"Uh," John said awkwardly. "Hope we aren't interrupting you…"

Dave looked up with a confused expression. He shrugged and mouthed 'I don't know.'

"Joy, come on," Dave said, returning his glance back to Joy. "Tell me what happened…please…"

John put Jackie on Christy's bunk (who wouldn't be safe on the top bunk in her condition), and placed a bucket from the wardrobe by her bed.

"Come on, I don't even remember so could you at least tell me…"

"Hey, what did Stacy give you anyway?" John asked with mild curiosity.

Dave shrugged again, and was then taken aback by Joy's sudden outburst.

"You really wanna know, Dave?"

She was sitting upright, her face no longer concealed by her pillow case. Tears had streaked her face.

"You said, 'I don't have the stomach or courage to stay with a bitch like that, Stacy,'" She spat out Stacy's name, as if it was an infection. Joy continued.

"And then…then you…you…"

She stammered and burst into a fresh batch of tears. Dave was sitting on the bed, frozen. Joy bit her lip after a while to stop herself from crying, and then she slowly lifted up the hem of her singlet and showed him her stomach. Christy leaned across John to see what it was and gasped. Joy had a large bruise across the side of her stomach. She put her hem down again and showed him a couple of deep cuts along her upper-arm. Joy was shaking, Christy stood there in half darkness hand over mouth. John didn't show any expression, but remained still. Dave, on the other hand, had put his head in his hands. Christy wasn't sure, but she thought she could hear sobs coming from him. It was strange. She had never thought Dave would be the type to break down.

AUTHORS NOTE: finally back on air! sorry bout the hiatus! enjoy :P