Authors Note: So while thinking over my story titled We Were Lovers, I wondered how Joan and Judith first met. In We Were Lovers, I proposed the idea that Judith and Joan were meant to befriend one another. So perhaps you will catch the too obvious hints of this. So this story will follow her experience at Gentle Acres. Oh and if you are curious, the canon pairings are in the story. Anyways I hope you enjoy.
Gentle Acres
Chapter 1: Welcome to Gentle Acres.
Gentle Acres was situated 50 miles south of the city of Arcadia. While there, one could enjoy a variety of different stress free activities ranging from crafts, to horseback riding, and even swimming in the near by lake. If the brochure had not explicitly said it was for Troubled Teens, one might mistake it for a summer camp children might go to. But it wasn't summer camp nor was it really for Troubled Teens. It was Crazy Camp. A place they sent mentally disturbed teens for a summer long therapy session.
Why couldn't they understand? She was better and no longer had Lyme Disease. She no longer saw... him. So as her mother drove down the barren dirt road, she wished God were real, so that she could properly curse him.
"It's only one summer Joan," Helen Girardi said, her dark brown hair blowing softly. Joan simply gave a groan in protest. "There will be more, I promise." She said, reaching out to place her hand on her daughters shoulder. Joan shrugged it off immediately.
"Look, I'm not sick. The only reason I saw G..." Joan paused and scrunched up her face for a moment. "I'm not sick, I know whats real and whats not." She shot her mother a glance daring her to question her. Helen frowned, and returned her attention to the road ahead.
They arrived at Gentle Acres moments later. The place felt surreal, and she was reminded of images of small children going to their first summer camp. But the reality was different. The hanging overhead sign reading Gentle Acres in thick green letters, the small cabins with the perfect view of the lake, drastically contrasted with the dozens of teenagers milling about. They either looked like criminals or had the appearance of a person who belonged in an insane asylum.
"Perhaps thats what it is," Joan said, unaware that she spoke at all. Her mother shot her a concerned look.
"Did you say something?" Helen asked. Joan, who had been leaning her head against the window, looked at her dumbfounded.
"No I didn't" She said, but had she?
"Must have been the radio," She offered, but they both knew it was a weak explanation because the radio had been turned off 20 miles ago. Her mother's taste in music was, to put it bluntly, terrible. They couldn't decide which station to listen to, or what CD to play. Feeling guilty of arguing with her sick daughter, Helen simply turned it off.
As Helen turned into the parking lot, Joan caught a glimpse of someone familiar. He had pale skin, with thick black eye shadow, similarly he wore black lipstick. His hair, also black, had been gelled into spikes. Something about him rekindled something within her, yet she couldn't place it. Or perhaps she simply chose to ignore it.
"Honey, are you going to get your stuff or?" Helen asked. Joan came out of though with a start, giving a small squeak. "Joan are you alright?" Joan looked around dumbly, it took her a moment to process that her mother had parked, and started unpacking her stuff. Joan gave a small groan in protest and slipped out of the car.
As she unpacked her attention came back to the Goth Kid, who returned the attention just as fiercely.
Great, only been here a few minutes and I am already attracting a the creeps. Joan thought annoyed.
The two Girardi women said their goodbyes, exchanged their affections and Joan was left standing alone in the parking lot. She felt out of place and felt vulnerable. The Goth Kid had left, perhaps to gawk at some other girl. Gooseflesh crept through her as she considered spending the summer with a person like him.
Joan turned her back on the road and her only escape. Now she faced Crazy Camp
fifteen minutes later a guidance counselor wearing a pale yellow shirt, the camp's logo on the breast pocket, and a pair of white shorts. He blew on a red whistle sending a screeching sound across Gentle Acres. Joan, sitting on some cabins steps alone, could hear a few of the kids curse.
"Hello everyone, my name is Tom," Tom said with a sickeningly to cheerful voice, "Now I know some of you would rather not be here, however if you would please cooperate, things will go much smoother." Again with that voice, Joan groaned. Then she smiled at what Grace my think of these counselors. "Now if you please come with me to the mess hall. We will get you situated." At first the group seemed determined to stay there, but slowly as the realization that this was happening, slowly gathered around Tom.
Tom led them through the camp until they reached the large building with the sign that read Gentle Acres Mess Hall. Over the door. The doors were wide open, and the group was slowly marshaled in. Long wooden tables filled the room with a large stage at the front of the room. Standing on the stage was a bubbly blonde counselor whose hair had been pulled back into a ponytail.
"Will everyone find a place to sit?" The blond said cheerfully. Yes, Joan thought, Grace would go in full rant mode if she came here. Joan giggled at the thought, giving her a few raised eyebrows. Her cheeks went bright red, as she tried to duck low. "Hello everyone, my name is Sarah and I am here if any of you need help." She paused and Joan could have sworn she heard a cricket chirp. Sarah then went into the rules and the general set up of how things were run at Gentle Acres. "Alright, when I call your name, please come and get your cabin number and your room mates."
When it came to Joan's name, she slowly got up and walked up towards the stage where a man was handing out papers. About half way there, she tripped and slid forward some. Muttering a small curse to herself, she could hear the roar of laughter vibrate the Mess Hall. Then she could feel a shadow flow over her... and she recognized the presence. She looked up to see the Goth Kid, standing over her with his out reached hand. Something was different about him though... did he get a new nose ring? Joan asked herself. She grabbed the Goth Kid's and, with quite ease, pulled her to his feet.
"Hello Joan," He said casually. Joan's face, like a simple light that had been turned on, changed from embarrassment to pure terror. She yanked from the strange kid, and tumbled backwards and fell hard. A dozen images flashed through her head and a dozen more questions went off. The answer at the tip of her tongue.
The laughter went from a roar to a booming earthquake. She could even see some of the counselors trying to stifle a small smile. But before she turned her face towards the ground she caught a glimpse of someone. Standing only a few feet away, she saw a girl about the same age as her. Her short dark brown hair rested gently on her small shoulders. She had a certain air of control about her, something Joan would quickly learn was a guise, and she was smiling. But it was different from the counselors. Her smile tried to be comforting, saying its alright to laugh at yourself.
Slowly, Joan got to her feet, ignored the Goth Kid who was smiling as if he had achieved something, and grabbed the paper with her assigned cabin and roommate. She then quickly walked towards her spot and shielded her head with her arms. Wishing Adam was here to comfort her... and she then felt an ache within her and she let a tear slide down her flushed cheeks. Adam.
Then a name caught her attention, up until then she had been consumed with her own emotions, and she looked up.
"Montgomery, Judith," Sarah called out. The girl who had tried to comfort her, stood up and walked down towards the man. She had a certain carefree attitude that Joan longed to have, she wouldn't care if she tripped. She would probably join in with the laughter...
Her eyes caught Joan's and she mouthed, 'Welcome to Gentle Acres, I'm Judith."
Perhaps I will find a friend here afterall, Joan thought.