It was the end of the day, and Jojo couldn’t stop smiling, MJ ignored Derek whenever she walked past him, and Holly watched their every move. Jojo and MJ were walking out of the building together.
  “I’m really sorry about Derek.” Jojo looked at her.
  “Nah, he was a jerk anyways.” MJ shrugged. “And to tell you the truth, Jojo… I have always thought you were cute.” She blushed and looked down while she walked.
  “Same here.” Jojo smiled… again.
  “When’s the concert?” MJ looked at Jojo.
  “In three days.” Jojo said, and then paused in his tracks. MJ looked back at him. “The talent show!” Jojo put his hands on his head, freaking out. “I forgot to tell my dad about the talent show!”
  “What about the talent show?” MJ asked him.
  “It’s on the same day as the concert!” Jojo’s eyes widened.
  “Oh, no! You better tell him soon! Like, right now!” MJ pushed Jojo. Jojo ran as fast as he could.
  “Run, Jojo, run!” MJ yelled from behind him.

  Jojo burst through the doors of his house. “Dad?” He was out of breath.
  “Yeah?” Ned jogged down the stairs. “Is something wrong?”
  “No, well, YEAH… the concert is on the same day as the talent show.” Jojo explained quickly, then breathing hard from the long run.
  “Oh…” Ned looked worried. “You sure?” He smiled nervously.
  “Yeah.” Jojo nodded.
  “I’ll have to check my calendar.” Ned laughed, still nervous.
  “Dad, this is serious.” Jojo was sedate. “Everyone is going to think you’re a boob… again.” He added.
  “I’ll change the date to the talent show for NEXT Saturday.” Ned sighed disappointingly and walked beside his son into the living room. “I was looking forward to it the most.”
  “Then why don’t you just change the date for ‘Who Am I?’?” Jojo asked his father as he took off his backpack and slumped onto the sofa.
  “Because all the girls are addicted to that band and I don’t want them to be disappointed.” Ned looked down at his son. “Plus, I don’t want to be rude to the hottest band of the decade.” Ned looked straight ahead. “It might be bad for my health. They know karate.” He nodded.
  “Don’t worry, dad, ‘Who Am I?’ are really understanding.” Jojo nodded, smiling.
  Mayor Ned giggled a little. “Exactly why I persuaded them to come to Whoville.” He winked at his son.
  Jojo smirked.
  “Well, I better make a few phone calls and change that date for the talent show.” Ned stood up.
  “You do that, dad.” Jojo smiled and jumped off the sofa. “I was meaning to tell you this earlier, like a week earlier, but…”
  “Say no more, Jojo. Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody has those days.” He almost laughed.
  “Hannah Whotanna?” Jojo smiled.
  “Yep. She’s coming next month.” Ned walked out of the room.
  Jojo’s eyes widened. Hannah Whotanna. Coming to Whoville? Next month? But Jojo shook his head and hurried to the phone. He took out a piece of paper from his pocket and dialed the number on the paper.
  “Hello?” MJ answered.
  “MJ, it’s me, Jojo. I told my dad.”
  “Oh, good! What changed: the concert or the talent show?”  MJ asked.
  “The talent show.” Jojo confirmed.
  “YES! If I have to wait another day for the concert, I’m going to EXPLODE.” MJ was serious. “EXPLODE, I TELL YOU!”
  “I see.” Jojo chuckled.
  “And then I’ll have aftershock!” MJ giggled.
  Jojo laughed. “And guess who’s coming next month?”
  “Who?”
  “HANNAH WHOTANNA!” Jojo yelled right into the phone. On the other end, he heard screaming and excited laughter.
  “Are you serious?!” She gasped.
  “Yep. And guess who gets a special discount?” Jojo was calm.
  “…You?” MJ was a little serene.
  “And…” He paused. “You.” He said really fast. Yet again, the screaming happened.
  “How big is this discount?” MJ was excited.
  “It’s totally free.” Jojo smiled. More screaming on the other end.
  “Thank you so much, Jojo. You’re simply the best.” MJ was calm and quiet now.
  “Thanks.” Jojo blushed.
  “I have to go. See you soon.” MJ said.
  “Bye.” He hung up.

