I'm right back where I belong; hidden away in the garage with a can of spray paint in my hand and music blaring away. In here, the crazy world makes sense again. It's as if the hiatus never happened, and my creativity flows through me, eradicating every whisper of self-doubt. Fuck yeah, I can paint.

Looking around, I notice every interior wall of the garage is covered in graffiti, and I've run out of bare brick. Pushing the respirator off my face, I learnt from yesterday's mistake and open up the roller doors several inches to let some fresh air inside. All this painting's thirsty work but wandering over to the bench, I find my water bottles bone dry.

Heading down the garden path is when my little bubble bursts, the overgrown weeds pull me back to the present, causing my smile to slip. After a long painting session, Nan would always be in the kitchen baking something delicious, ready to bombard me with questions about what I painted. My chest aches as I trudge forward, knowing she'll never be there with her warm smile or cookies. Fuck, I miss her. She was my rock for the longest time keeping me together through the darkness.

Once indoors, I rummage in the fridge for a bottle of water before settling on a beer instead. Twisting off the cap, I take a long guzzle as my eyes scan the empty kitchen. Every time I make a step forward, grief threatens to pull me back down into its cold embrace. I don't have the emotional strength to face this now.

Escaping the gloomy house, I wade back into the garage with my beer. A familiar tune on the radio plays as I light a cigarette, but the sound is interrupted as the electric motor of the roller door whirs overhead making my head snap up in surprise. It takes me a second to remember I gave Ava a remote control, but it still doesn't explain why she's home so early. The door creaks and groans, eventually bringing Ava's Mini Cooper into view. We lock eyes through the windscreen, and hers widen in surprise. But I can't help but notice as her lips twitch into a frown as I move to open her car door.

"Before you say anything, I didn't blow off Uni for you. So save your lecture." Her abruptness makes me take a step back and stare at the concrete. I must have been a real asshole this morning. She was so frustratingly sexy, and all I wanted to do was slip off her robe. But Ava had wanted to talk, most probably to tell me how spooning was a mistake and that we should just keep this platonic. So even though it was uncalled for, I took my frustration out on her. The way she's all fired up now though, something else must have happened.

"Wasn't going to say a thing," I murmur when her eyes widen and drift past me to the colourful walls.

"Oh my god, Trey!?" She gasps, looking around the garage.

I brush my hand through my hair feeling my cheeks heat. "I'm out of canvases, so I started painting the walls." I know she lives here too, but it's the inside of the garage, surely she can't be mad.

"You're insanely good!" Ava exclaims taking me by surprise. I watch as she paces around inspecting the different wild styles and pieces. It's not one solid mural but me playing with different styles and colours over the two large walls. Her feet come to a stop in front of the piece I finished last night. "You painted me?"

"Yeah, do you like it?" She nods her head enthusiastically.

"I love it! The colours are amazing. You're so talented Trey. Your murals should be everywhere."

"I've done a few unofficial ones here and there. Wouldn't have a clue if they're still there." She nods, obviously not understanding what I mean by unofficial. Illegal. It's a relief to know she's not mad anymore, or maybe it's just my art has distracted her for now.

"So, you mentioned you needed canvases; we could go get some if you want?" Her sweet thoughtfulness always takes me by surprise. The world's such a shitty dismal place and then there's her, sweet, kind and beautiful beyond words.

My silent staring must register as uncertainty that she decides to sweeten the deal. "Maybe grab some lunch too? I'm starving." The mention of food has me realising how hungry I am as well but is it just a ploy to have the talk—my stomach whines deciding for me. Ava's rejection is inevitable anyway; I may as well get it out of the way.

"Yeah, I could eat. Plus, I need a new phone. I must of left mine at the pub last night."

"Oh!" she exclaims and begins rummaging in her tote. "Sorry, I accidentally picked up yours this morning while I was in a rush to get ready." She deposits the missing mobile into my hand.

"That's a relief. I thought it was gone for good this time." While tapping the screen, my eyebrows mash together noticing a trove of missed calls and messages. Whoa. Mia's been lighting up my phone like mad. What the?

"I couldn't help but notice Mia's been trying to call you," Ava states apprehensively as she toys with the strap of her bag.

"I see that, but I have no idea why... I thought I made myself pretty clear." Taking a puff of my cigarette, all curiosity about Mia is banished as I look up at Ava. She's smiling wide at the painting of herself. I'd love to know what's going on in that pretty head of hers, but I'm too shy to ask. I'm still grappling to understand why she's here at all. After the other day, her reaction left me believing I'd be living alone again, that opening up had been a huge mistake, but her presence has me thinking that maybe just maybe, all hope isn't lost.

"I'm good to go whenever you're ready."

"Sure. Just a moment." I unzip my coveralls, revealing my unscathed hoodie and jeans underneath. "I'm ready." Ava folds her arms and gives me a smirk.

