The Shades of Blue

9. It was almost perfect

⚠️TW: this story will contain triggers for s3xual har@ssment. I have made it through to the other side and this story will contain pieces from my experience. If at any point it makes you feel uncomfortable, please stop, breath and call a loved one. You are not alone. You are beautiful. And I love you!

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Uhmm.. Blue, did you just say that? Because Jo over here was still not believing in her ears, given the amount of trust issues she has. Under the stars, warm and cozy in a blanket, soft music playing in the background, Blue in his cute outfit and mesmerizing cologne, smiled and said that he was swooning over her. This has got to be a dream or something.

-" Haha real funny, quit messing around Blue." Jo lightly laughed it off. She was contemplating ways to deal with whatever he just said to her, including fleeing, hugging him and laughing it off and be cool. Despite her obvious disbelief, Blue smiled brighter, stroked her hair and looked straight at her:

-" I'm serious though. Why would you think I'm messing with you?"
-" I don't know, you're kinda famous and I'm kinda lame?"
-" Again, you are not lame." Blue smiled again, ever so gentle and caring "You are smart, delicate, funny and amazing. Stop being mean to my best friend."
-" And your date for tonight."
-" And my date for tonight!" He laughed, finding the way she corrected him charmingly adorable.
-" Yeah well, stop being so dreamy!"
-" Can't, just in my blood." Blue laughed as he answered her. All of a sudden, he moved closer to her, his nose was now touching the tip of her nose. Jo flinched a little bit but she did not move away.
-" Also, is it wrong that I want to kiss you right now?" Blue asked, his breath smelled of mint from the gum she gave him earlier, his one hand was holding her hand and he looked straight into her eyes. Jo could not bring herself to think, and before she could comprehend what was happening.

She was holding the back of his head, and they were kissing.

It was for a few seconds. Jo wasn't even aware that it happened until she felt Blue's hand on her face and realized what she had just done. His lips were on hers, and the kiss was so gentle, almost like he was holding himself back for her sake.

Jo backed off. Blue looked at her, surprised to see that, but then he was immediately on "careful vet" mode. This was a term the three came up with after what happened to Jo. She was always on edge, always so scared and alert, even the slightest wrong word could have spooked her away. And so both Blue and Garrett were very slow and gentle around her, like a careful vet was to a scared deer. This was Blue's "careful vet" face. He held both his hand out, slowly gesturing to Jo:

-" Jo? You're fine. Everything is fine. Nothing bad happened alright love? It was just a kiss. Are you okay?"
-" Can I go home now?"
-"'Sure thing pumpkin, I'll take you home. You do not have to feel sorry okay? You didn't do anything wrong, you got it love?" Blue maintained his stare. Jo never felt uncomfortable with stares, and he just wanted to make sure that he got as much body language from her as possible. It is easy to assume things from what one says, but body language never fails. And Jo has always been heavy on body language, because she rarely spoke her mind in situations she felt uncomfortable in.
-" Okay." Jo wasn't looking at him when she said this, and she started fidgeting a bit.

The entire ride home Jo became very quiet, like she had turned off a switch. When they reached her house, Blue stopped the car, walked her to the front door and said:

-" I had the best time tonight."
-" Yeah.. me too."
-" And I'm sorry for asking to kiss you. That probably was too fast."
-" Okay I'm gonna go in now.. thanks for the evening!" Jo rushed, smiled at Blue and then opened the door to go in.

Once she was inside, Jo sighed.

She did not want to be rude, Blue is the sweetest and she has never nor will ever be rude to him on purpose.

It's just that, for a second, the kiss was all she could focus on. His smell and his soft fluffy lips, his hands on her neck and the other hand holding her hand. It was all so magical and for a moment that was everything she needed.

Until that night came back to her mind.

She could never, ever be good enough for him.