Ava~
"Permit me to explain instead" Jason said, calmly looking at Ava.
That was the first thing she noticed. Most people, when they had something difficult to say, either buried it under words or ripped it out fast like a bandage. Jason did neither. He looked at her for a moment, then at the ground beside the wall, and said simply, "Sit down."
It wasn't a command. It wasn't quite a request either. It sat somewhere in between, and she wasn't sure if she obeyed because she wanted to or because her legs had made the decision before she did.
She sat on the low stone ledge running along the base of the boundary wall. Simon lowered himself beside her, slowly, one hand still pressed to his ribs. Jason remained standing for a moment, then seemed to think better of it. He crouched down so he wasn't looking at her from above.
That small thing. That single adjustment.
She didn't know what to do with it.
