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,"

soon she was placing a band-aid on his

the band-aid, and a brief thought about

someone who had other people to take care of him. "Alright," she said, looking at the band-aid on Joseph's cheek. "But that band-aid does take away from

public figure, he normally looked impeccable, but now the band-aid made his face look a bit less polished.

It's nothing. Do you want some water? I'll go get you

was too close to hers. The warmth of his breath brushed against her, making her a little uncomfortable. Seeing Ava trying to get up, Joseph

wrapped around Ava's waist, and his chin rested on the inside of her neck. "Don't

the warmth of his breath against her neck made Ava's heart

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

up. This position felt

grip on her waist, his lips

got up from Joseph's lap and sat to the

fell into an extraordinary silence. Even

few moments,

sitting in the corner and realized he had been acting a bit edgy today. After instructing her to close the door when she went to bed, he suggested he

Ava walked him

for a long time, his hand still warm from holding hers. She urged him, "It's getting late.

slightly curly and

hug was over,

of Ava "I gatta go. I'm going into the crew tomorrow, so we won't have much time to see each other. If you have time, you can come visit me at

come by when I can,"

what her schedule would be. She felt a bit restless since returning to the country and was looking for work. Making money was one thing, but passing the time felt more pressing, and

dropped the cigarette from his hand and opened the window

he picked up his cell phone

long ago, he had just begun to realize that he was in love with Ava, but after seeing her so close 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