Blair slid the key in the lock and opened the door.
"Hello? Is anyone here? Mrs. G., anyone?" she called out brightly.
Jo followed behind her, closing the door. Blair looked at her wide-eyed.
"Looks like we're really alone!"
"Thank God," Jo exhaled.
The two women stood transfixed, each enthralled by the moment, each enthralled with the other. Then, as if of a collective mind, they flew up the stairs and into their bedroom. They kissed passionately as clothes were tossed helter-skelter in a flurry.
"Wait!" Jo exclaimed loudly.
"What?" Blair cried out suddenly alarmed. She stood in only her bra and panties, her hair now loose about her shoulders.
"Lock the door," Jo nodded.
"Oh, right," Blair grinned and shook her head. She quickly fastened the latch and turned back to Jo, who was clad in nothing but her pink dress shirt. "You are so sexy."
Jo eyed Blair up and down. She had seen her in her underwear before. Hell, she'd seen her naked before. Blair had never had any false modesty where her body was concerned. She was completely comfortable with nudity. It used to bother Jo that she would walk out of the bathroom without a stitch on. How could a person just do that? At first it had bothered her because, despite the constant barbs they hurled at each other, it had aroused her. Later it bothered her because she had fallen in love… and it aroused her! But, somehow, she looked very different now. Her body was voluptuous, sensual. Her skin was perfect: everything about her seemed to sparkle and glow. She does glisten.
"You are beautiful," Jo responded softly.
"So, Jo, do you still have your undies on?"
"Yesss," Jo drew out.
"Take them off."
Jo pulled her underpants down and let them fall to the floor. She stepped out of them.
"Oh God, that turns me on," Blair breathed lustily. "Lift up your shirt. Let me look at you."
"Huh?"
"Pull up your shirt. I want to look at you."
Jo lifted her shirt, exposing herself to Blair's riveted gaze. She found this to be an amazingly erotic experience. Jeez, if it feels this good just having her look at me, what's it going to feel like when she actually touches me? She didn't have to wait long to find out. Blair slipped out of her bra and panties. Oh God. She approached her with a naughty grin and slid her hand between Jo's legs, gently fingering her.
"You are so wet," she nibbled Jo's earlobe.
"Oh God…" Jo's head drifted back as she bucked forward and exhaled deeply. The feeling of Blair's fingers, touching her there, was almost overwhelming. She thought she might explode on the spot. "Fuck me, Blair."
Blair quickly parted Jo from her remaining clothes and pushed her down onto her bed. She climbed on top of her and began kissing her mouth, her neck, her nipples, as her hands ran all over her body. Jo moaned and moved receptively beneath her.
"Blair, wait," Jo called out.
"What?" Blair gave her a look as if to say seriously?
"The lights."
"You want to do this in the dark?" Blair questioned.
"No. It's just too bright, ya' know. I'd like it more romantic."
"I can fix that," Blair said as she hopped up and grabbed a purple scarf from the closet. She dropped it over the desk lamp and turned the overhead light off, bathing the room in a violet glow. "Better?"
"Much," Jo smiled. "You've got a knack for this."
"You have no idea," Blair lifted an eyebrow and climbed back on top of her, kissing her lips, her neck, her ear, fondling her breasts.
"Blair?"
"What?" Blair was becoming exasperated.
"There's something I need you to know."
Blair rolled off Jo and propped herself up on her elbow beside her.
"What is it, Jo?"
"I'm in love with you. I just need you to know that before we, um… have sexual relations."
Blair smiled. "Oh Jo, you are so sweet. I'm in love with you, too. Have been for some time now." She gazed at her adoringly. "You are the most important person in my life."
"There's one other thing I want you to know."
"What's that, my love?"
"I've never done this before. You're my first."
"Just when I thought I couldn't love you more," Blair sighed.
"It's just that I don't know if I'll be any good at this. I'm not sure I can please you."
"Oh, you already please me," Blair eyed Jo's naked body as she began tracing her finger in feather touches over her nipples.
"I'm afraid I won't know what to do," Jo whispered.
"I don't have any experience with this either, Jo. I just want to…" her voice trailed off as she took a nipple into her mouth and ran her hand down the length of Jo's torso to her center. Jo's body rose up as her eyes fluttered back.
"Oh God, Blair," she exhaled.
"We'll figure it out," Blair managed as she continued her sensual assault.
… And so they did.
