Somewhere in Between

by Lynnette Brisia

  “Gemma? Baby, what’s wrong?” he asked, taking her hands in his and giving them a gentle squeeze.

  She shook her head, looking at him straight on. “I just… I can’t believe it finally happened. I never really thought this day would come.”

  Exhaling heavily, Elliot nodded. “I know. Me either. But it finally did.”

  “It’s finally over.”

  LtB

  Four Years Later….

  The sun was bearing down, the temperature in the low eighties, and not a cloud in the sky. A sea of blue and gold streamed across a field of green while cheers broke out through the crowd gathered.

  “Gemmalyn Grady.”

  Her name rang out loud across the field as she walked up to shake the hands of the Dean and receive her diploma. She could hear cheers from the crowd that had gathered in the stands, as well as from the hundreds of students graduating with her today. Some were louder than others, like Leighanna and Trent, and their one and a half year old son Eli, who seemed to have as big a voice as his father.

  She smiled and gave a small wave toward the general direction that she thought her friends and family were before moving back to her seat. She’d received a Bachelor’s degree in Art History and Anthropology, surprisingly finding she was able to double up and still graduate with her class.

  Things had been tough, but after everything she’d survived in high school, a little more school work was nothing in comparison. If anything, having survived and healed from her ordeal, school work was easy.

  Thinking back on all that she’d accomplished, Gemma couldn’t help but smile. She and Elliot had both left Thornton for sunny Los Angeles and plunged headstrong into the life of a Californian, taking in the comforts of the beach and laid back attitude. The only beaches in Colorado were attached to a reservoir or lake, so every chance they got, they were playing in the ocean water of the California beaches.

  They both stayed in the dorms for the first two years, making lots of friends and getting the whole “college experience.” They’d even inadvertently played matchmaker by getting Gemma’s roommate and new friend, Nina, together with Elliot’s floor-mate, Nathan. It wasn’t a match made in heaven with the amount of bickering the two did, but they always made up right away, so it was a special type of relationship and they always said they owed Gemma and Elliot for getting them together.

  By junior year however, with some help from their part-time jobs, they were able to secure an apartment together. Having grown tired of dorm life, and ready to move their relationship into the next phase, they scoured the web and “for rent” signs until they found a quaint apartment not far from campus.

  That old saying, “you don’t really know someone until you live with them” didn’t seem to matter to Elliot and Gemma. They had survived through so much, overcoming obstacles most couples would hopefully never have to deal with, and by the time they were ready to live together, petty fights over laundry or household issues hardly seemed to matter to them. They understood how fortunate they both were to have each other and did everything they could to make it work.

  It was during this time, a few months after moving in to their new home, when the final word came down about Gemma’s attackers. Due to the nature of their crimes, Jim Kenton, Evan Clallum, and Quinten Marshall were all instructed by their lawyers that taking a plea deal would be in their best interest. It avoided them being tried with the death penalty on the table due to the murder they had committed and allowed for parole after thirty-three years served. By the time any of them would be eligible, they would all be in their sixties or beyond. Their lives were essentially over.

  Agent Ramirez paid Gemma and Elliot a special visit, along with Special Prosecutor Holly Stanton to let them know of the deal. They were finally paying for what they had done.

  That was all Gemma wanted. And the relief she felt at this news was palpable. She would never have to worry about them again, nor would she or Elliot be required to testify, bringing everything back to the surface. And more than that, no one would ever be hurt by them again.

  That night she and Elliot cried their relief to each other as they made love until the sun rose the next morning. And with that sunrise was truly a start of their new life, one without fear or pain.

  Adjusting her diploma on her lap, a flicker of light caught her eyes making Gemma smile brightly, unable to help herself as her mind drifted back to the night before.

  Their families have just left for the night, planning to meet them on the field the next day once the ceremony is over - if they can find them, otherwise the plan is to just meet-up at the apartment. They’ve all just come back from dinner and bellies are full. Gemma plops down on the sofa tugging Elliot down with her.

