Somewhere in Between (21 page)

"What?" Elliot exhaled. He was surprised twofold. First, he didn't know Gemma really knew Trisha at all, or had spent any actual time with her, especially since he now understood how much Gemma despised hearing about the other girl. And then he was surprised by what she had said. She understood? How? Why?

"It's okay, Elliot, you can close your mouth," Trisha laughed lightly, and he snapped it shut instantly, his cheeks tinted pink. She sat down in front of them, and reached out to take one of Gemma's hands. "I am so sorry they did this to you, Gemma. I can't even imagine how you must be feeling," she sympathized. "I can tell you the rumors going around, they're not that bad. In fact, since Penny and Cassie didn't know any of your particulars, all they had to go on is a doctor's professional specialty. No one knows the why's of your reason for seeing Dr. Archuleta. Or even if you were seeing her to begin with. So what you were at the medical office. There are other doctors there, or she’s a friend of the family."

"You know Dr. Archuleta?" Elliot found his brain was not keeping up.

A sad smile covered Trisha's lips. Gemma was finally going to find out why Trisha was seeing the doctor. And that bothered her immensely. "Yes, I know her. When I was seven, my mom and dad divorced. It happens, and while I was upset, it wasn't the end of the world. But then my dad's job moved him out of state, to Virginia, so I didn't get to see him as much, just summers or some holidays." She stopped, took a moment to collect herself, and then continued. "During one of my trips, one of my dad's new friends was over. It was the 4th of July, my dad was having a barbeque, lots of people around. I had been staying with my dad for two weeks by then, knew who the guy was, but didn't have any kind of feel on him. Anyhow, during the barbeque, I had to use the bathroom, so I went to the room my dad had set up for me. It had its own bathroom.

"I loved that. At home, with mom, I share with her, so it was cool to have my own space." Tears formed in Trisha's eyes, but they didn’t fall. "I didn't know it, but the friend had followed me. He'd come into my room, locked the door, and waited for me to get out of the bathroom. When I stepped out, he was there, standing right at the door. He grabbed me, and…hurt me."

"Oh God," Gemma sobbed into Elliot's chest. She didn't want to know anymore.

"When he was…done, he left and went back to the party like nothing had happened. I was crying, screaming, and bleeding. I walked back outside, found my dad, and broke down." A few tears managed to fall then, but Trisha maintained her composure. "My father almost killed this man as he beat him so severely. The police were called, reports were made. He was arrested, and thankfully convicted to prison. I was twelve years old. And every day I fight to get back to who I was, to what I had before this man destroyed my life. While I don't know how it feels to have my secret exposed like this, I do know how it feels to have everyone know when you don't want them too." As she finished she looked at Elliot with a sad smile. "That's why I know Dr. Archuleta. I've been seeing her for a few years now. And that's why my mom started her shelter project."

"Wow," Elliot blew out. "Wow," he repeated.

"Thank you for telling me that," Gemma cried. "I'm sorry it happened to you." She was trying to gain the strength to tell her story too. "It was at the Fairview, near that old bar not far from the theater. There were three guys. Elliot found me."

"Oh sweetie. You don't have to tell me anything. I didn't tell you my story just to get yours," Trisha soothed. "I just want you to know you're not alone." She looked at Elliot again, a sweet smile playing for him, before returning her attention back to Gemma. "I'm glad you two have each other. It's a long battle, but I have faith you will both be okay. Take strength in each other."

"Thank you, Trisha." He'd found his voice, and his mind had finally calmed to normal. He may not have feelings for Trisha like he thought he'd had, but he definitely had respect for her.

She nodded, then stood. "I need to get back. Jake is waiting on me in the lobby, but I just wanted to tell you… I wanted to tell you I'm here for you. No matter what." With that, she walked out the door.

