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It’s late afternoon on a warm summer day, and everything feels slow. Ava’s apartment is quieter than usual. The curtains are half-drawn, letting golden light slip through, while the faint hum of the AC struggles to keep the room cool.
Ava is stretched out on her couch, facedown, one arm hanging off the side dramatically. O’Shon stands in the doorway holding a bottle.
“…you’re burnt,” he observes.
Her voice is muffled against the couch. “I am not burnt.”
“You’re red.”
“I’m glowing.”
He walks closer, unimpressed. “You’re glowing like a warning sign.”
She lifts her head just enough to glare at him. “I was in the sun for, like, ten minutes.”
“You were outside for two hours.”
“Time is subjective,” she retorts.
He sits on the edge of the couch, tapping the bottle lightly against her arm. “Sit up.”
“No.”
“Ava.”
“I said no.”
He sighs, but there’s a smile hiding in it. “You’re going to regret it if you don’t put something on it.”
“I don’t regret things.”
“You literally regret things all the time.”
“That’s different.”
He waits. She doesn’t move.
“…fine,” she mutters, pushing herself up slowly. “But if this makes it worse, I’m blaming you.”
“Of course you are.”
She sits with her back toward him, arms crossed as if she’s being forced into something. “Be gentle,” she adds quickly. “My skin is sensitive.”
“You were just in direct sunlight for hours.”
“That’s different.”
He shakes his head slightly and squeezes some aloe into his hand. “Relax.”
“I am relaxed.”
“You’re sitting like you’re about to fight me.”
“I don’t like unknown substances.”
“It’s aloe.”
“I don’t trust it.”
He doesn’t argue; he just gently places his hand on her shoulder. The second the cool aloe touches her skin, she sucks in a breath. “...okay, wait.”
“Too cold?”
“No,” she replies quickly. “...it’s fine.”
He starts spreading it carefully across her shoulders—slow and gentle. Ava’s posture softens almost immediately, even if she tries to hide it.
“…don’t think this fixes it,” she mutters.
“Fixes what?”
“The sun situation.”
“I didn’t cause the sun situation.”
“You didn’t prevent it.”
He lets out a quiet laugh. “I told you to wear sunscreen.”
“You didn’t insist.”
“I should’ve insisted.”
“Yes.”
“Noted for next time.”
She nods, as if that’s a fair resolution. For a moment, it’s quiet—the soft sound of his hands moving and the low hum of the room. Ava leans forward slightly without realizing it.
“…you’re doing too much.”
“I’m literally just putting aloe on your shoulders.”
“You’re being extra gentle.”
“Because you said to be.”
“…I didn’t mean it like that.”
He smiles to himself. “Hold still.”
“I am still.”
“You moved.”
“That was a micro-adjustment.”
He continues anyway, moving up toward the back of her neck. Ava exhales slowly this time, less dramatically. More... relaxed.
“…okay, that part feels nice.”
“Thought you didn’t trust it.”
“I trust it a little.”
“Progress.”
She tilts her head slightly, offering him better access without even thinking about it. Then she catches herself.
“…don’t get used to this.”
“To what?”
“This level of cooperation.”
“Too late.”
She rolls her eyes, but there’s no real annoyance in it. Another quiet moment passes. Then—
“…you should’ve been there.”
The words slip out softer than she intended. O’Shon pauses for half a second. “Where?”
“In the sun,” she says, shrugging a little. “Then I wouldn’t be burnt.”
He huffs a small laugh. “That’s your logic?”
“Yes.”
“I prevent sunburn by existing?”
“Exactly.”
He resumes smoothing the last bit of aloe across her shoulder. “…I’ll keep that in mind.”
She nods. “…good.”
A beat passes, then, quieter—“...you would’ve told me to sit in the shade.”
“Yeah.”
“…and I probably would’ve ignored you.”
“Definitely.”
She smiles a little, then leans back slightly, her shoulder brushing his chest for a moment before she settles again, not making a big deal out of it.
“…okay, you can keep doing that.”
“I’m done.”
“…wow.”
He laughs softly, capping the bottle. “You’re unbelievable.”
She glances back at him over her shoulder. “…and you’re helpful.”
“Just helpful?”
She considers. “…for today.”
He nods as if he’ll take it. “Fair.”
She turns back around but stays close, closer than before. And this time—
She doesn't move away