Chapter 14

Jo

"Look, Grace, Victoria said it wasn't that bad," Jo sighed to her sister in the halls one day. She was exasperated. Ever since the end of the talent showcase (the troublemakers had done a very "creative" dance involving the occasional "cha" with a lot of swaying and arm motions), Grace had been whining on and on about the "terrible bullying" that Kyoya put her roommate through.

"It has to have been! Poor Shun is being targeted by the meanest and most annoying guy in school!" Grace complained.

"I love Kyoya, and don't think he's annoying. It's just that everything bad that happens to Shun is awful to you!" Jo countered.

Grace frowned. "I know, OK? But I love him. And not just fan-girl un-real obsession love, Jo! I mean I honestly, legitimately love Shun! He's become my best friend and I have a reason to hate it when bad things happen to him! Do you have any idea how hard his life is? His mom died when he was only, like, ten years old!"

"Kyoya's life isn't exactly peaches and daisies either," Jo commented. "I don't think he ever really knew his parents. Plus he went insane once, almost fell off a huge cliff, and was attacked by wolves."

"The wolves never even hit him," Grace snapped. "And you know that. He's used to being a strong warrior."

"And Shun is used to being a ninja. Look, I promise you it's not that bad!"

"I'm getting his full side of the story before I believe that," Grace insisted.

"You. Are. Completely hopeless. Not to mention...you stink. And you're stupid. But I love you anyways," Jo said. "You stubborn little muffin."

"I'll take a shower when I visit Shun, OK?" Grace sighed, giving in. "And I know you're right. I just feel so awful for him, and this makes things worse...why didn't Kyoya end the fight? What's wrong with him?"

"Even I can't answer that question," Jo admitted. "Now get some rest and we'll talk in the morning."

"If I don't develop a brain tumor overnight, that is," Grace joked.

"Right..." Jo laughed. "I love you! Goodnight, and I'll see you in the morning!"

"Unless I die," Grace replied with a wink. "Love you too."

"Hey...Celeste?" Jo whispered as she lay in her bed. Her roommate was lying silently on her side, but when Jo said her name, she rolled over and lifted her head slightly.

"Hmm...yes?" she muttered groggily.

"Kyoya and Shun were so close," Jo commented. "One gesture away from making up."

"So...?" Celeste murmured, laying her head back on her pillow.

"So why can't we?" Jo asked.

Celeste sat up and lifted the mask she wore off of her eyes. "I don't know. Because I don't associate with newbies."

"I feel like I could really like you if you weren't such a diva," Jo said sadly.

There was a sound like Celeste had just gotten out of bed. The next thing she knew, Jo saw Celeste sit on the edge of her bed. Jo moved over a little to create more room.

"Yeah," Celeste said quietly. "It's not too hard. Look, there's only room for one best friend in my life. And that's Astrid."

"I don't want to be your best friend," Jo said, her voice rising slightly. She paused. "I just want to be your friend," she whispered.

Celeste nodded slowly. "Yeah. But I'm too beautiful, talented, and perfect for a newbie like you," she huffed, standing and walking over to her own bed again. Jo faintly saw her crawl into the covers, turn her back on her roommate, and pull the mask over her eyes.

Jo sniffed. "I just..." She trailed off and a tear rolled down her cheek. "Celeste, it's been...it's been 25 weeks. The school year is almost over. And I'm just..." She let out a choked sob. "I don't fit in here, Celeste. I'm not pretty. I can't sing. I don't have a boyfriend or any friends at all, really...well, there's Crow, and Grace and Kyoya...and Irene too, but I still don't really fit in. I'm so scared that one day they'll all leave me just like my parents did, and then I'll be so lost..."

Celeste lifted her mask and turned her head as far as she could without hurting her neck.

"I need you, Celeste," Jo said quietly. "I need your support. I need your help. I need you to stop treating me like dirt, and start being there when I need you. I need to get along with my roommate."

When Celeste said nothing, only turned her head back, Jo gave up. Fighting back tears, she rolled away from her roommate and sniffed.

It was at least five minutes later when Jo heard it: "Hey."

She turned to face Celeste, sleepiness choking her voice. "What?"

"The talent show? Your duet with Crow?" Celeste began. "You were good up there...really good. You have an amazing voice...Jo Rhyne. Really. You have a great voice. And you looked beautiful. And your acting scene...it was funny. Really funny. Because of you."

Jo blinked in disbelief. Is it really Celeste saying all these things? she wondered.

"Jo...you rival even me, okay? And I never associated with you because I was jealous," Celeste muttered, barely audible.

But Jo still heard her. "I've always been jealous of you."

Celeste chuckled. "Let's stop, OK? We won't be like a couple of boys who can't learn to get along. You and I? We're better then that. So from now on, Jo Rhyne...you and I are friends."

"Yeah," Jo breathed, grinning. Celeste giggled and Jo giggled back and rolled to face her. Celeste's mask was off and she was smiling at Jo. She held out her hand, pinky extended.

"We tight?" she asked. Jo scooted to the edge of the bed and reached her hand out, barely managing to catch the edge of Celeste's pinky with her own.

"Yeah," she replied. "We're tight."

"Cool." Celeste pulled her hand back and rolled over. "Goodnight, Jo."

"Goodnight...roommate."