The Big Fish by Madison Henley (best free e reader .TXT) 📕

possible decision I could've made. I weighed my options, I did. I looked at the pros and cons and they all lead back to losing you and the love of my life forever. But you have to understand the opportunity I got, that wouldn't have ever come in my life again."

"I do understand that but you didn't even explain to Meredith why you were leaving. You broke up with her by way of a note that you left on what? The fucking coffee table. Do you understand how fragile that left her? I'm gonna forgive you because you seem like you're in a really shitty place right now but Meredith...you need to fix that. You're better than that."

Gabrielle blew out a shaky breath on the verge of tears. She just needed to go back to her life before all of this drama happened. Going out on her own to an entire other country at the tender age of eighteen was terrifying. Gabrielle wished several times that she could turn back time and make the decision of staying with Meredith, staying with her simple life, going to college and being a boring little girl in college. Not the face of women's soccer. She thought she was making a decision that was best for everyone. She left Meredith because she just didn't deserve someone as good and pure as her if she was going to leave her anyway once something better came along. The same for Keliah and she thought that playing soccer overseas would be better for her because the distance would make her stronger, clear her head, change her mind about it being the wrong decision but it only made her weaker, her thoughts constantly swirled fervidly in her brain and she still regretted ever going to Sweden in the first place.

"Hey,"

Keliah reached across the table, touching Gabrielle's hand softly, pulling her from her heavy thoughts.

"It's going to be okay. You're going to be fine. Just...listen to your heart this time. I better go. I have class at nine."

"It's eight twenty."

"Yeah, I know."

Gabrielle chuckled and cocked an eyebrow.

"I'll walk you."

They got their coffees to go and walked outside the coffee house.

"So when did you start drinking tea?"

Gabrielle had noticed Keliah had the warm cup of tea safely secured in the comfort of her hand and had not released it yet.

"I didn't. It's for my professor."

"You bring him tea?"

"Her."

Keliah corrected.

"Oh...oh. Oh my god. Keliah, do you have feelings for your professor?"

"Will you be quiet! She probably has secret TA's just following me. Someone could find out about us."

"You guys are dating!"

Gabrielle asked, in disbelief. Keliah relaxed before returning her voice to a normal noise level.

"Well, no. Not exactly. We're getting there. We are kind of that in that love hate stage right now."

"Okay...how does that work?"

"The feelings are there. It can't just be one sided but the anger that's directed towards be has me doubting otherwise."

"You know, from personal experience you may be on the end of that anger but you aren't exactly what's causing it."

Keliah was about to agree with Gabrielle when she saw Georgia laughing with Meredith through Georgia's classroom window.

What’s Meredith doing here?

“Oh, you and Meredith are in the same class.”

Gabrielle stated matter-of-factually. She began getting goosebumps on her neck. She wanted to talk to Meredith but she didn’t know it would be so soon. She wasn’t prepared. She needed time to get her words together, maybe even write down something on some note cards, but she couldn’t just do something in the spur of the moment.

“No, she has Professor Kerouac later this week. I don’t know what she’s doing here.”

Keliah watched Georgia as her face lighted up into a grin whenever Meredith said something. Georgia didn’t grin. She wasn’t capable. Why could Meredith make Georgia grin so easily without even trying? Keliah took in a deep breath and remained peeking through the small window in a trance. She would be lying if she said that in that second she was incredibly jealous of her best friend. Her temperature seemed to rise and her jaws automatically clenched, her eyes narrowed towards Meredith and she suddenly had an urge to do things that she would be put in an insane asylum for. Keliah walked in the classroom and put on a fake smile as her professor and best friend greeted her.

“I’ll see you later Professor. Hey Keli.”

Meredith gave her a nod before walking out of the classroom only to bump into a familiar face she wasn’t expecting. Meredith did well of hiding her shock. Her facial expression remained stoic. Gabrielle’s mind completely went blank and she swore her heart was coming through her throat. She stood there, facing Meredith, suddenly forgetting all of the English language.

“Hey Meredith!”

Gabrielle practically yelled in her face. She tensed up. Gabrielle paused and took a deep breath to clear her throat and to calm her nerves. She wiggled her fingers against her jeans.

Breathe.

“I was wondering if we could um, talk.”

Meredith's posture is ramrod straight, and Gabrielle is pretty sure that if looks could kill, she'd already be filleted.

"Would like for me to get you some pen and paper?"

Meredith spat sarcastically.

"So you can write a letter to me of how you feel and then run off to Sweden again?"

Meredith responded calmly, excusing herself past Gabrielle before Gabrielle turned around and shouted,

“Meredith, I’m sorry!”

Meredith rolled her eyes and turned around