They walked to Joan's house slowly. It had been a long week for both of them. They had their first real conversation that afternoon, since the break up. Joan started it by asking Grace why she wanted to break up with Luke.
"I guess I just wanted a bit more freedom. I mean, that's not so much to ask for is it?" asked Grace thoughtfully.
"Well, no, but Luke said he didn't want to break up, just cool it," explained Joan.
"But he should know that in girl talk that means 'Let's break up!'. He should know that!" said Grace, clearly disgusted.
Joan replied "I tried to tell him that. But he didn't listen now, did he?"
"Yeah well, I know Luke can't...OWWWW!" cried Grace, wincing in pain as she fell.
Grace had fallen down and twisted her ankle. She was withering on the ground in pain.
"Oh my God. Are you alright Grace?" asked Joan.
"I…don't think…I can walk," said Grace through clenched teeth.
Joan sat down next to Grace and examined her ankle. I was already swollen and going a light shade of purple.
"Ouch!" exclaimed Grace as Joan touched her ankle.
"I'm going to call mum or dad, OK," Joan informed Grace.
Grace just nodded in agreement.
Joan tried her mum, and then her dad, but no one was picking up. It always seemed they were out of touvh when she needed them the most.
"Can I try you dad Grace?' asked Joan.
"He'll be out getting stuff for tonight."
"OK, ummm…" trailed Joan. She was trying to think of someone else to ask. Mum, no, Dad, no, Mr. Polonski, no, Luke…definitely NOT! Who else was there to ask? Then it became blatantly obvious to her…Kevin.
Joan quickly typed her brothers' number into her phone. Thankfully, he picked up after just three rings. They quickly made an arrangement for Kevin to come and pick them up from the side of the road.
"Who'd you ring Girardi?" asked Grace.
"My brother," said Joan simply.
"What were you thinking Girardi? I would rather die here than see him again. I thought I was meant to be the insensitive one!" said Grace angrily.
"What have you got against Kev…" started Joan before it dawned on her that Grace was thinking she had called Luke.
"I called Kevin, Grace, not Luke," she explained.
Grace just replied with a small sigh of relief. Joan thought at first the sigh was because Kevin was coming instead of Luke, but it was really because Grace had already spotted Kevin's beat up old car driving down the road.
He pulled over as close to the girls as he could without hitting them. He wound down the window and poked his head out.
"You ladies fancy a ride?" he asked with a stupid smile on his face.
"You're SO funny Kevin!" said Joan very sarcastically.
Kevin put on his serious face and ordered the girls to hop in the car. The obligingly did so. Joan had to support Grace so she could hobble into the car. They started the aging car, and in 15 minutes they were back in the comfort of the Girardi's house.