The next couple of hours Alex and Jo spent in and out of Mrs. Miller's office. First they'd interview all three of them individually, then they'd go in all together. Later the junior's mother and Ms. Morgan walked into Miller's office and they all tried to make out what the hell was going on. When at last, Jo and Alex were both called in again together, they sat in chairs besides each other, fidgety.

"So?" Jo was the first one to break silence. "What's gonna happen now?" she stared them down thoroughly. Ms. Morgan was resting the side of her face against the wall and Mrs. Miller sighed deeply. Alex' glances flitted in between them, questioningly.

"Mrs. Gregory decided to press charges against Mr. Karev," she pointed towards Alex. He could feel his guts sink and closed his eyes. Fuck.

"What? No," Jo yelled out but both Mrs. Miller and Ms. Morgan raised their hands to quiet her.

"They're gonna leave everyone else out of it, so you're cleared, Ms. Wilson," the principal pushed on.

"Let me talk to him," Jo told them with emphasis. Alex' head shot up and gave her a glare, shaking his head no. "No, I'm serious, let me go talk to him," Jo begged the principal. "I know him. We can do this a lot easier. I'm not gonna touch him, I promise," she said, not breaking eye contact with Mrs. Miller who looked drained.

"Believe me, Ms. Wilson, I don't like these prospects, either. But I do understand Mrs. Gregory's point of view. Mr. Karev here broke Jonathan's nose and cracked his left jawbone. He's gonna walk away with a lot of pains and he's probably going to be out for a while now," she pointed out.

"Mrs. Miller, I'm begging you, let me go talk to him," Jo repeated stubbornly.

"Jo, just leave it be, alright? I made my own bed," Alex tried to soothe Jo, gesturing with his hand to make her step back. Jo yanked her head over at him, grasping his hand and pushing it away from her body.

"No, Alex, I can make this better," she told him, nodding her head. Alex sighed, looking at the ceiling for he was all out of ideas and to be honest, out of energy.

"Ms. Wilson, just quit talking," Ms. Morgan spoke up for the first time in a while. Jo glared at Ms. Morgan who only looked at Alex and walked over towards his chair and bent down towards him.

"What the hell were you thinking?" she asked him in an obviously passive aggressive tone. Alex just shrugged.

"Ms. Morgan, Jonathan was trash talking Alex' family and myself," Jo tried to argue but Ms. Morgan only held another hand up towards Jo to still her, not even looking at her. The group home director looked something in between furious and exasperated.

"You know, I have tried to help you, I really have. I have been trying to pull you through school, I have been trying to get you a family, I have been trying to just… keep you in line. But I can't anymore," she shook her head madly. "You're unfixable," she told him, Alex taking her speech stoically. He could see out of the corner of his eyes, how Jo balled up her fists. "I mean, what the hell were you thinking? There's always going to be idiots talking nonsense, there's always going to be those morons who have no idea what struggling with life even means," she told him, wide-eyed and for a second, Alex thought that she actually showed compassion with what he did. Except for the fact that she had to tell him off. Because that was her job. Keep him in line. "That doesn't mean you should go out and punch him. Until he bleeds," she shrieked. "That doesn't keep him from talking trash. And it doesn't benefit your life in any way. And God knows you needed that freaking scholarship. What the hell do you think ISU is going to do once they find out? You really think they're gonna pay for your education there? You really think they let you come in at all after they hear about this? What the hell, Alex? I can't help you out of this!" The woman talked herself into frenzy, straightening up and pacing. The principal had leaned back into her office chair, her fingers intertwined, observing the scene.

"Alex?" Jo asked all of a sudden, and when he turned his head, he looked at a completely shocked face. "You got the scholarship? You made it into ISU?" she looked at him utterly speechless. He only nodded, making Ms. Morgan chuckle.

"Yeah, that's over," she just snorted, putting her face in her hands.

