Waiting For You

Untitled Part 13

Sid's POV

It took almost a week of Gemma staying at the hospital, before she was well enough to go home. Every time she would stand, she'd puke, or get so dizzy she'd have to sit down, or she would fall over. She was so damn sick from her concussion.

I swear, Blake ran damn near every kind of test on her, just to make sure she didn't have any other problems. She didn't, thank God. She just cracked her head that fucking bad.

She didn't want anyone visiting her, so I had to ask the guys to give her some space, which they all did. She was pretty quiet at the hospital. She either slept, or was lost in her own deep thoughts. We didn't really talk about what happened, and I didn't want to push her on it. I also knew she didn't feel well at all, so I just let it go.

We've been home now for almost two weeks, making it almost three weeks since all that shit went down. She got her staples and stitches out, and has her energy back.

Something is off with her though. She's quiet, almost too quiet. And she's super jumpy. I dropped a book I was reading on the ground the other day, as it slipped out of my hand, and she jumped so damn bad, and looked scared. She keeps assuring me everything is fine, but I know it's not. Everytime I ask her, she smiles and says she's fine.

She still doesn't want to see the guys, and at first I figured it was because she didn't want any of them asking her about that night, or because Corey and Alex saw her like that. But, I don't think that's it.

She hasn't said much to me either, and it's like there is a giant elephant in the room with us. I even asked Blake and Jo if she had said anything about what was wrong, and they both said she hadn't and they were worried about her.

She's been taking off during the day some, and not telling anyone where she's been, which is so odd for her. I followed her a few times, and both times, she went to the cemetery and visited her mom and Cam. She never stayed long, and then she would drive around aimlessly for a while after.

I'm not trying to spy on her, but I am just trying to figure out what is wrong, without upsetting her and having her shut me out.

I don't know how to bring up any of this to her, or how to bring up the fact that I know something else happened the last time she was robbed. So, this left me to the only person I felt I could say something to, and I went and saw Corey for advice on this.

"Hey, man." Corey said letting me in his house.

"Hey." I said as we sat on his deck. Corey has really kept his shit together since he's been back, and God it's nice to have him back.

"How's Gemma? None of us have seen her since all that shit." He said looking at me.

"Fuck. I don't know. She won't talk to anyone, Jo and Blake included. She's quiet, which we all know isn't her. She's super fucking jumpy and nervous." I told him.

"Because she knows you know something is up, and she's waiting for you to say something. Or, she's being a woman, and wants you to read her mind." He grinned, making me laugh.

"I don't know. I asked her in the hospital who the guy was. She said she didn't know. She told the cops that too." I told him.

"Really? I mean, maybe she doesn't know him and it brought up a bunch of bad shit for her. It is possible, you know." He told me.

"Yeah, maybe you're right. I'm afraid she's gonna shut me out if I just flat out ask her, which is about where I am at with it. She's just off, man. I can tell." I sighed, leaning back in the chair.

"Maybe that's what you have to do this time. Just ask her what's wrong. Like tell her gently, like with silk gloves gently, that you feel like maybe something happened the last time she was robbed, and whatever may have happened, it's ok. You don't feel any different. Let her know that it doesn't change anything, you are just worried." He said, leaning forward in his chair.

"Yeah. I might have to. Jo said he asked her what was up and she said she didn't want to talk about it. She told Blake the same thing. She always talks to them." I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed, dropping my hand.

"What about Alex or Jim? Thought about that at all? They've been kinda close. Maybe just send one of them over?" He suggested.

"I don't know how well that would go. I don't know man. I can't explain it really. If you saw her, you would see what I'm talking about. All you have to do is look at her and know something is up." I said.

"The day I came to the store, and saw her wrist? I could tell she was almost in tears man. She wouldn't look at me, and I was trying really hard to not push it or make her more upset. When Alex and Jay showed up, she took off in back. Almost like she, I don't know, was afraid someone might know more than they should about her?" He questioned. I felt my jaw drop hearing him say that.