"What time is it?" Jo was wrapped up in Blair's arms, her head pressed firmly into the other woman's naked breasts, completely satiated.
"Who cares?" Blair kissed her head "I kind of lost track of time. I just want to keep making you happy. I want to see how many times I can make you happy."
"I like that idea," Jo sighed.
"That's the great thing about being with another woman, I guess."
"What is?" Jo asked.
"That we can keep going all… night… long," Blair drew out.
"Jesus, Blair, you're an animal!"
"Mmm-hmm," she tilted Jo's head up for another kiss.
"Did you hear something?" Jo was suddenly startled.
"I don't know. You think someone's home? Oh, turn out the light, Jo! I don't want to be interrupted. Let's make them think we're asleep."
Jo complied as she walked across the bedroom floor and twisted the desktop lamp off. The room was suddenly awash in moonlight from the window.
"Wow… I didn't even realize there was a full moon tonight," Jo stared at Blair's naked body, only lit by the light of the moon. "You're beautiful in any light."
"Get over here," Blair demanded. "I miss you!"
Jo snuggled in beside her. "Um, Blair?"
"Um, yes?"
"You told me you'd explain about why you were gone for so long today: the cute guy? The art show?"
"Oh, that."
"Yeah… that."
"Remember the bracelet you gave to me last Christmas?"
"The one you never wear?"
Blair leapt up and retrieved the bracelet.
"I love this bracelet, Jo. When you told me that the garnets were for my eyes; the polished stones… my hair: I just melted. It meant so much to me."
"Then why don't you wear it?"
"I've been afraid of breaking it. Up until now, it was all I had of you that showed your love. It was too important."
"Give me that bracelet," Jo demanded. She gently fastened it to Blair's wrist.
"Blair Warner," she looked her in the eyes. "Wear this as a token of my love. You're my girl, now."
"Oh, Jo…" Blair beamed, but had no words.
"So, that still doesn't explain why you were gone for so long today."
"Maybe this will." Blair pressed something into Jo's hand.
Jo opened her hand and saw a slender, delicately crafted leather bracelet resting in her palm.
"You made this today?"
"It's not very good. It was my first try at leatherwork. It's actually a fairly complicated craft. I'm much better at painting," Blair felt embarrassed at the meagerness of her offering.
Jo looked at her with a gaze of absolute and total love. "It's beautiful, Blair," she managed as her eyes filled with tears.
"I would have placed an emerald for your eyes, if I'd had more time."
Jo shook her head. "No, Blair. This is perfect."
Blair fastened it around Jo's wrist. "Then, I guess you're mine, as well."
Jo looked at her, eyes brimming with tears. "I am."
She kissed her with a renewed passion as they made love under the moonlight.
"Now I heard something, for sure," Jo whispered.
"Yeah. Sounds like Nat and Tootie are home."
"Not the most quite people in the world," Jo sighed.
They listened to the bumps, knocks, muffled conversation and laughter from the other room.
"Maybe we should get our own place," Jo suggested.
"I can make that happen tomorrow," Blair stated matter-of -factly.
"You could," Jo frowned.
"Don't start," Blair lamented.
"No. We have to talk about it," Jo insisted. "There's a huge disparity in our circumstances. You could get a new place tomorrow: two stories with a fireplace and dining room downstairs and a bedroom with a view upstairs."
"Sounds lovely," Blair yawned as she closed her eyes.
"Blair, I couldn't get a spare room off a mechanic's garage tomorrow."
"More hyperbole, Jo. I'm sure you could get a nice apartment in town if you applied."
"I've got no money… how would that happen?"
Blair, feeling drowsy, replied in the worst possible manner: "I'd buy it for you, of course." She immediately recognized her mistake as her eyes flew open.
"You'd what?" Jo's voice was suddenly tense. "You can't say things like that, Blair."
Blair was angry at herself. I've pushed the one button with Jo I didn't want to push! Jo's fierce pride was one of the things she admired most about her. It was also one of the things that worried her most. Jo's pride was beyond reason. She was so fiercely dedicated to the proposition that her parents were not destitute, that it sometimes almost seemed to warp her personality. She claimed not to be ashamed of the fact that her parents were of modest means, but went to great lengths to deny the extent of it. She went so far as to not request emergency assistance from the college when she lost her student housing, because it would have meant admitting how poor her parents really were. Instead, Blair remembered very vividly, she crashed on the floor of her dorm room until they both got hauled in front of the Dean of Students! Her guarded position of her parent's impoverished state had become downright debilitating. Any suggestion of help was summarily rejected. It was as if it was a rejection of her parents and upbringing completely. For all her proclamations of being proud of her working class background, her skin was extremely thin on this issue. It was her worst vulnerability. Any hint that she couldn't afford things, was poison.