"What? When? Why didn't you say anything?" Jo looked at him, and he thought he could read grief off of her face.

"Couple of weeks ago," he murmured, averting his eyes. He heard Jo huff madly.

"You are such an idiot," she spat out angrily, glaring at him, shoving his shoulder.

"Dude," Alex scrunched up his face. "Stop." Jo panted with rage, it seemed, before she got up and looked at the principal.

"Let me go talk to Jonathan. I swear I will back off if this doesn't work. I promise," she had leaned on the desk between her and Mrs. Miller to shorten the distance in between them. The principal eyed her for a second before shrugging and looking at Ms. Morgan. Alex looked up frantically, glancing in between Ms. Morgan, Mrs. Miller and Jo.

"No, wait, what are you gonna say? He's not gonna back off just because you talk to him," Alex held on to Jo's wrist, making her roll her eyes.

"Trust me, he'll back off," Jo just murmured, trying to only speak for him. He shook his head at her questioningly, trying to communicate via their eyes but even though their eyes were burning into each other, he couldn't read anything off them. Mrs. Miller accompanied Jo to wherever Jonathan Gregory and his mother had been taken and the room succumbed to silence. After a moment or two, it was already broken again when Alex' wrestling coach stormed into the principal's office, infuriated. Alex sank into his chair, sighing deeply and hiding his face.

"What the hell do you think you just did to your future?" the man spat with rage. When Alex didn't respond, he bent down to be only inches apart from him. "Answer me, Karev," he yelled.

"I don't know, man, alright? He got to me," Alex flung his hands in the air, growling at his coach. Said one got up and turned around, putting his face in his hands as well, starting to pace up and down, not unlike Ms. Morgan. Weirdly, Alex thought, he had never had that many people actually care about him. Yes, they were all beyond angry and he sure had to make amends. But they all seemed much more desperate than mad. He startled when after what seemed like ages, the door towards them opened up again and Jo and the principal strolled in together. Alex looked over at Jo, trying to read her face but she only stepped in and leaned against the wall next to the door. The principal rounded the desk and looked at all of them.

"The Gregory's decided to drop the charges," Mrs. Miller announced. Alex' guts dropped. So did Ms. Morgan's and his coach's hands, staring at the principal. Alex' head turned towards Jo slowly, trying to catch her eyes, questioning them. Jo just shrugged and stared back. "You will all be sitting off detention until the end of the school year and if I ever hear or see anything out of the ordinary again until then, I will strangle you personally, Mr. Karev, I hope that's clear," she added angrily. Alex nodded, having widened his eyes at the principal's very inappropriate threat. They all got up and left, quietly. Jo and Alex both followed Ms. Morgan.

"What the hell did you say to him?" Alex hissed towards Jo.

"No talking," Ms. Morgan shot back to them, walking on swiftly. Jo looked taken aback and shared a surprised look with Alex. They drove in Ms. Morgan's car silently and followed her up into her office. "Now," she rasped, once she had lit a cigarette and took a deep breath as if she hadn't tasted oxygen in forever. "Ms. Wilson, this will go on record, I hope you know that," she pointed out to her, Jo nodding quietly. "As for you, Karev," she barked at him. "As I said. I can't help you anymore-," she started.

"I aged out in January, Ms. Morgan. It's not like you can punish me or something. I'm only staying here until the end of this school year and then I'm off to ISU," he told her sharply.

"Wrong," Ms. Morgan told him soberly. Both Alex and Jo looked at her questioningly. The superior took a deep breath and looked down. "As you said, you aged out in January. You're no longer in state care. You receive welfare money and you are on your own. We would have let you stay until you finished high school. For your siblings' sake. For your sake. But this can't go on like this. I can't do anything for you anymore. We can't take responsibility for you anymore. I can't put my behind on the line for you anymore as I have done continuously since January. You need to leave ASAP," Ms. Morgan finished her speech rapidly, as if she was trying to end this conversation as quickly as possible. Neither of them spoke.

