CLARITY

Driving down a road that seems to go on forever is tiring. I look down at the time on the radio. Three forty in the morning, I don't even know what state we are in anymore. I look over and Wyatt is sleeping. He had been driving for hours so I decided to listen to the radio versus waking him up. Thirty minutes of driving and can't find any good stations playing music. Everything was awful.

We have been on the road for over a day now. I hope Jude is ok. I hope he understand why I left, why I needed to go. I had to go I never wanted to disappoint Jude, to hurt him the way that I did. Everything I have ever done was with him in mind. And leaving is the best for him I won't be selfish, we have been through so much and he is going to be fine there. I won't be the reason that gets messed up for him. I can't be that reason….

THE MORNING

"Hey babe coffee's on the counter." Lena tells Stef. "Thanks, Jesus is Jude up?" Stef asked gripping her mug and taking a sip of coffee. "Nope kids passed out. I didn't want to wake up either but Lexi called about her leaving soon and wanted to talk and hang out today." Jesus answered grabbing a bagel. "Let him sleep its Sunday anyway. There's no rush to do anything right?" Brandon asked. "Nope, no rush at all." Lena said with a smile

Brandon sat down at the kitchen island with a bowl of cereal while everyone is up just doing their own thing. "Alright I am going to take a shower and head out." Brandon said placing his bowl in the sink. "Where" Stef started to ask but was interrupted. "Dads, he said he wanted to talk about things. I just figured I go early." Brandon said. "Ok, but be home by five for dinner." Lena said. Brandon rushed up the stairs to get ready as Mariana walked into the kitchen messy haired and still waking up. "Where's the fire? why is he in such a rush?" she asked. "Probably, to get to the bathroom before you get to it sis." Jesus Joked with her. "Funny" Mariana responded snippy and they exchanged funny faces at each other.

"Anyway so Mom are you guys going to take a honeymoon or anything?" Mariana asked. "Good question, Lena what do you think?" Stephanie asked. "Um, yeah, maybe when the school year is done we should do something." Lena answered. "But that is so far from now. We just got married let's just go away for the weekend." Stef asks "Yeah mom you guys should. With everything that's gone on you need it, what about next weekend?" Jesus suggests. "Jesus has a point, I think that one weekend to our self would be great and the kids will be fine. I can even have Mike drop by just to check in on them." Stef says. "Well then it's settled. Next weekend we go somewhere. I am going to go get ready we need to go to the store and get some things can you clean up?" Lena asked. "Sure babe." Stef answered.

Lena and Stef shared a quick kiss as Lena headed upstairs. "So Jesus, when is Lexi leaving?" Stef asked "Sometime this week she said. They are just packing up some things and prepping to go." Jesus answered. "I am really going to miss her." Mariana said. "Awe, we are all going to miss her Mari. She was over here so much it's almost like she was part of our family." Stef said to Mariana while giving her a half hug.

Breakfast finished and kitchen cleaned Stef was going to get herself, ready to go out. "Hey Mari I am going to change and go with Lena to the store for something just let Callie know we stepped out ok." Stef told Mariana. "You didn't tell her earlier?" Mariana asked confused. "What do you mean, she hasn't come down, and she is still sleeping right?" Stef asked with a worried tone. "When I woke up her bed was unmade and she wasn't in it so I just figured she came down. "Mariana answered. "Hey maybe she went out to see that Wyatt guy he is leaving today to live somewhere in the mid west, Idaho or something. Well that's what I heard anyway. Weren't they close?" Jesus asked. "They were close but she should still tell someone. I will text her later." Stef said while heading upstairs.

Jesus shrugged his shoulders. "Well I am going to hang out with Lexi at the beach today wanna join?" Jesus asked his sister. "When did this happen?" Mariana questioned herself. "When did what happen?" Jesus asked. "When did it become that I get invited to hang out with MY best friend from my brother?" Mari said. Jesus rolled his eyes tilting his head at his sister as to say really are you asking me that. "Whatever, are you coming or not?" Jesus asked. "Yeah what time." Jesus told her anytime after noon while heading upstairs.

Just as Jesus was going to go into his room Brandon stopped him and asked him if he was going to do anything today. "Yeah; Mariana and I are heading to the beach to hang with Lexi. You know before she leaves this week." Jesus answered. "Ok cool just remember to be back by five for dinner ok." Brandon said as he left. After texting Lexi about the times and Mariana coming he walked over to his dresser to grab some cloths.

"Hey" Jesus said to Jude. "Hey" Jude answered "I'm heading out to the beach with Lexi and Mariana wanna go. Everyone is doing something already and this might be better than running errands with moms."Jesus offered. "Yeah, sure sounds like fun."Jude answered half heartedly. "Cool. Go grab some breakfast we are heading out in 30 minutes." Jesus said heading to the bathroom to get ready.

