Seas Between

Chapter 16

Braden carried the food in the clear plastic bag to Hadfield Park with Avery and Katrina at his side.

"So, Braden, do you play sports?" Avery laughed, just hearing a joke from Katrina

"Uh, actually yeah. I play soccer in Everett. There's a group of us that play."

"Cool, so are ya any good?"

He brushes his fingers through his hair. "...no, but I'm working on it!" Katrina and Avery laugh.

They choose a picnic table in the trees and handed out the food. "Here's a sandwich for you and a pizza burger for you and a pizza burger for me." Braden smiled handing out the food, especially his own.

"Thanks Braden" Katrina said and looked at the trees.

While they ate, they watched this bird hopping around at the bottom of a tree. "Do you think it's okay?" Avery asked, swallowing a bite of pizza burger.

"I don't know," Braden got up and walked over to the bird. "I think it's wing is broken."

"Bring him over here." Katrina said.

"Ew, no! We're eating!" Avery cried.

"Well he can't put it back in the tree, what if it falls down?"

"Ugh, fine." Avery said and took one last bite before the bird joined the table.

It was a song sparrow, two hazelnut stripes fold over its head, coming from a short grey beak. It's small, fitting snugly in Braden's palms. One wing was twisted at an awkward angle; the other was flapping. It's tiny body convulsed with every breath of air.

"Aww, that's so sad! What can we do?" Katrina asked.

"We have to keep it warm. Does anyone have a towel or scarf or something?"

"I have a scarf." Avery pulled out a light pink infinity scarf.

Braden took, telling one of them to call a wildlife centre. They would be able to help. He placed the bird carefully in the scarf while Katrina made the call. They finished their lunch and waited for the people coming to take the bird away.

It's not like it was a rare bird or an exotic bird but, it was a bird and it needed help from someone who could provide the care it needed. Avery named the bird Joey, because she just thought he would be a Joey if he had a name.

"Take care of Joey!" Avery called as the van drove off with the sparrow.

Braden took Katrina's hand and lead her back to his car. Avery sat in the backseat listening to music and watching the broken white lines fly behind them.

They drove into downtown Seattle to window-shop and go for a bit of a walk until supper. Braden parallel parked between a family hatchback and a silver sedan. They walked towards the west, talking and making jokes.

After a few hours, stomaches started to growl, it was time for supper. They went to an Indian restaurant on the corner to eat.

"So?" Avery said between a bite. "You've literally have never seen Shrek?"

"For the thousandth time, no!" Braden said, laughing.

"I thought everyone saw that movie!" Katrina exclaimed.

"Not me, why is it any good?" He said and took a bite of chicken.

"The best!" Katrina said. Feeling a buzz in her purse, Katrina turned around, unzipped her purse and rooted through her stuffed bag. Finally finding it, she checked it, Alex.

I haven't heard from you in forever! What's going on?

Another buzz:

Are you mad at me?

Katrina texts a reply quickly.

Of course not! Just hanging out with some friends!

Who?

Braden and Avery

Are they going out now?

Woah, no, definitely no. They just met today.

They never met?

No, haha

Huh, so why now?

Um, well, don't tell Avery but

But what?

I'm fake dating Braden.

YOU'RE WHAT?

Fake dating Braden?

Why?

I don't know..

You never do something without a reason. Why are you fake dating Braden?

Just never mind, okay?

Okay, but remember, if you have a fake date, you need a fake break up.

And that was it. Alex had his say about Braden.

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So, how do you like my story so far?
Who do you like best, Braden or Alex?
Do you agree with what Alex said?
Or do you think Braden and Katrina
should stay together?

QOTP: Favourite chapter so far?

AOTP: Chapter 14

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