“Look at that rain,” Nick whispered to Jessica who stood next to him, mesmerized by the downpour.
“Why don’t you stay here tonight?” Jessica said, almost without thinking. She had enjoyed talking to Nick so much that she kind of didn’t want him to leave. She realized however, that he might take her invitation the wrong way. “I mean, it would be impossible to drive home tonight. You could sleep on the couch,” she added quickly.
So far the night had been quite innocent. They had talked about everything ranging from the crazy weather to places they’d traveled, to the movies and to even politics. They had more in common than she expected. Jessica was surprised at her own forwardness but for some reason, she trusted Nick. She felt like she already knew him somehow.
“Are you sure it’s alright with you?” Nick asked. Any other girl he wouldn’t have even bothered to ask twice, but with Jessica it was different. Usually he would have been the one to suggest he stay over.
“It’s fine. I’ve got some blankets here somewhere.” Jessica disappeared in search of the blankets, leaving Nick gazing around the apartment. It was barely furnished but the few pieces were very original. Jessica was obviously very creative. He noticed that there was a sort of loneliness that shrouded the apartment though. The place lacked coziness.
“I hope this will be alright, “ Jessica said interrupting Nick’s reverie. She stood before him holding a fluffy pillow and an over-sized comforter awkwardly.
“Perfect,” Nick said with a smile as he took the bedding from her.
“Well, goodnight, “ Jessica said forlornly. Part of her wanted to just stay up all night talking to him. At first she thought she would be uncomfortable with him after everything she’d been through but she wasn’t. She was happy that she was there. He brought life to her dull apartment even if it was only temporarily. She felt safe with him there.
“Sweet dreams,” Nick said with a smile.
Jessica had gone to sleep almost 2 hours ago, but Nick hadn’t been able to fall asleep. At first it was because he was thinking about Jessica and the night they had spent together. Normally he would have been up wondering how the hell he had just let a beautiful girl walk into her bedroom without him. Everything about this situation though was anything but normal. He hadn’t planned on coming here tonight but now he was actually quite glad that he had. He hadn’t thought about Melissa once while he was with Jessica.
As the minutes passed, Nick began wondering about Jessica’s past. Every time he asked her about anything that remotely pertained to life in North Hempstead, she would close up. She got this look in her eyes and as best Nick could explain it was a cross between hurt and bitterness. He had wanted to ask her about it so many times but he never had. He didn’t want to intrude.
Even after their few meetings Nick still wasn’t exactly sure as to where they stood. Up until now everything had been purely innocent. At times it appeared that Jessica sought from him nothing more than friendship but there were other times when Nick got this strange feeling that maybe she wanted more.
Reclining against the comfortable pillow Jessica had supplied him with, he closed his eyes taking a deep breath. It was late and he was exhausted.
He lay still for a few minutes trying to think of nothing but the soft, soothing pitter patter of the raindrops against the window pane. Suddenly a stifled cry broke the silence. Nick’s eyes immediately snapped open. At first he thought it was coming from outside but soon he realized that it was actually coming from Jessica’s room.
Hastily he got off the sofa and headed in the direction of her room. He felt his way around the darkness unsure if she would be angry with him for overstepping. As he approached her door, he heard the sound again and as he peered through the darkness he realized that it was Jessica’s voice. From the door he could see her tossing and turning restlessly beneath a tangle of sheets.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to! Please!” she cried out in her sleep.
For a second Nick felt like an intruder. He stood there awkwardly unsure if he should go over to her or not. Even in her sleep she looked so pained. He realized that there was no way he could just leave here like that.
Quietly he tiptoed into the room and over to her bed. “Jessica,” he whispered. “Wake up,” he said shaking her gently. He felt her body jerk slightly as her eyes fluttered open. Her expression was at first one of fear. It was almost as though she didn’t recognize him.
Instinctively Nick knelt down carefully next to her. “It’s me, Nick,” he whispered. “Are you alright?”
“No,” Jessica said shaking her head. “No,” she said again suddenly overcome by tears. Impulsively she reached out and hugged him.
She felt so comfortable, so natural in his arms that it scared Nick. He hadn’t dared to allow himself to feel this way about anyone since Melissa.
“I’m not okay,” she whispered almost as if to herself.
Nick began to rock her gently back and forth something he had always done to Melissa when she was upset. “You’re going to be fine,” he said comfortingly as he smoothed her hair.
As Jessica clung to him, Nick could feel her body trembling and her heart beating. He knew that at that moment his heart was beating just as fast.
Jessica stirred slightly, her limbs aching with exhaustion. It was a familiar feeling for her, indicative of the lack of sleep she had gotten.
As she slowly opened her eyes a look of confusion flooded her face. She felt her body tense as her eyes darted furtively about. Nick’s arm was draped protectively across her shoulder and her head resting upon his chest as he slept in what appeared to her to be a most uncomfortable position.
With a start she sat up and moved herself as far away from Nick’s sleeping body as she could. Instinctively she looked down at her body. Her clothes were still there thankfully and so were his. A sigh of relief escaped her lips.
Taking a deep breath she looked down at Nick. His hair was tousled haphazardly about and his mouth partially open as he slept. She couldn’t help but notice that he looked quite cute.
As she watched the steady rise and fall of his chest the events of the night before came flooding back to her. She remembered how gentle Nick had been with her. How he had rocked her slowly back to sleep and promised not to leave her. If he hadn’t been there she never would have fallen back asleep. She remembered Nick’s words. “You’re going to be fine,” he had repeated. Last night those words had sounded believable but now Jessica realized that she would be an utter fool to think that her life could ever be normal.
The past was behind her now but she knew the memories of that horrible night were going to last forever.