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

“Oh, you guys don’t do that here?”

“No, we wait until the second batch of snow. It’s good luck.”

Gabrielle put her tongue back in her mouth and stuffed her hands in her sweatpants pocket. She felt the cool draft sneak into the exposed parts of her body. Becca pulled Gabrielle into a warm hug and kissed her forehead.

“You’re so underdressed. Come here and snuggle with Beccy the Big Bear.”

Gabrielle snuggled her head into the crook of Becca’s neck, resting on her shoulder and they walked together back to their hotel.

“You’ll be alright, okay? Everything will be fine.”

Gabrielle sighed in content with Becca’s comment trusting that there was some truth to it.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Meredith felt like this entire time she was drowning, that someone was holding her down and no matter how hard she kicked and screamed, trying to reach her head above water, someone kept pushing her down further. Meredith just wanted to be able to breathe; she wanted to take a deep breath and let the oxygen fill her lungs. She was tired of feeling like shit. Something needed to be done. Something needed to be done. Something needed to be- -

Meredith grunted when she woke up. She rolled over and saw that Keliah hadn’t showed up for the second day. Meredith looked outside her window and saw that the sky was a dark grey and it was slightly raining. A small, barely noticeable smile appeared on Meredith’s lips. Meredith was glad that Mother Nature had presented herself in Meredith’s favor. It hadn’t rained in months. Meredith slipped on her soccer sweatpants and a red sweatshirt with a pair of running shoes; tied her hair into a high ponytail and off she was. She listened to soft steady music that matched the rhythm of the rain and shoved her hands into her pocket as she skateboarded to the soccer field. The rain had stopped by the time she arrived but the grass was still damp. Meredith turned her music up louder in her ears so she wouldn’t have to listen to the annoying sound of her feet flicking a wet ball back and forth. She was in her zone, getting ready to beat her record of juggling when she felt someone tap her on the shoulder. Meredith trapped the ball and pulled her ear buds out of her ear. It was a Corey, a good friend of hers that she would spend time with outside of school.

“What?”

Meredith’s tone was laced with irritation. What the hell did he want?

“Hey,”

Corey smiled.

“Hi.”

“Why aren’t you in class?”

“I could ask the same thing.”

“Well, I was on my way but then I saw you. You always come to class.”

“There’s a first time for everything.”

“Right. So why aren’t you in class?”

“I just didn’t want to go today Corey, okay?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Something’s wrong. You’re never this…short with me.”

“Nothing Corey. I’m just really not in the mood today.”

“I know what will cheer you up. Come on.”

Corey yanked the ball from underneath Meredith’s foot, making Meredith grin. They both ran to the parking lot, Corey yanking Meredith’s lazy and reluctant body across the lot to his Jeep. Meredith rested her forehead on the window and watched as the clouds chased her. The clouds finally stopped when Corey parked his car into a sandy parking lot. The beach was practically empty except for a few strays hundreds of feet down the beach. Corey owned the little hut that sat on the beach that sold surfing gear. So he easily gave Meredith a wetsuit and a board.

“You can’t be serious. It’s like, five degrees in that water.”

Meredith couldn’t help but smile. Of course she still wanted try it out.

“Exactly, so when your ass falls you will have an excuse this time.”

Meredith and Corey laughed as they paddled their way out to the ocean. The wind was blowing and the waves were large. Meredith paddled further into the ocean just to show Corey that she wasn’t afraid.

“Showoff.”

Meredith waited patiently, riding small waves but she soon found a big wave to ride. Corey swam out towards her as they rode waves in silence. Meredith feeling free when she would stand up on her board and catch the wave from underneath her. With each success of catching a wave, Meredith and Corey would swim further out. Meredith decided that this was it, this next wave she was going to ride. It looked huge from far away and Meredith felt giddy inside as it approached closer to her. She paddled and began to stand up but lost control and crashed into the ocean. Meredith stayed underwater for a couple of seconds but came afloat, laughing with salt in her mouth.

“Ah, it stings!”

“Did you want me to get some goggles?”

Meredith laughed and rubbed her eyes furiously while using her other hand to splash water in Corey's face.

“Shut up!”

Meredith swam back to shore with Corey. The ocean was loud. No one spoke but the two just rested in the water, bodies being shifted to the left and right as they watched the scenery in front of them. The clouds had gotten dark, taking away the afar sight and with the effect of the rain, a light mist had floated in the sky. Meredith refused to blink so she wouldn’t miss any of nature’s beauty. Storing it in her head forever.