You and Me (GEMINIFOURTH)

Chapter 18: A Difficult Choice

The school day had been long, the hours dragging on as if the world itself knew how much weight was pressing on Fourth's shoulders. He had managed to get through the day by keeping to himself, avoiding the curious glances of his friends and the concerned looks from Gemini. But now, as the final bell rang and the students began to trickle out of the classrooms, Fourth knew he couldn't keep avoiding the conversation that was about to happen.

He found Gemini waiting for him at their usual spot behind the school. Gemini had that familiar expression on his face—concern mixed with determination, the look he always wore when he was about to say something important. Fourth's stomach tightened with anxiety as he approached, wondering what kind of news Gemini had for him this time.

"Hey," Gemini greeted, his voice soft but edged with a sense of urgency. "You doing okay?"

Fourth nodded, though it was a lie. He wasn't okay. He hadn't been okay in a long time, but he didn't want to burden Gemini with that right now. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said, trying to sound convincing. "What's up?"

Gemini took a deep breath, glancing around to make sure no one was nearby before speaking. "I talked to my parents last night," he began. "And... we came up with a plan. My dad—he's... well, he's starting to accept this, Fourth. Us, the baby. And he offered to let you stay at our house."

Fourth blinked in surprise, the words not quite registering at first. "Stay at your house?"

Gemini nodded, his eyes full of hope. "Yeah. He thinks it's the safest option, and honestly, I agree. You can't keep going back to your dad's place, not after what happened. It's too dangerous for you and the baby. This way, we can keep you safe—at least until we graduate high school."

Fourth's heart pounded in his chest as he processed what Gemini was saying. Stay with Gemini? Away from his father? It sounded like a dream, a chance to escape the nightmare he was living at home. But as soon as the hope began to bloom inside him, it was crushed by a heavy wave of guilt.

"How can I leave my mom with him?" Fourth whispered, his voice trembling. "I can't just walk away and leave her there. She'll be all alone, and he'll—"

"I know," Gemini interrupted gently, reaching out to take Fourth's hands in his own. "I know it's hard, and I know you're worried about her. But Fourth, she's not leaving him. You've told me that yourself. If she's not willing to get help, there's nothing you can do right now. But you... you have to protect yourself and the baby. That's what matters most."

Fourth swallowed hard, his hands trembling in Gemini's. He knew Gemini was right, but the thought of leaving his mother behind with his abusive father filled him with dread. How could he just abandon her to face that monster alone?

"I feel like I'm betraying her," Fourth admitted, his voice thick with emotion. "Like I'm just leaving her behind when she needs me."

Gemini's expression softened, and he gently squeezed Fourth's hands. "You're not betraying her. You're doing what you have to do to protect yourself and the baby. If you stay, you're putting both of you in danger. I know it's hard, but you can't save her if you're not safe yourself."

Fourth bit his lip, his mind racing with conflicting thoughts. He didn't want to leave his mom, didn't want to feel like he was abandoning her, but he also knew Gemini was right. His father wasn't going to stop, and if he stayed, he might not be able to protect himself—or the baby—next time. But the guilt still weighed heavily on him, threatening to suffocate him.

"What if something happens to her while I'm gone?" Fourth whispered, his voice breaking. "What if he hurts her and I'm not there to stop it?"

Gemini shook his head, his eyes filled with sympathy and understanding. "You can't control what he does, Fourth. Your mom... she's made her choices. I know you want to help her, but you can't save her if she doesn't want to be saved. Right now, the most important thing is keeping you safe. We'll find a way to help your mom, but you can't keep putting yourself in harm's way."

Tears welled up in Fourth's eyes, and he quickly blinked them away, trying to hold himself together. He didn't want to cry—not again. He was so tired of feeling weak, of feeling like he couldn't control anything in his life. But the truth was, he was scared. Scared of what his father might do next, scared of what it meant to leave his mom behind, and scared of the future he was about to face.

"I just don't know how to do this," Fourth whispered, his voice cracking as he looked at Gemini. "I don't know how to walk away."

Gemini stepped closer, wrapping his arms around Fourth in a tight embrace. "You don't have to do it alone," he murmured, his voice soft and full of love. "I'll be with you every step of the way. You're not walking away from her—you're just choosing to protect yourself and our baby. And I promise, we'll figure out a way to help your mom when the time is right. But for now, you need to be safe."

Fourth leaned into Gemini's embrace, his tears finally spilling over as he buried his face in Gemini's chest. The weight of the decision was overwhelming, but in that moment, he let himself trust Gemini's words. He let himself believe that maybe, just maybe, there was a way out of this—some way to escape the nightmare he had been living for so long.

"I love you," Fourth whispered through his tears. "And I trust you. But I'm scared, Gem. I don't know if I can do this."

Gemini pulled back slightly, just enough to cup Fourth's face in his hands, his thumbs gently brushing away the tears. "You're stronger than you think," he said softly, his voice full of conviction. "You've been through so much, and you've survived all of it. You can do this. And I'll be right here with you the whole time."

Fourth nodded, though the fear and uncertainty still clung to him like a shadow. But in Gemini's eyes, he saw something he hadn't felt in a long time—hope. Hope that things could get better, hope that they could find a way out of this together.

"Okay," Fourth whispered, his voice barely audible. "I'll do it. I'll stay with you."

Gemini smiled, a wave of relief washing over his face. "We'll talk to my parents tonight," he said, his voice full of determination. "We'll figure everything out. And once we're all safe, we'll find a way to help your mom, too. I promise."

Fourth leaned in, resting his forehead against Gemini's, feeling the warmth of his presence wrap around him like a protective shield. It wasn't going to be easy, and there were still so many uncertainties ahead. But for the first time, Fourth felt like he wasn't facing it alone.

Together, they could make it through this. Together, they could find a way to protect their future—the future they had started to build, despite all the odds stacked against them. And for now, that was enough.