Thanks to everyone still reading and reviewing this and for all the lovely things said! For anyone reading my other fic I'll try and update it soon. xxx
19. I know this love is passing time/passing through like liquid/I am drunk in my desire.../but I love the way you smile at me/I love the way your hands reach out and hold me near.../I believe.../I believe/this is heaven to no one else but me/and I'll defend it as long as/I can be left here to linger in silence/if I choose to/would you try to understand?
She should have guessed he'd be late. He was always late. Faith couldn't think of a time when Bosco had been early for anything in his life. She glanced again at her watch. The hands had barely moved since the last time she checked – but it was getting late now, and not that she was afraid of the dark, she just didn't want to get back to Emily in the early hours of the morning. That was looking increasingly likely now as the time approached eleven and considering the hotel the conference was held in seemed to be in the back ass of nowhere…
A few more detectives emerged from the conference hall, uttered their goodbyes to her and got into their awaiting cars. Faith realised now that Bosco was perhaps not the best person to rely on for a lift home. She heard a huge roar of thunder through the air and she prayed the rain would hold off until he arrived. She gazed up at the unsettled sky – enormous black rain clouds hovered over her like spaceships ready to attack, and she shivered despite the air being warm and heavy.
In that moment lights shone on the front of the building and a black Mustang sped up to the front steps, screeching to a halt. Great she thought Bosco's in his 'little boy racer' mood.
He rolled down the window as she trotted towards him, wrapping her black suit jacket around her chest. He flashed her a huge grin, which she didn't return. He knew instantly she was pissed. She flung open the door, sliding across the seat. She didn't speak a word – just closed her door and rolled up the window he insisted on opening.
"How was it?" he asked as she settled into her seat. She shrugged gazing out the front window as she pulled herself out of her jacket, tossing it into the back seat. "Sorry I'm late…I was talking to Erin on the phone…kinda lost track of time…"
He saw no point in lying, or giving her some half-baked excuse, he told the truth; despite knowing he'd probably be killed for it. She grunted something in reply, something he didn't quite catch. It was probably better he didn't. Realising she wasn't about to engage in any sort of conversation he pulled off, the engine roaring at first but then fading into a gentle purr as he brought it down a gear.
"You weren't kiddin' when you said this place was far away," he said as they filtered onto a long road that disappeared into an area of fields.
"Well that's our government for ya – too cheap to rent a hall in one of the cities hotels so they locate us in the middle of nothin'. Makes me wonder why I bother sometimes…" she muttered.
"I am sorry 'bout being late," he said, trying to catch her eyes.
"Forget about it," she replied, "I should be grateful. You didn't have to come all the way out here to get me."
"Yeah but still I promised you somethin'. I should have been here on time."
"Bos…for once in your life could you not argue with me?" she sighed. He nodded, staring ahead out onto the deserted road. Rain began to beat down at a steady pace on his windshield; his wipers began to work overtime.
"Jesus…what is with our weird weather?" he said, "One minute the sun is shining, the next, God's pissin' all over us."
Faith couldn't stifle a laugh and she let it out, shaking her head. "Thanks for the visual Bos."
"So…how's Gerard?" Bosco ventured the question slowly, averting his eyes to the road ahead. Faith looked over at him, studying his features from the side. He didn't even glance in her direction.
"He's fine. He drove me here tonight. Which was really sweet of him. Couldn't give me a lift back though…he was workin'" she explained.
Bosco felt like he'd been doused with a bucket of very cold water. The only reason Faith asked him to collect her tonight was because her boyfriend couldn't.
Her boyfriend?
Since when had Gerard become her boyfriend? And why did the thought of that bother Bosco?
"So I'm the backup," he said, his mouth motoring ahead of his brain. She glanced toward him, confusion etched in her attractive face.
"I never said that Bos. I just know you'd probably want to spend time with Erin than be drivin' me about like a taxi," she said.
"Faith you know you come first. Whatever you need, I got your back."
His comment stopped her dead in her tracks. Her mouth hung open like she was about to respond. She wasn't exactly sure why he said what he did, or what he meant by it. Was there an underlying message to his confession or was it simply a statement of loyalty between two very old friends? Faith knew it was the latter - it had to be.
He too realised his own stupidity and frowned inwardly. "So you never answered my question…how is he?"
"Good. He uh, I like him Bos. He's like no one I've ever met before. When we're together he really makes an effort – like he wants to be there. Not just 'cause dating is just a way of getting me into bed. He pays attention to what I say."
