Deviating a bit book here because of the modem setting

New York. Jo had missed it like mad. Concord hardly felt like home anymore. Not without Beth there.

It really hadn't felt like home in a long time. Jo's childhood dreams were fading. They wouldn't be together forever, not in the way she'd thought.

Jo would have to accept that real people and book characters were different. You can't write the way people live according to your plans. Perhaps that's why she liked fictional characters better.

Plus, when you didn't want a character you could just put them away. Not the same with real people.

Jo had also started to notice how dreadful her stories really were. They meant nothing. They had no emotions to them.

Maybe Jo wast as brave as she thought. She wasn't brave enough to tell the truth. Her truth.

Whatever it was, she was back in New York. Back in a place that really felt like home to her.

Kelsey had greeted her at the door with a huge hug and a perky squeal. Kelsey's mother, Mrs. Kirk was there too to welcome her back. They'd kept her room up for her, free of charge.

Of course they said that they were sorry about Beth.

But they weren't really. They never even knew Beth.

Jo was anxious to get up to her room, but more anxious to her see her Professor. Love or no love, he was one of her best friends.

Her other best friend was still Teddy. In fact, she'd seen him recently. Just a few days ago.

He'd met up with Amy in Europe.

And now they were dating.

Which was very unexpected.

At least all was forgiven now. Teddy apologized for being so blunt and Jo for being so rude. But within minutes they were back to their old selves. They were laughing, joking, and planning great plans.

He noticed something was different about her too. He, the same as Meg, had pieced together that it was something to do with a boy.

Jo had refused to talk about it with him. Too awkward.

Jo bustled up to the fourth floor, running up to her familiar room and unlocking the door.

It was all just as she'd left it. It was clean though. Kelsey must've really been keeping it up for her.

Jo set down her bags, taking in her small apartment.

Yes, she was glad to be back.

And now to see Professor Bhaer.

With her undying energy, Jo rushed across the hall and banged on his door loudly.

"Mrs. Kirk, I told you that I didn't want any coffee now!" He yelled from inside his apartment.

"You don't want coffee? That's new."

She had to bite her lip not to laugh as she heard his footsteps rush to the door. She crossed her arms, pouting at the peephole.

The door clicked unlock and opened in a whirl.

Professor Bhaer looked just the same. Same short dark hair with a little bit of scraggly hair on his face. He wore a wrinkly suit, old and too large on him. He hadn't the money to buy any nice ones.

"Jo!" His smile took up his whole face. "Jo!"

Giggling, she leaped into his arms, giving him a strong squeeze. His arms engulfed her, trying to take in her scent.

"I've missed you," they said at the same time. They laughed.

Jo backed out of the embrace, realizing just how close they were to each other.

"How is everything with your family?" He asked, motioning for her to come into his room.

"Alright," Jo sighed. She'd been asked that too much. Beth was the last thing she wanted to talk about. "Amy came back from Europe a few days ago. Guess what?"

"What?" He closed the door behind him and sauntered off to his desk. "I've got to finish these papers, excuse me."

"No problem. Anyway, Amy met up with Teddy there and now they're dating. Crazy, right? And then my Aunt March noted that I was the only one without a man in my life and that I would die a crazy cat woman."

The Professor raised an eyebrow, "She said that?"

"Aunt March doesn't really have a filter between what she thinks and what she says," Jo explained, falling on his couch. "Christopher Columbus, I'm only 22! Amy's seventeen herself! It's not like she and Teddy are off to be married."

"And are you alright with them being together?" He clicked his pen and began scribbling on some papers. Grading. He was always grading papers.

Jo shrugged, "Yeah, I was just surprised."

"I-I didn't know," he said timidly, not looking up from his work. "Because of your...history with him."

"He's always been like my brother," Jo said. "Nothing more." Feeling tension settling on her, she shifted in her spot, trying to think of something else to talk about.

She didn't have to for he got up and walked over to her. He almost sat but seemed to think better of it.

"I think we should go do something because you're back now. I actually have tickets to see an opera at the Met...but I offered the other one to Kelsey. I didn't know you'd be back," he stammered, still unable to meet her gaze.

