Summary: Another day in the life of a teenager. Joan tries to juggle a "suggestion" from God, her friends, and attempts at accepting Iris in Adam's life.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone from Joan of Arcadia or any songs that appear in this fic. I wouldn't mind having Christopher Marquette, though. .

Ratings: PG – just in case of swearing

AN: I've decided to end the suspense as far as her 'decision' is concerned. I hope you like the story and what I've done with it so far. Thanks for all the reviews… Keep them coming.

Normally she was glad to hear the sound, but the ring of the bell that signaled the end of the school day brought with it the sense of finality – no use debating. She knew where she was going and the reasons behind it all. She knew that she'd have consequences, and she knew she was prepared to deal with them when they came. She left her Math class and went to her locker, dividing her books from the ones she needed that night for homework and the ones that would remain in her locker. Not waiting around to run into anyone – Adam, Grace, or God, she grabbed her notebook and headed down the hallway.

Grace and Adam were leaning against the doorway to Lischak's classroom, for once on time. They scanned the hallway wondering if she was going to show, and each trying to figure out how they would take it if she didn't. Did they really care about school and grades that much? Grace would openly admit that she didn't, but in reality she did. She knew she was capable of the work, she just chose not to let anyone else in on her secret for the simple fact is she loved to have the upper hand. Her other reason for wanting Joan to show up was because she really didn't want her to join up in that pageant. She hadn't had much time to talk her out of it, or list reasons why it was completely wrong – subjecting yourself to society's standards of what beauty was and capitalizing on it. She scowled at the thought, knowing if she put up too much of an argument, Girardi might catch on. It was something that she didn't want Joan to find out.

Adam was lost in his own thoughts. If she showed, then it's over with Iris and I. Because I want Joan in my life, and I can count on her. If she doesn't how, then I choose Iris. She never lets me down, and she's always supporting me. He sighed inwardly, feeling immature with this 'toss-the-coin' scenario. Could he base a life on such an outcome? Even if she didn't show up, could he really tell Joan that he could have nothing to do with her, because of Iris? He remembered Friday night and the things that they said and didn't say… Was it only five or so days ago? It felt like a lifetime ago, yet at the same time just a few minutes had passed. Joan was everything to him, and yet, she was nothing… Not quite friend, not really a girlfriend, she was just Jane.

They looked up hearing footsteps approaching, each one hopeful yet not willing to express it. They hid their disappointment when they saw it was Mrs. Lischak returning from the office. She wasn't going to show…

"Well, I see that you two made it, but where is Miss Girardi? I guess I could let you two take the lab over again, since it isn't your fault that she is a no-show. She'll be the one to get the appropriate-"

"Wait! I'm here." Joan ran up to them, stopping short of colliding into Grace. She gave them a small smile, trying to catch her breathe. The three before her looked at her in surprise, not expecting her to show for many reasons. She shrugged her backpack higher on her shoulder, sagging under its' weight. "It's still 3, so I'm not late, right?"

"Yes… You made it – barely. Let's get in and get started, shall we. Everything is waiting for you, so set your things down and get to work." Lischak went over to her desk, and pulled out some reports from her non-advance classes and began reading through them.

The three students deposited their belongings on the table in front of theirs, then walked over to the lab set up, unknowingly debating on who should break the silence. As always it was Grace.

"Well, Girardi, had me guessing there. I thought for sure you were a goner."

"I probably will be once He gets ahold of me…"

"He?"

"Uh yeah… the pageant director. That's why I was almost late… I went looking for him to explain, but I couldn't locate him. I'm glad that my ankle is mostly healed, otherwise that jaunt would have done it in."

"Yo, speaking of, how's your ankle?"

"It's still a little tender, and sometimes I get a pain if I step on it wrong, but for the most part it's almost as good as new. So um, what's first?"

"Mix ¾ water with this chemical." Adam held up a bottle of what looked like salt, but had a long, complicated name that neither of them could pronounce much less spell. "Put over a low flame for 2 minutes, then increase the flame in small increments until a reaction occurs." Adam looked up from the paper, looking at the other two, all thinking the same thing – this couldn't be good.

They worked together in companionable silence, only broken up by instructions and recording their findings. Adam worked next to Jane, sneaking looks at her when she was concentrating on the beaker before her. She was biting her bottom lip, adjusting the annoying goggles that kept slipping down her nose. At that moment, Adam had never seen anything more beautiful than his Jane. When the beaker began to quiver, Joan's eyes widened as she expected the disaster of the previous day. She laughed, grinning over at her two friends when nothing more happened than a red smoke pouring out. In that moment, Adam knew he could never let Jane go, even if they never got together as a couple. Just having her in his life was enough for him. He returned her grin, a weight lifted off her shoulder.

