The Big Fish by Madison Henley (the first e reader txt) 📗

didn’t have anything to distract her from what she was really feeling so she sat on her bed, heart racing from the events she would reoccur when she spoke them.

“Gabrielle…”

Becca interjected.

“Will you help me? Help me get enrolled to the camp? Maybe they teach arts and crafts and also how to get my girlfriend back.”

“Gabrielle, you’re going to be okay. The fizz has gone to your head. You need sleep. And when you have a wicked headache tomorrow and you’re in your right mind, we will discuss this serious matter.”

Gabrielle reluctantly let Becca tuck her into bed and kiss her forehead goodnight. Stacy turned off the florescent light and closed her eyes saying a quick prayer for Gabrielle.

***

Indeed Gabrielle did have a headache later that morning. She felt terrible and sick. When she woke up she groaned at the empty bottle sitting on the nightstand. It was the team’s day off but Gabrielle had spent most of it asleep. It was quarter past one when Gabrielle finally woke up and took a shower.

“Thought you had died.”

Gabrielle grinned as she walked out of the bathroom, drying her hair. Gabrielle and Becca took a stroll down to the breakfast bar. Becca suggested they take their coffee to-go and find a place with less chatting. They two women found themselves on a trail. The sky was cloudy and had an ominous threat for rain and most likely snow. Gabrielle sipped her coffee and thanked whoever was greater than her for the invention of it. What would she be without coffee? Gabrielle waited for Becca to break the silence. She couldn’t really remember how her night ended. She tried to differentiate on which events actually took place and what was all in her head. She remembered the mentioning of Meredith, a lot of crying, and a shit camp? Gabrielle prayed all of it was a dream.

“So, last night…”

“I’m sorry Beccy. I shouldn’t have dragged you into my complicated life.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m here to help.”

“You’re cool with me being, you know?”

“Of course. Do you not remember anything what I said last night?”

“I’m really trying not to.”

“Well If you did try, you would know about my secret girlfriend too. Kate ring any bells?”

“Yeah! Well congratulations and your secret is safe with me in case I didn’t say anything before.”

“You actually said the exact same thing the first time.”

“Oh.”

Becca in a way was like Gabrielle’s mentor. She was considerably older than Gabrielle and looked at her as a younger sister, someone to take under her wing. Gabrielle’s exterior may be the beautiful American girl whose face was on almost every Swedish publication in town but inside she was a deeply pained teenage girl that grew up too fast and was too naive to make life-threatening decisions. Of course playing the sport she loved had its benefits. When she would score a goal, and thousands of her fans would chant her name, Gabrielle would smile and look into the crowd. Her smile then only faded when she searched the crowd and remembered that her number one fan would never be there, cheering her on. She couldn’t fully enjoy herself without Meredith. Both their souls had fused into one, Gabrielle was longing for the rest of her soul. Gabrielle decided to really listen to Becca. It couldn’t hurt her more than she already was. Besides, Becca was older, she knew the way of the world, her advice was much needed.

“You love Meredith and you made a mistake. You’ve owned up to that mistake, and you are ready to fix that but maybe Meredith is quite ready yet. Your hurt her. You can’t put a time frame on how a person is going to get over something that has deeply hurt them. Maybe Meredith isn’t ready yet. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t forgive you or loves you any less; she just needs time.”

“I’ve given her three fucking years, how long does she need?”

Gabrielle huffed and bit the lid of her coffee.

“See, that’s exactly what I’m talking about. You’re too impatient, Gabrielle. You need to wait. You can’t just say ‘I’m sorry I fucked up, let’s start over because I’m ready to regardless of your feelings.’”

Gabrielle pouted and looked at a blue bird that crossed her sight. She didn’t have any patience. Yes, that was a bad character trait to have but Gabrielle knew that despite her many loving traits, deep down she was a true bitch. She hardly cared about people’s feelings and only cared about what was best for her. So no, she didn’t have patience to wait for some damn heart to heal and get ready.

“This is so annoying! I just want her to be mine again. I love her and I miss her and I feel fucking lost without her.”

The conversation was put on pause for a while and the two forwards walked the trail in a weighted silence. Gabrielle slurped her coffee gone a little fast for her liking, and suddenly became disinterested in the dark trees and muddy pathway. Her jaw was clenched as she took in the beautiful sight in disgust. She was too upset to appreciate nature’s attraction right now. She had her own problems to worry about. The trees and mountains would do just fine without her.

“Oh shit, it’s snowing.”

Becca pulled her beanie out of the back pocket of her jeans and slipped it on her head. Gabrielle looked up at the unfamiliar substance and stuck out her tongue.

“Ew, that’s