The past couple of days had been pretty chaotic for everyone. The apparent blossoming relationship between Kelly and Kimberly was a great distraction from the bigger issue between Jo and Blair. The blonde socialite was losing her mind and was lashing out at everybody. From what Nancy and Sue Ann described, Blair was on the brink. It was interesting to hear what Kelly had to say about her and Jo's past. Who knew that Jo was really as badass as she said she was? The news was still sinking in as everyone returned home to their families.
At Tootie's 2-bedroom condo on Times Square, the revelations were far from over. Tootie's husband, Andy Moffett, was putting the couple's son, Brian, down for the night as she came through the door.
"Honey, I'm home," shouted Tootie with a flourish. She still loved making a dramatic entrance whenever she could. It was great real-life practice that could only benefit her career. Her motto was to live life like the play of a lifetime – with gusto and grit. Andy had long become accustomed to Tootie's flair for drama, and it was an attribute that he wouldn't change for the world.
"Hey, babe," Andy replied as he came into the living room and met Tootie with a hug and a kiss.
"How was Brian today?" Tootie inquired.
"Oh, he was perfect," replied Andy as he continued to hug his wife.
"That's mama's boy," said Tootie as she headed toward the baby's room to check on him. "He's such a sweet little angel," she said as she looked at her husband. "I just wish mom and dad would spend time with him," Tootie sighed as she headed back toward the couch in the living room. "I still can't believe they would take their prejudice out on an innocent little baby."
"Dear, I'm sure they'll come around – eventually."
"Yeah, but it's still disappointing," Tootie said with a slight pout.
"I know, I know," said Andy as he shook his head. Suddenly, he perked up and got his wife's attention, "Oh, here's something that might make you feel better."
"What's that?" asked Tootie skeptically.
"While you were gone, Willis called."
"Oh," asked Tootie suddenly interested, as she took a seat on their coach. "What does he want?"
"He said that he, Sharon, and the kids were planning to stop by for a visit. So, if Brian wakes up, he'll have someone to play with," Andy informed his wife as he sat down next to her on the couch.
"When are they going to be stopping by?"
"Well, actually, they're supposed to be here any minute. I thought they'd beat you home, in fact," said Andy as he looked at his iPhone for the third time.
Tootie immediately jumped up and yelled at her husband, "Andrew Mackenzie Moffitt. How dare you spring this on me without warning? You know I always want to make sure the house is in order before we have any company over."
"It's fine, dear. They're coming to see you, not the house. Besides, what was I supposed to do, tell them not to come? Anyway, I thought, you'd be happy."
"Oh, I am. I love visiting with Willis and Sharon, but I just have had a lot thrown at me lately, that's all. The wedding rehearsal disaster, Jo splitting, Blair going bonkers, and Kimberly and Kelly becoming an item. It's just so much to take in during one weekend!"
Andy chuckled. "Well, maybe it's a good thing Willis is coming over then. He may want to discuss Kim's new love affair if he has been told anything, since it's so recent. And admit it, you know you want to know any juicy, inside details," he said with a wink.
Tootie thought about it for a second and then said, "You're right."
"Ahh, it's always nice to hear the truth from others," said Andy with a smile.
Tootie just slapped him on the shoulder and then rolled her eyes. A few minutes later, there was a knock on their door. Tootie got up and answered it.
"Hey, what's good, Tootie?'" asked Willis as he stepped inside and gave Tootie a hug.
"Nothing much, Willis. How are you guys?"
They all exchanged pleasantries – the girls hugging, the guys shaking hands, and Andy giving Sharon a friendly hug. Then, Tootie got the children settled in the other room so they could watch a movie while the adults talked.
"Hey, do you guys want some wine?" Andy asked.
"Sure, I'll take some but Willis can't, cause he's driving," said Sharon.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah...," sighed Willis.
Andy headed to the kitchen, which is next to the living room, to get some red wine.
"So," asked Tootie as she returned to the living room and sat down with the others, "what's new?"
"Well, we heard about Jo running off after she got into it with Blair over Kelly being a bridesmaid. Man, I never knew Blair to blow her stack like that," commented Willis.
"Oh, I have," corrected Tootie. "If you think about it Willis, you'll remember that Blair has been known to go to extremes. Like the time she found her dear, old grandad was a member of the KKK or when she and Jo kept one-upping each other over that silly Helen of Troy contest."
"Yeah," interjected Willis. "I remember when she decided to be the 'working rich' and had me toting around her Countess Calvet beauty products," said Willis as he shook his head at the memory. "You're right, Tootie, Blair has been known to go over the deep end."
Andy came back from the kitchen and handed a glass of wine to his wife and another to Sharon. He handed Willis a glass of soda, since he had to drive. At least soda was better than plain water.
"Yet, it seems like this time is so much worse than all those other times put together. The girl has totally split her banana."
"Well, what should we do about it?" asked Sharon.
"There's not much we can do. All we can hope for is Jo to return soon and bring Blair back to the planet Earth. Anyway, let's not talk about that. Instead," she looked straight at Willis, "why don't you dish about the latest on Kimberly and Kelly."
"Well, Kim said that Blair pretty much cut her and Kelly from the wedding. She didn't go into too many details, but she said that 'if Blair is going to be that way, she doesn't wanna be a part of her damn wedding anyway.' Then, she just claimed that Blair could get another dumb bitch to take her place. She was really mad."
"Oh, well, that's just Blair opening her mouth before she thinks again," said Tootie, "but I was talking about Kim and Kelly." She emphasized her point by hooking her two pointer fingers together.
"Whatcha' talkin' 'bout?" said Willis, having an Arnold moment.
Tootie let out an exasperated sigh. "I mean, what's the scoop on Kim and Kelly – together."
"Wait, what?" asked Willis in a shocked tone.
"You mean you didn't know?" Tootie wondered, her eyes bulging.
"Know what?" asked Willis as he put his arms up in utter confusion.
"That Kimberly and Kelly are an item."
"What? You're kiddin' me? Kim and Kelly? Really?" Willis asked in complete shock. He looked down for a minute, contemplating what Tootie just said. Then, a smile spread across his face as he asked, "Girl, you ain't bullshittin' me, are ya?"
"Nah, no bullshit," replied Tootie as she put up her hand as if she was approaching the witness stand.
"Unbelievable," said Willis as he just shook his head in disbelief. Willis had met Kelly a few times, and, honestly, he thought she was a nut. "Man, Kimberly's a character herself. She don't need to be with someone crazier than her!"
"Yeah. I'm surprised myself," said Sharon agreeing with her husband.
"Are you sayin' you don't approve?" asked Tootie in complete disbelief.