Why you may ask? That's how Gemma was when I met her when we were kids. She was at the park by herself, no parents and the other kids didn't want to hang out with her. She was playing in the sand, and I walked up and sat down and started helping her build a sand castle. I talked to her like I had known her since birth. She stared at me wide eyed, and looked uncomfortable. I don't know how long we sat there, but at one point, I noticed it looked like she may cry, and she said she'd be right back. I remember following her, making sure i was out of sight, and she stood behind a tree, taking deep breaths. Then she turned and came back to the sand. It was almost like she had to prepare herself for someone being nice to her.

"Why are you staring at me like you just saw a ghost man?" He grinned.

"That's how she was when I met her. She walked behind a tree, breathing deep. Like she had to prepare herself for someone being nice and caring about her. It took me a long time when we were kids to understand her. She wouldn't come around for a while if I was like, too nice to her. It was weird. I had to like treat her like one of the guys for a while before she could deal with me being nice to her." I laughed.

"Think that's why she won't come around now? She got too close to us or something?" He asked.

"I think some of it is. Yeah, I do. It's because everything nice in her life got taken away. Me included." Fuck! I know what she's doing now.

"She's pushing everyone away. Me, Jo, you guys. She's scared. Terrified actually if she is pushing Jo and Blake away even." I could tell Corey knew what I was talking about.

"So we don't let her." He smiled at me. Oh did I laugh on that one. "What?"

"How the fuck are any of us going to do that?" I asked him desperately.

"How much of a pain in the ass can we all be, Sid? How persistent can you or I be?" He asked.

"Good point. I don't want her pissed at anyone, but, she's barely come to the store even. I'm inviting everyone over to our place." I told him.

"Time out Sid!" He laughed, holding my shoulder so I couldn't run off. I eased back in the chair. "Think for just a minute on this, ok? She's gonna be really overwhelmed if everyone just shows up and you don't tell her. You tell her and she'll find something else to do or just leave. What about maybe starting with just one or two of us instead?" He suggested.

"Shit. I didn't think about that. If I'm not there, I'm not sure she'll let anyone inside. We do have a deck though." I grinned.

"Now you're thinking a little clearer. Doesn't matter if she lets us in or not. It's more of keeping her talking. Hanging out. She doesn't have to tell us her life story man. Just keep her from pushing us all out. Get what I'm saying?" He asked.

"Yes. I do. She needs to get the fuck out and do something. She's been leaving, not saying anything to me. Just up and gone. I followed her. Not that I don't trust her, just trying to figure out where she's at her in her head. She goes to the cemetery to see Cam and her mom. Never stays long. Then drives around aimlessly for a while. It's weird." I said shaking my head. Corey looked at me worried.

"Does she ever go past where Jo found her?" He asked. I sat thinking, and remembered she has each time. Not directly to that spot, but past a few times. Wait. A lot.

"Oh fuck!" I yelled jumping up. I started though Corey's house, and he's right behind me.

"Go to your house, I'll go down there. Same place we used to go drinking at right?" He yelled from his car. I nodded, pulling out of the drive way.

I drove as fast as I could home, and slammed the car in park. I got out running up the stairs. I unlocked the door, and Bones was sitting looking at me. I started looking around our place, not seeing anything a miss. I started to turn and walk to the door, when I noticed something on the table. I walked over and felt my heart drop into my stomach. It was her bracelets. Every single one of them. I ran to the bathroom, digging around for any blades she may have had. I didn't find any. I sighed, looking down in the trash can, and saw an empty box of razor blades. I felt like puking right then. I looked on the shelf, and saw the ring I gave her, and I almost lost my shit right there.

I ran out of our place and called Corey as I got in the car. "She's not here. She's down there. She took off her bracelets. All of them. Her ring. She's got razor blades, I know she does." I almost sobbed.

"Sid, I'm down here. So is she. She's sitting on the cement wall. She's not doing anything. What do you want me to do?" He asked quietly.