"Wow," Gemma breathed as she sat up in Elliot's lap. She was starting to feel a little ridiculous still sitting on him, but when she tried to move, he just held her tighter to him. Rather than fight it, she just stilled. Her mind was still trying to comprehend everything Trisha had given to her. While she knew there had to be a serious, and no doubt horrible reason for the senior cheerleader to need to speak with a therapist that mainly handled sexual assault cases, Gemma never imagined that reason would be what it was. "I never would have imagined. I mean this was someone her father no doubt trusted! And to betray it like that? I just, I can't imagine."

Elliot nodded. "I know."

"It gives me hope though," she whispered, looking deep into his eyes, wanting to show him she meant her words about hope. "Maybe I can be somewhat normal again too. Trisha seems so well put-together, so much more in control of who she is, so strong. I don't know, maybe that can be me again."

In that moment, the words 'I love you' wanted to escape. It felt right, it felt true. But Elliot kept them to himself. While it may have
felt
right, he knew it wasn't the right time. Especially after how tumultuous the day had been thus far. So, instead, he said the other thing on his mind. "You are strong. You are probably the strongest person I know. You are normal. But I know what you mean. And I know you'll get there."

She didn't argue that she didn't feel strong. Her secret had, in a way, been exposed. At least words were out that would lead to speculation. But instead of wanting to hide, as her initial reaction had been, after hearing Trisha talk, Gemma wanted to strive to be as brave as Trisha too. "I'm glad I have you." She relaxed back into Elliot's arms, letting the feel of his comfort wash over her and steel away any sadness or fear she may have had.

"I'm glad I have you too." He kissed her head again, running his hands along her back as they sat and waited for their parents to return.

*LtB*

Gemma found out quickly what having not only Leighanna in her corner could do, but also Trisha Scott. As soon as rumors and questions started to spread, Leighanna had been on damage control. And once Trisha found out-though she failed to mention it when talking to Gemma and Elliot, the two seniors joined together to stop any more people from talking or speculating about Gemma. In fact, they discreetly started a rumor that Penny was just jealous of Gemma and Elliot's closeness, and that she made up a story about seeing Gemma at the doctor’s as a payback because Elliot didn't like her.

It wasn’t a malicious rumor, just something to put the twosome in their place.

More than anything, people believed that since Penny and Cassie had been so cruel to so many. And it was as close to the truth as the two could get without giving the actual truth away, since it was true; neither of the girls liked the closeness between Gemma and Elliot, and it would only make sense Penny would make up a lie to get back at Gemma. In the end, they managed to divert all attention from Gemma, and onto the punishment Penny and Cassie had received as well as how dumb the girls seemed, since why would a guy want to date a girl who had no problem talking bad about someone the guy cared about just to get his attention?

"I'm all about Jesus and forgiveness, but those bitches should be locked up," Maggie Blake could be heard saying at lunch. "They threw eggs at my house!"

"I think they were born without souls. Or hearts. Cause really, who does that and thinks it's funny if you have any humanity in you?" Lisa was quoted in Biology.

"Jealous harpies, is all they are. Elliot likes Gemma so why not say shit about her? Like
that
will make the guy like you instead. They're lucky Leighanna hasn't beat them up yet. She can make a grown man cry, I heard," Becky Court told Ricky Carmichael in seventh period English.

"Tell me about it. I think Leighanna showed extreme restraint. Anyone talked about my sister like that…pow! Then again, she probably didn't want to be tainted by touching them," Craig decided at last period ended.

It was all anyone would talk about, at least after Trisha and Leighanna were finished. And Gemma and Elliot were able to get through the rest of the school day as peacefully as could be expected. While she'd had the option to go home, to escape, Gemma knew doing so would only make anything speculated about her to be proof.

It was just as they were walking to Elliot's car, hand in hand again, that anyone said anything directly to Gemma.

"Hey Gems?" It was Trent, jogging up to her. Leighanna nowhere to be seen.

