A/N ~ Here it is, Chapter Four! I know, it took me long enough...but I was
trying to figure out how to end the story (don't worry, it'll take me
awhile!), and I had trouble figuring out where to go with it...but I've got
it clear now! Thanks again for the reviews, you guys are fabulous. I'd give
Adam to all of you if I could! =) Pllleeease read and review! =)
"Joan!"
Joan rolled over, and blinked rapidly. Luke came into focus, standing over her bed, looking at her with raised eyebrows. She sat up, a little too quickly. She looked around, and realized that it was morning, and she was still in the clothes she had worn yesterday. She must have cried herself to sleep last night, even after her session with God.
"What?" she asked Luke, rubbing her bleary eyes.
"It's almost nine...or did you forget?" Luke demanded.
"Forget what?" Joan asked.
Luke nodded to himself.
"Obviously, you've forgotten. You, me, Adam, Grace...Thunder Park? Is this firing off any neurons?" he asked, placing his hands on his hips.
Crap, Joan thought.
The four of them were supposed to go to Thunder Park, this amusement park...they had been planning it for weeks. She'd forgotten all about it...and now it was too late to bail.
"Right...yeah, I better call Adam and remind him," Joan said, standing and raking a hand through her knotted hair.
"Actually, why don't I do that, while you try to make yourself look human?" Luke said, pointing both index fingers toward the door.
"Shut up, Luke," Joan said. "At least I can make myself look human with a shower!" she called as he jogged downstairs.
Joan plodded into the bathroom, showered, and wrapped herself in a soft, white terry robe. She scoffed at the fact that she was wearing white. As she entered her bedroom, scrubbing at her drenched locks with a towel, she was startled to find Adam seated on her bed.
"Hey Jane," he said, bracing his hands on the bed behind him, and leaning back.
"Hi," she said slowly, ashamed to look at him.
"I'm sorry about last night," they said in unison.
Their eyes finally met, and the apologies were accepted just as they were spoken -- in unison. Joan went over and leaned into Adam's arms, where she fit so perfectly, as if she'd been created for no other purpose than to be held by him.
He ran his hand over her wet hair, which smelled like strawberries. He hoped that she felt as good on the inside as she looked on the outside, because even now, in her simple robe, with no makeup, she was gorgeous to him. Even if she was falling to pieces inside because of him.
"So we have to go do this thing with Grace and Luke," she said into the soft cotton of his navy blue tee shirt.
"Cha," Adam replied. "This should be interesting, huh?"
Joan pulled back, and looked at him with questioning eyes, eyes that begged him to tell her everything would work out.
But he didn't. Because Adam had never lied to Joan, and he had promised long ago that he never would.
Adam was driving the four of them to Thunder Park, and the car was tense with secrets. Grace noted that Joan, who ordinarily couldn't force her eyes away from Rove for twenty seconds, looked out the open window, totally spaced out. And Rove, who usually risked driving one handed so he could hold "Jane's hand with the other, was white-knuckling the steering wheel.
"So I guess a rousing game of Travel Bingo is out of the question?" Luke asked.
Neither Adam nor Joan seemed to notice that Luke had spoken, and Grace simply shot him a "look", wondering how she possibly could've been dating this moron for almost four months. Luke slumped back against the seat, pouting. But he didn't pout for long, because he realized that from his poorly postured position, he had a great view of Grace's stellar legs...she was wearing cutoff denim shorts.
When they got to the park, Luke and Grace strolled up to the ticket booth, while Adam and Joan, hand in hand, lingered behind, as solemn as if they were walking into a wake as opposed to an amusement park.
"You know guys, I think it's working, the sun is actually beginning to fade," Grace called, shielding her eyes as she glanced toward the sky. "Keep it up and you might actually be able to conjure a full-fledged hurricane before noon."
Adam and Joan both glared at her.
"Jeez! Lighten up, will you? This will be fun," Grace insisted. With that, she looped her arm through Luke's, and headed into the park.
Adam mechanically paid for two tickets, and he and Joan wandered inside behind Luke and Grace.
