Hey guys! This is post Table 34. I previously wrote "Winter Wonderland" so check that out if you want. Or not. Both are cool.

Anyways I obviously don't own anything so, enjoy

It had been a 5 days since the kiss. Five long days that had been full of awkward conversations and blatant avoidances. Ever since their conversation at the Indian dating convention, the apology, and the weird hug, things had been….well, uncomfortable. Whenever they were in the same room as each other they tried to seem normal but there was an air of awkwardness. Both denied it completely, however, to themselves and to each other.

The thing is, Schmidt still didn't know. It was insanely hard to keep it from him and they had to blackmail Winston into keeping quite. That basically required Nick to dig up their old yearbook from when they were 12. Being friends with Winston since they were kids, he knew there was a picture of Winston who was one out of two kids in the "Crochet club", smiling with an Afro and braces. Nick and Jess threatened to show his new girlfriend Daisy, even though Jess absolutely adored the picture and offered to crochet with him some time. So, in other words, Winston wasn't saying a word to Schmidt.

So now, they just dealt with the tension but not confronting it. Kiss? There was a kiss? Those were the questions they were fooling themselves and each other with. It wasn't mentioned, it wasn't hinted at. Their compromise was that the atmosphere in the loft suffered.

Nick's lower back was especially suffering from the whole ordeal. He was sweating excessively due to all the secrecy, which is why he stole some of Jess's menstrual pads and stuck them to his lower back. His lower back was so swampy these days it was a necessary precaution.

He finally decided to get the day started and get some coffee. It was 11:30pm, so he was up early for a change. Writing until 4am has its consequences, but he's living an artist's life and it comes with the craft. Besides, Zombie Detective was coming along beautifully. It was frustrating the hell out of him though. He was stuck on this one scene. Basically all he had so far was the build up….he still couldn't really figure out why he would want to be a detective for the un-dead. Which sort of was the whole crux of it. But he had the characterization down pat.

He was having loads of writers block, and it was getting to him. He threw on a plain white tee and skipped putting on pants and muddled out to the kitchen. He stopped walking for a second when he saw Jess sitting at the table on the stool, sipping her tea and looking over some student's writing. She looked up.

"Hey! She smiled, a small smile, somewhat unsure

"Heyyyy" he smiled softly back before continuing to walk over and then straight to the coffee pot. He poured the hot coffee and stood there, quietly. He knew he'd have to turn around eventually and maybe say something. But he stood with his back to her, pretending to make coffee still.

He cleared his throat, awkwardly. "Just makin' some coffee over here" he said to justify why his back was still turned and to break the quiet. He cringed. That was weird. Why would he say that?

"You drink it black" he heard Jess reply

He cringed a little again; "Yes I do" he said before slowly turning with his cup, "Which is why I am now done" he winked and then laughed. Awkwardly. Then she laughed back, just as awkwardly.

Then the laughter died. Very quickly. Uncomfortably quickly.

"So, how's that writing assignment you're reading? Any more killer ramblings?" he asked, trying to make a slight joke in reference to her old student Edgar. As it turns out Edgar was just a bit too offended by the whole 'thinking he was a murderer' thing, so he dropped out of Jess's class.

She let a soft 'hmpf' laugh and then looked down at the writing, not making eye contact with him. There was a lot of avoidance of eye contact lately.

"No, everything's been pretty un-stabby and un-murdery in these ones. This one for example," She picked up the paper to read it, "is about 'a young girl named Eloise with zest for life and an even bigger zest for methamphetamine and exotic cartoons " she quoted with a nod

Nick nodded, thinking over that plot and sipping his coffee. He then shook his head, "Damn that's good. Kid's got something there," he said.

Jess laughed loudly then looked up to see him still staring off, nodding thoughtfully. "-Oh you're…you're serious. Hm, well, it's…..it's kind of good. You know, in a weird, anxiety-indusing, kinda off-putting, sort of way," she reasoned.

"I'll never be that good as- what's her name?" Nick asked desperately, needing to know the name of the girl he now felt he was battling for 'best writer of the year award'. An award which he wasn't sure existed, but he wanted it.

"Mary Kimble"

"Damn Mary Kimble!" Nick yelled, suddenly discouraged with his novel. "She's got creativity. She knows exactly what she wants her novel to be about and that is what I appreciate," he said, sounding 100% insane.

Jess was watching him, "Nick. I was lying. It's a really bad book. And not even because of the plot but because I am pretty sure she ruined some Walt Disney Classics within 5 pages. It's almost disturbing. I can't watch Little Mermaid the same after the stuff I just read. I loved the Little Mermaid" She tried to cheer him up. Normally she wouldn't diss her students like this; Mary Kimble did have some good qualities. She used great adjectives.

Nick sighed "I donno. I'm stuck with Zombie Detective. I still can't figure out how and why Julius talks to zombies to find out IF someone who is already was dead, was killed"

Jess kept her mouth shut. The reason he couldn't figure it out was because there was nothing to figure out. But she supported him. And this was the first conversation they were having that wasn't laced completely with awkwardness. "Well…as the gal who inspired Jessica Night", She gave a theatrical wink, "I'm sure I can help you with that" she said with a smile.

