Big Time Rush had just finished their first tour across the U.S. and while all four of them had the most amazing six weeks of their lives, they were more than ready to return home to the Palm Woods.
Although the other guys were shocked they couldn't recognize anyone in the lobby, but Kendall didn't care, so what? New people were coming and going all the time, no big deal. All that mattered is that he could easily find one person.
But then Kendall's eyes locked on a gorgeous face at the other end of the lobby. Jo, she looks even more beautiful in person. Even though they video-chatted or called almost every day of the tour, he couldn't wait to finally hold her in his arms once again.
There was another guy walking with her, and Kendall managed to zero in on her voice over the quiet murmuring of the crowded lobby. "If you think you can steal me from my old boyfriend…you're right," Jo said to the guy and then he wrapped his arm over her shoulder as they walked out to the pool together.
Kendall felt paralyzed in place. Was Jo cheating on him? He didn't know what to even think. But they talked every single day. Had he done something wrong? Why didn't she tell him? Was he just an idiot? What did he mess up? He thought she cared. He still remembered the goodbye kiss they shared when they thought they would never see each other again, and then the even better goodbye kiss when he left L.A. to go on the tour.
Kendall's mind was in a fog as he kept repeating over and over to himself. Jo was cheating on him, why? What did he do wrong? In an endless loop, he was barely aware of the other three guys dragging him into the elevator and up to their apartment.
Mom and Katie were quick to welcome them all back, but could quickly tell something was wrong with Kendall. After the rest of the guys explained what they saw in the lobby, since Kendall was still lost in a daze, they both said they hadn't noticed Jo spending time with a different guy, and Mom was quick to reassure Kendall that he probably had nothing to worry about, while also promising that if she was cheating on him, she now hated her.
Kendall shook his head to get out of his funk, if he wanted to know what was happening, and hopefully fix whatever he or Jo had messed up, hiding in the apartment wasn't going to do anything.
Kendall was back down in the lobby, and to his disappointment, Jo was sitting and talking with the guy. Kendall was hiding behind one of the bushes with his trusty tree hat on. No matter how much it hurt, he had to get to the bottom of this.
"Well, I'm not sure about this new town, but I sure am glad I met you." New Guy said, he then leaned in to kiss her, but Jo held up her hand to stop him.
"No, I told you, this is wrong."
"See, she still has the hots for you," Katie whispered to him, wearing a tree hat of her own.
"Maybe you're right." Kendall nodded, hoping against hope Katie was right like she always was.
"But this feels so right." New Guy pulled Jo up and held her close.
"But then again, you were gone for six weeks and that guy is way better looking than you," Katie whispered.
"Katie!" Kendall hissed at her, "Not helping!"
Kendall then turned back, and to his horror, now they were both moving in closer and closer, about to kiss.
"WOAH!" Kendall jumped up and shouted, interrupting their kiss and running over to stand between them. "Woah! Woah! What is this? How could you? Who's the dude? Girl supposed to kiss me boy!"
"Um." The guy spoke up, but Kendall wasn't going to allow that.
"Back off!" Kendall warned him and looked at Jo expectantly, who was looking him up and down like she couldn't believe he was there.
Jo was panicking, first, she was confused at who was shouting, but then she couldn't believe her eyes that Kendall was finally back here in front of her, not a thousand miles away on a computer screen. And then she realized why he was acting so crazy. So after getting her thoughts in order, she was quick to explain.
"This is a scene from my script!" Jo reached down to grab it from the nearby coffee table. "I could because I got a role in the new CW show, New Town High." Jo handed the script over to Kendall. "The dude…" Jo reached out to pull Jet over to her side. "Is Jett Stetson, who plays my love interest in the show. I was going to surprise you with the news when you got back, and now you're back!" Jo smiled and hugged him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "So…surprise." Jo kept smiling.
"Ok, that explains it." Kendall nodded, a bit calmer now. He knew Jo would never cheat on him, this was all just a big misunderstanding. Then he realized, Jo got a starring role in a TV show? She was making it Big Time too? "Jo, I'm so happy for you, and sorry I took things the wrong way, this is an amazing surprise!" Kendall stepped forward to give her his own hug in return.
"Wait a minute, were you spying on us?" Jo raised her eyebrow questioningly.
