Author's note: I just want to let everyone know that I know there are some things I left unexplained, and if you don't know what it is, well then never mind. But as I was re-reading my other chapters, and a review I got, I realized I had forgotten a few things. Thanks to CharlestheBold for pointing out that I needed to get some things clear! Oh, and this chapter is a bit different, cause it's about Joan. Luke and Grace aren't in this one.

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Back at the Girardi household, Joan woke up to the sound of crying. Curious, Joan got out of bed and headed towards the door. The sound was coming from Luke's room, but it sounded like a woman crying. It sounded like her mother.

"Mom?" Joan asked, walking up the stairs. She found her mother and father sitting on Luke's bed, her mother clutching a note in her hand. "Mom, what is it?" Joan asked, nervous to what the answer may be.

"It's L-L-Luke. He's r-r-run away!" sobbed Helen, her whole body racking. Will held her tightly and tried to sooth her. "He's left a note," she said after calming down a bit. She stretched her hand out to show Joan.

Dear Family,

I regret to tell you on this piece of paper, that I have gone away. It won't be forever, just for the summer. I would love to admit it wasn't your fault, but unfortunately, it is. Ever since I can remember, everyone else came before me. Why, I do not know. Maybe it was because you thought I could take care of myself, which I can. But sometimes, I just need my family to listen to me, and it seems as if I am not important.

Yesterday, I leant that I was going to be skipping a grade, meaning that next year, instead of two years ahead, would be my last year. I tried to tell all of you, but you were too busy. Mom was on the phone, and then making supper, Joan was doing god knows what in her room, and at supper, no one would give me the opportunity to reveal my news. This was the thing that pushed me to run away.

Of course I will be returning before school starts, and I am ready to face whatever consequences come with my actions, but I needed to get away. I will call once in a while to keep you informed on my well-being, but other than that, please do not come looking for me. I am not alone, I have someone with me. You don't need to worry, I'll be fine.

Love,

Luke

Joan stared at the paper, her mouth wide open. Luke, run away? But the more she thought of it, the more she realized that he was right, he almost never seemed ever to be able to talk about what was bothering him. The only one that really seemed to listen was Grace. "Oh my god," exclaimed Joan. Then, glancing upwards, she muttered, "Sorry."

"What?" asked Will. Maybe his daughter had some information on his missing son.

"Well, there are only two people that Luke would have asked to go with him, Friedman and Grace. I'm thinking Grace might be the more probable person he'd take with him. Wherever he is," Joan speculated. She knew she wouldn't be allowed to call Grace this early in the morning, so she'd have to wait for school. In a way, Joan hoped that Grace was the one that Luke brought along. She knew that Grace would be in a foul mood for the entire summer if Luke wasn't around. And a Grace in a bad mood was not the kind of Grace Joan wanted to hang with.

Helen was still crying when Joan left for school. Helen was hoping that her son wasn't too far away, and that he was doing fine, not missing food or anything. As much as it pained her that she had neglected her son so much that it drove him to run away, she knew that this was just Luke's way of rebelling. Joan had joined a million clubs, and Kevin had gone to many parties that Helen and Will had forbidden him to go to.

When Joan got to school, she noticed Adam was alone. "Where's Grace?" Joan asked.

"Either late, skipping, or with your brother," Adam answered. "Where else?" Joan looked around nervously before telling Adam about Luke's run away. "Dude, your brother? And you think Grace is with him?" Adam asked, shocked that they would do that.

Joan nodded. "I'm not positive, but since I see Friedman, it's obviously Grace he took with him."

Just then, Friedman and Glynis appeared at Joan's side. "What's this I hear about Luke and Grace taking off?" Friedman asked, a look of pure evil in his eye. Joan knew if she were to tell him, she would never hear the end of it from Grace.

"I didn't say that!" Joan exclaimed. "I was just wondering if Luke and Grace where going to take off at lunch." Joan mentally kicked herself. They had AP Physics as one of their classes this morning, and her lie wouldn't pan out if both Luke and Grace weren't in class.

"Oh. But if they did take off together, you'd tell me right?" Friedman asked, wanted to get some dirt on Grace. It might save him from getting his ass kicked for a while.

"No," Joan answered, before walking away with Adam, leaving behind a stunned Friedman.

All through the day, whenever the phone rang, Helen would answer it with anticipation. She wanted to hear Luke's voice, telling her he was all right. She wanted to yell at him for leaving. She wanted to cry because he was gone. She wanted to go out there and find him, like a mother who lost her son in a groceries store. Most of all, she wanted him home so she could know that, without a doubt, he was fine.

Around 5 o'clock, Luke called. Since everyone was home, they all rushed to the phone, hoping it would be Luke on the other line. Helen got to the phone first, and picked it up. "Hello?"

On the other line, a voice said, "Hey Mom."

Helen nearly burst into tears. "Luke! Where are you? Who's with you? What in the world were you thinking of , running away from home? No, wait, don't answer that last question!" she rushed. She wanted her baby home. After talking to Luke for 20 minutes, Helen hung up the phone.

"What did he have to say?" Will asked. Helen smiled feebly.

"He said he was fine, that he was in a safe place that he knows well. He's with Grace, and they have enough money to last them for the month. He'll call a lot, and hopes we're well. And he doesn't want us to go looking for him," Helen summarized.

"Well of course we're going to look for him! And if he has his girlfriend up there..." Will said, not wanting to think what could happen.

"Dad, I know Grace. She's not that type of girl. And anyways, they're both smart," Joan said, trying to defend her best friend. "It's not like they would just rush into anything. Especially Luke, who has to draw charts just to identify variables, or whatever."

Helen and Will looked at each, unsure whether leaving the two of them together was the best idea. But since they wanted to respect Luke's wishes, they came to the conclusion that they had no choice but to hope they were smart enough not to do anything.

School was done, but Joan's job at the book store was still going. Once again, she found herself alone in the bookstore, her boss off somewhere with his demanding wife. Joan didn't mind much, she wanted to work on some summer homework. This year, she didn't want to have to do it all the weekend before school start.

Just as she was about to start her AP Physics homework, the little bell on the door jingled. Joan glanced up, but the person who came in had already gone down one of the aisle. Joan tried to see who it was from her seat, but she couldn't, so she got back to her homework.

"I'm glad you're not leaving your homework to the last second," said Goth-Boy God. Joan looked up, and sighed.

"What do you want?"

"Call Grace. See how she is."

Joan was confused. "Why do I need to call Grace? Has something happened to her? Tell me!" Joan's mind ran a mile an hour, different scenarios running through her mind.

"Just call her," God said, leaving the store with his signature wave. Flipping on her phone, Joan dials Grace's number.

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Author's note: Yeah, so next chapter, it'll be Luke and Grace. But sometimes, I'll add what's going on back in Arcadia. Reviews please! I only got about 5 last chapter :(