanted to be with me…that he loved me."
Jess stood up and pulled her friend close. "It's ok sweetie."
Though she hated to show her emotions, even to her best friend, CeCe just couldn't hold the pain in anymore. She buried her head in Jess shoulders and sobbed. She cried, her breathing becoming more and more erratic. Jess held her as she sobbed, rubbing her back soothingly.
After a few moments, through the sobs and tears CeCe softly wept "I just really thought he would pick me."
Jess pulled back and took in her friend; a person she had known for as long as she could remember. She had seen CeCe go through so much and become one of the strongest, toughest people Jess knew, she didn't take crap from anyone and didn't let anything hurt her. This was why it was so much harder to see her so distraught. Jess found herself angrier than she had ever been.
"I have no idea what Schmidt is thinking; he must have fallen and hit his head or something!" Jess said. "You Cecelia Parekh are the most amazing, funny, beautiful person in the freaking universe and Schmidt doesn't deserve you."
CeCe smiled through the tears, "Thanks Jess but I think that's kind of what the best friend is legally bound to say in these situations."
Jess shrugged, "Maybe but that doesn't make it any less true." Jess gave her a serious look. "I mean it Ceece you're amazing and you deserve something amazing, more than Schmidt, more than Shivrang…"
"Eurgh Shivrang…don't remind me." CeCe said pulling herself free from Jess's arms.
"What?" Jess asked watching as CeCe moved to the end table next to her apartment door.
CeCe returned clutching a small rectangular card in her hand and thrust it towards Jess. Jess took the card, looked at the picturesque image of a palm tree and crystal blue ocean on the one side and quickly scanned the handwritten text on the other.
Jess had barely started reading when she looked up with a look of utter shock. "No way, Shivrang actually sent you a postcard from his Honeymoon?"
CeCe nodded, "Yup, it seems him and Elaine eloped to Vegas straight after our non-wedding and then flew down to Cabo."
"Cabo…wait, he took Elaine on your Honeymoon, seriously?" Jess asked dumbstruck.
CeCe nodded again. "That's not even the worst part. Read the last line."
Confused and intrigued Jess scanned down to the bottom of Shivrang's words and read the last line.
I hope you and Schmidt will be as happy as Elaine and I are. I'm sorry it ended this way but at least we can now be with the ones with truly love.
"Oh." Jess said looking up at her friend.
"Yep." CeCe said with a dark smile. "Guess not everybody gets a happy ending after all huh?"
Jess dropped the postcard to her side. "CeCe I…"
But CeCe shook her head violently and cut Jess off, "No I don't wanna talk about it, I am done talking about Schmidt or Shivrang ok?"
Jess nodded, "Ok, so what do you wanna do?"
"I wanna drink." CeCe said simply before heading towards her kitchen.
"CeCe no." Jess groaned. "It's barely lunchtime."
"So what?" CeCe said returning with a bottle of liquor in each hand, one Jess immediately identified as tequila, the other was a clear liquid with no label which made Jess's stomach turn. "It's bound to be Happy Hour somewhere in the world."
Jess rolled her eyes, "CeCe do you really think getting trashed will make you feel better about all of this?"
CeCe set the unidentified bottle down and gave Jess a dark glare.
"Jess in the past month I have called off my wedding, embarrassed and disrespected my entire family, cost my mom a fortune, all because I thought I was going to be with the man I loved…a man whose now decided that he doesn't want me." CeCe said her voice void of any emotion but anger.
"Ceece…" Jess began.
"I don't wanna feel better, right now I just wanna forget." CeCe said handing her the tequila. "You're supposed to be my best friend Jess…this is what I need."
Jess remembered all the times CeCe had been there for her, when Spencer had chested, when she lost her job, whenever Jess needed CeCe she had always been there to make her feel better, whether it was watching Dirty Dancing ten times on repeat or holding her yarn whilst she knitted the pain away. CeCe always did whatever it took to make Jess feel better.
With a nod Jess reached out and took the bottle, ripping the cap off and taking the biggest gulp she could handle without spitting in back out.
"Blaaaaa." She choked as the alcohol burned her throat.
"That a girl Day." CeCe said opening the clear still unidentified liquid and downing a much larger gulp than Jess had managed.
CeCe swallowed with no shuddered or need to vomit and gave Jess a look that said; your turn.
Jess nodded and braced herself for another swig, hoping Nick didn't have any big plans for them tonight.
