Thanks to all my reviewers. Keep going! Ok sorry about the mikey mistake, and I don't exactly know how mikey died so I'm making it up now!
Chapter 9: Thorns in a field of roses
Cruz woke up the next morning happier than usual; Bosco had told her he loved her! She
hugged her pillow close to her and smiled excitedly. She jumped as the phone rang and
ran from the bedroom to get it. "Hello?" she asked. "Cruz, It's me Bosco, do you think I
could come over?" He sounded weird, monotonous "Uh..yeah sure, come right over"
Cruz said. Without even saying goodbye Cruz was greeted by the dial tone. She placed
the phone back into the cradle and worriedly paced back and forth, not bothering to
change. The knock finally came and Cruz ran to the door. Bosco looked up to see her
standing in flimsy pink pajamas. Normally he would have said something but today he
just said "Can I come in?" Cruz looked at him; his eyes were filled with pain and tears.
She led him into the living room and sat down. Instead of her usual harsh tone, a soft,
sweet voice came out "Bos, what's wrong?" He didn't look up, but Cruz could see tears
falling into his lap. "Maritza, I called from the hospital" Cruz barely noticed that he had
used her first name for the first time; she took one of his hands firmly waiting for him to
continue. "Maritza, I was identifying a body, Mikey's body. They raided a drug house
and found a bunch of DOA's there; they called me down to identify his body, Mikey's
body." He barely spat out the words before his body wracked with sobs. Cruz had never
seen him like this, so helpless and weak. She sat down in front of him and hugged him,
laying her head on his shoulder. "Bos, I'm so sorry, so so sorry" Bosco looked at her,
wiping his eyes roughly "I didn't want you to see me like this, but I needed someone"
Cruz ran her fingers through his hair "It's ok, really, I'm really glad you came" "Cruz,
how am I going to tell ma? She was always so worried about him, she knew he was into
drugs, and now look, he's gone" Cruz nodded "I know, now both of us have lost a sibling
to drugs, amazing isn't it, both cops and we couldn't even save the ones we loved" Bosco
smoothed her hair back, comforting her and himself, but not taking any offense to the
comment "I know, look Ritza I need to see Ma, I don't want her to find out from anyone
else. Would you like to come? You don't have to, but if you could come I'd like that"
Cruz smiled gently "So would I. I'll go get changed, stay here" She got changed in ten
minutes and came out, not bothering to put her hair up. Bosco smiled, a sad smile and
said "Let's go" Cruz drove and Bosco directed her until they pulled up in front of a small
2 story house. They both got out and Cruz took his hand firmly in hers as they rang the
doorbell. Bosco's mom answered the door with a smile. She saw Bosco's red eyes and
tear stained cheeks and her smile faltered "Maurice? Honey what's wrong?" "Ma, I need
to talk to you, can we come in?" Rose nodded and ushered them in. "Ma, it's…it's
Mikey" Rose buried her head in her hands sobbing loudly. Bosco went and sat beside her
and Cruz awkwardly rose "I'll go make some tea" Bosco nodded and began to tell his
mother what had happened. When Cruz came back in, Rose's sobs had subsided, but her
face was white and her hands trembled. Cruz handed her the tea and she looked up
"Thank you dear" Cruz's eyes stung with tears as she nodded, she couldn't help but think
about Lettie, there had been no mother to cry over Lettie, no father, just a sister, but a
caring sister, one who had tried to help her. Cruz wiped away the few tears that had
slipped out, but Bosco saw them anyways. He motioned her over and held her tightly.
She felt silly, crying over her sister when Bosco had just lost his brother "I'm sorry Boz"
"About what?" He asked "About crying" He didn't reply just held her tightly on one
side and holding his mother on the other side.
2 weeks later (Mikey's funeral)
Bosco sat beside his mother and Cruz, sobbing freely as the priest blessed his brothers' body. Rose was
sobbing as well and even Cruz was quietly shedding some of her own tears. When the service was over the
followed the small procession to the graveyard where he was buried. Cruz drove them back to the church
after to get the possessions they had left at the church. After driving Rose home Cruz drove back to her
place with Bosco "Hey Boz, I'm really sorry" He nodded and pulled her to the couch "Hey, I'm just glad I
went to you, thanks for being there for me" Cruz nodded but stopped as Bosco pulled her lips to his and
kissed her, "Thank you"
