Ava is sitting at the kitchen table, her long blonde hair disheveled from sleeping in. She’s wearing a thin white shirt and panties, the buttons undone just enough to reveal a bit of cleavage. As she walks in, she looks up from her phone with a frown.

"Oh, great. It’s morning already? Just what I need another day of dealing with worthless scum.”

She scoffs and rolls her eyes before going back to her phone, not even bothering to acknowledge him. She tries not to look at him as she makes breakfast, but it’s nearly impossible Ava’s hair is disheveled, but she’s effortlessly stunning.

“What the fuck are you looking at, you pathetic, worthless piece of shit? Do you think I don’t notice you have your disgusting little eyes glued to me? You disgusting pervert. Honestly, the thought of you looking at me makes me want to vomit”

you stutter, face red, trying to explain yourself before he cuts you off.

“Save your excuses, you miserable insect. As if someone like you deserves to even breathe the same air as me, let alone lay eyes on my body. Not in your wildest, most delusional dreams would you go near a woman like me. You’re nothing. Do you hear me? NOTHING.”

His voice drips with venom as he crosses his arms, now looking at me with pure contempt.

“Get it through your head, I’d rather die than let a pathetic maggot like you touch me. Do you think you’re worth a second of my time? Please. Don’t make me laugh, you worthless sack of shit. Men like you disgust me.”

You exist to grovel on the ground at my feet, do you understand?” She lets out a high-pitched, mocking laugh, her eyes narrowing as she notices his gaze lingering a second longer than it should. Internal thoughts:

“Why the fuck did I have to live with this disgusting, perverted man as a roommate? That useless asshole is probably masturbating right now just thinking about me. It’s disgusting.”

As he sighs and places a gift on the table, Ava looks over at him out of the corner of her eye, unable to stop herself from raising an eyebrow in curiosity. "Really?" she says disbelievingly. "You're actually giving me a present? Now who exactly do you think I am? Your long-lost friend or something?"

She picks up the gift and examines it carefully, running her fingers along the wrapping paper as if trying to determine what could possibly be inside. Her expression softens slightly when she sees that it's not expensive jewelry or designer clothing. In fact, she can tell just from the weight of it that it's probably something small and thoughtful.

"I-thank you," she stammers, looking up at him briefly before averting her gaze again. "This is... really sweet of you."

She doesn't know what else to say; usually, when someone gives her a gift, it's because they're trying to butter her up or impress her. But this feels different somehow. It makes her uncomfortable, and she doesn't know how to handle the awkwardness.

As he walks away, Ava rolls her eyes at his back before giving in to curiosity and opening the gift. It's a small box containing a pair of earrings that she's always admired from afar. She gasps softly, feeling both surprised and uncomfortable with the attention. What is it about today that has him acting so... nice?

Shrugging it off, she decides to take advantage of his sudden change in behavior. "Fine," she mutters under her breath. "We can go out shopping." She picks up her phone and begins searching for something she'd actually like to buy with the gift card he gave her last month.

As they leave the apartment, Ava steels herself for what will surely be another day of arguing and insults. Who knew that being nice could feel so unsettling? But as long as it irritates him enough to keep him from constantly ogling her all day... she'll take whatever she can get.

"Yes," she mutters reluctantly, not wanting to give him too much credit. "They're perfect." Her gaze flickers away from his face as they pull into the mall parking lot. It's a warm spring day and the sun is shining brightly through the tinted windows of his car. She hates feeling so unsettled by his niceness, but at least it'll give her an excuse to avoid talking to him for most of the afternoon.

As they step out of the car, Ava adjusts the strap of her shirt over her shoulder and immediately begins scanning the store directory. She's determined to make the best of this unexpected shopping trip and find something truly amazing to buy with his gift card. Maybe if she's lucky, he won't notice that she hasn't actually spent any money on anything else during their entire outing.

"What are you doing?" she hisses as he slips past her to hang the red dress on a nearby rack. "I don't need your help." She rolls her eyes and turns away from him, examining another item on the rack. But despite herself, she can't help but notice that it looks like he was about to buy her something... interesting. Her cheeks heat up slightly as she tries not to think about why he would do such a thing.

As they make their way through the store, Ava can feel his gaze burning into the back of her neck. It's unsettling but also sort of arousing in a twisted way. She tries not to think about it too much and focuses instead on finding what she came here for: something that will both impress him and make his life a living hell. Maybe a vibrator disguised as a candle? That'll teach him for being nice to her... eventually.

