Author's notes: Why yes, this chapter was posted so quickly purely in hopes of getting more reviews.
XXX
It was hard to tell whether the music was turned up too loud, or if her headache was simply making all sounds painful. Sliding two completed drinks across the bar, she raised her voice to be heard over the din. "Large Salted caramel latte, two extra shots, extra whip. Medium half caff Americana, skim milk, no sugar!"
"Next time, try to keep the customers from waiting five minutes." Not giving her coworker the satisfaction of outwardly wincing, Callie started on the next order. Taylor was perpetually pissed because a fourteen year old had seniority over her, but even without her attitude, Callie constantly felt like she was proving herself at work. It didn't help that she'd woken up ten minutes before she was supposed to leave this morning, and had been trying to catch her breath ever since.
Bitchy girls and morning rushes aside, Callie really did enjoy her job. Liam had convinced her to start applying soon after her fourteenth birthday, coaching her through potential interview questions and awkward essay applications. She had argued, convinced no one would even look at her once they knew her age. Liam countered that employers just wanted someone who would do the work. Callie definitely fell into that category.
Ten months later, here she was at The Java Hut, having recently received her first promotion from cashier to barista. Liam had been working at a nearby body shop when she'd first been hired seven months ago, but he was let go soon after. For as good as Liam was at getting jobs, he was awful at holding them down. Some days, when she came home with a preview of one of their specialty drinks for him to try, he looked at her like this was her fault. She wanted to remind him that he had been the one to encourage her to apply, but it was easier to keep silent and just stop bringing things home.
Slowly, the crowd thinned until it was just Callie, Taylor, and the too loud music. Letting her work stance drop, she gratefully began blending herself a coconut mocha, one of those specialty drinks that was on the menu for a limited time, but that they always had ingredients for lying around. She didn't like getting into the habit of spending money on drinks for herself, but shifts that started at 6AM would always be the exception to that rule. Was it normal to be exhausted at 9AM on a Saturday? She honestly wasn't sure.
"Want a drink?" She slid $5 in to the cash register as she talked, and Taylor didn't bother looking up from her phone. "I'll take that as a no." Callie slid her english book from her backpack. She was two chapters behind on To Kill a Mockingbird, but if she sped-read, she might be able to finish before the end of her shift. Taking an eager sip of her breakfast, she finally started to relax. The shop was blissfully quiet for the next ten minutes, allowing just enough time for her to become fully engrossed in the novel.
Which was why it took her several seconds to realize they were no longer alone. Thankfully, Taylor proved why she was worth having around, snapping to attention to greet the customer while Callie guiltily stowed her book. Fortunately, the caffeine had kicked in, and she was on her game this time. It helped that the shop was quiet enough for her to actually ear what the woman was ordering. By the time Taylor turned to her with the completed order, she was halfway through the first requested latte.
"Did you want hole milk with both of these?" The question was meant for Taylor, but the customer answered instead.
"Aren't you a little young to be drinking that?" Annoyed, Callie turned to see the woman eyeballing her abandoned mocha. She was about to attempt her best 'the customer is always right' response, when she did a double take.
"Stef?" It was the cop from the other week, the one who's business card she still hadn't thrown away.
"Right in one, 'CJ.'" Stef's eyes flicked to her name tag, and Callie busied herself with the espresso machine in an effort not to blush.
CJ was her work name. Everyone assumed the J was for Jacob, but it was actually Joanne, her mother's name. Neither Callie or Jude had middle names, but in a nostalgic moment, she had filled out several applications with the name Callie Joanne. She had no idea what her mother would think of her getting a job so young, but eventually, Callie hoped she would be proud. So, when her boss had assumed she went by CJ, she had gone with it. Up until now, it had been a sort of secret. Having Stef say it made her stomach flip and her hand fumble with the steamed milk. NOt that there was any reason to react this way. Stef wasn't anyone who's opinion should matter to her.
Except, Stef was asking why she was drinking coffee, as though they meant something to one another. Like, well, like a mom might ask her daughter. Normally, such familiarity would have felt unwelcome and uncomfortably out of place, but it had been so long since someone had nagged her about anything, that for a long moment, Callie found herself relishing it.
"I don't think I've ever seen you in here before," she managed to say, relieved when her voice came out neutral. not that she would have exactly known to look.
A shrug. "Yeah, I usually bring coffee from home, but desperate times."
"I know the feeling." Their gazes locked on her mocha at the same second. "Um, so. Hole milk?"
XXX
She dropped face first onto her bed several hours later, not having the strength to wash the coffee smell out of her hair. Her tips crinkled in her jeans pocket, and she smiled, thinking back to the surprise on discovering the five dollar bill. It had to have been from Stef, and even though the total was split with Taylor, Callie couldn't help secretly hoping it had been mostly for her. She should try making conversation with the customers more often.
"Where have you been?" Sounding put upon, Jude wandered in, wedging himself down beside her hip.
"You know I had work." Grudgingly, she rolled to her side, giving him slightly more room.
"Felt like you were gone forever."
"Well, I'm back now. What's up?" If he was bored, he would usually come out and say so. Her paychecks went directly into savings, but her tips were fair game, and she probably had enough from the last couple of weeks to take him to the movies. Maybe Liam would come, if he had money for his own ticket.
"I need to tell you something." She propped herself on an elbow at his tone, looking at him properly. They had been with the Olmsted's for nearly thirteen months, but when he used that voice, the instinct to check him for injuries was immediate.
Naturally, he looked fine, and she clasped her hands to keep from running them over his arms and legs all the same. "What is it? You could have called me if something was wrong."
"No, it's… I failed my math test." He said the last bit in a rush, heat staining his cheeks.
She sat up to put an arm around him. "Aww, buddy. I'm sorry."
"Can you sign it?" He got up, retrieving his backpack from her closet. Another thing that made her heart drop; he hadn't felt the need to hide things in months.
"You know I can't. It needs to be done-"
"By a guardian, which is basically you."
"Jude, you know I'm not."
Tears welled in his eyes, and he threw the bag across the room. "You should be!" He walked out long before she was even close to coming up with a reply.
When he was gone, she retrieved his backpack from the floor. Along with the slightly crumpled math test and his reader, there was a box of granola bars, and four apples. The Olmsted's never bought granola bars, and apprehension began to gnaw at her. If Jude was stealing again, things were worse than she'd previously thought.
XXX
From: CJacob97
To: Sfoster
Subject: Question
Hi Stef,
I hope it's not too weird that I'm emailing you. I was just wondering if you knew anything about becoming emancipated? If I was able to do it, do you think I'd get permission to have custody of my little brother? I've had a job for over a year and just got promoted. That has to count for something, right?
I'll owe you free lattes for life if you have any answers. And even if you don't, I'll give you a couple just for reading this.
~Callie (CJ)
PS: thanks again for giving me your card.
Author's notes: I have never been entirely happy with this chapter. I see a lot of Stef's parenting as instinctive, such as her calling Jude sweets after knowing him for less than 12 hours in the second episode, and to a lesser extent in the flashback with her meeting the twins. This fic will hinge on a lot of that, as you can see from the coffee shop scene. Since we're in Callie's head, it's harder to convey Stef's actions. If there's ever something you feel unclear about or would like to argue, feel free.
I won't always post updates this close together, but I hoped I might get more feedback if you understood a little more about where I was going.
