Blair was in a state of shock and disgust. Rick Bonner had just proposed to Jo - in front of everyone in the house and in his typically goofy, juvenile manner. A ridiculous game show skit, no less. A man with even a shred of class and dignity would have conducted such a momentous, romantic event in private, preferably over an intimate candlelight dinner. But not Rick. Blair loathed the very sight of him. Jo was a beautiful, highly intelligent, responsible young woman who had always taken life incredibly seriously. What attracted her to Rick eluded the heiress. Immature, irresponsible, and VERY unemployed, Rick had recently quit his job as a musician in a piano bar and began aimlessly "hanging out" at the community center where Jo worked as a counselor - the very community center Blair had recently purchased in order to save it from financial ruin. Technically this made Blair Jo's boss, but she was first and foremost her best friend. And as such, Blair found it immensely difficult to see Jo throw her life away on someone like Rick. And she'd only known him a short time. But Blair had just noticed something. Jo hadn't declined his proposal. But she hadn't accepted it either. She told him she would have to think about it, which made Blair's heart soar just a bit. Maybe there was hope. If Jo herself was unsure…
Jo initially sought out Rick as a "big brother" for Andy, but Beverly Ann soon gave him the boot when she deemed him a bad influence on the boy. At the center, Blair's first encounter with him had been anything but cordial. Not aware of who she was, he behaved rudely, acted presumptuously and had shown himself to be a first-rate smart ass. Once Blair frostily informed him she was the owner and could go anywhere and say anything she darn well pleased, his tune changed considerably. Now, inexplicably, Rick and Jo were a couple, and Blair's dislike of him had grown to epic, mammoth proportions. He simply was not good enough for her, just like each and every boyfriend who'd preceded him. Jo was so incredibly special. She deserved someone who appreciated, respected, valued and adored her like no one else. Someone who truly understood her. Someone who loved her with such depth, intensity and unwavering devotion that it literally caused a physical ache. Someone like me, Blair mused sadly.
The beautiful, spoiled heiress of Warner Industries had always enjoyed the company of an equally spoiled, rich, handsome young man, even bragging how she hadn't been dateless on a Friday or Saturday night since 1979. Although Blair had spent half her life at all-girls schools, she had never experienced a crush on another girl, unlike many of her schoolmates. But in the fall of 1980, a tough girl from the Bronx stole her heart forever the instant she removed her motorcycle helmet. Literally unable to breathe, Blair's heart skipped a dozen beats when she first beheld that stunning face. She didn't think it was possible for a woman's eyes, other than her own, to be so spellbinding. Blair lost herself in those luminous green orbs that day. And eight long years later, she'd still never found her way back. Knowing Natalie and Mrs. Garrett were watching, she quickly and self-consciously covered her lovestruck reaction with several snide comments about Jo's rough-around-the edges appearance and belligerent attitude. But the minute Mrs. Garrett made them shake hands, Blair knew she had just connected with the young woman she would love for the rest of her life.
Little did she know that the new girl felt the same…
Blair Warner had spent the past eight years fighting her attraction to Jo Polniaczek. In the early days of their tumultuous relationship, arguments and insults were the norm. As they matured, the fights became less frequent, but tended to get quite ugly when one occurred. Blair even went so far as to sue Jo for breaking her watch when Jo refused to replace it. Over the last two years, the pair seemed to settle into a much calmer, civil coexistence. Many months ago, when very untrue rumors began to fly that Blair was having an affair with her married law professor, Jo fiercely defended her friend's honor when his wife came to the house to confront Blair. During this exchange, Jo referred to her as her "best friend" for the first time, an admission that touched Blair to her very core. It was at that moment when Blair Warner officially stopped fighting her attraction to Jo Polniaczek.
