"Stop fidgeting," the new guy said sharply.
"I will if you tell me where Sophia is."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Callie glared at him, leaned against the car, and folded her arms. She had been out of juvenile detention for all of ten minutes and already she was being reprimanded. The foster system is a prison, she thought moodily.
She didn't like this guy. She didn't even know him. Not that she liked Bill all that much - he kept putting them in shitty homes - but at least he was familiar. Apparently, Bill had some massive emergency and couldn't be here for the five minutes it would take to hand her off to her new foster parents.
Well, fifteen minutes now. No wonder the new guy was pissed. It was supposed to be an easy, five minute exchange of a kid nobody really cared about. But the foster parent was late. Great sign. I'm probably stuck with another drunk. She started pacing again.
"Karli -"
"Callie," she mumbled. If there was one thing she liked about herself, it was her name.
"What?"
"It's Callie. You said Karli."
"Okay. Callie. Just keep quiet and still. Don't cause any trouble - you could end up in juvie again or a group home," the new guy said.
Callie rolled her eyes at the usual threat, but leaned against the car again, itching to walk around. For the first time in a year and a half she was able to spend more than 15 minutes outside, and she was stuck with this guy.
She bit her lip to hold back the questions. Where was this new foster family? Why couldn't this guy just drive her to their house? And most importantly, where was Sophia? It'd been a nine months since she'd last seen her sister, at Christmas, when Bill brought her for visiting hours. Since that blissful hour, they'd written letters, until they suddenly stopped a few months ago. Callie kept trying, though. She'd always try for Sophia.
Another ten or so minutes passed before a minivan rolled up to where the two severely disgruntled people stood. A dark woman in nice work (and kind of preppy) work clothes got out, looked around, and then walked up to the two of them.
The new guy stuck out his hand, "Hi, are you Lena? Hi, I'm David."
The woman took his hand, "Uh, hi - "she faltered, "Where's Bill? I thought I was meeting him here to talk about -"
"Bill couldn't make it. He had an emergency with another one of his kids."
Lena gave Callie a look over and said, "Uhm, David, was it? Can I talk to you for a minute?" The two walked out of hearing distance. Callie watched them apprehensively. Lena seemed worried, while David earnestly reassured her. Lena looked her up and down once more, and Callie scowled and looked at the ground. Like she'd take someone like me. They walked back to her after a couple of minutes.
"Okay, Callie," David said, handing over a file to Lena, "You're going to be going with Lena for a few weeks. Bill will check in when he can."
"Wait - but what about Sophia? I just – I don't understand why I can't talk to Sophia."
"I don't know what you're talking about. I've got to get going. Lena - you know where to find me if you need anything." He shook her hand once more, got in the car, and drove off.
"Okay, Callie. Let's get going," Lena put an arm on Callie's shoulder to guide her to the car, and instinctively, Callie flinched away.
Lena looked briefly hurt but didn't mention it. "Do you mind going to the supermarket? I need to pick up a few things for dinner. Do you want anything in particular? Are you allergic to anything?"
Callie stopped while buckling her seat belt. It's been ages since anyone asked if she had a food preference. Was it a test? "I'll eat anything," she responded, glancing up to see Lena's reaction.
Lena chuckled, "Just like my youngest, Jesus."
Youngest? How many kids does she have? Callie thought, but remained silent.
After a few more minutes, Lena asked, "So, Callie, I heard you talking to David. Who's Sophia?"
Callie shot her a look and turned to the window, "Nobody."
"Is she your girlfriend you haven't seen in a while or -"
Callie whipped around and glared at Lena outright. "Girlfriend? What, do you think I'm some dyke?"
A/N: So this is my first fanfiction in years, and my first on this account. So please review - I'm open to suggestions on anything from plot to writing style! Jude may show up later as Robert's son, but I'm not sure yet.
The title comes from a 1924 book They Loved to Laugh by Kathryn Worth. The idea comes from SpectraVondergeist's story "Never Feel Alone." I highly recommend reading it. A few lines from this intro chapter come from the first episode of the Fosters. And I don't own the Fosters.