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Callie POV
"I'm keeping my apartment" I tell them and leave no room for argument. It wasn't up for a discussion. I have made my mind up about it and it will stay that way. For the last 8 years I had no say what so ever regarding my living situation. Not until I managed to get my own place. I am not going to give up my place so easily. Also, I needed a place to retreat back to if this ends up bad or if this doesn't work out like I have planned.
"I'm only here for one reason. I only agree to one part of your deal," I continued staring right back at Stef. If either one would protest, I knew it was Stef.
"That would be?" Stef asks and waits for me to continue
"I'm only here because of Jude. The only reason I said yes, is because of my brother. Because you were right when you said it was the only way he can have it all. This is the only way Jude doesn't have to choose, this is the only way he doesn't get hurt. I don't want to be part of your family. I already have a family. Jude is my family. I'm not going to make friend with you or your kids, or your extended family. And I don't want you to adopt me. I don't need nor want your pity. I'm not going to be your charity case!" I state in a no-nonsense tone of voice
"Yeah" Stef dragged slowly, leaned back and crossed her hands on her chest "You already hurt him, Callie. Jude looked pretty devastated and hurt to me."
I grinned my teeth and pulled my hands in fists once Stef said that. I knew she was right, that's why it bothered me so much. I knew I hurt Jude, when I decided to leave without saying a word and didn't even ask for his opinion before making my decisions. Stef didn't have to remind me. That's like pouring salt in open wound. Every time I picture them telling Jude that I withdrew my suit for custody, tears appear in my eyes.
"You left him after all!" Stef added making me hate myself even more for what I did. If that was her plan, guilt tripping me, it was working. I may have done the right thing, by letting Jude go, but I did it the wrong way. My knuckles started to get white, my nails were digging my skin.
I concentrated on the table in front of me, while through grinned teeth I managed to reply to her slowly "I know what I did. You don't have to remind me and shove my mistakes in my face" I looked up to Stef "You think I don't know that I hurt him? You think I don't feel shitty enough already?"
Both of their looks and features softened the moment I said it. Stef uncrossed her arms and reached for my hand on the table. Once her arm was halfway extended, I pulled both of my hands to my lap, avoiding any sort of contact with them. Stef's look saddened once I did that. She let her hand fall down to the table and then she pulled her hand back to her lap.
"I'm sorry," Stef replied in much more softer tone "I'm sorry, I should not have-"
"Save it" I mutter back. I think the change in my attitude once again made Stef's features change. Lena moved her hand under the table. I was sure she was holding Stef's hand so she wouldn't just snap at me or jump at me, because of my attitude. I take few deep and slow breaths to calm myself down.
They shared a look and I could swear, Stef gave Lena a little nod. Lena offered Stef a little, barely visible smile back before she turned back at me.
"We have some house rules, you will have to take note to" Lena informs me, Stef next to her nods back
"House rules?" I chuckled back frustrated "Great...another group home!" I mutter back angrily
"Not like...they aren't-" Lena tried to explain, but then she sighted stopping in her effort "Just hear us out, please!" She pleaded and waited till I gave a little nod back
"First - there is no swearing or cursing in the house. I don't want for anyone to use that kind of language in our home"
"Is that it?" I ask hoping it was all of it and that we can be done with it
"Oh, honey" Stef tilted her head a bit sideways and said to me with a bit of attitude as well, almost like she was using my own attitude against me "We just started!"
"Fine, but I have a rule as well!" I interjected before Lena could continue and pointed to Stef "You aren't allowed to call me - honey!" I told Stef in the most no-nonsense tone of voice. She screwed up her face and glanced to Lena, who just shrugged back.
"Fine. No more calling you - honey!" Stef said casually once she locked eyes with me
"Second," Lena spoke up, taking the charge of the conversation again "We don't want you to work more than 45 hours a week!"
"What!" I blur back shocked "What kind of stupid rule is that?"
"You are just 18, we don't want you to be overworked. Also, you will have at least 2 days off in a weak, because we want you to actually have some time live your life, rest, have some fun, spend some time with Jude. It doesn't have to be weekends, it can be Monday or Thursday. It can be whichever two days you want" Lena explained to me in her usual calm and composed manner
Stef picked up from there "Rule nr. 3 if I got the count correct - whenever you have plans to go somewhere, you will tell us where you are going and with whom you are going. You will always have to have your phone with, so we can contact you!"
"I'm not fucking kid!" I replied back in raised voice at once
"But you are not an adult either!" Stef snapped back at me and then reminded me "And Lena already told you rule nr.1 - no swearing!" I roll my eyes at her and give out a small scoff
"We didn't say you have a curfew. You can stay out as long as you like, hang out with whoever you like - we just want to know where and with whom you are going out with. It's merely for safely reasons, Callie. Nothing else! We aren't trying to control you!" Lena added trying to calm me down a bit "We know you are 18, you can have your own life!"
"Rule nr.4" Stef said once Lena ended "This is not a brothel. We don't want to see different dude every night coming and going. And we would appreciate if you don't have sex while the house is full and everyone is at home and could hear you!"
"What makes you think I'm into guys?" I asked back not missing a beat. I don't know why I thought that by saying that I like girls, would make a difference for them. For those few short seconds I forgot that they are lesbians after all.