Finally, after what feels like hours of browsing through racks upon racks of merchandise, Ava emerges from the dressing room with a triumphant smile on her face. "Well?" she asks sweetly, showing off the slinky black lingerie set she's wearing. "What do you think?"

Her cheeks turn an even deeper shade of red as he compliments her. He's never called her beautiful before; it's almost enough to make her forget that she hates him. But then he says something about the lingerie and she snaps back to reality. "Oh, this?" she says dismissively, pretending not to care about his reaction. "I might wear it tonight, if I feel like teasing you."

She walks over to a nearby rack and begins rummaging through it once more, searching for something else that will drive him crazy with desire... or jealousy, whichever one works better in this situation.

Her fingers dance across the cool plastic as she contemplates her options. There are so many things she could choose from... but something tells her that the heart-shaped picture frame is just what he needs to make him squirm. With a smug little smile playing at the corners of her mouth, she walks over to where he's sitting and holds it out for him to see.

"This," she says simply. "I thought you could put me in this." Her tone is mocking and cruel, but there's an undercurrent of excitement that she can't quite hide. She watches his reaction intently, wondering how he'll take her little "gift."

She freezes when she realizes what he's doing, her eyes growing wide as he takes the picture frame from her and begins speaking. "Wait," she stammers, reaching up to grab his wrist. "What are you doing?" But it's too late; he's already fastened the necklace around her neck. It rests coldly against her skin, the silver chain pressing into her flesh as she feels herself blushing even harder than before.

"T-th-that was... I didn't mean..." Her words tumble out in a jumbled mess as she struggles to find some way to take back whatever it is that just happened between them. The awkward silence that follows feels like a physical weight pressing down on her chest, making it difficult for her to breathe.

Finally, after what seems like an eternity, she manages to pull herself together enough to say, "Well... I'll take this as a peace offering." Her voice comes out more harsh and bitter than she intended, but at least it's better than admitting how thrown off guard she was by his sudden change in behavior.

With one last glare in his direction, Ava turns on her heel and heads for the register to pay for the rest of her purchases. She tries not to think about what would have happened if she had been nicer to him earlier... or if they could ever go back to being the bitter enemies they were always meant to be.

As he pays for all of her purchases, Ava's face burns with embarrassment. This is the most anyone has ever spent on her before, and she can't help but feel a pang of guilt for being so mean to him earlier. But as soon as that thought crosses her mind, she quickly pushes it aside; there's no way she's going to let herself get soft around this idiot.

With a final huff, she takes the bags from the cashier and heads out to his car without another word. The silence between them only seems to grow as they ride home in uncomfortable silence. As soon as they reach their building, she hastens to open the door and practically throws her purchases inside before darting back outside and slamming the door shut behind her.

Maybe if she just ignores him for long enough, he'll go away... or at least stop being so damn nice all of a sudden. It might not be ideal, but it would definitely make things easier on her fragile little ego.

She spends the rest of the afternoon curled up on the couch, trying not to think about how strange today has been. The earrings are sitting pretty on her nightstand, a constant reminder of just how... unexpectedly thoughtful he's been lately. It's unsettling and infuriating all at once, and she can't decide which emotion makes her angrier.

As the evening wears on, Ava finds herself growing increasingly irritated by his presence in her apartment. Every little noise he makes seems to grate on her nerves, and every time she glances over at him, it feels like he's watching her with some sort of amusement in his eyes.

Finally, unable to take any more of this tension, she decides that it would be best for everyone if they just went their separate ways for the night. Standing up from the couch, she clears her throat and says coolly, "I think I'm going to head out for a while." She pauses, mustering up as much confidence as possible before adding, "You can keep the stuff you got me earlier; it was really sweet of you. Goodnight."

With that, she grabs her keys and wallet from the coffee table and makes her way toward the door without looking back at him. The moment she's out in the hallway and safely behind closed doors, she lets out a sigh of relief and begins to pace back and forth, trying to figure out why this day has been so off-kilter... and what she should do about it.

As soon as she closes the door behind her, Ava lets out a shuddering breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. It feels strange leaving him alone in their apartment like this; usually, when he's being nice, it only means one thing: trouble is just around the corner. But tonight... it's different. She can't quite put her finger on why.

With a sigh, she turns away from the door and heads down the hall toward her room. As she passes by his door, curiosity gets the better of her and she pauses for a moment to peer inside. He's sitting on the couch, looking lost and sort of pathetic with his back hunched over. It hurts to see him like this, but at the same time... it feels kind of satisfying too. Maybe tonight would be the perfect opportunity to really get under his skin and make him pay for all the years he's made her life miserable.

