Seas Between

Chapter 10

Katrina called Alex later that night. He was just about to call her. He wouldn't call her all day because he couldn't find the words to say.

He took the buzzing phone out of his jean jacket pocket and answered. "Hey, what's going on?"

Katrina sounded calm at first. "Not much," she sighed. "Haven't got to talk to you since-" she started to sniffle. "-since we were video chatting with, with Freddie." She slowly started to sob.

"It's okay," he couldn't believe said that. That's the last thing he meant to say, ever. "I mean, not okay, you can cry. I just don't want you to be sad. It's okay for you to cry, it's normal. You know what? You tell me what you want me to say, then I won't mess it up."

"Tell me-" she paused, calming herself and cleared her throat, still sniffling. "a story."

Alex leaned forward, sitting on his bed and smirks. She didn't see it but she knew it was there and laughed a little. "I think I can do that." He laughed.

"Okay so, there once was a girl-"

"Please don't make it a sad story." She interrupted.

"I'll make sure of it." He looked at the ceiling, memorizing each detail of it for further reference, not that he would ever need it. That just happens when his mind wanders; it collects useless knowledge. "So, where was I?"

Sniffle, "um, let me think, once upon a time?"

"Ah right, thank you for your perceptiveness."

"Sure thing"

"Here we go again. Once upon a time, there was a girl. Her name was... Katherine." Katrina laughed a bit, still clear, though, that she was crying. "Katherine was a funny girl. She loved people, loved life. She was all around happy. So far no sadness, good?"

"Yeah, thanks." She must have been smiling. He could tell and he smiled with her. He missed being with her, to actually see her smile.

"Okay, good. Katherine did get upset once though. Everyone felt it. She carried it around like a weight on her back. She wouldn't ask for help. She wasn't used to asking for help. One day, she was up in her room and someone knocked on her door. Her mom came in and comforted her. Despite not asking for help, she got it because she needed it. Just one word made her the happiest girl in the world. Okay. She would be okay. Maybe not right away, maybe in a year but she would be okay. Also, the hug from her mom went a long way."

"Moral of the story?"

"Don't be afraid to wait to be okay. People will understand. Just remember, others are sad when you're sad."

"Nice wording..."

"I'm working on it!"

"Sure you are" She started laughing again, all traces of her sadness vanished.

"So, I guess your mom talked to you after you got up?" She said shyly.

"Yeah, wasn't pretty, flooded the kitchen with my tears."

"Of course, and then the room caught on fire, did it?"

"Yup"

"Nice one"