  “I can’t believe we’re finally here,” she murmurs against his chest, her ear pressed against where his heart rests. “Feels like we just started and yet, it also feels like this day has taken forever to arrive.”

  Nodding he agrees. “I know. But come this time tomorrow, we’ll be college graduates.”

  “We’re very lucky, you know,” she sits up but keeps her arm linked with his. “My internship is going to turn into a job at the museum - hopefully sooner rather than later, and you got into UC Davis just like you wanted. I bet you fast-track through this and are working with those kids in no time.”

  “That’d be nice. Less student loans to pay back,” Elliot laughs. After getting halfway through freshman year with still no major, Elliot sat down with Dr. Archuleta while on winter break and spoke with her about his future. In the end, he walked away from that meeting realizing that while he enjoyed the medical world, he thought it would be best to work with children, so he was quickly on his way to becoming a child psychologist catering specifically to sexual abuse victims. It was the way he saw Gemma overcome her attack that made him want to pursue this career. And Gemma was his biggest supporter.

  “It’s too bad Josh can’t be here, or us in Arizona,” Gemma comments after a few minutes. “Would be nice to see him again.”

  Josh’s graduation unfortunately landed on the same day as UCLA’s, making it impossible for the friends to physically support on another. However, they were with each other in spirit. And Skype was a wonderful invention. “Yeah, well, we’ll throw a big party once everything dies down. We’ll have plenty to celebrate.”

  “Graduating college is a big deal.”

  “It is. Though that’s not what I meant,” Elliot replies as he pulls away to rest on his knees on the floor in front of the sofa. “I wasn’t really sure when a good time to do this would be, especially with tomorrow being such a big day. And I wanted there to be a perfect time for it, but planning has never been something we do so I’m just going to do it now.” He reaches into his pants pocket and pulls out a small box. Gemma gasps as Elliot opens it before her.

  “Elliot? What are…?”

  “Gemmalyn Michelle Grady, I have loved you for as long as I’ve known you, and probably before that since you seem so ingrained into my very being,” he smiles cheekily at her. “You have been through hell and back and have come out so much stronger than anyone I know. You are beautiful not only on the outside, but inside too. And I would be so honored if you would become my wife. Gemma, will you marry me?”

  Tears stream down her face, blurring his face and the delicate platinum princess cut diamond ring. Nodding her head emphatically, Gemma cried. “Yes! Absolutely yes,” she gasps pulling Elliot to her kissing him fiercely.

  As they break apart, Elliot slides the ring onto her finger, kissing it once it is in place sparkling in her eyes. “I can’t wait to make you my wife, Gemma. I can’t wait to spend forever with you. Officially.”

  “I can’t wait either.”

  Coming back to the present, Gemma heard the guest speaker congratulate the graduates as everyone stood to throw their caps into the air, loud cheering sounding as everyone was officially pronounced done with this part of their journey.

  She cheered alongside
her classmates before she felt Elliot wrap his arms around her waist from behind. “Congrats, baby!”

  Smiling, she turned in his embraced planting a kiss on his lips. “We did it!”

  Elliot laughed holding Gemma as close as possible, taking comfort in her warmth and the way her excitement was written all over her face and deep into her eyes. “I’m so proud of you, Gemma. And I can’t wait to tell our parents.” He lifted her left hand and brought her ring finger to his lips, lightly brushing them across the jewel. “I’m going to make you so happy. I promise with everything I am.”

  “You already do,” Gemma murmured before kissing him again, not caring that there were thousands of people gathered around them watching their display.

  “Oh you two, get a room,” Nina grumbled as she moved up to stand beside Gemma. Nina Humphrey had been Gemma’s roommate first semester freshman year, and rather than hate each other, which seemed to be the norm in the dormitories, Gemma and Nina banded together to get through the year and not fall apart, which also seemed to be something running rampant. In the end, the two women became inseparable. As luck, or some weird twist of fate would have it, Elliot’s floor-mate and eventual roommate, Nathan Thatcher, started dating Nina during sophomore year and the foursome did nearly everything together - within reason of course.

