Victoria arrives home, and gets out of the taxi. She stretches, grabs her few bags, and tips the cabbie with the fare. Thanking him, she walks up to the house, rolling her luggage behind her. Sighing, she was just glad she was home. Cleveland home, not Los Angeles home…home. The beauty treatments that her ex had suggested, didn't work. She ended up spending a few days in the hospital, being treated for spider bites. Victoria was exhausted, and feeling quite haggard from the traveling she had done. 'All for nothing,' she says to herself with a whisper, and opens their front door. She enters, and removes her coat, finding Elka on the couch, a little concerned. Something must have been wrong, Victoria thinks to herself, and she proceeds to ask the elderly woman what was wrong. Elka though beat her to the punch.
'Victoria, glad you're here. I think Joy needs you, she's pretty upset. Things fell through with Kyle and Melanie's nowhere to be found. You're the only one here that knows her better than I do.'
Victoria looks at the elderly woman, running her hand through her hair, and takes a deep breath before saying a word. She raises an eyebrow, shocked a little.
'Is she alright?' was all Victoria could say. There was a bit of a lump in her throat. She was worried about Joy. Elka looks at Victoria, noticing her concern for Joy's well-being.
'She's holding up, but she's holding it in. I think she's angry, but she's holding it back.'
Victoria gently touches Elka's shoulder, 'Thanks, I'll check on her.' She heads into the kitchen, finding Joy downing a bottle of wine. Not from the glass, the whole bottle.
Victoria looks at her, concerned. 'Joy, honey, please…stop. I care about you. Want to talk?'
Joy raises an eyebrow, and says sarcastically,'Nope,'then continues to swig the bottle. Victoria frowns. She knew this was going to be impossible. Joy, the last time she did this was when this guy broke it off while they were still in Los Angeles. Victoria tries again, her voice showing a hint of concern.
'Joy, please. I love you; I don't like seeing you like this. Are you sure we can't talk about it? I want to be there for you.' Joy notices Victoria said the three words, and puts the wine bottle down. Deep down, she knew Victoria was right, but the other part of her didn't want to admit that.
'Go ahead,' she says coldly, staring off into the abyss.
Victoria clears her throat and continues. 'I care about you, Joy. Please tell me what's wrong. I want to be there for you.'
She sits in the seat next to Joy. For a few moments Joy stares off, but Victoria notices her lips beginning to tremble. Joy then bursts into tears, crying. Noticing that Victoria was sitting there next to her, she falls into Victoria's arms, and Victoria calmly takes Joy in her arms, stroking her hair.
'It's alright, sweetheart, I'm here…' Victoria whispers, as Joy sobs.