Freddie and I were sitting on the swing set of the park. The journey to the park hadn't been long, but it had been quiet. We both kind of kept to our selves. Maybe because it was a little awkward that we were going on a walk by ourselves to a somewhat romantic setting. I was curious as to what Freddie was thinking when he suggested this idea, but I decided against asking him.

"So," Freddie began, causing me too look up from my feet to see him "how was seeing your family?"

I was confused "What are you talking about?"

Now he was confused "I thought you went to see your family last night?" it was more of a question than a statement.

"I hung out with Ste-" in mid sentence, I remembered that seeing my family was the excuse I gave Freddie to leave last night "Um, I mean, it was okay."

Freddie didn't buy it "You hung out with Stephanie?"

I was flustered "Uh, well, you see, what happened was I went to see my family, and uh, then I hung out with Stephanie. Yeah, that's what happened."

He looked at me in disbelief, but moved on "I don't care much for Stephanie, personally."

"You've never even met her." I argued.

"Uh huh!" he yelled "Last night she came to my room and she was yelling at me. I didn't even do anything to her. Then like five minutes later, she was all happy with me and she was squealing like a little girl. I'd swear, Stephanie is bipolar.

I stared, wide eyed, at the boy "You were the one Stephanie was on the phone with last night?"

His eyebrows knitted together in bewilderment "No."

"Oh, right, that was Forrest." I whispered to myself.

"You know Forrest?" he suddenly asked me.

"You know Forrest?"

"Yeah, he's my angel. How do you know him?"

"I don't, but Stephanie was on the phone with him last night. Psh. Business calls…wait. Why was she talking to Forrest in the first place anyhow? Did Forrest talk to you?"

Freddie nodded.

"Well what about!?"

Freddie froze "Um…nothing, nothing, not a thing."

"Tell me!" I roared.

"You don't tell me what you and Stephanie talk about!"

"It's none of your business!"

"Neither is you knowing what I talked to Forrest about!"

"I'm a ghost! I have the right to know everything!"

"No you don't!" Freddie rose into the air as he yelled this at me.

For some reason, I took a quick glance around, and couldn't help but crack a smile.

"What are you grinning at!?" he screamed.

I sniggered.

"Quit laughing!" he barked.

This just made me laugh harder.

"What is so dang funny!?" he was getting more infuriated which made this all the more funny.

I fell off of my swing, unable to breathe.

"Sam! I swear, if you don't tell me-"

I held up one of my fingers and he stopped screaming. He crossed his arms, waiting for an explanation "Do you…do you have any idea…how insane you look right now?" I choked through my laughter.

Just then, Freddie took in his surroundings. Nearly everyone around us was staring at Freddie who supposedly was yelling at nothing.

The boy blushed deep red as he looked at the crowd around him "Uh, sorry everybody. I just um…" the boy trailed off as he sank into his swing and buried his head in his hands.

The crowd dispersed after a few whispers of "What a freak." and "He's crazy."

As my laughing settled, I sat back in my swing "That was awesome." I smiled.

He looked up at me "No it wasn't, now I look insa-" he cut off as his eyes trailed over to a little girl with sandy blonde hair, that was holding a tattered teddy bear in her hand and who was staring at him. Freddie glared at me "Look! You even have the children staring at me!"

"Hey, it's not my fault you are still yelling to 'the air'" I made quotations around 'the air'.

Freddie looked back over to the little kid "Would you quit looking at me?" he asked very nicely. The little girl just continued to stare "Why don't you go play in the sandbox or something." Freddie offered, still nicely.

With yet another blank stare from the child, Freddie turned to me "Do you think she can't talk or something?"

I shrugged "Dunno."

He looked back to the girl "What's your name sweetie?" he asked. I couldn't help but smile. Freddie was good with kids.

She didn't say anything. She just held her teddy bear out to Freddie. Freddie was hesitant "Oh, you keep your bear. He's yours." she held it out farther to him, not accepting Freddie rejecting it. Freddie looked at me 'Should I?' he mouthed.

"Go for it. She obviously wants you to have it." I urged him.

Freddie slowly took the bear from the girl, and she smiled at his action "Wow," Freddie commented, playing along with the little girl's game. "he's uh, really nice. Does he have a name?"

Suddenly, a loud gasp was heard from next to me and Freddie, followed by a horrified "How dare you!"

Both of us turned to see the mother of the girl coming at us "Stealing a bear from a child! Teenagers these days!" she huffed as she ripped the toy from Freddie's hands "You should be ashamed." the woman hissed at Freddie. Then she turned to her daughter, her tone changing completely "Come on Amelia." she gave Amelia her bear and took her child's hand as the walked away.

As the two were leaving, Amelia turned back and gave Freddie the cutest smile as she waved goodbye.

Freddie waved back, then turned to me, slight shock on his face "And I thought my mom was crazy."

I laughed and nodded.

It was quiet for a moment between the two of us, but the silence was broken when Freddie's stomach let out a loud growl.

"Hungry?" I asked.