"Aren't they just America's Sweethearts," Joan scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"Funny," Adam said, rubbing his hand over his head. "Usually Grace is the one rolling her eyes at us."
"Yeah," Joan said. "Well, a lot has changed in the past DAY."
"Cha," Adam echoed.
"Look, let's just pretend it never happened, okay? Any of it. We can't let on that anything is wrong," she continued.
Adam nodded, even though he didn't want to pretend that none of it had ever happened. Nothing really was wrong, in his frame of mind, and the only regret he had was that Joan regretted everything. It was a good thing she loved him so much, he decided, or she would've tossed him a long time ago.
"Come on, guys!" Luke called, as he and Grace got in line for a massive roller coaster.
Adam and Joan joined them, and as they stood in line, Joan noticed something. On the sign that listed off all of the possible reasons you shouldn't go on this ride, was a picture of a pregnant stick woman (go figure). Joan's stomach flipped over, and she immediately grasped Adam's hand. His eyes shot to hers, alert, and she subtly nodded towards the sign. Adam drew in his breath in realization.
"Hey, Grace," he said, elbowing her slightly. "Jane and me are gonna go use the facilities, kay? We'll catch up, yo."
Joan smiled tidily at her brother, and the two slipped out of the line.
"On second thought, maybe I should go on the coaster..." Joan mused as she and Adam sat down on a bench.
Adam looked at her, bruised.
"Adam, I'm sorry, it's just...it's going to take some getting used to, you know? Maybe my hormones are going crazy already," she blabbed.
"It's okay," Adam said, picking at his cuticles.
"How come you don't seem at all upset over this? I mean, you'd almost think you were happy about it or something," Joan said, as if that were impossible.
"You think I'm not totally wigged out about this, Jane? 'Cause I am. I have no idea what to do with babies. I've never even held a baby before or anything. But," he said, his slightly panicked voice softening, "I know that I love you, and that we're still okay. I mean, we're only having a baby, yo."
Joan couldn't help but laugh. ONLY having a baby? The death of Adam's mother must have effected him in an astronomic way for him to have such an appreciation of life. She thought it best not to mention that his own life could very well be endangered once Will Girardi got wind of the baby in his daughter's womb.
"Keep saying things like that," Joan said. "And I might actually start to believe you."
She sighed, and let her body rest against Adam's, as he put his arms around her.
"When are we going to tell our parents?" Joan asked after a moment.
"I dunno," Adam replied. "Probably soon."
"You've got it made if your dad takes it as easy as you have," Joan commented dismally, knowing that her parents were absolutely going to lose it.
"And you think I'm gonna let you deal with your parents on your own?" Adam asked.
"You're right," Joan said. "I think we should tell them together."
"Okay," Adam said. "How?"
Joan sighed again...that was the part she hadn't figured out yet.
"I have no idea. Maybe we should just wait and see how long it takes them to notice," she said, laughing ruefully.
"But you should go to the doctor, Jane. To make sure everything's all right, you know? I'll go with you, if you want."
Joan hadn't even thought of that yet. Doctors appointments, Lamaze classes, a nursery, getting fat, giving birth...all of it was so overwhelming. She felt she might pass out.
"Are you okay?" Adam asked, sensing this.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine...I think I just need some water," she stammered.
"Done," Adam said, kissing the crown of Joan's head and heading to the concession stand.
As soon as Adam walked away, Joan leaned forward, and rested her head in her hands. She was pretty sure that this was, in fact, more than she could handle. She felt a shadow cast over her, and she assumed Adam was back.
"That was fast," she said, straightening up. "Oh."
It wasn't Adam at all, but a thirteen-ish looking girl, wearing a pale purple halter top and a denim skirt. She had long blonde hair, and a summer sunburn.
"You're doing well, Joan," the girl said.
"It's only been one day," she said sardonically. "Give me some time. I'm sure I'll screw this up, too."
The girl laughed, and shook her head.
"You're definitely on the right track. You've got to tell your parents, and soon. They're coming home tomorrow, right?"
"Duh," Joan replied.
"Good. In the meantime, why don't you try to take your mind off things a bit?" God suggested.
