I'm back with another update! Sorry it's taken me so long to update, I've been super busy with school. I will try and update more frequently. Review if you have any ideas or want me to keep going!
The next couple weeks went the same. Some days they went to the fosters after school, and some they went home to their foster family. Jude and Sophia continued to be left in the dark about the truth of their foster brother, that he was hurting Callie. Callie continued building her walls up. She didn't let anyone in. Not even her brother or sister. Mariana invited Callie, Sophia and Jude to sleepover. Callie was somewhat relieved to know she wasn't spending the night at the Olmsteads, where Liam would sneak into her bed at night. Conveniently for Liam, he somehow convinced his parents to put Sophia and Jude into one room, therefore isolating Callie from her siblings, and therefore making her an easier target.
after school, Lena drove by the Olmsteads to let Sophia, Callie and Jude pick up their stuff. They walked in to see Liam at the front door.
"Hey Liam." Sophia said and walked to her room to get a bag together, same with Jude. He stopped Callie from moving.
"Where do you think you are going." He said in a gruff voice.
"I'm going to sleepover at the fosters." She said softly. She tried to move but he put his hand in front of her.
"You didn't ask me." He said.
"I asked my foster mom." Callie replied.
"Is that Brandon kid going to be there, are you guys dating or something?"
"What? No Liam. Brandon, not ever."
"Good cause you're all mine." He said and put his hand on Callie's face.
"No i'm not." She whispered harshly and moved his hand from off of her face.
"Yes you are." He said louder and more aggressive. He then shoved Callie into the wall.
"Ah!" Callie shouted as she held her eye in pain.
"Oh my god Callie!" Sophia shouted and ran to her.
"Callie! You're so clumsy how could you just fall into the lamp. Are you okay?My mom is going to be so mad. You broke the lamp!" Liam asked and approached her.
"Im.. im fine." Callie said as tears became go form.
"No you're not! Your eye is all red and puffy!!" Sophia said. Callie sniffled. Jude came rushing in.
"Callie!" He shouted.
"Let's take you to Lena." Sophia said and they got up.
"Lena!" Sophia shouted as they walked outside with Callie. Callie held her eye in pain. Lena got out of the car and Brandon, Mariana and Jesus watched the scene from the car window.
"What happened?!" Lena exclaimed as she rushed to Callie's side.
"I fell… and I hit my eye and nose on the lamp on my way down." Callie said.
"Oh my goodness! Sophia can you go get some ice? I will get you in the car and Jude can you grab Callie's things?" Lena asked.
"Of course." Sophia and Jude said and hurried inside.
"Oww." Callie whimpered as she held the ice on her eye. They were now back at the fosters house in the kitchen.
"We know it hurts love, but the ice will help. do you want something to drink?" Stef asked.
"Sure, water is fine." Callie said and Lena got the water for her. Callie took a sip and swallowed.
"Sweets, this is going to turn into a black eye. I mean I don't see how this could have happened from a fall. Were you pushed Callie?" Stef asked. Callie tensed up.
"No." Callie said and winced as her grip on the ice pack tightened.
"Callie, you can talk to us. We're worried, and if there is something going on at home we need to know, we can help you." Lena said and put her hand on Callie's shoulder. Callie stood up.
"No you cant! No one can! If I say anything I could get separated from Jude and Sophia, i hate living like this! So no! You cant help me! No one can!" Callie shouted.
"Callie-" Lena started but Callie interrupted.
"No just forget I said anything. That's what most people do anyways." Callie shouted and ran towards the door, Stef caught up to her and gently grabbed Callie by her wrists and Callie screeched in pain which confused stef because she didn't have a tight grip on her, barely even a grip at all.
Callie fell to the ground and her shirt sleeves rolled up. Stef and Lena could see the visible bruises covering her arms.
"Oh, callie!" Stef said as she bent down to her level.
"Who is doing this to you honey, please tell us. We won't get you and your siblings separated Callie." Lena said. Callie stayed silent in a ball on the floor.
"That's it, I am calling their social worker. Whoever is doing this will be punished." Stef said as she reached for the phone.
"No!" Callie screamed.
"Callie, you can't live like this. Please tell us who is doing this to you." Lena said. Callie lifted her head up and met their eyes, their kind eyes.
"Liam, my foster brother." Callie said. She wasn't sad, she wasn't mad, she wasn't scared, she was ashamed.
Lena pulled her into a hug. Stef joined them.
"Look at me Callie, you are not disposable. You do not deserve any of this." Stef said and joined the hug.
"I'm sorry." Callie whispered.
"You have NOTHING to be sorry for. You hear?" Stef said and callie nodded, still not believing her.
Stef got up and called their social worker and Lena sat with Callie on the couch.
They stayed silent till a knock on the door interrupted their thoughts. Stef opened it and Mariana, Sophia, Jude and the rest of the kids gathered around to see who it is.
