Read Online Somewhere in Between by Lynnette Brisia - Free Book Online

okay. Those times, my feelings weren't yet developed so it didn't matter. But now, now I like you and I wish so much you'd like me too. We're going to the carnival tonight and if you're reading this now, the night has just ended, you've left me at my porch and I've left this in your hand begging you to read it after you’ve gotten home. Again, it's okay if you don't feel the same way, just don't be too mean about it now that you know how I feel. And if you don't want to be friends anymore because you're probably feeling pretty awkward, well, not gonna lie, that's gonna hurt, but I'll understand. I just wanted you to know. God, I feel like an idiot.
    Always,
    Gemma
     
    It was dated August third. They did go to the carnival that night. But Gemma never gave him this note. She never gave it to him because that was the night he saw Trisha and his whole world shifted to focus solely on her. The pain in his chest intensified as he thought of Gemma, carrying this note in her pocket, just waiting to give it to him only to find out she didn't have a shot the moment his mouth opened and he started talking non-stop about Trisha Scott.
    Gasping for air, Elliot quickly returned the note to the drawer and closed it. He needed to get it together. He walked to the bed and sat on the edge of it just in time for Gemma to return. Looking at her, her face so sad, and her body curled in upon itself, he noticed how foolish he was. She'd carried her feelings for him with her for so long, never speaking a word to him, never even whispering them. She let him ramble on and on about some other girl, playing the supportive best friend, and he, without truly knowing, threw in her face the fact she didn't stand a chance because he was blinded by an empty smile.
    But she wasn't so quiet that no one knew. Apparently their friends did. He knew her well enough to know that she hadn't told anyone directly. She probably didn't even know people could see how transparent she was. Well, everyone but him could see, it seemed. How could he have been so blind, so foolish? And why couldn't he have figured this out ages ago, so that Gemma never journeyed to Fairview, never needed to find something else to do just so she didn't have to deal with him? He might be in her room tonight for an entirely different reason, if that were the case.
    With a sigh, Elliot noticed finally the shirt she wore. It was too big for her petite frame, and looked very familiar. He could see the Brighton Summer Baseball camp logo on the top left corner. It was his shirt, the shirt he'd loaned to her after a rainstorm had soaked their clothes. It dwarfed her already sad form. But he liked seeing it on her, as though it could protect her.
    "Nice shirt," he mused in a whisper.
    Blush stole to her face. "Uh, yeah, thanks."
    He didn't want to add to her discomfort, so he let the subject drop for the time being. "I um, I wasn't sure where you wanted me." The words tumbled from his mouth sounding wrong. "I mean I know what we've done in the past, but I didn't know if you'd… well, I don't want to make you uncomfortable by assuming everything was the same. If it isn't, I mean."
    As if she didn't already feel horrible enough, Gemma wanted the world to swallow her whole at Elliot's words. She was different now. Elliot's face looked pained, like just looking at her was hard on him. She didn't know if she could stand that. She was so different; her best friend couldn't even be in the same room with her like before. "If you want to leave you can. I don't want you to feel like you have to stay with me just because of... I'll be… I'll be okay."
    "God, no, Gemma. That's not what I meant." He was flustered now. And wanted to rush to her to show her his true feelings. But that would scare her, so he remained still. "I just don't want to make you uncomfortable. I don't want you to be scared of me. You mean everything to me and I couldn't bear the thought of hurting you. Even in an unintentional way." He