Joan blinked twice, unamused.
"You know, if You weren't the Creator of the Universe, you'd make a killing as a comedian," she muttered.
"Don't forget that you have other friends besides just Adam," God continued.
"You mean Grace?" Joan asked. "Hello, what am I doing right now? Grace is on some ride I can't go on, thanks to You."
"No, thanks to you," God corrected.
"Right. Consequences. I got it. But what about Grace? Am I supposed to hang out with her more or something?" Joan asked.
God nodded.
"It's not a bad idea."
"Wow, that's a tough one," Joan said sarcastically. "Sure you're not overworking me?"
"Think of it as your maternity leave," the girl/God said, smiling sweetly. She waggled her fingers at Joan, and strolled away.
"Here," Adam said, extending a cup of water to Joan as he returned.
Just as Adam got back, Luke and Grace, aptly exhilarated, approached them.
"Cripe, long enough visit to the john?" Grace laughed, raising a skeptical brow.
"Jane's not feeling so hot," Adam explained.
Joan's stomach turned anxiously, worrying if this would further propel any suspicions Grace or Luke might have.
"Dude, that sincerely sucks," Grace said, with a hint of sympathy. "That ride was awesome!"
"Yeah, something about the way the gravitational pull counteracted with the throttle pressure-" Luke began, but stopped and smiled sheepishly when Grace eyed him strangely.
"Well, we're going to head over to the Tilt-A-Whirl...are you sure you're too sick to join us?" Luke asked.
Joan didn't even have to look at the sign to know that a Tilt-A-Whirl is no place for a pregnant girl, and she shook her head.
"We'll be fine here, man. You guys have fun," Adam said, rubbing tiny circles over Joan's back as she sipped some of the water.
"I'm sorry to ruin this day for you," Joan said as Luke and Grace took off.
"Getting to spend one on one time with you is never a ruined day, Jane," Adam assured her.
Joan looked up at him, and smiled disdainfully.
"Except it's not one on one time anymore," she pointed out. "There's three of us now."
A/N – See, that wasn't even REALLY a cliffie, was it? * Shrugs innocently * Well, I hope you liked that chapter! Please tell me! =) Reviews make me smile almost as much as Adam does! =)
"Joan!"
Joan rolled over, and blinked rapidly. Luke came into focus, standing over her bed, looking at her with raised eyebrows. She sat up, a little too quickly. She looked around, and realized that it was morning, and she was still in the clothes she had worn yesterday. She must have cried herself to sleep last night, even after her session with God.
"What?" she asked Luke, rubbing her bleary eyes.
"It's almost nine...or did you forget?" Luke demanded.
"Forget what?" Joan asked.
Luke nodded to himself.
"Obviously, you've forgotten. You, me, Adam, Grace...Thunder Park? Is this firing off any neurons?" he asked, placing his hands on his hips.
Crap, Joan thought.
The four of them were supposed to go to Thunder Park, this amusement park...they had been planning it for weeks. She'd forgotten all about it...and now it was too late to bail.
"Right...yeah, I better call Adam and remind him," Joan said, standing and raking a hand through her knotted hair.
"Actually, why don't I do that, while you try to make yourself look human?" Luke said, pointing both index fingers toward the door.
"Shut up, Luke," Joan said. "At least I can make myself look human with a shower!" she called as he jogged downstairs.
Joan plodded into the bathroom, showered, and wrapped herself in a soft, white terry robe. She scoffed at the fact that she was wearing white. As she entered her bedroom, scrubbing at her drenched locks with a towel, she was startled to find Adam seated on her bed.
"Hey Jane," he said, bracing his hands on the bed behind him, and leaning back.
"Hi," she said slowly, ashamed to look at him.
"I'm sorry about last night," they said in unison.
Their eyes finally met, and the apologies were accepted just as they were spoken -- in unison. Joan went over and leaned into Adam's arms, where she fit so perfectly, as if she'd been created for no other purpose than to be held by him.
He ran his hand over her wet hair, which smelled like strawberries. He hoped that she felt as good on the inside as she looked on the outside, because even now, in her simple robe, with no makeup, she was gorgeous to him. Even if she was falling to pieces inside because of him.
