"Come on, man! We've been in here for like three hours already..can't you just let us out"? I yelled at Flanagan, the officer who was in charge of keeping all the drunk and disorderley's in line.

"Cry me a river, Boscorelli. You wanted to act like a jerk, now you're being treated like one". The surly older man smirked.

I hit the side of the cell with my fist, causing me to yelp in pain. " Fine! But the least ya can do is put him "I pointed at Jimmy, who was standing about two feet behind me. "Somewhere else!"

Flanagan winked at me and walked away from us. "Night, night ladies".

I held my hand out to him, thinking that if I changed my attitude, he might give me a break. We worked together, for crying out loud.

"Flanagan! Give me a break, would ya? Just let us out and I'll do you a favor."

Jimmy snorted. "Ya. Like he'd want any favors from you."

"Shut up, prep boy. You can stay in here forever for all I care. But I"m goin' home."

Flanagan walked back over to us. "This is what you'd consider pay back, Bosco."

I blanched. Pay back?

"For what" I shouted at him

He huffed and then shook his head. "You know for what, you little jerk". He spit at me from clenched teeth.

"You don't know what you're talking about, ya old geezer. I never did nothin to you".

His eyes widened and his face turned a little bit red. "I'd call sleeping with my wife, doing something to me. Now suck it up before I put you in with the guys who'd love to keep you company".

From behind me I heard Jimmy scoff. "Hugghhh".

I turned on him and pointed an accusing finger at him.

"Hugghhhhh? What's hugghhhh? You have a track record of infidelity's trailin behind you, so I don't know what you've got the right to speak for!"

Jimmy scowled at me at walked over and sat down on one of the benches. " It's your fault anyway, Bosco. You threw the first punch. You had to be a dick."

In all my life, I'd never met anyone as bullheaded and aggravating as the likes of him. All I'd wanted to do is have a quiet evening to myself and look where I ended up. Here. With the very person I could never stand, and now hated.

I couldn't believe that he wanted to be serious with Faith. Jimmy just wasn't her type. She liked guys who..well....I wasn't sure exactly what her type was...but it wasn't Jimmy Dorhety. She was lonely. That's what was wrong. I pumped my head up and down, comfortable with my theory and pointed at Jimmy again.

"You're just mad cause I was right about Faith. She wouldn't get serious with you in a million years! She's lonely and needy right now. She's just...she's just passing time with you, so I wouldn't get too comfortable. She's too good for you. She's classy and she's someone you spend your life with, not a few days or weeks with. You're not the right guy for her.....because she's waiting for someone else".

A slow smile spread over his bloody face. It was his turn to pump his pinhead up and down, as if he knew something that I didn't. Man, I hated it when he got all 'superior' on me. The smile turned into a deep chuckle. Obviously, he found something I said funny.

"For who? Someone like YOU"? He laughed, thinking he had me pinned. " Now that's funny. Do you really think she'd ever lower herself? She'd have to be pretty desperate for that". His eyes pierced right into my deepest feelings.

That one hurt and it made me feel like I had got a kick in the stomach. Just thinking that Faith would ever feel that way about me...it just hurt. I knew I wasn't the best guy on the planet..or even close to it..but I'd like to think that she'd consider me before she'd take him. I knew her. I knew everything about her that made her special. I knew what kind of shampoo she liked and what kind she hated. I knew that she loved bacon, but that ham was her favorite. I knew she compassion for everyone, even those gut-rot drunks who nobody could stand. She hated watching movies that made her cry, even though she watched them anyway. I knew her better than he ever could.

What made me wild was the fact that he could read me like a book. He, off all people, saw right through me and it wasn't supposed to be that way. No one was ever supposed to know the thoughts I carried with me day and night. No one should have ever caught on to my secret want and love.

"No. She's not waiting for me. But I can tell you right now that I'd treat her a hell of a lot better than you ever could! And I wouldn't cheat on her either. You don't even know her. You don't know the first thing about her". I shouted, very close to losing control.

