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: Well, one more chapter, and then I have to sadly say goodbye to this story. I hope you've all enjoyed what I've created, especially with this chapter. This is the end of the Pageant, and Joan's big speech. I hope that what I wrote made sense, and it would be something that she would say. Let me know what you think – does it work, does it fit, should I revise it? Thanks for all the reviews… Keep them coming.

JoA Brazil: Thank you for your review! That was one of the greatest I've received. I hope the speech meets with your approval! Let me know what you think of it. .

laex: I'm glad I roped you in! Hahaha, you had the benefits that all my early readers didn't, getting it all in one dose. The poor dears had to wait for my updates. You made me all happy with your review, so I just had to give an update!

Jane and Adam/AL/and the others that have reviewed faithfully: Thank you all for your reviews and praise. I appreciate all of them, and I believe they helped me improve on my writing habits – posting sooner, and writing better. I hope this chapter and the last one that I'll post shortly will do my whole story justice. Thank you for your continued support!

"Wow, I didn't know Girardi had it in her." Grace arched a brow in surprise as she watched Joan finish up singing her song and exit the stage. After almost a year of being friends with Joan, she still had a way of surprising Grace. She played with the snaps on her jacket, wondering what else was in store for that night. She didn't know how she knew, but she had a feeling that Joan was up to something. She stopped herself from squirming in her seat, because that was not a Grace thing, and scowled impatiently for the whole thing to be over with. 'Hurry up, Girardi and get it over with.'

"She could win this, yo." Adam had a goofy smile on his face, still reeling from the song that Joan had sung today and yesterday. He couldn't believe that he and Joan were together, and that she was up on stage competing with other girls to be beauty pageant queen. He never understood why Joan always did the things she did, but he was always proud of all that she attempted, and this was no exception. Whether she won or not didn't matter to him, because she would always be beautiful in his eyes. She would always win out with him.

"Gag me, Rove. I don't know what's worse – being stuck watching this display of immaturity, knowing my best friend is participating in this whole sham, or the besotted look on your face. It's all a little extreme for my digestive system."

Adam just gave a small laugh, not at all put off by Grace's cranky attitude and her griping. His eyes never even left the spot where Joan had walked off to behind the curtain, waiting for her to return once more for the next and final portion of the pageant – questions and answers. It didn't even enter his mind that he would be in for a really interesting show, he just wanted to see Joan one more time.

Joan took a few deep breathes, waiting for her name to be called. She couldn't believe what she was about to do, but then again it wasn't any different than what she had done on numerous occasions since coming to Arcadia High. People were probably expecting her to give off her highly opinionated speeches as it was.

"Next up is a young woman who is a recent addition to our own Arcadia High. Daughter of the former Police Chief and our very own Art Teacher, please give a warm welcome to Joan Girardi, contestant number twenty."

She heard a big round of applause and had to chuckle. She knew they weren't applauding the fact that she was going to be entering the stage. They were applauding the fact that there were only five more girls left to go before the judging would commence and the whole pageant would be over. It had gone on long enough, and the auditorium was getting stifling with all the people and the blaring lights that were beating down on the stage, causing the girls' to worry over their makeup and hair staying perfect. Joan could care less if her mascara was running, leaving her to look like a raccoon, she just wanted to get out of the heels and back to her sneakers. With a nudge from a contestant, she shook out of her thoughts and walked onto the stage over to the microphone. She flashed the crowd and the announcer a smile, waiting for the questions to begin.

"Please tell us all, Miss Girardi, what interested you into joining our pageant? And is it as you expected?"

"Well… um, a really close friend of mine strongly suggested that I join, so here I am. This whole experience has been an eye opener."

"Indeed? Well, tell us what you learned from the pageant and what would you tell other girls who would care to join in the following years?"

"First off, what would I tell others… I would tell them to consider why they want to join in the first place. Is it because they want others to see them as beautiful? An ego boost, recognition… trying to fit in? If so, then the pageant isn't what you need. You shouldn't subject yourself to other's opinions of what beauty is. Beauty can't be measured in how well you wear an evening gown; how well you can walk in high heels without stumbling or breaking a limb. Beauty comes from the people that you know, the good things that you do to help others and yourself… What I learned from this whole experience – that people who believe their physical appearance is far superior to those of others and therefore they must exploit their 'power' on those they feel inferior. I see a girl who would appear to have everything – looks, friends, talent – reduced to feeling as if she has nothing if she can't be beauty queen. She would force her body to expel food that she just consumed for the sake of fitting the idea of how she should look… Or how those around her think she should look. Why do we want to feel this way? Beauty is different for many people. Others would see a girl who chooses to dress like a boy, express her opinions and stand up for what she believes in. They would see a boy who is never on time, never appears to pay attention, and would accuse him of being under the influence of drugs…. But what I see are some of the two greatest people. They would stand by me, no matter what I've done to hurt them or to push them away…. I would rather be one of the 'ugly' people, than someone who would believe in the superficial. I'm out…"

Giving a small wave, Joan leaned down to yank off her heeled shoes and then turn to walk off stage passed the stunned contestants who were listening in. Some of the girls rolled their eyes at her ridiculous speech, thinking she wouldn't have made it anyways. She didn't have what it took to be a contestant in the first place. If Joan knew what they thought, she didn't care one bit. She was glad that she wasn't made for the Pageant. She was glad that this wasn't her 'thing.' She was happy with what she had and with what she believed in. She didn't even stop to hear the announcer sputter an apology and call out for the next girl. Instead she grabbed her bag and went to the girl's bathroom to change back into her street clothes.