"Talk to her. Leave your phone on so I know what's going on. I can be there in ten minutes." I said.

"Ok." I heard his phone shuffle around, and heard him walking. "Hey Gemma."

"What...what are you doing here?" I could tell she's been crying from the sound of her voice.

"Just driving around. Why are you by yourself?" He asked. It was silent. "You alright? Haven't seen ya in a while."

"Um. Yep. I'm good." I could hear her sniffle.

"Whats going on Gemma? I mean what's really going on?" He asked in a very gentle tone.

"Corey, if this some fucking game you are doing to try and fuck me, I'll punch you." I had to hold back a laugh. I heard Corey chuckle slightly.

"Gemma, it's not. I promise you. Just talk to me ok? I know shits been fucked up between us, but you aren't ok. I'm worried. Please?" He asked. I heard her fucking lose it and start sobbing, making my heart feel like it's being ripped out.

"I can't. I just can't." She wept.

"You can. It's ok. Whatever it is. I don't think differently of you for whatever it is, ok?" He said quietly

"Maybe you won't. Sid will." She said, as I wiped my own eyes.

"I don't think he will. That dude is so in love with you. I mean that. He talks non stop about you. What are you so scared of him knowing?" He asked.

"I know he knows already." She sobbed. My heart did break hearing that. "I can tell. I don't want him to know what happened that night, and he knows!"

"Ok, ok. Hey, whatever it was that did happen, it hasn't changed how either of you feel about each other, right?" I heard him say. I am bawling like a fucking two year old now.

"See?" He said. She must of shook her head at him. "Why don't you give me this. Please?" It was quiet and then I heard, "Thank you. Gemma, you don't have to tell me anything. But, you need to tell Sid. Please. He's worried sick."

"I know. I don't want him upset." She sniffled.

"He won't be upset with you. He won't. I'm gonna be honest, because I don't think you need me lying to you. Sid's on his way here. He's on the phone right now. Please don't get mad. We both were worried." Oh fuck. I know he doesn't want her surprised when I show up, but...yikes!

"I didn't figure you were in the neighborhood Corey. You suck at fucking lying." She said. I heard him laugh, and she gave a half laugh.

"Want to tell him over the phone? Might be easier." He offered.

"Sid, you already know what happened. I'm sorry." She said, crying again. I did let out a sob this time. I turned the corner that leads to the road of where she was, knowing it was another few minutes before I would make it to her on that long country road.

"Who was the guy that night Gemma?" He asked her. "Was it him?" She cried harder this time. That was my answer. It was. "Come here, ok? It's gonna be alright. I swear it will be." I could just hear her crying. "Remember when I told you it gets better? This will too. You have to believe that."

I finally reached them, and saw both of them sitting on the cement wall. She was holding on to Corey sobbing her heart out, as he held on to her. That was the longest drive of my life. I parked and got out, walking towards them. She didn't look up at me, but Corey did.

"Gemma, Sid's here. You guys need to talk ok?" He said to her. She nodded, as he hugged her tight, before they both let go. He grabbed his phone, and the blade, getting off the wall. He walked up to me, and patted me on the shoulder. "She needs you now more than ever, man. Go on. I'll call you later." He said, walking past me.

"Corey." I said, making him turn around. We grinned and nodded at each other as be got in his car. I walked up to Gemma, and she looked up at me, still crying.

"Come here, baby." I said, holding my arms out to her. I helped her off the wall, and held her so tight, I was afraid I may hurt her. "Gemma, it changes nothing. I mean that. You need to tell me what happened, ok?"

I didn't let go of her. I looked around, and realized she didn't have her car. Fuck! I was so worried about her, I walked past her fucking car at home, not paying any attention to it, until now. Jesus, I can't believe she walked all the way here.

