AN: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, followed, or added this story to their favourites list. You all push me to write more. I'm sorry if this story seems a little choppy at times, I'm not used to writing stories from first person POV. Story ideas are always welcome, especially because I'm not quite sure where I want to take this story. What started out as an idea for a oneshot has turned into a full-blown story.

Chapter 2:

Callie's POV

A few days have passed since my confession to Brandon. Brandon has been extremely supportive, something that seems to come naturally to him. He didn't tell anyone what I had told him and has not been treating me any differently than he did before. He still treats me like a normal human being, not the train wreck with a screwed up past. I couldn't have asked for a better friend.

Friend really wasn't the right word to describe the relationship between Brandon and I, but right now I'm not entirely sure what is. We are more than friends, but we aren't lovers. We are not a couple. I don't know what to make of us to be completely honest. I know it's something we need to talk about, but I still don't know if I'm ready to go there.

Brandon is the only real friend I've ever had and I don't want to jeopardize that. Not only that, but what if CPS finds Jude and I a home in another state? What happens then? I don't want to start something knowing that it is doomed to fail. That wouldn't be fair to either of us. I have to figure something out, that's for sure.

Brandon and I have not kissed since that night. We've barely touched at all since then, just the odd brush of hands as we walk passed each other. It is starting to make me uneasy. I find myself having second thoughts as to whether or not Brandon really likes me as more than a friend. I think I may have scared him off with my past. He said that nothing could change the way he feels about me, but if that's true then why hasn't he touched me since that night? Does he feel uncomfortable around me? Is it like the night I arrived where he sees me as this fragile little girl who could fall apart at the slightest gust of wind? I don't want that. I need to get Brandon alone and talk to him.

The idea of talking about my insecurities with someone terrifies me, but I know I can trust him. I have to. I have to learn to let people in. I can't keep these walls up forever. Who better to let in than the guy I think I'm falling in love with?

A few minutes later Lena was at the bottom of the stairs, calling us all down for dinner. I hopped off of my bed, grateful for the distraction, and headed to the bathroom to wash my hands, the scents of dinner wafting up the stairs and hitting my nostrils in a full assault. I inhaled a deep breath of the delicious aroma. I'm still not used to the smell of an actual home cooked meal. At my other foster homes it was always quick and easy food like TV dinners or greasy take out. Prison was slightly better, but still nothing compared to a home cooked meal. Prison food was mediocre in quality, which beat foster food, but it was always cold and you were lucky if you didn't find a stray hair in your dish.

I can't even remember the last time I had a home cooked meal before coming here. Probably before my mom passed away.

I felt tears threatening to fall at the thought of my mother. I tried not to think about her, it was too painful. I had never really had time to grieve. After she died my stepfather started beating me, blaming me for her death. When CPS found out, after he started getting sloppy, I was placed into foster care. It's hard to grieve the loss of a loved one when you're being moved from foster home to foster home, more focused on protecting your brother than letting yourself feel. Jude and I never felt like we belonged. Not until now.

This place feels like home. Lena and Stef treat Jude and I like family. I know it's only temporary and I shouldn't let myself get so attached, but it's hard to not let yourself feel the love in this house. This is what I want. I want a home. Somewhere where I belong and people love me for who I am. I not only want that for me, but for Jude as well. He was so young when mom died. He needs parents who love him. I just wish there was some way that we could convince Lena and Stef to keep us.

As I was walking out of the bathroom, too focused on my thoughts to really pay attention to what was going on in front of me, I bumped into Brandon. Literally.

I was walking out the bathroom door when we collided, the shock knocking me off-balance. Brandon was quick to react, reaching out to grip my arms and steady me. I smiled at him tentatively.

"You okay?" he asked, returning my smile with his bright one.

"Oh… Yeah. I'm okay. Just a little distracted. Sorry for uh running into you," I stammered, chuckling nervously at the end.

Brandon gave me a curious look and said, "It's no problem. I'm used to it, living in a house of seven after all. I don't mind being bumped into every now and then. Especially when it's by a cute girl."

He gave me a sly wink as he finished talking. I was too busy focused on my own stupidity to really notice.