"Nice try but your face and hands are covered in paint. Plus there's still red in your hair from yesterday," she points out.

"Alright, fine I'll go have a shower," I grumble knowing she's right; I ought to make more of an effort in general.

Ten minutes later, a slightly refined version of myself wanders into the garage. Ava's exactly where I left her, admiring the freshly painted walls like it's a museum. I hope she's not faking her interest in my art.

Ava catches sight of me standing in the doorway to the garage and our eyes lock. I don't think I'll ever be able to capture the blue sparkle in those depths accurately. But as we openly stare, I notice that something's missing in them. I had expected pity, that now she'd feel sorry for me. But it's not there. A shy smile pulls at her mouth as she tucks her hair behind her ears. "Let's go," I say returning her smile.

We pile into the Mini, and I discover it certainly lives up to its name. Even with the car seat pulled all the way back my knees hit the dashboard. A smirk plays on Ava's lips as if she finds it very amusing before turning on the radio softly.

Ten minutes later we're in the heart of the City as Ava pulls the car into a multi-storey parking lot. After finding a spot, we wade through the concrete jungle and down several flights of stairs before emerging on street level. Ava whips her head around, taking in the bustling city mall and endless shops with wide eyes. It's easy to forget how new this all must be for her.

"I'm so hungry. Can we eat before going shopping?" I swear Ava's like a mind reader sometimes.

"Yes, definitely food first. What do you feel like?"

"Hmm, maybe a good pub meal?" Her suggestion is another reminder of why she's so damn perfect. I smile down at her as an idea pops into my head. My head snaps up as a surge of office workers stream past.

"I know just the place." Unthinkingly I slip my hand into hers, so we don't get separated in the crowd. Ava doesn't pull away but laces her fingers through mine, allowing me to lead. The connection between us makes my heart beat faster as we walk.

It's a fair walk but mostly downhill and Ava's distracted taking in the new scenery of the malls and Supreme Court Gardens. The crowds dissipate as we approach the foreshore, but she keeps her small hand entwined with mine.

My stomach whines sadly making me wish I'd chosen somewhere closer, but the waterfront pub has a stunning view of the Swan River which I want Ava to see. After ordering drinks we find a table in the sun on the large wooden deck facing out on the river. Ava's eyes roam the landscape as a small smile plays on her lips. I take in the scenery but my eyes keep coming back to her.

"So what happened today at Uni that made you so mad?" I ask trying to steer the topic away from us to prolong this moment of peace. Ava shrugs as she takes a sip of her drink. I watch intently as her perfect lips wrap around the straw, concealing her frown.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," she murmurs. My mind whirls and an image of Kyal's cocky smirk pops into my mind. I hope to fuck he's still her ex.

"Is it about Kyal?" Ava immediately shakes her head at my question, making her fringe fall like a veil between us.

"No, Trey. Nothing like that," she sighs. "It was my Professor, your Doctor Herd. He... he's concerned." My eyebrows raise in confusion as my mouth drops open. What on earth has he been saying?

"What did he say about me?"

"Basically he's concerned that the stress of a romantic relationship will hinder your recovery." Her words make my heart sink to the floor. I'm too messed up. Everything seems to be against us being together and even my shrink recommends we cool off. It's just a hopeless case, and I feel like a fool to imagine otherwise.

"I don't want to come in between you and your therapy..." Ava states as I knock back the last mouthful of my pint barely listening. "But I don't understand... I mean I'm no shrink but how can love be a step backwards?"

My mind latches onto that one word which obliterates everything else. "Love?" I whisper as my heart thumps heavily in my chest.

Ava gives her shoulders a little shrug while twirling the straw in her cocktail.
"Maybe it's too soon for that specific word. But I mean caring about each other, being affectionate, intimate... How could that be a bad thing for you? I understand if you need to go slow, but not at all... it just doesn't seem fair that after everything you've been through you should have to miss out on that." I can't deny her logic, but my scepticism is a heavyweight dragging me back down to earth.

"I don't understand... I thought after the other day you know... that you didn't want... to be with me." My words spill out of me in an awkward tumble as I look anywhere but at her. Ava places her hand on top of mine, causing me to peer into those beautiful blue eyes; they draw me in somehow.

"That's what I've wanted to talk to you about. I can imagine what you must be thinking. I want to apologise for the way I reacted, well didn't react. I've discovered I have a lot to learn about consoling people and dealing with shock. I'm not proud of how I froze up on you. I hope you can one day open up to me again." I run my free hand through my hair; this is not what I expected her to say at all. What the hell is happening.

~

Author's note: Hey lovelies, Hope this update finds you well. Ooo, Trey and Ava having lunch together...and talking deep. Take care xoxo