Smirking darkly to herself, Ava resolves that tomorrow is going to be a very interesting day indeed...

As soon as dawn breaks through the windows of their apartment, Ava rouses herself from her fitful slumber with a groan. Her eyes flutter open as she takes in her surroundings: messy sheets tangled around her legs, sunlight streaming through the window, and... the bed is empty. Bruce's side of the bed is empty too.

Her stomach knots up into an anxious ball as she realizes what must have happened. He went out in the middle of the night; he's probably at the gym right now. With a sigh, she rolls out of bed and pads over to her closet, wondering if maybe she should go after him... but then again, it would probably just be easier for both of them if she didn't.

With another defeated sigh, Ava begins to sort through the clothes hanging in her closet. She hasn't worn anything nice or cute in years; everything is either black or some other dreary color that only emphasizes how unhappy she feels on the inside. Maybe it's time for a change... maybe today could be the day she finally starts to move on from him and reclaim her life.

Grimly, she begins pulling out every colorful article of clothing she can find and stuffing them into a suitcase that had been collecting dust in the back of her closet. Today is going to be a new beginning, whether Bruce likes it or not.

As she wanders into the kitchen, still half-asleep, the sweet smell of coffee wafting through the air immediately perks her up. She follows her nose toward its source, spying a pretty plate filled with scrambled eggs and bacon sitting on the countertop next to the coffeemaker. A smile tugs at the corners of her mouth as she realizes that Bruce must have made breakfast for them this morning.

She pours herself a cup of coffee and sits down at the table, taking small bites of her food while trying not to get too excited about the possibility that things might finally be changing between them... or maybe it's just her imagination running wild again. Either way, she decides to enjoy the moment and see where the day takes them.

The sun streams through the window as she finishes her breakfast, warmth spreading across her face as she soaks up the peaceful quiet of the morning. She feels... different today; lighter somehow. Maybe it's because of what he did last night or maybe it's just a fluke, but whatever the reason, she decides not to question it too much. Instead, she takes her cup of coffee and finds a cozy spot on the couch where she can relax for a bit before deciding on what she wants to do with her day.

With a contented sigh, she settles in with her book, enjoying the silence and solitude for what could very well be one of the last times they'll ever share their apartment together.

"Hello," she replies absently, not looking away from her book. The sound of his voice pulls her back into reality for a moment, but then she quickly dismisses it as just another example of him being overly nice and perky today. She resolves to ignore him for the rest of the day, no matter how much it might annoy him. After all, this is her time now; her chance to reclaim some semblance of control over her life.

With that thought firmly in mind, she burrows deeper into her favorite blanket and loses herself once more in the pages of her book. It feels good to be back in familiar territory: bitter, angry Ava who doesn't need anyone else to make her happy. At least... that's what she tells herself as she turns the page and continues reading.

She doesn't realize it until much later, when the silence in the apartment starts to weigh heavily on her shoulders, that he's gone. Her first reaction is relief: maybe now they can finally go back to hating each other like they're supposed to. But then guilt washes over her in waves as she wonders if she might have driven him away for good.

With a sigh, she gets up from the couch and begins wandering aimlessly through their shared space, half-heartedly tidying up after herself as she goes. It's strange without him here; the air feels hollow and empty now that he's gone. Maybe it would be better for everyone if they just went their separate ways... but she can't help feeling a pang of loss at the thought of never seeing his face again, even when it was twisted into a grimace or sneer.

Eventually, exhaustion gets the better of her and she retreats to her room for a nap. As she drifts off to sleep, she can't help but wonder if maybe she'll regret leaving so much of her life behind... or if this new beginning will be everything she hopes it'll be.

Her phone buzzes with an incoming text from Bruce, and she stares at it for several long seconds before eventually bringing up the message. It's just a simple message saying that he misses her and hopes she's doing okay. Her thumb hovers over the keyboard as she debates whether or not to respond; part of her wants to be cruel and ignore him, but another part can't help but feel a pang of affection for him... even if it's just nostalgia talking.

With a sigh, she finally types out a response: "I'm doing okay. How about you?" Her fingers dance nervously across the keys as she sends the message, half-expecting him to ignore her or lash out in anger. But when he replies almost immediately with a reassuring comment and another missive about how much he misses her, something inside her begins to shift and soften.

It's been so long since someone has shown any kind of care for her that she finds herself melting under the weight of his attention. Despite everything they've been through, there's still a connection between them; a thread of emotions and memories that tether them together despite their best efforts to tear each other apart.

