DISCLAIMER: : I do not own these characters, or at least most of them. No profit being made, no harm intended.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
…And the winner is
By Berg
Part 3
Tootie saw the caller ID and beamed. "Can you believe it!" she shouted into the phone.
"Where are you?" Natalie asked.
"Back at the hotel. I'll be flying out to NY tomorrow. Do you want to get together?"
"Of course," Natalie laughed. "Congrats on the win. We were all so proud."
"Did you watch with Jo and Blair?"
"Yup," Natalie wondered how it was exactly she would get this info out of Tootie without betraying anyone's trust or making assumptions she should not make. "Sooo that speech," Nat said. Good safe lead. Couldn't hurt a fly.
"What did you think? I was so nervous I was going to forget someone…and I did."
"Who?"
"Duh," Tootie laughed. "Only my best friend since the time I was able to roller-skate."
"Oh," Natalie smiled. "Well thanks. Feel free to take out an ad in the LA times."
"I'm not that sorry," Tootie laughed. "So the speech, how was it? Did it sound too lame?"
"No. Not lame. Interesting. Very interesting," Natalie rolled over in her bed. "Listen Tootie. Exactly why did you name Jo and Blair in that speech?"
"Well you of all people should know the answer to that one," Tootie laughed so loudly. "You live with them as long as I did. You saw everything I saw."
"What did you see Tootie?"
"Nat where are you going with this?"
"Ummm…are Jo and Blair a couple?"
"Are Jo and Blair a couple?" Tootie repeated the words sounding confused and slightly caught off guard. "Why would you ask me a question like that? Why? Are they a couple?"
"I'm asking you."
"Blair and Jo are gay?" Tootie asked shocked.
"Wait. So you're saying they're not?"
"Nat I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Your speech."
"What about it?"
"You thanking Jo and Blair…the whole gay thing…a lot of people are assuming that…well you can guess what they're assuming."
"Wait. I wasn't implying Jo and Blair were gay!" Tootie felt awful. "I was only suggesting the tension the characters felt, the fighting, the good old time jabs, as Jo would call them. That was what I meant."
"Not that they inspired you to be this gay superhero."
"You think she was a superhero?"
"Come on Tootie…focus with me here."
"Okay so Blair and Jo both thought I was talking about the gay thing."
"Well I don't know if you've seen yourself giving the speech, but you really ought too. Because if really implies that…yeah, Jo and Blair are gay. Have been a couple since…well who knows how long. Don't worry. They're not. I mean…well at least I know Blair isn't."
"What do you mean?"
"Well Jo started acting kind of weird and left suddenly. I know she and Blair were discussing something in the hallway, but I have no idea what it was. Tootie…I think Jo may actually be gay."
"She is," Tootie whispered. "Oh no. What have I done?"
"Wait? Did you just say she is?"
"It's a long story. I'll explain everything when I get there…"
"Well you better hurry your ass up and get here. I can't wait that long. You know me. I'm about to explode here!"
Blair lay in bed looking down at the picture album she had carried in with her. They were full of some of her most cherished and favorite memories. As she skimmed page by page, picture of she and Jo jumped out at her. She traced her finger along the picture of Jo smiling holding the frog she'd bought Blair over Blair's head.
Hearing the phone ring, Blair reached over quickly and picked it up. "Hello."
"Hey Princess," came the soft reply. "You still up."
"I'm still up."
"I couldn't sleep," Jo sighed.
"Well it's no wonder. I'm worried about you. Are you okay?"
"I'm okay," Jo nodded. Thankfully Tootie had not mentioned last names, but it would only be a matter of time before people around them started putting two and two together. "I'm actually more worried about you."
"Me?" Blair asked shocked. "Why me?"
"I'm afraid people will assume…it…well it's like you said before. I give plenty of reasons for people to assume. I'm worried that because you're with me all the time people will just naturally believe…"
"Jo," Blair cut her off. "I don't give a damn what people think. All I care about is you."
"That means a lot," Jo whispered.
"You sound really down."
"No," Jo shook her head. "I'm actually kind of relieved really. No more hiding. No more pretending."
"Oh Jo," Blair felt her heart break. "You never have to pretend. Never with me."
"I know that now," Jo said softly. "That's why I was calling. To say I was sorry for reacting the way I did tonight. You had no way of knowing. My reaction was uncalled for and I'm sorry for that."
"Jo?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm coming over. We've got some things I think we need to discuss."