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

“We’re here.”

Georgia breathed.

Keliah removed her stuck forehead from the window and looked through the windshield to see a large building with flashy neon lights coming through the doors.

“What is this?”

“Ice Carving Festival.”

Before Keliah could respond, Georgia had already put her truck in park and was halfway to the door. Keliah rolled her eyes and almost had to sprint to catch up with Georgia’s wide gait. She tugged on her scarf, tightening it around her neck as a soft drift began to pick up.

There were laser lights of all hues resting on the ground, camera men running around everywhere and huge blocks of ice in the middle. The show inside was going to start in a couple of minutes, and it was crazy. However, Keliah was completely immune to chaos. She was too busy focused on all of the different ice sculptures of the Ukrainian Easter Egg, the Maple Leaf, and even a sculpture of Santa Claus and his reindeer.

“Whoa.”

Georgia bit back a smile, as she made it her focus to stay angry at Keliah.

“Come on. The real show is over here.”

***

 Georgia and Keliah walked around the large building, settling in a comfortable silence, their fingers slowly touching as they walked and gazed at the many ice sculptures. Keliah would quickly pull her hand away, fearing that Georgia would pull away first. Before Keliah could apologize, a green and red light scanned her face. The show was beginning. Crossing her arms, Georgia managed to simultaneously watch the show and Keliah’s facial expressions. She had seen the festival three times in a row before now but didn’t mind seeing it a forth if that meant Keliah being with her. Colorful lights poured into Georgia's dilated pupils as she settled into a pensive mood. Of course she was angry. Just not at Keliah. Georgia’s rooted choler was towards herself. Georgia had steel walls that were created, strengthened, and perfected over her life span, making them impenetrable to anyone’s touch. Keliah loved herself and others so wholly. Georgia just wished she could do the same.

Keliah tucked her arm in between Georgia’s to hold it, and rested her head on Georgia’s shoulder as she watched all the carvings float past her. Georgia, pulled out her desolating thoughts, jerked at the sudden contact but soon relaxed and placed her head on top of Keliah’s, a small smile resting on her lips.

“You like it?”

Georgia whispered.

“I love it.”

***

 “Jesus fuck it’s freezing.”

Keliah spoke into the frigid air. She stood by the door, her arms bundled underneath her chin as she tried to contain her shivering to a minimum. Georgia removed her jacket and threw it on the hook before walking in the back of the cabin. Keliah wasn’t sure if to follow or not so she stood by the fireplace, twiddling with her fingers.

“How’s that thumb?”

Georgia yelled from the bathroom. Keliah looked down and rubbed softly against the cut.

“Pretty good.”

Georgia came back into the room with a bandage and alcohol.

“Losing tendons isn’t attractive. Come here.”

Georgia motioned Keliah to sit on the couch next to her and to hold out her hand. She unwrapped the sticky band-aid before applying alcohol on the tender wound. Keliah hissed and tried to pull away but Georgia had a firm grip on her entire arm. Georgia looked up at Keliah to see her face wincing in pain and quickly put a gauge around her finger before pressing her lips softly against Keliah’s thumb. Keliah loosened the muscles in her face and retracted her arm slowly from Georgia’s grip.

“There. All better.”

 Georgia whispered. Keliah cleared her throat, rubbing the spot on her thumb where Georgia’s lips just were. Georgia rubbed her thighs with her hands before patting them.

“I um, I’ll make something warm.”

“I’ll help this time. I promise not to get cut.”

Georgia smirked to herself on her way to the kitchen. Keliah shooed her out of the way and knelt down to grab a small sauce pan from underneath the kitchen counter.

“Aren’t you tired of the same Cinnamon Apple Spice tea every single day?”

Georgia raised a perfectly trimmed eyebrow stared at Keliah with a bemused expression.

“What is this? An advertisement...No, that’s why I drink it."

“Not today. We’re making hot cocoa.”

“You are.”

Georgia turned around to grab her box of tea out of the cabinet when Keliah quickly grabbed the box out of Georgia’s hand. Keliah stepped backwards as Georgia began reaching for the box of tea.

Georgia laughed, running a hand through her hair.

“Oh my god, Keli just give me my tea!”

Keliah held hope’s spice up to her face and grinned.

“No. We are making hot cocoa. You’re gonna love it. Allow your taste buds to take a break from those infused leaves.”

Georgia paused and smirked, rolling her eyes at the fact that she even considered thinking about it.

“Fine! Fine. You have to clean up the kitchen, though.”

“Deal."

Keliah grinned before grabbing the milk out of the refrigerator and a pouring it into the bowl. Georgia stood behind her, watching.

“We have to add about a half a cup of water so the milk doesn’t scorch."

Georgia nodded in agreement, and watched in amazement how comfortable Keliah was in the kitchen.

“Most people skip salt because they think it’s like disgusting but really, the salt is what makes it tastes sweeter and makes the chocolate taste richer. So I’m just gonna add about 1/8 of—Georgia are you listening? You need to know this stuff.”

Georgia nodded and hummed quietly in response. Keliah noticed that she only had Georgia’s divided attention but she continues.

“Damn, I’m guessing you don’t have any espresso in here. You know your tea is becoming a bad habit. I think it’s about time you convert to coffee."

Keliah was in the middle of pouring the cocoa