"It's not that. It's just . . . Kim doesn't need to be messin' with someone who's nuttier than a Payday. Lord, knows Kelly likes to try anything, but she can be beyond reckless. Hell, I'm surprised she's still alive considering all the crazy and dangerous things she's done. From what I've heard from Jo and from the few times I've been around Kelly, I can honestly say that the girl can be hell on wheels. I remember when she convinced me to go car surfing with her!" exclaimed Willis.
"But, honey, it sounds like Kim's in love," replied Sharon leaning into his shoulder.
"Love? Love! Humph, sounds just like another crazy whim to me. You can't fall in love that quick."
"Hey, love works in funny ways, right Tootie?" said Andy followed by a wink. Tootie giggled, knowing how some people perceived their relationship as "odd."
"Yeah. If someone had told me ten years ago that Andy would be my next husband, I would've smacked them upside the head!" Everyone in the room laughed.
"You know," said Andy as he turned his attention to his wife, "I remember you telling me that I could ride in the basket - of your bike." Andy's comment drew laughs from everyone in the room. "Now, it looks like you can ride in the baby seat – of my car!" Andy joked. Tootie lightly slapped him on the shoulders, but it stopped him from laughing.
Willis added, "Yeah, I still remember those days when she used to ride her roller skates everywhere, just so she looked taller than she really was."
"That ain't true! I did it because I found it faster to go places," Tootie protested.
"Yeah, faster to snoop in everyone else's business," Willis joked. Everyone laughed in the room, except Tootie, who was slightly embarrassed by Willis' jab at her past.
"Hey," she claimed, "I'll have you know that I just had a need for speed. Why walk when you can roll."
Willis stopped laughing for a second and said, "Yeah, you remember that one night at our house that you rolled right down the stairs."
"I thought I was pretty graceful, if I do say so myself. Besides," she said looking at Willis with a sly grin ready to jab him back, "when we had sleepovers, I had the assurance that I wasn't the smallest thing in the house."
Willis nodded his head in agreement, "You're right. That award goes to Arnold." Everyone broke out in laughter again.
"You know," said Tootie, "I thought after tagging around with Arnold on the bike path for so long, I would never go for a shorter or younger man," she ended looking lovingly at her husband. "And imagine, a white man to boot."
"But I know you don't regret your decision?" said Andy with a grin.
"Absolutely not," Tootie smiled back and then gave her husband a peck on the cheek. "Though I did have some reservations at first."
Andy rolled his eyes and sighed, "That's just because of your stupid cousin, LaRon."
Tootie rolled her eyes the moment he said "LaRon." "Ugh… Don't remind me," she said through clenched teeth.
"Yeah, he's an idiot. Tootie told me what he said to her when we first started dating, and it went something like this: 'Why you messin' wit' dat pasty-ass whiteboy fo'? He ain't gon nuffin fo' you. You can do bettah than dat bama! You needa leave that punk-ass bama behind an' get yo'self a real brutha, ya know what I'm sayin'?'" said Andy, mocking LaRon's voice while animating his facial patterns. That got Tootie and Willis laughing, while Sharon sat apparently puzzled about something.
Finally, Sharon spoke. "What's a 'bama?'" Sharon asked. She was obviously not familiar with certain African-American slang, even though she'd been with Willis for nearly twenty years.
"A 'bama' is a DC insult slang for calling someone 'country,' or a loser, or that they dress poorly, like someone who dresses like they're from the country. It comes from the word 'Alabama,' which many in the DC area, and pretty much most of the country, sees as 'country,'" Tootie informed Sharon.
"Oh," said Sharon who was still looking a little confused.
"Hey, it's okay," comforted Andy. "It took me a while to understand what half of Tootie's family was saying when I visited them in DC. They throw words around like 'cised' (pronounced like pre-cised), 'lunchin',' 'sweatin',' 'joanin',' all over the place!" said Andy with a look of disbelief on his face.
"Wow, it sounds like I'd lose my mind if I hung around them," said Sharon.
Willis chuckled. "Honey, it's not that bad. Just like how you understand what me and my friends be saying, you'll understand them eventually."
"I don't know about that, Willis. I still don't understand what goes on upstairs in LaRon's mind," said Andy with a snarky tone.
"Not just him, Andy, but my entire mom and dad. I still don't understand them. I mean, I understand that they're still upset about Aunt Sylvia remarrying Uncle Brian, and they're none too happy that I married a 'white boy,' but how can they refuse to spend time with their grandson," said Tootie as she put her head down, clearly upset.
"Maybe it's the combination of us deciding to name him after your Uncle Brian and the fact that I'm white. I mean, it's easy to say you're not prejudiced as long as mixing doesn't happen in your own family."
Tootie looked up with tears threatening to fall, "But how can they say that our children will be nothing more than confused zebras? That they will not make it anywhere in life."
"Well, that's just like your cousin, Michael," added Andy. "He married that Latina girl from Venezuela, and suddenly he becomes ousted from the family."
"Oh, yeah, Michael. Ironically, he's really the only relative I talk to on a regular basis. Most of the rest of the family says he's a race traitor who will be cursed with unsuccessful half-breeds. I just can't believe how narrow-minded my family's acting."
"And yet they're probably big-time supporters of that other 'half-breed,' Barack Obama," derided Sharon.
"Yeah, talk about hypocrisy," said Tootie.
"Hey, isn't Michael the one who went out with Natalie once?" asked Willis.
"Yeah, he did, but it didn't last long," replied Tootie looking away.
"I wonder why..." Andy deadpanned as he and Willis both eyed Tootie accusingly.
"Look! I didn't know any better back then. I was reacting based on what happened to Uncle Brian and Aunt Sylvia. I mean, you gotta understand my situation and how things were like back then." Tootie was now in total defense mode, with her mouth wide open and her eyes growing big, as she felt that they were all going to gang up on her. "I know I messed up, but I was brainwashed by my family's beliefs."
"We're not really accusing you of anything, but we're just saying that prejudice can touch everyone," assured Andy. "I mean, hey, I was a skinny white boy who will never be good enough in your parents' eyes."
"Yeah, but what scares me the most," interjected Tootie, "is that when Brian gets older, he'll see how my parents treat him differently from Tisha. I'm afraid that he'll ask questions and discover that the difference in treatment doesn't stem from their gender or their ages. It terrifies me that he'll find out that he's treated differently just because he's mixed race." It was clear that Tootie was on the verge of tears. Andy reached over and had her lay her head on his shoulder as he comforted her.
Willis and Sharon shook their heads in disgust. "I'm just glad that Dad was never like that. Neither was Sharon's parents," said Willis.
"Well, it helps that my parents are from California," Sharon joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"And it also helps that you're from California," said Willis as he squeezed his wife.
"You know how jealous I am that you got a wonderful dad?" asked Tootie as she lifted her head from Andy's shoulder and wiped away any tears. "I'll trade my dad for yours any day!"
