Loving you is Easy

Callie

It's been 3 years since I seen Jude. 3 years since I got adopted by Lena and Stef. 3 years since I ran away.

3 years since I kissed Brandon Foster.

I sit in the shotgun seat if Wyatts car, a cake sitting on my lap. Today is Judes 15th birthday, and I wanted to see him again. In fact, I wanted to see everybody again. I missed hearing Marinana and Jesus arguing about who would get the last poptart, Brandon complaining about getting the cold water again. I missed Jude asking for help with his math homework, or asking if he could pick what movie we would watch on Friday nights. Or the laughter that was shared in the kitchen on game nights. Or Lena and Stef yelling, calling us down to dinner. When we didn't come down to the first call, knowing that they just wanted us to set the table.

I just missed being part of a normal family.

I wonder if Jude resembles our father now, since he would be older than the little boy I remember. The last time I saw Jude, he resembled our mother so much, sometimes it was painful to look at him.

As Wyatt took the turn to the fimilliar street, I being to painic. What if Stef and Lena don't like me anymore? What if they didn't keep Jude? What if they hate me for breaking their family apart?

"Stop the car!" I shout, almost hugging the box that the cake is in. Wyatt slams on the brakes, almost spilling his coffee.

"What the Hell Callie? Are you trying to kill us?"

I shake my head.

"What if they hate me, I mean for leaving them on the day the exceted me as their family? And not contacting them for three years? What if they think I'm a horrible person?"

Wyatt looks at me, then turns off the engine even though we are in the middle of the street.

"They don't hate you. I called them when you where asleep on the way to Indiana, and told them that you just need a break from everybody."

"Did they say it was okay?"

"After a few days they gave in. They told me to tell you that no matter what, You are their daughter, and said to stay as long as you needed to." My heart crumbles at his words, knowing that they would say something like that.

"What about Jude? Did you ever talk to him?" The car behind us honks, and Wyatt restarts the engine.

"Yes. He asked for you every time I did."

"Why didn't you tell me? I would have talked to him! He's my brother!"

"I didn't know if you wanted to, its shard to tell with yo-" Wyatt gets cutoff by the ringing of his phone. I reach for it, hoping for it to be my family, wanting to tell them how sorry that I am, and let them know that I actually care about them, but Wyatt beats me to it.

"Hello?"

"Is Callie there? Jude says you always say that she isn't there. Where is my sister?"

Marniana voice comes to my ears through the phone. I'd never thought she would consider me her sister. Then, I hear Jesus voice coming from the background.

"Jude! Get your lazy ass down here! Connor is here!"

"Jesus!" That would be Stef and Lena. "Speak to your brother nicely!"

"Mom! Have you seen Callie's guitar?" Brandon voice comes, probably from upstairs.

"I haven't seen it in three years. Jude!"

"Wyatt!" Marinana says. "Our family as dealt with alot of shit in the past three years. I think we deserve our whole family. Where's Callie?"

What happened while I was gone?

"She's not here. Maybe next time, I'll tell her you called." Wyatt hangs up.

"What the hell, Wyatt? I wanted to talk to them! What about Jude?"

"He's going to see you, instead of hear you."

I had completely forgotten that I was on the way to my house, my family. I clam down.

"Sorry for yelling at you."

"No problem," He says while he parks the car. "Now go see your family."

I take a deep breath, then climb out the car.

I stand on the front door for a few minutes, debating myself if I should knock or not, in the end, I end up knocking. All of noise inside stops at once, until I hear Lena speak.

"Who could that be? Everybody is here."

"I'll get it." An unfamiliar voice says. There's a squeaking a chair moving, and the front door flies open.

The boy who stands in front of me is at least 6'2, has a muscular build, and dark brown hair that doesn't belong to Brandon. Only his eyes remain the same for me to know who it is.

"J-Jude?"

"Callie!" Jude's new booming voice almost explodes my eardrums as he wraps me in his arms. "I remember when you where taller than me!"

"What?" That is Jesus.

"Callie is here?" Brandon asks.

"Moms! Brandon! Jesus! Marinana! Get over here! Callie is here!" Jude shouts, exploding my ear drum this time, holding me close to him. The sound of a bunch of chairs moving come from the kitchen, then, the rest of my family appears. I peel myself from Jude's arms, and hug Stef and Lena, making me realize how much I care for them.

"Can't. Breathe." Stef tells me. I let go, and Jesus hugs me.

"Next time you plan on going to Indiana, take me with you." I just nod.

"Do I get a hug?" Marinana asks me, then just hugs me. "Just letting you know, I haven't been to any parties since Wyatt's, since you couldn't take me home." If she said it to make me laugh, she Succeeded. As I let go of her, I see Brandon leaning against the wall, his hands in his pockets. His arms where bigger than I remember.

Brandon smiles at me and speaks.

"I guess you need more love." I fall into his arms, and hug him tighter than I held Jude. Brandon strong arms wrap around me.

"I missed you, Callie."

"I missed you, too." I don't have a choice, but I'm forced to let go.

"I brought you something, Jude." I pick up the cake box I put on the floor, and open it.

"I grew up, Callie." Jude tells me jokingly. "I don't watch Finding Nemo anymore."

"We watched it last night, Jude." Jesus says. We all ignore him, and head back to the kitchen. We sat at the table for the rest of the day, until 9, when Stef and Lena order us to bed. The only thing that I was aware of was that Brandons shoulder brushing against mine.

"Hey Callie?" Lena asks, holding a coffee cup, sitting next to Stef. "Could stay here for a few seconds?"

"Yes." They both give a friendly smiles, so much alike the ones they gave me when I first got here, making me realize how much I trust them now. These to women, Lena and Stef are my mothers, no matter what.

"I'm really glad you came back. We know for a fact that your choice was difficult, but no matter what you do, we will always love you."

I smile at them.

"I'm glad I came back too. I missed all of you guys." At my words, their smiles broaden. I stand up and start to leave. Before I climb the first step, I turn back to face them.

"Moms?"

"Yes?" They answer in unison.

"I love you guys."