The Queen's Back

After Ava went upstairs, Joseph took a careful look around the living room where she lived.

The space was simply decorated, mostly in shades of white. After surveying it, he sat down on the couch and waited for Ava to return.

He touched his cheek absentmindedly; it was bleeding slightly-Bud had hit him hard.

But he thought it was worth it since Ava had brought him here.

When Ava came down with a first-aid kit, she noticed the corners of Joseph's mouth lifting into a small smile.

The sight made her guilt deepen just a bit more, and she hurried over to him.

"I'm so sorry. I don't know why he snapped like that, making you take a punch for nothing," she said apologetically, opening the first-aid kit and sitting beside him.

"What are you apologizing for? I took the punch, but I gave one back, too," Joseph replied, frowning slightly.

He didn't like it when Ava apologized to him. It made him feel like she was aligned with Bud, leaving him on the outside.

But Ava was his girlfriend, not Bud's.

"Alright, alright-keep still and lower your head so I can treat it," Ava said, dipping a cotton swab into antiseptic. She reached for his cheek.

Joseph tilted his face towards her hand as instructed.

They were sitting close, and Joseph could smell the fresh, clean scent that seemed to cling to her.

His heart sped up just a bit.

Ava dabbed the cotton swab on his injured cheek.

Perhaps it was because it was Ava's first time doing that, so it seemed she wasn't used to treating wounds gently. Joseph couldn't help but hiss in pain and leaned back a little. Seeing his reaction, Ava quickly apologized and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was being rough."

fine-I overreacted," Joseph

she was placing a band-aid on his

brief thought about Bud's injury crossed her

him. "Alright," she said, looking at the band-aid on Joseph's cheek. "But

but now the band-aid made his face look a

nothing. Do you want some water?

her a little uncomfortable. Seeing Ava trying to get up, Joseph grasped her hand firmly, causing her to fall onto his lap. Her face instantly flushed, and she felt awkward in the

and his chin rested on the inside of her

breath against her neck

but was acutely aware of their extraordinarily intimate proximity. Her hands were tangled together, unsure of where to go. After a few moments, Ava couldn't help but

to get up. This position felt too

Joseph reluctantly released his grip on her waist, his lips brushing against

quickly got up from Joseph's lap and sat to the side,

of them spoke, and the living room fell into an

a few

he had been acting a bit edgy today. After instructing her to

Ava walked him

"It's getting late. You should go home now!" "Well, give me a hug, Ava," Joseph replied,

curly and

hug was

much time to see each other. If you

try to come by when I can,"

and was looking for work. Making money was one thing, but passing the time felt more pressing, and she just felt so bored when idling away the days. When Joseph left in his RV, Ava headed her room

dropped the cigarette from his hand and

he picked up his cell

with another man tonight, he understood his feelings had deepened. As Maxwell had said, he had made mistakes, but from now on, he

wanted to follow his