Alex had waited for this moment for years. He had dreamed of the moment when he would finally be free, independent of the state of Iowa. When he could finally turn his back on the group homes, on Iowa state child welfare, on Ms. Morgan. He had imagined it feeling like… like a release, he had imagined it being relief. So, when Ms. Morgan had finished her speech, he was paralyzed, for all he could think was keep your freaking tears in, you're not a 12 year old girl. Alex stared at the top of Ms. Morgan's bowed head, and when she finally looked up and they matched eyes, he could feel something stab through his heart. What the fuck? Ms. Morgan actually looked upset over this. What in the world had just happened? He looked at her in shock, trying to understand. "I'm so sorry, Alex. I wish with all my heart that I would have been able to find you a suitable family," she coughed out before she turned around and opened up a binder, getting out all his things. "These," she steadied herself to the usual barking while putting an awful lot of paperwork into a folder, "are all your documents. Everything you'll need from now on," she said, without looking up, shoving it into his hands.

"Are you actually throwing him out?" Jo spoke up, completely appalled.

"This is none of your business, Ms. Wilson. In fact, you can leave now," she told her quietly.

"No," Jo got up, mad now. "You can't do that. You can't just abandon him," she raged. Alex, who was still sitting paralyzed, observing Ms. Morgan, grabbed Jo's arm without looking to still her. "No, Alex, she can't do that. You have nowhere to go," she tried to make him see.

"It's okay," Alex said, almost as if in trance. "I understand," he said, getting up, never losing eye contact with Ms. Morgan. "Is it okay for me to stay here until Amber and Aaron come home from school to say goodbye?" he asked her soberly. The director nodded curtly.

"You can't be serious," Jo yelled at the director. "He's just a kid," she was out of control now. Ms. Morgan shook her head and sighed.

"But he's not," she finally looked over towards Jo. "He's not a child anymore. He's been legally responsible for himself since January. And child welfare only decided to let him stay because of what happened to his sister. However, Amber and Aaron are most probably going to be placed in a family setting within the next 8 weeks," she announced, looking back over at Alex and for the first time in ages or more like… at all… Alex truly felt gratitude wash over him. Right now, all he wanted to do was hug Ms. Morgan. Not because he particularly liked her. But because he for once realized that she did do everything that was in her power to match kids with suitable families. And he really did believe her when she had said that she had wanted to help him all those years. Granted, he hadn't been the easiest teenager. And he had never worked with the system. Always against it. Now that he thought of it, it was actually amazing just how many foster families Ms. Morgan had found for him. Seventeen, to be exact.

"You can't just do that," Jo repeated in a whisper, and when he looked over, he made out her lips trembling. His guts sank again. And again, she was the one left at the pound. Alright, he thought to himself. Get a grip or you are actually going to cry here. He gulped heavily before tearing away his gaze and looking back at Ms. Morgan for a moment. "Alex, no," Jo grabbed his elbow. "Where are you gonna go? You have nowhere to go," she inquired frantically.

"I'll bunk at Adam's for a while, his folks are decent," Alex shrugged her off.

"No, I won't be able to come visit you there," Jo chucked out, making him laugh for a moment. It wouldn't be Jo to even joke around in the most inappropriate of situations. He looked back at Ms. Morgan to finish his thought.

"Thank you," Alex told her, and for once, he did mean it. "Thank you for everything," he repeated, making her nod. She looked like if she said anything, she would cry as well. So, he turned around and walked out of the office for the last time. He immediately went over towards the boys' dorm and ripped his duffle bag from the cupboard, throwing his clothing in thoughtlessly. He ignored the door that was banged open, knowing exactly who it was, still working to get all his stuff in the bag. He startled when he could feel Jo shove him abruptly, almost making him lose balance, getting up in irritation and glaring at her.

"What the hell, Alex?" Jo yelled at him now.

