A/N: Hehe... okay, granted this is a short chapter but thank you all for R&R. Or at least reading it! LOL It's all in my head... I just need to type it out. Enjoy!
Chapter Two: Not a Hallmark card
"Uh, excuse me?" Joan approached the woman behind the counter. As soon as Joan had gotten off the bus, she made a beeline towards the hospital, straight to the waiting area and towards the nearest receptionist. Just like receiving a shot, Joan wanted to get this "assignment" over with as quickly and painlessly as possible.
It was only quarter to four in the afternoon. Joan figured that she'll make her visit with Price as short as possible, ten minutes tops, stop over at the mall, grab her smoothie, then head on home by five o'clock and no one would be the wiser. She had told her mom that she was going to be at the mall, which wasn't exactly a lie... just one half of the whole truth. Joan just couldn't deal with her mother's barrage of questions as to why her daughter felt this "need" to visit Mr. Price. A man that they both could do without in their lives.
Joan was greeted by the receptionist, an older Chinese woman with a pleasant smile. Her eyes sparkling warmly at Joan, "Yes?"
"Hi, uh... I'm told you have a patient here by the name of Gavin Price? I was just wondering what room he's in." Almost ashamed to admit, yet needing to make it clear that she wasn't a family member, "He's my high school VP and I heard what happened and decided to visit him..."
"How thoughtful of you!" The receptionist beamed. She turned towards the computer, "Okay, he's in room four-oh-seven. That's on the fourth floor, room seven."
Joan returned the smile, "Thank you." She started heading towards the elevator when the receptionist called out to her.
"Just to let you know; visiting hours, with the exception of immediate family members, end at eight o'clock in the evenings. On the weekends, it's nine."
She turned to face the receptionist, giving her a small smile. "Oh, I'm not going to be staying that long..."
"It never hurts to know, Joan." She replied, casting Joan a knowing look.
The smile on Joan's face fell onto one of disbelief. She rolled her eyes before approaching God. "Y'know, one day I'm actually going to use that innovation of yours called free-will."
God, in the form of the receptionist, gave a nod of her head and a glance towards something behind Joan. "The hospital has a gift shop."
Not bothering to glance in that direction, "So?"
"You know what they sell in there, don't you?" God gave Joan this pointed look.
Joan finally glanced at the shop and back towards God, exasperated. "You actually expect me to buy Price something?" She crossed her arms, "Visiting him is one thing, but getting him a gift?"
"I'm not asking you to buy him a dozen red roses. A get-well card would be nice for a start. It's common courtesy, Joan. You should know better."
God watched as Joan bit her lower lip with a frustrated sigh. She glanced down, eyes closed, then looked back up with a tight smile. "Fine!" Before heading towards the gift shop, she pointed an accusing finger at God. "But one day, I am putting my foot down at one of your suggestions."
Joan stalked on over to the gift shop, an act which God watched with amusement. A moment later, Joan emerged holding up a small white card with a floral design on the front. She waved it at God as she walked on over to the opening elevator doors.
"There you go! But just to let you know... It's not a Hallmark card. Gotta draw the line somewhere..."
JoA~~JoA
She raised her fist, about to knock on his door, which was slightly opened, when Joan realized with a startling thought "How am I going to explain my visit to him? I'm not exactly one of his favorite students..."
Joan pulled back her hand, wracking her brain for possible excuses that didn't make her come off looking like a complete... loon? Ha! Not that Price hasn't been privy to one of her moods. But still... this was just another one he could add to his "Crazy Things I've witnessed Joan Giradi Do" list. A list that he could testify to have Joan committed!
She took a couple of steps back, contemplating her next move. Finally with a soft frustrated groan, "God! What am I doing? If I can't even come up with a stupid excuse to visit Price, how the hell am I supposed to explain the visit to everyone else? Especially mom... Grace, yeah I'm so looking forward to her reaction... Adam..." Joan flinched at the thought of seeing Adam giving her that same look of disbelief he had given Grace earlier.
"But then again..." Joan thought out loud. The thought of what could happen if Joan didn't do what God asked very well frightened her. Especially if she considered what had almost happened if she hadn't asked Steve Ramsey to the dance a few months back. With that newfound thought in mind, Joan decided to once again bite the bullet... so to speak.
Holding her breath, she gave two knocks on his door before peeking her head in. Joan had somewhat prayed that he would be asleep, thus only delaying the inevitable, however...
"Miss Giradi? What are you doing here?"
JoA~~JoA~~JoA
