Gem in the Rough

Chapter 34

"I need some time off, Anthony. Can we please just leave it at that?" I run my hand through my hair, tired of having to explain myself to people.

I'm currently at the Tech Support office, begging for the weekend off. Anthony isn't going easy on me, but can I blame him? I've been MIA lately. Plus, I've been distracted for the last week, knowing what I'll have to do this weekend.

"Are you okay? You've been asking for a lot of time off. Is it Kieran? He's been taking time off too. I don't know what you guys are doing but it's a little concerning." Anthony is sitting at his desk, his arms crossed, and brow furrowed.

"I know it seems weird, but I promise it's important. I really can't get into it right now."

"I'm trying to be understanding but finding people to cover for you both is difficult. And I need to make sure he's not being a bad influence on you."

I laugh at that and shake my head. Kieran is anything but a bad influence. He has a reputation for sleeping around with people and being, well, mysterious, but that's just an act. He's been different too since being with me. I know Anthony has noticed, so I'm assuming he's just trying to dig for as much information as he can get. Always the office gossip.

Eventually, when Anthony just stares, waiting for more material to use against me, I grab his arm and drag him to the copy room. I push him in, shutting the door behind me.

"Ouch, Gemma," he whines as he rubs his wrist, "I'm sensitive."

I scoff and roll my eyes.

"You're making me tell you things that I don't want to tell you, so stop being a baby." It's my turn to cross my arms now. I give him a glare while he holds up his hands in defeat.

"Fine, fine. Now spill. I really am just worried about you."

"I know. That's why I'm going to tell you a cliff notes version of what's going on so you can give me some time off, damnit."

I can't help but get frustrated. I already went through this with the tutoring center. I had to disclose that I was taking the weekend off even though the people I was scheduled to tutor were fine with it. They weren't too happy considering the other days I've been missing out on, but I told them it was family related and they backed off.

"Basically, Kieran and I are a lot more connected than we thought. As you know, our relationship started off pretty intense and I didn't really understand it."

"Yeah, you were eye-fucking each other right off the bat. Now he looks at you like you're God's gift to the earth." Anthony snorts and I blush, still glaring at him. "Sorry, I'll shut up." He zips his lips and locks them, throwing away the key.

"He brought me home to meet his dad and some other...family friends of his. Turns out, his best friend from childhood is my twin sister. Well, was. She died a few years ago. I haven't seen my mom since I was born, though I was told that she was at least around for a couple years growing up. I basically found out my whole life has been a lie.

"My own father has been lying to me my entire life, my mother abandoned me but it apparently 'wasn't her fault', and now I don't know how to process any of it. I need the weekend off so I can go see my dad and confront him. Kieran is coming with me because honestly, I can't do this alone. He's been trying his best to keep it together for me. Because he knows I'm depending on him, and I know it's a lot for us and for our new relationship. But he's doing it because he cares about me. And I think he's the only one who really does because my parents don't give as much of a shit as they should, considering everything they've done. I'm barely holding on by a thread here, Anthony, so please give me the fucking weekend off."