Jude folded the letter and hid his emotions as he went to get some breakfast.

Brandon arrived at his father's house and knocked on the door. "Hey Brandon, what's going on I didn't expect you here." Mike said surprised. "Yeah, well I wanted to come by, talk to you. You know hang out for a few…" Brandon trailed off. "Yeah let me get dressed real quick and let's go grab something to eat." Mike said. "Sure" Brandon answered. "I heard that Stef is going to take in Jude and Callie permanently." Mike yelled from his room. "Yeah, um, moms told them yesterday before the wedding." Brandon answered

"You cool with that?" Mike said putting his tee shirt on walking through the bedroom. "Um, yeah… yeah it's cool." Brandon said. "Well Since it can get crowded, anytime you want to be here you can be." Mike handed Brandon a key. "This is your place too, you can come by anytime you feel the need to, even if it's just to get away from the hustle and clear your mind." Mike told Brandon. Brandon looked down at the keys in his hand and around the apartment. "Yeah thanks dad, thanks."Brandon said. "Yeah well I'm starving lets go grab a burger or something." Mike said. "Yeah dad sounds good." Brandon and Mike leave to go talk some more and get a bite to eat.

"Jesus" Lexi excitedly called out as she ran to him. "Mariana I am glad you came because as it turns out I leave tomorrow morning."Lexi said. "I thought you were leaving at the end of the week?" Jesus asked. "Thought so too but after we talked we got a call and grandma isn't doing well so in the morning we are leaving. I am going to miss you guys so much!" Lexi sadly said. "We are going to miss you too!" Mariana said while hugging Lexi. "Thanks for coming guys! Hey Jesus, is he ok?"Lexi asked about Jude "Not sure he's been like this all morning. Don't really know why." Jesus said "Hey Jude you alright?" Mariana called out to him. "Yeah I am fine, could I go hang out by the water?" Jude asked. "Yeah we'll head out that way in just a sec." Jesus answered. They all headed to the water. Lexi, Jesus and Mariana spent the afternoon together and had fun. Jude even smiled a few times. They didn't pay any attention to it he has had it rough for the last few years and he might just be having a bad day. Lexi promised to call him as soon as she could and promised to email often as Jesus and the rest of the Fosters headed home for dinner.

5:15pm

"Sorry moms bus was running a little late" Jesus said as they piled into the door. "Need any help?" Mariana asked "Don't worry Brandon isn't back yet either just go wash up for dinner." Lena said. "Hey Jesus set one more place I think Mike might stay" Stef said. Brandon rushed in "Sorry mom we got caught up in the game and lost track of time." Brandon said. "Its fine sweetie is Mike going to stay?" Stef asked Brandon. "No he said he had some meeting or something to go to so he said thanks but next time." Brandon responded.

After a few minutes of chaos dinner was on the table and everyone was seated with one open spot. There wasn't much thought of it at that time but when dinner was finished Stef was beginning to wonder what was going on with Callie. Later that night Jude was going to bed and the rest of the foster family were sitting in the living room.

"Anyone heard from Callie? It's getting really late" Lena asked. Brandon looked around. "Yeah I haven't seen her all day." Brandon said. Jesus and Mariana were with Jude all day at the beach and made it clear that they hadn't seen her either. This worried Stef but it also worried Brandon. Brandon ran up stairs looking at his phone '1 missed call' he hoped it was from Callie. This way at least he wouldn't have to worry as much. He unlocked his phone and looked. It was from Tayla.

Jude was grabbing a towel and heading back into his room. Brandon was a little apprehensive to ask given what happened yesterday but he needed to ask. "Hey um Jude have, have you heard from your sister today?" Brandon asked quietly. Jude shook his head "No I haven't heard from her today…YOU?" Jude said a little sarcastically "No, um if you hear from her let us know moms are starting to worry."Brandon said. "Yeah" Jude responded. "Hey Brandon if you or anyone gets a call from Callie let me know I spoke to Wyatt's mom and she said he left late last night so I am going to go look for her ok." Stef said.

Brandon was in his bed it was late he knew he should have been asleep for school tomorrow but he was too worried. The door closes he looks at the clock three forty in the morning. I just hope she found Callie and she is ok.

Callie was still driving and having a hard time keeping awake since there was nothing on the radio. She grabbed Wyatt's phone and noticed he had internet signal and opened up the music app and started playing something that sounded like noise so I changed the station to z100 from New York. And thought could be worse. The music was pretty good and I was doing fine with driving now that I had some music to listen too.