Willis laughed. "Yeah, he's a cool dad, but he has his moments."
"Gee, even my parents have their days," said Sharon. "I think it's parents' jobs to try to find fault in who their kids choose to spend their lives with, just because they feel that no one's good enough for their kids. Maybe they don't want to be replaced or maybe they just want to feel needed."
Andy claimed, "Well, Tootie's parents certainly find fault in me. Hell, her parents weren't happy that I'm five years younger than their daughter. I think they feel I'm looking for a mother figure or something."
"Well, to be honest," said Willis, "it was kind of a shocker. Even I was surprised that she agreed to marry you, especially since she rejected you a long time ago."
"People change, Willis, and so do their attitudes toward others. I opened my eyes and realized that race is only skin-deep. As for Andy, he was a young wise-ass. Now, he's an old wise-ass!" Tootie joked. Andy just laughed, not taking it personal. He knew his wife too long to get upset with her playful jabs. Besides, she had a point. She overcame her racial prejudices and her apprehension of marrying a younger man. He couldn't get mad at her.
"Well," said Willis, "I'm glad you're not worried about her aging."
"Yeah, what happens if she gets older?" Sharon asked.
"Why worry? She'll still look better than me because 'black don't crack!'"
"You got that right!" Tootie joked while Andy and Willis laughed. Sharon simply sighed.
"Aww, honey, you'll never age," said Willis noticing a hint of sadness in Sharon's demeanor. "You'll always be my young, white chickie. And besides, if you age, you'll be like a fine wine – good to the last drop."
This got Sharon to perk up and snuggle next to her husband.
"Well, I think we all did good in the mate selection process," said Andy as he hugged his wife.
"Yeah, it could have been worse. A lot worse, right Tootie?"smirked Willis, as he hinted about a certain member of the Jackson family.
"You betta not be talkin' 'bout Jermaine Jackson!" shouted a miffed Tootie. Immediately, Willis started to laugh.
"I sure am. Mr. California Raisin himself!" said Willis as he was about to fall on the floor laughing.
"Oh, yeah!" exclaimed Andy as he started to laugh hysterically. Sharon looked confused for a moment, but then she joined in the laughter as well.
Tootie was a bit hurt by the ridicule. "Hey! I didn't know he would turn out like this!"
"Oh, my God, Tootie? Jermaine Jackson. Really?" Sharon jibbed.
"Yeah. People called Michael, 'the Gloved One,' well Jermaine's 'the Greasy One!" joked a laughing Andy.
"Yeah, every time he comes on the TV, I have to get some Windex to wipe off the grease." Willis was laughing so much, his stomach began to hurt.
Everybody in the room was laughing, with the exception of Tootie who was embarrassed and was about to walk out of the room crying. Andy noticed the hurt look on Tootie's face and and immediately tried to defuse the situation.
"I'm sorry honey, we were just kidding," comforted Andy as he put his hand around his wife. "I apologize if we took it too far."
Tootie didn't say anything. She was clearly upset.
As if on cue, Willis returned to the subject that started this discussion so Tootie would no longer feel targeted and attacked. "Well, if Tootie's right and Kim starts something with Kelly, I hope it'll work out for her. Her last marriage," said Willis as he started to get angry, "was a total disaster."
"He was a complete jerk," Sharon gritted. "I wanted to grab a baseball bat and beat the shit outta him."
"And he only served six months in jail," seethed Willis. "Now he's married again, and I heard he's beating her up, just like he did with Kim."
"So, if he ends up in trouble again, will Kim be called to serve as a character witness?" Andy asked.
"No doubt. Kim will do anything to make sure he never leaves his prison cell again."
Willis' current openness gave Tootie the opportunity to ask him the question that she always wanted answered. It always seemed that she forgot or the conversation just never allowed for her to ask. Finally, the opportunity presented itself and she took full advantage of it. "Umm, Willis, what made Kimberly change?" Tootie asked. "She was never really like this, was she?"
"Well, she always wanted to be independent. She never really wanted to be known as 'daddy's little rich girl,' like Blair. Thus, she went on to get a job outside of Trans-Alliance and even left Eastland to go to the same public school as Arnold and I. She was getting sick and tired of being so sheltered. According to her, she needed to go out and experience life if she would ever be prepared to live it."
"So, is that where the wildness, the drugs, the alcohol, and the bisexuality came in?" Andy asked.
"Well, she's had female partners since she was 14, when we just moved in. Arnold and I weren't really sure at first, but she seemed to give off a gay vibe sometimes when she was around certain girls. Then, one day, I walked in on her when she was supposed to be studying with a friend and saw her and this other girl kissing. I still wasn't convinced because girls sometimes experiment just to curb their curiosity, but she later admitted to me that she is attracted to girls as well as to guys. So, yeah, she has always dated both genders for as long as I've known her, though back in those days, she had to keep her female dates a secret from Dad. Kim kept the truth about her sexuality hidden from Dad until we went to visit her in LA. At that time, she was working for a couple as a live-in housekeeper, in between cosmetic jobs. The couple's mansion had an indoor pool, so one day Dad and I decided to go swimming. Everything seemed normal at first, but when we walked back inside, we caught them having a threesome!"
That news shocked Tootie and Andy. Sharon already knew about the pool incident and Kim's earlier sexual escapades.
"I'm surprised Mr. Drummond didn't have a heart attack right then and there," said Andy, who was still reeling from the news.
"He nearly did!" Willis quipped. "When he finally regained his composure, he sat Kimberly down and asked her what the heck she was doing. That's when she revealed that she had always liked both males and females. Of course, he asked how it was possible because she always went out with guys, and she told him about hiding her dates with women or just playing them off as visits and sleepovers."
"I just can't believe he wasn't more vocal about it. I mean, Kim is his only daughter and they moved in a certain social circle," claimed Tootie. "I mean Blair's dad wasn't thrilled about her and Jo and, although he finally came around, he openly disapproved of Blair's decision."
"And Jo's dad was even worst. He stopped talking to her and cut her out of his will," said Andy.
"Oh, yeah, he had serious issues with Jo's lesbianism," Tootie replied. "Well, he won't have any problems with it anymore – he's dead."
"Yeah," replied Andy.
Well, anyway," said Willis, "I guess that's where Dad was different than Mr. Warner, and much more different than Mr. Polniaczek. Sure, he was bothered a bit by the news that Kim had always liked boys and girls, but he never shunned her for her choices. He always accepted and loved her unconditionally."
"Yeah, that's why Mr. Drummond is such a cool dude," Andy commented.
"Yeah," agreed Tootie."He didn't judge Kim or make her feel bad about her sexuality. Maybe that's why Blair had such a rough time at first. Her parents were publically disappointed about Blair's choice in a sexual partner. I remember when they kept asking if she was sure – was she just experimenting because that's what girls do. Finally, they had to accept her decision. Personally, I think it still weighs on their minds a little bit, but I think they like Jo enough and wish for Blair's happiness too much to fight it anymore."