Bosco's hands gripped the steering wheel as she confessed her feelings for this man. This man Bosco knew was complete jerk. A man he had set her up with. He thought she'd see past his lies, but he was obviously wrong.
He looked over at her. She was smiling at nothing in particular, her hands joined together on her lap. How could he possibly destroy her happiness? But she needed to know the truth.
"You really like this guy?" he asked suddenly.
"I guess. He's nice. And fun."
"But wasn't it you who called him a bastard a few weeks back?" Bosco questioned, keeping his eyes trained to the road. She frowned, her blue eyes narrowing.
"Yeah…but that was before I got to know him."
"So what's changed?"
"My perception of him. I got it wrong. I'm not ashamed to admit that."
"What if you were right in the first place?"
She looked utterly perplexed by Bosco's question and she turned in her seat to face him.
"What do you mean by that?" she asked, her voice low. He shrugged.
"I just think...you know…a leopard can't really change his spots can he?"
"Well you should know," she retorted, angrily, "You can't stay with a woman for more than five minutes without getting scared and runnin' off like a little boy."
"I stayed with you."
She snorted derisively.
"That's different – you know it is." He caught her gaze and held it, his eyes telling her that there was maybe more to what he said than what she presumed. And it scared her a little.
"So…why don't you think Keith is right for me?" she asked.
"I just think that maybe you had him right the first time."
"What? He's a jack ass?"
"To sum it up…yeah," he conceded. She laughed, crossing her arms.
"You really are a piece of work…"
"What? 'Cause I don't like this guy?" Bosco barked, finding it difficult to drive and yell at her at the same time.
"You set me up with him! You insisted on giving him my number!" she cried, over-gesturing.
"Well maybe I got it wrong."
She stared at him, wide-eyed and angry. He could tell she wasn't taking this well. Not well at all. She fell into a deadly silence for several moments, before turning her head to the front windshield.
"Pull over," she instructed quietly. He glanced over, confused by her order.
"What?"
"Pull over now Bos."
He did as she asked, indicating into a lay-by. The rain was now pounding down on the ground, thunder roaring and lightning striking in the distance. He hated storms – they made him uneasy. Suddenly she was pulling open her car door, stepping out into the treacherous weather. He thought that she was just getting some air but was surprised to see her walk ahead, moving down the road. Realising she was doing her 'over dramatic Faith outburst', he thought it best to follow her and calm her down.
He stepped outside, the rain beating down hard against his skin. It almost hurt and he shook it off, striding after her.
"Faith!" he called out. She ignored him, walking purposely forward. He could just make out her figure in the rain – mist and fog making it hard to see. "Faith! What the hell are you doin'?"
"Walkin' home!" she threw back over her shoulder. He rolled his eyes.
"Faith, this is stupid!"
She moved on, her pace quickening. "What? You're gonna walk all the way back to the city?"
"It's better than getting back in that car with you!"
He was closing in on her; they were now only a few metres apart.
"Come on Faith…I didn't mean what I said!"
She stopped suddenly, swirling around to face him.
"What? What part did you not mean?" she screamed over the roaring thunder. It was now he realised that she had forgotten her jacket in the car – or was so angry that she didn't make the time to take it. He stood a few steps away from her and observed her.
Her white kemp top had become see-through when it had gotten drenched with rainwater and clung to her skin. Her dark blue jeans did the same thing, hugging her legs. Her hair stuck to her face in wet curls, and she didn't bother to wipe it out of the way. It stopped him dead in his tracks and he was now so busy looking at her he forgot to reply.
"Huh?" he said eventually dragging his eyes up to her face.
"What part did you not mean Bosco?" she yelled. Lightning crackled in the fields, making him jump. He didn't expect the loud noise.
"I don't understand…"
"Did you not mean all that stuff you said about Keith? Or all the stuff you said about me?"
"I didn't say anything about you!" he exclaimed.
"What did you mean by 'you come first' and 'I stayed with you'? What the hell was that about?"
He shook his head, stuttering over his words. "I…uh…"
"You…uh…what? 'Cause I'm having a hard time understanding where you're comin' from here Bos!"
"What do you mean? You know were I'm comin' from! I care about you Yokas! You're my friend! I don't wanna see you get involved with someone who isn't right for you!"
"Why isn't he right for me?" she asked, raking her fingers through her rain soaked hair. He thought briefly about offering her his own black jacket but then recoiled because he was so goddamn mad at her.
"Forget it!" he muttered turning away. She was confused by his sudden withdrawal and followed him almost immediately. He could hear the clipping of her long black boots off the tarmac as she caught up with him.
