sonder

trouvaille

Chapter Twenty Seven

Trouvaille

(n.) something lovely discovered by chance.

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Courtney immediately took off to the jungle gym as soon as we'd finished lunch. Austin and Jeremiah were quick to follow except they went in the direction of the field where a soccer ball was being passed between them. Damian, on the other hand, stuck around with me to help clean up our little picnic.

He'd been quiet ever since we'd talked earlier in the kitchen and I couldn't help but feel responsible for it. Guilt was twisting itself within me with each passing second. I tried looking at his expression to read him but nothing on his face was giving him away, he was completely stoic. I watched his movements when his face didn't give much away, his muscular arms placing containers away in my recyclable bag with mechanical motions.

I sat myself back down, criss-cross style, before I opened my mouth. Trying to find the right words seemed impossible though, I usually wasn't like this either, tongue-tied and trapped in silence. Damian's brown eyes met mine, a shy almost fake smile playing on his mouth before I decided to speak.

"Damian, I, I'm really sorry about what I said earlier in the kitchen." I begin, guilt dousing my words. "I didn't really think about my words and I thought I was being funny. I'm sorry." I stop before I say too much else because, truthfully, I didn't know what else to say.

Damian's handsome at ease expression returns, his stance immediately relaxing. "Kali, it's okay. I just had a lot on my mind today." He excuses. And as if he turned a switch, he's back to his easygoing, casual leather-jacket-wearing self who I see everyday at the bookstore.

I bob my head up and down, slowly as I digest everything he's said. I felt a little bit of relief but I can't help wanting to know what had been eating at him though. The wind takes over the conversation easily, my eyes darting over to watch Courtney where she has found herself a friend to play with. I recognize him as one of the neighbourhood boys, around her age, that Mrs. Harvey also babysits. They seem to be getting on quite well and I wave to his mom, who's sitting on a park bench across the playground. The two of them seem familiar but I can't place who they are exactly.

I then move onto see Jeremiah and Austin dribbling the soccer ball up and down the field, both of them completely concentrated. I could almost smell the sweat coming off of them from here but I was happy to see them both having fun.

"Jeremiah said that there's a local team that Austin's a part of?" Damian questions, leaning back on his hands with his legs stretched out in front of us. He's sat so that we are close together but not touching, I can feel the heat radiating off of him though which reminds me that we are okay.

"Yeah, it's for kids eleven to fourteen. He's been playing for the team since he could join and he loves it a lot." I explain with enthusiasm and pride. I loved getting to take about my siblings' achievements to someone who seemed to genuinely care.

I catch Damian nodding from my peripheral vision, his eyes watching the boys whilst I turn to check up on Courtney again. I could still hear everything she said and could see her from the corner of my eye but I was still being cautious.

"Jeremiah's going to try out. We've been practicing every morning for the past month since Austin mentioned it." Damian announces, pride sneaking into his tone as well which makes me smile.

"He'll definitely make the team, he's really good." I tell him with complete seriousness. I mean, I didn't know much about the game but even I could tell that Jeremiah was giving Austin a run for his money. "You know, they are looking for a junior coaches as well. If you're interested."