Disclaimer: I own nothing.
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Joan awoke the next morning feeling like she had been hit by a bus. Her eyes were still all red and puffy from crying so hard. She opened her eyes to see Grace sitting on the edge of her bed holding a glass on water.
"Here," she said, immediately dropping some Tylenol into Joan's hand and passing her the glass.
"Thanks," Joan mumbled before downing the pills. She lay back on her pillow and pulled the covers over her again. She didn't want to leave the room for the rest of the trip. Grace remained there, looking rather uncomfortable.
"So…um, Rove told me what happened," Joan nodded sadly. Ever since the debate team incident, Joan and Grace had been closer than ever. While Grace was still Grace, she had opened up to Joan a bit more. A level of trust had been established between them. There was a sharp knock on the door and Grace let out a sigh of frustration as she got up to answer it.
"Oh, Miss Lishek, uh, hey."
"Morning Miss Polk. Where are Joan and Glynis?"
"Glynis and Friedman have been downstairs reviewing since six this morning and Joan is in the room. She's still um, primping."
"Well, you and Miss Girardi need to be downstairs in twenty minutes, we're competing," Miss Lishek reminded her and then proceeded next door to talk to the boys. Grace slammed the door shut and came back over to Joan.
"Up Girardi," she demanded.
"You have to get dressed and come compete and we have this dinner/dance thing that we have to go to tonight and I am NOT alone with the Geeks and Rove who's probably in the same state you're in. I am not going to be the only moron who has to wear a dress! If I have to suffer, than so do you!" Grace demanded, tugging the covers off of Joan. Grumbling, Joan dragged herself out of bed and went to the bathroom, taking the clothes that Grace handed her on the way. The minute Joan shut the door, Grace slipped out. She pounded on the boys' door until Luke answered.
"Grace!" Luke quickly looked behind him and stepped outside, shutting the door behind him.
"Well?" she asked.
"He's in the bathroom changing."
"So is your sister."
"Good, this is good."
"This better work geek," Grace began to walk away but Luke grabbed her arm to stop her.
"Grace wait. About last night, at the pool, I-"
"It's already been forgotten," Grace insisted, looking very uncomfortable. Luke stepped closer to her.
"What if I don't want it to be," he whispered. Grace opened her mouth to protest, but Luke quickly captured it with his own. He kissed her deeply, trying to make her understand. He felt that with Grace, it was all about actions, not words. When he finally pulled away, he locked eyes with her for a moment and then disappeared back inside his room.
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"That was fantastic team!" Miss Lishek praised them as they got up from the competition table. They had just won again and had yet to be beaten. Joan had sat out during the first game, but played the second one during the afternoon.
"Well, the dinner is in an hour so you should all go scoot and get ready!" Grace grumbled and walked away, avoiding Luke completely. Joan followed her, giving Adam the same treatment. The boys and girls took separate elevators upstairs in silence. As soon as they got into the room, Joan climbed back into bed and pulled the covers over her. Glynis sat on her bed as Grace went into the bathroom.
"Umm…Joan?" Glynis said timidly. Joan sat up in bed and looked at her.
"I was, uh, wondering…could you help me with my hair and makeup?" Joan looked at her in surprise and then remembered what God had said.
"Uh, yeah, I guess so, Joan agreed, climbing out of bed. She beckoned Glynis to come and sit at the vanity and began to get started.
"First things first. I'm going to introduce you to these things called tweezers."
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"Glynis! Common! Come out so we can see you!" Joan whined. Glynis had been in the bathroom getting changed for the last twenty minutes. The door opened and she stepped out. Her hair swept up and make-up on, Glynis was wearing a long strapless black dress. It hugged her body and reached the floor.
"Girardi, I'm impressed," Grace nodded. She was wearing a plum knee-length strapless dress. Joan smiled to herself for the first time all day. A knock on the door made Glynis jump. Joan opened it to see Friedman and Luke there. Friedman's eyes got large the minute he saw Glynis.
"Wow…" was all he could manage. She blushed and took his hand, exiting the room.
"Ladies," Luke offered them both of his arms.
"You guys go ahead," Joan smiled.
"I'll be down in a second." Grace gave her a strange look, but Joan just smiled and told her to go. After they reluctantly left, Joan went back into the bathroom. Her hair was straight and half swept up. She tugged at the spaghetti straps on her long red dress. It had embroidered flowers on the bodice. When she looked into the mirror, she let out a scream, seeing a reflection other than her own.
