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

Meredith smiled. She had forgotten about Gabrielle and herself for once and just enjoyed what was happening in the moment, something she hadn’t been able to do in a long time.

“Actually, I am. Thanks.”

Meredith’s stomach grumbled and Corey laughed at her.

“We have twin stomachs! Come on, let’s eat.”

Meredith dried her hair with a towel Corey provided for her and changed back into her dry clothes before they headed back to the café. Corey and Meredith sat across from each other at the booth as they sipped hot tea, letting the liquid warm their bodies and heart as it traveled down their throat.

“Ouch, did the board hit you?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve got a gash on your nose.”

Meredith felt her nose and saw that there was a tiny amount of blood and the pain began to kick in.

“Ah, yeah. Must have.”

“I’ll get you a napkin.”

Corey dapped the bridge of Meredith’s nose and watched as she flinched when the napkin made contact with her cut.

“You’re such a little girl. Be still.”

“Okay, okay. I think it’s clean now.”

Meredith pushed his hand away from her nose and they continued to drink in silence.

“I’m glad to see you smile again. I missed that cute smile of yours.”

“Well you were lucky to see it today. Thanks.”

“Why have you been so down lately?”

“A lot of stuff has gone wrong in my life, and I just wanna have something right for once.”

“Meredith Compton, always so discreet.”

“Sorry, but it’s just too deep to get into. I don’t want to drown you.”

“I understand. Well I made you smile, so my mission for the day is accomplished. You know finals are coming up, probably not the best day to skip class. Now you owe me since I took the time to make you happy.”

“Don’t worry. Finals are always the easiest.”

“Says queen dork over here.”

“They really are dude, you just have to study.”

“So tutor me.”

“Fine. But I need pay.”

“Okay, a cent an hour.”

“How about five?”

“Deal.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Georgia jolted straight up in her bed, eyes wide and mind in total disarray as she looked around searching for where the familiar cacophonous tune came from. It was the alarm she had set several months back for this so-called special day. The clock sat on the floor and Georgia hit it with her foot to make it stop. She sat on the edge of her bed; shoulders slumped as she fought the need to cry. She walked over to her large window and closed the blinds, reprimanding the sun for blinding her and making her head throb even more. She turned around to her bed to find it cold, wrinkled and empty. Georgia grunted, not wanting to think the obvious and stumbled to the bathroom to take a hot bath. She waited patiently on the edge of the tub, pouring bath salts in the tub as the water filled up before turning the knob and carefully dipping her foot in the water to test the temperature. When her body adjusted to the heat, she slipped her full body into the tub. An outbreak of goosebumps erupted on top of her skin and Georgia shivered slightly. She tied her hair high up on her head so it wouldn’t get wet and ran her fingers under the water, creating circles. She stayed in the bath water until the water was a disturbing cold temperature and her fingers pruned. Georgia walked barefoot down the hall and the smell of food made her stomach grumble and the pain in her head subside. Keliah looked up to see Georgia walking down the steps, rubbing both of her eyes like a child and couldn’t help but smirk despite the situation.

“You made breakfast.”

Georgia announced to the downstairs level of her house as she walked down the steps. She wore a long white t-shirt of her father’s that came just above her knees and her hair fell messily on both sides of her shoulder.

“I thought you would be hungry.”

“You thought right.”

Georgia walked over to behind Keliah and rested her chin on Keliah’s shoulder, closing her eyes and inhaling the wonderful scent that sent a rush to her stomach. Keliah was careful not to spill pancake batter on herself or Georgia. But Georgia was just too damn close for Keliah's liking and she wasn't wearing any pants. Georgia walked around the kitchen counter and shielded her eyes from any light.

"Fuck, I have a headache."

She took a seat at the kitchen table and rested her forehead on the table. She pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. Keliah finished making the pancakes, pulled out the bacon and placed everything neatly on a plate for Georgia. Keliah had found some chamomile tea in Georgia's pantry; she had tons of it. Keliah laughed to herself when she thought about the days she used to bring Georgia coffee. Keliah placed Georgia's breakfast in front of Georgia and slid her two aspirins on a napkin. Georgia lazily downed the pills with a quick swallow of her tea. Keliah sat across from Georgia at the kitchen table and dug into her plate of food. She made herself something simple; an omelet. She didn't want to use up all of Georgia's groceries. Georgia’s pantry and fridge had