"What? No. That'd be crazy right?" Kendall tried to laugh her off like she was crazy.
"Kendall, you're wearing your tree hat." Jo reminded him knowingly.
"What? How did that get there?" Kendall tossed the hat behind him.
"Hi, I'm Jett Stetson." Jett held out his hand to shake with a smile on his face.
"And I'm Kendall Knight." Kendall shook his hand, forcing a smile to his own face, and while they shook hands, Kendall felt both of them doing their best to squeeze tighter and tighter as they subtly sized each other up, although Jett was the first one to let go.
"Oh, would you look at the time?" Jett laughed, "Jo we're about to be late for our photo shoot."
"Oh right." Jo turned to Kendall, "Do you want to come, make sure nothing's going on between us?" Jo asked sarcastically.
"No, I trust you," Kendall said confidently. "Goodbye kiss?"
"Of course." Jo stepped forward and kissed his lips for a short moment. "I promise I'll see you later tonight and we can catch up more," Jo said, and then ran out of the Palm Woods, although Kendall couldn't help staring at the sight of Jett holding protectively onto her wrist as they ran out together.
"I can trust her, right?" Kendall asked himself quietly.
"Of course, you can." Katie reassured him, "Even though he is much better looking than you."
"Katie! You are really not helping." Kendall reminded her, again. "I know I can trust Jo, and this is part of her reaching for her dream. I couldn't stop her even if I wanted to. Which I don't because I trust her."
"Right. I'm going back upstairs." Katie said as she walked to the elevator, with Jo's script in hand.
Kendall just did his best to calm himself down. He knew he could trust Jo…but Jett especially was giving him bad vibes. Just who was he? Kendall had to know.
So he spent about an hour on the computer in the lobby researching everything he could find about Jett, but everything he discovered only made him feel worse and worse, he had already been in several TV shows and movies…and in every single one he ended up dating his costars.
And then to make matters even worse, Katie informed him that not only did Jo and Jett have to kiss in the episode they were rehearsing, they had to kiss for five pages of the script.
"Oh yeah, the photo shoot went great." Kendall turned around in his seat when he heard Jett walking through the hallway, talking on his cell phone. "And we're shooting the kissing scene tonight." Jett stopped and hung up his phone when he walked past Kendall and Katie. "I want this scene to be hot, and I know it will be cause I'm in it obviously. And I am way better looking than you."
Alright, Kendall didn't want to take this anymore. He stood up from his chair. "What are you trying to say, Jett?"
"Simple, all Jo ever talks about is you, although I don't see why. And even though she's refused to practice the kissing scene for real until tonight, to save it for the camera. I just know it's going to be magical, and then she'll finally notice what she's been missing all along while she's been waiting for you to come back."
Kendall tightened his fists. "You're delusional Jett. Jo would never do that, she's my girlfriend."
Jett smirked, showing off all his perfectly straight teeth. "Not for long." He then turned and walked over to the elevator.
"What are you going to do now Big Brother?" Katie asked him.
"Look, I know I have nothing to worry about. I trust Jo. I don't care who Jett Stetson is, she is way too smart to fall for any of his tricks. I just need to talk to her and warn her just in case." Kendall pulled out his cell phone and texted Jo, asking her to meet him in the park.
About thirty minutes later, Kendall and Jo met each other in the lobby and walked hand in hand out to one of the tables at the park, when they sat down Jo smiled at him. "So not that I'm complaining but what's this for? I can tell you're thinking about something in that cute head of yours."
Kendall smiled and chuckled lightly for a moment, "Well, trust me when I say I missed you too, and I really want to catch up and spend as much time with you as possible, but you're right there is a specific reason I want to talk to you. It's about Jett."
"Kendall I promise Jett is just my costar, just like you have Logan, James, and Carlos."
"Maybe, but I'm not kissing them for five pages!" Kendall yelled, but then realized what he did and quickly apologized. "I'm sorry."
Jo grimaced though. "So, you read the script?"
"He dates every one of his costars."
Jo leaned closer to him and stared straight into Kendall's eyes and shook her head. "I don't like him." Then she smiled brighter, "I like you."