He looked up at her, and for the first time they gave a soft genuine smile at each other. That was broken however by Schmidt entering the main sitting area.

"Loft meeting! Loft meeting! Winston get your tuckus outta bed! I know ya got a lady visitor but this is urgent!"

Winston trudged down the hall, looking very annoyed. "I feel I am going to regret ever leaving that room" he said before sitting on the armchair

Nick and Jess quickly got over their little moment and walked to the couches, sitting on opposite ends.

"What's this about Schmidtty?" Nick asked, exasperated already

"Glad you asked. I present to you all, an opportunity. As the richest person in the loft, I decided it is time to throw you all a dime or two. Just like Bono and those African kids. Jess; you teach a middle aged writing class. Let's be honest, that's more of an emotionally rewarding job as opposed to a monetarily rewarding one. And maybe even not emotionally" he started

"Hey!" Jess squeaked and crossed her arms, offended but didn't have time to defend herself

"Winston, you are doing alright. But radio is a dying business buddy, and you are no Ryan Seacrest, the man I aspire to be. Besides, I've seen your wardrobe lately which is a high-tell sign of you being financially distraught. Don't allow yourself to fall to Nicholas's wardrobe level"

Nick actually nodded approvingly and looked to Winston and smiled, "It's true actually. I have been wearing the same boxers for 3 days", he laughed

Everyone cringed.

Winston chimed back in, having been insulted. "So is the point of this meeting to make us want to cry whilst strangling you?" Winston asked Schmidt, but Schmidt went on

"And Nicholas…." Schmidt sighed a pitied sigh as he put his hand to his heart and looked at his scruffy friend. "Well look at ya" he put his hand out to him, "You have the financial security of a 10 year old crack addict"

"Where'd the 10-year-old get the money in the first place to begin her addiction?" Nick asked

Schmidt was annoyed at the question, not liking Nick's sass when he was trying to help them. "Allowance" he begrudgingly answered before continuing, "Anyways my friends, I am giving you an opportunity to earn some mad dough. I just secured a pitch to a huge account. They sell flavored whiskey, the newest thing-"

"Flavored whiskey? That's blasphemy," Nick said as Schmidt was still talking

-"So I need people to talk this stuff up at one of LA's finest clubs. You are my role-player fillers. You go around the club and act like you like this stuff and get others at the club to drink it. It's the easiest job known to man" he smiled at them. He saw them all looking at him oddly, "Also the real models I had planned lived in the same loft and their was some stomach flu mayhem. No amount of good looks can salvage that puke fest"

"I'm not talking up flavored whiskey. As a bartender and as a man, I refuse. I have principles," Nick emphasized as he slammed his pointer finger on the table

"It pays 350 for one night's work"

"K, I'm in. Give me the time and place and should I wear a tophat?" Nick, agreed

Schmidt smiled "Great and no! I know you can drink Nicholas. Your liver is my strongest ally". He then turned to the other two, awaiting their answers

Jess was still annoyed with Schmidt's speech beforehand, "Just so you know I am doing just fine with my class. And yes, maybe it is more emotionally rewarding then financially, but you can't put a monetary value on 75-year-old Mr. Sanchez telling you that he never knew how to complete a proper story arc before he met you" she argued, before tearing up. "I'm sorry, I have my period" she sniffled "I'm emotional"

"Blech! Blegh! Ewie" the boys retorted

"And someone keeps stealing my pads, and I don't understand it! I am starting to think there is some kind of leprechaun stealing my stuff" she cried a little more

Nick's eyes widened a little and he felt the sweat start, which is why those darned pads would be so helpful right about now.

"Okay well if you're going to be emotional I can't have you on the team, Jess. You'll be a liability. No one wants a weepy girl talking about period pad stealing leprechauns, selling them flavored whiskey," Schmidt said

"No!" Jess then retorted and sniffled her last sniffle. "I can do it" she finally agreed, "I was great as a shot girl, remember? Ya know….before I had that slight meltdown. Anyway, I can do it! And besides, I actually can use the money. I bought one of my students reading glasses because he couldn't read anything he wrote. It was tragic"

"Mr. Sanchez?" Nick asked

Jess nodded, not looking at him. Again, no eye contact was key.

"Good, Jess you will have to bring the small amount of sex appeal you can muster up to the table. Cece will be the other drink pusher. I'm thinking you two could maybe make out after drinking the whiskey. Like ya know- the whiskey makes girls wanna kiss or something. That'd sell" Schmidt suggested but saw Jess's glare, "Just putting it out there"

Nick now couldn't get that image out of his head and he chugged the beer he now had to make his mind go fuzzy. Anytime he thought of anything sexual involving Jess nowadays, he had to use alcohol to drown out his thoughts. Sometimes it backfired though and made matters worse. He was so lost in thought he missed Winston agreeing as well, saying he could use the money to take Daisy out on a proper date.

