James drummed his fingers against the steering wheel as he pulled up outside the flat. This was a stupid idea. But she had been meant to be working today and after last night...
He sat there for a while before slowly getting out of his car. After hesitating some more he ran the bell.
Ava wandered to the door and opened it. "Oh, 'lo?" She yawned. She was rumpled and wearing pajamas patterned with panda's and a unicorn dressing gown. Her hair was crazy, and she had the imprint of the pillow on her left cheek.
"Erm... hi." James blinked at her appearance. "I..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "You weren't in work today.. I thought... You were scheduled."
"They owed me time, I'm tired, busy day," Ava replied groggily. "Coffee? Sandwich?"
"Oh. Right. I didn't know that." He rubbed the back of his neck again. "I should really go. Sorry for bothering you."
"Should you be in now?" Ava asked. "James, why are you here?"
He shook his head. "My shift finished half an hour ago." He chewed the inside of his cheek before answering. "You weren't in and I... After last night, I thought maybe... Sorry. I'll go." He turned to leave.
"Come and have a coffee, actually talk to me."
"I wouldn't want to bother you. Anymore than I already have."
"I'm up, come in."
"I... OK."
Ava stepped back and gestured him in.
James followed her inside.
She turned and smiled. "Was the shift OK?"
James shrugged a shoulder. "Nothing major, so, usual really."
"Hungry? Callie left me a thing."
"A thing?"
"I think it's soup."
James arched an eyebrow. "You only think?"
"I didn't look yet"
"I'd be worried if you had." He shook his head. "I'm alright, she made it for you anyway."
"Then a sandwich?"
"Really, just a coffee would be fine."
"At least I know Callie buys good coffee."
"Anything's good compared to work," James muttered.
"This is good compared to Italy. I dunno where she gets Zeke to go and fetch it from.
"Right." James still stood awkwardly in the doorway, trying not to look at her considering she was still in pyjamas.
"Come sit in the kitchen, I'll go and get changed before you die of embarrassment at literally no extra skin."
James rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh I... sorry," he mumbled and stepped into the kitchen, sitting down on one of the chairs at the table. Somehow, still managing to look awkward and tense.
"Good job you didn't come in summer, I sleep in shorts and a vest."
"Erm... Right." James blinked and fixed his gaze on the table top.
Ava laughed softly and disappeared into her bedroom
James shifted in the seat, unconsciously wringing his hands. He knew he had just been being stupid. Of course she was fine.
Ava returned shortly later, dressed in jeans and a t shirt and put on the coffee filter. "I'm not here on my own much, always busy."
"I didn't mean to disturb you," James said.
"You haven't, it's nice that you care," Ava replied
James arched an eyebrow. "You looked like it. I mean, it looked as if you'd just woken up."
"I can go without sleep for months, I just like it."