"What?" he yelled back.

"Why did you do that? Why did you take that punch?" she glowered. Alex just scrunched up his face, shaking his head and went back to gathering his stuff. No need going over it again. "Talk to me," she ordered, sounding like she was about to jump him.

"What the hell do you want me to say? I freaked out, alright? I got mad and I punched him. If I hadn't done it, you would have, so don't act like-," he started out, only to be interrupted.

"Exactly, Alex, I would have and you wouldn't be deep into shit right now," she shouted back.

"Who cares? They dropped the charges, and it's a 50/50 chance they're gonna tell on me at ISU. Knowing my coach and knowing Miller and how she looked at us today, she won't. Because we're the pitiful, poor orphans that get punished by life itself! It's over, Jo, now move over," he shoved her away aggressively to move into the bathroom. Jo followed.

"No," Jo just said. "No, Alex, where are you gonna go? You can't just give up!"

"What the hell do you want me to do?" he yelled back again. "I don't even wanna stay here, so why fight? Why stay here for another month if I can get out now? You heard her, I've aged out 5 months ago. I'm free! I'm finally free, so why do you want me to stay?"

"What about me?" Jo's lips trembled while she barked at him. "What about me?" Alex closed his eyes and sighed.

"I don't know, Jo. You'll stay. And maybe you'll get fostered again, like Amber and Aaron. Or maybe not. I don't know, Jo. I can't change anything about that, if that's what you are asking for," he told her, trying to calm himself. They stared at each other for a while.

"You are a jackass, you know that?" Jo nodded at him, her brow furrowing and Alex could make out how she was trying to hold back tears. "I've been fighting with you guys and now you just leave me? Like I don't matter at all? You won't even fight for me?"

"What do you want me to do, Jo? I don't get it. What is it that you think I can do? I'd be gone in less than a month anyways. We've got finals in a couple of weeks and everything after that… it doesn't matter anymore. I'm done with high school. I'm done with this. I'm done, don't you get it? I'd have been out of here anyways, I don't get what you want from me?" Alex yelled at her, even though it sounded more like pleading.

"I don't know. Maybe at least a little hesitancy. One second of wavering, one second of pause. To think about me. I just thought… we had grown at least a little since Christmas. I really thought we had grown to be friends. And I really thought you'd consider what happens to me if you disappear all of a sudden. But okay, if that's not the case, so be it. But what about Amber? And Aaron? What about them?"

"I'M NOT THEIR DAD," Alex finally lost it all. "I'm not their parent! I can't raise them anymore. Somebody else needs to do it. I'm not responsible for them," he yelled, feeling like everything he had tried to keep in for so long finally made it out. Jo looked at him completely taken aback. They glared at each other for a second. "Look," Alex said, taking a step forwards. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry that you feel like I'm abandoning you. But I would've gone no matter what. And I'm happy about Aaron and Amber finally getting a chance of a real family. I'm so glad, because I can't do it anymore. I'm sick and tired of it. I'm 18 for God's sake! I'm not supposed to be anyone's dad. And you're not supposed to be crying for any of us," he tried to soothe her, extending and arm to touch hers but she flinched away.

"I understand," she said, pulling away.

"Jo," he tried to hold on. "Come on," he asked her to stay but she was already out the door. Alex stood, chewing his gum for a moment before finishing his stuff and readying himself to go. He waited at the gate for his siblings to arrive and when they did, he made quick work of it, telling them he'd stay at Adam's for a while because they needed the beds here. Amber started crying, while Aaron kept glaring at his older brother but he only hugged them both shortly to not let himself be overwhelmed with emotions. He straightened up and took one more look back at the house, seeing Ms. Morgan watch him from her office window, nodding at her curtly, and grazing the whole yard for those deep green eyes but they had left and so did Alex, walking away from the group homes, not looking back once, trying to leave everything behind without stumbling.