"Lets go home, ok? I don't want to see this place again." I said. She nodded and we walked to the car. We drove home in silence. As we were about half way there, I felt her grab hold of my hand and not let go. I brought our hands up and kissed the top of her hand, not letting go. We made it home and inside, I walked us to our bedroom and we both laid down facing each other.

"Babe. Think of this as a band aid you don't want to tear off. Kinda pull real quick and it will come off and it won't hurt as much as it would if you slowly pulled it off. Know what I mean?" She looked at me and giggled, making me smile.

"You have some weird thoughts about things Sid. But, I get what you mean. We only talk about this today, then never again. Please?" She asked. I nodded. "I'm not getting into specifics on certain stuff-" I stopped her.

"Band aid. Just tell me and it's done. Then we don't have to talk about unless you want to." I said. She sat up, which made me sit up too.

"What I told you before was true. The part about Jo, never happened. The guys friend took off. The guy in the store, had a gun." She said looking at me. I felt dizzy, hearing that. "He had it to my head, while he did what he wanted to me, for a long time. He hit me some more when he was done. I studied his face the entire time. I knew every freckle, scar, and line of his face. I made sure I did." I am gonna puke. I am trying to keep my shit together for her. I really am. Motherfucker!

"I thought he looked familiar. I couldn't quite place where I'd seen him before. It hit me when I went back to work at the bar a few months later, after I had healed up. He was a customer. One that blended in with the crowd. I acted like I didn't know who he was. This was over a year ago that I finally figured out how I knew him. So, when I saw him, I kept tabs on him. I followed him sometimes after I got done. I'd watch him. I knew where he lived, and his day to day routine." She looked at me.

"What was your plan? Kill him?" I asked feeling my anxiety rising more.

"Nope. What I did a few weeks ago. Kick his ass. Make sure he never forgot what he did to me. Because I won't forget what he did. So, for over a year, I waited. Setting the bait I knew he'd take."

"Like what?" I'm not sure I like this.

"Flirting mainly. When I was up there dancing, this makes me sick thinking about it, but I'd look at him. That kinda shit. Never got close enough for him to touch me. So, he asked me out. I turned him down. He repeatedly asked me out, and I'd always say no. It upset him and I knew it would. Before you got back that night, I saw him at the store. I knew it wasn't going to be long before he'd do something. I knew he followed me that night. I sat and waited. He showed up. You know the rest. You saw it." She finished. I sat staring in disbelief. What in the actual fuck!

"What the fuck Gemma?!" I yelled. "What the fuck has Mikey been teaching you?! Fuck!" She looked at me and sighed.

"Sid, that motherfucker took something I will never get back. Ever. He destroyed part of me. He doesn't get away that easy." She said to me. "Know how scared I was to be alone, or sleep, or fucking leave here? I would shake if I had to be alone. So do NOT sit here and judge me about what I did." She said in a low voice.

I have no right whatsoever to judge what she did. I would of stalked this asshole myself if I'd of known. "So why did you tell the cops you didn't know him?"

"Think I'm gonna admit any of that shit that happened to me? Fuck that. The legal system is broken, and I'm not having my life under a microscope so some Dickhead lawyer can bring up my shitty life. No way." She said.

"Yeah, but he's gonna come back Gemma. He's pissed now." I told her. She laughed and shook her head.

"He's gone, Sid. He found out who I was and bailed. Like faster than Mikey could find him." She said seriously.

"You told him? Jesus Gemma! He would or could of killed him!" I yelled.

"Trey said no one could find this dude. Know why?" She asked me. "The next day when he woke up at the hospital, he left. Didn't check out. Just gone. Ask Blake if you don't believe me. Trey said it looked like someone had been in the guys house, grabbed a a few things and bailed. He's gone Sid. With his jaw wired shut even." She said. "I told Mikey that the guy needed to leave the state and never come back. That's all I told him. I've never asked Mikey to do anything like that, and never will again." She said. She looked down, and leaned her head into her hand, as she propped her elbow on her leg. "I fucked up Sid. I never should of talked to that guy." She said sobbing.