"I only meant that I want you to be happy," she tried to minimize the damage.
"That you can buy me stuff? That you can buy me?"
Blair exhaled loudly. She sat up and pressed Jo's hand to her lips.
"I absolutely respect who you are. I would never try to buy you. I would give up everything, and I mean everything, to be with you. I don't care about my father's money. After law school, I intend to make my own way."
"You don't get it, Blair. Most people don't have the option of which law school to pick. They're too busy just trying to make ends meet."
"I do get it, Jo! But, I'm not going to apologize for having the means to attend postgraduate school. Listen, I can't change the circumstances of my birth any more than you can. But just knowing you has changed me so much. I really do want to make a difference. I really do want to pay back, help people who need it."
"People like me."
"Cut me a break, Jo. I didn't mean it in a bad way, but as a matter of fact, yes."
"Or we could just have another revolution," Jo smirked. "Throw all you rich folks out on your ass!"
"Tonight has been the most wonderful night of my life. Let's not ruin it by arguing over money. I'm yours; your mine… remember?" Blair fondled the small bracelet on Jo's wrist. "We'll work it out, okay?"
"Yeah," Jo relaxed her posture. "I don't want to fight, either."
"So… will there be food at the revolution?" Blair teased.
"Hungry?"
"Ravenous!"
"I don't hear anyone. I think they've all gone to bed," Jo conjectured.
"Which means you can sneak downstairs and grab us the left over pizza from last night!" Blair smiled assuredly.
"Why do I have to sneak downstairs?"
Blair's answer was a lifted eyebrow.
Jo sighed and shook her head, understanding completely. "Anything else you want while I'm down there?"
"Well, since you mentioned it, I left a bottle of Montrachet on the counter. Bring up two glasses with it."
"Is that all?"
"No. There's a little bit of ice cream left in the freezer."
"Geez, Blair, really?"
"There is one other thing."
"I wait with baited breath."
"Clothes?"
Jo glanced down at herself, completely naked.
"Good catch, Blair," she grinned. She pulled on her pajama top.
"Okay, so there's the bottle of wine," Jo was talking to herself as she perused the kitchen. She opened the freezer and pulled out the ice cream. The leftover pizza was wrapped in aluminum foil. She pulled it from the refrigerator and placed it next to the ice cream. "Now, just got to get some glasses and spoons," she continued her self-talk. She had gathered everything precariously in her arms and was about to make her way back up the stairs to Blair when a voice surprised her from behind.
"Hey, Jo!"
Startled, she dropped the wine glasses, which shattered upon the floor. The ice cream landed on top of their sad remains with the spoons tumbling after. Jo held firmly to the pizza and bottle of wine.
"What-the-hell, Nat?! Didn't I already warn you about sneaking up on people?"
"What are you doing?"
"Working on my speech for the Noble Peace Prize, what are you doing?"
"Couldn't sleep," Natalie sighed dramatically. "I'm in love."
Jo grabbed some paper towels to scoop up the broken wine glasses.
"You can't be in love with someone you just met tonight," she admonished Natalie as she tossed the glass shards into the trash.
"But, I am Jo! I thought I was going to be interested in the Sun City guy, but then the Amnesty International guy just swept me off my feet!" Natalie swooned with a dreamy look upon her face. "We danced and danced…"
"Speaking of being swept away, I could use some help, Nat," Jo said as she used the broom to gather the rest of the glass. Natalie held the dustpan as Jo swept glass into it.
"He's everything, Jo."
"No he's not. He's just your boy du jour. You have to get more serious about your relationships."
"Look who's talking, Little Miss Hickey," Natalie huffed.
"What?"
"You have a tiny, little hickey right there," Natalie pointed to Jo's slightly open pajama top. "Right next to your collarbone."
"No I don't!" Jo pulled her nightshirt up around her neck.
"Who could've given you that?" Natalie continued in a singsong voice. "Someone you've been in a long, deep relationship with? Give me a break!"
"You have no idea," Jo murmured under her breath.
"Hey! Wait a minute!" Natalie slapped her palm against her head. "Two glasses, two spoons… you're going back upstairs to your room with Blair!"
