Fate - Jimmy Garoppolo

Chapter 1

"I don't think I've met anyone who has as many photographs as you, Claire." Isabelle spoke, carrying a few photo albums in her arms. As she was setting the albums down on the living room table, a photo slipped out, landing face up.

A sad smile formed on Isabelle's face as she took in the memories that photo held, knowing those were during her better days. She made herself comfortable on the floor as she held the photograph between her fingers. Her blonde hair was anything but tame that day, the Charleston wind blowing it in different directions. But nonetheless, the smile on her face in that picture was a genuine smile. Tongue pressed behind her teeth, barely there left dimple making its rare appearance and her green eyes not on display as they were closed, due to her laughing so hard from his left hand pinching her side, tickling her.

His face was turned slightly so he could look at her, not noticing that the picture was going to be taken at that exact moment. Isabelle bit the inside of her cheek as she tried to hold in a lone tear, remembering just how much he loved her. Just by looking at the picture, seeing how he was looking at her, smile wide and eyes full of love, as if she was the most beautiful creature on the planet.

But let's be honest, because at that moment, those were his exact thoughts. Just how beautiful she was and that he would do anything and everything for her happiness.

The Eastern Illinois University logo was prominent in white on the blue sweatshirt she was wearing in the photograph. The sweatshirt held the number 10 in white on the back, obviously not visible in the picture. Above the number 10, was his last name, considering the fact that he was the starting quarterback for their school football team. And the fact that it was his in the first place. But that didn't matter because she would always wear something of his, something about always having a piece of you with me.

But that didn't matter anymore. The sweatshirt was still with her though, but it was somewhere in the back of her closet, not touched since she vowed to herself that the decision she made was the right one and she wasn't going to dwell over it anymore. She spent her whole life with one goal in her mind and that was to become one of the best sports medicine doctors there ever was. And she was well on her way to her goal at only 25 years of age.

"Shit." She heard Claire's voice behind her as she turned to look at her, giving her a small smile. "I forgot that I still had that."

Isabelle shook her head. "They're beautiful memories, why throw them? Besides, we're still friends, Claire. I don't hate him and he doesn't seem to hate me."

Claire looked at her best friend with sympathy as she put the box that she was holding down and sat next to her, taking the photo and looking at it. "Remember the glares George got when he walked around in his Iowa sweatshirt the whole time during our visist?"

Isabelle let out a small laugh. "He wouldn't take it off. Something about pride or what not." She looked at Claire and smiled. "You made the right decision, you know."

"You regret yours?"

Isabelle sighed as she shook her head. "I made the right decision by pursuing my dreams. I made the wrong one by thinking I could only pursue one. I was so scared that I let it consume me and I regret that. But knowing what I know now...you made the right decision by staying with George."

Claire wrapped her arm around her friend's shoulder. "You get to be scared in life, Bella." Isabelle tensed at that nickname for just a few seconds before relaxing again. "How long has it been since you last spoke to him?"

"February. After the super bowl. I texted him, congratulating him on the win, because I couldn't get myself to talk to him right after the game. I was too busy with consoling my heartbroken father and getting ready for the shit storm of media he was about to receive from that loss."