Ted would be arriving soon for a casual evening of pizza and action films. Jo sat with her arms folded, staring at the television. The voice on the program droned on about making chicken stock but it didn't matter what the subject was since Jo wasn't paying attention. It was just background noise for her constant thoughts of Blair. She didn't make a practice of talking about her emotions and it was wearing on her. Engrossed in her thoughts, she didn't realize Ted had just sat down beside her.

"Hey Jo," he greeted her cheerfully. "How's it going?"

Jo continued to stare at the electronic box in front of her, oblivious to Ted's presence.

"Jo?" He tapped her on the shoulder, startling the young woman out of her contemplation. Ted wound up with an elbow to the gut and grimaced in pain.

"Oh Ted! I'm so sorry! Are ya okay?"

"Yeah," he choked, trying to get a breath. "I didn't mean to scare you. You were off on another planet somewhere."

"Yeah," Jo sighed, rubbing her weary eyes. "Did ya just get here?"

"Yup. Tootie let me in."

Jo then looked at the area rug, studying its intricate patterns. The way she felt lately she wished she could just disappear into it.

Ted took off his wire rimmed glasses and looked at the brunette earnestly. "Are you all right?"

Jo sighed again. "Yeah, I suppose."

"That's not very convincing," Ted challenged.

"Well, that's all you're gettin' for now," Jo asserted.

By the tone of her voice, Ted knew it was time to back off. "Okay."

Jo was anxious to change the subject. "Let's talk about you and Paul. How are you guys doin'?"

"We're great. We're getting an apartment together after the semester's over. He'll be graduating and has a job already lined up here."

"Ted that's awesome!" She gave him a quick hug. "I'm so glad you found someone who cares for you so much. So when do I get to meet 'im?"

Ted grinned with pride. "He'll be coming up in a few weekends so we can look for a place. I was hoping you can help us. You know the area better than we do."

"Yeah, no problem. I'm sure it will be wonderful for you finally having him under the same roof." Jo's mind once again drifted back to Blair. "And in the same bed."

Jo was really happy for her friend Ted as he deserved someone special to share his life with. However, she couldn't help being envious as she wanted the same things with Blair and feared that it would never be.

Ted moved his fingers through an already receding hairline. "Jo, you're making yourself sick. I know you have to do stuff your own way, but you can't keep things to yourself forever. You've got to tell Blair you're in love with her."

"Just what makes you think Blair won't be sick after I tell her?" Jo turned away and tried to keep her voice at an even level. The last thing she wanted to do in front of anybody was cry.

"I don't feel she will Jo. Didn't you ever think it could be possible that she might have feelings for you too?"

"Sometimes. When we're alone together, I feel such a connection with her and I'm positive she feels it too. I dunno." Jo put her head in her hands. "I don't know anything anymore."

"But seriously, you can't go on like this either," her friend told her with concern.

"I know. I need to tell her," Jo concluded. "There's just more stuff I gotta figure out."

"Like what? Can I help in any way?"

"You've already helped," Jo smiled appreciatively. "More than you know." She then sat up straight in her seat and grinned widely. "Now what I really need help with is what kinda pizza to order. How does Sicilian sound to ya?"

They ordered both a Sicilian and a thin crust pizza. The evening turned out to be a pleasant one, that is, until Natalie ate nearly a whole pie by herself then kept everyone up all night complaining about her heartburn. The next morning, Jo threatened Natalie if she ever again ate pizza after nine PM, her premature demise would be imminent. She made sure Natalie understood that the cause of her death would not be heartburn.