[July 1998]

The music blasted through the house uncomfortably loud and Alex could feel the bass vibrating within his body. He thought about how he had always imagined his graduation party. Relief flushed through him when he reminded himself that he was officially done with high school and off to new grounds. But then again, he had imagined it all to go so much smoother. He was glad, he really was, that none of the ones involved had ratted him out to ISU, which was a small miracle, however, he felt bad. He felt bad for his siblings that he had left them so abruptly without proper goodbye, he felt bad for Ms. Morgan to have given her such headaches, and most of all, he felt bad for Jo, who he had hurt beyond belief, he thought. The last month had been torture. Alex had stayed at Adam's, which was cool. However, school was terrible. They all had to study for finals and he barely had the time to even look for Jo around school. On the other hand, he was sure that she was hiding from him. And he missed her company, terribly. He had seen Aaron at school all the time and they had arranged to meet with Amber three times a week. He felt bad for Amber. She was just a kid and didn't understand half of it. She had been so sad, it had broken his heart over and over and over again. Nevertheless, he had tried to look forward. It wasn't how he had imagined his last weeks of high school, but he had finally made it. Momentarily, he really didn't feel like celebrating, though, so he tried to get out of the house unnoticed, passing half naked senior chicks, showing everything off that people hadn't seen yet because hell, nobody was ever going to see them again, right? He chuckled humorlessly. Had everything happened under different circumstances that would have been his thought exactly. Make that last night count. He strolled down the yard towards the street, settling at a huge tree next to the completely blocked off driveway, fumbling for a smoke. He looked up at the sky, exhaling deeply. So, that was it, right? He was going to leave tomorrow morning and he wasn't going to come back to this life… Alex startled when he heard somebody take steps towards him. He closed his eyes and smiled when he saw who it was.

"Hey," he smiled at her insecurely, not knowing if she was going to punch him or if she had calmed down a bit. As Jo walked closer, he only realized how beautiful she looked, again.

"Hey stranger," she whispered, looking up at him shyly, having crossed her arms across her chest, tugging at the sides of her summer dress nervously. "D'Stacey loosen her leash enough for you to breathe a bit?" she looked up at him, cheekily. Alex chuckled.

"Stacey broke up with me after what happened," Alex told her soberly, watching how Jo widened her eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know," she gave him back in surprise. He waved her away, taking another drag of his cigarette.

"I'm not sure if it was the fact that I broke her brother's nose or the fact that she found out I'm a street kid," he said mockingly. Jo looked taken aback. "She didn't even stay long enough to find out I was defending you," he chuckled. A second later she looked like she was having an epiphany.

"Oh my God, I knew I know her from somewhere," she exclaimed, laughing.

"How?"

"Oh, I've known Jonathan forever," she waved him away.

"Hey, what did you say to him to back him off?" Alex inquired curiously, raising his eyebrows at her. Jo chuckled.

"Ugh, forget it. He just has a really big mouth and there's nothing behind it," she said.

"M-hm," Alex looked at her knowingly.

"What?" she asked him in offense.

"Did you promise him…sexual favors?" Alex smirked at her.

"Ew, Alex," Jo made a point in walking over and hitting his chest, making him laugh.

"Sorry, I forgot you're a 15 year old chick after all," he raised his hands in defense. Jo scrunched up her face.

"He's gross," she just said, making him widen his eyes and hike his eyebrows for he hadn't expected her to actually shrug the sexual favors part off but rant about the guy they were talking about. They laughed mildly and succumbed to silence for a bit, fidgeting about slightly. Alex lit another cigarette. The minutes passed and Jo finally looked back at him when he threw the stub on the ground and dampened it with the mud.

"You know, I really wish you'd quit that crap," she told him exasperatedly.

"I can't," Alex told her smugly, getting out a box of mints. Jo scrunched her face up at him.

"Why?" she shook her head in confusion.

