Chapter Two: New Hot Beginnings

"Um... Hello. The name is Day. Jessica Day. " Jess says in her best Bond impression. However, the person on the other end of the line doesn't seem to find humor in her weak attempt.

"Nick! This ones for you. Even Winston isn't this corny so she's got to be yours."

Jessica takes in a gasp. Well how rude. There's a rumbling on the other line as the phone is handed off to Nick. He jumps over the couch reaching for the phone. Most calls go to Schmidt, the cocky ladies man that insulted Jessica's ineffective joke. For Schmidt the calls range from desperate ladies to suit fitters to anyone looking to sell a gym membership. For the other roommate, Winston, calls are from family, people he's met on his travels and sometimes girls. But he's a little shy. Shy and has a bit of difficultly talking to women. And then there's Nick. Fresh out of a crap relationship, Nick's calls are few and not who he wants to hear from.

Please be Caroline.

Before dropping out of law school, Nick was dating a beauty named Caroline. He thought she could be the one so needless to say she was the one to end it. Apparently, constantly professing his love wasn't what she wanted or needed. Nor could she take Nick seriously. Nick Miller drank... A lot. Hence his new job as a bartender. But besides his drinking habits, he was never fully in control of his emotions. Nick was just scared. And now that he was alone, the only emotion he was really capable of was anger.

"Hello?" Nick answered in a groggy voice. Looking down at the caller ID he could see it wasn't Caroline.

"Jeez!" Jess exclaimed "A lady is just trying to get a gosh darn apartment around here. And speaking of ladies, don't any live here?"

"Nope." Nick's answers are short and blunt. Quite frankly he doesn't really want a new roommate. Surely it will help lessen the rent a bit but Nick values his alone time and doesn't want to explain to anyone why that is or what he's going through. He certainly doesn't want to explain it to some upbeat little girl. Shit, how old is she with that sweet voice? Nineteen?

"Well. " Jess says slightly offended by the standoffish man on the phone. "I guess I'll have to keep looking then. "

"I guess" Nick says quickly hanging up before sulking back to his room.

Jessica looks at her cellphone's home screen not wanting to believe she let another man be rude to her. Jess sits back on the couch and begins to brood in light of recent events. Seeing a pouty face on Jessica seems almost fitting these days. However, Cecilia still worries and asks Jess what's wrong partially hoping for something new and partially wishing that her childhood friend Could just be happy again. She can't stand to see her in pain.

"Well, I thought I found an interesting place. The ad asked for someone kind of like me but the way it was so specific sounded like some girls had wrote it. So I called the number" Jess says thrusting the ad at Cece. "But it turns out it was a house full of guys. Rude guys!"

Sitting back to pout some more, Jessica begins to grow angry. Men are evil. Cecilia seems genuinely intrigued by the ad however. She reaches out quickly to kidnap Jess's phone and calls the number back. She puts the phone on speaker so both she and Jessica can hear. This time Winston answers the phone, a much calmer and nicer guy.

Before he can even get in a hello Cece speaks up. "Now which one of you were rude to my girl?"

"Um... Sorry that was either Schmidt. Or Nick"

"Both!" Jess says still glowering.

"Well, Miss Day I apologize on their behalf"

Now it was Cece's turn to speak up again. "Now, I believe you guys have a room that you're renting out. And the lovely Jessica is looking for a place to live."

Winston hums thoughtfully. When they posted the ad for the room they didn't imagine living with a female. But would it really be that bad? Maybe it'll help out one of these awkward men. Winston and Cece come up with an idea for a meeting. That way Jess can be interviewed for the room and the boys can consider her as an option. Jessica just sits by, jaw dropped. I can't live with men right now! Winston and Cece agree on meeting at a bar called Clyde's Bar. Nick works there and around five before his shift begins they can all sit down for her interview. He'll also email Jess a rental application.

As the phone call ended, Jessica stood up appalled. "Cece! I can't live with THREE men. I can't live with any man right now. I'm fragile and they're-"

"They're men Jess." Cece cuts her off. "Men, not monsters. And they could potentially be hot! That's what you need right now, to move on. And you know what they say 'the only way to get over a man is to get under-"

"Ew... Ok Cece I get it." Jessica takes a seat on the couch looking at the ad now sitting on the coffee table. She takes a deep breath. You can't fix something by just sitting here. Nodding her head to herself she casually trots over to the shower. Under the warm pressured water Jess starts to relax a bit. Maybe at least one of them will be hot. Stepping out of the shower, Jessica gets dressed. Something nice and neat for the interview but something that shows off just who she is.

Nick lifts his head off the table to see a beautiful girl approaching their table. His usually angry face crumples into a look of raw and gentle endearment for the stranger. A sweet gorgeous face framed with delicate bouncing brown curls. Round blue eyes were bordered by black glasses above which were sheltered by her gentle bangs. But what an awkward style. Nick thought taking in her outfit.

As Jess approached the table of men she adjusted her pink ad white polka dot skirt. Above which was a solid pink blouse and a large white belt. As she sat down the skirt fanned out on the chair. She looked up with a nervous smile at the three men in front of her. And Jessica had to admit they were pretty good looking.

Winston, who she had talked to before, had dark chocolate colored skin. He dressed casually but still pretty neat. Judging by their conversation earlier, Jessica assumed it was Winston who wanted the new roommate to be smart and challenging. He seemed pretty intellectual himself. Which must mean Schmidt, in his ever-present tuxedo, was the one looking for a clean and classy roommate. His suit was flawless, he had muscles in all the right places, and he had this 'King of the World' attitude. To Jess that seemed his only drawback.

The only man left was Nick Miller. His clothes a rumpled heap on his body, showing he had no concern with how he looked. He locked gazes with Jessica. Nicky's face was bearded but Jess found it appealing. His brown hair sat messily on top of his head as he ran his fingers through it almost constantly in frustration. He had a quizzical look on his face but Jess melted under his eyes.

However, after a few minutes he looked away. Nick couldn't be feeling anything right now. He was still hurting and this beautiful stranger may be living with him.

"Hey Jess. We're going to begin now."

The men- mainly Schmidt and Winston, Nick lost in his thoughts- began to ask questions. An hour later after a few rude comments by Schmidt, silence by Nick, and apologizing from Winston, all decided Jess could be a great roommate.

"Oh guys! Thank you so much!" Jessica pulled them all into a group hug. Something that they were not used to being that they only ever lived with men who fist bumped at the most.

"Ok none of that." Schmidt spoke. "Your girly tears will ruin my suit. One last thing. Which one of us will you be sleeping with?"

Jess stood back genuinely scared. "Excuse me!"

"You're moving into an apartment with four men. Chances are you'll end up with one of us. In which case we'll loose a roommate or two. You and whoever you go off with."

"None of you! I will be sleeping with none of you! I just got out of a bad relationship and the last thing I need is another man. Let alone three. "

The conversation struck all of their attention. Of course no one other than sex crazed Schmidt think of this but it was interesting. What if she did end up in one of their beds? And whose would it be?

"Let's make a rule" Winston spoke up. "None of us can sleep with Jess. It'll cause problems in the house and loose us a roommate. "

Winston and Schmidt nodded their heads agreeing but Jess and Nick were the last to agree. Looking at each other for one fleeting moment, both had a concern as to if they could stay away. Unlocking eyes they decided it was the only way. They both agreed. Winston lead Jess to the apartment. Nick began his shift at the bar. And Schmidt stayed to talk to women. But all had something heavy on their minds.

Can this really work out?