"What am I going to do without you?" Marianna asked Callie, again. She was met with the same answer she'd received the past forty minutes, silence. Rolling her eyes, she put her ear bud in and looked out the window. Soon, the car reached a small town. "Agnes," Marianna read, removing her headphones.
Jesus too looked up, "I'm hungry," he announced. His sisters glared at him, "what?" He asked.
Stef eased the car to a roadside bar? She looked at Lena who shrugged. "Rusty's it is," Stef said.
"You OK, honey?" Lena caught up with Callie. Not getting an answer, she continued, "because it's OK if you're not," she held the door. Callie rolled her eyes and brushed past Lena. She sat at the opposite end of the table from Stef. "Alright, then," Lena mumbled, giving Stef a smile.
The waitress, Annie, brought the food. Callie sat, taking intense interest in making the ice cubes in her complimentary water sink. She had refused to order. Stef ordered nachos in hopes of having her eat, but Callie pushed the plate away. Lena and Stef couldn't help but steal glances at their daughter. They didn't want to stare though.
"Thanks, Moms," Jude said pushing his empty plate away. "That was good."
Stef smiled, "glad you liked it, buddy." Across the table, she heard an audible sigh out of Callie. Peeking at Lena, who too had turned toward Callie, Stef raised her eyebrows. "Jesus, that's enough," she warned, "you're just making a mess."
"Just like a kid," Marianna smirked. Jesus picked up the ketchup bottle and pointed it at Marianna. Just before his hand hit the bottom, Lena grabbed it. "Mama," Marianna cried out, raising her hands to protect herself.
Annie quietly dopped the check on the table. "Thanks," Stef acknowledged. "Jesus, I swear, you are pushing-." Stef was cut off by Callie roughly shoving her chair back and leaving the restaurant.
"Callie," Jude called after her. He too left the table. "Hey," he called again when he got outside. "Wait up." Callie stopped at the corner of the resteraunt. Jude caught up with her and put his arm around her waist, "are you OK?" He asked.
Callie shrugged, refusing to look at Jude. She was such a mix of emotions. On one hand, they were sending her away. On the other hand, they literally moved their family for two months just to be close to her. It made no sense. She took a shaky breath and held it until she saw black.
"Jude, will you go make Jesus and Marianna be quiet? Sit in between them, please," Lena asked. She smiled as he went to the van, "hey, honey," she spoke quietly. "I'm sorry," she put her hand on Callie's back. Rubbing small circles, she was relieved when Callie started towards the car. Laughing, Lena put her arm around Callie's shoulder, "looks like she's had enough, either that or Jesus is driving." Pleased to hear some noise, Lena smiled as Callie slid beside Stef. She had guessed, Stef wanted a few more minutes of time before Callie went to Horizon.
"OK, gang, listen," Peter stood at the head of the cafeteria. "We're down to our final check in of this session," he informed the room. "There are a lot of new faces here. I expect all of us to welcome these new students with open arms and respect. You will meet in your groups tonight and we'll have a school assembly tomorrow morning. Any questions?" Looking around the room, Peter was satisfied, "carry on then. Schedules are on the doors. See you later." Taking an apple from the counter, Peter walked over to Sophie and handed her a file.
"Best for last?" She asked with a smile.
Peter returned the smile, "maybe. Let's go. Who is her buddy, Jules?"
"Shelby," Sophie answered grinning. She started toward the admin building, Peter, open mouthed following her.
Shelby twisted her napkin, "listen, Peter's talking to us like we're in school. Here are your schedules, I'll see you at the assembly." She rolled her eyes, tossing a ball of paper on the plate, "please."
"This is a school," Kat reminded Shelby. "Come on, give it a shot. You might find out not going to summer camp made you missed out on all the fun," she offered.
Shelby stood up to empty her tray, "I don't think me not going to summer camp has anything to do with this," she answered. "Queenie, is the room straight? Sophie will be in when Newbie gets here."
"Callie," Kat said.
Shelby looked at her, "what?"
Kat patiently answered, "Callie. The new student is Callie."
While the other Cliffhangers were finishing dinner and cleaning the bunk, Callie, Stef and Lena sat in Peter's office. Jude and Marianna were at the pavilion across campus and Jesus was playing basketball. Feeling an elbow in her ribs, Callie glared at Lena, "what?"
"Sophie was asking you if you had any questions," Lena's tone was warning.
Callie shook her head, glancing at the blonde woman. "OK, then, Callie, let's go over here. Your moms and Peter can finish talking and we'll go over a few things. Sound good?" Sophie smiled at Callie before picking up her bags.
Callie eyed Sophie suspiciously before standing and following her. Looking back at Stef, Callie reciprocated the weak wave. "We'll only be a few minutes," Stef promised shutting the door. "Take a seat," she gestured at the only chair. Taking a pair of gloves out of her pockets, Stef set Callie's bag on the table. "Anything in here going to hurt me?" She asked.