Grace slowly closed her mouth, unable to have kept it shut when Joan had first started her speech. She shook her head, clearly impressed with all that she heard. She turned to look at Adam who sat next to her, seeing him equally stunned. Apparently no one was aware of what Joan had planned because they all had the same stupefied luck on their faces. She was glad that Joan did an about-face; she didn't know what she would have done if Joan actually wanted to be in the pageant to win. She nudged Rove to get his attention. When he turned to look at her, she spoke up.

"Well, I'm out of here. Perhaps I can catch up with Girardi. You comin' or staying?"

"I uh… I'll go with you." They whispered over to Joan's parents to let them know that they were going to find Joan, and when they nodded their heads in acknowledgement, the duo stood up and quickly exited the hot auditorium. They paused a moment in the cool, air-conditioned hallway, taking a few deep, much needed breathes, before turning the corner towards the door that lead to the stage, trying to figure out where she had gone off to. They nearly collided with her as she left the bathroom, the three of them stopping to stare at each other a moment in silence.

"What the hell was that about, Girardi?"

"My way of getting out of those shoes?"

"You surprise me yet again. Things are never dull with you around."

"Why Grace, is that a compliment?" Joan grinned over at her friend, reaching up to run her fingers through her hair, working out the curls that she had her hair styled in for the pageant, the makeup all scrubbed off her face. She shyly glanced at Adam's face out of the corner of her eyes, wondering what he thought of her on stage and liking what she saw on his face. He was looking at her with a worshipful expression, as if there was no other woman on earth.

"Please… That isn't how I work..." Grace scowled at her friend, shoving her hands in the pocket of her leather jacket. "I'm just glad it's over. I don't think I could stomache anymore. I think I'll leave you kids now. I'm going to go purge my system of this torment. Later." Without waiting for a response, she shoved her earphones back onto her ears, blaring her music so she wouldn't have to listen to anyone as she walked out of the school. Adam and Joan watched her retreating back before turning to look at each other with the same look of amusement. Grace would be Grace. She gave Adam a smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Wow, Jane… You were… Great."

'Thanks. You think so?"

"Unchallenged. Those other girls had nothing on you." Adam grinned, reaching over to trace a finger down the side of her cheek before dropping his hand down to grab hers. They linked their fingers together, their eyes meeting and staying on one another.

Joan blushed a bit under his look and compliment, squeezing his hand at his words. "Thank you, but I think you're biased."

He laughed and leaned down to give her soft kiss, loving the way she stepped close against him as their lips caressed each others. He wrapped his free arm around her waist and pulled her even closer, lifting his head to stare down into her beautiful eyes. With or without makeup, she always captivated him. He felt so lucky to have her in his life – his own Angel on earth.

"Come to my shed tonight… I've got a surprise to show you."

Joan smiled up at him, thanking God for bringing this wonderful boy to her. She felt a small flutter against the back of her neck, and she knew that he had heard and was acknowledging her thanks. Before she could tell him that she would, her family burst from the auditorium and rounded the corner to find her. They called her name, making her and Adam jump apart to turn and look at them approaching, each one talking a mile a minute.

"I can't believe it… My baby sister telling off the beauty world."

Joan rolled her eyes at Kevin, laughing along with him. "There's a lot you don't k now about me…"

"We're beginning to see that. I'm sorry, honey that you didn't get to finish, but I'm proud of you."

"Thanks, mom. It wasn't for me, anyway."

"Well, we're getting ready to go home for some celebratory dinner. Would you like to come over, Adam? Will's making his famous lasagna."

"Oh, Adam! Say yes, you'll die for daddy's lasagna. He makes the best around."

"Cha, okay."

"Great, let's get your things, dear, and then we'll go. Where's Grace?"

Adam and Joan exchanged looks before laughing. They explained what happened to Grace, making the others join in with laughter. They all began moving down the hall to the room where the belongings of the twenty-five girls were located, all talking at once about various topics concerning Grace, school and the pageant. Joan was sad to see the week already over – so much had happened, most of them good. She hoped she had more good things to look forward to, but she couldn't help worry about her whole purpose with the pageant and the things she had to do this week… What had she really done?