Grace had been unusually quiet throughout the lab, lost in her thoughts about Joan and the annual pageant that had been held long before even she could remember. It was a tradition of their town, and a lot of people took it seriously. As much as she hated what the pageant stood for, and the many reasons for such hatred, she actually could picture Girardi entering. But why did she ditch out to take the lab? It wasn't as if a failing grade was news to her…She would never understand her. But could she trust her? Trust her with her secret?

"I'll grade this tonight, and I'll let you know your grade tomorrow after class, alright? At the very least, you shall pass at least for making the effort and showing me that you actually care about your grades. Now, you may leave. Have a good afternoon and evening." Lischak began gathering her things getting ready to go home and do whatever she normally did after school. None of them really stopped to wonder what their teachers did after hours, as they quickly grabbed their things and made a hasty exit before she changed her mind. They stood in the middle of the quiet hallway, looking at each other.

"So, what now?"

"I'm going to see if I can salvage my position in the pageant. Maybe the meeting got extended? You guys wanna come?"

"Count me out! I'd rather have my eye teeth pulled without pain killers." Grace glowered over at Joan, more surly than usual. Joan blinked her eyes in surprise, wondering at her reaction. "Listen, you can waste your time on this pathetic pageant, but I don't want to be subjected to it. I don't want to hear the word pageant in a sentence for as long as I live." With those words growled out, Grace turned and stormed down the hall and out the main doors. Joan looked over at Adam then over to where Grace had been.

"What's that about?"

"I'm not sure, yo… Must be a Grace thing. So, you want to go see?"

"You're okay with me joining, right?" Joan asked Adam as they made their way up the stairs and towards the room where the meeting had been scheduled.

"Cha, of course, Jane. Why wouldn't I be?"

They made it just as the door opened and a bunch of highschool girls came out giggling and talking excitedly about the pageant. Joan groaned, knowing she had missed the whole thing. She was doomed. She sighed, gaining a sympathetic look from Adam, before weaving around the teens to get inside. She hoped to see the director of the pageant, but she only found the obnoxious girl that she dealt with when signing up. She knew that this wouldn't be a pleasant confrontation.

"Hey… Sorry, I wasn't able to make the meeting. I had to stay after for a make up-"

"Save the excuses… They aren't acceptable here, Jamie."

"Uh, it's Joan."

"Whatever. We take this pageant very seriously, and we only consider committed contestants. If you can't handle that, like I told you the first day, then the pageant isn't for you."

"Listen. I have every right to join this pageant as any other girl in this school. And just because I had a 'school' commitment doesn't mean I'm not up for this, either."

The girl – Laurie – narrowed her eyes at Joan, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. "Hmmmm… Lucky for you the Mr. Stefan, the director, couldn't make it. This meeting ended up just talking about what is expected from each contestant. The real meeting will be tomorrow afterschool. Same room and same time. Think you can handle that? Or should I cross your name off the list?"

"I'll be there…"

"Fine. Here's a form you have to fill out."

"Didn't I already fill this out?"

"No… This is another form. You have to list your measurements for the announcer and also for the fittings. Plus, you have to list your talent and what is needed for your talent. You know, props, music, whatever. Just return this tomorrow when you come… If you come." With a fake smile, she pushed through Adam and Joan and left the room, leaving the two gagging from the waft of her overpowering perfume. Joan rolled her eyes, staring at the form. She looked up when a girl spoke from the background where she was sitting at one of the desks scribbling something down.

"Don't mind, Laurie. She's very… I don't know, obsessed with this pageant. As I'm sure, you'll find out if you stick with it. They think it is as important as Miss America, and the rest of them."

"You don't seem to be that way…" Joan turning to face the pretty, auburn-haired girl. She smiled slightly, putting her papers in her backpack then standing up.

"I'm not… But my parents are." She sighed heading towards the door. "You don't realize what you're getting into." With those cryptic words hanging in the air, the girl left.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

All Adam could do in response is shrug his shoulders not having any idea what was going on. From the girl's tone, it couldn't be good. He frowned at Joan in concern, hoping nothing would happen to her.

"Let's go…"

The two left the room, unconsciously taking each other's hand in their own and entwining their fingers, each searching for the connection that they knew lay between them.