Somewhere in Between Read Free

returned to his frown. “But there are other things in this world to talk about too. I mean do you even know how uncomfortable Gemma feels the second you get on your Trisha diatribe? How uncomfortable we all feel? No one wants to be around you then. And don't even get me started on all the shit you tried to do to get her attention."
    That was the second time someone had mentioned Gemma. The second time someone had mentioned what his crush was doing to his best friend. It made him wonder just how much of a jackass he really was. "Hey, do you, um, do you think Gemma likes me? As more than a friend, I mean?"
    At this question Josh stared at him blankly. And then, as though a switch was flipped, started laughing, doubling over. "Jesus, fuck, E. You really have been completely blind the past couple months, haven't you."
    "What's so funny?" Christie had returned, though she didn't look any different. What could possibly take a girl so long to do in the bathroom, that the result looked completely the same? Elliot figured he’d never know, not that he’d ever attempt to ask.
    "Your brother."
    "Well, yeah. But what about?"
    Still laughing, Josh answered as he stood. "He asked if I thought Gemma liked him."
    "Oh." After a moment, Christie started laughing too. And taking Josh's hand, they walked off to dance leaving Elliot feeling like the world's biggest douche.
    If it was true, and Gemma really did like him, fuck! All that time he spent rambling on about a fantasy that was so far out of his reach, and completely, one hundred percent pathetic and delusional and one-sided, with the way Josh was making him finally see; she must have been devastated. He knew he'd be. But he didn't know what to do. He'd just spent over two months pining after an idea only to have his best (male) friend throw ice water on the idea, making him wake up. And he adored Gemma, but he didn't know if he liked her as more or if just staying friends was better. Which would hurt her less, he wondered. He didn't want to pretend to want more if he couldn't find the feelings, but then, he didn't want her to continue pining over him if all he could feel was friendship toward her.
    "This sucks," he said to no one. He'd never felt more alone in that moment. His friends were all dancing, laughing, having a good time. But he had no one. And it was of his own doing. He knew now if he'd seen a glimpse of reality, he'd have asked Gemma ages ago to come with him tonight, even if it was just as friends, because they always had fun together. They could dance, laugh, carry on like everyone else was doing, and he wouldn't be sitting at a table, watching the action happen. But his pathetic pining had sent her off to find someone else to share her joy with.
    And what would he do if he found out that someone else ended up stealing her affections away and she no longer liked him like that? He’d just found out, hadn’t even had time to realistically contemplate his own emotions and for her to already by casting hers for him aside? Would she do that so easily? Shaking his head at his dramatics, especially after just telling himself that while yes, he liked Gemma, he didn’t know if he liked her liked her, Elliot mentally berated himself. “Get a grip, Wade,” he murmured.
    Just then, as though he knew he was being thought about, he saw Ryan Matthews walking across the dance floor, Janey Stanton tucked under his arm. Elliot knew their break-up wouldn't last long. It never did. But then he started to think about Gemma again. She'd told him she was going to be with Ryan tonight, and if he was there with Janey, Gemma was probably hurt over that now on top of his stupidity. He knew he should find her, try to fix things.
    "Hey, Ryan!" he called, standing up to get the older boy’s attention. They didn’t know each other, not really, so Elliot was banking on the senior being friendly and not wary of him.
    As Ryan Matthews walked up, he shook Elliot's hand. "Hey, man. How's it