High dive into frozen waves where the past comes back to life
Fight fear for the selfish pain it was worth it every time
Hold still right before we crash, cause we both know how this ends
A clock ticks 'till it breaks your glass and I drown in you again

Cause you are the piece of me, I wish I didn't need
Chasing relentlessly, still fight and I don't know why
If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our loves insanity, why are you my clarity?

Callie changed the song and pulled into a gas station and got out of the car. Wyatt woke up and noticed her going into the store figuring she just needed to go to the restroom or get a drink he decided to top off the gas. They really hadn't talked the whole trip something was wrong but he knew he shouldn't ask yet cause she defiantly was not ready to even go there.

"Hey just needed to go to the bathroom." Callie said without hesitation and got into the passenger seat. 'OK didn't ask but whatever." They were actually pretty low on gas anyway so refueled and rested Wyatt took to driving again. "Hey do you like that song?" Wyatt asked. "It's ok?"

They continued to drive for another 20 minutes before Wyatt had to open the can of worms. "Why are you doing this?" Wyatt asked Callie. "Doing what?" she responded. "This, you know you can't stay with us my mom wouldn't let that fly. Why are you going to a city you don't know with people you don't know? You have a good situation for now and." Wyatt was interrupted. "Listen sometimes things don't work out the way you plan them and sometimes you have to do what's best for people you love. Jude will be happier this way maybe they will keep him and he will get the life he wants." Callie said.

"But what do you want?" Wyatt asked. "For Jude to have the life he deserves." Callie said. "So in that life he doesn't deserve his sister?" Wyatt questions. Callie thought to herself, why he has to say things that sometimes make her doubt everything. She started to say something but words never escaped her mouth. "You got nothing. Why are you really going?" Wyatt pulls the car over into a rest stop along the interstate. "What happened?" Wyatt asked

"I was selfish, I know what I deserve and what I wanted and for a fleeting few moments I had both. But I realize that was a dream and you can't get what you want in the real world, cause as soon as you do you just, it just, nothing will ever work out how it should with me. It will always end badly. And it's my fault; my selfishness could ruin Jude's chances at a good life. I won't let that happen." Callie confessed. "Callie does this have something to do with what I said the other day at the hospital?" Wyatt asked. Callie didn't answer. After a few minutes of silence Callie finally asked if they could just keep on going. Wyatt started the car again and started driving

"Hey Callie we will be in Indiana in about 2 hours." Wyatt said.

I knew that I had no place to go and no real plan. I was scared of what I was going to do but I knew I was doing the right thing. I wouldn't be the reason it didn't work out for Jude. All Callie could really think about is that stupid song…. He is the piece I wish I didn't need. I know it's wrong but I can't help it. I still fight and I don't know why. Why does he have to be my clarity?

Brandon had not heard much coming from downstairs and he couldn't take the unknown anymore he walked downstairs with the excuse of wanting some water already planned out. "Oh hey I didn't know you were down here is everything ok?" Brandon said to his mom. "Not really." Stef answered. "No news huh?" Brandon asked "No. Did she say or do anything to let you know why she would do this?" Step asked her son. "Um , I , um" "She isn't coming back." Jude said. "Don't say that sweetie she would never leave you she loves you so much and." Stef was stopped

"We got into a fight, a bad one. I told her that she ruins everything and she was being selfish. I told her she was going to mess things up and that I liked it here and didn't want to go because of her. So she left." Jude said. "Oh… no, no, no Jude she wouldn't." Jude stopped her again "No she would." Jude showed the letter to Stef

Jude,

You are right and I am sorry. I let my feelings get in the way of everything this time and I will not let that ruin your chances of having a good life here. The Fosters are a great family and they will take care of you. I won't let anything get in the way of that even me. I love you Jude

Callie

After reading the letter she looked at Jude then looked at Brandon "What were you two fighting about?" Jude looked at Brandon…

Callie got out of the car at a Waffle house Wyatt said he was hungry and stopped. "Why are you the piece of me I wish I didn't need? Why do you have to be what I want, why are you my clarity?" Callie said to herself thinking she was alone. "I had a feeling this was about Brandon" Wyatt said. "Everything has been, from the moment I walked through that door…it's just he just." Callie trailed off. "What happened, tell me." Wyatt asked. Callie looked at him looked out the window. "Whatever I don't know why I bother sometimes with you." Wyatt said. "I kissed him…he kissed me back….I know what I want…"

End

A/N: Sorry for the ending being kind of a cliff hanger. This was just some random thoughts I had on what could happen in the morning and following day. I might do a second part, not sure if I should continue with the convo that is happening with Jude, Stef and Brandon (Which I think would be very interesting.) If you want a part 2 to close it up or if you just like this story please let me know with a review. THANK YOU for reading and January can't come soon enough.