It was now 7.50 and Nick was beyond anxious, Jess still wasn't home and he'd barely heard from her all day. After Schmidt had left earlier Nick sent a text asking her to go for dinner, conveniently omitting that dinner was a double date with Schmidt and Elizabeth.
However all Nick got by reply (and a good two hours later) was a message he could barely decipher as English. Nick had tried to call numerous times but only got her voicemail.
Nick sat on the couch and checked his phone one more time but still nothing.
"Nick is Jess back yet? Has she even called?" Schmidt barked appearing in his bedroom doorway.
Nick tossed his silent phone down beside him. "Not in the past three minutes since you asked Schmidt."
"Well forgive me for actually wanting to make our reservation." Schmidt snapped. "Where the hell is your woman? I thought you two were permanently joined at your lady parts."
Schmidt and Elizabeth had been ready for their 8 o'clock reservation for over twenty minutes and Nick knew his friend hated to be late but Nick was too pissed off to deal with his neurotic ocd-ness right now.
Nick turned and gave Schmidt a furious glare.
"If you really wanna know she's at CeCe's." Nick said bluntly.
The mention of CeCe's name silenced Schmidt immediately.
"Right err well I'll just…call the restaurant and see if they can hold our table for a while." he mumbled walking back into his room.
"Yeah why don't you do that." Nick spat back.
Schmidt didn't bother to answer he quickly shut his bedroom door.
Nick knew he shouldn't have snapped at Schmidt, knew that this had to be hard for him too but he didn't care, he was already well into full grumpy Nick Miller mode. He reached out for his cell and was about to call Jess for the umpteenth time when he heard a strange scratching sound at the door.
His fingers still hovering over the dial button Nick slowly got to his feet, the scratching sound now seemed to mix with what Nick thought was a soft whimper and a jingling sound.
In full turtle face mode Nick swung the door open, not sure what he expected to find but completely awestruck by the sight before him; Jessica Day sprawled out drunk off her ass, keys in hand on the floor of the hallway.
"Jess, what the hell?" Nick said staring down at his inebriated girlfriend.
"Nicholasssssssssssssssssss!" Jess said her voice slow and slurred. "D-Did you change the locks?"
Nick immediately fell to the floor, concern and worry etched on his face. He reached out and pulled Jess up so she was sitting, her head lolling from side to side.
"Jess, are you ok?" He asked brushing the mess of hair out of her face.
Jess mumbled something Nick couldn't possibly make-out clearly, he wasn't even sure she was using actual words. She continued to sway where she sat, her eyes struggling to focus.
"Jess?" Nick asked again given her the slightest shake.
Jess looked up her eyes wide in surprise as if Nick had just appeared out of nowhere. Her confused look suddenly transformed into something else, she fluttered her eyes and wiggled her body closer making what Nick could only describe as a purring sound.
"Well helllllllo there good looking." She slurred.
Nick pulled back and narrowed his eyes at her. "Jess wait… are you drunk?"
"Of course not Nicholas…" Jess stammered still swaying; she put her hand to her mouth and gagged slightly. "Although…I'm not sure I'm not-not drunk."
"Brilliant." Nick said rolling his eyes. "What the hell happened?"
"I was b-being a good b-best f-friend…" Jess said unable to stop the hiccups that came between her words.
"To who, Charlie Sheen?" Nick snapped.
"Pssssh you." Jess said poking a finger in his cheek, then lightly stroking down the stubble. "I like your face N-Nick…"
"Thanks Jess." Nick said unable to stop the small smile appearing on his face. "Yours isn't bad either."
Jess grinned and giggled like a school girl then her eyes went even wider than usual. "Heyyyy, make the face." She said poking him again.
"What face?" Nick asked trying to swat her hand away.
"The t-turtle face." Jess said grinning.
"I do not make a turtle face Jessica." Nick snapped but he knew the very same expression was forming on his face as he spoke.
"Do itttttttttttt."Jess cried flinging herself backwards on the floor again.
"Whoah easy Jess." Nick said grabbing a hold of her arm before her head hit the hard floor.
As Jess was pulled back up her happy intoxicated silliness seemed to fall away and she seemed almost gloomy.
"Schmidt picked Elizabeth." She said quietly.
A heavy sigh escaped Nick; he'd guessed Jess's unusual current drunken state was a result from comforting CeCe.
"I know." He said pulling Jess to her feet. "C'mon let's get you inside."
"Ooof!" Jess said as Nick heaved her up easily. "Why aren't you strong boy?"
"Man Jessica, I'm a man." Nick said as he set Jess on her feet but ensured that he held her close; he wasn't convinced she would be able to keep her body upright on her own.