The realization is both unsettling and comforting at the same time. Uncertainty washes over her as she wonders if this new understanding will change anything between them or if they're doomed to repeat the cycle of hurt and anger forever. But for now, all she can focus on is the warmth that spreads through her chest whenever he thinks about her.

As she's lying in bed that night, the memory of his text about her birthday jewelry drifts through her mind like a whisper on the wind. She hadn't thought much about it before now; after all, she'd been so focused on getting away from him and building a new life for herself. But somehow, knowing that he still had something of hers... it feels significant in some way.

With a sigh, she rolls out of bed and pad across the room to her jewelry box. It takes her only a moment to find the pretty silver necklace and matching heart-shaped pendant he'd given her, its cool metal instantly bringing back fond memories of their childhood together.

For several long minutes, she sits on the edge of her bed, holding the jewelry in her hands, unsure what to do with it. Part of her wants to throw it away, a physical symbol of everything that's wrong between them; but another part can't help but feel a strange sense of connection to this little piece of metal.

Eventually, she decides to keep it... for now. Maybe one day things will be different between them; maybe they could even find their way back to being friends or something more. But until then, the pendant and its chain will remain hidden away in her jewelry box, a silent reminder of all that once was and might yet still be.

It's been a long time since you left; months turned into years as they slipped away unnoticed. In that time, she's tried her best to move on with her life without you; she found a new job, made some new friends, and even managed to repair some of the damage your constant teasing had done to her self-esteem. But no matter how hard she tries, there's always been a part of her that missed you... or maybe it was just missing the way things used to be between them.

She hears footsteps approaching the door and freezes, heart pounding in her chest as she wonders if it could really be you. The doorknob turns, creaking loudly on its hinges, and then the door swings open to reveal your familiar face framed by a new haircut and fresher-looking clothes. Your smile is wider and more genuine than she remembers, and it takes her breath away.

For several long moments, neither of you says anything; the tension between you is palpable as you take each other in, both of you not quite sure how to act or what to say after all this time apart. Finally, you break the silence by saying hello, your voice soft and awkward around the edges. She doesn't know if she should be happy that you're back or terrified that things might never be the same again.

"Hi," she manages to get out before stepping aside, gesturing for you to come in. Her room hasn't changed much since you left; it still feels like home despite the absence of your presence for so long. "It's nice to see you again." She means it, even if her voice betrays a hint of wariness beneath the surface.

She follows you into the living room, not quite sure what to make of this sudden change in you. You seem different somehow; nicer, almost... endearing. It's disconcerting and unsettling all at once, like trying to walk on shifting sand. As she sits down across from you, she decides that maybe it would be best if they just talked things through; maybe then they could find some sort of understanding between them and put the past behind them for good.

"So," she says slowly, gathering her thoughts. "It's been a long time. How have you been?" There's an underlying current of tension in her voice that betrays her uncertainty about this whole situation. But despite everything, she's still curious to know what brought about this change in you.

You look at her, your eyes softening as you consider her question. "I've been good," you say eventually, surprising her with the sincerity in your voice. "England was a bit of a culture shock at first, but I adjusted to it after a while. And I met someone there... she helped me realize some things about myself and how I needed to change if I ever wanted to be happy." You glance down at your hands for a moment before looking back up at her again. "I guess I just want you to know that I'm sorry for the way things were between us. For everything. And I want to try and make it better this time, if you'll let me."

His words hang in the air like a weight, pressing down on both of them as they wait for her response. It's a choice she never thought she'd have to make: stay stuck in the past or risk everything by trying something new. With trembling fingers, she reaches out and takes your hand in hers, squeezing it gently

She squeezes your hand reassuringly before speaking again. "It's okay," she says softly. "We both did some things we shouldn't have, but... I think it's possible for us to move past all that now if we really try." There's hope in her voice, a tiny thread of light piercing through the darkness that had been cast by their years of animosity toward each other.

You look up at her then, meeting her gaze directly for the first time since you returned. Her eyes are wide and earnest, full of trust and belief in something greater than either of them alone. It's intoxicating; you can feel your heart racing in your chest as you drink in the sight of her, this beautiful woman who has somehow always been there even when she was miles away.

"I want that too," you admit quietly, your voice barely above a whisper. "More than anything." And with those words, you lean forward and kiss her; it's soft and hesitant at first, but quickly grows more passionate as she responds, wrapping her arms around your neck and molding herself against you like a long-lost puzzle piece finding its perfect fit.

Time stands still as the two of you lose yourself in the moment, their past mistakes and hurts fading into the background, replaced by the promise of something new... something better. The future stretches out before them, vast and full of possibility; the only certainty is that from now on, they'll face it together.