"Yeah, I know, and I like you too but-"
"Hey, I trusted you all those weeks you were gone on tour, and you have crowds of girls holding up I LOVE KENDALL signs."
"But I didn't kiss them!"
"But I'm not kissing Jett, my character Rachel is kissing Drake."
Kendall just raised his eyebrow disbelievingly.
"Just come to the set. You'll see the whole thing is totally professional and doesn't mean a thing."
"Fine." Kendall agreed, "Because I am totally professional too. It's Rachel making out with Drake. Not you and Jett." Kendall said, but he couldn't help being distracted by worries again as Jo was putting on lip gloss and puckering her lips. "Um, could you stop that please?"
Jo froze but then smiled her troublemaking smile Kendall absolutely adored. "Sure thing," Jo stood up from her seat and walked around the table, and leaned down so her face was inches away from Kendall's. "I think I need some practice if I want to make tonight's scene look any good." Jo closed the distance and connected her lips with his.
Kendall was surprised at first, but once he felt that familiar, oh-so-amazing spark, he leaned into it. Thanks to the tour, they hadn't had many chances to kiss each other like this, but every single time Jo always knew how to take his breath away.
They held other close for a long moment, both cradling each other's faces until they broke away with matching smiles on their faces.
"You have no idea how much I needed that." They both sighed in happiness at the same time and then laughed together too.
"Are you feeling better now? I could never feel that with Jett, I promise, only you make me feel this way."
"OK, I know you're right. And I know I have nothing to worry about, you're the only one who can make me feel this way too." Kendall promised.
Jo checked her phone for a quick moment. "It's time to head to the studio, are you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," Kendall said enthusiastically, and they walked hand in hand to the limo waiting outside the Palm Woods. Unfortunately, his mood was soured when they sat down in the limo and Jett was already sitting across from them.
As they rode in a bit of awkward silence, Kendall definitely didn't like the way Jett was looking at Jo, and he put his arm around her shoulders protectively.
Kendall did his best to stay calm, but when the moment came, he couldn't stand it. Every time Jo and Jett were about to kiss on stage, he had to do something to make it not happen. Why did he agree to come here? He didn't know what was worse, having to watch this happen, and honestly only prolonging his misery and stress by his own doing, or if it would have been better for him to just be alone at the Palm Woods waiting for Jo to come back.
After twenty-seven takes the director finally had enough and threw him out of the soundstage. And the look on Jo's face as he was dragged out of there, yeah, he knew she probably wasn't very happy with him either. It was obvious that she knew exactly what he had been doing the entire time.
And of course, even though he was thrown out, there was a TV right where he could get a perfect view of Jo kissing Jett. "No, it's Rachel kissing Drake." He could handle this…but watching them, as much as he didn't want to he felt like he couldn't look away, he knew Jo was an amazing actress, but no one could be that good. It was obvious how much she was enjoying it, and how long were they going to go? Kendall didn't think they had ever lasted that long without breathing.
After they finally broke away and continued the scene, which Kendall absolutely didn't want to see five more pages of, Kendall knew he had royally screwed up, and considering he had already wasted over an hour of Jo's time, he figured the best course of action for both his own sanity and to start earning Jo's forgiveness was for him to just go back to the Palm Woods. He texted Jo an apology and told her where he would be, and then called the Rocque Records limo to pick him up.
Later that night, Kendall was waiting in the thankfully empty Palm Woods lobby waiting for Jo to return with a bouquet of flowers ready to go sitting beside him.
Jo walked through the doors looking at her phone, and when she looked up, at least she wasn't glaring at him as she walked closer.
Kendall gave her his most sincere, apologetic smile. "I think dating in Hollywood's a little more complicated than dating in Minnesota."
Jo sat down and said loud and clear. "There is nothing going on between me and Jett."
"I believe you, I swear. And I'm sorry, I shouldn't have messed you up twenty-seven times. I should have just let you get it over and done with. But it's probably best for everyone if I don't visit the studio, at least on any kissing scene days." Kendall tried to joke.
Jo smirked, "Yeah after tonight I don't think you'll be allowed in the entire studio, so don't worry about that. But good, I'm going to set my stuff down, grab us both a soda, and then you can tell me about your tour."