Jess looked Nick up and down gave him an appreciative grin, stroking her hands up his chest. "Yes you are…rawrrrrr."
"Oooook Jess. Time for bed."
Jess grinned excitedly. "Now that sounds like a most e-excellent idea..."
Jess gave Nick the biggest over the top wink and wiggled her eyebrows. Nick gave a small shake of his head.
"To sleep Jessica." He said.
Jess's face scrunched up in disappointment. "Ahhhhh t-that's no fun."
Nick rolled his eyes as he dragged Jess back through the front door, kicking it shut behind him and began to steer Jess towards their bedrooms. But Jess suddenly stopped walking and stood looking confused.
Still keeping his arms around her for support Nick looked down at her "What?"
"I thought we were going out for dinner." Jess said.
Nick shook his head, "No, no, no, no way is that happening now."
"W-why not?" Jess hiccupped. "I like food."
"Yes, yes food is good." Nick said trying to tug Jess forwards. "But I think a double date with Schmidt and Elizabeth is best for another…less trashed- Jess night."
Jess stopped again. "W-wait…whaaaaaaaat? A double date with Schmidt and…her."
Nick rolled his eyes, "Elizabeth yes. For some reason Schmidt thought it would be fun."
"Ok let me just get changed…" she nodded moving forward but then stopped herself and brought her hand to her mouth again. "…and maybe throw up a little and I'll be go to good."
Nick shook his head furiously, "No Jess we are not going."
"Yes we are Nick; I'm going to give Schmidt a piece of m-my mind."
"I'm not worried about your mind Jessica it's more your legs! You can barely stand up!" Nick replied.
Jess waved her hand dismissively. "So I'll sit down and yell at Schmidt the s-spineless…"
"Someone say my name?" Schmidt asked appearing in the kitchen hand-in-hand with Elizabeth.
Jess spun around on the spot, dragging Nick with her and glared at Schmidt.
"You!" she spat. "You good for nothin' scoundrel…why I oughta…"
Both Schmidt and Elizabeth were taken aback by Jess's response as she shook her fist at Schmidt like a 1940s gangster.
"Nick?" Schmidt asked for some sort of explanation.
Shifting his arm around Jess to steady the both of them Nick gave a quick, awkward smile, "Sorry guys we're gonna have to take a rain check on dinner. Jess isn't feeling well…"
Jess pushed herself away from Nick, spinning as she did so nearly falling on her ass.
She straightened herself, "I'm finnnnnnnne Nicholas!"
"Err Jess, I'm over here. That's a plant." Nick said tugging on her elbow turning her back to face him.
Jess looked at Nick and then back to the potted plant and burst into a fit of high pitched giggles. "I thought you were looking a little green Miller!"
Nick rolled his eyes as Jess laughed loudly at her own joke, both Elizabeth and Schmidt let out a small chuckle.
"Excellent." Schmidt said grinning. "I love drunk Jess, she's hilarious!"
"See at least someone appreciates my humour Nick." Jess said staring at Nick.
"I think he's laughing at you not with you Jess." Nick muttered.
Jess shrugged and wriggled her arm free from Nick's hold, "Whatever turtle face. Give me five minutes to freshen up and we shall go to the place with the food."
Spinning on her heels she turned back to them. "Who's up for Mexican? I'm feeling Margaritaaaaaaaaaas bitches!"
She winked and clicked her fingers at them before skipping off down the hall way screeching ay, ay, ay in a drunken Spanish accent at the top of her lungs.
The others watched as she stumbled drunkenly into her room still singing to herself when suddenly her drunken song was interrupted by a crashing sound and a heavy thud.
Nick rolled his eyes, "Jess…are you alright?"
"I'm a-ok partner!" she yelled back from her room.
Nick sighed heavily and turned back to Schmidt and Elizabeth. "Maybe we should order in instead?"
When Jess finally emerged from her bedroom she appeared to be in a very different state of mind. Her eyes were still half closed but she could hear the sound of voices in the living room, groaning she stumbled forwards using her hands to trace along the walls to guide her.
"Well there she is!" A far too loud Schmidt yelled as she appeared in the iron curtain archway. "Portland's answer to Lindsay Lohan!"
"Shut up Schmidt." Jess grumbled slowly lowering herself to the floor in front of the couch where Nick sat and rested her head on the coffee table.
Nick lent forward, "How you feeling boozy? Wanna beer?" he asked tipping his Heisler bottle to her.
