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

Keliah turned around and her smile expanded from ear to ear.

“What? What’d she say!”

“She said that she couldn’t believe that you and I were friends because I’m so awesome and you’re not.”

Keliah’s face dropped.

“She did not say that.”

“She said something close to it.”

Meredith laughed.

“She said that it was weird for us being friends because we were so different from each other.”

“Like I said Mer, opposites attract. And even Professor Kerouac sees that. I have a chance.”

“I don’t think that applies to you and her.”

“Sure, whatever. Professor Kerouac and I will be together.”

Meredith laughed.

“You’re so stupid.”

Keliah grinned before it slowly faded away as she realized why Meredith hadn't come back right after her class. She mindlessly played with the thread of her satin pillow.

“Are you prepared to see her?”

Meredith didn’t have to ask whom Keliah was talking about. She scrolled through the apps through her phone, avoiding eye contact. The discussion of Gabrielle always made the two awkward.

“I don’t know. I don’t think there’s a book on how to prepare yourself for seeing your ex.”

Meredith grimaced as the word ex slid off of her tongue. It felt disgusting to say. Like using the Lord’s name in vain.

“Are you nervous about her coming?”

Meredith felt her heart sink. The thought of being in the same breathing air as Gabrielle frightened the shit out of Meredith.

“I don’t know, dude. I am, but at the same time, I want to see her but I feel like I shouldn’t, after all she’s done.”

“It’s okay. That’s normal. You will always love her."

I will always love you.

CHAPTER FOUR

Keliah tapped her foot, waiting impatiently in line of the cafe to purchase her and Professor Kerouac's coffee. She looked at her phone. It was 7:48. Her class began at 8:00. There were three people in front of her and they could not have ordered any slower. What the hell was possibly taking so long? There was only coffee and stale muffins; not really a lot of options to choose from.

"Excuse me, is there a second register we can use?"

Keliah announced with irritability clearly visible in her tone. Sure enough everyone turned around to glare at her but she didn't care. She just gave them a glare back. She was right. Coffee shouldn't take this long.

"Whatever."

She said under her breath before walking out of the coffee shop empty handed for the first time. Keliah walked fiercely back on campus towards Georgia. She clenched her jaw, irritated at the fact that her morning had already started off shitty and it wasn't even eight o'clock and the fact that she couldn't get Georgia's coffee. She had been bringing Georgia coffee every day since the beginning of last semester. What would Georgia say if she showed up empty handed. That had become her job and the coffee shop had to mess up everything. Keliah rolled her eyes as her thoughts ran wild and opened the door to her English class. Georgia was in there as usual reading Book of Haikus. Keliah didn't bother saying good morning; she just went straight for her seat in the first row.

"What? No coffee?"

Georgia never took her eyes off of her computer but she smirked and Keliah caught it, and couldn't help the corners of her lips curve upwards, suddenly forgetting she had an attitude.

"But—you don't like coffee."

"So you stop bringing it to me? Ouch Keliah. I thought that was our tradition."

Georgia now looked at Keliah with a full fledged grin making Keliah blush. She tried to keep her focus on her professor but she was a little stunned at how they were having a normal conversation that didn't involve discussing what Keliah did behind closed doors in her bedroom.

"No, it's not that—it's just everyone was so late today at the cafe and I got upset."

Keliah's heart was racing now. Georgia looked at her with intent as she spoke, as if she actually cared. She never did that. Keliah was usually so focused on trying to impress Georgia that they never did have a normal conversation but they were now and that was frightening. She didn't know what to say or how to acts her cheeks felt like they were on fire and her body felt incredibly tingly. She just couldn't control herself. It was weird seeing her professor not be a total bitch when that was her normal disposition.

"So someone has a temper?"

Georgia smirked. Georgia was teasing Keliah and Keliah felt like her face might just fall off from being so red hot.

"Um, no. I don't—or maybe I do...I just—"

Keliah gulped quickly.

"I like bringing you coffee."

"And why is that?"

Georgia stood up and walked over to Keliah's desk. She stood tall while Keliah's writhe body sunk lower into her seat, Georgia using her height as an advantage.

"Uh, I don't really know. I'm sorry I guess."

"No need to be sorry."

Georgia knelt down so she was at Keliah's eye level. Her tone was so sweet and soft it made Keliah want to cry.

"I actually am a tea person. Chamomile to be exact."

"Chamomile it is then."

Keliah smiled and Georgia walked back to her seat. Georgia had gone home the other day after her encounter with Keliah feeling terrible about the way she