"Mind your own business, Nat. I just came down here to get some food for, um…"
"Blair? Oh my God, Jo. You two are having sex! I told Tootie you and Blair were a couple! She is going to be SO hearing I told you so from me!"
"Whoa there, Nat. Don't jump to any unwarranted conclusions based upon supposition."
"Oh my God, you even talk like her now!"
Jo hung her head. She exhaled heavily. No more denying. She looked her friend in the eyes.
"Okay," she conceded. "I'm in love with Blair. She's in love with me. Happy now?"
"Ecstatic!" Natalie hugged her. "You two were always so right for each other. What took you so long?"
"Um, homophobia, classism, patriarchy… shall I continue?"
"It is tougher for two women together," Natalie conceded as she nodded thoughtfully.
"Ya' think?"
"Sit down, Jo. I want to hear all about it."
"So what's all this business about us being right for each other? You always thought that?"
"Well, yeah, I mean since this morning. I guess it was the whole Gay Day thing. It all of a sudden occurred to me. I guess I never thought about it before, never having been exposed to gay culture. How do you know what you don't know, you know?" Natalie shrugged. "That didn't make any sense, did it?"
"No, you're right. I totally get it! It's like this door opened up onto a new world and this light came streaming through and now I'm surrounded by warmth and love and a comfort I never knew existed." Jo turned reflective for a moment. "I didn't even know I was in darkness."
"Wow. That is so deep. I've never heard you talk like this… downright poetic, Jo. Tell me more!"
"It was like I was living in a fog, you know? A miasma where nothing was real, only shadows, because I was denying who I was, how I felt."
"Miasma… good word. I'm going to use that!"
"So, now I'm, I dunno', clear, I guess" Jo stated as she eyed her friend. "This isn't freaking you out, at all?"
"It is a little weird. You know that I've always looked up to you and Blair, right? Both me and Tootie. You guys were always just so cool: like the coolest big sisters ever. And your fights," Natalie held a hand up to stop Jo from correcting her. "You're bickering," she amended, "so epic: scathing and intense, yet somehow, still highly amusing. It just seemed like there was more to it: sexual tension?"
"That would be Blair's theory."
"I always thought so," Natalie nodded.
"No you didn't!" Jo grinned sardonically. "It didn't even occur to you that we could be in love until this morning."
"Okay, well, that's true. I have to admit that. It was just that there was always something between you two that remained… unspoken."
"It's been spoken now and we ain't going back."
"You know, I've always wanted to be like you guys, except for the gay thing now, obviously. But, if only I could be that cool," Natalie drifted off into space momentarily. "I still feel that way."
"Thanks, Nat. That means a lot."
"It is kind of ironic, though."
"How so?"
"Remember when I had a thing for Tootie's cousin?"
"Yep," Jo felt chagrined by the memory.
"You tried to wave me off; said it was too dangerous. Well this? This is dangerous."
"Yeah. Sorry about that, Nat. I was wrong. My advice was wrong. I know that now."
"You were just trying to look out for me. It's okay. But, now I'm worried for you and Blair."
"This wouldn't play well in my old neighborhood. That's for sure. But, I just love her, Nat… you know?
"So how long have you known that you were in love with her?"
"I think, deep down, I've always known."
"Wow! Fascinating! I could talk about this all night!"
"Um… she's kinda' waiting for me, ya know?"
"Oh. OH! I'm so sorry! You two are having a romantic evening. That's so, so… um, well, romantic! I couldn't be happier for you Jo, for you and Blair. I can't wait to tell Tootie!"
"Go ahead. I know you can't keep anything from her."
"Just wow… you and Blair! And I thought I had a good night!"
"It's still kind of a private thing, okay Nat?"
"Oh, of course!," Natalie shook her head adamantly. "I am the soul of discretion."
"Good to know," Jo shook her head. "Can you hand me some clean spoons?"
"For you and Blair? Anything!"
"I've got to finish cleaning up here," Jo sighed.
"Don't even think of it," Natalie waved her off. "I'll clean up. You go back to Blair," she winked.
Jo smiled a perplexed smile, not knowing exactly how she felt about having come out to her housemate. "Okay. Thanks," she finally said. Before heading upstairs to Blair, she gave a glance back at Natalie. "If you repeat any of the mushy stuff I said…" she began.
"I know, I know, I'm dead," Natalie shook her head and smiled.
"What took you so long?" Blair complained as Jo entered the room.
