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."

overreacted,"

first attempt, Ava lightened her touch, and soon she was placing a band-aid

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

other people to take care of him. "Alright," she said,

normally looked impeccable, but now the band-aid made his face look a bit

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

making her a little uncomfortable. Seeing Ava trying to get up,

arm instinctively wrapped around Ava's waist, and his chin rested on the inside of her neck. "Don't move. I want to hug

he spoke, the warmth of his breath

avoided looking directly at their positions 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

up. This position

waist, his lips brushing

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

spoke, and the living room fell into an extraordinary silence. Even the

a few moments,

today. After instructing her to

politeness, Ava walked him to

warm from holding hers. She urged him, "It's getting late. You should go home now!" "Well,

slightly curly and

hug was over, Joseph

have much time to see each other. If

to come by when I can," Ava

for work. Making money was one thing, but passing the time

from his hand and opened the

hesitation, he picked up his cell phone and dialed

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 follow his