"Still," interrupted Andy, "it seems like her behavior and stuff came out of nowhere. I mean, she didn't seem to be the type to get into so much trouble."
"That's what everyone thinks. People assume that her change in attitude and behavior was sudden, but it really wasn't. She was slowly starting to get more in touch with her wild side, even before she moved to Paris. We used to sneak out of our house and go to parties, especially the ones in the Bronx when hip-hop was still king and underground. If it wasn't for the time that thug pulled a knife on us, we probably would have continued going to those parties. The drugs, alcohol, and total wildness came when she moved to Paris. Then it just intensified when she moved to LA," Willis informed the others.
"I see," said Andy.
"The truth is, Kim thought that getting away from New York was the best decision she ever made. She told me that she felt like she was free in Paris and LA because she didn't have to deal with the stuck-up, socialite crowd of New York. I didn't understand at first because LA has its socialite crowds as well, but she claimed that they were different. I think it had something to do with the fact that she didn't know them. In New York, the crowd knew her so her behavior and actions made her stand out, but in LA she could blend with the crowd. Also, no one knew her by Dad's name, so she had to make it all on her own merit. It was the decision to move to LA that made her bolder and more apt to try new things," explained Willis.
"Willis, honey, you should be thankful that Kim moved out to LA because if she didn't, we never would have met," said Sharon as she snuggled against her husband.
"You're right," agreed Willis. "That's so true."
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(Flashback to 1993, LA)
World-renowned producer, Jack Tavarian, was holding a party at his house. Jack, a friend of Willis and Kim's, was in LA to visit the latter. Inside, people were mingling as Willis was checking out the scene. At that time, Willis had a low-fade haircut and wore one of those colorful shirts that were popular in the early-90s. Kimberly had a wavy, asymmetrical, bob haircut and wore a mustard yellow blazer over a black and white stripped vest. Underneath the vest, Kimberly wore a white butterfly-collar shirt. She also wore matching mustard yellow bell-bottoms and black platform shoes. It was clearly the 90s style.
Jack's get-together was a typical meet-and-greet party that were common in LA, with watered-down house music playing in the background. Willis was somewhat used to these events because he had already attended a few with his sister. Since he was accustomed to these types of parties, he didn't expect much out of this one. Kimberly knew a lot of people at the party, but Willis didn't, so he just followed her around. As Kimberly was looking for Jack, Willis started a conversation.
"So, Jack wants you to do makeup for his next movie?"
"Yeah. It's a sci-fi flick, so I will be doing some serious overtime."
"Will you get some good money this time?"
"I better," Kim growled. Her last few jobs had barely paid for her moderate living standards.
As she was looking for Jack, Kimberly noticed a very attractive dark-haired woman standing against a wall about halfway across the room. It looked like she was waiting for her turn in the bathroom.
Kimberly licked her lips as if she was looking at a tasty dessert. Willis noticed that Kimberly was checking the woman out.
"See something you like?" he asked, trying to get her out of her trance.
"Yep," Kim answered matter-of-factly.
"How do you even know she likes girls?" asked Willis.
Kimberly looked at him and said, "I don't." She ended her statement with a smile.
Willis was shocked as his sister boldly strode up to the girl and introduced herself.
"Hello there," said Kim in a pleasing, but not seductive, voice as she placed her hand on the wall and leaned against it.
"Hi," replied the brunette.
"I assume you know Jack."
"Actually, I don't, but my friend who's in the bathroom, does."
"Oh, I see," replied Kim as she looked at the woman from head to toe. "So, are you from around here?"
"Yeah. I live in Santa Monica. Where do you live?" the girl asked, trying to be polite.
"I live around this area – about four blocks from here," replied Kim still ogling the woman.
"Cool," was the woman's only reply.
Kimberly was clearly interested and wanted to kick it up a notch. "So, tell me more about yourself."
The dark-haired woman laughed. "My name is Sharon Lebedowitz, I'm an accountant, and you are not my type because I'm straight," she ended with a chuckle.
Kim felt a slight sting from the rejection. "Oh," she said dejectedly, "So, what is your type."
"He's my type," Sharon nodded toward Willis and started to blush. Willis noticed the girl's reaction and looked around as if to ask, "Who me?" He was clearly taken by surprise.
"You mean, my brother?"
Sharon's eyes jumped as she asked, "Your brother?!"
Sharon did a double take on Kim and Willis – twice! Kim laughed as she clarified, "He's my adopted brother."
Sharon laughed as she said, "Oh, I see."
"His name is Willis. Hey, come on," said Kim as she grabbed Sharon's hand and started leading her in Willis' direction, "I'll introduce you to him."
A big smile appeared on Sharon's face. "Sure! Thanks."
As Kim approached Willis she said, "Willis, this is Sharon. Sharon, this is Willis."
"Nice to meet you," Willis said as he blushed and held out his hand.
"Nice to meet you, too," said an equally red Sharon as she shook his offered palm.
Sharon continued to examine Willis and Kimberly because they looked a bit familiar to her. Finally she said, "Say, you two look very familiar. Did I see you on TV or something?"
"Well, you probably saw us on 20/20 a long time ago when they interviewed our dad," replied Kimberly.
"Oh. So, if you don't mind me asking, who's your dad?"
"Phillip Drummond, head of Trans-Allied Inc.," said Kimberly proudly.
Sharon was speechless. When she regained the ability to speak she said, "Oh, yeah, him! I read an article in Time magazine about him and his kids! I guess it was talking about you guys."
"Yep, that was us, back in 1982," gleamed Willis.
"Oh, my God! I'm totally a fan. I wondered what it would be like to meet you guys in person because your story sounded so fascinating."
"Ya hear that, bro?" asked Kimberly as she playfully elbowed Willis in the ribs, "I guess we've made it." She couldn't help from laughing.
Willis just rubbed his torso – not because of Kim's playful jabs, but because of the butterflies that were flying around in his stomach. Kim noticed the interest her brother had for their newfound friend, but she also knew that he was too shy to ask the girl out. So, she took control.
"Umm, Sharon, how would you like to come to my place for dinner? Willis is visiting me and maybe you can get to know each other better when we're not surrounded by all these strangers."
"I'd be delighted," replied Sharon, who was trying to hide her excitement. She was trying to play it cool.
Kim glanced at her brother whose head had been hung in embarrassment. He looked at her and mouthed the word Thanks as she gave him a wink.
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"And that's how we met," said Willis. "Sharon came over to Kim's and . . ."
"And we fell in love," finished Sharon as she snuggled closer to her husband.
"Of course," continued Willis "our wedding was interesting, since it was a mixture of both Jewish and Christian ceremonies. You know, I never thought I'd be breaking the glass!"