"So we have to go do this thing with Grace and Luke," she said into the soft cotton of his navy blue tee shirt.
"Cha," Adam replied. "This should be interesting, huh?"
Joan pulled back, and looked at him with questioning eyes, eyes that begged him to tell her everything would work out.
But he didn't. Because Adam had never lied to Joan, and he had promised long ago that he never would.
Adam was driving the four of them to Thunder Park, and the car was tense with secrets. Grace noted that Joan, who ordinarily couldn't force her eyes away from Rove for twenty seconds, looked out the open window, totally spaced out. And Rove, who usually risked driving one handed so he could hold "Jane's hand with the other, was white-knuckling the steering wheel.
"So I guess a rousing game of Travel Bingo is out of the question?" Luke asked.
Neither Adam nor Joan seemed to notice that Luke had spoken, and Grace simply shot him a "look", wondering how she possibly could've been dating this moron for almost four months. Luke slumped back against the seat, pouting. But he didn't pout for long, because he realized that from his poorly postured position, he had a great view of Grace's stellar legs...she was wearing cutoff denim shorts.
When they got to the park, Luke and Grace strolled up to the ticket booth, while Adam and Joan, hand in hand, lingered behind, as solemn as if they were walking into a wake as opposed to an amusement park.
"You know guys, I think it's working, the sun is actually beginning to fade," Grace called, shielding her eyes as she glanced toward the sky. "Keep it up and you might actually be able to conjure a full-fledged hurricane before noon."
Adam and Joan both glared at her.
"Jeez! Lighten up, will you? This will be fun," Grace insisted. With that, she looped her arm through Luke's, and headed into the park.
Adam mechanically paid for two tickets, and he and Joan wandered inside behind Luke and Grace.
"Aren't they just America's Sweethearts," Joan scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"Funny," Adam said, rubbing his hand over his head. "Usually Grace is the one rolling her eyes at us."
"Yeah," Joan said. "Well, a lot has changed in the past DAY."
"Cha," Adam echoed.
"Look, let's just pretend it never happened, okay? Any of it. We can't let on that anything is wrong," she continued.
Adam nodded, even though he didn't want to pretend that none of it had ever happened. Nothing really was wrong, in his frame of mind, and the only regret he had was that Joan regretted everything. It was a good thing she loved him so much, he decided, or she would've tossed him a long time ago.
"Come on, guys!" Luke called, as he and Grace got in line for a massive roller coaster.
Adam and Joan joined them, and as they stood in line, Joan noticed something. On the sign that listed off all of the possible reasons you shouldn't go on this ride, was a picture of a pregnant stick woman (go figure). Joan's stomach flipped over, and she immediately grasped Adam's hand. His eyes shot to hers, alert, and she subtly nodded towards the sign. Adam drew in his breath in realization.
"Hey, Grace," he said, elbowing her slightly. "Jane and me are gonna go use the facilities, kay? We'll catch up, yo."
Joan smiled tidily at her brother, and the two slipped out of the line.
"On second thought, maybe I should go on the coaster..." Joan mused as she and Adam sat down on a bench.
Adam looked at her, bruised.
"Adam, I'm sorry, it's just...it's going to take some getting used to, you know? Maybe my hormones are going crazy already," she blabbed.
"It's okay," Adam said, picking at his cuticles.
"How come you don't seem at all upset over this? I mean, you'd almost think you were happy about it or something," Joan said, as if that were impossible.
"You think I'm not totally wigged out about this, Jane? 'Cause I am. I have no idea what to do with babies. I've never even held a baby before or anything. But," he said, his slightly panicked voice softening, "I know that I love you, and that we're still okay. I mean, we're only having a baby, yo."
Joan couldn't help but laugh. ONLY having a baby? The death of Adam's mother must have effected him in an astronomic way for him to have such an appreciation of life. She thought it best not to mention that his own life could very well be endangered once Will Girardi got wind of the baby in his daughter's womb.
"Keep saying things like that," Joan said. "And I might actually start to believe you."