"Because," he smirked at her. "The breath mint industry would probably go out of business," he added, chuckling. Jo rolled her eyes and joined in. They stood there for another while, not knowing what to say to each other. Alex felt uneasy. He still couldn't figure out how they had left things. Just when he had decided to say something, Jo spoke up though.

"I'm sorry, Alex," she searched his eyes and shook her head. "I went completely batshit crazy on you," Jo bit her lip apologetically. Alex looked at her, seeing the sincerity in her eyes. "I really don't know what went through with me. I just… I fought so hard for you… and all that energy was balled up inside me and I just… all of a sudden it seemed to me it was all for nothing…and then I just… I went nuts it seems," she blushed slightly, looking down.

"It's fine, Jo, really. I appreciate everything you've done for us, really. You've been… an incredible friend," he nodded at her, making her look up in surprise and finding him smiling at her. "I know, my life is crazy… and it's very dramatic it seems… I never anticipated Morgan throwing me out, to be frank. But yeah, in light of what happened… it was probably inevitable. I didn't mean to… leave you behind or anything… I just… I couldn't think straight that moment… you know what I mean?"

"Yes, of course. I'm sorry… I have barged into all your lives so… well, unannounced and… as said, something went through with me… I've been trying to calm down ever since," she winked at him, still a little embarrassed. There was another short break.

"I didn't think you'd be here tonight," Alex pointed out after a while.

"Why? Didn't think I was close enough with the in-crowd?" Jo smirked back at him. He laughed.

"Nah," he said. "I just thought… you couldn't care less about all that high school crap… you always seemed… way too mature for that," he murmured awkwardly. Jo snorted.

"Well, I don't know about the maturity thing you're proposing… but yeah, you're right… I couldn't care less about this," she pointed at a few completely wasted seniors jumping in the pool of the yard, half making out, half still sipping on a beer. Alex chuckled.

"Why are you here then?"

"Adam asked me to come," Jo blushed slightly. Alex hiked his eyebrows and let out an amused puff.

"So, he finally got you to go out with him," Alex smiled. Thank God he mouthed, making Jo snort.

"No," she shook her head. "It's not like that. He just invited me over cause it's his house. And… knowing that you stayed with him the last month… I… I thought I might meet you here," Jo stumbled out awkwardly, dragging her feet across the ground in embarrassment. Alex gulped. What the hell was she saying? "I mean… with everything that has happened between us… I thought… we'd maybe need a proper goodbye or something… cause," she looked at him now, straight, "I'm not sure you'd have decided to say goodbye at all before leaving for ISU," she singled him out. Now it was Alex' turn to blush.

"It's not that far away, you know," he pointed out sheepishly. Jo chuckled.

"As if you're planning to come back any time soon," she rolled her eyes. He smiled.

"Well," he shrugged his shoulders.

"So, you made it in, huh? They didn't tell on you?" Alex shook his head.

"Nah," then he scrunched up his face. "And for some reason I think I got Ms. Morgan to thank for that," he pondered, looking at Jo with a weird smile.

"God, that woman just… I can't read her… can you?" Jo asked him in amazement.

"No," Alex shook his head wildly, laughing. "I mean, did you see how her eyes glazed over while kicking me out?" Jo nodded heavily.

"Well, but then, it could have always been the thick, disgusting smoke burning her eyes… you know," she told him mockingly.

"True," he nodded, succumbing to a smile. It had always been easy. So easy between them.

"Hey Alex," somebody called over to them, startling them both. "We're leaving towards Harrison's. You coming?" Alex looked up in surprise, but nodded.

"I'll be right there," he called back, awkwardly stepping from side to side. Jo took a deep breath and smiled up at him and he could see it was fake through and through.

"So," she glimmered her eyes at him. "This is goodbye, then, huh?" Alex looked up at her, hesitating.

"Yeah, probably," he said, biting his lip.

"Alright," she concluded, seeming nervous. "Goodbye, then," she stated, almost cheerfully. Alex frowned at her. When neither of them walked away, they stared at each other.

