Hello fellow Total Drama fans! Now while I consider myself more of a fan of the first 3 original seasons of the show, I did rewatch season 4 for the first time from start to finish in a VERY long while and I was reminded of an absolute travesty if you ask me. And that is in the entire TDROTI season… WHY were Brick and Jo never made a canonized couple in the series?! Those two had more realistic and lengthy interactions than anyone else in that season (Well Mike and Zoey aside since they were the front runner couple of the season), but still! They kept teasing them almost having this almost 'sexual tension' type energy and showing us they had potential to be a pairing. I seriously thought it was going to happen too as a then 16 almost 17 year old watching the show! But, it was like the writer's just got 'cold feet' and decided to just forget about the pairing by the series end and I was genuinely shocked and kind of peeved about it! They were my favorite pairing of the season that just unfortunately never happened. :( So, I decided to try my hand after 12 years of fanfic writing at trying to write a little fic for them and maybe continuing it if you all wanted to see more. This begins about a full year after the events of season 4 and all the contestants just resumed their lives as teenagers and students at their respective schools.

(Jo's POV)

All I kept doing was standing in front of the gate at the military academy, his military academy.

Ugh… I must be out of my mind.

But, what other choice do I have?

Every guy at my school won't go with me since I'm apparently 'too scary' and 'over-competitive'... ugh, wimps. But, I was stupid and made a bet with those 'plastic preeners' and I was not going to let them take shots at me… not anymore.

I asked everyone I could think of and no one wanted to go with me.

But, him?

He's the only one I could think of who might have a chance of saying 'yes'.

"Excuse me, miss. Can I help you?" I looked over and saw an older guy walking up to me in RCM regalia and gave me a salute before standing at attention.

But, rather than waste more time giving myself an ulcer, I just crossed my arms and got to the point as I started, "I need to talk to Private Brick McArthur. Is he around?"

2 days earlier

I was changing out of my uniform from gym class.

Fridays are always my favorite. Nothing like finishing out my week in gym with a friendly game of dodgeball before the weekend.

Ah… the sound of hard rubber hitting someone in the face is always oh so satisfying.

I was putting my gym uniform into my gym bag to wash over the weekend and was already going to change into my tracksuit for track practice.

By the time I was almost done changing I immediately recoiled as a girl ran in almost screaming (and also making me go partially deaf in my left ear) and went to the opposite side of the room where Ericka Matthews and the rest of her 'toy soldier Darbie doll' toadies were all doing nothing but take up space and pollute the air of the room with women's body sprays and perfumes.

I scowled and rolled my eyes as Britney (the girl who ran in screaming) practically shouted, "OH MY GOSH! Ben just asked me to Prom!"

Then as if just her screaming wasn't annoying enough, the rest of them decided to give me an aneurysm as they all started screaming and jumping around like a bunch of weirdos.

Ugh…

I rolled my eyes and once the screaming cleared I almost couldn't hold back my sarcasm as I called over, "Wow, so some idiotic doofus asked you to a stupid dance? Big whoop."

Right as I scoffed at the end in annoyance Ericka immediately stood up and gave me a look before smirking and narrowing her eyes (making my stomach tense up) as she shot back, "Says the girl who's never even gotten asked to a dance in her life? Come to think of it, have you ever even gone on a date with literally anyone, Mary Jo?"

My jaw immediately locked up as my muscles became taut and my fists clenched so hard that I thought my knuckles were going to break through my skin on my hands.

Ericka just kept smirking (knowing she was getting to me), but… ugh, I'll be damned if I just give her the satisfaction of getting in my head… at least not anymore.

I eventually crossed my arms and kept staring her down as she continued, making me want to rip that stupid little satisfied smirk off her face, "Yeah, didn't think so. Besides, who would even want to go out with a scary-ass 'she-beast' like you anyway? Much less take you to Prom?"

All of them started laughing, making my face turn red but I immediately covered it up with anger as I spat back, "Wanna bet? I can get some guy to go with me to Prom no problem if I wanted too."

They all stopped and gave me a wide eyed look.

The locker room was dead silent to the point you could probably hear a pin drop before Ericka eventually took a step back and crossed her arms as she directed pointedly, "Seriously? Sure about that?"

I scowled even more as I solidified, showing I was not backing down, "Name your price, prissy butt. I'll have a date by Monday, easy. And when I do and I show up to the dance, I get to use you and your little cronies for helping me practice my spikes on the volleyball court. And I'm not talking about setting… you'll be blocking your 'pretty little faces' on the receiving end of it."

The silence continued until Ericka scoffed and shrugged before saying, "Fine, whatever. But, when you don't have a date. Then I'll tell the head of the yearbook club that you gave me permission to edit your pictures on every page your on for all your stupid sports crap and make you look however I want. You know, make some 'memories that'll last a lifetime' for you."

I was hardly even thinking as I held out my hand and challenged immediately, "You're on."

Almost immediately she shook my hand back as I stomped out of the locker room and tried to see if I could find the guys from the throwing squad out on the field before practice started.

I'll show them.

Present day

'I'll show them', eh Jo? You idiot… you're so screwed!

Every guy you talked to turned you down flat or just flat out avoided even talking to you at all!

What?!

It's not my fault they're too damn weak and insecure to deal with a girl who knows how to handle herself, right? And what do I care anyway?!

Boys are a distraction and a total waste of time. That's what I always told myself.

So then… why do I care?

Oh yeah, because I made a deal with Malibu Darbie and let that priss get to me like an idiot and took things too far and got in too deep over something as ridiculous and stupid as Prom… just like I always seem to do.

Dammit…

I kept looking back at my dad's truck, thinking maybe it wasn't too late to back out now before I embarrassed myself even more than I already had.

I looked back down at the piece of paper I brought with me to try and 'make things easier' until I scrunched my eyes shut before shoving the piece of paper into the pocket on my hoodie.

Ugh, what the hell was I even thinking? This is stupid.

But right as I was about to walk away from where I was waiting at the gate, I stopped dead in my tracks as I heard a familiar yet confused voice I remembered all too well despite not hearing it in almost a year, "Jo?"

I know this sort of situation has been done in various forms for this pairing, but I wanted to put my own spin on it by having Jo be the one to show the initiative in the situation with reaching out to Brick after not seeing him in almost a year in a moment of almost secret embarrassed desperation for her. After analyzing Jo and how she behaves throughout her time on the show, she always struck me as a girl that despite her tough exterior and competitive nature, that she most likely uses all that to cover up a softer and insecure side of herself (for unknown reasons) in an effort to not be seen as 'weak'. Because despite Jo being labeled as an 'antagonist'... I don't think she's bad or mean as she pretends to be. My favorite instance to bring up is the scene where Brick falls into the grave and is scared of the dark and Jo shows VERY clear concern and compassion for him and immediately offers him her help. Now that to me doesn't seem like a girl who is 100% 'bad to the bone'. I'd love to explore more of this and Brick and Jo in greater detail if you all seemed to like the start of this fic with Brick and Jo in a bit more of a realistic 'slice of life' style situation. But, you all can let me know! Thank you so much for reading and constructive feedback is always very much appreciated.

Take care and stay classy!

Dexter1995