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

 “Who?”

“Meredith is dating some hot professor. How am I supposed to compete with her. She has three books published, won the Pulitzer prize in 2008 and is the most well respected professor on campus.  Jesus, who’s that perfect?

“Gabrielle, sweetheart. The Professor and I are dating. And she’s just as perfect as you say.”

“Oh, so I was never good enough for a threesome but she is!”

“Me and Meredith aren’t sharing her. Ew. She’s mine. Her and Meredith just connect on a spiritual poetry level or whatever. You know how every professor fawns over her old soulness.”

 “Oh.”

Gabrielle exhaled and walked towards the kitchen to make herself some tea. She reached in the pantry and grabbed two bags of Chai placing them in a mug. Keliah knew Meredith was going to be coming back soon and she didn’t want any trouble, but since day one, she had immediately taken Meredith’s side and didn’t give Gabrielle a chance, so she felt bad.

"I’m sorry for being a shitty best friend. I guess I was angry for you leaving and breaking the trio, but I didn't know any of this shit was gonna happen, Gaby. You’re miserable and so is Meredith and I mean, can you two ever go back to normal? I want you to, believe me, but I think it’s time to leave well enough alone.”

“Don’t you think I know that!”

Seeing Meredith with Georgia wasn’t that surprising to Gabrielle. It had been two years and time is the healer of all things, but Gabrielle loved Meredith almost like it was an obsession. She had written in her diary so many times what color dress she would wear at her wedding, where their honeymoon would be, how she would propose. Gabrielle was a planner. She had this entire life set out for the two of them, and to not have Meredith apart of any of it, she might as well end her life now. Perhaps it was fear that kept Gabrielle hanging on, hoping Meredith and her would get back together but deep down, Gabrielle had never loved anyone as much as she loved Meredith.

“Well, Gabrielle. What the hell are you going to do? Meredith seems pretty adamant about not getting back together.”

“Why, she’s seeing someone else?”

“No, because we’re rolling up on three years since you left. Life is short and Meredith won’t wait for you forever. That wouldn’t be fair to her.”

Gabrielle nodded, she knew all of that. That’s why she came back to the United States. She didn’t know what she was going to do to make Meredith forgive her but she was hoping was just as forgiving as her Lord and Savior.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Keliah had been acting strange as of late. When she attended Georgia’s class, she was always late and empty handed. Georgia had gone several mornings without tea and it was beginning to grow concerned why the young woman was occupied so much that she forgot her signature breakfast. What really worried Georgia was when Keliah called Georgia to pick her up in the middle of the night, never explaining the reason behind it. They rode in silence and when they got back to her house, Keliah simply took off her jeans and sweater in front of Georgia’s bed and went straight to sleep. Now it was approaching noon and the young defender was still sleeping. Georgia sat on the edge of her bed, sipping tea out of the green mug Keliah had gotten her for Christmas.

 It’s Kelly Green like the color, but also because of my name!

 Keliah had explained when Georgia had pulled a solid mug from underneath the tree. It was the most beautiful gift Georgia had ever received and yet so plain and ugly.

 She continued to watch Keliah sleep for a while longer; her arm tucked underneath the pillow she lay on while the other rested in between her thighs before she got agitated. She poked Keliah’s shoulder with her index finger until a groan of frustration escaped her lips. Keliah’s brows knitted together before she fluttered her eyes open.

“What do you want?”

Georgia smiled into her mug before responding.

“Why are you here?”

“Fine, I’ll leave.”

“You know that’s not what I meant. Why’d you call me to come get you from your apartment last night? Is everything ok?”

“I like your place better.”

Keliah shrugged nonchalantly, sitting up and placing her back on the headboard.

“I know my bed is comfortable, but really? You called at two in the morning just to spend the remainder of your sleep in this?

Keliah nodded and Georgia placed her mug down on the dresser before scoffing.

“Keli, come on. What’s the matter?”

Keliah immediately averted her sight from Georgia’s eyes to the white plush comforter, twiddling her thumbs, a nervous habit that Georgia picked up on a few months prior.

“I can’t sleep.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I haven’t slept in days. I’m…I’m stressed.”

“About?”

Keliah looked at Georgia for a moment, her eyes telling her things her lips didn’t necessarily want to say yet.

“Forget it.”

Keliah crawled to Georgia, circled her arms around her neck and sat in her lap, hoping Georgia would drop the whole thing, but it was Georgia. Keliah should’ve known better.

“Don’t tell me you are building walls around yourself! I thought that was my thing.”

Georgia softly joked, hoping to encourage Keliah. Keliah pushed herself off Georgia and grabbed a pair of pajama pants that lay on the floor before walking downstairs into the kitchen. Georgia immediately followed. Keliah stood on the tips of her toes to reach for a coffee mug in Georgia’s cupboard.

“I don’t know