  “I swear, you’re making me and Nathan look bad.” Bumping Gemma’s shoulder, forcing Elliot to move slightly, was the moment Nina noticed the new accessory. “Holy shit! Gemma?” Looking between Elliot and Gemma, a smile broke across her face. “Holy shit, congrats you guys! Nathan, look at this!”

  Blushing, Gemma couldn’t help her smile. “Thanks, Nina.” The two girls hugged while Nathan shook Elliot’s hand, congratulating him. And then once Nina and Gemma broke apart, Nathan hugged Gemma while Nina lunged at Elliot.

  “Whoa, easy there Ninnie,” Elliot laughed. “Trying to keep the suit clean.”

  “I’m so happy for you guys,” Nina cried, actual tears slipping from her eyes while she tried to wipe at them. “You two are so fucking cute. You’re going to be such a handsome groom, and you, you will be the most beautiful bride ever!” she continued to blubber on. “Oh, I can’t wait till you have kids too. I’m gonna be the most awesome aunt ever! I mean I know we’re not actually related or anything, but I’ve seen Gemma naked a few times, well, and your ass that one time when I accidentally walked in because the sock had fallen off the handle so I didn’t know there was bow chika wow wow going on in the room and oh my god, your babies are going to be so fucking beautiful.”

  Elliot coughed, while Gemma just gaped. Sometimes Nina did not have her filter in place. She was seeking help for repairs.

  “I think that’s a ways off, Ninnie. Besides, you’re starting to scare everyone,” Nathan laughed as Gemma and Elliot just sputtered in their shock.

  “Yeah, but it’ll happen and it’s gonna be so awesome.”

  They had yet to talk about kids, wanting to get through school, especially with Elliot still not finished, get settled and then figure out the future. But hearing Nina, a friend Gemma was so grateful for, talk like she was, about being a part of Gemma’s future, left a bittersweet taste in her mouth. While she had gained a near sister in Nina, Gemma’s relationship with Christie was near non-existent.

  After leaving Colorado, Gemma tried to keep in touch with Christie, the two girls calling and emailing regularly for the first couple months, talking about the new friends they were making. Things actually seemed to be improving between the two, as they actually spent some of Thanksgiving vacation hanging out, but after Christmas, and seemingly out of nowhere, Christie broke things off, choosing to move on with her life. While no one had any solid proof, most believed it was the new friends Christie had made at school. Especially when Elliot had tried to call one afternoon just before Valentine’s Day and one of the new friends answered Christie’s phone giving Elliot the runaround before finally stating Christie was in the bathroom and would call when she had the time. She never did call back. Many believed Christie had found people similar to Cassie and Penny to hang out with and that was now why she was acting the way she was.

  In the end Christie decided the bitterness of being left out for so much when they were sophomores, and everyone’s inability to forgive her and move on quickly after everything that had happened with Cassie and Penny was too much to bear. She’d wanted an easy resolution, but no one had been able to offer that to her because the situation didn’t allow for it. And so she no longer felt it necessary to keep them in her life. She had even cut off all ties with Josh, who, while extremely heart broken, managed to move on at the beginning of senior year and was now dating a lovely young woman named Claire though everyone still believed he carried a small torch for the Christie he’d known from childhood.

  It was most unfortunate that Christie had even cut Elliot out of her life. They were siblings, twins, and she had severed their bond with her resentment. No matter how much Grace or Dalton had tried to rectify the situation, to bring their children back together, Christie was unwilling to even speak with Elliot. And all his phone calls and text messages went unanswered until she changed her phone number, and any letter or card he sent was returned. She even stopped coming home for holidays or vacations from school. It broke Grace’s heart to see her daughter act in such a way, and on more than one occasion, she was found crying during the holidays, wondering when Christie would cut her and Dalton out of her life as well. The only answer Dalton could provide was hopefully one day Christie saw the error of her ways and came back to them. No one was holding their breath on that account though they did believe when Christie wanted to gain control of her trust fund she would return since Dalton had put a hold on it due to her departure from the family.

