Laced By Love

Chapter 6

"Wh- What?" Amber looked at Boston wide-eyed, tears filling her eyes.
"I know. I said what I meant." He didn't. He knew he didn't. But he knew to keep Amber, he had to pretend like he meant it. Though his love for her burned passionately inside of him, he knew sometimes, if you love someone, you have to let them go. He knew that he wouldn't be good for her, especially with the secrets he was hiding.
"We haven't even been together for a day! How could you already want to break up? Did I do something?" Amber asked out of pure shock as tears began to silently run down her face. Boston shook his head.
"It's not you, it's me. We can still be friends like before." He gently wiped away her tears with tender care and compassion.
"I just don't get it! Didn't you say you loved me?" She asked, trying to recall his words correctly. Boston nodded slowly and solemnly.
"I did. And I do. I mean- uhm... I love you... uh... as a friend." He said nervously, looking behind him at Avery giving him a certain glare from another table. Boston gave him a nervous 'I got this' smile.
"Oh Boston, how could you play with a girl's heart like this? All this time you had me thinking you loved me, and yet you turn out to be a player? What, next thing you tell me is that you've had multiple girlfriends?!"
"Amber no! No.. you're my only one." Because of being a lacey, he didn't feel love the same way a human would. Before era 1, laceys felt love exactly the same way that humans did. However, the romantic and sexual attraction was bred out of the laceys. But because of how slow the breeding process was, and how early into era 1 Boston was, he still had a little bit of romantic attraction in him. That meant he only felt romantic attraction to people he was really close to. Although the romantic attraction was still there partially, the sexual attraction was bred out completely. Making him completely asexual.

There was a moment of silence; before Amber got up, taking her lunch with her, and sat elsewhere.

Boston was shook. He could do nothing but just stare as Amber went back to sitting at the table with the popular girls.
He blew it. And now, the love of his life was back with the 'mean girls'. The mean girls who called Amber fat. The mean girls who called Boston a 'demon'. The mean girls who snarled at everyone who just did something as simple as smile at them. He felt a wave of melancholy rush over him. What had he done?

"Good boy." A voice said to him. He jumped, of course, since it was so sudden. He turned to face the voice, and saw it was Avery.
"Please don't say that. It's weird, and I'm not an animal.." He straightened himself a little bit, realizing he was slumped a little in his seat.
"Oh please. Don't act like I didn't see what you really are back there." He smiled smugly. "If I were you, it would be wise to stop lying to yourself."
Stop lying to yourself. The phrase kept repeating in Boston's head. It was one that was commonly thrown around in his mind. He hated hearing it. He felt himself tense up.
"I'm not... lying to myself..." He tried to push what Avery said aside, and tried to be strong. Like a man. Pretending it didn't hurt him in the way it did. "If anything," He started, starting to fake his confidence again, "I'm being as honest as someone could be."
"Well." Avery replied, stretching a little bit. "I got what I wanted out of you. And so I guess now I have no reason to hate you."
"What are you on about?" Boston asked quickly, and a little nervously. Avery was extremely unpredictable.
Avery smiled. Only this time, it wasn't like the usual absolutely cruel and devious smile he was used to seeing. This time, it was a sweet one.
"I mean, I'm actually gonna quit playing the act of the bad guy and be your friend. I don't see anything wrong with you. Well, other than the fact that-"
"Yes. I know. You know the truth. Please don't say it out loud." Boston immediately cut Avery off, in fear of anyone listening.
"Right, right. Whatever. You know Boston, despite all these years of us fighting, we do have something in common." Avery's gaze softened. The evil intent in his blue eyes disappeared.
"What would that be?" As disinterested as Boston was, and as slightly afraid, he wanted to see if he could offer Avery, perhaps, a second chance.
"Couldn't help but notice your earrings. They're nice, where did you get them done?" Avery asked politely, trying to hint towards his point.
"Oh, uhm... I got them done at the mall... The one right outside of Beckley." Boston always wore earrings. Yes, he took them out at night to sleep. But he always had them in during the day. A black hanging cross and 2 rings on each side on the outside of it.
"Sweet. Do you happen to be Christian?" Avery continued, acting innocent.
"Uh... yeah I read the bible every night..." Boston's voice was quiet and nervous. He wasn't sure what Avery was going for. All he knew is that he just had to play along, as uncomfortable as it made him.
"Perfect. Me too. I was gonna ask if you wanted to come with me to church."
Boston's interest peaked. Suddenly, his eyes became alert, and he couldn't help but feel himself smile. He always wanted to attend church, but he never could. He would feel unholy, and like an outcast doing so. He rigorously worshiped, yes, but he still found himself unholy because he looked so much like a demon. He had no doubt that the other churchgoers would view him as unholy, too.
"Yes! That would be lovely! Thank you!" His volume changed again. Now he had an excited tone to his voice.
"Yeah of course. That's what friends do..." Avery thought about what he was going to follow up with, before finishing with; "You wouldn't mind going as your little 'halloween costume' would ya? I'm sure the other churchgoers would love it."
"They would? I figured they'd see it as unholy."
"Oh, no." Avery said with a confident tone. "They love that sort of thing. They'll think you're awesome."
"Oh- great! Then count me in!" Boston was beaming with joy. He just couldn't wait. The first time he could ever step hoove into a church!