"I did skip breakfast. Aren't you hungry?"

I was pretty sure my ability to eat was gone once I'd finished my chicken last night. I wasn't hungry anyway "Can't eat, remember?" I said pointing to myself.

"Well, I can, so let's get something to eat." he said as he grabbed my hand and started to pull me out of the park.

We reached the sidewalk lining the park's edge, and we started to walk "So where are we going to get you food?" I asked.

He thought for a moment as he added the effect of tapping his chin "Galini's Pie."

"Ugh! You tease!" I yelled at him. He chuckled, but we started to head for Galini's anyway.

We entered the shop and went to the counter "Hey Mario!" Freddie greeted.

"Hey, Freddie. What can I get for you today?" Mario spoke, happy to see the boy again.

"A piece of the coconut cream pie."

Mario winked "You got it." the man turned to the back and yelled "Trudy! One piece of the coconut cream pie!"

It was only a couple seconds before Trudy came running out from the back holding Freddie's order screaming "Is Spencer here!?" but her face was met with disappointment when she only saw Freddie. She angrily thrust the pie into Mario's hand and then trudged into the back.

As Mario handed Freddie the pie, Freddie asked "What was all that about?"

Mario chuckled "Every time somebody's orders the coconut cream pie, Trudy comes running out asking if Spencer is here."

Freddie and I smiled along with Mario.

"Oh," the man started "I'm so sorry to hear about Sam. I know she was such a good friend to you."

Freddie placed his money for the pie on the counter as he said "Thanks. But it still feels like she's right with me." Freddie commented with a smile as he squeezed my hand.

WHOA! Hold up! How long has he been holding me hand!? Have we been doing that since he pulled me out of the park!?

Freddie apparently felt me tense up, and he looked down to our intertwined hands. He froze too, and abruptly yanked his hand free. 'Well, I never said I didn't like it. I was just surprised we'd been holding hands this whole time.' I vented in my head.

"Something wrong?" Mario asked Freddie who seemed like he'd just freaked out for no reason.

"Oh, no, just something on my hand. I shook it off." Freddie covered for himself and Mario nodded in understanding.

I silently led Freddie and I to our regular table. But just before I could sit, Freddie whispered "Actually Sam, let's sit in the back."

"Why?" I questioned.

He continued to whisper "I'm tired of looking crazy when I talk to you, so can we sit in the back to draw less attention to myself?"

I sighed heavily, but agreed "Fine."

"Are you done yet!?" I yelled at the boy who was purposely savoring every bite of pie he put in his mouth.

"Mmmmm." he said as he closed his eyes. He then swallowed and opened his eyes as he looked at me "Oh, I'm sorry. Did you say something? I couldn't hear you over the amazing taste of this pie."

I leered at him "If you don't stop Freddie, I swear I will beat you into your own pie I'll call 'This Is What Happens When Benson Messes With Me'!"

"I don't know what your talking about." he said as he lifted his plate up off the table "I'm just enjoying this astounding, wonderful, mouthwatering-" he stopped talking as I slapped his plate and knocked his pie to the floor.

He gaped at his food in horror "What did you do that for!?"

I smirked, saying nothing as I stood up "I think it looks better on the floor."

"Clean that up!" he snapped.

"I go through food."

He groaned as he got up from his seat to clean up the mess I'd made. He grabbed a few napkins and started to scoop his now mush onto his plate.

Once he'd finished, he held the plate to my face and hissed "You just wasted perfectly good pie."

I smiled and just knocked his plate to the floor again.

"Sam!" he yelled as he knelt down and picked up the mess yet again. He threw away the pie and the paper plate before he turned to me angry once again.

He didn't say anything as he turned to leave Galini's.

I sighed at his temper tantrum and followed him.

Outside on the sidewalk, I grabbed Freddie's shoulder "Don't be such a girl." I said.

"Don't dump my pie on the floor!"

"Freddie, it's just pie. You act like-" I stopped talking as a moving object in the distance caught my eye.

"Sam?" Freddie tried to get my attention, but I ignored him moving closer to the small thing that I'd just spotted. I didn't know what it was yet, but I continued walking to it anyway.

Oh my gosh! It was a puppy. Its back and most if its legs were a light brown. One half of the puppy's face was white and the other was black. And his paws were white as was his chest.

I walked to the animal's side, he was shaking. He looked at me "Hey, come here." I soothed to the scared animal as I scooped him in my arms.

"Sam!" Freddie yelled, now next to me "He can't see you. You're scaring him."

"I'm not scaring him. Animals can see me. Poor thing's scared to death."

"Animals can see you?"

"Yes. Now my hands are kind of full so can you check it's collar for an address or something. I think he's lost."

Freddie reached over and read the tag connected to the puppy's collar, and sighed "What's wrong?" I asked.

"It just says the dog's name. It doesn't have an address or anything."

"Well, what's its name?"

"Bird." Freddie said flatly.

"Bird?" I questioned.

"I didn't name it!" Freddie yelled in defense.

