"Mmmm, who’s the hottie?” Jenna grinned, holding the silver framed picture of Jess and Nick. Jess turned from her mirror, taking the picture from the model’s hands. “A friend.” She looked at the picture and sighed softly, placing it back in the drawer of her makeup table where Jenna had pulled it out. “Just a friend huh? Is he single? Wanna hook me up with him?” Jenna grinned, nudging Jess. “I haven’t talked to him in months.” Jess stood up, fixing a stray curl that had escaped from the mass of curls on her head. Adjusting the silver gown she wore she turned and looked at Jenna, who had a questioning look on her face, “Don’t ask okay? I really just don’t want to talk about it…and I have to get out there.” Jenna watched as the slender redhead walked towards the runway stage, putting on a fake smile as the curtain drew back and listened as buyers “oohed” and “ahhed” at the designer gown she wore. She slid the drawer open and looked at the picture of the two, laughing together. “Wonder what happened with that one…” she thought as her name was called from the wings.
Nick sat at his desk, looking across the yard to Jess’s house. He could see her window, the curtains drawn. It had been a couple months since “the incident” at school. Tyler had told him what had happened the next day, Nick had had so much to drink that nite he’d finally passed out. Waking up the next day he’d asked where Jess had gone. At first, when Tyler had told him what had happened, he hadn’t believed him. Until he’d tried to call Jess. Again and again he’d called her. Begging her on her answering machine to call him, to forgive him. He’d sent flowers, notes, letters…letter after letter…and she’d returned them all unopened. Nick grew more and more depressed…and began drinking more and more. Tyler, he knew, stayed only because there was no where else for him to live. They barely spoke to one another, and only tolerated being in the same room when necessary. He’d finally come home a week earlier. Telling his parents he couldn’t handle school anymore and leaving them to wonder why he’d chosen to drop out. His mother had asked a couple times why Jess no longer called or wrote…until he’d finally exploded and told her it was none of her business. He rarely stayed home, choosing to go out at nite and go clubbing. He couldn’t believe how many girls were willing to sleep with someone they’d only met hours before. He was getting more sex than he could have dreamed of…and he hated every minute of it. He’d lost his best friend…and it seemed that nothing he said or did was going to change that fact.
Nick stood up, clasping his hands behind his neck he looked out towards Jess’s window again. He blinked and leaned forward…did the curtain just move? He watched closely and realized it had…was it her mom? Or…
Nick reached for the phone on his desk, dialing Jess’s private number. “Please God…please let her pick up…” he whispered to himself as he listened to the phone ring at the other end. “Hello...” Nick almost dropped the phone at the sound of her voice… “Hello?” Jess spoke quietly, then waited for a response, “Is anyone there?” Nick took a breath, “Jess…” his voice came out in barely a whisper. “Nick?” Jess breathed in, “is that you?” Nick swallowed, “It’s me…I’m home…” Then he stared at the phone in his hand, listening to the dial tone as she slammed down the receiver.
“Fuck!” Nick muttered, “FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!!!” Nick yelled, slamming down the phone and then grabbing it threw it across the room. He stared out the window, his fists clenched, not realizing tears were running down his face. He’d really fucked things up. And he had to fix them…soon.
Jess sat in her window seat, looking over at Nick’s house. She’d come home for a much needed break. “Want some hot chocolate?” Jess turned at the sound of her mother’s voice. “Sure.” She attempted a smile as her mother walked over, handing her a mug of steaming chocolate. “Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” Jess sat back, shaking her head, “Don’t worry okay mom. It’s just something I need to work out on my own.” She leaned her head against the window, watching as soft flakes of snow drifted down, covering everything in white. Her mother sighed softly, placing a kiss on Jess’s forehead then left, closing the door quietly behind her…
Jess sipped the drink slowly, then turned as the phone rang. Picking it up she spoke softly, “Hello…" She frowned a little, as she waited no answer. “Hello? Is anyone there?” She listened as someone on the other end took a breath, “Jess…" the voice came out in barely a whisper. “Nick?” Jess breathed in, biting her lip, “is that you?” She heard his voice shake as he responded, “It’s me…I’m home…” Jess slammed the receiver down, backing away from it. Tears streamed down her face as she turned and looked at the house across the yard. He was home. 500 yards away…she shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. Nick…her Nick…after months of not hearing his voice, just the sound of it made her heart race. She’d forgiven him for what had happened months ago, but pride had kept her from telling him. She’d run from him so long, from the memory of what had happened that nite…and she’d realized that she had to face him soon. She’d come home planning to talk to him, planning to call him and clear things up. But she hadn’t expected him to be home…She didn’t know if she was ready to face him.
But god…his voice…he sounded so hurt, so lost…
Jess sighed, reaching for her coat. She needed to walk, needed to get outside and clear her head, to think about what she wanted to do. “Mom, I’m going for a walk.” She called out as she opened the front door. Turning she started out, and stopped…standing at the bottom of the stairs was Nick. “Please…Jess…” Jess watched as his blue eyes filled with tears and he dropped to his knees in the snow. “I can’t be without you Jess…I don’t know how to live without my best friend…I’m so sorry…God I’m SO sorry for what happened! I don’t know why…I don’t know how I could have done that…to you…to us…” Nick spoke quickly, trying to get everything out before Jess cut him off. He sat in the snow, tears freezing to his face as they ran down his cheeks. Jess watched him…taking a hesitant step towards him…