Little did she know that Jo had stopped doing the same…
Independent, defiant and unapologetically blunt, Jo proved to be unlike anyone Blair had ever met. There was just something so untamed...and very desirable...about this attractive girl, and it drove Blair absolutely mad. All those heated fights, the screaming, the barbed insults, they were nothing but veiled foreplay, at least on her part. Eight kinds of sexual tension looking for an exit. Blair recalled, quite fondly, the times when their faces would be no more than an inch apart, eyes locked, breathing heavily. And each time, she mustered every last drop of willpower to resist slamming Jo against the wall and kissing her senseless. But had Jo experienced the same overwhelming urges and desires, just once? Blair knew she was flattering herself by even entertaining the notion. She was certain that the answer had always been no, but to alleviate her intense loneliness, she kept the fantasy alive. To this very day. Her recent acceptance of her long-standing feelings for Jo only seemed to intensify that loneliness. While Blair's initial attraction to Jo was extremely physical, it gradually evolved into something much deeper. As she became better acquainted with this girl from the Bronx, this girl light years different from herself, Blair discovered someone incredibly complex, ferociously determined and surprisingly deep. Despite, or possibly because of Jo's delinquent track record, she adhered to a strict code of ethics unlike anyone Blair had ever known. She kept her word. Always. If you told her something in confidence, you knew it would go no further. And even when she and Jo fought like cats and dogs, Jo always had her back when the chips were down, and vice versa. She proved to be a true, genuine, loyal friend, and Blair's wealth and social status left her completely unimpressed. Blair found this refreshing, having grown accustomed to phony, pretentious people seeking her out only because they wanted to benefit from the Warner name. Jo also possessed the strongest work ethic Blair had ever witnessed in a person, even her own father. During her three years at Eastland, she frequently held down two jobs in order to maintain her scholarship. She fought constantly to keep everything she had, and at times, Blair felt guilty. Her luxurious, privileged lifestyle had always prevented her from truly understanding Jo's struggle, and she knew it. But she sincerely sympathized and was always willing to help her friend in any way she could, which never set well with Jo. That damned pride. And in spite of Jo's brusque, unpolished demeanor, she had been a brilliant student and Eastland valedictorian, as well as finishing near the top of her class at Langley. But perhaps her most endearing and attractive quality was her sensitivity. The fact that Jo, a former Young Diablo with a death glare that could make a grown man take a step back, could be moved to tears so easily was indeed a paradox. But it had never failed to move Blair. And Jo's influence on Blair had been significant. Once a selfish, thoughtless, superficial debutante whose only concern was deciding which boy to turn down for a date or which designer handbag best matched her designer shoes, Blair had developed compassion, generosity and empathy as permanent character traits. You can't solve every problem by throwing money at it, an angry and exasperated Jo had told her time after time. And although in many ways Blair would always be Blair, she knew she owed a life debt of gratitude to Jo for helping her evolve into the woman she was today. Joanna Marie Polniaczek was a marvel, and Blair's respect and love for her knew no bounds. Yet through the years, the heiress managed to keep her feelings stowed away, safely out of reach - most of the time. She continued to be seen with rich, handsome young men from just the right families and had resigned herself to a fate of silent suffering. Blair knew it was expected of her, and keeping up appearances was crucial in the circles she traveled. But as of late, she had stopped resisting those feelings. Blair Warner had become less and less concerned with appearances, and more and more preoccupied with professing her love to the woman who had held her heart since the day she strutted into the Eastland cafeteria all those years ago. If only an unemployed musician hadn't beaten her to it.
Journal entry: March 22, 1988
Jo accepted Rick's proposal and asked me to be her maid of honor. I accepted, of course. She's the best friend I've ever had, and I would do absolutely anything for her. I love her. And I'm in love with her. Madly, deeply, hopelessly. It's funny how life works. Seven years ago, when Jo ran off to elope with that jerk Eddie Brennan, I begged her to call it off. She was too young, and I only wanted what was best for her. And honestly, a large part of my motivation was quite selfish. I was in love with her then, and even though I'd only known her for a few months, the thought of losing her terrified me. I told her one day, when she'd graduated from the right college and met the right man, she'd have a proper wedding, the kind she deserved, with me as her maid of honor. Now it's all come to pass, and I really am losing her. To another jerk. I always knew this day would arrive, and I knew it would be incredibly painfuI. If I tell her how I feel, I'll undoubtedly destroy our friendship. If I don't, life goes on, uninterrupted. And now, for the first time in my life, I understand how someone can literally die of a broken heart.