"So, where'd you guys go on your honeymoon?" asked Andy.
"We actually went to Cape Town, South Africa," replied Willis proudly.
"Trying to get back to your roots there, Willis?" joked Andy.
Willis just glared at Andy before he replied, "No. We stayed at Atlantic House, which was right up the hill from the beach."
"It was so breathtaking," piped in Sharon. "We could sit out on the deck and watch the sun set over the water."
"The place was designed for relaxation and privacy, which we took full advantage of, didn't we, honey?" asked Willis as he turned toward his wife.
"Umm, it was glorious," answered Sharon as she snuggled even closer to her husband.
"It sounds so romantic," said Tootie dreamily.
"Hey, I thought our honeymoon was pretty romantic," pouted Andy.
"Oh, it was, honey, it was." Then Tootie chuckled, "Despite our little mishap on the water."
"What happened?" asked Sharon who was completely intrigued.
"Well, we were in Venice, Italy on our European honeymoon vacation," started Tootie as Andy just rolled his eyes, "when swift here decided to take a dip in the Grand Canal."
"Really?" asked Sharon as Willis just laughed.
"The gondolier told us to remain seated, but Andy decided he was going to stand up, and down he went," said Tootie through laughs.
"Hey, I was going to serenade you," said Andy scowling with his arms crossed across his chest.
"It was a romantic gesture, sweetie," said Tootie as she lightly stroked his arm. She then turned her attention back to her company. "The sun was setting as we were traveling town the Grand Canal. We could hear music playing from somewhere, and it was just perfect. Well, until Andy went overboard," Tootie chuckled.
Andy just mocked his wife as he kept his arms crossed.
Tootie continued, "He spent the next coupla days in bed with a small cold as I nursed him back to health." Tootie then reached over and playfully pinched Andy's cheek.
"Okay, okay," said Andy, "but tell them how I made up for it."
"Well, then we went to Paris, and, oh, it was so romantic. Andykins took me to the top of the Eiffel Tower and we looked down over the city. It was so magical," gushed Tootie as it was Sharon's turn to look on dreamily.
"Well, I'm glad you guys had fun in Paris," said Willis.
"We sure did," said Tootie as she continued to snuggle into a now smiling Andy.
"Because I can't say the same for Kimberly. For her, the experience was far from romantic," proclaimed Willis as he looked down and shook his head.
"What really happened to Kimberly while she was there?" asked Tootie curiously. "She never told us the full story."
"You know that she wanted to become a model in Paris," started Willis.
"Yeah," acknowledged Tootie with a nod.
"Well, when she got there, she got a reality check."
"What do you mean by that, Willis?" asked Andy.
"She was considered too short for modeling," explained Willis as she shook his head, "so she tried extreme measures that would stretch her torso. Kim was already suffering from bulimia, so the physical stress took a toll on her body. She was in bad shape for a long time."
Sharon reassuringly put her hand on Willis' back as he put his hand up to his eyes.
"No matter what she did," continued Willis, "no one would hire her as a model. She got very depressed while still doing everything she could to get work. I think she was desperate. So, when a man approached her one day and promised that he could make her a star, she was all too willing to take the work. All she had to do was sign a contract saying that she voluntarily agreed to do a couple of films."
"Uh, oh," said Tootie, "I don't think I like where this is leading up to."
"Yeah, they were French porno movies," admitted Willis.
"Poor Kim," said Andy shaking his head.
"She never told us," chimed in Tootie who was clearly shocked.
"The funny thing is," continued Willis, "was that she didn't have any complaints about the sex acts she had to perform. In fact, she told me she enjoyed it."
"What?!" asked Andy and Tootie in unison as their eyes bulged in surprise.
"Yeah, that's Kimberly for you. Lying beneath her girl-next-door image was a sex addict just waiting to get out. I guess it makes sense, now, why she liked both guys and girls. Gender doesn't matter to her as long as the sex is good," claimed Willis.
Tootie and Andy both still looked shocked at the news.
Willis continued, "Kim later told me that she felt like she was living out her fantasies. That she was finally free to do what she wanted without anyone discouraging or criticizing her."
"I can't believe we didn't know that side of her," said Tootie. "Yet, it makes sense. People who grow up sheltered for the greater part of their lives tend to rebel. I guess it had to be hard trying to hide her true self for so long, that the freedom had to be exonerating."
"Yeah," proceeded Willis, "but the problem was the work rate and low pay. The filming process could be long and tiresome, and the pay could be dismal. It was hard to justify doing so much work for such little money."
"So, what happened?" Tootie asked.
"Cindy happened. During one of her modeling shoots in Paris, she was able to obtain a lesbian porn movie. As she watched it, she recognized Kimberly. I'm sure she probably had to watch it again, just to see if her suspicions were right."
"Yeah," interjected Tootie, "our Cindy the ever vigilant one for detail. Are you sure that was the real reason why she watched the movie a few times?"
Everyone in the room laughed.
"Why doesn't it surprise me that Cindy would watch lesbian porn?" asked Andy.
"Because we all know how Cindy like's to be 'active,'" Tootie jibed, as more laughs came from the room.
After the laughter calmed down, Wills continued, "Well, when Cindy confirmed that Kim was indeed in the movie, she made it her mission to find my sister. She knew how much Kim wanted to be a model and, after seeing Kim in that movie, she just felt kind of guilty since her career took off as Kim's plummeted. So, Cindy called her mom who was a cosmetic expert for the Hollywood stars and asked if she would train Kim in cosmetics and hire her as an assistant. Since Kim was a former friend of her daughter's, Cindy's mom agreed to help Kim if she moved out to LA. Of course, Cindy didn't mention the real reason why she wanted to help Kim out."
Tootie and Andy were staring in awe at what Willis was saying.
"Anyway," continued Willis "from what I heard, it wasn't easy for Cindy to track down my elusive sister. She lived in a very small, run-down apartment on the outskirts of the city. When Cindy saw her, she realized how physically drained Kim seemed and wasted no time in convincing her to take the job in LA. She promised that the pay would be good and Kim would no longer have to live like she was."
"Gee," said Tootie breaking the silence, "it had to be a shock for Kim to see someone from her past show up on her doorstep like that."
"Yeah," agreed Andy, "especially after spending so much time trying to break away from her roots. What did people think when they found out what she had been up to?"
"Well, honestly, she was something of an embarrassment to dad. Her wild escapades and her drug and alcohol habits were the talk of the circle. Things didn't get any better once she moved out to LA and her alcohol and drug additions worsened. She was just lucky that the tabloids only printed two stories about her, and that they were back burners. Kim always wanted to keep a low profile, but it was difficult with her reputation. Since dad didn't work in something more glamorous such as running hotels or defending celebrities, there was little mention of Kim in national news; however, there were a lot of rumors and unflattering gossip circulating within dad's circle," said Willis as he shook his head.