"Should we hug or something?" Alex asked her awkwardly, making them both laugh.

"Yeah, probably," Jo answered, smiling. "At least, now it'll be no problem if you won't ever speak to me again because we won't see each other anyways," she mocked him, wriggling her eyebrows. Alex rolled his eyes at her. They stood observing each other before they both chuckled slightly and moved in to hug, Jo tightening her arms around his waist while Alex held on tightly across her upper back, pressing his head to hers, closing his eyes for a second, reveling in the sensation of hugging her again. He could feel himself letting loose instantly. He exhaled, as if he had needed and waited for this exact hug for ages. Finally, safe. "Oh, wow, look at us," Jo murmured in a mocking sing-song voice, her lips wriggling pleasantly against Alex' chest before succumbing to silence.

Oh God, this isn't happening, right? Alex sighed heavily, when he felt what he had ignored so diligently for the last year or so. No! Where the hell did all those feelings come from? He groaned inwardly, feeling how his guts sank and his breath shortened. I can't harbor feelings for Jo. I just can't. She's Jo. My best friend Jo. She's not someone who you fall in love with just because she's there… just because she's a girl… and so hot… and so amazing… you can't… come on, this is the last time you're seeing her… in who knows how long… maybe this is the last time… for good. Just keep holding her and just breathe. Alex felt how his forehead burnt up with nervousness and his guts felt like a pin cushion. He felt how Jo's body nestled into his perfectly and he could smell her heavenly scent, making him all dizzy. Come on, just keep breathing. This is gonna be over soon. Then you can forget all about it and pretend like it had never happened. Like the other couple of times.

A moment later he could feel Jo slackening her arms a bit as if pulling them back, starting to caress the sides of his waist lightly using her thumbs. All of a suddden, having her in his arms overwhelmed him. When Alex pulled back, she immediately bounced back towards him and their eyes burnt into each other, their faces only inches apart. Now or never. Do it now or freaking never, jerk. Time was racing but at the same time it stood completely still. He moved his right hand upwards to cup her cheek and he could feel how Jo was tugging at his t-shirt, waiting for him to move. His eyes flitted in between her green ones, the ones he knew so well, but in which he could see so many new things tonight, things he had never seen before, and her slightly agape lips, her beautiful lips, so welcoming, her breaths coming out soft and sweet. He watched her moisten them with her tongue and heard her breathing hitch while doing so, going back to look at her eyes that seemed black now, darkened with... anticipation... glazed over with.. desire? She seems to be wanting this too, right?

You've wanted this for so damn long, just do it already, moron. Alex inhaled sharply, squeezing her waist, before swooping down, making out how she was closing her eyes and if he wasn't mistaken the corners of her lips tugged upwards slightly and he could almost taste her lips on his when all of a sudden, the headlights of a car shone on them directly and some dudes honked at them loudly, laughing. They both took a jump backwards, detaching from each other, Jo having brought up her arms, one pressed to her lips while the other one looked like it was covering up her cleavage even though nothing was there to be seen other than red blotches. Alex felt his guts clench and how he could only think of how freaking many ideas he had about how to kill those guys ruining the one chance he had to kiss the girl he had wanted for so long. He risked a glance over at Jo who looked at him part embarrassed part completely aghast by how their moment had ended.

"Are you coming?" Some guy yelled out of the car impatiently, making him close his eyes. He nodded, knowing the moment was over anyways and there was no going back even though this was all he wanted. Go back one minute and scratch out his hesitancy before kissing Jo. But it was over now and he hadn't done what he knew would have been best for him, once again. He tried to match eyes with her and when he did, they shared another moment before he walked backwards slowly.

"Bye," he told her, half statement, half question.

"Bye," she just whispered, standing there, like she had just woken up from the best dream she had ever had and realized that her life was actually the freaking nightmare that she was trying to get out of.