Recap: Callie is 13 and works for Wolf, a drug dealer. Lena is her English teacher. Stef realizes that Callie was the girl she chased during a drug bust and warns her.

xoxoxo

Chapter 3: Warnings (Callie's POV)

I stare at my alarm clock, 6:59 AM, and turn it off before it starts ringing. I've been tossing and turning all night. I hate to admit it, but that cop's words are still in my head. I've been thinking about Wolf, Franco in juvie, and my life all night. I even snuck down at midnight and took a couple swigs of my foster dad's beer, thinking it would make me sleep. My foster dad was passed out by the TV still blaring out commercials. I'm sure my foster mom was passed out somewhere too. They're both alcoholic losers. Just like my dad... I shut down that thought right away. I don't want to go there. No wonder Wolf seems like the only sane adult in my life right now. He's been there for me for over a year, longer than anyone else. Ms. Adams and that cop, Stef, are from another world. They think I'm just a kid.

I get ready for school and wake up the little foster kids and help them get ready too. My foster parents are probably still passed out somewhere. I'm usually the one who pours out the OJ and cereal for breakfast. My head is pounding, probably from lack of sleep and that beer last night. That was stupid.

I run into Wolf on the way to school. "Hey babe, I need you to give this package to Max before school, okay?"

I nod, as he ruffles my hair.

I look up and ask, "Have you heard anything about Franco?"

"Yeah, he got sentenced to juvie for a week and then a group home. Got off light," he answers with a dismissive tone.

"Do you know if it's close, his group home?" I ask again.

Wolf smiles, "Forget about Franco. He wasn't smart or fast enough. Not like you."

I shake my head. Franco's been my only friend this past year, since I've been in this foster home. Foster kids get moved around a lot. I can't believe that I've lost him just like that.

"You got to take care of yourself first, Cals. Don't let other people weigh you down," Wolf advises with a smile. "You know, you really remind me of my little sister when we were in foster care. She was smart too, but she didn't look out for herself."

"What happened to her?" I ask warily.

"She OD'ed," Wolf replies with a shrug. It's just one of those things. He looks at me thoughtfully and says, "Come find me after school, and I'll buy you a milkshake, okay?"

Wolf thinks milkshakes make problems go away. I nod and turn to go deliver the package and go to school. Stef's warnings ring in my head, about the dangers of hanging out with Wolf, but she doesn't live where I live.

xoxoxo

In English class that morning, Ms. Adams is trying hard to make us to think about our next writing assignment. "Are we just products of our environment? Or is it our choices that lead us to success or failure? Why would someone resort to crime or drugs? How do some people resist the pull of that even if they grow up in an environment where it is common?"

I feel Ms. Addams eyes sweep over me as she asks her probing questions. Is she looking at me? What did that cop tell her?

I blink to clear my eyes. Those questions hit too close to home. I chew on my pencil lost in thought and finally start writing my essay to try to answer those disturbing questions: "Some people don't have a lot of choices in their lives. Sometimes people do what they have to do to survive. People are not all good or all evil, even criminals." I write my heart out, trying to explain. But there's a nagging feeling in me that I'm just making excuses.

After class, Ms. Adams reaches out to me as I try to sneak out. "You look tired. Are you doing okay?"

I nod, looking down, "Yeah, sorry, I didn't sleep well last night."

She tilts her head as she looks at me, "Hmm... Callie, you know you can come talk to me about anything, right? I'm here for you … for all my students."

I nod shyly. I feel raw inside. I feel like I'll pour out my whole life story if I meet her eyes.

Ms. Adam smiles, "You know that promise of pizza? Want to get a preview this Saturday?"

I look up in surprise, "Umm, okay."

"Great, how about La Bella's at 6 PM on Saturday? I'll buy you a slice… And I'd like you to meet a friend of mine too."

"Okay," I nod again. I seem to only manage one word answers today. Is it weird to go out for pizza with a teacher? Oh well, at least it's not right in the neighborhood. No one will see me.

xoxoxo

I feel like I'm in a daze walking home after school. I need a nap. I turn the corner and see Max with his boys, just my luck. He narrows his eyes when he sees me, "Yo Callie, take this to Wolf!"

I bristle, "I don't take orders from you, Max." I know it's the wrong thing to say in front of his friends as soon as I say it. Max can't stand to lose face.

He grabs my arm and twists it behind my back and tries to put the envelope in my pocket. He whispers in my ear, "Listen b*tch, you gotta pull your weight. Everyone knows you're Wolf's slut."

I freeze. Is that what everyone thinks?

Just then, a police cruiser turns the corner. Max's friends yell out a warning and they all run for it. I sink down to sit by the wall. My arm throbs.

I don't see that someone has come out of the car until she's right above me and I hear a voice saying, "Are you okay?"

I look up and see the cop from yesterday, Officer Stef Foster. Of course, it's her again.

"Yeah," I say awkwardly as I slowly stand up, stumbling to find my feet.

"Lovely friends you've got," she says with a frown as she reaches out a hand to stabilize me.

"He's not my friend," I answer sharply, stepping back so she lets go of my arm.

"But Wolf is?" she asks narrowing her eyes.

I shrug and look down.

"You're hanging out with a rough crowd, sweets. What was in that package that boy was trying to give you?"

I shrug again. How much did she see? Luckily, Max took his envelope with him. It's probably money from drug sales.

She looks annoyed by my lack of answers. "Consider this a warning. Next time I pick you up, I'll take you in," she informs me in a no nonsense tone.

I feel myself getting angry again, "You don't scare me."

She shakes her head and stares at me until I look away.

"Come on. I'll take you home," she says finally.

Stef leads me to her car and opens the back door for me. For a minute, I wonder if she's going to arrest me, but then, she asks me where I live. She tells me, "Buckle up", and drives me home.

When we get to my foster house, she surprises me by getting out of the car too and walking with me to the door.

"You don't have to walk me to the door," I say nervously.

She lifts an eyebrow and say, "I do. I want to talk to your foster parents."

She rings the doorbell before I can find my key.

My foster mom opens the door, bleary eyed, and steps back in surprise when she sees a cop.

"Ma'am, I'm Officer Stef Foster. I brought your foster daughter home because she seems to be involved with some suspicious characters in the neighborhood. There is a lot of drug activity in this neighborhood. You may want to keep a closer eye on your foster children."

My foster mom stumbles back. She's drunk as usual. She tries to string together some words, "Well, she's just trouble that one, ain't she?"

You can smell the alcohol on her breath a mile away.

All of a sudden, I'm embarrassed to be there. I push my way past my foster mom and run up the stairs to my room. A tear rolls out of my eye, and I wipe it away in frustration. I peak out the window to see Stef getting into her car again. I step back as she glances up at the windows, so she doesn't see me, and then I watch her drive away.

xoxoxo

AN: Next chapter: Callie gets arrested….