  At dinner, Jojo was eating happily and humming to himself as he waited for his dinner.
  “You look happy.” Holly smiled as she jumped in the seat next to Jojo. “I wonder why.”
  “Thank you SO much for hooking me up with MJ. Sure, I was a little fearful and timid at first, but all’s well that ends well.” Jojo smiled.
  “And you told dad about the concert and the talent show being on the same day?” She asked.
  “Uh-huh.” He nodded.
  “Great. And the talent show is AFTER the concert?” Holly pressed on.
  Jojo sighed. “Yes, Holly, ‘Who Am I?’ are still playing on Saturday.”
  “Yes!” Holly threw her fist in the air.
  Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
  “I’ll get it!” Holly jumped out of her seat and skipped all the way to the front door and opened it. Outside were Zoey and Violet. They had pictures in their hands.
  “Hey, Holly.” Violet waved, smiling.
  “Hello, there.” Holly smiled back.
  “These are the pictures from that night under the nighttime rainbow.” Zoey explained as they handed Holly the pictures.
  “It took some time to develop them. The pharmacy isn’t that… reliable.” Violet rolled her eyes.
  “Anyway, these are for you and Jojo.” Zoey nodded.
  “And we did some research on that nighttime rainbow… thingy.” Violet added.
  “Really? What did you find out?” Holly was curious.
  “That so-called ‘nighttime rainbow’,” Zoey did air quotes with her fingers, “is actually called ‘Mary Jane’s Color’.” Zoey informed.
  “No way!” Holly laughed. “Mary Jane? That’s so cool!” She exclaimed.
  “Totally.” Violet nodded.
  “I’ve got to tell Jojo this!” Holly laughed. “Hey, did you guys know he’s dating Mary Jane now?”
  “I know. I heard. She broke up with Derek in the lunchroom. Actually, EVERYBODY heard.” Zoey chuckled.
  “I didn’t!” Violet looked alarmed at Zoey, then at Holly.
  “You didn’t know they were dating?” Zoey looked at Violet as is she was crazy.
  “No!” Violet looked hurt.
  “I’m sorry… you were fond of Jojo, weren’t you?” Holly whispered.
  Violet blushed and looked away.
  Just then, Zoey hugged Violet. “It’s okay. We’ll hook you up with Derek.” She reassured Violet.
  “Uh, not a good idea.” Holly shook her head. “It would cause a CLASH between Derek and Jojo. Trust me. It happens.” Holly nodded.
  “Okay, well… make sure you give those to Jojo.” Zoey stopped hugging Violet.
  “I will.” Holly smiled.
  “Great. Come on, Vi, let’s go to that greasy hamburger joint where MJ’s mom works.” Zoey sighed and pulled Violet’s sleeve as they left.
  “Bye, Holly!” Violet said over her shoulder.
  Holly smiled and closed the door. She looked through the pictures as she started walking towards the kitchen, but stopped as she looked at a picture. The picture of Jojo kissing Violet on the cheek. Holly chuckled and continued walking.
  Jojo was sitting happily and patiently at the table when Holly came back.
  “Hey, who was at the door?” Mayor Ned asked as he walked by Holly and Jojo.
  “Just some friends.” Holly replied as she jumped in her seat next to Jojo.
  “Are those the pictures?” Jojo looked at Holly.
  “Uh-huh. And guess what it’s called?” She pointed to the nighttime rainbow.
  “Uh… Holly?” Jojo took a guess.
  “No… Mary Jane’s Color!” Holly giggled.
  “Oh, wow… Mary Jane must be… colorful.” Jojo stared at the pictures. He spread them across the table so he didn’t have to keep going through them one by one.
  “That one is cute.” Holly pointed to a picture that had Violet giving Zoey a piggy-back ride.
  Jojo chuckled. “It sure is.” He scanned all the pictures and finally stopped and stared at the one with him kissing Violet. He smiled.
  Holly glanced at Jojo, then at the picture he was staring at, and then back at Jojo. She paused for about five seconds. “You’re not asking her out, are you?” She suddenly asked him, with and expressionless face on.
  Jojo came out of his daze and looked at her. “Huh?” He looked confused.
  “Thought so.” Holly sat straight up in her seat and looked straight forward as Jojo kept staring at her, still confused.

TO BE CONTINUED…