Disclaimer: I do not own The Fosters or any of the characters.

Chapter 1.

"Her heart was a secret garden and the walls were very high."

-William Goldman

It wasn't supposed to be this way, Callie thought, as she gazed longingly out the window of her room at Girl's United. The Fosters were supposed to be different. She couldn't believe she'd been abandoned once again. Why did I let myself fall in love with them? she wondered, sadly. She thought back to her court hearing, and how her heart sped up when she thought for a fleeting moment that Stef and Lena were going to bring her home. It sounded like they were. But then they weren't, and something inside her broke.

But the most crushing blow of all was when Rita snatched away her chance to see Jude, knowing what it meant. Callie didn't mean to cause trouble on her first night at the group home, but once again, trouble found her. She just wished Rita had found a way to punish her without punishing Jude, too. He was innocent, and she knew he was probably looking forward to visiting that day. She wondered how Stef and Lena broke the news to him, and whether or not he cried. Knowing him, he didn't, but she bet he wanted to.

In too much pain to dwell on her thoughts, she let her eyes glaze over as she watched the families and friends of the other girls file into the house. But then, a flash of red, from across the street, caught her eye. She stared for a few seconds, watching him watch the house. She could hardly believe her eyes, but there stood Brandon. She blinked a few times, then, without hesitation, she tore through the house and out the front door, straight into his arms. In an instant, he was holding her, and she was clinging to him desperately as he rocked her back and forth. He was solid, and real, and his shirt smelled like the laundry soap Stef and Lena used at home. Tears filled her eyes as the familiar scent enveloped her. It stung, and yet, it gave her comfort.

Callie was aware that Rita and the other girls had gathered on the porch, but she didn't care or let go. She drew Brandon closer, her arms wrapped around his neck. They were in their own little world, where all that mattered was each other, and as long as they held on, they were untouchable.

"I'm busting you out of here," Brandon whispered, so quietly that she had to strain her ears to hear. His words, along with his warm breath on her neck, caused goosebumps to rise on her skin.

"How?" she whispered back, trying not to move her lips.

"I'll come back at midnight," he told her. "Sneak out."

"I'll be there." She didn't dare kiss Brandon, though she wanted to, so she reluctantly parted from him, and turned back toward the house. "Bye," she sighed, waving.

"Bye, Callie," he replied sadly, as he headed back to his car.

Once he was gone, Callie dragged herself up the front steps, past the crowd they'd drawn. Her shoulders sagged, and her heart felt as heavy as lead as she went up the stairs and to her room. Thirty seconds with Brandon wasn't enough to fill the void their separation left. When Cole asked her what her addiction was, she said she didn't have one. She lied. She was addicted to Brandon, in the best way possible. She loved him. And if that was wrong, she didn't want to be right.

That evening, after dinner, Callie sneaked into the common room, prying the side window open, just a half an inch. Not raised enough for anyone to notice, but just enough to allow for a quick escape. It was dusk, and the warm Summer breeze that greeted her smelled like freedom, but she didn't dare linger for long. Instead, she went back to her room, and stuffed her belongings into a duffel bag. Then, she hid it under the bed before Cole came up.

A few minutes before light's out, Rita knocked on the bedroom door, and let herself in. She regarded Callie sternly. "So?" she asked. "Did you really think it was a good idea to run out and see your boyfriend earlier?"

"He's not my boyfriend." Callie tried to maintain a poker face as she lied through her teeth. She knew Rita would be angry with her for committing the unspeakable crime of crossing the street without permission, but somehow, she didn't care. She would be long gone before she could be punished anyway, so it didn't matter much what happened from that point.

"I just want to know what was going on in your head," Rita told her. "Because I thought I was very clear when I told you your privileges were revoked."

"Look," Callie sighed, her tough attitude weakening. "I didn't know he was coming. How could I?" Couldn't Rita see that a warm hug from someone who loved her was all she needed? Not punishment and lock-down. "I guess he was trying to surprise me," she told her. "I saw him out there, and I wanted to say hi."

"That looked like more than just a 'hi,' to me," Rita replied, raising an eyebrow.

"He's just a friend," Callie told her. "I'm sorry."

"Don't let it happen again," said the older woman. "Goodnight, Callie."

"Goodnight." She rolled over so she faced the wall, pulling the covers over her shoulders. Finally, she heard Rita say goodnight to Cole, and leave the room.

After light's out, Callie lay in the darkness, waiting for midnight. She didn't dare close her eyes, and risk falling asleep, so she played word games to entertain herself. "C, my name is Callie, my husband's name is... Carl. We live in California, and we sell corn." she and Jude used to play that particular alphabet game on long car trips. Bill had taught it to them once, when he was driving them to a new foster home, but she hadn't thought about it in years. She was struggling to some up with a place that started with X, and when she couldn't, she abandoned the game altogether. It was almost midnight. It was now or never.

She crept out of bed, clutching her bag to her chest, thankful that she'd thought to go to bed with her clothes on. Sneaking out undetected would be difficult, since a staff member was posted downstairs. Slowly but surely, careful not to hit a creaky floorboard, she made it to the common room without anyone catching her, and managed to open the window the rest of the way. She craned her neck as she looked around for Brandon, and finally, she saw him hugging the edge of the house as he came toward her. She smiled and waved, and he waved back. Then, he took her bag, and helped her climb over the windowsill. Once her feet hit the ground, they ran without stopping, straight to Brandon's car, never looking back.

To Be Continued