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.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

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."

"It's fine-I overreacted," Joseph said.

After the first attempt, Ava lightened her touch, and soon she was placing a band-aid on his cheek, completing the job.

She glanced at the band-aid, and a brief thought about Bud's injury crossed her mind.

She quickly dismissed it, though. There was 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 that band-aid does take away from your look a bit."

As a public figure, he normally looked impeccable, but now the band-aid made his face look a bit less polished. "So, do you mind?" he asked with a faint smile.

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

As she said this and prepared to get up, she noticed Joseph's face 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 grasped her hand firmly, causing her to fall onto his lap. Her face instantly flushed, and she felt awkward in the situation.

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

When he spoke, the warmth of his breath against her neck made Ava's heart race.

She 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 help but say, "Okay now?"

She wanted to get up. This position felt too intimate and somewhat uncomfortable.

Hearing this, Joseph reluctantly released his grip on her waist, his lips brushing against her neck in the process.

As soon as she was free, Ava quickly got up from Joseph's lap and sat to the side, a considerable distance away from him.

Neither of them spoke, and the living room fell into an extraordinary silence. Even the slightest sound could be heard.

After a few moments, Joseph

noticed Ava 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 should leave.

Out of politeness, Ava walked him to the door.

Once they arrived, Joseph didn't say anything 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 hair.

It was slightly curly and felt nice to the touch.

Once the hug was over, Joseph let

go 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 the crew."

"Okay, I'll try to come by when I can," Ava said.

She wasn't sure 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 she just felt so bored when idling away the days. When Joseph left in his RV, Ava headed her room as well.

Inside the car, Bud dropped the cigarette from his hand and opened the window for some fresh air.

After a moment's hesitation, he picked up his cell phone and dialed Chelly's number.

Not 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 do better.

He wanted to follow his heart.

*****

The next day at noon, Ava clocked out from the office and headed straight for the front door.

Just as she stepped outside, someone yanked her arm and smacked her across the cheek.

Ava wasn't known for her patience. She had never been slapped in the face before!

Fury surged within her, and she instinctively swung back with her other hand.

It was only after the fact that she realized the person who had struck her was Chelly, Bud's girlfriend.

"What was that for?" Ava exclaimed, momentarily disregarding the sting on her cheek.

She couldn't understand why Chelly was so angry, especially since she hadn't done anything wrong to her and barely knew Chelly.

"Everyone come here and see! This

woman is a homewrecker!" Chelly shouted, her voice rising above the crowd. "My boyfriend and I are almost married, and now he wants to break up with me all because of hert Tell me, shouldn't I hit you?"

Chelly's loud accusations and the sound of slap just now soon drew a crowd, with onlookers gathering around.

Ava had only recently joined the company, so she didn't know her coworkers very well.

The people who passed by glanced at the scene with curiosity, their expressions reflecting a mix of confusion and intrigue.

"Are you out of your mind? What does your breakup have to do with me?" Ava retorted angrily.

Anyone would feel uncomfortable being falsely accused of being a homewrecker, especially when the situation involved Bud.