"What is Bill doing here?!" Jude said in fear.
"We're getting sent away Jude! Again!" Sophia shouted and clung to Mariana.
"It's because Callie broke the lamp isn't it? Bill we will replace it!" Jude screamed.Bill sighed,
"Come on Sophia you need to come with me, Jude you too." He said.
"Callie! How could you! You promised you would be good!" Jude piped up.
"We love it here." Sophia looked down and Mariana hugged her.
Callie couldn't even look at them.
"Bill can we talk to you outside?" Stef asked. He nodded and him, Lena and Stef walked outside.
"Where are you sending them? Not far right?" Stef asked.
"Um actually.. We are putting them in separate group homes.." Bill said. "No one is willing to take in 3 children at once."
"What, no! You have to do something!" Lena pleaded to him.
"I..I'm sorry. Unfortunately I have no choice-"
"We will foster them." Stef quickly interjected.
"W..What?" Bill asked. Lena looked at Stef, her smile so big. Stef grabbed her hand.
"We want to foster them. Our foster license hasn't expired, so technically we could!" Stef said.
"I would have to make some calls..But i'm sure it would work out." He said. "I will have someone bring Callie, Jude and Sophia's things here. Thanks again you two." He said and left. Stef and Lena walked inside.
"W..where did Bill go?" Jude asked, still clutching Mariana.
"About that...Come down here, all of you." Stef said. The kids gathered around the two moms.
"How would all of you feel about us fostering Callie, Jude and Sophia?" Stef asked. Jude and Sophia looked at them wide eyed. Their smiles were stretched from ear to ear.
"Seriously?" Sophia asked. Stef and Lena nodded.
"They're already here all the time so I wouldn't mind." Brandon said, Jesus nodding.
"Now Mariana won't bother me to do 'nails' or do 'hair." Jesus said. Mariana laughed and playfully pushed him.
"I would love to have two more girls in the house! and Jude is super sweet." Mariana said hugging Jude. Callie felt a tear fall down.
"Callie are you alrig-" Before Lena could finish, Callie engulfed them in a hug. Then everyone joined in on the hug.
"Well I think it is settled. Lena you finish dinner and I will get Callie, Sophia and Jude set up in the living room." Stef said. Lena walked into the kitchen and Callie, Jude and Sophia walked into the living room.
Stef set blankets and pillows up in the living room. Sophia, Jude and Mariana played dress up while Callie watched.
"Alright come get dinner!" Lena shouted. All the kids made their way to the kitchen.
"Mama, I have a baseball game next week. I know Mom said she could come but can you?" Jesus asked.
"Of course Jesus! I wouldn't miss it." Lena said and smiled.
"Ugh! does that mean I have to go? I HATE watching his baseball games! It is SO boring!" Mariana said with lots of attitude.
"Well I'm sorry you think that miss thing but you are going to go and you are going to cheer on your brother." Stef said. Mariana sighed.
"At least Callie, Jude and Sophia will be there." Mariana said and began to eat. Callie felt Lena and Stef looking at her. Sophia saw that they were looking at her funny.
"Cals aren't you going to eat that?" Sophia asked, she didn't want Callie getting in trouble in their new foster home.
"I am eating it!" Callie hissed and Sophia shrugged. Callie picked up her fork and shoved a spoonful of mashed potatoes into her mouth. Callie swallowed and immediately felt relief. Then, she felt the overwhelming sense of guilt. She put the fork back and shoved all of the mashed potatoes on one side so it looked like she ate more than she actually had.
Everyone finished their food.
"Alright, brush your teeth, pajamas, and bed yes? Callie will you stay back for a sec?" Stef asked. Sophia and Jude looked up worried.
"Don't worry, Callie is not in any trouble." Lena said and smiled at the two siblings and lead them away to get ready for bed.
"Callie we have to talk to the police tomorrow to get your statement." Lena said.
"What would be the point of that? I'm not in the house anymore."
"We know, but we need to get Liam behind bars." Stef explained.
"What do i have to say?"
"What he has done to you. We will be there the whole time if you want Callie. I know this will be hard but you don't have to do this alone." Lena assured her. Callie nodded.
"Okay." Callie got up to walk away but stef put her hand on her hand. "Is there something else?" Callie asked.
"love, now that you are living under our roof you really need to start eating your dinners, and your lunches." Stef said. Callie bit her lip. Lena joined them again.
"Is there any certain reason that you are not eating?" Lena asked. Callie felt her walls build up higher than ever. She couldn't tell them her problems or they would really want to kick her out.
"Just not hungry." Callie said with a shrug. Lena and Stef sighed.
"Sweetie, if it is something more you can tell us." Lena said and put a hand on Callie's knee. Callie felt a tear escape and sighed, she felt so safe with them.