"Excuse me!"
"I said forget it Faith! It's always the same with you! I look out for you I get yelled at, I don't and I get yelled at! I don't know what you want from me! I can't win with you!" he barked into her face. She held his stare, her own cold. With that he turned again leaving her stunned. It wasn't long before she found that over-bearing voice of hers.
"Don't you walk away from me!" she screeched, chasing him.
"What? So I stop and you shout at me some more? No thanks!" he called over his shoulder.
"Damn right I'm gonna shout at you! I'm gonna kill you!"
"There's something new…" he muttered under his breath. The rain wasn't easing off and now seeped through his navy t-shirt, which was clinging to his skin uncomfortably.
"Why won't you tell me why he isn't right for me?" she persisted, walking at a steady
pace behind him. She was far enough away; he could hear it in her voice. "Is it 'cause he's fun, attractive, kind…"
He laughed.
"Ok then. You think he's rude, obnoxious…"
"No!" he replied. She stopped, totally confused.
"Then what?"
"He's not good enough for you!" he yelled, turning sharply on his heel.
"But why?" She wasn't begging but damn near to it. She honestly couldn't make sense of her best friend.
"Because you're too special for him! In fact you're too special for most of the jag-offs in this city! You deserve so much better! You can do so much better!"
"How do you know?" she asked, quietly. So quietly he could barely hear her over the huge rumble in the sky.
"Because I know you. You're smart, and tuff, and brilliant. You don't take any crap but you listen to people when they're havin' it rough. You've put up for me all these years despite all the shit I put you through. You're funny as hell, you're clumsy, you're witty, and on top of all that, you're really hot! That is how I know you can do so much better! That is how I know Faith."
He finished rather breathlessly, staring down at her through wild eyes. He didn't have
much time to catch his breath though. Faith jumped forward, framing his face with her hands, capturing his lips with hers. She felt his body stiffen at the sudden contact and for one terrifying second she thought he was about to push her away.
But he didn't.
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her body flush with his own as he kissed her back. His kisses were rough and skilled, drawing a soft moan from her as she tangled her fingers in his hair in a feeble attempt at getting him closer, if that were possible. He managed to claw his way up her sweater, trailing his wet fingers over her even wetter skin. She felt soft, much like silk. The rain still fell, but he barely noticed it now. Thunder still rolled, lightning still struck. But the storm was moving on now. He could hear it far off in the distance, slowly pulling back.
All too soon she too pulled away, jumping at least one metre back from him. Her fingers went straight to her swollen, bruised lips, and she touched them lightly. His taste was still in her mouth – peppermint mixed with coffee.
Her smell was still on his damp clothes – some sort of fruity shampoo or perfume.
Both fought for breath, both still afraid to look at each other, both still reeling from the experience. When she did meet his gaze, he realised this wasn't going to have a fairytale ending. Her eyes were sad and distant, and he was sure he noticed her tremble.
"I wanna go home now please," she asked, her voice monotone.
"Faith…" he breathed, instinctively reaching out a hand to her.
"Please Bosco. Just…take me home…" she whispered, clenching her eyes shut. He nodded and wordlessly turned for the car. She followed a safe distance behind. He didn't open the door for her, and she didn't expect him to.
They drove home in silence, Faith staring out her passenger window, Bosco not even daring to speak a word. Occasionally he'd look over at her, water still dripping from her hair and clothes, her red lipstick smeared across her face. He couldn't believe she had kissed him. He hadn't seen it coming. He didn't think she had either. It seemed like only moments until he was pulling up at her apartment. She was the first to speak.
"Bosco…what happened…it was stupid…we're both in really good places right now…our lives…they, they seem to be coming together. You're with Erin, and I really wanna see where this is going with Keith…"
"I get it Faith." He interrupted her before she could give him the 'it can never happen again' speech. He didn't want to hear it. Not from her. "We'll just forget about it. Pretend it didn't happen."
She gazed at him, chewing on her upper lip. "I think it would be best."
He nodded, feigning a smile. She couldn't return it. Instead she mouthed a goodbye, words apparently failing her, as she stepped out of his car and he stuck his hand up in the air, signalling a wave. He watched until she disappeared inside her building leaving him confused, and disorientated.
She moved quickly upstairs, sprinting towards the sanctuary that was her home. It didn't take her long before she was pushing inside, the warmth hitting her face on. She hadn't realised just how cold she was until she entered. Having little energy left, she collapsed against her front door, sliding her back down it, cradling her crying face in her hands.