"Be not afraid Joan," God told her as he had the night she had taken out the trash and he'd shown up.
"What do you want!" She demanded.
"Just to talk," he said, sitting down the edge of the bathtub. Joan rolled her eyes and leaned against the bathroom counter.
"Is this about Adam?" she asked. God nodded.
"Why didn't you trust him?" he asked.
"You know why!" Joan spat angrily.
"Fear, yes I know. But, what kind of life is one that is controlled by fear. Joan, there are times when you are just going to have to let go and trust that I will be with you. You need to have a little faith in yourself, Adam does." And with that, God walked out, leaving Joan alone in the bathroom to contemplate her decision.
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The bright lights strung around the room twinkled as the guests danced. Joan entered the room and looked around, trying to find everyone. Miss Lishek was busy talking to one of the other teachers. Glynis and Friedman were on the dance floor, trying to dance and kiss at the same time.
"Geek love, isn't it wonderful," came a laugh in her ear.
"Hey Luke."
"You look great, really Joan," and Joan could tell that he really meant it.
"Not so bad yourself hot stuff," she laughed.
"I bet you're a babe magnet." Luke grinned.
"Yeah, but you're the only girl I want to dance with right now. Common," he took her hand and pulled her out onto the dance floor.
"Hey Luke."
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"Joan, you're my sister, you always come first. No matter how much you call me a geek and stuff, we've had some good times together."
"Yeah, like that pathetic attempt at a party," she laughed.
"It was still okay, I mean, we didn't get caught. I think that was the thrill of it, us doing something we knew mom and dad would kill us for if they knew."
"Unchallenged."
"Oh hey, there's Grace! Mind if we switch? Thanks," Luke said and before Joan knew it she and Adam had been pushed together and Grace and Luke were dancing away from them. Adam looked at her the way he had when he was still mad about her smashing his art. He turned to walk away, but she grabbed his hand.
"Adam wait," he turned to look at her and she didn't know what to say next. Talk of the party with Luke still fresh in her mind; Joan said the first thing she could think of.
"Hey, you want to dance?" She could tell that Adam remembered too. He opened his arms to her the same way he had that night and she accepted, like she did before. They swayed slowly to the music.
"Jane, we can't keep doing this," Adam whispered.
"I know. I want something with you, but I need you to understand me. You're going to have to accept that I'm probably going to hurt you and make a lot of mistakes."
"Everyone makes mistakes. Besides, smashing my art was pretty traumatic, what could be worse?"
"Believe, I'm sure I'd find something," Joan mumbled. She pulled back slightly so she could see his face.
"We'll go really slow Jane, I swear. I just can't keep living like this."
"Promise me one thing."
"What?"
"That no matter what happens I'll always have you in my life."
"You've got me for life Girardi, I'm not going anywhere, whether you like it or not." Joan smiled.
"Well Mr.Rove, I think we have a deal."
"You know," Adam said thoughtfully.
"Deals are usually sealed somehow," and with that, he leaned down and kissed her. This was much different from their first one. When the broke apart they were both breathing heavily and Joan only waited a few minutes before pulling him closer for another one.
"This is definitely a plus," she told him when she finally forfeited his lips.
"Unchallenged Jane, unchallenged."
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The two days went beautifully. They remained unbeatable, and everyone seemed to be happier now. Even Miss Lishek had exchanged phone numbers with the teacher from the dance. Joan and Adam were enjoying the new level their relationship had moved to. They were now preparing to go to Nationals as the first place team from their state. The six team members and their teacher were packing all of their stuff into the cars when Joan's cell phone rang. After fishing around for several minutes inside her bag, she pulled it out.
"Hello? Hi Dad! No we're great!" she squeezed Adams hand as she said that.
"Dad? Daddy, what's wrong? …Oh my God…"
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Author's Note:
Oh My God!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHH!!!! Barbara my darling, you have totally been forgiven for how traumatic the last two episodes have been!!! Last night completely made up for it! That was fantastic! I was hyperventilating I was so happy! You can ask my mom, she was the one sitting there telling me to breathe and stop screaming. Joan and Adam forever!!!!!! Dun dun dun! Ok, this chapter was kind of low key, but believe me, it's going to get more exciting. This was kind of a filler to fix the Adam/Joan thing. Anyway, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to those of you who did review! You all wrote such nice things! You guys rock! Well, review review review and I will keep posting! Thanks again for all of the support and encouragement!
*Arwen5* aKa SkEtChY jAnE