"Yeah, that'd be great." Kendall smiled at Jo and happily watched her walk away. About a minute later, he heard her phone chime from the coffee table in front of him and he glanced down at it to see she had a text message from Jett.
Jett: I feel the same way about you.
That made Kendall's blood run cold. No, this couldn't be happening. What did Jo feel the same way about? Was Jett actually right all along about that kiss? What was Kendall supposed to do? He knew he could trust Jo, but…
Jo walked back over to Kendall with the sodas in hand and noticed what Kendall was holding. "Hey is that my phone?"
Kendall stood up, "I feel the same way about you? What does Jett feel the same way about?"
Jo scoffed, set down the sodas, and took her phone from Kendall. "Jett: Wow, what a great day on set. Jo: I know, BTW you're a really gifted actor. Jett: Thanks. I feel the same way about you."
Kendall stared at her in surprise for a few moments and then tried his best to recover himself. "And that is exactly what I thought." He said confidently but then turned contrite. "Can we just forget all of this ever happened?"
Jo closed her eyes and breathed in. To think she had today circled on her calendar for weeks waiting for Kendall to come back. Today was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life. But Kendall obviously didn't trust her anymore.
"No, I can't," Jo said, her voice breaking as she reached down to grab her bag. "Obviously you don't trust me so… I think you should just forget about me."
Jo walked past him over to the elevator, and Kendall could do nothing except watch her go. He knew he had just messed things up… big time.
Jo made it to her apartment and into her room, without letting any tears fall. Her dad said hello when she walked in, and he of course asked her what was wrong, but she just ignored him and closed the door behind her. She threw her purse to the floor and sat on her bed as the floodgates broke down and tears started running down her cheeks.
What had she done wrong to make Kendall not trust her? Yes she had to kiss Jett for her job, but was it really so different from everything Kendall and his friends had just spent six weeks on their tour doing? She knew after their shows they had backstage afterparties for certain fans, plus plenty of photo ops with fans where Kendall and the other guys would take pictures with their arms around girls. She knew all she had to do was google Kendall Knight and dozens upon dozens of images would appear. She definitely didn't like seeing those pictures, but she knew without a doubt that Kendall wouldn't ever do anything to hurt her intentionally. He had more than proved time and time again how much he cared about her. But he apparently didn't care about her enough to trust her.
Sure Jett was handsome, and a talented actor, but she felt no attraction towards him whatsoever. He was just a coworker and a friend. Plus she could tell he was quite self-centered. Definitely not her type. Besides she was with Kendall so of course she never ever thought about Jett that way. She had felt lonely at times without seeing Kendall every day except on her computer screen, but every time they talked lifted her mood tenfold, and she was pretty sure that even though Kendall was undoubtedly having the time of his life, he always felt the same way, just from the way his handsome green eyes lit up every time he first saw her face on the screen.
But it wasn't enough. If Kendall knew just how much she missed him. About how she dreamed about being at his concerts with him or having him back here at the Palm Woods, he would never have any doubts about her. But he didn't, and he did have doubts because he couldn't trust her.
And ok. Jo wiped her eyes to stop her tears. Jo could admit she wasn't the happiest girlfriend when Jordin Sparks was at the Palm Woods, but she had explained over and over again, that nothing was going on between her and Jett. But it wasn't enough to stop Kendall from snooping through her phone and accusing her of…she didn't even know what Kendall was thinking, and she didn't want to know. Trust…it all came down to trust. If Kendall didn't trust her, then she didn't see how she could stay with him.
Her dad knocked on the door and asked if she was ok, but she lied and said she was just tired, and insisted all she wanted to do was go to bed. As she got herself ready for bed. She couldn't help but notice the Big Time Rush poster she had taken from their first concert. Her eyes locked on his handsome face, and she felt like she couldn't look away. She couldn't even count all the hours this summer she had spent staring at that poster, wishing the real Kendall was back, but now he was, but it also felt like he wasn't.
Jo turned off her light and pulled her blankets around herself, but she already knew sleep would be a long time coming tonight.
The next morning, she had to shoot her scenes early, and she was thankful for the excuse to miss school, she really didn't want to see Kendall right now. OK, that was a lie, she wanted to see him, but she wasn't ready to face him again.
But when she got a voicemail on her phone from him. She couldn't stop herself from listening to what he had to say.
