Chapter Text
“The illustration is amazing Joan! Thank you for agreeing into working with us again.” Joan waves her hand dismissively at the woman on the screen who beams at her like she was some kind angel sent to her in her dire need. “It’s fine Holly you know I enjoy working with you, just please, don’t call me again at the middle of crying. That’s bad for business” She rest her chin on her hand, chuckling as she looks at her friend stammering on the screen.
“It was just one time! We needed an artist and the last one bailed on us!” She moved her arms around animatedly as she explained the last artist, she hired said they’ll send her the files and a week before the deadline. But apparently, they left the project and complained that the pay was low. She just happy when she called Joan for the job, crying, that she needs finalized illustrations for the studio in four days. “Augh, they should have made the contract a little stricter.” Holly whined. “Then maybe we wouldn’t be in this mess. But again, thank you so much Joan. When you visit New York, I’ll be sure to treat you.”
“As long as I get my end of the deal, I’m good Holly. And I do remember someone telling me they would double my pay, for the hard sacrifice of my sleep I did. For four days.” She dramatically leans back on her seat and lays her arm on her head. Holly laughs. “The boss agreed with the pay, it’ll be sent to you by tomorrow morning. Again, Joan thank you and I’m so sorry you had to cancel you plans-” Joan can hear a faint voice from the screen calling Holly that dinner was read. Holly replied back, turning back to the screen. “I have to go now Jordi. Let’s talk again next time, maybe over coffee?” Joan snorts. “They only time you want coffee with me, is me making us coffee.” Holly pouts. “You make a good latte! Whatever, night Burke.”
“Night Holls” The called ended, Joan turns of her laptop and puts it away. She hears a familiar scuffle of paws going up the RV’s stairs. She looks down to see her beloved pug, Gimli. Flopping down as he looks up to her, tongue out heaving with a smile. “Hello there my dear potato. Ready for bed?’’ She cooed as she picks up the heaving bread dog with her as she closes the door. She places him the bed as she goes to one of the cabinets to get his personal blanket. Her phone starting ringing,
“When I was a young boy
My father took me into the city
To see a marching band
He said-“
“Hello? Papa?” She answered her phone. She gave her family and friends a specific ringtone so she deemed fit of her relationship or pretty much a song that remind her of them. She holds the phone between her head and shoulder as she makes her way back to Gimli. Who’s laying down on his back exposing his tummy to her. “Gimli no, you always wiggling around when you lay like that.” She picks him up and settles him on his tummy. She places the fuzzy blanket on him.
“Hi baby sorry were you sleeping? Or busy?” Her father’s voiced with worry. “Nah, everything’s fine poppy.” She takes her phone back to her hands and looks around on the floor for a small stuff elf. “I just finished talking to Holly and Mr. Brent about the last commission. I’ll be getting my pay by tomorrow.” She finds the stuffed elf toy under the seats and takes it back to her Gimli. She places it between his chin and paw as he starts gnawing it softly. “Where are you now?” He asked. “I’m camping at the Tahoe National Forest.” She answered him as she settles herself back to the booth
“Sacramento?” “Yeah, I guess? I should arrive at Beacons Hills maybe around 10am. Depends on what happens on the road.” She leans on the table and asks, “So how are grandma and grandpa there?” She can hear he father voice let out shuddering breath before speaking. “Joan… they passed away.” Joan froze. She can feel her heart beating wildly in her chest, she can feel herself cold, hands sweaty. “W-what? When?” He answers, “Just a few hours ago. I tried calling you but it was busy. I knew you were probably talking Holly or someone else about your commission.” Joan covers her eyes. That was around the time where she’s talking to Brent “Me you’re your mother are preparing a funeral here. And lawyer called me about a inheritance. He’ll come by the house at the afternoon.”
Joan takes a deep breath and collects herself. “Okay, okay dad.” She stands up and picks up her jacket on the other side of the booth. “It’s 10 pm right now I should arrive at Beacon Hills around 1am.” She can hear dad letting out a Joan wait, “Pops leave the keys under the mat okay? Love you, bye.” She hangs up and put her phone in silent knowing her dad will call her to stop leaving so late. She picks up Gimli and places him to the front seat in a basket full of blanket for him to sleep while on the road. She makes sure the seat belt if secured for her baby before taking the driver’s1 seat. Ready for the road ahead to Beacon Hills.
After three hours of driving, the stars were still shinning bright in this cold evening. As Joan continues to drive, she passes a sign, “Welcome to Beacon Hills” would be something she would tear down in the future.
Its been months since she last visited Beacon Hills, probably about 6 months or so since the last visit. She would usually spend a whole month in Beacon Hills with grandparents during a holiday or after earning enough money and just relax with them or back at Oregon with her mom and dad. If her grandparents wanted her to visit and she was close to the area should would do it in a heartbeat. That is, if she isn’t busy with maybe work and traveling.
Working online while traveling state to state is kind of hard. She settles to towns or cities longer to earn more before moving on. It’s been like that for 4 years. But it’s been incredible for her, she sees beautiful sceneries or camp in the wilderness. She doesn’t feel right stopping in one place for so long, alone. Well aside from Gimli.
She kept her eyes on the road. Her windows down, letting in the cool air. Gimli who was snoring away, sits up straight in his little personal box seat, eyes open and eyes perked. Joan sees this, “What’s wrong boy? You got to pee? Hungry?” She asks. Then she squints her eyes and talks to herself. “Oh god how long has it been since I talked to a actually human being, oh wait right Holly. Wait does she count- “Then she hears a howl erupting as she was driving by the trees. She turns her head to where the horrifyingly familiar sound is coming from. Gimli started barking at the direction with vigor. She pets him to calm him down as she drives away and into a clearing, away from the forest.
“Easy boy, easy.” She says, but it was probably directed at herself. She continuously pets him down. Her heart beating fast, it feels like it could just pop out of her. She slows down to park the car at the side of the road. She grabs Gimli out of the box and onto her lap and just strokes him and pets him. She closes her eyes and takes a steady breath. She leans back from the seat and stares at the roof of the car. Gimli whimpers as he starts licking her face. Sensing his mom’s sadness. She laughs and attacking with kisses.
“I’m okay boy, just remembered something I shouldn’t.” She puts him back to where he was and starts driving back to her destination. She whispers to herself assuring, “There are no wolves in California...”