Somewhere in Between by Lynnette Brisia Page B

now.
    Leaving the safety of his room, Elliot walked to his father's study. He entered without knocking, but closed the door behind him and took a seat in front of the large mahogany desk his father was sitting at. Without looking up from the papers before him, Dalton Wade spoke, "You mind explaining to me what was going on between you and your sister this morning? Why there was a shouting match in my house loud enough to rouse neighbors miles away?"
    Elliot inhaled deeply, letting his lungs sit there full before he blew the breath out harshly. "It's been a rough day."
    "Care to elaborate on that?" his father asked, his pen dropping as his bright blue eyes, eyes that matched Christie’s, found Elliot's. Those blue eyes told him it was no time for joking, but Elliot didn't feel like laughing.
    "Something… something happened, and Christie just doesn't get it." It was the easy thing to say. Gave him a reason to start or stop.
    "Something happened? Does this something have to do with a certain girl you liked but apparently no longer do?"
    "No," his answer was quick. "No, this has nothing to do with Trisha. I was an idiot; I see that very clearly and don't plan on being that kind of idiot ever again. She's a nice girl, but that's it." He was defensive, his body reacting to Josh's words last night and Christie this morning, while waiting for his father to demean him too.
    "Okay… so if it's not about her, and I'll tell you, for someone who realized the woman they've been pining over isn't interested, you are taking it very well, this leads me to believe she really isn't the one." Dalton had a smirk on his face because he knew his son and he never once believed Elliot could be led so easily by just a smile and a pretty face. "I am willing to bet my salary that this has something to do with one Gemma Grady. Though it does help that your sister said you did something to Gemma that upset her. Is that what this is about?"
    He was tempted to grab his hair and pull very hard because Christie wasn't in the room to maim. "Okay, I will fully admit that my moment of insanity did upset Gemma. Apparently she likes me as more than just a best friend. Or at least she did," Elliot thought bitterly, but those thoughts halted at his father's snort. It seemed everyone knew how Gemma felt but him. "But it's more than that." He felt his lungs constrict suddenly. Looking at his father, he wanted so desperately to talk, and the need to unleash the pain he felt at what happened was staggering. He knew if he didn't let it go, it would suffocate him. "It's so much more than that."
    A frown formed on his father's face as he moved around the desk to sit by Elliot. "What happened, son?"
    "Oh God, dad. It’s so much more," Elliot began, tears already pouring from his eyes.
     
    *LtB*
     
    She was unable to eat anything, her stomach revolting at even the smell of the beautiful breakfast before her. She did drink some orange juice though, just to appease her mother. By the time she was finished, it was after noon, and all she wanted to do was talk to Elliot. And sleep. She admitted to the last part and bid farewell until later. Once she reached her bedroom, Gemma noticed the notification light on her phone was blinking. Picking it up, she saw that she had six missed calls and four texts from Christie. She also saw she'd missed a call and message from Elliot.
    Christie had left only texts, no voicemails with her calls, so Gemma quickly scanned through those, noticing the tone becoming increasingly angry. But it wasn't at her. Christie was acting as though Elliot had done something to her, something to hurt her or make her angry and that was why she was avoiding talking to anyone, especially her, since Elliot was her brother. She also said Leighanna wasn't talking either.
    Shaking her head, and not wanting to deal with drama, Gemma ignored Christie and listened to Elliot's message. "Hey, Gemma. It's me. Just calling to check on you. Please call me back when you