Joe is in a desperate crux to escape. Her life from a young age has been filled with imperfections and difficult times. Joe is pursuing full independence and taking steps towards that. Joe believe Alex is holding her back with her youth, her rebellion, her drinking. Alex loves to shock her constantly and keep the fights real but Joe just wants peace. Her ways of showing love to Alex are lackadaisical, slow, calm - the opposite of anything Alex actually wants. Joe wants to focus all of her attention into making it in the big city which is why she is here, but the drain that Alex has had on her has been holding her back. A conflict between romance and success stops Joe from showing her feelings as she may wish to Alex, forcing her further and further away.