*Two years prior*
Over the course of the next several months, Callie Quinn continued to not only let herself down but also her brother. After a while, it didn't seem to matter how many times she apologized to Jude. He didn't believe her, and hadn't for quite some time. No amount of buttering up or even gifts could dissuade him otherwise, for he spent countless nights alone and lonely. It didn't matter that he was used to being alone. Not one bit. Why? Because in the past, even though he was alone, he really wasn't. In the past, Callie had always been there for him. She'd take him places, in the town car, of course, and they'd go shopping or to the zoo. Most of the time, he wasn't up for shopping as much as when she'd take him for ice cream or giant chocolate chip cookies at Sugar & Pop. Those moments were a big deal for him.
Callie, on the other hand, was living in a world where she was trying to find herself and where she fit in. She knew that she was letting her kid brother down and hard, yet somehow, Maddie was always able to get her to give up her plans she had made for Jude and somehow had convinced her that being a freshman was hard and that they needed to work for their status with the upper classman. And so far, it had worked. Several of the upper classmen had invited them both to their parties, sleepovers and even Sunday brunches. Whereas most kids their age sat back in jealousy and wonderment that they weren't on "the lists."
Another thing that was beginning to happen was the fact drugs began to come into play in both Callie and Maddie's lives. It didn't matter that they could very well be drug tested at any moment at St. Christine's school for girls. It didn't seem to bother them that they were even eating more and more until their uniform skirts began to become snug, and they looked into other "recreational" drugs which Callie swore was only for a short period of time. Yet, it never did become that. In fact, it became more and more frequent to the point, she was now addicted to the ADHD pills they had bought off of an upperclassmen.
*Callie*
"Sara! I really, really need another small baggie of the uppers!" I whisper hoarsely in the hallway, my head now buzzing as it had been almost a day since I was able to find her. She was out of school yesterday, and today I knew that I needed some or I would crash and soon.
"You have to be more discreet," she snarls through gritted teeth as she pulls me over to her locker.
All I can do is smirk as she looks around and the proceeds to tuck my hair behind my ear with one hand while placing the baggie in my free one away from probing eyes. "Your hair would look really nice if you started pinning it up one side, Callie. It's what everyone is doing. You should try it!"
We make eye contact as I step back, shoving the baggie she had just handed me into the side pocket of my skirt. I nod as I nervously step from foot to foot. "Ya...uhhhh, I'll see if I like it first. I may need you to come and show me in the bathroom after Spanish." She knows the code to which I'm referring. Basically, meet me at a certain time and at a certain place so I can pay her. I have been buying from her for a while now so she knows I'm good for the money, or she wouldn't have just given me about two hundred dollars worth of pills.
"Yep," she snips and I try not to roll my eyes, but it's hard. "See after Spanish. And don't be late!"
I am a bit nervous now that she seems super annoyed, but that soon passes as Maddie walks up to me and grabs my arm. "Miss Stuck-up give you what you needed?" she asks hoarsely as we begin to walk towards our Spanish class.
"Yes, but she's annoyed with me. I forgot to use the code phrase because I wasn't feeling the swiftest."
We make it to our class just in time, and as I take my seat towards the back of the room, I shakily grab my water bottle out of my bag and take one of the pills while Maddie covers for me. She takes her seat right beside me as she smirks. "Too bad Senora Whitaker is such a prude," she laughs, and this time, I do roll my eyes.
Senora Whitaker aka Sister Whitaker would suspend me for sure if she found out, but since I received the pills right before the bell was to ring, I had no choice but to take one now before class starts. It's a good thing she is busy speaking to another of her students or it would have been a close call considering she has the eyes of a hawk.
When school ends, I decide to call Jude. I know that I'm supposed to be taking him to his eye appointment, and I want him to be ready when the car pulls up at his school. I had promised Maddie that I'd go with her to Sugar & Pop to study for our science test, and if I'm completely honest with myself, I just didn't want to go home. Home was a depressing place for me these days. Not only were Robert and Jill constantly out of town or out of the country, Jude had started to distance himself from me which in all reality was my fault. Being at home meant that I'd suffer icy silence in my room and I just couldn't take the silence that was beginning to smother me minute by minute.
"Hey, buddy!" I smile as Jude slides into the black town car, and all he can do at this point is "one-word it" back.
"Hi."
I smile as I reach over to ruffle his hair and he pulls away from me. "Don't!"
I laugh as I now nudge him, "What? You're getting to big to joke around with your big sis?"
"No! I just don't want you touching my hair! That's all! Has it ever occurred to you that I don't necessarily WANT you to joke around? Or are you so busy in your own little world to even notice?"
I pull back all the way now as the smile leaves my face. "I'm trying here, Jude. What's up with you?" I can feel Ague watching us now through his rear view mirror, and I can tell without even looking that he's on Jude's side...which I hate so much.
"Just...nothing," Jude now mumbles as he looks out at the New York City traffic.
I sigh as I eventually put in my headphones, trying to drown out the major disappointment I now am to my little brother. Being socially set was important to Maddie, and whatever Maddie loved, so did I. Why couldn't Jude understand that? He'd feel that way one day when he became a freshman.
"We are here, Mister Jude," Ague pulls up to our optometrist and announces loud enough so I can hear it over the pounding music from my phone.
"Thanks, Ague. I should be done in an hour. You can circle around or come back. And take Callie with you."
I frown as I had already started to scoot across the seat, but Jude had already slammed the door in my face. "JUDE!" I call out as he doesn't even look at me but instead walks toward the front doors, leaving me to consider never taking him anywhere ever again.
