WORST APOCALYPSE EVER BRO! Like not even a little earthquake or storm! Just a little wind and cold! If I wanted winter's arrival I would have asked for it! I wanted a full blown doomsday but no! UGH! Sorry yall I just can't with this world and would much rather not be alive, but no worries, I ain't going anywhere until it's naturally, so that is why I bring you a new chapter! :D -xoxo Tak
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Jo and Kendall's friendship was being strained these days. Jo was recently single but Kendall was recently taken, causing their schedules to rarely mix. It didn't help that it was their senior years and they were constantly busy with college applications, working, and balancing social and academic lives.
Whenever Kendall had a free moment, he'd go hangout with his girlfriend, Lucy Stone, the punk rock weirdo turned mysterious and alluring. Jo was happy for Kendall, truly, but deep down she felt like it wasn't right. Her mother called it jealousy, as did Camille, but Jo didn't buy it. She wasn't jealous. How could she be? He was her best friend and he deserved a nice girl to be with. She had always been the one to push him into the dating world, but that was when she herself was in a relationship.
Jo had broken up with Jett in the beginning of the school year. She had been trying to since last Christmas, but he kept giving her false hope that he would change. When he had tried to sleep with her again during Spring Break and their summer camping trip, she had decided that it was enough, and ended it. She had been heartbroken, but it needed to be done.
The weeks after she broke it off, Kendall had been by her side through and through, taking her out, keeping her mind busy, and even dancing with her. It was during those weeks that she had realized how much she took Kendall for granted. He was the only one who ever came through with the things he said. If he promised her he'd bring her ice cream, he'd bring it to her, even if it was four in the morning and he had to climb through her window. No one would ever go through the extreme for her except him.
In those days she came to the terms with her first heartbreak and her true, first love. Every time she saw Kendall, her heart would flutter and her stomach would turn. She'd get all giggly and weird whenever he'd talk. She didn't like the way it made her. Even with Jett, she wasn't so annoyingly girly, but with Kendall it was different. It was always different, because he was different. And it took her too long to have realized it, because by that time, he had gotten into his own relationship.
Kendall had given up on being with Jo a long time ago, but he still harbored the same love and affection for her as he did when he first fell for her in eighth grade. He had now moved on to someone new and far different from Jo. He firmly believed that this change would help him get over her completely.
On Christmas eve Jo had received some wonderful news regarding her college applications. She had been accepted to three of her top colleges and wanted to share the news with her best friend, but he was out with Lucy. He was always out with Lucy. The two were inseparable, the way Jo and Kendall once were.
Kendall knew that he was neglecting Jo. He rarely saw her or talked to her. Whenever she'd call or text, he'd barely respond or turn her away claiming he was busy. He knew it was wrong for him to be doing this, especially after what she had gone through the past year with Jett, but he also needed to work on his relationship with Lucy. He didn't think he'd be able to move on if he was always around Jo. So to do away with that guilt, he had gotten Jo the best Christmas and 'I'm-sorry-I've-been-avoiding-you' present.
Kendall had acquired tickets to a special, private show of the Nutcracker ballet being held on Christmas day. Only a few people knew about it, but Kendall had pulled a few strings from a friend that worked at the theater to get them. The cost for them was a hefty sum, but worth every penny because he knew Jo loved ballet and watching it live at a theater was on her list of things to do in life.
Com Christmas morning, Kendall left a box with a note on Jo's front door telling her to be ready in the contents of the box by six that evening. He also told her that she wasn't allowed to ask any questions and had to do as he said. Jo looked at the note and smiled to herself, glad to see he hadn't forgotten about her. She took the box inside and opened it to find a green, evening gown and white gloves along with another note, instructing her to wear the turtledove necklace he got her. She was confused as to why, but was strangely obedient.
At six o'clock sharp, Kendall had arrived to the front steps of Jo's house. He inhaled sharply before he walked up to her door and rang the bell. When she opened the door, dressed in the gown and necklace, Kendall was blown away from her beauty.