"Hey, it's me. I'm sorry. I can't forget about you. I'm going to leave you a ticket to Rocktober Fest, if you come I know you'll give me another chance, but if you don't…then I know it's over."
Jo sighed as the message ended. She knew what she wanted to do, but as much as she didn't want to admit it, her trust in Kendall was now shaken too. Yes, dating in Hollywood could be complicated, but even thinking about him made her feel things no one else could.
After the message played, Jett walked in through the open door to her dressing room.
"Hey, I was thinking after we're done shooting our scenes today, what do you say you and I go see a movie or something?" Jett smiled handsomely at her.
Jo thought that over for a moment, and she knew exactly what she wanted to do. But first, she needed some answers. "Jett, thank you for the invitation, but I have to ask what brought this on now?"
"Well, I just want to lift your spirits, anyone can see something's wrong Jo, but I think I can help make you feel better."
"And just how do you intend to do that?" Jo raised an eyebrow in question.
"Jo, even though Kendall kept messing us up, yesterday's scene was amazing, and I felt something, and I think you felt it too, but you've been conflicted on what to do. So let me give you some advice, do what will make you happiest."
Jo smiled at him for a moment, "You know what? I will do what makes me happiest."
"Good, so are you down for a movie?"
"OK Jett, let's get one thing straight." Jo walked closer to him and reached out to lay a hand on his shoulder for a moment, but then squeezed right where she knew a pressure point was located, making Jett freeze and grimace in place. "Look Jett, when we first met, I told you I have a boyfriend that I care about very much, and yes I have been a bit lost today, but that's because of something Kendall did, and while its related to you, it's not because I felt anything in that kiss last night. I felt absolutely nothing, you are a great actor, but I am not interested in you, not now, and not ever. Now Kendall and I do need to work some things out right now, but I know we will succeed because we both care about each other too much not to. So, let's just keep things professional between us. And if we ever have to kiss again, it will only be Rachel kissing Drake, nothing else. And just to warn you, when I let off this pressure point, you'll feel mostly fine, maybe a little sore, but that is far from the only pressure point I know. Got it?"
"Loud and clear," Jett grunted out.
"Good." Jo let go and then smiled. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a concert to attend." Jo walked confidently out the door, but after she did, her nerves and fears returned, she was praying that she and Kendall could work things out, but she wouldn't give up hope for them. But she also had another idea to let him know she would forgive him.
The next day, thanks to Logan finishing everyone's homework, Big Time Rush was going to perform at Rocktober Fest. But Kendall couldn't get himself excited to perform. All he could think about was Jo. She hadn't answered any of his calls or text messages, and now Kendall feared that all because of him and his insecurities he was going to lose one of the people most important to his life. He had just enough hope to leave a ticket and backstage pass with Jo, but he still didn't expect it to work.
But now they were about to perform at Rocktober Fest and still all Kendall could think about was Jo and how it was all his fault he messed everything up with her. Before they went onstage, they snuck one last peek at the crowd, and they quickly found all their friends from the Palm Woods standing in the front…except for one person. Jo wasn't coming, and Kendall knew he had just been getting his hopes up for nothing.
But when Gustavo told them to get on stage and start singing Famous as their opener, Kendall insisted on doing their newest song instead, he couldn't get Jo's words out of his head, and unfortunately, the new song applied one hundred percent to his life right now. So the least he could do was pour all of his emotions into the song, and give all the fans a great performance.
The guys ran on stage and began, Kendall pouring all he had into the song. The words currently meaning more to him than he ever would have imagined.
Get a call on a random afternoon
I pick it up and I see that it's you
Like my heart you were breaking the news
You say it's over, it's over, it's over
Heading out cause I'm out of my mind
All my friends are gonna see me tonight
Staying here till the sun starts to rise
And I'm, I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna
Dance hard, laugh more, turn the music up now
Party like a rockstar, can I get a what now
I swear that I'll do anything that I have to
Till I forget about you
Jump up fall down gotta play it loud now
Don't care my head's spinning all around now
I swear I'll do anything that I have to
Till I forget about you
While they were singing, Kendall's emotions felt all over the place, every lyric he sang felt like a punch to the gut, but the music, the crowd, and his friends couldn't stop his excitement, he loved performing so much. And he didn't know why, but as they were singing Kendall saw a blank white sign moving slowly through the crowd, he didn't pay too much attention at first, but once they finished the first chorus the sign flipped around to reveal the message I 3 KENDALL! And beneath it was Jo's smiling face.
