Authors Note: Three chapters today because I'm in a freakishly good mood today..

12. Adam, Meet Mark

Joan surfed through the radio stations as the bell above the bookstore door went off. She looked at the bell and then down at the person who was approching the counter.

"You read?" she asked.

"I do a lot of things," Grace told her.

"Hey, as long as my brother's not on the list I'm fine with it," Joan said with a smirk.

"Hey! Girardi! Get your mind out of the gutter you pervert!" Grace yelled. Joan laughed. "Besides, I'm not here for a book. I'm here to have a word with you."

"Okay, about?"

"He's coming back in six days. And I'm tired of the two of you moping over each other and not doing anything about it. So that's why I'm here. To force you to do something about it."

"Look, you already yelled at me about this once today," Joan told her.

"Huh?"

"I had a dream. We were at school and you kept telling me to tell Adam that I loved him."

"Oh. Well, I was right. Tell him."

"Why do you care? You're not acting like yourself."

"I don't know why I care. It's crazy. But I've know Rove since we were three. And I've never seen the dude truly happy until you came into the picture." Joan looked at Grace for a moment, not sure what to say.

"Just think about it Girardi," Grace told her, turning aroundand leaving the store. Joan leaned against the counter and let out a sigh.

"Is something wrong Joan?"

"Huh?" Joan asked, looking around and spotting a little red haired girl sitting in the childrens section. "Oh it's you. Like you don't know."

"Adam gets back on Sunday," God told her.

"Yeah, I know."

"And you've got something to tell him?" God presssed on.

"Are you and Grace teaming up now or something?"

"No. She just sees what everyone else does.

"God!" Joan yelled.

"Yes?"

"No, I was using your name in vain. Look, I'll tell Adam okay?" Joan asked.

"Tell me what, yo?" a voice asked from behind Joan. She spun around to see Adam standing behind her.

"Adam! What are you doing back so soon? Not that I'm not happy to see you," Joan said, hugging him.

"Got an earlier flight, yo. I went over to your house to see you, but your brother said you were here."

"Well, he was right. I am here," Joan said dumbly.

"Cha, I see," Adam responded. "So, what were you going to tell me?" Joan opened her mouth to tell him, but was interrupted by the door opening and Mark entering.

"Jo!" Mark called. Joan and Adam turned to the front of the store.

"Hey Mark, what are you doing here?" Joan asked.

"When you get off work, you want to go out to dinner? My treat," Mark said.

"I'll have to talk to my parents-" Joan started.

"I already did. Your parents are going out on a married date, Kevin and Rebecca are going out, and Luke's been trying to talk Grace into going out with him all day, and she caved," Mark reported. Joan laughed.

"Well in that case, sure," Joan told him.

"Great! I'll see you tonight then. Bye Jo," Mark said, leaving. Adam turned to Joan.

"Who.. was that?" he asked.

"Oh, that's my friend Mark. I wrote about him in my last letter," Joan told him. Adam nodded.

"He calls you Jo?"

"Yeah. You call me Jane," Joan told him.

"Cha, I know, but.." Adam started. "Forget it. Have fun with Mark tonight. I'll see you later Joan," Adam said, walking off.

"Adam! Wait!" Joan called after him, but he was already gone. She leaned against the counter and let out a heavy sigh.

"He called me Joan. He's mad at me. Great. Thanks a lot!" Joan yelled, looking up at the ceiling.