*Two Years Earlier*

*Callie*

"No, Jude! I told you that I'd be home around 6! Dad left you with a credit card, too, and if you're hungry, then order! Wally is there, and I'm sure you're safe from strangers!"

"Sorry! I didn't remember!" Jude Quinn, my only brother and sibling, sounds small on the phone as well he should. Considering he's only 10 years old, sometimes he seems too old for his age, and I forget that he's still my kid brother...until I hear him on the phone.

"It's okay. Sorry for snapping, buddy. I promise I'll be home around 6, but Maddie and I are going to Winston's to look for a dress for the "Witches of East End" dance on Thursday night. I swear I told you. So I'm sorry," I try to balance my school bag on my shoulder as I wait for our driver, Ague, to pick us up.

I'm a freshman in high school at Saint Christine's, and to be honest, I am floored that I even received an invitation to this Halloween party considering, Josie Ashworth is an upper class man. Maddie, my best friend since we were kids, was also invited, and as with any other party, we have to have a new outfit, shoes and all.

"It's okay, Callie," Jude sounds dejected which makes me feel a tad guilty. "I'll just order pizza from Herman's like I always do."

"Okay, bud! Sounds good! And you don't have to save me any, ok? I'll be okay. Maybe I'll stop by Sugar & Pop and get us some chocolate chip cookies. How does that sound?" I motion Maddy to get in my car as Ague pulls up with my dads town car.

"Really? The big ones?"

"Yes, bud! The big ones!"

"Okay, Callie! I'll see you at 6!"

"See you at 6!" I hang up as I can feel Maddie looking at me and hard.

"What? I'm supposed to be watching him. Robert and Jill left me in charge again." I roll my eyes as I pull out my makeup mirror to check my makeup.

"Duh! But isn't Rosita with him? I mean, why do they always leave you in charge? And what if we don't find what we're looking for at Winston's? I mean, c'mon, Cals! You're really crunching time for us!"

I glide my lip gloss across my lips and frown. "Crunching time? It's only Tuesday. We'll find a dress."

"The dance is Thursday! Or did you forget?" She grabs my makeup mirror as I put away my lip gloss.

"Relax, Maddie. We'll find something."

"If you say so."

Maddie Sylvester is slightly taller than me, slender and rounded hips. Her long blonde hair is wavy, and she's more into fashion than I ever was. Of course, I play the part, but if I am truly honest with myself and everyone else, I feel more at ease in my sweats and T-shirt than in my Jimmy Choo's and Bendel's suits. Of course, I look the part, but Maddie IS the part through and through.

As the town car pulls up to Winston's on 5th Ave, I lean over the seat. "Can you pick us up at 5:30, Ague?"

"Sure thing, Miss Callie," he winks at me in the rear view mirror and I lean in to kiss his weathered cheek.

"I told you you don't have to call me, "Miss Callie," Ague. Just Callie is fine." I get out of the car before he can reply to catch up to Maddie who is impatiently waiting for me as she scrolls through her iPhone X.

"I never understood why you are so nice to him, Cale. He's just a servant," she rolls her eyes as she slides her phone into her Berkin bag.

I simply ignore her as I slip my arm thru hers and we walk through the front door of Winston's. I've learned by now that to reply is to go down a rabbit hole of debate which I can't afford to do right now since we have limited time.

—-

Jude was used to being alone for the most part, and usually he was okay with it...until recently when Robert and Jill began leaving Callie in charge. Why? He never understood, for it wasn't that she was cruel or selfish, but she really had gotten flighty lately. Not only did she make these grand promises to him, but she also broke them...every single one, and when 9 PM rolled around, he decided to go ahead and get in his bed.

Esmeralda had called her son to bring some of the baked oatmeal cookies she had made a few nights ago, and although they probably were better than Sugar & Pops, it wasn't the same because Callie wasn't with him.

"Ven aca! Come here, mijo!"

Jude smiled slowly at his favorite person in the world besides Callie as he slowly made his way over to the overstuffed chair by his bed.

"Thank you for the cookies, Esmeralda. Really. You didn't have to get them for me." The young boy sat on the shaggy cream colored rug as he grabbed the stuffed giraffe he had been carrying around with him since he was a baby. He loved bedtime, when Callie would sit and tell him stories of their mother and who she was and how she carried herself in this world. Mostly, he held on to every word, holding on to them even if he had them memorized.

"Oh, no, mijo. Your sister is uh...what you say...ummm..."

"Mentiroso? Liar? Ya, I should have known." He sighed as he went to get up, but she motioned for him to sit back down as she pulled out one of his favorite books.

"You don't have to, Essie. Really. I'm okay. And it's probably time I started tucking myself in at night anyway. I've known how to read for some time now."

Jude stood to his feet rather abruptly before tossing Misho into the corner before hopping on his wife bed. "Señor...los siento, bebe..."

The young boy blinked back the hot tears that threatened to spill. There was no time for that now. None. He'd save it for when the lights were dimmed and Esmeralda was out of ear shot. He also planned on not speaking to his sister for a very long time.