"Great. So I need you at Greystone Manner at 10 tonight. I must approve your outfits as well. Remember, we want to sell the whiskey, not repulse and annoy" he looked at them all.

"Meeting adjourned" Schmidt clapped. Winston went back to his room where Daisy was still napping, and Schmidt went to go look through all their closets for proper attire. That left Nick and Jess in the room together

"So..this thing is going to be stupid huh?" Nick asked, as he went to go get another beer. He didn't want to look at her still. He hated this tension. They both said everything was normal and tried so hard to act like everything was normal and it just wasn't.

"Yeah well, I'm thinking of putting on a persona. Maybe make it a little more fun" Jess said with a shrug.

Nick laughed a little as he twisted his beer cap off, "Schmidt'll love that. What'd have in mind? A 20's cigarette girl again?" he asked, finally looking up at her. She was very attractive; there was no getting around that. And ever since that kiss it lit something inside him a little, but he wasn't sure what. It was all so confusing for him, and he was guessing it was for her as well. There was obviously something between them, but neither was going to confront it. As far as he was concerned, the kiss was in fact a mistake. The most amazing mistake he's ever made, but a mistake nonetheless.

She giggled at his question, and it made him involuntarily smirk. He was glad he made her laugh a little. It gave him a sense of normalcy between them. Not to mention she had a really cute giggle. "I was thinking current starlet. I grew up as a socialite- my dad struck oil when we were kids traveling abroad. We then became super rich, I traveled everywhere and met every single famous person ever including Oprah. And also I think my name is Stacia. Stacia Majesty"

"Yeah, that's a stripper name" Nick said

"Is not!" She argued

"It is. I can see a greasy haired man call out Stacia Majesty to strip the 3am shift on stage"

She crossed her arms and scoffed "Fine….Stacia….Montgomery"

He turtle-faced and shrugged, "Not bad. I think I'm going to go as a really annoyed person who hates flavored whiskey"

She rolled her eyes, "No! You should make a character too! It makes it more fun" She suggested then her eyes widened "Be Julius Pepperwood!" she exclaimed. He looked at her oddly.

"It'll be great for your novel. Write through character acting and inspiration!"

He scoffed and then thought about it. It actually could work. He'd be liked damned Hemingway! He'd be drunk too, so.

"Maybe" he finally said.

"Julius Peppawood. Finest private eye in all these quarters, see" She said in her best 20's Chicago accent to which Nick laughed a little. Again, they smiled a bit at each other.

They kept their gaze for a little too long, longer then they had before. He felt his body go all warm and then he heard Schmidt yell "Nick ya got nothing to work with! Also I think about 99% of the clothes in your room are dirty and have a mustard quality stain on them" Schmidt said as he emerged, making Jess and Nick break eye contact

Nick looked at him "That's a solid guess. What I'm wearing now is all inside out so I can get the full use out of it" he smiled and winked

Schmidt dry heaved then looked to Jess. "I put out that smoking red dress you have (The one from "The Fluffer") for you. Make sure the bouncy castles are nice and perky" he said and motioned to her chest, to which Jess put her hands up to cover them

"Ew, Schmidt" Jess whined. She then adjusted her glassed "Yeah fine, okay"

Nick now had visions of Jess in that dress. He again chugged the rest of his beer. He couldn't let the bad thoughts in. Once it got in it was like a virus and it consumed his whole body.

"Nick I'm going to have to rent you a suit or something" Schmidt suggested

"No need my man, I got it covered" Nick asked

Schmidt glared at him, "You can't show up like some common hooligan"

"Not today, pal. I think you'll be very impressed" he said and then spilled some beer on his shirt and sighed heavily "I JUST put this on inside out. Now I gotta switch it back the other way. This is going to ruin the system!" he screamed.

Schmidt glared "Don't dissapoint me Nicholas. Or I will disown you"

"Disown me? You never owned me"

"You will be disowned from my friendship. ANd believe me it is VERY hard to be back on the owned list. VERY hard" Schmidt clarified. "I'm going to rent you a tux instead. What size are you? Extra husky or husky?

"You can rent all you want pal, I'm not going to dress like a suffocating penguin"

"Oh you will. I'm just going to tell them that your body is like a Seth Rogen mid weight loss. They'll figure out the size" Schmidt said.

Schmidt scoffed and walked away, obviously now stressed about this whole night, and needing to go get Nick's rental. This left Nick and Jess alone, yet again.

It was awkward now. After their staring game before Schmidt the atmosphere had changed. "So um, I guess I'm gonna go try on that dress and….ya know. See if it still fits" Jess lied and stood up

"Yeah" Nick nodded, "I guess I'll go….get on goin and go" he said, then frowned. That didn't make sense.

She laughed weakly and nodded before quickly going off to her room. Leaving Nick standing there, empty beer bottle in hand. This is what is has become. Little moments followed by super awkward getaways. He really didn't know where to go from here. It seemed as if it would never go back to normal between them.

And now there was tonight. With both of them selling crappy flavored whiskey as alter egos. This didn't have disaster written all over it at all