Jess looked up and gagged at the thought of more alcohol and shoved his arm away. "No more. Never again."
Schmidt laughed, "Isn't that Nick's mantra every morning?"
Nick glared at Schmidt. "Hilarious Schmidt."
Jess returned her head to the table. "Eurgh. What time is it?"
"Nearly ten." Nick said leaning back against the couch. "You went to your room to get changed, trip over a lamp and crashed out."
"Causing us to miss our reservation at Cafe Beaujolais." Schmidt snapped.
Jess rolled her head to one side, "Sorry guys."
"Don't worry about it Jess." Elizabeth said. "I'd much rather have Chinese then fancy French snails anyway."
Jess was confused but as she rolled to face the other side she noticed the array of opened Chinese take-out boxes scattered across the coffee table. The smell hit Jess and she sat up instantly, hand covering her mouth.
"Feeling a little delicate Jess?" Schmidt teased.
"I'm…fine." Jess murmured underneath her hand.
Schmidt grinned and grabbed a box with bright red sauce around the lid, shoving it under her nose, "We saved you some, kung-po chicken?"
"Bleugh." Jess said batting his hand away as she struggled not to throw up.
"Cut it out Schmidt." Nick snapped.
Schmidt set the food down and laughed. Elizabeth slapped him playfully but hard on the arm.
"C'mon Schmidt you're just jealous Jess can handle her drink more than you." She said.
Jess gave Elizabeth a forced smile. "Thanks."
Elizabeth gave Jess a genuinely warm smile in return, "Hey no problem. I'm impressed really; I haven't been able to do midday drinking since college."
Schmidt scoffed, "Yes acting like a drunken mess is so impressive Jess. I guess it's true what they say, couples really do start to rub off on each other."
"Hey!" Nick said scowling at Schmidt.
"Actually Schmidt I was with CeCe." Jess said flatly.
Schmidt's whole body tensed instantly, the smug grin disappearing from his face. Shifting uncomfortably beside Elizabeth he cleared his throat.
"I know…Nick said. How is she?" he asked.
Jess glared up at him, "How the hell do you think she is Schmidt?"
"Jess." Nick said warningly.
Jess shot Nick a look over her shoulder and shook her head.
"Don't 'Jess' me Nick." She snapped turning her attention back to Schmidt. "Seriously Schmidt, what the hell?"
Thick tension filled the room, no one needed to ask what Jess was referring to, it was the subject they had tried to avoid all night.
"Look Jess you have no idea how hard this was. I didn't want to hurt CeCe but…" Schmidt began.
"Well you did. You hurt her bad Schmidt." Jess said with the sought of anger only a best friend could muster.
"I know." Schmidt said simply.
"C'mon Jess now's not the time." Nick said.
Jess ignored Nick.
"You said that you loved her, chased her for months and months…" Jess ranted. "You did everything you could to get her back from Robbie and Shivrang, you sabotaged her wedding…"
"As a friend!" Schmidt yelled.
Jess's head was killing her and she was in no mood for Schmidt's excuses, "Whatever Schmidt. You said you loved her more than anyone and what now you're just over it?"
"Jess this isn't any of your business." Schmidt said.
"The hell it isn't, CeCe is my best friend." Jess narrowed her eyes. "You've made the biggest mistake of your life letting her go."
"Excuse me?" Elizabeth asked the offence clear in her voice.
Jess shook her head, "Look Elizabeth I'm sorry, that wasn't directed at you."
"Really? Cause it sounds like you think your friend is better than me."
Jess shook her head, instantly regretting the action, her brain felt like it was about to explode.
"No I didn't mean…you're great Elizabeth, amazing and I know you guys were college sweethearts but CeCe…" Jess began not entirely sure what she trying to say.
But Elizabeth cut her off leaning forward, "Listen Bambi-eyes I know that CeCe is your best friend and I usually don't give two craps about the whole mean girl thing but you have no idea what's between me and Schmidt."
Jess shank back a little where she sat.
"I knew Schmidt before he was the way he is now, before he was the narcissistic pretty boy you all wanna punch in the face half the time…before he was the guy you think is such a douchebag you make him put money in a damn jar!" Elizabeth continued.
"Aww thanks sweetie." Schmidt chipped in.
Elizabeth ignored him. "The Schmidt I know is kind and sweet and thoughtful… he makes me laugh all the time…he didn't care what anybody thought…" she said in the affectionate way a person did when they remembered their first love.
