"Joan Grace is here" her mother called up the stairs.

"Comming!" she called back.

----

"hey, where's Adam?"

"Said he couldn't make it, he had plans with Iris."

"Oh" Joans cheery attitude diminished. She had been looking forward to talking with Adam while they studdied.

"yeah, so lets just get this done so I can get out of here."

"Lukes with Glyniss, you dont have to worry about him being around." Joan wanted to hit herself, realizing what she had just done.

Both girls cringed in anger and sadness, though neither would admit it.

----

By the end of the night joan found herself curled up on her bed, headphones on, sulking in her own self-pitty. She found herself doing this alot latley.

"He's out with her, giving her those looks, kissing *her*" she thought "and here I am laying home crying about it... I dont even know why! way to be strong Joan" she complimented herself.

Momments later the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Jane?" it was Adam. he sounded tired and out of breath.

"Adam!" she tried to contain her excitement "What's wrong?"

"Jane, come over?" he could barely get the words out without gasping for air.

Worried, and unsure of what had just happened, Joan hung up the phone and rushed out into the night. When she arived at Adams she noticed a light on in the shed. She couldn't for the life of her figure out why he would be working on his art so late... But then again, Adam had alot of inspiration latley, she decided.

Walking into the shed she could see Adam laying crumbled on the cement floor of the shed, phone still in hand.

"ADAM!" she cried, knealing beside him, "What happened?!", she lifted his head into her lap. There were several cuts accenting his face and bruises were evident elsewhere.

"They came after me, yo" he tried to laugh. "I should have known they would"

"Who? Who did this to you Adam?"

"Her Friends..."he spoke in gasps "when I left her... when I told her I couldn't see her anymore... she got her friends... guy friends... big friends" he half smiled, looking up at Joan who was softly playing with his hair to comfort him.

Joan was confussed. Why had he left Iris? Why had he called her? And more importantly, wasn't iris so against violence that she couldnt hit a pinata? She knew Adam was ried, and didn't want to strain him. She could hear the story tommarow, she decided.

"Shhh" she whispered "Save your energy, let me help you to you bed"

She helped him to his feet and they slowly made their way to Adams room where he proceeded to lay down.

"Well, I better get home..."

"No" Adam grabbed her arm "Please stay?"

-to be continued-