"Baby, don't do that. You didn't ask for it. He had no right. Come here." I said holding her in my lap.

"I feel guilty about what I did. It's killing me, Sid. I should of done it the right way. Not like Mikey. I'm no better than him." She cried.

"Hey. Stop that shit right now." I said making her look at me. "You are better than that. I know Mikey's all ya got, and he's been good to ya. Gemma, I don't blame you for what you did. Not a bit. I'm surprised, but I don't blame you." I said. She smiled softly at me.

"Is it bad that I'm kinda proud of what you did and jealous that I didn't get to do that?" I asked, making her giggle.

"Sid, I'm sorry about today and how I've been. It was a lot to take in again. I had so much guilt for what I did and what happened, I couldn't take it anymore." She said tearfully. I nodded.

"Baby, you have to talk to me about things like that. I was scared to death. I don't want you feeling like that. Let me in on stuff ok?" I asked. She nodded. "Look, Gemma. It's my turn to come clean about some stuff, and I get it if you hate me and kick my ass after. But, let me talk first, ok?"

I told her how Corey and I had figured out something had already happened. How I had told Corey about some of her tragic life. How he got pissed at me for drinking vodka and saying I was leaving her. How he was the one I'd been going to for advice. Yeah, I threw it all out there for her. A few times, I was certain I would get my teeth knocked out, but she didn't. She stared at me after I rambled on for a good twenty minutes, not saying anything to me.

"I see. Anything else?" She asked.

"The night I showed up here, Mikey just gave the address to me. I did the DJ stuff for fun." I grinned slightly.

"Uh huh. I see." She said, looking away.

"Um, babe?" I asked, raising my eyebrows at her unsure if she mad at me.

"Sid, shut it. I'm trying to take this all in." She hissed at me. Oh sweet mother of God, I am dead. So dead, they'll have to bury me twice. I sighed looking down. We sat for a long time in silence. "Is that really it, Sidney?" Yep. Call the morgue. Dead.

"Yes. Well, today. But you already knew that." I whispered.

"Well. That's some shit, Sidney. It really is. Do not tell Corey what I told you. I'll do it myself. He might as well know the fucking rest, because I know you'll tell him." She said to me. She has a poker face right now. I can't read into this at all. "He might as well hear it from me this time. Let's get it all on the fucking table, so there aren't any more secrets."

"Babe, you don't need to. I can-" And her eyes said it all. I stopped talking.

"No. I will handle it. Got it? You breathe a word about Mikey looking for this guy, and I will punch you Sid." She's calming down. I'm not Sidney anymore. That's a good sign. I nodded to her.

"Gem, I'm sorry. I am. I needed help and didn't know who to turn to." I told her.

"I know. Which is why you are still sitting here with all your teeth." She grinned at me.

"I love you, baby." I smiled at her. She laughed and rolled her eyes at me. "The eye roll? Really?" I smiled, moving closer to her. "Still ticklish?" Her eyes got huge and she went to jump up and I tackled her playfully, making us laugh. I was laying on top of her smiling at her. "Thank you. For telling me. I love you." She pulled me down, kissing me hard. "Mmmhmm. Really love you." I mumbled against her mouth.

She smiled against my lips, then tugged gently on my bottom lip. "Oh yeah?" I asked, leaning my head back slightly to look at her. I felt her fingertips run lightly under my shirt, trailing slowly down my sides. We haven't been together in a month, with everything that's gone on. I'm dying. For real.

She smiled at me, leaning up to leave a slow trail of kisses down my neck, her tounge running gently over my skin as she did. "I've missed you." She whispered in my ear, as her teeth grazed my ear lightly, making me shiver.

"Gemma, I've missed you so much." I said, kissing my way down her neck. I felt her legs go around my waist. I moved further down, lifting her shirt up, reaching under her to undo her bra. I pulled them both off, and ran my tounge just barely over her nipple, making her gasp. I did it again, watching her breathing get faster with anticipation. I leaned down, slowly closing my mouth over it, running my tounge across her skin, then sucking gently.