"It's not polite to stare, especially when you begin to drool." Jo poked fun.
Kendall cleared his throat and said, "You look incredible."
"Only thanks to this mysterious box I found at my front door from a sender who demanded I wear this dress without any explanation." She played.
"I wanted to surprise you." He told her, offering her his arm.
"Surprise me with what?" She took ahold of his arm and they walked to his car. He opened the door for her and ushered her in. He briskly walked over to the driver's side and got in.
"If I told you then it wouldn't be a surprise." Kendall retorted.
"Well then, two can play at that game." Jo shot back.
"You have a surprise?" He gave her a questioning look.
"Yes I do. I was going to tell you immediately, but now it can wait." She smirked.
Kendall rolled his eyes and began to drive. "You're lucky I didn't blindfold you." Jo stuck her tongue out at Kendall. She was so glad to have him by her side again.
They arrived outside the theater and Jo's eyes widened. The place was so grand that she was left speechless. "Kendall this… you… how did you even get… are we really here for…?" She stuttered.
Kendall grinned at her, nodding his head, confirming what she had guessed. "KENDALL HOW DID YOU GET THESE!?" She screamed excitedly at him.
"Magic." He said sarcastically.
"I love this!" She exclaimed. "I love you!"
"I knew you would." He said smugly. Jo rolled her eyes at him, but excitedly got out of the car and to the entrance.
"Wait up! I'm the one with the tickets!" He called out. He parked the car and went to stand with her. She was unable to contain her excitement, going on and on about how much she loved the ballet and that her favorite part was when the sugarplum fairies come out and dance.
They entered the magnificent theater, locating their seats immediately. Jo sat on the edge of her seat waiting for the show to begin. Kendall watched her happily. He knew he was forgiven, even though she hadn't blamed him. He realized how much he loved to see her happy. The glow on her face, the pep in her step, the harmony in her voice, it was all he'd ever wanted to see from her.
The lights dimmed down and the show began. Jo intently watched the dancers soar and fly to the music, vividly explaining the story. And when the scenes changed, Jo turned to look at Kendall with a grin. She'd mouth 'thank you' and then turn back around. And when the Flight of the Sugarplum Fairies was being performed Jo told Kendall all about how she had wanted to be part of those nine ballerinas that brilliantly danced and twirled on stage.
During intermission, they sat and caught up on each other's lives. "What was the surprise you had for me?" Kendall asked.
"Oh I just wanted to tell you that I got accepted into University of North Carolina and Minnesota and UCLA SoCal." She told him.
"That's great! I'm so proud of you Jo!" He congratulated her. "Wow! All three huh?"
She nodded.
"So which one are you going to?" He asked.
Jo's smile faltered. "I don't know. I don't want to make a decision just yet."
"Well what are you leaning towards?"
"Depends. I really want to go back to North Carolina but I also want to stay with you guys here. And I do want to see more of the nation and California seems like an adventure." She explained.
"Well whatever you decide, I bet you'll do great." He said.
She smiled at him, weakly. She wished he would tell her to stay with him. The old Kendall would have told her that anywhere besides Minnesota is the worst. The new Kendall barely talked to her and ignored her.
Kendall noticed that she had lost her joyful glow. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She lied. "I just hate not being able to decide."
"Are you sure?" He asked.
"Yeah." She stated. "I think the shows about to start again."
The lights indeed began to flicker, indicating the start of act two.
"Thank you so much for this Kendall. I really missed spending time with you." She whispered into his ear.
"I missed spending time with you too." He placed his hand onto hers, and turned his head to smile at her. The lights turned off, and Jo leaned into Kendall's face and kissed him.
"Merry Christmas, Kendall Knight." She said, before letting his hand go and moving back to the edge of her seat, leaving Kendall baffled but pleased.