"I can see how hard things were for her now," replied Tootie.
"Now, can you see why I'm apprehensive about her hooking up with Kelly? I know about Kelly's past, and I'm afraid that the two of them together will not add up to anything good," admitted Willis.
"Dear," interjected Sharon, "I'm sure Kim will be fine. She has a good head on her shoulders, and I'm sure she will make the right decisions."
Sharon patted Willis' back as he replied, "I hope so. I really hope so."
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At that moment, Kimberly and Kelly were entering the Corner Bistro at West Village for their first official date. The Corner Bistro is a popular place for late-nite food affairs – nothing fancy. The menu consists only of burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries, and drinks. It was the perfect place for Kim, who does not like to flaunt her wealth like Blair. Kelly was just happy to eat one of their burgers, since it had been over six years since she was last in NYC.
After they sat down and ordered their food, they tried to pick up where they left off earlier that day before Blair so rudely interrupted.
"Man, I still can't believe Blair," said Kimberly shaking her head. "I've never seen her act like that before."
"Really?" Kelly asked skeptically. "Because I have seen her act like that before."
"But I thought you guys just met."
"Ah, no. Me and Ms. Money Bags almost turned Jo's 40th birthday party into a WWE Smackdown. And I was about to layeth the smacketh down on her WASP candyass!"
"What?" asked Kimberly in shock.
"Oh, Blondie and I almost had a hand-to-hand combat when we were supposed to be celebratin' Jo turnin' the big four oh. If she woulda just kept her big mouth shut, everything woulda been fine."
"Yeah, you're right. Sometimes Blair speaks before she thinks. She has a good heart, it's just . . .
"It's just that she thinks her shit don't stink. Well, I have news for that Marshmallow Head . . . her shit don't smell like peaches. If you're human, it all comes out smellin' the same."
In the back of Kim's mind, she was thinking, "Thank God we haven't eaten yet, I would have lost my appetite by now."
"Kelly, you just have to try to see things from her perspective."
"What from the Ivory Tower? I'm sorry, I can't bow to someone who looks down on me. I'm not one of her peons ya know."
"I know, but . . ."
"But? But? Kim, she ousted you from her wedding just 'cuz you sided with me," replied Kelly grabbing Kim's hands in her own.
"I think she'll get over it," said Kimberly as she looked away uncertainly.
"I don't think so, Kim. She still hasn't forgiven me," muttered Kelly under her breath as she slowly looked away.
"Do you mean for the party?"
"No, for what I did before goin' into the slamma."
"What are you talking about?"
"There was this high class society dame that started comin' around my turf. 'Memba when I told ya I was the 'Meth Queen of NYC?'" Kelly's Bronx accent started to come through, even though she spent the last six years in Texas. As Jo always said, "You can take the girl outta the Bronx, but ya can't take the Bronx outta the girl" and Kelly was proving that right now.
"Yeah, I remember when you told me that."
"Well, I kinda got this chick hooked on meth."
"What does that have to do with Blair?" asked Kimberly with her eyes wide.
"How was I 'sposed to know that broad was one of Blair's besties pre-Eastland," Kelly blurted as she threw up her hands in defeat. She was so loud, that she briefly gained the attention of the people around them.
"You mean to tell me that you sold drugs to one of Blair's high-society friends?" Kim asked in shock.
"Yo, I was just supplyin' to a customer. I didn't do a background check. How was I 'sposed to know she was Blair's friend?"
"Blair had a lot of friends. Well, so-called friends, anyway. So, I can see how you may have had a run-in with some of them, though I don't think anyone would believe any of them would get into drugs."
"That's what ya gotta understand about the high-society set, Kim. Just cuz they wear shirts with little alligators on them, it doesn't mean they don't do drugs."
"Well, duh. I know that from personal experience."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply anything."
"It's okay," said Kimberly reassuringly.
"But the truth is, many of them really think they're above getting hooked."
Kimberly shook her head as she said, "Those socialite snobs. Honestly, I can't stand them, and Blair can't stand some of them. I don't know Boots St. Claire too well, and that's probably for the better, because the few times I met her, I wanted to stuff my ears with earplugs. That voice 'Whamo, Warnsie, isn't it just ta da and the most," said Kim mocking the Gamma Gamma alum with a flick of her wrist.
"Heh," Kelly chuckled.
"But I do know some of the others like Margo Thomas, Daphne Blake, Sarah Watson, Dina Becker, Rachel Sterling, and, of course, Kathy Hilton."
While Kim was ratting off names, Kelly's eyes jumped and Kim noticed.
"Is something wrong?"
"Umm... no, nothing. I'm just surprised you know all those people," replied Kelly as she averted Kim's eyes. Her cover-up wasn't completely successful, but Kim decided not to dwell on it.
"I'm sure you might have known some of them, too, since you had your share of wealth during your meth days."
"Not really. I was something of an outcast. I may have run into some of them, but nothing more than that."
"But you just said you sold to one of them. Who was it?"
"Never mind that. All you need to know is that Blair blames me for getting one of her snooty friends hooked on meth."
"So, what did you do?"
"I got myself together, got outta jail, and I headed to Houston."
"Yeah, Houston," said Kimberly dreamily. "What's it like in Houston?" Kim asked.
"It's big, just like everything in Texas," Kelly answered.
"You mean it's true what they say? Everything's bigger in Texas?"
Kelly just rolled her eyes as she said, "Yes, and things grow fast down there. It's a booming city"
"I see. So, is it like Dallas?"
Kelly thought for a second, "People say it's nothing like Dallas, but, to me, they have quite a few similarities. They both like to brag that they're the best. They're also very Southern, though Houston has more of a Mexican flava to it. And they both are crazy for their professional teams."
"Oh, okay. So, when can I visit, Kel?"
"For you, anytime you want. Hell, you can bring ya whole family. Your brothers, your father, your mother…"
Kimberly winced when Kelly said "mother."
"I don't have a mother," said Kimberly as she looked away in an effort to hold back the tears. "She died when I was ten."
"Oh, I'm sorry," said Kelly with a sorrowful tone.
Kimberly was trying not to cry, but her memories of her mother made that hard.
"I know it's been nearly forty years, but it still hurts when I think about my mother being dead."
"Wow! I guess I never knew what it was like to have a mother who really cared. I think my mom died when I was born – or at least when my dad ran out on us."
"I'm sorry," said Kim as she tried to keep her tears at bay.
"At times, I even wish my mother was dead. I woulda been better off," said Kelly dejectedly.
"Don't ever say that. I know that you had problems with your mother, but the last thing you should ever say is that you wished she was dead," Kim admonished Kelly. "You don't know what it's like til you lose her.'