"Wait for it," Jo shook her head as she placed the pizza, wine and ice cream on the night stand. She slipped back into bed next to Blair. They could hear Natalie bounding up the stairs and shutting her bedroom door loudly. There was a sudden explosion of muffled voices from the room next door.
"WHAT?!" They heard Tootie call out.
"Nat and Tootie know," Jo explained.
"But how, Jo?"
Jo pointed at a place just below her neck. "Love bite much, Blair?"
"I can't help it if I'm passionate," Blair said defensively.
"Yeah, Nat was downstairs. She figured it out."
"Shit!"
"My sentiments exactly," Jo agreed. "Not how I wanted it to come out, you know?"
"This means we'll have to tell Mrs. Garrett… like tomorrow!"
"Yep."
"Shit!"
"This is the first time I've heard you give two shits, Blair."
"Oh, shut up."
"What?"
"I meant to say: Oh shut up, sweetheart."
"Better."
They were both silent for a second. Blair reached for the ice cream. She offered Jo the first taste.
"Blair?'
"Jo?"
"Could you really get us a place of our own with a fireplace and a view?"
"Say the word and it's done."
"It's worth investigating. I mean, I love Mrs. Garrett and Nat and Tootie and all, but I want to start living on my own, on our own. There is zero privacy here."
"Right? I want to be free to walk around naked, if I want," Blair let the spoon linger on her lips before she drew the ice cream off.
"Um, you already do that."
"I was wondering if you noticed. I was doing it for you," she said as she spoon-fed ice cream into her lover's mouth.
"You were?" Jo placed her mouth around the spoon.
"I've wanted you for a long time," Blair resumed eating.
"So… you were trying to turn me on?" Jo opened her mouth as another spoonful of mocha almond chip was placed delicately inside.
"I have been trying to get your attention since we graduated high school," Blair sucked on the spoon, licking off the last of the frozen confection.
"I'm just glad all the pretenses of boyfriends and irritating each other is over," Jo acknowledged as Blair fed her a bite of cold pizza.
"Jo?"
"Yes, Blair?"
"You do irritate me, that's not a pretense."
"But in a good way, right?'
"The best…" Blair proffered the pizza to Jo again.
"I love you so much, Blair, and have, in retrospect, since the moment we met. I had never seen anything like you. You were almost, literally, golden.
"I'm just so happy we finally admitted our feelings. I'm over the moon, Jo!"
"Yeah, me too," Jo smiled a sheepish grin. "Blair, I want to get our own place together. I mean, last year of college, I may need you walking around naked when I get home to, um… relieve the tension, if you catch my drift."
"That makes me so happy! I promise not to let the differences in our circumstances affect us." Blair held Jo in a tight embrace. In a night filled with revelations and joy, Jo's willingness to allow Blair to help financially, was perhaps the most surprising turn of events, yet. "I don't ever want you to compromise your principles. I love you for who you are. I completely respect your need for autonomy and your pride!"
"Says the woman who just spoon-fed me!"
They both laughed out loud before quickly shushing each other.
"Do you mind that Natalie and Tootie know?" Jo whispered.
"Of course not," Blair whispered back. "I want them to know. I just wish we could've picked a better way for them to find out."
"Nat kind of indicated that they knew anyway."
"How? We hadn't even admitted it to each other until tonight?"
"Something about how we are perfect for each other, I dunno'."
"Chris kinda' saw the same thing, too."
"She is really something, isn't she Blair?"
"She's amazing. When we hung out together back in the day, everything was totally different. Both of us were spoiled, vain brats."
"Or maybe you were just frightened little gay girls trying to cover?"
"Very perceptive, Ms. Polniaczek."
Jo yawned and reached for the nightstand. "Well, believe it or not, there is not only food and ice cream for the children of the revolution, but wine! No wine glasses, however. We'll have to drink straight from the bottle."
"Oh my God, Jo. That's a $600 bottle of wine! We can't drink it like that!"
"You paid $600 for a bottle of wine?"
"Yeah," Blair looked confused by the question. "So?"
"Blair, you shouldn't leave $600 bottles of wine sitting around on the kitchen counter."
"Why ever not?"
"Because I almost dropped it on the floor, for one thing! Rich people, you're all a little crazy," Jo shook her head. "Well, I got no glasses, so if you want a drink, it's straight from the bottle."