"I don't know anything about Schmidt and CeCe's relationship because I don't know CeCe but I know Schmidt…" Elizabeth paused and added. "…I might not be a freaking model or whatever but I love Schmidt."
Jess didn't know what to say, her headache was getting worse by the minute and the overthinking was making it worse. Everything felt sore and fuzzy. She was still so angry, angry that Schmidt had hurt CeCe, angry that her best friend was so heartbroken she wanted to drink the memories away, angry that she would now be stuck in the middle of this mess all over again.
In her newly awakened and painfully hung-over state Jess had taken it out on Elizabeth who she knew had done nothing to deserve it except be with the person she loved. This made Jess feel the worst of all.
"Elizabeth…I'm…" Jess began.
Elizabeth held up a hand to silence Jess.
"You know what I think I'm going to go." She said standing up, Schmidt followed instantly.
Jess hung her head shamefully, knowing she was the reason Elizabeth was leaving.
Elizabeth grabbed her purse and jacket, waved a silent good bye to Nick who nodded in response; Jess noted how quiet he had been throughout the whole thing.
"Feel better Jess." Elizabeth said before she left without looking back.
Schmidt followed closely, hovering at the loft door, turning back to Nick and Jess before he left. "Thanks for tonight guys…meant a lot to have your support."
The door slammed to a close and the loft was filled with a taut silence as Nick and Jess sat alone. Jess dragged her legs to her chest and rested her chin on her knees, chewing on her bottom lip the way she had done as a kid when she knew she was in trouble.
Nick said nothing as he stood up, grabbing the empty beer bottles from the coffee table and storming towards the kitchen. Jess watched him anxiously, she knew he was mad at her and she didn't blame him, she was so mad at herself. Jess flinched as Nick thrust the bottles roughly into the recycling, the sound of the crashing glass hurting her already sore head.
"I'm sorry Nick." She said as the room returned to silence.
Nick tossed a few more empties away, his face tight as he said "I don't think its mean you need to apologise to Jess."
"I know." Jess said with a heavy sigh as she dragged herself to her feet. She grabbed the dirty plates from the table and slowly strolled to the kitchen, setting them in the sink.
"You were way out of line Jess." he said.
Jess felt her shoulders fall at the genuine anger in his voice.
"I know Nick." Jess stood with her back to Nick as she rinsed the dishes off.
"You need to apologise."
"I know Nick ok?" Jess yelled spinning back to face him, tossing the dish cloth on the side. "I know I was a total bitch to Elizabeth and I feel awful about it! None of this is her fault!"
Nick nodded, "You're right it's not."
"You know how much I hate all the mean girl bitchiness and drama…but CeCe is my best friend, I don't know it's like this weird protective best friend instinct kicks in when someone hurts her." Jess said. "I'm just so furious with Schmidt!"
Nick just stood staring at Jess, arms crossed, clearly not impressed with her explanation. "Why are so pissed at Schmidt? He hasn't done anything wrong."
Jess lent back against the sink, staring at Nick in utter shock, "You can't be serious? CeCe is devastated Nick, you should have seen how heartbroken she is."
Nick rubbed hand down his face, "I'm sorry CeCe is so upset, I really am but Schmidt had to choose, you can't be mad just because he didn't pick your best friend Jess."
Jess didn't respond she was still processing what Nick was saying to her.
"The truth is I'm glad he picked Elizabeth." Nick said. "CeCe's not right for Schmidt."
"How can you say that Nick?" Jess asked furiously. "CeCe is amazing."
Nick shook his head, "Listen all that stuff you said before, about how Schmidt used to chase CeCe and then got her and messed it up, let's not forget CeCe was the one who wanted to keep their relationship a secret for months, not willing to tell anyone, even you, that they were together."
"CeCe doesn't do well with relationships. She was scared…"
Nick cut her off. "Maybe but do you know how she treated Schmidt then?" Nick didn't even give Jess time to answer. "Did you know once they went to some fancy model party and she left Schmidt in the car with the window cracked like a damn dog?"
Jess shook her head. God, CeCe was harsh sometimes.
"Did you know that they slept together after the wedding convention?" Nick asked.
"No I didn't." Jess paused, she realised she knew very little about Schmidt and CeCe's relationship, CeCe wasn't one to share much of herself. "She loves him Nick."
Nick shrugged, "Maybe she does but she's not right for him…at least not right now."
Jess wanted to talk back to him, to say he was wrong but she honestly couldn't think of anything to say.
"Elizabeth's right, before, when Schmidt was with her he was different." Nick said thoughtfully. "I'm not saying better or worse than he is now, ok maybe a little better…but mostly he was different."
