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,"

she was placing a band-aid on his

at the band-aid, and a brief thought about Bud's injury crossed

of him.

the band-aid made his face look a bit less polished. "So,

Do you want some water? I'll go

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,

chin rested on the inside of her neck. "Don't move. I want to

he spoke, the warmth of his breath against her neck made Ava's

of their extraordinarily intimate proximity. Her hands were tangled together, unsure of where to go. After a few moments,

get up. This position felt too intimate and

released his grip on her waist, his

free, Ava quickly got up from Joseph's lap and

of them spoke, and the living room fell into an extraordinary silence. Even the slightest sound

few moments,

been acting a bit edgy today. After instructing her

of politeness, Ava walked him to

for a long time, his hand still warm from holding hers. She urged him, "It's getting late. You should go home now!" "Well, give me a hug, Ava," Joseph replied, gently wrapping his arms around her and rubbing her short

curly and felt nice to

the hug was over, Joseph

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 the

come by when I

since returning to the country and was looking for work. Making money was one thing, but passing the

from his hand and opened the

picked up his cell phone and dialed Chelly's

love with Ava, but after seeing her so close with another man tonight, he understood his feelings

wanted to