She sighed, and let her body rest against Adam's, as he put his arms around her.
"When are we going to tell our parents?" Joan asked after a moment.
"I dunno," Adam replied. "Probably soon."
"You've got it made if your dad takes it as easy as you have," Joan commented dismally, knowing that her parents were absolutely going to lose it.
"And you think I'm gonna let you deal with your parents on your own?" Adam asked.
"You're right," Joan said. "I think we should tell them together."
"Okay," Adam said. "How?"
Joan sighed again...that was the part she hadn't figured out yet.
"I have no idea. Maybe we should just wait and see how long it takes them to notice," she said, laughing ruefully.
"But you should go to the doctor, Jane. To make sure everything's all right, you know? I'll go with you, if you want."
Joan hadn't even thought of that yet. Doctors appointments, Lamaze classes, a nursery, getting fat, giving birth...all of it was so overwhelming. She felt she might pass out.
"Are you okay?" Adam asked, sensing this.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine...I think I just need some water," she stammered.
"Done," Adam said, kissing the crown of Joan's head and heading to the concession stand.
As soon as Adam walked away, Joan leaned forward, and rested her head in her hands. She was pretty sure that this was, in fact, more than she could handle. She felt a shadow cast over her, and she assumed Adam was back.
"That was fast," she said, straightening up. "Oh."
It wasn't Adam at all, but a thirteen-ish looking girl, wearing a pale purple halter top and a denim skirt. She had long blonde hair, and a summer sunburn.
"You're doing well, Joan," the girl said.
"It's only been one day," she said sardonically. "Give me some time. I'm sure I'll screw this up, too."
The girl laughed, and shook her head.
"You're definitely on the right track. You've got to tell your parents, and soon. They're coming home tomorrow, right?"
"Duh," Joan replied.
"Good. In the meantime, why don't you try to take your mind off things a bit?" God suggested.
Joan blinked twice, unamused.
"You know, if You weren't the Creator of the Universe, you'd make a killing as a comedian," she muttered.
"Don't forget that you have other friends besides just Adam," God continued.
"You mean Grace?" Joan asked. "Hello, what am I doing right now? Grace is on some ride I can't go on, thanks to You."
"No, thanks to you," God corrected.
"Right. Consequences. I got it. But what about Grace? Am I supposed to hang out with her more or something?" Joan asked.
God nodded.
"It's not a bad idea."
"Wow, that's a tough one," Joan said sarcastically. "Sure you're not overworking me?"
"Think of it as your maternity leave," the girl/God said, smiling sweetly. She waggled her fingers at Joan, and strolled away.
"Here," Adam said, extending a cup of water to Joan as he returned.
Just as Adam got back, Luke and Grace, aptly exhilarated, approached them.
"Cripe, long enough visit to the john?" Grace laughed, raising a skeptical brow.
"Jane's not feeling so hot," Adam explained.
Joan's stomach turned anxiously, worrying if this would further propel any suspicions Grace or Luke might have.
"Dude, that sincerely sucks," Grace said, with a hint of sympathy. "That ride was awesome!"
"Yeah, something about the way the gravitational pull counteracted with the throttle pressure-" Luke began, but stopped and smiled sheepishly when Grace eyed him strangely.
"Well, we're going to head over to the Tilt-A-Whirl...are you sure you're too sick to join us?" Luke asked.
Joan didn't even have to look at the sign to know that a Tilt-A-Whirl is no place for a pregnant girl, and she shook her head.
"We'll be fine here, man. You guys have fun," Adam said, rubbing tiny circles over Joan's back as she sipped some of the water.
"I'm sorry to ruin this day for you," Joan said as Luke and Grace took off.
"Getting to spend one on one time with you is never a ruined day, Jane," Adam assured her.
Joan looked up at him, and smiled disdainfully.
"Except it's not one on one time anymore," she pointed out. "There's three of us now."
A/N – See, that wasn't even REALLY a cliffie, was it? * Shrugs innocently * Well, I hope you liked that chapter! Please tell me! =) Reviews make me smile almost as much as Adam does! =)