Sitting on the chair, Callie narrowed her eyes, "no. Wait, what are you doing?"
"This is the mandatory search, Callie," Stef said quickly checking her bag. "While I finish here, if you want to go ahead and leave your socks and shoes here, you can go pee in a cup for me," she pointed to the bathroom.
Callie stood and begrudgingly took off her shoes and kicked them in Sophie's direction. She was wearing no socks so she headed and got a small cup. This reaction was uncommon. Usually students fought forever. Sophie heard the toilet flush and Callie came back. "You're good," Sophie smiled. "Now, I just need you to go back, leave the door open, and follow my directions," the smile stayed on Sophie's face. "I'll give you these, you give me those," she held up some of Callie's clothes.
"You are crazy," Callie slammed herself into the chair.
The smile faded and Sophie pursed her lips, "I'm sorry, hun, but it's mandatory. You may have something in a pocket you don't know is there-"
"Look," Callie almost yelled turning her pockets inside out.
"I know this is-" Sophie tried again.
Callie shook her head, "just stop talking. I'm done, you said I am good. Let me go." Her voice rose as Sophie just crossed her arms. "Can I go?" Sophie shook her head and held up Callie's clothes again. Hastily, Callie ran her fingers through her hair. She then turned to the chair, kicking it.
Sophie didn't move, and didn't feel like Callie was provoking her. Waiting things out was a big part of Sophie's day, that was OK.
"I have to say, for all Gretchen is, she is generous," Peter was telling Stef and Lena. "We've had some tough times and she's always happy to chip in," he laughed. "Maybe donating money to a school dedicated to helping at risk youth is her penance?"
Lena laughed as well, "that truly may be," she agreed. "I have to admit, this isn't where I imagined either of you making a home," Lena shrugged. "When it's right, though, it's right."
Peter nodded, "New York was too fast. No connection, just blah." He stopped when he heard Callie yelling. Walking over to the door, he tapped, "you OK?"
"Fine," Sophie answered.
Casually, Peter walked back to his desk. "So her brother is Jude, then that's his friend. Your other son, Jesus is Marianna's-" Peter stopped when he heard the chair. "Soph-"
"I'm going in there," Stef told Lena.
Peter put up his hand, "I'm sorry, Stef, I can't let you do that. They're OK."
Stef glared at him, "I didn't ask your permission." She walked to the door, tapping it.
"We're good," Sophie answered.
Peter had quickly put himself beside Stef. They stood a step away from the door, Stef's arms crossed, her eyes blazing. "We have to let our kids work things out. Sure, you and Lena will be here a lot but what if something she doesn't want to do happens while you're not here? Then what?" Peter asked gently. "As much as we want to, we can't always rescue or fix everything for them."
"Look, Peter," Stef spoke lowly, "that girl spent 15 years with no one helping her, or trying to fix anything, and no one damn sure ever rescued her. You better believe if there's a chance in hell I can do something, whatever that may be, I'm going to do it."
Lena put her hand on Stef's shoulder, "Babe."
"Not now, Lena," Stef looked at Peter as she turned the doorknob. "Hey, Sweets," she said quietly, making her way to the opposite side of the room. "What's going on?" She put one arm around Callie's waist, and used her other hand to put a strand of hair behind her ear.
Callie was leaning on the window sill, her back to Sophie. Tears threatened to fall as she thought of how dumb it was she had to be searched. Watching Jude, Marianna, and Connor kick the ball back and forth, Callie held her breath. Only when she felt Stef's arms and heard her voice did she trust herself to breathe again. "This is jail," Callie's voice was gruff. "Next will be handcuffs."
"There are no bars on our windows, Callie," Sophie pointed out. Peter had followed Stef in and told Sophie to let her help Callie.
Stef gave Sophie a tired smile, "maybe Callie could hand me her clothes and I'll give them to you," she suggested, ignoring Callie's jail comment. She didn't want to encourage her. "What do you say?" Stef asked, squeezing Callie who shrugged.
Twenty minutes later, Callie was redressed and joined the kids in soccer. "Thanks for helping me," Sophie said.
Stef laughed, "I'm the one that says the thanks. Just be gentle with her, OK?"
"No problem," Sophie patter Stef's back. "If you guys want to say goodnight, we have to be at group in about five minutes. Take care," she waved as Lena and Stef walked to gather the kids. "Different scene," she observed, taking the coffee Peter held out. Leaning into his side, Sophie found this goodbye, even if it were five days more painful than most others.
Peter waved as the Adams Foster family walked back to the parking lot, arms around waists and tissues dabbing at faces. Callie looked around, unsure of what to do. "I know, Soph," Peter answered kissing her head. "Go get her, hun, it's time for group," he smiled, rubbing his hands together.
