Broken Bonds

You've Got A Friend in Me

After filling Bessy in on what had happened with her mother that same afternoon, the next day Vicky arrived at work with her troubles still heavy on her mind. The cast and crew broke for lunch and Vicky was sat in the guys' dressing room eating some noodles. She was so consumed by her thoughts of her father that she didn't get that nervous feeling she had usually felt now she was around Q. She played with the food in her bowl as Murr told the guys about his latest date when her phone began to buzz in her pocket. She picked up to see a number she didn't recognise. Her heart thudded in her chest as she hoped her dad had, somehow, gotten her number and was now trying to call her.

"I've just gotta take this", she said hurriedly, placing her food down on a nearby table as she rushed out of the room, unaware that Q had been watching her keenly. "Hello?", she answered as she shut the door behind her.

"Victoria?", her mother's voice replied.

"How did you get this number?", Vicky snapped.

"That doesn't matter. Have you spoken to your father?", she asked.

"How could I even do that? I have no idea where he is!", she snapped once more.

"Well", her mother sighed, "If you do manage to speak to him, tell him I need him to sign the divorce papers and send them back to me as soon as possible", she continued casually.

"Tell him yourself!", she roared, ending the call immediately. Vicky could feel her cheeks burning hot from the anger that coursed through her entire being. She took a deep breath, calming herself before daring to go back into the dressing room. The guys had clearly heard her yelling as they all turned to look at her in unison. Vicky took her seat awkwardly as she picked up her food and resumed eating.

"Everything okay?", Joe asked. Vicky nodded, forcing a smile as she ate a fork full of noodles.

"We better head back to set", Sal said checking his watch as he got up from his seat. Murr and Joe followed suit as they placed their empty containers in a nearby trash can. The guys looked at Q expectantly as he remained in his seat with his half-eaten food still in his lap.

"You guys go ahead. I'll catch up", he told them. The guys nodded before exiting the room. "Everything okay?", he asked Vicky as soon as they were out of earshot.

"I'm fine", she lied as she stared at her food.

"You didn't sound fine", he replied. She looked up to meet his gaze as he looked at her with genuine concern. She raised her eyebrow at him suspiciously, letting him know that she was not going to give in that easily. "Just because we're fuck buddies, or whatever, doesn't mean we can't talk, you know? I'm not gonna fall in love with you mid conversation", he joked. Vicky relaxed at his words a little, letting out a breathy chuckle as she realised how silly she must have been coming across before sighing. He was right, and maybe it would be nice talking to someone she wasn't actually related to.

"My mom came to visit and – well – let's just say we're not exactly on good terms", she tried her best to explain. Q threw his food in the trash can before leaning his elbows against his knees, willing her to continue. "She let me down when I needed her – like – really needed her. And now she thinks she can just show up here after almost two years, tell me she's divorcing my dad and demand to know if I've seen him", she said angrily.

"Wow", Q replied. "She sounds... delightful", he said sarcastically. Vicky nodded as she got up to throw her own food in the trash.

"The worst thing is – she let me believe that my dad let me down too. When – he didn't. Not really. And now? I have no idea where he is or how I'm supposed to find him", she sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair. Q got up from his seat and approached her, pushing her hair behind her ear as he examined her sad expression.