Jo sat on her bed, thinking. That seemed to be all she could do anymore, it was like she couldn't turn her brain off. All she could think about was graduation, getting out there and starting life, and... Blair.

Blair.

It always came down to Blair. No matter how much she irritated her, Jo just had a soft spot for Blair. It scared her because she couldn't figure out why. She just knew that she cared for Blair in a way that she didn't care for anyone else. Jo sighed heavily and laid back on her plain, brown bedspread and stared up at the ceiling. She knew she needed to talk to Blair, but about what exactly? She needed to sort out her feelings alone before she could even begin to express them to Blair. Jo wasn't sure what she felt. All she knew is that it was different than anything she'd ever experienced. Just then the bedroom door swung open.

"I know he's gorgeous, Nat. But he's a jerk and- Jo! Hey what's up?"

Jo jumped up as if she had been caught doing something illegal. Which her growing feelings for Blair almost felt against the law, against nature.

"Er- nothin', Tootie. Just um- Where's B-Blair?"

Natalie raised an eyebrow, eyeing her friend suspiciously. Something was up. Jo didn't stutter and act all flustered.

"We're not sure, she said she had to go somewhere important." Natalie answered, still curious about Jo's odd behavior.

"I think she was going to meet a boy." Tootie said dreamily. " I think it was that guy from Bates, Michael Sampson. She has been dying to get her hands on him."

Jo shifted. Natalie, being a nosy journalist, took notice. She decided to keep it going to poke around a bit.

"Yeah, he's quite the stud." Natalie added. "Blair is just gaga over him."

Jo tried not to react. It was killing her inside. She was used to Blair having dates and such, but since she started seeing her roommate in a different light, it was getting increasingly difficult to pretend these dates didn't bother her. So she did what she did best. Hid her feelings with insults.

Jo shrugged. "Blair is gaga over anything with nice hair and a trust fund." She laid back on her, holding back her tears.

Tootie, being a little naive, laughed. Natalie, however, noted a subtle hint of hurt in the Bronx native's voice. Does Jo have a thing for Michael? Natalie thought to herself, thinking back to the costume party when she and Blair came in fighting over him. That's why she seems so distant. Jo's in love! Natalie had no idea just how wrong she was nor how right she was.

Meanwhile at La Maison

Michael Sampson was tall, athletic, blonde hair, blue eyes. Every teenage girl's dream, or so Blair thought. She couldn't understand why she wasn't having a good time. She had waited for months to be able to have this opportunity to have Michael take her out. But something was missing, he lacked certain... qualities. Oh no. Blair realized. I'm doing it again. Finding something wrong with every guy I go out with. But why? Blair thought. Why am I sabotaging every relationship I get into?

"Blair? Hello, Blair?"

"Um, wha-yeah?"

"So what did you think?"

Blair wasn't sure what Michael was referring to, so she just assumed he meant dinner. "Oh, it was wonderful."

Michael frowned. "Blair, you haven't heard a word I've said. Have you?"

Blair lowered her head. "I'm sorry, Michael. Look it's-"

Michael held up his hand. "Listen, Blair. If you're not interested, that's fine. Just tell me, but please don't tell me, that's it's not me, it's you. That's insulting."

Blair nodded.

"Are you ready to go?" Michael said, clearly irritated that the evening didn't go as planned.

Blair was silent.

"Whatever. Let's go."

Blair reached for her gold Gucci clutch purse, but Michael threw some money on the table to cover the dinner.

Blair kept her head down.

When they pulled into Eastland's parking lot. Blair finally spoke up. She turned to Michael. "Listen, I know you said that you didn't want me to say this. But it really is just my hang up. I've been doing this to everyone and I can't figure out why. I think I'm just scared of being in a relationship or something."

Michael just stared straight ahead, gripping the steering wheel.

Blair continued. "It really is just me. I promise you were a perfect gentleman."

When the young man finally spoke, his voice was cold. It unnerved Blair. "So what do I get?"

Blair frowned, not sure she was liking this question. But she had to know what he meant, exactly. "What do you get?"

"Yeah, what do I get?" He turned to look at her. "I took you out, paid for you dinner-"

Blair held up her hands, "Wait a minute, I tried to pay for my dinner, but you- Nevermind," she dug around in her purse for some cash. All she had was plastic.

"I'll pay you when I-" before she could answer Michael was climbing into the passenger seat, but Blair was quick. She somehow managed to knee him in the groin. "Just who do you think you are?"

"You owe me, Warner. Every guy at Bates knows about the famous, Blair Warner. Fast and easy."

Slap.

Blair didn't even think before making contact with his face, she was too enraged. After realizing what she had done, afraid of how he'd react, she jumped out of the car and ran to the door. She was so distraught after what happened, she didn't realize someone else was out there and bumped into them. She mumbled a "sorry" without even looking up and made her way into the school.

A girl stepped out the shadows and watched as Michael Sampson beat his steering wheel, cussing and then peeled off, clearly with a bruised ego and in a horrible mindset. This wasn't good. The girl glared at the '83 Porsche 944 speeding off. What a jerk. She had heard the entire argument. The only problem was how was Jo going to tell Blair that she had?