Kendall took a deep breath in, in both shock and surprise. He froze and met her beautiful brown eyes for a moment, and Jo simply nodded her head at him. Kendall felt nothing but relief and happiness flow through him, and suddenly his heart once again felt lighter than air. All because Jo was willing to forgive him. He made a silent promise to Jo and himself that he would never do this again, and he will do whatever it takes to make it up to her. So with renewed energy and enthusiasm, that he could tell was felt just as much by all friends on stage they continued giving the best Rocktober Fest performance ever.
Dance hard, laugh more, turn the music up now
Party like a rockstar, can I get a what now
I swear that I'll do anything that I have to
Till I forget about you
Jump up fall down gotta play it loud now
Don't care my head's spinning all around now
I swear I'll do anything that I have to
Till I forget about you
Once the show was over and the guys were backstage, and Gustavo had finished congratulating them on a job well done, Kendall ran over to Freight Train.
"Freight Train! Can you please go find Jo in the crowd and bring her back here? I really need to talk to her."
"Sure thing Kendall." Freight Train nodded his head and then walked back out to the crowd, and surprisingly seconds later he was back, with Jo and Camille in tow.
"Looks like they were waiting for me." Freight Train smiled.
"Um…see you two later, I need to go find Logan." Camille walked off confidently.
"Hey," Kendall said, still a bit nervous.
"Hey," Jo replied back and set her sign down next to some boxes.
"Um, can we talk?" Kendall asked.
"Yeah, I think we should."
"How about we head back to our dressing room? Everyone else should be busy doing other stuff."
"Ok." Jo nodded and followed behind Kendall as he led the way. When they made it there, the room was thankfully empty and they both sat down on the couch, but left plenty of space between each other.
Ever since Kendall had left his voicemail for her, he had been thinking about what he would say on the minuscule chance she would give him a chance again. He looked straight into her beautiful brown eyes, "First off, I'm so sorry Jo. I know I can trust you, and I have no excuse for how I acted yesterday. You said there was nothing going on, and I should have believed you right there, no questions asked. This is all my fault and I will do anything I have to for you to forgive me."
"Stop Kendall." Jo reached out and placed her hand over his on the couch. "I don't need some grand gesture. I know you care about me, and I care about you way too much to forget about you either. I'm sorry I said that yesterday, but did you really think I would cheat on you? And with Jett of all people?"
"No, I didn't want to. But… I promise I'm not trying to make excuses but I've missed you so much, and I find out you have to kiss a super handsome actor that literally everyone agrees is hotter than me…and then I watched your kissing scene and I hated every single second of it because watching it made me believe you had to feel something for him. And then the phone just seeing his text made it even worse, especially because I knew it was right after the kissing scene so maybe… But I know I was wrong."
"Yeah, you are wrong. Kendall, I couldn't care less how handsome Jett is, and in my opinion, he has nothing on you. He doesn't have gorgeous green eyes that I can lost in. I'm pretty sure no one can wear a beanie and look as good as you do. I know on the inside you're just as stubborn and devious as I am when it comes to helping your friends, and I also know on the inside you're just as crazy about me as I am for you." Jo scooted closer, still not breaking eye contact with Kendall. "And I haven't seen the scene myself yet, but I have a secret to tell you, the whole time I was kissing Jett, do you want to know how I made myself look like I was enjoying it so much?"
"Um…" Kendall blushed, "Do I?"
"Trust me, you do." Jo smiled at him. "The whole time, even though I was annoyed at you for all your interruptions, I closed my eyes and did my best to pretend I was kissing you."
"You were?"
"Of course I was. There is no one I want to kiss besides you Kendall and trust me, if there's one thing I know for certain, you are much better at kissing then Jett is."
"I am?"
"Yes, he's just…ugh sloppy and forceful even though we were being filmed ugh. At one point he even tried to push his tongue down my throat."
"He what?!" Kendall shouted.