"No, I like it. Bird. Hey Bird." I turned my attention to the puppy as I said its name. Then I refocused on Freddie "Well, do you know it's breed? If we know the name, and the breed, we could turn it into the Seattle Humane Society and maybe the owner will find them there."

"Judging by it's slender shape, color, and floppy ears, I'd say it was a boxer."

"Bird the boxer." I laughed as I cuddled him closer to me. He'd stopped shaking since I had picked him up.

"He seems like a nice puppy, doesn't he?" Freddie asked as he scratched Bird's head.

I scoffed "Bird is not a softie. I bet he's a big tough guy. A rebel who escaped from home to be on his own."

"He was shaking when you found him."

"It's cold out!" I snapped in his defense, even though it wasn't all that bad.

Freddie shook his head "Hey Sam? Mind if I hold him?"

"Why? Does wittle Frederly want to hold the cute puppy?" I mocked in a baby tone.

"No, it's just right now, it looks like Bird is floating in mid air to everyone else."

I sighed, crap. He was right. I gently handed the animal to the boy next to me.

"Well, let's get him to the shelter." I sighed and we started to walk down the street.

We'd been walking for roughly five minutes when Freddie sighed.

"What?" I asked him.

"It's just my arms are getting tired." he whined.

"Oh, come on! He's like four pounds!"

"So! Your arm's never been tired when you are raising you hand in school? And that's holding nothing. I'm holding four pounds." he argued.

"Wuss." I said and continued to walk. But after a couple steps, I saw a flier with a dog on it stuck to a shop window.

"Hey look!" I yelled, ripping the paper off the window "It's Bird! His owner's are looking for him. And the live in Bushwell Plaza too! Fifth floor." I showed Freddie the flier.

"Sam! You found his home!" he yelled as he gripped me in his arms, careful not to crush Bird.

We embraced one another for a few seconds, then realizing what we were doing, we let each other go.

"So we should, uh, get uh, Bird back to his um, home." Freddie said awkwardly.

I nodded "Uh, yeah." I then folded the flier in my pocket.

We started to make our way to the well known building, not talking the whole way. Why did he hug me? I didn't tell him to hug me. Maybe he likes me! No, don't be ridiculous. He'll never like me.

"Sam?" Freddie interrupted my train of thought "We're there."

"Oh right. I knew that."

We walked into the lobby of Carly and Freddie's apartment building.

"HEY!" Lewbert screamed "No animals in my lobby!"

Bird hid his head into Freddie's chest, scared from Lewbert's shouting.

"Lewbert!" Freddie yelled "The rules of the building say that all animals under one hundred pounds are allowed! This little guy is clearly under one hundred pounds!" Freddie and I then headed for the stairs, ignoring the shouts from the cranky doorman.

"Which floor is it?" Freddie asked.

"Fifth. Apartment 5-G." I informed.

He nodded as we reached floor number five.

"Okay 5-A. 5-B. 5-C. 5-D. 5-E. aha! 5-G." Freddie narrated as we walked down the hallway "Ready to see your family Bird?" Freddie asked the puppy just before he knocked on the door.

It was a few seconds before the door opened. And it revealed an old woman.

"Hello ma'am. I think I found your-" Freddie began but was cut off as the old woman began to talk.

"Ah. Fredward Benson. I sensed you would come here with Bird." she spoke in a mystic, fortuneteller tone.

Freddie was confused "Uh do I know you?"

"No young one."

"Then how do you know my name?"

"I know a-lot of things. I am a fortuneteller."

"Yeah, well, anyways, here's your dog." Freddie said handing the puppy over to the woman.

"Thank you for bringing him back. I must repay you."

"Oh no, that's fi-"

The woman started talking over him "I will give you a free fortune."

"That's not nece-"

"I see…love in your future."

"Look, that's great but you don't need to pay-" Freddie kept trying to tell her to stop but she wouldn't listen.

"But the love is not who you think it is."

Freddie sighed, deciding against cutting in again.

"You like this girl but you think she does not like you back. She has a head of blonde."

Freddie and I froze. Was…it…me? But it couldn't….be…

"Well, who is she?" Freddie rushed the question. He was probably worrying that I was the girl and he didn't want it to be me.

"I'm sorry. I cannot tell you more without payment. But I know you have no money, so we will talk some other time…oh, no we won't. Goodbye Fredward." she then slammed the door shut in our faces.

We both looked at one another, eyes wide.

"Well, she's obviously insane." Freddie said.

"Yeah. Obviously." I agreed quickly. Not wanting him to think I liked him. That would make everyone weird between us.

"We should probably get back to my house." Freddie suggested.

"Yeah. We should." I agreed and we silently walked to the eighth floor.

WOW. That was long. It took forever to write that. But I just couldn't find a good spot to stop. Hope you liked the Sam and Freddie interaction. And thank you for sticking to the story. I know it is moving kind of slow right now but bear with me. And as for Bird. I want to name my dog that. Me and my sister have been in a fight over who came up with the name for years, but I know it was me. Reviews are always appreciated :)