"Girls, guys -we don't care about the gender!" Lena replied and continued on with the rules "Rule nr. 5 – if you and your partner decide to have sex-" I tensed up on the other side of the table, scared of where this rule was going "We have condoms in our bathrooms. Take them. Use them! It is for your own protection!"
I shifted in my seat as I kept on listening as Stef spoke after Lena's last rule "Rule nr.6 – no walking/running way from conversation. If you want space, time to yourself - you say it! We will respect it and give it to you! You do not run away!"
"How much more of these rules do I have to remember?" I asked finally get tired of them. I think I already have forgotten what was the third rule. I think first was the cursing rule. But what came next, it had already slipped my mind.
"Only one. Most important rule!" Lena tells me looking straight to my eyes and detained a small pause, causing my hart to beat a bit faster. She press her index finger to the table "– you are to join as at this table for dinner. Once a day, we will all sit down together and have a meal together. No excuses!"
"What if I have work at that time?"
"Then breakfast!" Lena clarified "We want to see your face at this table at least once a day!"
"What will happen if I break a rule?" I ask them back trying to act as if I don't care, that I am not worried
"We will remind you," Stef answers me
I screw up my face in confusion "In what...way?" Their features once again soften, they share a quick look of concern to one another
"By telling you, hon-" Stef said but stopped, when I raised my finger up to remind her of my rule "By telling you Callie. Just by telling you!" Stef fixed the mistake on her own
"So..." Lena asked and looked at me and then to Stef "do you have anything to add?" Stef nodded back and then both of them looked to me, giving me an opportunity to speak up
"Rule nr.1 stays the same - neither of you are allowed to call me - honey" I reminded them for a start
"Yes, we remember" Lena replied nodding back in acknowledgment "Anything else?"
"Rule nr.2 - I am not doing family...things. No school plays, no school sport events or whatever your kids do. Neither of that! That also included no Brandon music thing"
"What about extended family gatherings?" Lena inquires before I manage to continue
I thought about it for few seconds before answering "2 hours in a day, no more. If the family is staying for more than one day, no more than a hour at a day! I am not going to sit around and do nothing or play nice for a whole day!"
Stef nodded back few times "Got it!", but Lena added "We can work with that"
"Rule nr.3 - I am doing my own laundry. You are not allowed to touch it!" Stef only showed an OK sign back to that
"Rule nr.4 -no one is allowed to come to my work, visit me or check on me. I don't want anyone bothering me at work! Exception is Jude!"
"Noted!"Lena replied "Is that all?" I thought about it for a moment and when nothing else comes to my mind I nod back.
Lena shared another look with Stef before she smiled to me "If we are done here, we would love to show you where you will be staying"
I follow them out to the backyard to the garage. Stef unlocks the doors and pushes them open. She walks in first and switches the light on. The place looked freshly remodeled.
The end wall, was painted in the color of light green. The rest of the walls had a light brown wood panel on. Two lamps hang down from the ceiling illuminating the room. The floor wasn't cement, like usually in garages. It had this old looking wood floor. Looked like oak. In the middle of the room, there was a big rug. By the big garage doors, in one of the corner stood some pile of boxes.
Opposite the garage doors, by the light green wall, there was a double bed, with a bedding on. On the right, there was a nightstand. By the left wall, there was a bookshelf, with actual books in and a couch. By the other wall, stood a closest. Next to the closet, there was a desk. It had a radio on by one of the end, some magazines were placed on the other side, along with a vase of flower.
Crap – I think to myself, when I see how good this fucking place looked. They have actually tried. They have actually put effort in remodeling this garage. Just so I could stay here. The only thing that was missing was pictures or some canvases on the walls to make it more personal.
"We didn't have the time nor the extra funds to build a bathroom in, but you can use the bathrooms in the house. Same goes for the kitchen" Stef said looking around the room herself, she pointed to the boxes in the corner "We will get rid of those boxes, don't worry. Didn't have the time to find a place for those..."
"No it's…great" I said walking deeper in the room "The boxes can stay. I don't mind."
The place really was great. They have turned it upside down. The garage doors was the only thing that gave away the fact that this was a garage a while back. It looked really homey and comfortable. I stood in the middle of the room, on the rug and looked around the room once more time.
I wasn't about to live here for free. That's what they want. They want to take care of me. If I allow for that to happen, if I will stay here for free, I will feel like I owe them. Eventually, they could use that against me. Tell me how much they have done for me and they will want me to do something in return. I barely got the hold of my life back. After 8 years, I am finally in charge of my own life. I wasn't about to give my freedom away so easily. They want me to be become more dependent on them, to be less independent on myself. But I won't let that happen.
I am here temporary. Till Jude settles in and till he is okay with me leaving. I needed to maintain the distance from them, from this family. I need to stay as far away from them as possible, to not get attached to them. What I need - is a another rule for this living situation I have gotten myself into. I needed to take charge of my own life. I needed to show them, that they are not going to control me so easily, like the CPD did when I was a foster kid. I can take care of myself. I don't need their charity.
I turn around on my heel to face them, place my hands on my pants pockets and take a stand against them "How much for the rent?"