"What's up?" She leaned against Elliot's car, his body resting beside hers, putting on the air of nonchalance. She knew what Trent wanted, it was what she figured everyone wanted if they knew the real truth, she just wanted to seem less affected than she was. She wanted to portray that what had been said about her was nothing, lies, and exactly as Leighanna and Trisha had claimed. But this was Trent, not some random classmate, and the look on his face made her not so confident in her façade.

He came to stand right before her, his normally grinning face more somber than she ever remembered seeing it. "I just wanted to tell you, I love you. You're like a sister to me. No, you are, you
are
a sister to me. You're the little sister I never had. And I would do damn near anything for you." His voice was softer too, as he spoke. "I'm not gonna ask you what happened. Leigh has given me a rundown, but only because I don't wanna know, or need to know anything more. But I do know some things. And I need you to know, I am here for you. No matter what. You need me, for anything, anything at all, and I'm there. In a heartbeat."

Tears fell down her face as she let go of Elliot's hand to hug Trent. It was the first time she'd made the effort to touch another man, not Elliot or her father, and while she was still a little nervous, everything Trent had just said to her made those nerves fall away. "Thank you," she whispered into his hard chest.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you," he whispered back, and it sounded like there were tears in his voice. "I am so very sorry."

She couldn't speak, the lump in her throat too big to get passed. So she just nodded against him.

Elliot watched the scene before him with a heavy heart. A few tears slid down his cheek and he made quick to brush them away. People didn't understand. Gemma may be the one who was hurt, but what happened to her, it affected everyone who cared about her. Dr. Archuleta taught him that. It was part of the reason his nightmares were so severe, she'd said. And seeing big, tough guy Trent, someone most were intimidated by until they got to know his big goofball self, crying, it was so heartbreaking.

Leighanna showed up a few minutes later, a devious smile on her lips as Trent and Gemma parted and everyone prepared to leave. She didn't say anything to Gemma until that night after dinner, and that was only after being glued to her cell phone for an hour with a vicious laugh pouring out of her on occasion.

"Let's just say, Miss Scott is not the delicate flower she lets people believe her to be," was all Leighanna offered until Gemma pressed for more. "Okay, okay! Sloane didn't want Penny and Cassie cleaning out their lockers until after school ended. She didn't want them intermingling with everyone else for obvious reasons." It was known throughout the day that many the two had bullied were hoping to gang up on them and render payback. Principal Sloane had decided two wrongs didn't make a right. "Well, because Trisha is cheer captain, she was having meetings with the coaching staff after school to not only take Christie off suspension, but to officially replace the two bitches."

"That's good to hear Christie will be able to cheer again," Gemma commented softly. She hadn't seen Christie again the rest of the day and it made her nervous. She didn't know how to address anything with her kinda-friend, and she didn't know what Elliot was going to be facing. She was anxious to talk to him later.

"Yeah, well, Trisha also explained that she should be present when the girls were cleaning out their gym lockers. Just in case they tried to do anything," Leighanna almost started laughing. "Let's just say, Trisha may or may not have split knuckles tomorrow if you see her."

"What?"

"Yeah. Guess she was actually going to just tell them off, but they started talking shit, thinking they were still cool for all the bullshit they'd pulled. She had enough of them, and they both left school with a black eye a piece." Leighanna had a smile on her face. Though it seemed wistful, almost like she wished it were her in Trisha's place. "And before you ask, the girls knew better than to say anything after that, so no, Trisha will not be punished for this."

She was a little confused, but Gemma didn't question anymore. She was surprised the girl's parents hadn't accompanied them into the locker room to get their things. But that didn't matter. What else could have occurred to have them not try to ruin Trisha as a final hurrah? Because there had to be something. They didn't seem like the type to go quietly, especially if she hit them. So what could it be? She knew she wouldn't get the answer out of Leighanna.

"It's not what they deserve, but it'll have to do," Leighanna spoke again. "Besides, word is, they are really not going to like where they're going. I don't know much more than that."