"Barbarian…"
"Brat…"
Jo sat at the kitchen table eating Cheerios and reading the back of the cereal box. Her eyes passed over the words, but nothing registered. She couldn't stop thinking about last night, about Blair: how beautiful she looked lying naked beside her. She felt proud to have such an amazing lover. She felt like a missing piece of her had been found. She was complete now, a woman in every sense of the word. Ready to take on the world.
"Good morning, Jo!" Tootie startled her as she sat down beside her. "So… what's new?"
"I think you know what's new, Tootie," Jo responded as she shook her head.
"I do!" Tootie jumped up and hugged her from behind resting her head on Jo's. "It's so exciting!"
"If I had known it would bring you and Nat such pleasure, I would've fucked Blair years ago," Jo deadpanned.
"Oh, don't be a killjoy! I only meant that I'm happy for you guys."
"It's good to know," Jo gave her a reluctant grin. "Thanks, Tootie."
"So how does this change things for us?" Tootie sat back down beside her. "For our relationship?"
Jo stared at her dumbfounded. She lifted an eyebrow. "It doesn't?"
"I know some of the guys in my theatre program are gay. But, they're not my best friends like you guys are."
"Tootie, it's me. It's Blair. We're the same people we've always been. Nothing changes for us."
"Oh," Tootie thought for a moment before breaking out in a huge smile. "So we're still the same then?"
Jo shook her head. "Yep."
"What a night," Natalie yawned as she entered the dining room.
"Not you, too, Nat," Jo sighed and shook her head again.
"Alejandro," Natalie's eyes glazed over. "Don't you just love the sound of his name?"
"Not the Amnesty International guy again, Natalie," Tootie complained. She turned to Jo. "I've had to hear about him all morning!"
"I'm good with hearing about Alejandro," Jo shrugged. Anything to get the attention off of me!
"So, where's Blair?" Natalie questioned. "Thought you two would still be in bed!" She winked at Tootie.
"Hey! I'm trying to read the back of a box of Cheerios here, for crying out loud!" Jo complained. "Cripes, I feel like an animal in the zoo."
"Huh?" Tootie questioned.
"On display," Jo furrowed her brow. "Look it's Sunday, right? Blair always sleeps in on Sundays."
"Guess she needs her rest this morning, huh, Jo?" Tootie nudged her.
"What's all this about Blair?" Mrs. Garrett asked casually as she breezed into the room and poured herself a cup of coffee. "I hope you two girls aren't fighting again," she eyed Jo.
"Oh, they aren't fighting," Tootie grinned at Natalie before both girls broke out in laughter.
"That's it! I'm outta' here!" Jo pushed her chair back angrily.
"Jo!" Mrs. Garrett was befuddled by her sudden outburst of anger. "Whatever is the matter?"
Jo didn't answer as she hastily made her way out of the dining room. She bumped into Blair in the doorway. Her demeanor immediately changed as they smiled at each other. Blair reflexively lifted her hand to touch Jo's face, but quickly drew it back.
"Good morning, Jo," she offered nervously.
"Morning."
"Will you join me for a cup of coffee?"
Jo glared at Natalie and Tootie. "Well, now that you're here, I guess I'll stay."
"Good morning everyone," Blair chirped brightly as she joined them at the table.
"Did you girls have a good day yesterday?" Mrs. Garrett inquired pleasantly.
"It was the most fabulous day," Blair took a sip of her coffee without a hint of irony in her voice.
"What did you and Jo do?"
Natalie kicked Tootie under the table. "What didn't they do?" Both girls began giggling again.
Mrs. Garrett shook her head. "I seem to be out of the loop on something here."
"I guess we might as well tell you," Blair sighed. Jo gave her a nervous look.
"Really?" she asked.
"Mrs. Garrett, Jo and I are going to move out."
"Wait… what?" Natalie exclaimed.
"Yeah!" Tootie called out. "You said this wouldn't change anything between us, Jo! Now you and Blair want to move out?"
"I'm a little lost," Mrs. G. looked confused. "What's going on here?"
"They weren't supposed to tell you that they're moving, Mrs. Garrett. They were supposed to tell you that they're in love with each other and that they're a couple now!" Tootie blurted out. "They're having sex and everything!"
"There's that, too," Blair didn't skip a beat as she smiled almost too sweetly at Tootie.
Jo shot the younger woman a scathing look.
"Well, at least that explains all the moaning and groaning I heard when I came in last night."
"Mrs. Garrett!" All four exclaimed at once.
Mrs. G. was taken aback. "What? I thought I might be having an episode of some sort! When you get to my age, you start worrying about such things!"