"But I didn't let him." Jo put her hand on Kendall's shoulder to help him calm down. "I kept my mouth closed the entire time. And I told him off about it right after we cut to make sure he didn't try that again. And most importantly, I felt absolutely nothing kissing him, there was no spark, no emotion, no nothing. The entire time I was counting down the seconds until I knew it would be over and wishing I was kissing you right then. OK?"
"OK. I'm sorry again." Kendall pulled Jo closer into a hug, and Jo wrapped her arms around him as well.
"And I forgive you again. Trust me, Kendall, you have nothing to worry about."
"I know, just like you should know I don't care how many girls hold up I heart Kendall signs, there is only one girl I care about more than anything."
"I do know that. But look, the fact is that yesterday is not going to be my last kissing scene with Jett, and who even knows about any other roles I could have in the future too. So what are we going to do about this?"
"I…I don't have any clear answers right now, but I promise Jo, I won't ever try to stop you from doing something like this for your career. I can handle it."
"Thank you Kendall, but no. You're not going to handle it like you did yesterday until you blow up. We are going to handle it, together."
"You're right, together." Kendall smiled back at her. "How about this, we promise if either of us is ever doing something that makes the other feel jealous or uncomfortable, like a kissing scene or taking pictures with fangirls or anything that we have a problem with, we promise to always talk to each other, not run away or hide it. If there's a problem we'll face it together."
"Yeah, together." Jo nodded again. "But I should tell you about something else."
"OK, what is it?"
"So you see way back when I met Jett for the first time, he offered to take me out for lunch to get to know me better since we'd be working together so I said sure, and it was nice but I could tell once we got to the restaurant he was trying to flirt with me like you and the guys did when I first moved to the Palm Woods."
"He did what?" Kendall shouted but then got a hold of himself. "So what did you do? Go with the I already have a boyfriend plan?" Kendall teased her.
"Yes I did, and thankfully I know his favorite sport is hockey, he's not allergic to shellfish, plus I had a picture of us from the dance as proof that you were real. And so Jett apologized and backed off for the rest of the day, but I have to admit there have been plenty of times when we're rehearsing together I feel like he's looking at me funny or he'll make a joke that will sound a bit too flirty for my taste and I'll just do my best to ignore it."
"But nothing major happened, probably because I always mentioned you somehow when he started going a little too far for my liking, but I think he guessed that the reason I was so miserable this morning was because of you and he once again offered to take me out on a date. But I shut him down immediately, so you don't have to worry or do anything."
"Jo…can I? OK beyond everyone else saying he's hotter than me-"
"Which he isn't." Jo reminded him.
"Yesterday he also said how he had a plan that kissing you in the scene would make you fall for him, and then you'd forget all about me since he's way better looking than me."
"And you know that will never happen, right?"
"I do know that. But I really can't do anything to him?"
"No, and I can handle anything Jett thinks up. Trust me, he's a talented actor, but up here." Jo gently tapped the side of Kendall's head, "You definitely have the advantage there too. And if nothing else, we can more than handle him together."
"OK, but not that it's your fault for being so irresistible." Kendall smiled at her for a moment, "But I think it's clear he wants to be more than just costars with you. And I already told you he's dated all of his costars."
"Well, we both know that's not going to happen to me. Jett is the last person that could ever break us up. And if he ever tries, then I'll let you do something. How about that for a deal?"
"That's a deal I can live with." Kendall paused for a moment, "so are we good?"
"Yeah, we're good."
"So Jo, will you be my girlfriend again?"
"Honestly, I never stopped." Jo kissed him sweetly for a moment and then pulled away with a smirk on her face. "So speaking of, I take it you were impressed with my ability to fake enjoying the kiss yesterday? "
"Um…impressed would be one word for it," Kendall said a bit guiltily.
"Well, I think I need to show you the difference between when I'm acting and the real thing." Jo lifted her arms to circle them around Kendall's neck.
"Well, when you put it like that, you can give me a demonstration, or let me help you rehearse anytime," Kendall smirked back, as his arms traveled down Jo's sides to hold her close.
"How about right now?" Jo asked him sweetly, and then they both moved closer until they made contact, which they didn't break for a moment as all of their doubts, worries, and fears washed away. As long as they were together, nothing could keep Jo and Kendall divided.