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,"

the first attempt, Ava lightened her touch, and soon she was

the band-aid, and a brief thought about

no use worrying about someone who had other people to take care of him. "Alright," she said, looking at the band-aid on Joseph's cheek. "But

but now the band-aid made his face look a bit less polished. "So, do you mind?" he asked with a faint

her head. "What would I mind? It's nothing. Do you want some water? I'll go get you

breath brushed against her, making her a little uncomfortable. Seeing Ava trying to get up, Joseph grasped her hand

inside of

of his breath against her neck made Ava's heart

looking directly at their positions but was acutely aware of their extraordinarily intimate proximity. Her hands were tangled together, unsure of where to go.

wanted to get up. This position felt

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

from Joseph's lap and sat to

and the living room fell into an extraordinary silence. Even the slightest sound

few

edgy today. After instructing her to close the door when she

walked him to

getting late. You should go home now!" "Well, give me a hug,

and felt nice to

hug was over, Joseph

"I gatta go. I'm going into the crew tomorrow, so we won't have much

by when I can,"

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 as

the cigarette from his hand and opened the window

he picked up his cell phone and dialed Chelly's

after seeing her so close with another man tonight,

to