Disclaimer: Do we seriously need to go over this? I don't own JoA.
Notes: Story named after the song "Bring on the Rain" by Jodee Messina and Tim McGraw. I wish I could put some of the lyrics in here, but I don't fancy getting reported.
"Ah!" Joan screamed as she fell off of the couch pulling the large blanket off the couch and onto the floor with her.
"Was that at the movie or the thunder?" Grace asked, smirking as she leaned over the edge of the couch and looked down at her friend.
"Shut up," Joan responded, climbing back onto the couch and re-claiming her spot between Adam and Grace.
"She doesn't like thunderstorms," Luke explained from his spot next to Grace.
"How can you not like thunderstorms?" Grace asked as she watched an unsuspecting character in the movie get hacked to pieces with a chainsaw.
"She use to until recently," Luke said. Joan groaned and pulled the blanket over her.
"Can you stop talking about me like I'm not here? Lots of people don't like thunderstorms. It's normal."
----
"Stupid lamps. Stupid Doctor Dan," Joan muttered. She threw her hand over her head in a pathetic attempt to protect her from the rain as she walked back to her room after a counseling session with Doctor Dan. At the first crash of thunder, Joan picked up her speed as she tried to get to her cabin before the lightning started.
Reaching the cabin, Joan turned the door knob and pushed. Nothing happened.
"Great," she said as she began pounding on the door. "Darlene! Open the door!" Nothing. The rain began to pour down harder.
"Darlene!" Joan shouted again, hitting the door harder.
"Hey," a female voice said from behind her. Joan turned around to see a girl about her age, also soaking wet. "Come on," she said. The girl smiled at Joan, then reached out and took her arm, dragging her in the direction of a cabin further down the path.
----
Joan finished towel drying her hair, then took a seat on the bed in the cabin across from the one the girl was sitting on.
"Thanks," Joan said. "What did you say your name was again?"
"I'm Judith. Judith Montgomery."
"Joan Girardi," Joan said.
----
Two weeks later another thunderstorm caused Joan to find herself at Judith's cabin again.
"I'm thinking about getting bangs," Joan announced, lifting her head off of Judith's lap.
"That would look hot," Judith said. "I can do them for you. And then we can get matching tattoos!"
"What? Judith I.." Judith laughed.
"Relax JoJo, I was kidding."
"I knew that."
----
Joan released Judith from the death grip hug she had held her in.
"Call me and write all the time," Joan commanded.
"We can hang out on weekends. Arcadia's only like a ten minute drive," Judith told her. Joan hugged Judith again as the rain poured down on them.
"See you around Joanith," Judith said as the Girardi car pulled up.
----
The night Judith died, it had stormed. Joan hadn't been aware of the sudden closeness between her brother and friend, or the fact that Friedman was sitting on her couch. Joan had just sat there, holding her juggling balls and watching the rain come down outside.
----
"You don't run upstairs when there's a murderer after you!" Grace said.
"Unchallenged," Adam agreed, grabbing a handful of popcorn. Snapping back into reality Joan pulled the blanket over her head as another crash of thunder came down. Leaning into Adam she felt the tears sting her eyes and quickly wiped her eyes.
Joan Girardi hated thunderstorms.