There was an awkward silence.
"Shit," Jo finally exhaled.
"Language, Jo," Mrs. Garrett admonished. "Not at the breakfast table!"
The four younger women exchanged glances before breaking out in laughter. Mrs. G. tried not to laugh, but soon joined the others.
"Well, this is big news," she reached out and patted both Jo and Blair's hands. "You two certainly have grown up: in love, wanting to be on your own. I'm so proud of you!"
Jo and Blair beamed at each other. Neither had thought they needed external validation: their love was enough to sustain them regardless of what anyone else thought. But when it came, and from the woman they both respected most in their lives, it felt wonderful.
"Thanks, Mrs. G," Jo looked at her with tear filled eyes. "That means a lot, coming from you."
"It does," Blair agreed as she gripped Mrs. Garrett's hand firmly.
"I know I'm not your mother, but I feel I've had some hand in your upbringing."
"You've been like a mother to both of us," Blair assured.
"All a parent wants is for her children to be happy and successful. I can tell by just looking at you two how happy you are. You are both strong, fine young women. The whole world is waiting for you! Moving out is the next step. So, when do you envision this happening?"
"Today," Blair stated confidently.
"Whoa!" Jo was shocked. "Today?"
"Yeah, c'mon Blair," Natalie chimed in. "Take a breath."
"I didn't mean we'd move out today, just that we'd go apartment hunting today."
"It would've been nice if you bounced that off me first," Jo said. "I've got a symposium up at school on tolerance and inclusion at Langley. After that, there's a showing of The Rocky Horror Picture show. Pride weekend is still in full swing, you know?"
"But, I used my father's real estate connections to set up some potential apartments for us. You've seen Rocky Horror about a million times. You even played Frank-N-Furter at a midnight showing, if I remember correctly. The whole thing was such a ghastly blur."
"Hey! I had to step in for Jerry who got sick that night! It was a favor for a friend. I was being a Pal! And, as I remember it, you loved it, Blair. You were throwing toilet paper and skirting water with the rest of them. I particularly remember you screaming ecstatically when I came out on stage!"
"Yeah, well…" Blair grinned, "You were awfully cute in full drag make-up and a corset."
"I love Frank-N-Furter!" Natalie exclaimed.
"I love Susan Sarandon," Tootie chimed in. "She's going to win the Academy Award one day, mark my words!"
"But Jo," Blair pressed her point. "I've set up appointments!"
"You move fast, Warner," Jo eyed her with grudging admiration. "I'll give you that. But, like I said, you should've checked with me first."
"Their first lovers spat," Natalie beamed as she crossed her arms upon her chest. She shook her head with a proud grin. "And to think I'm here to witness it! I'm verklempt!" She waved a hand in front of her face as if to fight off tears.
Blair quickly ran an internal check on her emotions as she tried to identify just exactly why Natalie's humorous posturing had really pissed her off, but it had! What had happened between her and Jo was intensely personal and now Nat was having fun at her expense? This just wasn't what she had wanted. Everything was definitely not the same: not since last night. Yet, here were her two best friends, acting as if it was: making jokes and laughing! She had hoped that broaching the subject of moving out would have led to a more mannered conversation with Mrs. Garrett about her relationship with Jo. But then Tootie had to spill the proverbial beans all over the place and now here they were: discussing their life decisions as if they were communal property to be mocked and belittled. Her inner reserve was wearing thin.
"Knock it off, Natalie," Blair bored a hole into her with a withering gaze. "This is between me and Jo."
Jo looked at her, trying to assess what had prompted such an angry response to what was so clearly an attempt at humor on Natalie's part. It occurred to her that Blair might be feeling exposed. She knew how closely Blair held her deepest emotions in check. The revelation that she and Blair were now in a relationship had to feel oddly public to her. It was one thing for her to know how Blair really felt. It was quite another for everyone else to know. It was something she was struggling with herself. She didn't doubt that Blair was proud of their relationship. But it was just weird coming out to people. And to make it even more uncomfortable, Tootie had blabbed it and Natalie had made a joke about it! Blair could not be laughed at when she had exposed her heart so openly, Jo reckoned. No one would be allowed to make fun at Blair's expense, but her, she decided.
"That's right," she nodded, taking up for Blair.
"Chill," Natalie stated as she relaxed back into her chair.
"Yeah, lay off Nat, you guys. She was just joking," Tootie defended her friend.