"You're right. My mother did put me on this earth, but that's the only good thing she has ever done. All I can thank her for is supplyin' the egg at the time of my conception and not terminatin' the pregnancy," said Kelly who looked away in anger and sadness.
"I'm sorry, but I loved my mom."
"By the way, can I ask how your mom died?"
Kimberly started to cry, "Sure. It's not much of secret, especially the way the she died."
"Huh?" asked Kelly confused.
"She was raped and murdered by some scumbag."
"What?! That's not fair," yelled Kelly.
"Huh?" asked Kimberly through sniffles.
"Here my mom made herself available to every John, Harry and Dick, but it's your mom who suffered. That's not fair."
"I don't understand," said Kimberly confused as she tried to hold back the tears.
"My mom couldn't get enough sex. She asked for it every day, but your mom was raped and murdered? She didn't ask for it, yet she's the one who's in six-feet deep."
"No, she didn't."
"Your mother was an innocent victim, Kim. How did you ever deal with it?"
"Her unnecessary death is so hard on dad and I that we rarely, if ever, talk about her. It's our way of coping with the pain."
"Oh, my God. My mom played so fast and loose, she coulda easily ended up dead."
"Yeah. Now do you see why I said to never wish that on your mom? She may have been horrible, but the loss is indescribable."
"I guess sometimes ya just have to leave your past in your past, huh?"
"Yes," replied Kim as she looked into Kelly's eyes. There was something in Kim's mind that kept nagging at her. She wanted to say something, but she kept forgetting to bring it up when she saw Kelly. As she got lost in Kelly's eyes, she suddenly remembered it.
"For some reason, you look so familiar. Like someone I saw way back in the past?"
"I hope that's a good thing, considering that we just agreed that the past is better off in the past," Kelly said nervously. She had every right to be apprehensive, considering her past.
"I think it's good. You remind me of a girl I saw when I used to go to those parties back in the day. There were only so many white people there," said Kim as she tried to remember.
"Hey, wait a minute. Were you the one who hung around with that droopy-eyed black guy, and used to do those ballerina moves combined with the popping and locking."
"Yeah, that was me!" Kim laughed.
"Oh, my God! I actually had a crush on you, but I thought you were going out with that black guy, so I never asked."
"That black guy was my brother, Willis – Willis Jackson."
Kelly looked Kim up from head to toe. "Your brother?" asked Kelly skeptically.
"My adopted brother," Kim clarified.
Kelly sat silently for a minute as she searched her memory bank. That name – Willis – and his face had an air of familiarity. Suddenly, it dawned on her as the connections hit her like a bolt of lightning.
"Oh, yeah, I know him! He's Jo's buddy. So, that was who you were with?" asked Kelly.
"Yeah. He went there to protect me."
"Damn. The world is so fuckin' small," exclaimed Kelly with a hint of regret.
"So, you knew my brother?"
"Hell, yeah. In fact, we went car surfin' one time!" explained Kelly as she talked animatedly with her hands.
"What?! He never told me that!" said a totally shocked Kim.
"Yeah, and you shoulda seen his face afterwards," Kelly laughed as she remembered that adventure. "Anyway, back to you and Willis. Gee, if I only knew you two didn't have it goin' on, I woulda approached ya for sure."
"Well, can I tell you a little secret?" asked Kimberly rather shyly as she coyly looked up at Kelly.
"Shoot," said Kelly as she leaned forward, intrigued about what Kim might say.
"I had a crush on you, too, but I had problems with Jessie at the time. She said I stepped on her foot."
"Wow! So that cutie really was you," said Kelly with a huge smile on her face.
Kimberly blushed as she answered, "I guess so."
"God, I wish I knew that ya weren't goin' with Willis," repeated Kelly. "I didn't know him until 1981, when Jo introduced us. But I never knew you guys were brother and sister. All I know is you guys stopped coming around after I met him and I never got the chance to ask questions about your guys' relationship. What happened?"
"Somebody tried to stab me and Willis, so we decided never to go back."
They got their orders, but continued to chat. What they were learning about each other was much more important than filling their stomachs.
"Man, that's too bad. If I woulda had the chance, you and me coulda tore up the town."
"Well, I didn't go to a lot places. Besides. We couldn't go beyond some of those parties."
"Are ya kiddin' me? I was able to get into Studio 54 and later on Paradise Garage with Jo and Jessie."
Kim dropped her chicken sandwich. "How'd you do that?" she asked. "I've been to the Garage, but not 54."
"It was easy. The guy who chose who could come in and who couldn't, had some sparkling, silver platform shoes. They were very interesting, so, while Jo and Jessie were with me, I said 'nice shoes,' and he let us in."
"But you could't have been old enough to get in," claimed Kimberly who was looking at Kelly in complete shock.
"Well, confidentially," said Kelly in a low whisper as if her younger exploits really mattered, "he let us in even though we were nowhere near 18. Sometimes, Kim, it's who ya know that gets ya places," finished Kelly with a smirk and a wink.
"Man, it sounds like you lived an interesting life. I wish I knew you back then."
"Well, you know me now," said Kelly as she clasped Kimberly's hands and got lost in her eyes.
They sat there staring at each other, lost in their own private world, until a gay couple sat down in the opposite booth. Kimberly took her eyes off Kelly and looked at one of them.
"Oh, they're totally gay," Kimberly joked.
Kelly looked and snickered. "Yeah, totally. They could easily be the poster children for the Lady Gaga fan club."
They laughed as they continued to gawk at the couple.
"Too bad, because one of them is cute."
That comment stopped Kelly right in her tracks.
"What?"
"The one facing us is cute. He reminds me of one of the men I had a threesome with back in LA."
"Huh?" asked Kelly with a combination of shock and disgust.
"I had a threesome with a husband and wife when I worked as a housekeeper in LA."
"Wait, are you saying that you're a bi?"
"Uh, yes, but I prefer the term pansexual. See, I also dated a transgendered male once."
The conversation turned south as Kelly abruptly took her hands away from Kim.
"How could you deceive me like that?" asked Kelly.
"I thought you knew? I was married twice and I have a son back in LA. Didn't they tell you?" Kim asked in complete surprise.
"No, not at all," Kelly said while looking away.
For a while, Kimberly kept talking, but Kelly only said yes, no, or okay. Finally, Kim had had enough.
"Okay, what's the problem?" Kim demanded, not caring about what the people around them thought.
"You're the problem," Kelly yelled back while pointing at Kimberly. "I don't deal with bi-sluts like you," she proclaimed as she stood up.
Kelly then put a $20 bill on the table and walked out.
About two minutes later, Kimberly started to cry.
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After Kim left the restaurant, she texted her brother.
"Are you home?" she texted.
"No, I'm at Tootie and Andy's place. How'd the date go?"
"Terrible. Fucking, terrible!"