  “We’ll have to throw a party,” Nina exclaimed, pulling Gemma from her gloomy thoughts with a jolt. “How long are the families in town for?”

  “Uh, they’ll be here a couple weeks I think,” Elliot answered, looking to Gemma for confirmation. With a nod of her head, he continued. “They decided now would be a good time for a vacation. And since Christie isn’t graduating until later….” No one was willing to mention she wasn’t graduating at the same time because she had nearly failed out junior year as a result of her behavior.

  Ignoring the elephant on the field, Nina barged on. “Great! We can party on this weekend!” As she pulled out her Blackberry, typing and scrolling, Elliot pulled Gemma away to head to the car, hoping to make an escape when Nina was distracted. “I’ll call you later. Don’t think I don’t see you leaving.”

  Waving her off, the two moved quickly through the throng of bodies knowing that in a few short minutes, their families would find out about their engagement.

  “I can’t wait to tell everyone,” Gemma murmured as they sat into their seats in the car. She was admiring her ring, still in awe of its beauty and what it stood for. It wasn’t really all that long ago that she loved Elliot from afar and never imagined she would make it to this moment. But it had happened, and she’d never been happier.

  “Well, your father already knows. Sort of,” Elliot blushed as Gemma looked at him with narrowed eyes. “I asked his permission,” he shrugged trying to keep him embarrassment down.

  “You did?”

  “Yeah, well, I thought it would be the right thing to do. I have loved you for so long, and I didn’t want to disrespect the man who I hoped would become my father-in-law by not showing him how much I love you.” His hand cupped her cheek, gently wiping away her tears.

  “You are too perfect, do you know that?” Gemma was so overwhelmed by the love she saw radiating from Elliot’s eyes, but she felt so at peace because of that love. “Thank you.”

  “You don’t have to thank me. You’re my whole life, and I can’t wait to make it official.”

  He started the car, released the clutch and headed off toward their apartment and their families with their news. They’d come a long way since they first met and survived o
ne of the worst things to ever happen. But they were stronger for it, and both knew, no matter what life threw at them, they would have each other.

  EPILOGUE

  They said life only gave you what it knew you could handle. If that were the case, Elliot and Gemma had to be some of the strongest people around. At least, according to those closest to them.

  It was not long after Elliot had started at UC Davis, Christie paid them a surprise visit. Gemma had come home to find Elliot sitting at the kitchen table, Christie across from him, her once cute hair now long and dull looking. When Gemma asked what was going on, Christie spoke up. She claimed she wanted to apologise once more for cutting them out of her life, but only if she was able to find out the truth of what had really happened in high school.

  As it turned out, Cassie had found Christie through Facebook, seeing as one of the guys Christie had been casually dating knew Cassie from his time at a juvenile detention center in Iowa, which was where Cassie had been sent after leaving Thornton. The two then managed to track down Penny for a reunion. One night, while hanging out and drinking, they all decided Elliot and Gemma owed them an explanation of the truth after the way they were all treated so horribly, splitting the three up when they’d really done nothing wrong - at least according to them.

  When Elliot told Christie the only people who knew what really happened were those he and Gemma trusted, Christie started to throw things, claiming that as Gemma’s friend first, and Elliot’s twin, it was her right to know the truth. She wouldn’t listen to reason, and only when the threat of the police being called was directed her way did she relent. She called them selfish for keeping things from her because she knew that they knew she was better than they were. After that, she bid them farewell, but not before throwing out one last insult:

  “You know, Penny and Cassie were right. You both really are pathetic. I’m sure the only people you will ever sleep with will be each other. While I get to have fun and experience life. But at least I won’t have to deal with your whining when life isn’t as great as you let everyone believe. Good fucking riddance.”