"Please don't send them away.." Callie started, "Send me away, not them. I don't eat because everyday, all of the time, things keep happening to me where it is out of my control. My mom dying, us being put into foster care, drunk foster parents, mean foster siblings, and lately it has just been getting too much. I just wanted to have control of something in my life." Callie said in a small voice.
"We are not sending you or your siblings away. You can always talk to us Callie. We can help you. We care about you honey." Lena said. Callie felt herself want to melt. She hated that she felt so close to them, wanting to tell them everything. She reminded herself this isn't permanent.
"Cal-" Stef started, but Callie interrupted. Breaking all eye contact with them.
"I'm tired. Can I please get ready for bed?" Callie asked as she sniffled and looked at the floor. Stef sighed in defeat.
"Sure sweets. We will be here if you need anything. For now on we will be watching your eating and we will talk about maybe therapy as an option." Step said. Callie nodded fast and ran upstairs.
Callie brushed her teeth with the rest of the kids all crowded in the bathroom.
"Okay! Is everyone almost done? I still need to shower!" Jesus shouted.
"Do it in the morning!" Brandon hissed back.
"We really need a bathroom schedule." Mariana said and Sophia and Jude laughed. Callie finished brushing her teeth.
"Cals? Do you have extra pajama pants? Mine are still somewhere at the Olmsteads." Sophia said.
"No, these are my only pair left. Here just take them I will wear my jeans. Let me get changed first." Callie said.
"Why can't she just wear some of mine? I am sure something will fit." Mariana said.
"Are you sure?" Sophia asked.
"Yeah, come on." Mariana left the bathroom and Sophia followed her. Callie walked downstairs to see Jude lying down on his side of the couch.
"Hey Cals." He spoke groggily. She smiled.
"Hey buddy."
"I like it here. But.." Jude started but trailed off."But what Jude?" Callie asked.
"Why did we stop living with the Olmsteads? I'm fine with living here but it was just so random and we were only there for about a month.." Jude spoke softly, afraid of the answer. Callie sat next to him.
"I'm sorry Jude. You did nothing wrong, neither did Sophia. It just wasn't safe." Callie said and kissed his forehead.
"Callie, when is anybody going to love us the way Mom did?" Jude asked. Callie frowned.
"I love you and Sophia so so much. We love each other and that's all that matters." Callie said.
"I know you love us, and because you love us you need to take care of yourself. We know you don't eat. If you love us you need to eat because we love you and you need to be healthy!" Jude said. Callie was shocked that he caught on to her behavior.
"Jude, I am fine. I just haven't been very hungry. I will start eating. I promise." Callie said and went to her side of the couch and shut her eyes. Sophia came down in her new pajamas Mariana gave her and fell asleep on the couch across from them.
Sophia woke up to Callie screaming. Jude woke up second.
"Get off! Get off!" Callie shouted as she rocked back and forth.
"Callie! Callie!" Sophia yelled as she approached her but Callie was kicking the air and accidentally kicked her.
"Ow!" Sophia said holding her mouth.
"What's going on!" Lena shouted as she ran down the stairs.
"I.. I don't know! This never happens.." Jude whispered. Lena looked at Callie, squirming in the couch every couple seconds saying "Get off!" Or "No Liam!" Lena looked at her with sad eyes as Stef tried to wake her up.
"It's only a dream Callie!" Stef said and put her hands on her. Callie immediately sat up and her eyes locked with Stef's.
"I..I'm so sorry." Callie said in a shameful tone.
"You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for." Stef said and placed her hand on Callie's knee. Callie felt her lip quiver as she held back that tears.
"Jude, Sophia. You guys can go lay down in our bed while we talk to Callie." Lena said. Jude and Sophia gave Callie one last look as they headed for Stef and Lena's bed.
"Callie, do you want to talk about your dream?" Lena asked as she sat down with them.
"I'm guessing I don't have a choice.."Callie said and looked down, shameful that she got herself in this situation in the first place.
"You don't have to do anything. We just want to help you honey." Lena said and Callie sat up.
"We talked to Bill, while you're in school tomorrow, I am going to talk to a lawyer and we are going to build up a case against him.He will never hurt you again."
"Okay." Callie said and they hugged.
"Goodnight Callie." Lena said and her and Stef went to bed and Jude and Sophia came back down.
"I have no idea what that man did to her, but she is so scared." Lena said sadly.
"I feel like I could kill him. She's been bounced around all this time and doesn't deserve all this pain. She's gone through more than anyone should in their whole life in her fourteen years of life." Stef said as she threw the covers over herself.
"I know. We will make sure she gets justice." Lena said to her wife and stroked her blonde hair.
"I wish we could just take their pain away." Stef started, "they're good kids."
"We can try our best. Open them up to our home and let them know we're here for them,that someone cares about them." Lena said. Stef kissed her wife and they fell asleep in each other's arms.