Willis was shocked when he saw the text. "Wanna come here? We're goin' to be here for a bit. It's not too far away."
Kimberly replied, "Sure."
While Kim walked the 20 minutes to Tootie and Andy's condo, she thought about what happened. Reflecting on the date just got her more and more upset. By the time she arrived at their door, her eyes were red and puffy from all the crying she had done. She tried to compose herself before knocking on the door, but she was still clearly upset. When she finally knocked on the door, she heard Andy call out, "I'll get it."
Andy opened the door and looked at her for a minute before saying anything. "Um… come on in," he finally said as he moved out of her way to let her pass.
Kim quietly walked into the living room and saw three more sets of eyes staring at her. She looked from Willis to Sharon to Tootie back to Willis before shouting, "God damn lesbians!" Then, Kim crumpled to the floor as she continued to cry.
"What's wrong?" asked Willis as he got out of his seat and knelt beside Kimberly. He helped get her up and walked her to the couch. Kim continued to cry for a minute before speaking.
"Kelly walked out on me because she found out that I also like guys," sobbed Kimberly. Willis sat down next to his sister and offered her his shoulder to cry on. She sobbed for a while before letting out another huge outburst.
"I should have learned my lesson by now – not to deal with those God damn, vile, mother-fucking lesbians! They're all petty. PETTY! PETTY! PETTY!" She banged on Willis' chest with each word before slumping into his protective embrace as she continued sobbing. She was loud enough to wake Brian, who immediately started to cry.
One of Willis and Sharon's kids came into the room and asked, "What's going on? It sounds like Aunt Kim is upset."
"It's okay. We have it under control. Just go back to the other room."
"And miss this?" the kid beamed. "This is better than Saturday morning cartoons."
Willis gave him a stern look and the kid immediately obeyed, although he grumbled under his breath.
"I'll take care of Brian, you guys deal with Kim," said Tootie as she went into the baby's bedroom.
Willis, Sharon, and Andy tried their best to comfort Kim, but she was on the verge of hysterics.
"I know your heart's broken," said Sharon.
"Broken?" Kim interrupted. "She didn't just break my heart. That red-headed, devil bitch kicked it, slammed it, shattered it, drove a truck over it, and then dropped an anvil on it. That's what she did!" Kim then went back to her wailing.
Willis was amazed. He had never seen his sister get so upset over someone whom she claimed broke her heart. She always seemed to get over it quickly and move on to the next love affair. In fact, the only time he could think of that was even close to this was when David broke up with her. She cried that time, too, but it was nowhere near the hysterical display he was witnessing now. Maybe Kimberly was genuinely in love this time, which is why it hurt so much. Willis knew that he'd have to do something about it, but what?
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The day had not gone as planned for anyone. Blair had hoped that her shopping trip would make her feel better, but it only made her feel worse. It seemed like everyone had somebody – even that fallible, insufferable, brute, Kelly. All Blair wanted was Jo. She missed her so much, even though it was only the second day Jo was gone. She couldn't take it anymore, so she got out her laptop and Googled Jo's name. Blair knew that it was a longshot, but she was getting desperate. As she scrolled down the results, one blurb caught her eye. It was a mention of Jo's name in TMZ news. Of course, Blair assumed that there could be no relevant connection, but her curiosity got the better of her.
As Blair got on the TMZ website and began reading the headlines, nothing seemed out of the ordinary – Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher were splitting up, Hugh Grant was becoming a father at the age of 51, Arnold Schwarzenegger was implicated in a love child scandal, Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London home, Charlie Sheen was having a major meltdown, and WHAT! Blair couldn't believe her eyes as she read the headline again – "Heiress, Blair Warner, Found in Food Fight after Fiancé Flees Own Wedding Rehearsal."
"That lying scumbag," shouted Blair. "How could he lie to my face and tell me that he would not publicize this." As her blood began to boil, it dawned on her that the crew member of Nancy's television show knew nothing about the food fight. So, who could have tipped off TMZ? Although the news struck Blair hard, she didn't even care at this moment. All she wanted was Jo because everything was just going all wrong.
"Joanna, please come back to me. Please!" pleaded the blonde as she grabbed Jo's pillow and clutched it tightly to her chest before crying herself to sleep.
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While Blair was wallowing in the loss of her mate, a dark-haired woman sat in her New York City apartment sipping from her bottle of beer. As she reread the headline about Blair, a smile spread across her face.
"So, Jo has run off again, huh?" she thought. "Well, I'm just the one to get her to come out of hiding."
She then finished off her beer, turned her computer off, and went to get some supplies for the trip she had in mind. The whole time, she was smiling and chuckling evilly to herself.
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Back in Pennsylvania, Jo had decided to clear some files from her computer. The seclusion was great, but there wasn't a lot to do. In fact, it was on the verge of boring. "Why did I cut myself off from everyone?" she thought. At least Natalie would talk to her, or even Kelly would be a nice conversation companion. However, Jo knew that she had to stick to her guns if she would succeed at showing Blair a lesson. Still, it was getting pretty monotonous. Jo had listened to all the music on her phone, had read all of her magazines cover to cover – twice, had watched a couple things, but nothing seemed to be piquing her interest. The last resort was clearing her computer files.
Deciding on a pre-bed activity, Jo grabbed her laptop and sat down on the bed. She began condensing her files and deleting anything that she didn't need anymore. Suddenly she came across a file titled "Memories." For some reason, Jo could not remember what these files contained. Since she didn't know what was in these files, and she didn't want to accidentally delete something important, she sat back and opened them.
The first image that popped up was her and Blair's high school graduation picture. Two girls were smiling into the camera with their arms wrapped snugly around each other. Tears pricked Jo's eyes as she ran her finger over Blair's face. She then clicked the next image, which showed her giving Blair a piggyback ride. Blair was wearing a black skirt and blazer with a light blue shirt, while Jo was wearing her army green shirt, forest green cargo pants, and green camo overshirt. Jo was flashing her right fist at the camera while Blair was giving Jo bunny ears. Again, both girls were smiling as it looked like they were having fun. The next image was obviously taken right after the previous one, as both girls were wearing the same outfits. The only different is that they were on the floor, apparently after collapsing in laughter. Blair had her arm around Jo's neck and Jo had her right hand on Blair's left knee. It looked like such the perfect time.
Jo kept looking at picture after picture, remembering all the good times she had with Blair. She had to repeatedly wipe tears from her eyes and cheeks because the memories were just too much for her to hold in her emotions. Eventually, Jo had to stop. As she logged off her computer, put it away, and climbed under the covers, Jo couldn't stop thinking about Blair. She really did miss her and wished that they were together. Jo turned off the lights, hoping that sleep would take her, but to no avail. Her last resort was clutching a pillow to her chest and cry for her lover. At last, Jo cried herself to sleep.