He stood up and faced me. A look of superiority spreading over his features. He took about two steps before me, his face breaking out into a mocking grin.

"You really do have a thing for her, don't you?" He accused.

I started to speak, when he cut me off.

"The thing I don't get is why you havn't mentioned Sarah in this whole time we've been in here. It's only Faith you talk about. I always wondered if you liked her. Hell, I wouldn't have put money on it, but it's true. You're in love with your own partner. You're in love with Faith. But don't worry. I won't tell." he said and winked at me.

"SHUT THE HELL UP, DORHETY!" I screamed at him.

I had totally lost it and not denied it, thus admitting that it was true. He read everything into that ten seconds or so it took for me to not say anything else, or to completely ride him off as a lunatic for saying such things.

Jimmy was shocked at my silent revelation. He was still taking in what it meant. I leaned back against the cool concrete wall and covered my face with my hands. This drunken confession was something I was likely to regret.

"Does she know"? He asked quietly

I sighed. "Know?" I snapped.

"Does she know how you feel?" He asked in a tired voice.

I lowered my hands from my face to see if he was serious or just waiting to rail on me again. He took a few steps back and sat down on the bench again. He waited for my answer.

I took in a deep breath, not believing that I was about to talk to him about something so personal. I still can't believe that I did it. In that few minutes of silence, I thought about what he had said. It was like coming to a cross road and not knowing which way to turn. If I turned right I had to tell Faith that I loved her and risk losing everything. If I turned left I had to endure the pain of not knowing if I ever stood a chance with her.

It was as if I had come in from the coldest of days, and found a nice mug of hot tea. It was soothing and just what I needed if I were to attempt to go back outside. Stupid way to say it, but it was true. Faith was my hot mug of tea. Always comforting and true to the end. A sure way to get back out there and face the cold. With Faith, I could always face the cold.

Why it took me fighting with Jimmy and ending up in jail to be able to admit it to another person, I'll never know. It was serendipity at it's best. It was accidental, the way it came about. I didn't plan it, but something fortunate had occurred in the long hours of the night. I was about to freely admit that I loved Faith. Someone hit me over the head. I can't believe what was about to do. There was no turning back. No turning back.

"No. She doesn't".

Jimmy stood up and walked over to me. To my surprise, he held out his hand. I raised my eyebrows and reluctantly took it. We shook hands.

"What was that for? Are you on glue, or what?"

"Game over. You need to tell her. I won't say a word." He said, sincerely.

"Game over?"

"I was just razzing you about you having a thing for Faith. I didn't know that you really did. I wouldn't have taken her....well....I wouldn't have done that with her...if ...well, you know. She's a great girl. I like her. But you love her. So, game over. Do what you gotta do, Boscorelli."

I nodded at him, not knowing what else to say. In that one gesture, he had shown me mercy. He showed me that he was standup guy. He saw what he saw, and he knew that my feelings for Faith were deep...or as deep as another guy can see. We aren't known for our words...but a handshake was all it took for me.

I felt grateful for his silence then. I knew that for the sake of love, Jimmy and I had made a truce. After breaking each others noses, it seemed strange to give up the bad feeling all in one night. But that's what she did for me. That's how I knew it was true.

"Don't go thinking that we're gonna be friends or anything just because I know your little secret, Bosco." Jimmy said, in his arrogant way. That was quick.

"I wouldn't dream of it, jag-off."

"Good".

"Fine".

Jimmy finally lied down on his bunk and went to sleep. I sat up in mine and thought about what I was going to do. I knew that I had to break up with Sarah, if she hadn't already done it first. I'd have to listen to my machine at home to find that out. I did like her, but it wasn't fair to her. Even if Faith didn't love me back, it still wouldn't matter. I couldn't string Sarah along.

For the first time, I knew that I had made a decision that would affect me for the rest of my life. For rich or for poor; in sickness or in health; till death do us part; I loved Faith and I was gonna tell her.