"He was less intense and competitive, more easy going…he wasn't obsessed with how he looked or how much something cost he just wanted to have fun and do stupid stuff…"
"That's hardly changed, he still does stupid stuff." Jess said.
"That's true." Nick said then gave Jess a serious look. "You keep saying that CeCe is your best friend and all you want is for her to be happy but Schmidt is my best friend Jess. And a part of me really misses the guy he was before."
Jess listened carefully and stepped away from the sink, resting against the opposite side of the metal counter.
"And you think being with Elizabeth will bring out that side of him?" she asked.
"I don't know Jess maybe not…but right now I think she's what he needs."
Jess understood, she had been so focused on CeCe and worried about how she was she had forgotten everything else. That was how it was supposed to be, best friends were there for each other no matter what, always putting the other first. But she had never once thought about Nick as Schmidt's best friend.
The truth was as much as Jess loved CeCe and would do anything to make her happy, Nick was right, she had hurt Schmidt too. Jess had known CeCe her whole life and was more than aware of the way she handled the men in her life.
Men who dated CeCe fell into two categories; first the idiots and jerks she let treat her like crap over and over again and secondly the poor sweet schmucks she treated like crap. Schmidt fell into the latter.
Jess nervously played with the newspaper left splayed out on the counter.
"I get it Nick…I really do." She said sincerely. "I'll say sorry to Elizabeth…and Schmidt, apologise for being such a drunken fool."
"Good." Nick said smiling at her. "I'm sorry about CeCe; I know it must be hard to see her upset."
Jess nodded, "It is but I think you're right…it's not the right time for them."
Nick raised his eyebrows at her, "Today has been like a weird role reversal; you get drunk and say stupid stuff and I'm the voice of reason."
"Like our very own Freaky Firday." Jess said with a smile.
"I have absolutely no idea what that means."
Jess giggled and shook her head, "They do say every couple should walk in each other's shoes."
Nick's face scrunched up. "Well I don't like it. I think I'm better as the drunken screw up and you as Miss. Sensible!"
Jess laughed a little louder, then put her hand to her forehead. "Ow…my brain aches."
Nick reached out and tugged her arm, pulling her to him, "C'mon boozy time for bed…again."
Nick led Jess back to her room where she changed into her favourite pyjamas and tucked her in the covers. Nick turned to leave but Jess refused to let go of his hand, tugging him back.
"Where you going?" She asked sleepily.
"I'm just gunna finish clearing up the rest of the crap in there." He said nodding towards the living room. "You feeling ok? You're not going to barf on me or anything are you?"
"Oh haha Nicholas." Jess said tucking the pillow under her arms. "Nick…I'm sorry about earlier."
Nick sat down on the edge of the bed. "I know Jess, it's a weird situation for everyone, they're both our best friends."
"I know." Jess lifted her head up slightly. "Hey how about we make a pact, to stay out of our friends romantic dramas from now on?"
Nick raised an eyebrow, "And you really think you can do that, little Miss. Busybody Know-it-all?"
Jess smacked him playfully, "Hey! I'm serious Nick."
Nick laughed, "I'm all for it, I never wanna get involved in other peoples crap anyways…I don't care."
"Yes you do Nicholas." Jess said rolling her eyes. "But I mean it Nick; I don't want other stuff to affect you and me."
Nick nodded, "It won't Jess."
"So we agree, whatever happens with CeCe, or Schmidt or anyone we'll stay out of it? Deal?" Jess said putting her hand out.
"Deal." Nick said shaking her hand before standing up again.
"Nick?"
Nick turned back to her. "Yeah?"
Jess was lying down again, "I'm really sorry."
"It's ok Jess." he said again.
"I'll make it up to you tomorrow…promise." Jess replied, a twinkle still sparkling in her tired eyes.
"Oh yeah?" Nick said moving back to the bed, eyebrows raised again.
"Y-yup." Jess said with a yawn. "Schmidt and Elizabeth as well."
"Not in the same way I hope." Nick said teasingly.
Jess giggled sleepily at what Nick was implying.
"I think I'll make some mini-muffins for them…" she said.
"And for me?"
"Hmmmm…I'm sure I'll think of something…" she said half yawning at the end.
Nick smiled. "I'll hold you to that Day."
He waited for her quick retort but was met by the light sound of a sigh and saw she had already fallen asleep. Leaning down Nick placed a light kiss on her forehead before leaving her to sleep off her hangover.