CHAPTER 10
Later that night, Bosco and Faith sat in his Mustang after a long day of excruciating tension. Faith talked Bosco into going out for a drink so she could finally wrench out of him what the hell was going on. As the car sped away, Faith made an effort of focusing her attention everywhere but to her left. She was upset, no doubt. How could he just spring this on me now? she thought. I've already talked to the Lieu about switching and he backs out? Fred is gonna be so pissed.
Faith was jarred alert by her thoughts. Would I actually do that? she wondered. Would I actually stay on the third watch because Bosco wanted to? The realignment of her priorities disturbed Faith. She knew she had to do this for the sake of family and home, but she was miserable. She couldn't imagine not working with Bosco, let alone someone else.
The silence in the Mustang continued to stretch as the car slowed to a stop before a red light. Faith finally turned to look at Bosco and was startled to see him gazing back at her with the same forlorn expression.
"What happened?" she asked softly.
Now would be the time, Bosco's mind prompted, but he pushed away this inner voice. He had already made his decision to shield Faith from his feelings for her own good and he wasn't backing down without a fight.
"Nothing happened Faith," Bosco answered. "I just think it's time for a change, that's all. It's nothing personal."
"Nothing personal?" Faith whispered, wounded.
"Yeah, sometimes when you're so accustomed to a person it can be suffocating. With new partners, we'll both be more open to changes and learning." Bosco had no idea where his lie was leading him or even what the hell he was trying to convey, but he couldn't stop now. On a more subconscious level, he supposed he was attempting to hurt her, to make her pay for not choosing him. This made him feel both justified and disturbed.
"You're trying to get rid of me?" she squeaked out. "Not only are we partners.I thought we were best friends. I am so sorry, I had no idea I was suffocating you to a point where you no longer want me in your life."
"Well I'm tired, I want something new," he said, frustrated. "And best friends? The only thing I am to you is a soundboard for all your damn problems. Our "friendship" is nothing short of a convenience for you, a way for you to control some other aspect of your life since, ya know, controlling Fred is not enough!"
Cars behind the Mustang started honking angrily at Bosco and Faith. Bosco wrenched his mind back to the task at hand and pulled the car into an alleyway. Angrily, he shoved the car in park and jumped out. Up ahead, a group of homeless men were crowded around a makeshift fire. This is not how he wanted to end this he thought desperately, oblivious to the men.
"Where are you going?" Faith asked, jumping out behind him. "Don't walk away from me!"
Bosco spun around "I am not your damn child! I need to get away from you!"
"Not a child?" Faith sneered. "Well, you certainly act like one. You are the most immature man I have ever met, so fine. You can go find someone else to lead you by the hand."
Bosco started walking backwards, slowly losing every ounce of the control he never possessed. "God!" Bosco roared in anguish. "You know what Faith? I'm not going to torture myself over you. If you're too blind to see what I am, who I am, then screw you. Go back to your life and Fred. Go back to being miserable and neglected and hurt. I don't give a damn what happens to you anymore, I won't let you keep playing with me like this!"
Faith was riveted by Bosco's outburst. What the hell was he talking about? Faith's mind screamed in confusion. Hindsight would tell her later that if she hadn't been so focused on Bosco's rant, she may have noticed the shift in the men around the fire.
"I'm going to move on Faith. I'm going to get over you." With these last words, Bosco spun around and found himself face to face with an automatic pistol and a very twisted face.
"NO!!!" Faith screamed as shots shattered the quiet night air.
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Later that night, Bosco and Faith sat in his Mustang after a long day of excruciating tension. Faith talked Bosco into going out for a drink so she could finally wrench out of him what the hell was going on. As the car sped away, Faith made an effort of focusing her attention everywhere but to her left. She was upset, no doubt. How could he just spring this on me now? she thought. I've already talked to the Lieu about switching and he backs out? Fred is gonna be so pissed.
Faith was jarred alert by her thoughts. Would I actually do that? she wondered. Would I actually stay on the third watch because Bosco wanted to? The realignment of her priorities disturbed Faith. She knew she had to do this for the sake of family and home, but she was miserable. She couldn't imagine not working with Bosco, let alone someone else.
The silence in the Mustang continued to stretch as the car slowed to a stop before a red light. Faith finally turned to look at Bosco and was startled to see him gazing back at her with the same forlorn expression.
"What happened?" she asked softly.
Now would be the time, Bosco's mind prompted, but he pushed away this inner voice. He had already made his decision to shield Faith from his feelings for her own good and he wasn't backing down without a fight.
"Nothing happened Faith," Bosco answered. "I just think it's time for a change, that's all. It's nothing personal."
"Nothing personal?" Faith whispered, wounded.
"Yeah, sometimes when you're so accustomed to a person it can be suffocating. With new partners, we'll both be more open to changes and learning." Bosco had no idea where his lie was leading him or even what the hell he was trying to convey, but he couldn't stop now. On a more subconscious level, he supposed he was attempting to hurt her, to make her pay for not choosing him. This made him feel both justified and disturbed.
"You're trying to get rid of me?" she squeaked out. "Not only are we partners.I thought we were best friends. I am so sorry, I had no idea I was suffocating you to a point where you no longer want me in your life."
"Well I'm tired, I want something new," he said, frustrated. "And best friends? The only thing I am to you is a soundboard for all your damn problems. Our "friendship" is nothing short of a convenience for you, a way for you to control some other aspect of your life since, ya know, controlling Fred is not enough!"
Cars behind the Mustang started honking angrily at Bosco and Faith. Bosco wrenched his mind back to the task at hand and pulled the car into an alleyway. Angrily, he shoved the car in park and jumped out. Up ahead, a group of homeless men were crowded around a makeshift fire. This is not how he wanted to end this he thought desperately, oblivious to the men.
"Where are you going?" Faith asked, jumping out behind him. "Don't walk away from me!"
Bosco spun around "I am not your damn child! I need to get away from you!"
"Not a child?" Faith sneered. "Well, you certainly act like one. You are the most immature man I have ever met, so fine. You can go find someone else to lead you by the hand."
Bosco started walking backwards, slowly losing every ounce of the control he never possessed. "God!" Bosco roared in anguish. "You know what Faith? I'm not going to torture myself over you. If you're too blind to see what I am, who I am, then screw you. Go back to your life and Fred. Go back to being miserable and neglected and hurt. I don't give a damn what happens to you anymore, I won't let you keep playing with me like this!"
Faith was riveted by Bosco's outburst. What the hell was he talking about? Faith's mind screamed in confusion. Hindsight would tell her later that if she hadn't been so focused on Bosco's rant, she may have noticed the shift in the men around the fire.
"I'm going to move on Faith. I'm going to get over you." With these last words, Bosco spun around and found himself face to face with an automatic pistol and a very twisted face.
"NO!!!" Faith screamed as shots shattered the quiet night air.
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