Something inside of Jo felt ready to spit fire.

Stupid Kelsey, the thing thought. Kelsey? Why would he like Kelsey? She has the IQ of a potato. I thought we were friends? Was she into him? God, curse her!

Another part of Jo tried to calm the little monster down but the latter was much louder.

"But she declined," he continued quickly. "Said Operas were boring. Anyway, would you like to go...with me?"

"Yes!" Jo leaped up. "I've never been to an Opera? The Met! How'd you get tickets to the Met?"

He ran a hand through his hair, "A Christmas present from one of my students."

"Nice present," she remarked. Her mind raced to a million different places. "What show is it?"

"La Boheme." He said, with a French accent and all.

"Never seen it. Well, I've never seen an Opera so I guess that's why." Jo through her arms in the air, "Christopher Columbus! This will be brilliant. Wait. Wait. Wait. What do you wear to an Opera? A fancy dress? I don't have any fancy dresses, Professor."

He laughed nervously, "I assume Kelsey or Annie will." Jo nodded, feeling nervous herself though she wasn't sure why.

She smiled again, "I'm so happy to be back."

"I'm happy you're back too."

...

"You look hot!" Kelsey covered her small mouth with her perfectly manicured had. "I mean, like, woah! Jo, you should wear dresses more often."

"I look like Barbie's sluty cousin," Jo took in her reflection, feeling sick to her stomach.

"I know! So hot!" Kelsey giggled. "Do you want to bring some makeup with you? Some lipstick or anything?"

"No, I have enough on to last for the rest of my life," Jo ran her hands down the silky, shiny red dress. It was skin right and fell to the floor like a wave of crimson. It had no sleeves, baring too much skin for her taste. Kelsey had done her up in makeup, using things Jo had never heard of to apply it.

She wouldn't let Kelsey do anything crazy with her hair. She drew a line there. Kelsey just let it say down, but put in some strategically placed pins to make it look "perfectly imperfect" or something.

Jo felt absolutely ridiculous. She yearned for her usual jeans and loose tops.

"I should be going," she said, grabbing some clutch Kelsey had given her to borrow. "Can I get a sweater or something?"

Kelsey shook her head, "No, you look perfect."

"It's freezing outside!"

"That way Fritz will have to give you his jacket!"

"You are a strange, sadistic woman."

She shrugged, pushing Jo out of the door. "Go! Have fun!"

Mucking up some courage, Jo made her way down the hall to the Professor's room.

She knocked, suddenly filled with fear over how stupid she looked. Kelsey had definitely over dressed her in this over the top red dress. Maybe she could sneak back into her room and find some...

They door opened and Jo immediately rushed in.

"Whoa," Professor Bhaer said.

Jo ran her fingers through her hair, but the hairspray prevented them from going far.

"I know," she spat. "I look ridiculous."

"I...um," he stammered. "That wasn't the word I was going to use."

Professor Bhaer felt heat rushing though all of his body. Yes, he was thinking lots of things right now. Ridiculous was not one of them. Not even close.

She whipped around, noticing what he was wearing.

He looked good. A black suit. Not an old one or a too big one, but a perfectly nice new one.

"Whoa," Jo Said. She knew more words than the average person, but none of them seemed to accurately describe how he looked or how she felt.

"I know," he smiled. "I look ridiculous."

"Not the word I was going to use," Jo tried to laugh but it came out as more of an exhale. "See what I did there?"

The Professor snorted and picked up the tickets from off his dining table, "Very clever of you."

"Thanks, I try."

"We should go," he glanced at the clock, but his eyes kept coming back to her making her feel very awkward. "You really look beautiful, Jo."

"Thanks," Jo looked down at the gown. "So do you."

He cleared his throat.

"Let's go then."

"To the Opera!" Jo announced, throwing an arm into the air victoriously.

He laughed, "To the Opera then." They stepped out into the hall, "Don't you have coat?"

"Kelsey don't give me one," Jo said. Without hesitation, he took off his and put it around her.