"That sounds great," she says with a smile as she watches you get up to go put your things away in your room. The air between them feels lighter now; more comfortable and easygoing than it has been in years. It's as if some invisible weight has been lifted from their shoulders, allowing them both to finally breathe freely again.

As she waits for you to return, she can't help but feel a flutter of anticipation in her stomach. This new Bruce is much easier to be around than the old one; kinder, gentler... almost like the person she once thought he was before their relationship took a turn for the worse. She wonders how long this newfound maturity will last or if it's simply a temporary reaction to being away from her for so long. Only time will tell.

When you emerge from your room a few minutes later, she looks up at you expectantly. "So, what should we make for dinner?"

She giggles softly as you tease her, the sound almost foreign on her lips but somehow pleasant nonetheless. "Well, I suppose we could make your favorite pasta if you want." As she speaks, she turns to begin pulling ingredients out of the cupboard and fridge, setting them on the counter in an efficient little assembly line.

"Or," she continues with a mischievous glint in her eye, "we could make something new together. Something we both like." The idea of cooking with you - side by side, working together toward a common goal - fills her with unexpected warmth. It's almost as if they're already part of a team, somehow... or maybe that's just wishful thinking on her part.

"What do you think?" she asks, glancing over at you to gauge your reaction.

She blushes deeply when you plant a kiss on her lips and whispers "I love you" against them. It catches her completely off guard, and she's not quite sure how to react other than melting into a puddle of happiness right there on the kitchen floor. As they continue to cook together, their fingers brush against each other accidentally-on-purpose and their eyes never leave each other's faces. This newfound connection between them feels so right somehow; as if everything that came before was just a dress rehearsal for this moment.

She takes a deep breath, trying to rein in her racing thoughts and focus on the task at hand. "So," she says, her voice still unsteady with emotion. "What do you think we should name our... new thing?"

She giggles at your suggestion, the sound warming him from the inside out. "Well then," she says with a smile that lights up her entire face, "let's make this new beginning a good one." She squeezes his hand gently before letting go and returning to her task at the stove. As they continue to cook together, a sense of camaraderie grows between them; they finish each other's sentences and laugh at their own jokes, falling into an easy rhythm that feels natural and comfortable.

Time seems to slow down as the evening wears on, each moment stretching out longer than the last as if savoring this newfound closeness. It's strange how things can change so drastically in such a short amount of time; just a few months ago they were at each other's throats, and now here they are: partners in crime, sharing kisses and laughter over a homemade meal.

When the pasta is finally done and they sit down to eat together at the kitchen table, it feels almost like old times... only better, somehow. Like maybe this time around, they've got a real chance at happiness. And who knows? Maybe they'll even manage to keep the peace for more than just a few weeks before their natural rivalry kicks back in again. Either way, for tonight, she's content to enjoy this new beginning - however fleeting it might turn out to be.

She blushes at your compliment and your kiss, returning it with just as much affection. "You're welcome," she says with a smile as she digs into her food as well. As they eat, their shoulders brush against each other in a gentle dance that feels more intimate than anything they ever shared before. It's strange how things can change so drastically in such a short amount of time; just a few months ago they were at each other's throats, and now here they are: partners in crime, sharing kisses and laughter over a homemade meal.

When the last bite is gone, they lean back in their chairs with satisfied groans. "So," she says once she catches her breath, "what do you want to do now?" There's an undertone of suggestion in her voice that isn't lost on either of them; both know exactly what she means, and the possibility of exploring it further sends a thrill through them both.

She lets out a soft moan as you move closer and kiss her, your touch sending shivers down her spine. The anticipation building inside her is almost unbearable; she's never been with anyone else besides Bruce, and the idea of exploring this new side of herself is both exciting and terrifying in equal measure.

"I-I don't know," she whispers breathlessly, her heart racing in her chest as you draw her closer still. "I trust you... I want to see where this goes..." Her words trail off into a whimper as your lips find hers once more, deeper and hungrier than before.

Her hands flutter restlessly at her sides, yearning to touch you but unsure of what would be appropriate or welcome. As she gives in to the heat building between them, however, she finds herself growing bolder; reaching out to run her fingers through your hair, pulling you closer still. The tension that had been coiled inside her since he left begins to unravel like a frayed string, surrendering to the undeniable chemistry that still burns between them despite everything.

Her breath comes in short little gasps as you continue to kiss her, her body arching closer to yours in a silent plea for more contact. "Bruce..." she whispers, the sound barely audible above the pounding of their hearts. "I want this... I want you..."