"We didn't need a mood lightening, Tootie. Jo and I can work things out without any intervention from third parties!"
"And that means no jokes?" Natalie questioned in a shocked manner She shook her head in disbelief.
"Girls, girls, girls," Mrs. Garrett intervened. "Let's talk this out, not fight."
"I want to move out," Blair stated calmly. "Because we will always be viewed as the same old Blair and Jo here: comic adversaries. Jo and I have moved beyond that."
"I dunno'," Jo smiled. "We'll always be adversarial. That's what makes us… us."
"Which was all I was trying to point out," Natalie almost whispered.
"I just don't want our relationship on display," Blair said.
"Like you're in the zoo?" Tootie questioned as she looked at Jo.
"Like we're on display for your amusement," Blair clarified. "You had no right, Tootie, to tell Mrs. G. about me and Jo! It was ours to tell!"
"Blair, settle down," Jo patted her arm. "You know that's just how Tootie is, that's how she got her name, after all. Besides, we had agreed to come clean with Mrs. G. this morning, anyway."
"I am so sorry, Blair," Tootie apologized sincerely. "You are completely right."
"Well, there we have it," Mrs. Garrett interjected. "Apology accepted, Blair?" she looked at the heiress hopefully.
"I want to be completely clear," Blair began. "I love Jo. We're together now. I'm not looking for anyone's approval, but I do need you all to respect that. I don't want to hide our relationship from anyone. I mean, look at her," She nodded towards Jo. "Who wouldn't be proud to have her on their arm? My hope is that you three will accept this; not make jokes about it. It's not easy to share something like this with friends and family. We need your support," she paused as she eyed them with an almost plaintive gaze. "This is important to me, you guys. It's as important as anything I've ever requested of you."
"Well stated!" Mrs. Garrett squeezed her hand.
"I'm done with the jokes," Natalie shrugged. "Seriously!"
"You're right, Blair," Tootie looked at her hopefully. "I hope you can forgive me."
Blair finally unclenched and gave a little smile to her younger housemate. "How could I stay mad at you? Look at that face." They embraced.
Jo sat silent.
"Jo?" Mrs. Garrett inquired. "How are you feeling about this? Are you alright?"
"I dunno', Mrs. G," Jo's eyes were downcast as she shrugged. "Up until recently, I didn't think I could really admit this thing with Blair to her, let alone publicly, ya' know?"
"We're here for you," Mrs. Garrett gripped her hand as Blair stared at her anxiously.
Jo looked up at Blair. "Everything you just said, you blew me away, Blondie."
Blair exhaled a breath she hadn't been aware she was holding. "Oh, thank God, Sweetheart. I thought you might be upset."
"Sweetheart?" Natalie whispered to Tootie before clenching her lips together and throwing a hand in front of them.
"I was just thinking about my family. You seem to want to be out to everybody… and I want that, too. But, I just don't know how they're going to take this."
"They love you, Jo," Mrs. Garrett affirmed. "They may have trouble accepting at first, but they'll come around. From what I know of your parents, they will, eventually, support you. I have no doubt."
"Thanks, Mrs. G." Jo beamed brightly at her as her eyes filled with tears and she nodded her head in the affirmative.
"It's a process, Jo. Just give it time," Mrs. Garrett hugged her.
Blair rose from her chair. She walked over to Jo and wrapped her arms around her shoulders from behind as she planted a kiss on Jo's cheek.
"This is going to take some getting used to," Tootie proffered hesitantly. "I mean seeing you guys kiss and everything."
"Aaw," Natalie sighed. "They are so cute, Tootie!"
"I'm not saying they're not cute. I'm just saying it's going to take some getting used to!"
"We'll try to keep things PG for you, Tootie," Jo gave her a quick smile.
"No need to scare the children," Blair agreed.
"Meanwhile, I'll call someone on the student council about blowing off the symposium so we can go apartment hunting."
"Don't compromise your principles, Jo," Blair warned. "I love you for who you are."
"Nah, you're my priority now," Jo gazed up at her lovingly.
Blair squeezed her tightly and kissed her again.
"I didn't expect you to be so comfortable with this, Blair," Jo gave her a wondering gaze.
"With what?" Blair sat beside her and looked at her quizzically.
"With coming out to people."
"Oh, I'm not, Jo. I just refuse to let other people tell me how to live my life!"
Jo nodded her appreciation with a determined look on her face. "That's my girl. C'mon. Let's go find us an apartment!"