I apologize in advance to all the JoanFK fans who might be reading this. I go wherever the story takes me.

Also, there's a Simpson's joke at the end of this chapter.

Joan sighs to herself as she begins another day at her new job.

It's been two weeks since everybody has been unfrozen. Life continues on as it always has been. Continuing on one day at a time.

This really is the best thing that's going on for her right now. Sure, she may not agree with most things in the modern world she's found herself in, but she's here now. She's made a habit of dealing with change the best way she could before.

The first house she's ever lived in is the prime example of this. She didn't cry after she lost everything she had. Even during the short time she and Toots had to live under the bleachers.

Now she's working a part time job at a Cinnabon at Exclamation Mall.

That's another thing she wanted to note: The mall.

It had changed so much since she last went there near Snowflake Day of 2002. Everything's more flashier. Plus, there are a few more empty spaces.

It wasn't long after she had thawed out when she heard of the company known as Amazon. It was on her second day back at Clone High when she overheard a few Gen Z students talking about the potential downsides of working there.

The future is just as she thought it would be: megacorporations killing smaller businesses. Quality is being sacrificed for convenience.

There are two other people working alongside her, but she didn't pay them any more attention than she needed to.

As one was busy setting up the lobby and the other was looking at the computer, Joan went on and got to work.

Cinnabon had their big mixers near the three department sink, and Joan was a quick learner.

Her first day was on Monday and by the end of Tuesday, she was churning out cinnamon rolls like a professional.

If only the original Joan of Arc could see her now. Just what in the world would she even say?

It was business as usual until about 9:30 A.M. Usually, Joan was in the middle of frosting cinnamon rolls while also savoring the aroma when she saw a familiar face walk into the establishment.

"Well… Joan of Arc. So this is what it came to, huh?"

Joan sighs before continuing her work. "Hello Cleo. Are you still trying to appeal to those Gen Z guys?"

Cleopatra Smith had also changed since Joan had last seen her. Her attire was a lot less revealing and more focused on darker colors.

In her honest opinion, she looks much better now. But she'll never hear her say that.

Cleo's smile disappeared after being asked that question.

"Yeah… about that. I've gone under some… major changes since going back to school."

Joan never thought she'd be hearing those words coming from Cleopatra. "Major changes? Like what?"

"Well these Gen Z people… There's just no way to compete with them, you know?" Said Cleo. "I feel much older than they are every time I try to talk to them. I have to be an ADULT, Joan. I can't snoop down to their level. Which was like mine back then."

Pushing the tray of cinnamon rolls to the side, Joan's attention is now entirely on Cleo. She doesn't know how long she has until she's called out for not working.

"Look… Cleo." She is still trying to find the right words to say. "I may not like this modern world very much… but I guess if it's able to make better people out of us, then who am I to complain?

I guess I'm just not seeing what it has to offer me yet."

Cleo nodded. "Yeah, I can't disagree with you there, Joan. These new students… they're really special. They sometimes make me feel like I was born in the wrong decade."

Joan rests her elbows on the counter.

"Yeah, I sometimes wish I was alive during the early 15th century. Married to a rich man and working to change the world for the better. But I guess working here in the present is as fair as it's gonna be."

Cleo scratches her chin. "Are you saying that you got over Abe? You two seem further apart lately."

Hearing Abe's name was enough for Joan's heart to skip a beat. Another thing she'd never tell Cleo.

"If there's one thing you should know about me Cleo, it's that I'm VERY patient."

Cleo took a step back. "Patient? You? Really?"

Joan continues. "Patience… when it's simplified to its most basic explanation, is staying in a positive mindset while waiting. It has nothing to do with the amount of time one has to wait.

Waiting makes up a large part of our lives. I'm sure you're still waiting to do something right now."

Cleo looks away from Joan before speaking again.

"You still slept with JFK." "For the experience."

Cleo looks at Joan. This time, she looks a little more lifeless than she had been a few moments ago. The Cinnabon uniform isn't doing too much to help either.

"Abe told me that prom night is the night that all high schoolers lose their virginity." Said Joan. "He's misguided… but that only makes him cuter, don't you think?"

Cleo sighs. "I'll admit it, I agree. I remember him telling me the same thing. I remember laughing. You wanted to be just as experienced as you thought he would be."

Joan then smiles, which was enough to catch Cleo off guard.

"He left you. There was just no other reason why he came barging into that freezer. He came to his senses like I hoped he would and now we're all stuck in the future.

Now, I just need to be a little more patient. He'll come around eventually."

"MISS OF ARC!" Cleo could hear what she could only describe as Joan's manager yelling from a distance.

"You're not getting paid to stand around and talk to your friend! Get back to work!"

Joan doesn't stop smiling. "Let's talk some more later today. I'm off at two."

Two o clock came by much quicker than Cleo thought.

She and Joan continued their conversation as they exited the mall and walked around town. Just like the time before prom night. Now it is Joan's turn to lead the way.

They walked around for a bit before Cleo followed her into a random corner store. She understood why Joan had decided to purchase items here instead of the convenience store located inside the mall. Money tends to stretch further when convenience is taken away.

Joan gathers a few random items from off the shelves as she continues speaking to Cleo.

"It's not just my job that's keeping me occupied. I'm planning to start writing my very first novel soon."

Cleo's face lit up. "Oh really!? I always did take you for the writing type. What's it about?"

Joan chuckles as she makes her way to the counter. The clerk looks to be the same age as the two girls.

"Oh, it's something I've spent years dreaming up.

It's about this chemistry teacher that gets diagnosed with cancer. He ends up teaming up with a delinquent former student of his and enters the drug business.

Over the next year, they get into multiple conflicts with the existing drug cartel.

I call it… Mr. Halloway's Decent."

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me!"

Joan found herself interrupted by the clerk's sudden outburst.

He began to rant. "First of all, Joanie, you thought of an idea that's already been done! Then you give it a title that nobody could possibly like! Didn't you think this through?"
Five minutes later, he's still ranting.

"Everybody involved in the project has been immortalized in some way! And that doesn't even BEGIN to describe the critical acclaim…"

Another five minutes later, he wraps up his rant.

"A spin off that's centered around a few throwaway lines! What were you thinking!?"

Joan didn't say anything. She kept silent as she looked down at the floor. All her hard work and dedication to crafting the perfect story had been stolen while she was on ice. She'll have to start over from scratch.

Cleo points at the clerk.

"Hold on a second. You're Saladin, right? Yeah, your artwork is in the display case.

I just gotta say, you're a really good artist."