Fighting For Ava

*22*

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Jethro crooned into the air as he watched Ava stare admirably when they got to the back of the house. The patio was covered with the yellowish glow of the night and low music formed by the gentle breeze moving across the flowers.

"Yeah." She breathed and smiled shyly at him as they settled on a bench.

"So, how did you get here?" Jethro asked after a few seconds. He was still not over the surprise that Ava had come to visit him.

"Lira directed me." She disclosed with her constant glow.

"Lira?" That had almost amazed Jethro before he remembered he had a friend called Gavin who could do anything. Gavin had given Lira his number and Jethro would not doubt he could have added his address as well.

"Anything wrong?" Ava asked when she saw the expression on his face.

"No, nothing." Jethro stammered, "Just still surprised you are here."

"You aren't happy to see me?" Ava cooed.

"C'mon, I am." Jethro laughed. Even though he had planned not to visit Ava for a day or two, there was no way he would not be glad she had decided to come to see him. That proved two things. She valued him. And she was gradually getting over her plight.

"I was worried, that's why I came." Ava sighed, staring into his eyes.

"Worried?" A wrinkle cut across Jethro's face, "About what?"

"About you," Ava said and Jethro did a doubletake.

"Me?" A smile curved around his lips as he spoke.

"Yeah." Ava nodded sweetly, "You didn't call or visit. It's unlike you."

Jethro felt butterflies in his stomach when he heard that. His heart sang love and he felt deeply pleased.

"You're amazing." He said with a chuckle, "With what you're going through, you're still worried about someone."

"No, you're not just someone." Ava shook her head, "You're a lifesaver. Finn told me what happened between you two." She said, hoping to see a spark in Jethro's eyes and she did.

"Finn? He called you?" Jethro rasped.

Ava nodded in response and then gave a smile to alleviate Jethro's worry. She could see in his reaction that he thought Finn had said shit words to her again.

"He apologized." She dropped a shocker.

"Really?" Jethro's pupils dilated.

"Yeah." Ava smiled, "He told me how you guys fought and got suspended from school." She said and paused to check Jethro's reaction to that.

"Oh." Jethro only said. He felt guilty he had never told her that. He did not want her to see him as a desperate boy fighting senselessly for a girl.

"You never told me you were suspended." Ava's low voice sounded accusatory.

"I don't want you to worry about me," Jethro replied flippantly, knowing that was not enough reason.

"Yet you worry so much about me that you went to Finn's house to fight a second time." Ava blinked at him.

"He told you that also?" Jethro laughed.

"He told me everything." Ava gulped.

Jethro raised his palms afterward in apology, "I'm sorry. Sorry." He said and waited till a smile came up on Ava's face before speaking again, "So, Finn apologized for saying the shit words?" He asked, changing the topic.