The Facts Of Life (The Remix)
It was six in the morning in Peekskille when Jo awoke. The girl was covered in a sleeping bag she hadn't used since she and some friends from her old school. Back in the Bronx had decided to go camping on the rooftop of her apartment building.
Jo was not sure why she had brought the old red sleeping bag when she started at Eastland. Now she knew though. It was so she could abandon her friends, misses Garrett, her mother and most of all Balir her first true love. Jo knew if she gave into her hearts desire again that there would be consequences. Everytime she tried to live her life she couldn't seem to brush past problems like these.
After riding her bike in the rain for two hours going absolutely nowhere and not even leaving town. Jo went to the secluded spot in the campgrounds that she always went when she wanted to reflect or cool off from a big fight with Blair. She sat up on an old fallen moss covered tree. She realised she'd have to go back at some point and face the music but not right now. Let my mother sweat it out a little bit. After the way she treated me yesterday she deserves it. Jo thought bitterly.
Blair Warner was sitting at a table in the cafeteria nursing an hour old cup of coffee. She didn't dare say cup of joe because she would then think of her Jo. The neolithic grease monkey had charmed her way into Blairs heart. Just a few months ago. The blonde heiress had large circles under her eyes and she had not even bothered to apply any makeup to her worn out looking features.
She had been up all night long first with Jo while misses Garrett chewed out some sense into her. Then when Jo ran off while she was resting. The tear stained note Blair now held up the only part of her Jo had left behind.
Rosalie had walked into the kitchen after talking with the school search party. She noticed an exhausted broken down Blair Warner. Holding the note her daughter had left for the girl. Rosa sighed and after pouring herself a cup of coffee. She took the seat directly across from her daughters girlfriend. " Hey." She greeted in a tired voice herself.
Blair looked up from her note tears yet again running down her cheeks. " Hey."
" You know this isn't your fault Blair, it's mine. I just couldn't bare the thought of my daughter having a life that was any less valued by society. So I did what I thought I was supposed to. " Rosalie tried to explain.
Blair was already upset, tired and missing her best friend and so much more. This was the straw that broke the camels back for her. " Oh, that's motherly you thought you were supposed to yell and call your daughter who loved you so much she went along with your little scheme to come to this school. Do you know the first night we met I kissed her, I was sitting in the jail cell with her and I was so scared she was there for me. But when I kissed her she broke into tears and it was because of you. My parents may be dissenchanted socialites but atleast they wouldn't treat me like that ! You don't deserve to have someone as special as my..Girlfriend as a daughter. You make me SICK! " The debutante raged standing up now and leaning on the table for support she was so exhausted she could barely stand up.
" Blair, knock it off thats my ma' ya' talkin' to. " Said a thick ,teary voice.
The blonde haired princess turned on her tired feet and ran wrapping up Jo in a tight hug. " JO are you okay, I was so worried. " Blair rambled concerned not even thinking what she was doing she was kissing Jo's cheeks her forehead even her neck in joy. Then the surprise and relief wore off. She stood away from Jo and hit her in the arm.
" Ow, that the best ya' got princess. " Jo retorted rubbing her arm anyway. She looked at Blair leaned in and kissed her sweetly, no tongue just a sweet kiss like their first one had been. Besides she didn't want to freak her mother out too much. When they parted slowly Jo was grinning. She took Blairs hand in hers and turned to face her mother. " See mom I know you love me and you want what makes me happy right. Well Blair is what makes me happy and I know once you get to know her. You'll see how special she is to me. " Jo tilted her head thinking for a moment. " Well, I mean once you get past the rich, spoiled, conceited,..."
" Enough Joanna. " Blair ordered removing her hand from Jo's and folding her arms together.
" Sorry. Don't call me that." Jo came back. She looked every bit as tired as Blair did and she thought she was getting a cold from being out in the rain for so long. Her nose was stuffed up and she could hear it when she talked.
Rosalie sat at the table quietly taking everything she had just witnessed into consideration.
" So this is who you want, this is the type of relationship you're will to walk through fire to have. I gaurantee my dear there will be more problems in your life because of loving this girl. Are you sure you're ready to live that ? "
" Yea, ma I am I would do whatever it takes to be with Blair. " Jo said sincerely. " I don't know if it's wrong or right or if I'm goin' ta' hell when I die. All I know is that my life was already as close to hell as the living can get until I let her into my life. Blair makes me a better person. " Jo replied. " I can't believe I just said that you make me a betta' person. " The mechanic shook her head in bewilderment.
" Oh, Jo you're a regular Romeo. " Blair gleamed with sarcasm.
" Blair you feel the same I'm sure ?" Rosalie asked contemplating.
" Oh, yes one hundred percent. Warners love with everything you know. " Blair remarked tossing her hair. Jo grinned.
Rosalie took a long , slow sip of her coffee. " I guess I have no choice then," She said looking from her daughter to Blair and back again. " Jo will have to come back to the Bronx..." Jo and Blair both ghasped. " Wait let me finish, on spring break so the family can meet you Blair. I can't see any other way around this. I just want your happiness dear and if she makes you happy then who am I to stop you. I am sorry about before and my outburst but..." Rosalie could get no farther in her apology. Because Blair and Jo were both hugging her and each and her again.
Then a frazzled misses Garrett walked in from the kitchen. " Jo !" The redheaded older woman exclaimed. Running over and hugging the girl and then Blair was in on the hug too. " You missy if you ever do anything like that again, I will hunt you down, do understand me. " Misses Garrett warned with a pointed index finger at Jo.
" Yes, misses G." Jo nodded rolling her eyes putting her arm around Blair's shoulder.
" I'm holding you to that, Edna replied with an eye roll of her own. Now Jo a few arrangements have been made since you and Blair are a..together in a special way. " The redheaded dietician tried to phrase her words in a non-judgemental way.
Jo looked puzzled. " What arrangements misses Garrett ? I don't understand.."
Edna was thinking how to word her next sentence so as not to offend Jo. " Well, your mother and I ..While we were talking last night. We came to the decision that since you two are dating now, which I have to admit is a first for me here at Eastland. Well you two need a seperate room.."
Jo's eyes went wide, as did Blair's. " But miss G we're not .. that is Blair and we haven't.." Jo couldn't figure out how to say the words without dying of embarressment on the spot.
" Misses Garrett, I believe what Jo here is trying to sound out is that. She and I have not even had sex yet why would we need a seperate room from Nat and tootie ?" Blair finished for her girlfriend.
" Yeah, I mean we expected you to be open minded but this is a little too much miss G. " Jo added.
Edna's eyes were wide now. " No..no that's not what I meant I mean one of you has to sleep in the garage. Well after some discussion we decided it should be you Jo. Since you're so handy you'll have the place fixed up in no time. " The older woman explained further.
" Oh, whew. " Jo and Blair both breathed a sigh of relief. They wanted to be together but they wanted to wait for the right time to be together, together.
" And when one of you is visiting the other's room the door must be open at all times. No changing together anymore. Which shouldn't be a problem anyway since Jo's garage has a bathroom of it's own. Now it's not without needing some work done to it Jo dear. So I will go to town today and get you some paint, plaster things like that. Until it's up to code you can sleep on the sofa. Any questions. " Edna asked finally finishing her statement of the new house rules.
" Nope you've made it all pretty clear. " Jo replied. " Come on Blair lets go up to the room and leave the door open so I can pack. " the mechanic said with an edge to her voice. Her nerves were frazzled enough now she had to get used to sleeping without being able to see her love.
There was much to be done could Jo and Blair handle all the new changes . Especially since now there were rules and regulations. Stay tuned and find out.