"Sid." She whispered, her fingernails running over my neck lightly. I moved up, leaning down and kissing her gently. I heard her moan as my tounge met hers. She was pulling my shirt up, and I pulled away, taking it off, then went right back to her lips. She leaned back, kissing my neck, running her tounge down to my chest. She was sucking lightly in spots, her teeth dragging over my skin.

"I need you Gemma." I whispered in her ear, as I nipped lightly at her neck. I moved my mouth over her nipple, sucking gently, while my fingers ran over the other. I heard her moan again, as I added more pressure as I moved my mouth to her other one. "I want you so bad, baby." I whispered out to her.

"I want you Sid. Right now." She whispered. That's all I needed to hear. I stripped the rest of our clothes off, slowly thrusting into her, making us both moan. I moved slowly, realizing how badly I have missed her, and how much I am in love with her.

"I love you." I said, hearing her gasp as I moved. She looked at me and pulled me to her lips, kissing me deeply, yet almost gentle. It was amazing to say the least.

"I love you." She whispered back to me, as we held each other close. Her legs were back around me, moving just enough every time I moved, pulling me into her a little more each time. Her nails ran down my back with slightly more pressure this time, making me tense more.

I gripped her hip, and felt my fingers digging into her slightly. "Gem, oh my god I've wanted you so bad." God, have I ever. I heard her moan louder, feeling her hips moving under me, making it impossible for me to go slow. Its an instant turn on to me when she does that. I felt myself giving in, and moving faster. "That feels good baby." I panted out to her.

She pulled me in more with her legs, and I felt her fingers gripping my hair harder. "Faster, baby. Please don't stop." She begged me. I felt her biting more at my chest, making it harder for me to control myself. Suddenly I felt her arch into me more, and gasp loudly. "Oh god. Right there." She moaned, moving harder against me. I felt her bite my neck harder, and then she arched hard into me me and tensed, moaning over and over.

I lost it, feeling her do that. I moved hard and fast, feeling my body tense hard. "God, I'm gonna cum. Oh fuck!" I growled, as pushed into her hard, and felt my body tense even harder against her. I panted, but leaned down, kissing her with as much love and as much passion as I could put into it. She held me tighter against her. We finally pulled away and smiled at each other. I moved laying next to her, holding her.

We laid in silence for the longest time. I swear it was close to an hour. "Gemma?" She peaked her head up at me. "I need to ask you a few things. I just need to know and I don't know why, so don't get mad at me, ok?" She looked down and nodded.

"Does Jo and Blake really know what happened to you that night?" I asked. She sat up and grabbed our clothes. Yeah, I guess I should of waited to ask. Damn! After we got dressed, we sat in the bed and she sighed.

"Sid, you really won't like this, but if you really want to hear why they know, I'll tell you." She said not looking at me.

"Yeah. Did you call them to take you to the hospital?" I asked. She shook her head.

"I made them come here. I wasn't going to the hospital to hear how I somehow asked for it. I also needed stitches." She looked at her hands. She should of just gone to the...Oh.My.God.

"Gemma, wait....like what...are you....." She just nodded. I don't know what to say. What the fuck? "So Blake? He, uh. You let him..." I am not saying it. I fucking can't. I don't even know how I feel about this right now. She wouldn't look at me. "Why not just go and have a female maybe do that?" Not sure why I'm so freaked about Blake doing this.

"Because I didn't trust anyone touching me after Sid. Sorry if it bothers you, but I did what was right for me at the time." She said not looking at me. "You think Blake wanted to see me like that or do that for me? No. He couldn't look me in the eyes for six months after. Sorry if it bothers you. But you asked." She sounded mad at me almost.

"No. Gemma. I'm surprised is all. I'm sorry. I am. I'm glad they could help, I really am. Do they know you followed this guy like you did?" I asked. She nodded.