'Pull yourself together Callie. Since when do you stumble over your words with guys?' I scolded.

Brandon is the only guy I've ever felt this jittery around. Every time I'm near him I get butterflies in my stomach and I get all tongue tied. Just another thing to add to my list of things to get a grip on.

I sighed in defeat, inadvertently catching Brandon's attention. Was he always this attentive?

'Think of how great he must be in the bedroom… No Callie. Now is not the time to get in touch with your horny teenager side.' My mind really seemed to have a mind of its own these days.

"What's wrong?" he asked, concern written on his face.

Was he always this nice? Didn't he ever get sick of being perfect?

"Just thinking about what a klutz I've become," I replied jokingly, not wanting to tell him what was really on my mind.

Brandon laughed and shook his head light heartedly, his smile reaching his eyes. I felt a smile of my own curving my lips. Another one of the many affects Brandon has on me. I cannot help but smile when I see him smiling. His happiness is contagious. Oh boy, am I in deep or what?

Dinner was going by smoothly. Mariana was talking a mile a minute about her day. Jesus was staring dreamily into space, probably daydreaming about Lexi. Jude was practically inhaling his dinner, still not used to good food.

I tried time and time again to get him to use some manners, I knew he had them hidden somewhere in the back of his mind, but there was no budging on the issue. Lena and Stef didn't seem to mind much, so I had given up trying last week, deciding to just let it slide for the time being.

Lena and Stef were asking all of us about our day, trying to engage each of us. Mariana was more than happy to fill us in on the details of her day, of course, but the rest of us were pretty quiet. Lena and Stef must be used to it by now because neither of them pushed. They just let us carry on as we were, focusing their attention on Mariana's overly dramatic lunch story. At least we had made it to noon by now. I was starting to feel like this story would take all night. How much could really happen in one day at school?

Suddenly Brandon had my small hand wrapped in his larger one. I tensed up in surprise, but other than that I made sure to give no indication that anything was going on underneath the table.

After the initial shock of Brandon taking my hand in his and resting our hands on my thigh wore off, I was able to relax. I squeezed his hand, letting him know that I was okay with the intimate gesture. He kept his face turned towards the conversation taking place, but I saw a smile appear when I squeezed his hand.

I guess Brandon wasn't scared off after all. I smiled at the thought. I was glad that he was still interested in me. You'd think I'd be nervous about someone noticing what we were doing, but the physical contact made me too relaxed to care. It's funny, Brandon being close to me usually makes me nervous, but at times like this, him being close puts me at ease.

Brandon rubbed his thumb along the back of my hand as we sat there listening to Mariana, Lena and Stef adding the odd sentence into the conversation.

There is always a friendly atmosphere at dinner, whether it's because of the comfort food or the company I'm not entirely sure. Not that it really matters what the cause of it is. What matters is that we're all happy. Dinner time always reinforces the sense of family that comes with living with the Fosters. Meals together are one of the things I'm going to miss most when Jude and I have to leave. Although I won't miss this nearly as much as I'll miss Brandon.

After dinner I headed up to my room. I knew I'd have the room to myself because Mariana was going out to meet her latest love interest, some poetry guy who did not seem like her type.

I sat on my bed writing in my journal until the tension of my unresolved issues with Brandon became too much. I had to go talk to him. I had to tell him how I felt and just see where the chips fell. I couldn't keep dancing around the issue anymore. I couldn't keep pretending that nothing happened.

I was sick of always hiding the way I felt. I've never felt like I could trust anyone, but Brandon is changing all of that for me. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I can trust someone. I know Brandon would never do anything to hurt me, let alone betray my trust. I can count on him. That is probably why I've been falling for him in the first place. It is time I confess to more than just my past. It's time I forget about the past and work towards a future.

I eased off of my bed, brushing my hands over my clothes, smoothing out any wrinkles, running my fingers through my hair, and finally heading towards Brandon's room. I knock firmly on the door and wait for him to respond.

"Come in," comes a muffled voice from within the room.

I slowly ease the door open, take a deep calming breath, and step inside, closing the door behind me.