20. Here I am on/The phone again/And/awkward silences on the other end/I used to know the sound of a smile/In your voice/But right now/All I feel/Is the pain of the fighting/Starting up again/All the things we talk about/You know they stay on my mind/All the things we laugh about they'll bring us through it/Every time/After time/After time/Don't say a word/I know you feel the same/Just give me a sign/Say anything/say anything/Please don't walk away/I know you wanna stay/Just give me a sign/Say anything/say anything.

Bosco walked up the hallway of his apartment block, hands in his pockets, his feet shuffling off the wooden floor. He felt groggy and tired, his head hanging low, his pace slow. He wasn't exactly in any rush to get home after his shift – he drove around for what seemed like forever his head mulling over the last nights events.

He couldn't concentrate on anything – be it watching TV, reading, or even work. It all seemed routine, something to take up his time and perhaps distract him from his thoughts. All he could think about was her.

Her and the kiss.

He hadn't seen it coming and it still was surprising him. She instigated it but was now refusing to take his calls and even went as far as to call into work sick just to avoid seeing him even though they worked completely different jobs. He had never been treated like this before. He was usually the one who ignored calls; he was the one who dumped people. At first that was what he thought was bothering him – the fact he had no control over the situation. She was calling the shots. But it dawned on him as he lay awake after dropping her home that, that wasn't it at all. It ran deeper. And that scared him.

But what scared him the most was the thought of losing her because of it. She was his best friend and to lose her would be to lose everything, especially now. He finally reached his floor, his eyes watching his feet as they moved along, dragging against the floor.

He soon became aware of another presence as he looked up from the end of the hall. Faith sat propped up against the wall outside his apartment, her legs stretched out and crossed, reading a book. She as yet hadn't noted his arrival and continued to read, her eyes darting over the pages.

He wasn't sure why but he decided to watch her for a while. He leaned against the wall; his hands still stuffed into his jean pockets. He watched as she tucked her blonde loose hair behind her ear, and her pink tongue darted out from her mouth, wetting her lips. His breath hitched and she must have heard because she frowned and looked up from the page, her head turned the wrong direction.

He was thankful for her misjudgement of the location of the noise and he straightened up, clearing his throat. She craned her neck around and her gaze locked with his. They stared at each other for one awkward moment. He was the first to speak.

"Hi."

"Hey," she choked out. She still refused to move, clutching her open book on her lap. He moved towards her and she too shook herself. She closed her book as he approached and shoved it into her torn black backpack. He held out his hand for her and she stared at it, gulping.

He didn't retract his offer and so she reluctantly accepted his help, pressing her palm against his. His grip was firm, but hers could almost equal it as he pulled her up. He was surprised how little effort it took to get her to her feet. He sometimes forgot how fragile she was.

For several seconds neither pulled away, hands still clenched together. She was the first to realise this and also the first to shatter any physical contact made. He didn't acknowledge the force she used to pull away, instead ignoring it, despite the blinding pain in his chest.

Wordlessly he opened the front door, stepping inside. She followed his lead and watched at he flicked on the light switch and made his way into the living room. She looked around his small apartment and was surprised at how tidy it was. It startled her that Bosco could be anything more than an immature child who was incapable of taking care of himself but looking around his home it portrayed nothing less than a man who was responsible and mature.

He fought so hard to convey a juvenile delinquent to her – someone who she needed to constantly keep any eye on. But perhaps there was another side to him she hadn't seen. Perhaps he was in fact a man. Had she overlooked this?

"I can't stay long," she spat out, realising he had taken out two cups for coffee. He still added two spoonfuls of instant coffee grind and poured in boiling water, stirring at a steady pace. "We need to talk," she announced as he approached her with the cup. He held it out and she took it, inwardly rolling her eyes.

"What about?" he asked sipping from his cup. Her eyes narrowed and he struggled to stay nonchalant under her beautiful gaze.

"You know."

"I thought we were goin' to forget about that," he snapped. He didn't mean it to sound as harsh as it did, but it bothered him that she could just show up at his home and pretend like nothing had happened after avoiding him.

"We were…are…I just thought…"

"Why weren't you at work yesterday?" he interrupted, suddenly feeling angry.

"I…I was sick," she stammered, a little shocked by his abrupt question.

He laughed, his gaze travelling upward to the ceiling.

"I was!" she exclaimed, "I had, had a late night…I needed some time to myself."

"Why weren't you taking my calls?"

"I…I wasn't in."

"I thought you were tired. Why were you out if you were tired?"

He wasn't yelling, but damn near to it.

Her brow furrowed as she glowered at him, her eyes sparkling with anger and rage.

"I don't have to listen to this!" she cried out, "I'm not a perp who's in questioning Bosco! I'm me!"

"More the reason to treat you like a criminal after the way you treated me!" he fired back. She waved him off.

"Oh you know what? Screw you! I'm going!" she screamed turning for the door as she placed her mug down on the hallstand.

"Oh yeah! Run away Faith! It's all you're good at these days!" he called after her. She was almost at the door before hearing him rush up behind her. She had the door slightly ajar before feeling it slam shut but not from her own hand.

His scent surrounded her, smothering her. "You're not going anywhere until we've talked," he whispered in her ear. She shuddered at the feel of his warm breath against her skin.

"You don't wanna talk, you wanna yell at me," she somehow managed to say. They fell silent, Bosco's body closing in around her. Everything constricted and she couldn't breathe.

"Actually…I don't want to do either," he breathed, his fingers lacing in her hair, rubbing it between his fingers.

"Bosco…don't…." she sighed. She couldn't help it. Her head tilted back resting against his shoulder as his fingers worked against her temples, then slowly down her neck, tracing against her sensitive skin. A heated moan escaped her throat and she immediately cursed herself for the weakness she felt.

He spun her around, her back colliding roughly with his front door. Both his hands now rested on the doorframe, effectively trapping her. His face was just inches from hers and suddenly he brushed his lips ever so gently against her mouth.

"I want to kiss you…can I kiss you Faith?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. She clenched her eyes shut, her knees trembling. He had noticed her hands form fists by her sides and briefly wondered if she were ready to lash out.

"Please…" she squeaked, "Please Bosco…I can't…we can't…what are you doing to me?"

He leaned into her ear. "Anything you want me to."

Their gazes locked and suddenly he was on her, kissing her with full force. He wasn't gentle or slow; he didn't stop to ask if it was what she wanted. And if she were honest she would've hated him if he had. She just needed him there. And he was.

They stumbled backwards, tugging at each other's clothing, trying to get closer. Bosco felt his leg hit off the hallstand, sending it crashing to the floor, the cup she had placed there earlier, smashing loudly. They never made it to his bedroom, at least not the first time, both falling onto the couch. And for the first time Faith let go of her fears and Bosco let go of his anger. And they both felt freed.