i know that you don't want me here '

Faye: It WOULD but like...All of my readers know I'd be the absolute worst in that scenario.

Faye: Unless 🤔

Faye: Unless I don't frame it as an experience piece, but as like...an exposé. Exposing Walt's Most Desperate and the Egocentric Prince That Made Them All Compete for His Love.

Jo: No! It'd be great. (:

Faye: WHYYYYY would you do that! I am SO not that desperate and attention-seeking. My romance pieces are like, Tinderella experiences and the matchmaker and stuff -- not competing for the affections of some prince. 🤢

Jo: No one says you have to fall in love with the guy! We needed participants, and it'd be perfect! Plus, I never ask you for favors and this is the one favor I'm asking you to do. Please? I'll...owe you???

Jo: Hey! I have a proposition for you.

Jo: RJ and I are doing A Royal Match, which is basically the bachelor. And I know you're doing some journalling pieces on romance and what not -- so, I maaayyy have signed you up for it.

You realize who you’re talking to, right? Of course, I didn’t make any new friends. None at all. I’m just a shy-little awkward author with no friends. 

Jo: Hey, I hope it's not weird that I'm texting you? If it is, it's fine and I get it because you're definitely one of the cool people here at Walt.

Well, I say the same for you. We’re a couple of nerds, but nerds should be allowed to enjoy themselves too, dammit. Oh! That thing is happening, I forgot. I might report on it while it’s happening – depends on how my article for the dance goes, and whether or not the audience responds well to ‘lovey dovey romance bullshit’. Time will tell! Maybe I’ll have to interview you, Big Producer Person.  

Nerds do deserve to have fun, but in their own way! I’d rather be home reading a book. Or writing a new one.  I’m sure they will; it seems like everyone out here is in love with love. I mean, is anyone tired of the sappy shit that happens all the time? I’m sure your piece will go off great. And thanks, but I’d rather not have this on my resume. 

Why did you say that like it’s a cuss word or something? Wes is dope, and so is his wifey, I’d love it if he found me something even half as cool as what he’s got! Maybe you and your date can observe stuff together! Maybe your date’ll be like Nancy Drew but a boy! Nanco Brew! Yeah, that’s it, that’ll be perfect for you, you can be like dance detectives together! That’s super specific though, Jo, and would make a sick book! You should write it after you finish the book you’re working on now. And can I be the main character? Can you write a girl who’s secretly in love with me? Or a guy, I’m super not picky! And then when you write them can we find a magic friend to like, spell them out of the pages of the book and I can live happily ever after and it’ll be all your doing and then I’ll build a library and name it after you? God, my life is gonna be so cool, thanks Jo, it’s all thanks to you!

Have you seen how many marriages have failed? Like, there have been so many different weddings that have been cancelled. Literally someone flew off on the back of the dragon, and then the guy she ran away with left! Like, I get that my parents have a great love story and blah blah blah, but I haven’t seen a lot of “love conquests” work out here in Walt.  As great as that sounds, I’m not big on the whole romance novel thing. But if you were to write it, I’d totally be willing to be your editor. 

Joooooo! Why are you like this? You’re into research, and you’re researching the dance, so by like… math or whatever, you legally have to be into the dance part of things too!

Considering Weston Maldette is the match maker, I’m sure that  whoever I get matched up with is not going to be my soulmate. I’m more of an observer than a partier. Wallflower, if you would. I doubt I’ll be missed when my date gets pulled away by someone who’s been secretly in love with them since they were children. I’ll probably get what I need to know, and then leave and work on the edits of my novel.

Oh my God, can so relate. I’m like, shaking in my boots I’m so nervous that whoever I get paired with is gonna either talk too much or not at all, and I’ll have to put them on blast in my article. What are you researching? 

Oh, I’m sure that whoever you end up going with is going to adore you. You’re wonderful. Unfortunately, I’m helping with the Walt Bachelor. I got roped into it, and I guess RJ is my friend so I kind of don’t mind helping. But I won’t put it on a resume. 

Wait, we’re talking about a book? You like, never actually said that, but still not a big deal, even I manage to finish books for class sometimes, it’s kind of required. And I read them outside, so like… #winning.

My book. That I’ve mentioned writing almost every time someone asks? Which I’m sure is really obnoxious, but I honestly shouldn’t be shocked that you didn’tknow. That’s... cool, I guess.

Um, ew? Being locked in your room is never worth it – are you sure you didn’t like, hit your head on something? You’re not talking like someone whose like, brain cells work right.

...Thanks for the congrats on finishing my novel. Do you always have to judge people, or do you do it to make yourself feel better? 

RJ went to prom – he wasn’t a total downer. But he had to admit, it did feel weird going fresh out of a breakup from a relationship that he thought had been going pretty well. So he’d paid the money for the ticket, hung out with some of the kids from his show, drank some punch, danced a little….but felt the urge to leave once he got all of that out of his system. There was nothing there for him, really. So he wandered away from the Dance Hall – all the way down Main Street, and into into Sirenbucks. He ordered a coffee – plain, black – until he spotted Jo out of the corner of his eye. They were good friends with his ex, so it kind of felt like they were friends out of association, too. “I know I look like I work here,” he joked, gesturing to his plain white button-down and black tie, “But I was actually just checking in on a friend. How goes it?” 

The brunette looked up when they heard his voice, letting out a soft relieved breath of air as they flicked a loose strand of hair from their forehead. “Sorry, I didn’t -- mean to think you worked here. I just was so focused,” they stated, gesturing to her novel in front of them.  They cleared their throat, shifting and gesturing to the seat across from them for him to sit. “I’m just trying to get through all of the editing and type out my second draft,” they breathed, glancing down at their novel before she reached over and finished off their coffee. They licked their lips, wrinkling their nose. “Maybe I am gonna need more coffee.” They looked back at him, her eyebrow arching. “Aren’t you supposed to be at prom?”

INSTAGRAM: @JODELABETE HAS UPLOADED A NEW PHOTO!

I know everyone's going to say some sappy stuff about their mom, but my mother has been so supportive of every thing I’ve ever done. She’s my literal best friend and I wouldn’t change it for the world.