Read Online Somewhere in Between by Lynnette Brisia - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lynnette Brisia
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wasn't necessarily talking about the events of the night.
Despite the ache in her bones, and the pain still radiating between her legs when she moved a certain way, Gemma felt her chest open, if only for a moment, in relief. "I don't want you to sleep on the floor," she said softly. "And I know the rocking chair isn't all that comfortable after a couple hours. But… but what if over the covers?"
He watched her look at her bed, a bed they'd slept in side by side, under the covers for a long time. Yeah, it was sort of Dawson's Creek-ish, even if their parents didn’t always know he’d stayed the night once those horror movies ended, but they were comfortable with each other. They used to be comfortable with each other. But now things had changed. He knew what had happened to her. He saw it with his own eyes, the damage done to her. And then there was the matter of her feelings for him, if she even still had them. After all, that note was two months old, things change. Emotions change. Especially if someone believes they don’t stand a chance.
"Over the covers is more than fine." He picked up the quilt she always left in the rocking chair for in case it got too cold at night, and waited for her to climb into bed. Her movements were slow, measured, like every breath brought about absolute agony. He didn't want to know if it did because then it would only increase his rage once more, make him shake with an anger so intense, it burned hotter than the core of the earth. He was just going to do what his aunt suggested; be there for Gemma.
Once she was settled, Gemma motioned for Elliot to join her. It was easier being in a full bed, and she was glad when her dad and stepmom had suggested they'd leave her small twin bed behind when they moved from Austin. She knew if she'd still had it, she probably wouldn't feel comfortable having Elliot so close. At least, not just yet. That thought broke her heart a little. So many days spent secretly pining for him, relishing in the moments they were alone, only to have him prepared to spend the night in her bed with her terrified and not entirely comfortable.
Yet, she knew he was the only one she would probably be able to be around.
Once he was settled, Elliot turned on his side to look at Gemma. She mimicked his position, her hands resting under her head. Slowly, so as not to scare her, Elliot lifted his left hand, and brought to Gemma's face, lightly caressing the apple of her cheek, mindful to avoid the bruising. It was still so soft, the skin like silk under his fingertips. He felt his heart flutter from her feel, felt his breath catch until he couldn't stop his mouth from speaking. "You're beautiful."
A tear leaked across her nose as she closed her eyes tight. Months she wished he'd look at her like he was now. Months she wished he'd feel the same as she did. But for months, he walked around in a cloud of lust for someone else. And now the moment he tells her she's beautiful, the moment he had that look on his face that said this was from his heart, she'd been broken. Damaged. Tainted. He couldn't possibly feel anything other than pity for her.
More tears leaked from her eyes, pooling on her hands. She turned her head toward her pillow, shielding her face from his eyes, hiding her shame, her filth that no amount of washing would rid her of. Images of the men who attacked her flashed behind her eyes, overwhelming her mind and breaking at her spirit. No one was ever going to want her now. She was disgusting. And she needed Elliot gone. He couldn't be there to see her like that. He shouldn't be there to know how repulsive she had become. She didn't want him to know that side of her. He barely tolerated the normal person she was, she knew, since she just barged her way into his life making him be her friend, so this would have him running away for sure.
"Just go. Just leave." Gemma pushed against his chest, still not willing to look at him. She couldn't handle it. She couldn't handle
Despite the ache in her bones, and the pain still radiating between her legs when she moved a certain way, Gemma felt her chest open, if only for a moment, in relief. "I don't want you to sleep on the floor," she said softly. "And I know the rocking chair isn't all that comfortable after a couple hours. But… but what if over the covers?"
He watched her look at her bed, a bed they'd slept in side by side, under the covers for a long time. Yeah, it was sort of Dawson's Creek-ish, even if their parents didn’t always know he’d stayed the night once those horror movies ended, but they were comfortable with each other. They used to be comfortable with each other. But now things had changed. He knew what had happened to her. He saw it with his own eyes, the damage done to her. And then there was the matter of her feelings for him, if she even still had them. After all, that note was two months old, things change. Emotions change. Especially if someone believes they don’t stand a chance.
"Over the covers is more than fine." He picked up the quilt she always left in the rocking chair for in case it got too cold at night, and waited for her to climb into bed. Her movements were slow, measured, like every breath brought about absolute agony. He didn't want to know if it did because then it would only increase his rage once more, make him shake with an anger so intense, it burned hotter than the core of the earth. He was just going to do what his aunt suggested; be there for Gemma.
Once she was settled, Gemma motioned for Elliot to join her. It was easier being in a full bed, and she was glad when her dad and stepmom had suggested they'd leave her small twin bed behind when they moved from Austin. She knew if she'd still had it, she probably wouldn't feel comfortable having Elliot so close. At least, not just yet. That thought broke her heart a little. So many days spent secretly pining for him, relishing in the moments they were alone, only to have him prepared to spend the night in her bed with her terrified and not entirely comfortable.
Yet, she knew he was the only one she would probably be able to be around.
Once he was settled, Elliot turned on his side to look at Gemma. She mimicked his position, her hands resting under her head. Slowly, so as not to scare her, Elliot lifted his left hand, and brought to Gemma's face, lightly caressing the apple of her cheek, mindful to avoid the bruising. It was still so soft, the skin like silk under his fingertips. He felt his heart flutter from her feel, felt his breath catch until he couldn't stop his mouth from speaking. "You're beautiful."
A tear leaked across her nose as she closed her eyes tight. Months she wished he'd look at her like he was now. Months she wished he'd feel the same as she did. But for months, he walked around in a cloud of lust for someone else. And now the moment he tells her she's beautiful, the moment he had that look on his face that said this was from his heart, she'd been broken. Damaged. Tainted. He couldn't possibly feel anything other than pity for her.
More tears leaked from her eyes, pooling on her hands. She turned her head toward her pillow, shielding her face from his eyes, hiding her shame, her filth that no amount of washing would rid her of. Images of the men who attacked her flashed behind her eyes, overwhelming her mind and breaking at her spirit. No one was ever going to want her now. She was disgusting. And she needed Elliot gone. He couldn't be there to see her like that. He shouldn't be there to know how repulsive she had become. She didn't want him to know that side of her. He barely tolerated the normal person she was, she knew, since she just barged her way into his life making him be her friend, so this would have him running away for sure.
"Just go. Just leave." Gemma pushed against his chest, still not willing to look at him. She couldn't handle it. She couldn't handle
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