BRANDON'S POV

It's been a week since Mariana's quinceñeara.

Two days ago I picked up Callie and Wyatt from their date with the police.

Things have been tense between Callie and I since I confessed my feelings for her. Although she didn't exactly deny having feelings for me, she thought that being with me is a bad idea. For reasons I kind of understand, but I still don't think that Moms would care so much if we started dating that they would kick Callie and Jude out, I don't think they are that low. But none of us

We are on Thanksgiving break right now, and we aren't going anywhere, so for the past couple days I've just been moping around the house. I haven't talked to Callie at all, and she hasn't said a word to me either. At dinner it's always awkward, and we always make a point of not sitting next to each other. Right after dinner I go into my room and play piano, while Callie goes into her room, to i don't even know anymore, probably text Wyatt.

I've been working on a new piece for the past two days, and I don't what it's about, but suddenly a bunch of melodies have popped into my head and they're all minor, but they sound beautiful. So everyday I just hide on my room and work on my piece. And that's the way I like it. There's no one to distract me, just me and my music, kind of like the way it was before.

MARIANA'S POV

"Hey Jesus could you come down here I want to talk to you about something."

"Kay in a minute," Jesus yells. I sit down at the kitchen table. I look out the window and I see Callie sitting on the swing, playing her guitar, playing a couple chords, the strumming a beat.

I can also hear Brandon playing piano upstairs. Even when they're separate and not playing together, their playing meshes beautifully when you listen to them at the same time. Like they are talking back and forth, like having a conversation.

Mom (Stef) is at work, Mom (Lena) is out buying groceries, and Jude is out with his friend Connor, now is our chance to discuss Brandon and Callie without being bothered.

Jesus comes down into the kitchen, "What's up?"

"You noticed that there's something going on between Brandon and Callie, right?"

Jesus laughs and smiles, "You mean that they like each other or that they haven't talked to each other in days? Because everyone noticed that there's tension between them, both good and bad. "

"I think that night she went on a date with Wyatt, something happened, and Brandon just snapped. He couldn't bear to see Callie dating someone else, so he told her how he felt."

"Well what do you want me to do?"

"It's not like we can like convince to date, not even if we want them to, because Callie wouldn't no matter how hard Brandon tried, because she needs to protect Jude and keep him safe. I think we need to at least get them talking to each other again. Because if they don't start talking to each other soon, it's going to get really awkward really soon."

"Okay I'll talk to Brandon, you talk to Callie. "

"Fine," I start to head outside to where Callie is still playing her guitar, the guitar Brandon gave her I realize. Before I can get outside Jesus says, "But don't you kind of want them to go out? I mean I know I do at least all the tension in the house between them would be gone, it'd be better for all of us."

"Yeah I know Jesus. But it's forbidden, and I know Callie is into rule breaking and all that, but I think to her keeping Jude in a safe household comes before her feelings, because none of us know how Moms would react if Brandon and Callie started dating."

And with that I walked out the back door.

CALLIE'S POV

I hear someone coming up next to me and sitting down. Usually when I am playing guitar it is Brandon, but right now it's Mariana.

She says, "Hey, what's up?"

I continue to strum my guitar, "Not much. Why?"

She takes a deep breath, "Okay, Callie, I know you're not one for skirting around information so I'll just be direct with it. What's going on with you and Brandon?"

I knew someone was going to ask me eventually. "I don't know."

"C'mon Callie, it's just me. Like two girls gossiping about some guy at a sleepover."

"No really, I don't know anymore. That night I went out with Wyatt, and you can't tell anyone this, Wyatt took me to see the meteor shower on what he said was his parents beach house. But it wasn't, it was just some place he did a construction job. The police came and they blocked us from getting to his car. So I had to call Brandon. He picked me and Wyatt up. When we got back to the house he was mad, because he picked me up from a date with Wyatt. I thought he was just mad about Wyatt, but really, he just liked me. "

"Wait hold on a minute, seriously? You didn't know he liked you? Are you that oblivious?"

"No I knew. Its just I thought he would care more about the fact that it's forbidden and the fact that Jude and I could get kicked out."

I couldn't tell her about Liam, not yet anyway.

"So after I told him we couldn't because of Jude and I getting kicked out, I walked away from him."

"So what are you going to do now?"

"I don't know. What do you think I should do?"

"Honestly, I think you should be the one to start talking to him again."

"Yeah but he's to one who liked me okay!"

"You honestly think that I don't know you liked him too? You don't think I see the way you two looked at each other? The way you guys danced at my quinceñeara? Even if I was mad at Lexi then I still saw you guys dancing. The way he helped you with guitar for the longest time, he even just sat and watched you play sometimes. I know Callie, I know."

"Okay then, I guess I'll talk to him."

"Just try to forget about that night, pretend it never happened. What would you be doing if that night hadn't happened? "

"We'd probably be playing music together. Or just talking around his piano."

"Well you've got your guitar already, and your mouth. You can talk and play guitar easily."

I laugh, the first real laugh I've had in a while since Brandon and I stopped talking. "Okay I'll go now I guess."

"No wait, let's go eat a snack or something first!"

"Why?"

"Just, please? I'm kind of hungry we can go eat in the kitchen. I'll make chips and salsa?"

"Kay fine. So what's going on in your life?"

JESUS' POV

Mariana just told me the story of what happened between Brandon and Callie. I can't believe it I'm kind of in shock. I didn't realize things were that intense between them.

I receive a text it's from Mariana again.

to Jesus: Callie n I are in the kitchen so whatever you do don't let Brandon come to the kitchen I want Callie to talk to him first

I knock on Brandon's door, he doesn't answer. He probably thinks it's Callie. I knock again, "Hey man it's me."

I stop knocking, I almost walk away but he says "Come in."

I sit down on his bed and face him, "What's up with you man?"

"What do you mean?"

"Dude c'mon, you barely talk to any of us anymore. Especially Callie what's up with that? Did she do something to you?" Even though I know she didn't, well not really at least.

"I guess you could say that..."

"C'mon bro spill. We're brothers you can tell me anything. I promise I won't tell Mariana."

He takes a deep breath, then tells me the whole story, up until the part where he tells Callie he doesn't want her dating anyone, everything is the same as Mariana told me. "I mean I get not wanting to get kicked out of the house for Jude's sake, but I don't think Moms are that mean. They wouldn't do that. At least I think they wouldn't. And Callie didn't think about how I would feel if she basically rejected me. It might not have affected her because she still has Wyatt, but it definitely hurt me. And the day after that, in school, she kissed Wyatt. Right in front of me too! It's like she knew I was watching and wanted to make me jealous and rub it in my face that we couldn't be together,"

Wow. Mariana didn't tell me Callie and Wyatt made out right in front of Brandon. She seemed to have left that part out.

"And that's why I'm at her Jesus, because instead of me, she'd rather go around with guys who could get her sent to prison for life, which apparently to her is less risky than being with me."

Before I can say anything he says, "I'm going to go get something to eat from the kitchen, want anything?"

"No. No i'm okay."

I can hear him go down the steps, and I just sit on his bed. Processing all of this.