"Who do you think went with me most times? Jo did. Plus he carries a gun on him all the time, so I wasn't worried." She said looking up. Wait?! What!!

"Huh!?" I yelled.

"Yeah. His dad used to be a cop. Got his conceal carry as soon as he could. He's always got it. He just doesn't show it off." She shrugged.

"For real? He really does?" He doesn't seem like he would be the type to carry, but I am wrong. Very wrong.

"He wasn't always a good guy Sid. He's been in a lot of trouble before we met. Always managed to get out of it because of his dad. He had changed alot after he met Blake. He's a good guy, but I feel for someone if they ever piss him off." She told me. I just can't see it. He's such a nice guy, and so fucking mellow.

"Jesus Christ. And so, Jo and Blake approved of what you were doing?" I can't believe this. It doesn't seem real to me.

"No. But they knew I'd do it anyways, so Jo came with to make sure I was safe. They hated it, but also knew I couldn't let it go. I just couldn't Sid. I just didn't mean for it to go this far in all honesty." She said quietly.

I am seriously a cross between awe and shock right now. I don't even know how to process this. She was getting revenge one way or another. I mean don't get me wrong, this fucker had it coming to him, he really did. But, the fact that she thought this out and watched him, and lured him in, is rather unsettling to me. I think it is to her too, and she's struggling to come to terms with how much it bothers her. I believe reality set in for her, which led her to where she was today. The guilt was eating her up, and she's never, ever kept anything from me. This was killing her inside and out.

"Gemma, I am not judging you for any of the choices you made. I'm really not. What scares me, is the fact that the guilt is eating you up. It led you to what happened today. Nothing in this life is so bad that you need to feel like you have to end it." I said, making her look at me. "Nothing. You can't do this again. If you feel this bad, you need to talk to me, or the guys or Jo. You can't hold on to this again."

She wiped her eyes and really looked at me. I could tell I got through to her by what I had said. She nodded, closing her eyes. She opened them, staring at me sadly.

"I've always loved you Gemma. I know I fucked up and wasn't there for you before. I can't change it. I wish I could, but I can't. But, I can promise you, I will always be here for you from now on. I'm never going anywhere again." I said softly to her. She nodded at me.

"You, Corey and I all need to figure out what to tell the others. They have been asking who this guy is, and I keep telling them I'm not sure. We can leave it like that, but I don't want any of us having the wrong story. Understand?" I told her.

"I don't know what to say if they ask Sid. I don't. I don't want Corey saying a word about today to anyone. That's why I need to talk to him." She said to me. 

"I know he's been an asshole before, but this is different and he knows that. He does. He does actually care. I know I told you to stay back from him, but as fucked as this sounds, you and him have way more in common than you think." I watched as she looked at me confused.

"Sid, I don't need to compare scars with anyone. I don't need anyone being too close to me." She said. Bingo! Score one for Sid! I knew she's been pushing them all away.

"Ok, this isn't like when we were kids and you had to keep everyone away from your family. They know about all that Gem. They don't care either. All those guys feel kinda hurt that you're avoiding them. Alex especially." I told her. She looked surprised.

"Really? I didn't think they cared that much." She said looking away.

"You know they do and that's why you're avoiding them. You know it." I grinned at her.

"Fuck. Goddamit Sid!" She growled as I laughed. "You know I dont get close. It always gets fucked up."

"It won't unless you keep doing this." I smiled at her.

"How do I fix it?" She sighed at me.

"Don't be an asshole for starters." I laughed as she smiled at me. "We talk to Corey first. Then make an appearance. Treat them like you always have. Then don't shut them out anymore."

"Fuck. Fine. I need to fix this. Let's go do it now before I change my mind." She grinned. "I need a shower first." She said getting up. I got up following her to the bathroom. She turned and laughed, "What are you doing?"

"Conserving water. Showering with a friend." I smiled, taking my shirt off. She laughed as she started the shower.