AUTHOR'S NOTE: You guys are literally amazing. I love you all. Just thought you'd like to know. Well it's 2am and I honestly don't know where I'm gonna go with this chapter, so bear with me. There's a pretty long flashback in this chapter, just warning you, but it shows a lot more about how damaged Callie actually is in the story. I know we have a lot of 'sad Callie' in this story. Don't worry, guys, Brandon's coming to the rescue soon. Thank you to a few of you that gave me some awesome suggestions. AND OMG THE PROMO FOR NEXT EPISODE I WAS DYING. I ran into my sister's room and fell on the ground and I just laid there, emotionally unstable and fluctuating between laughing and crying for like, a good 30 minutes. They took pictures lol. Check my tumblr! (cals-and-b) You'll truly see how insane I went! But I have a very good feeling about next episode. :)

Please read and review! Reviews help me update faster. ;D

-Britt

xXx

Callie woke up the next morning to someone quietly opening her bedroom door. She turned around in her blanket to see who it was. To her luck, she saw exactly who she wanted to see, leaning up against her door.

"Hey, you," Brandon said softly, in case she wasn't fully awake, "Good morning," Callie looked at the clock. 8am.

"It's too early," Callie mumbled. Brandon let out a slight laugh. He walked from the doorway to Callie's bed. He sat down at the foot. Callie half sat up, making eye contact with Brandon, who, by the way, was still in his pajamas. His eyes were glowing with genuine worry and care. Something Callie doesn't see often. They held the contact for a few moments. She remembered the events from last night. This was the first time in a long time that Callie hasn't woken up to a flashback, or had a nightmare.

"I will never hurt you,"

She repeated Brandon's words over and over to herself in her mind. She could never get tired of it. His comforting voice, the look he had in his eyes. But she knew that this blissful moment couldn't last forever.

"Are you alright?" Brandon broke the silence. "Because last night... you know what happened. And I'm worried about you," He really was.

"Uhh yea.. Brandon.. I'm fine," Callie said as she looked at the ground.

"Callie, don't lie to me," Brandon said. Callie deeply into his eyes. "You don't have to pretend,"

Callie didn't want to start crying again. But she felt it coming on. 'No,' she thought to herself, 'I'm not crying in front of him again. He has better things to do than help me through my issues,' Suddenly, Callie felt a strong hand grasp her small, frail hand. He was gentle. Like he was trying not to break her. Callie looking at the ground, detaching the eye contact. He knew she was in a fragile state right now, emotionally. He didn't want to put any pressure on her.

"I'm sorry," Brandon said, looking at Callie. She wasn't looking at him, but she could tell by his tone that he means it. Callie could feel the tears forming.

"It's ok," she said quickly, "Do you.. uhh.. want to go downstairs? They'll be wondering where we are," She was still looking at the ground. But then, she lifted her head and tried to read Brandon's expression. He looked a little confused as he looked back at her. But he spoke.

"Sure," Brandon said. Callie got up off of her bed and slowly made her way to the door. Brandon followed close behind. "Uhh, Callie?"

"Yeah?" she turned to face him.

He looked at her. Not just a friendly admiring of her outfit, but he really looked at her. 'Damn, she really is stunning," Brandon thought, 'Even when she's in a sweatshirt and pajama pants," He remembers one time that Callie was talking to him privately, just a couple of weeks ago, and she said she wasn't even a little attractive. It really kills him to think that this beautiful girl doesn't see what he sees.

"Brandon?" Callie said after about 10 seconds. He was staring at her.

"Huh? Oh," Brandon didn't realize he hadn't talked. "I just gonna say, don't forget what I said last night. You can always talk to me,"

Callie glanced at him for a second. She wanted to believe him. Instead of saying anything, she nodded and continued walking out of her bedroom. Brandon lingered for a moment, just gathering his thoughts. Does she know he actually cares about her? Probably not. But one day, he wanted her to know. He was brought back to reality as soon as he heard Callie call his name, softly.

"Brandon. Are you coming?" she said, when she realized that he wasn't following behind her.

"Yeah," Brandon said as he walked out of Callie and Mariana's room and down the stairs. When he got downstairs, it was the same scene that he saw almost every morning. Everyone was eating breakfast at the kitchen table. There was an open seat right next to Callie. He decided to seize the opportunity and take the seat.

Callie looked up, even though she knew exactly who sat next to her. She was met with the very familiar blue-green eyes that belonged to Brandon. He gave her a half smile to try to cheer her up, which Callie returned. She quickly pulled her gaze from Brandon, back to the homemade waffles that she was eating, made by Lena.

Brandon's gaze lingered for a minute. He could stare at her forever. She was just so.. cute. She was smiling and laughing at a story that Jude was telling her. She just seemed to have so much joy around Jude. But Brandon knew she was putting on a brave act. With what happened last night and this morning, there's no way she could really be that happy in a matter of minutes. She was just in her room, about ready to break down again. And really, it made Brandon respect her even more than he already did. She had to be really strong. And she must have done this before. There's no way this is the first time. And it wasn't.

..

After that terrible night, Callie had fallen asleep in her own bedroom that she shared with Jude. The constant sobbing tired her out. It's like her body shut down, but her mind was still active as ever. She had a nightmare, and Liam's words were still ringing through her ears. She was really scared that this was going to be continuous and that Liam would violate her again. She wants to tell someone. But she knows what will happen if she does. And she doesn't want to get kicked out, for Jude's sake. He was finally a little happy here. She couldn't destroy that. So she decided to put on a brave face.

She was terrified of running into Liam. She tried to be really quiet because she knew that Liam was still in his room, sleeping. And he was a light sleeper. She tip-toed down the stairs, and into the kitchen where, thankfully, the rest of the Olmsteads' and Jude were. They were sitting at the smaller table. Jude was smiling, and talking to Liam's parents. Callie went to sit down next to Jude.

"Hey buddy. What are you guys talking about?" Callie said, trying to act happy. But Jude could tell there was something wrong.

"We were just talking about my new friend from school," Callie was taken aback. Jude made a friend? Out of all the foster homes they went to, Jude hasn't made one friend. Callie didn't know why. Jude was loving and friendly. Callie just thought they like to make fun of him because he's different. Which is fine. They didn't need to be his friend if they always picked on him. He doesn't need to be around those kinds of people.

"You made a friend?" Callie asked, still a little surprised. Jude nodded.

"He's really nice,"

"That's great, Jude!" Callie smiled. Her legitimate happiness was cut short by sounds of footsteps coming down the stairs. It has to be Liam. He was the only one that wasn't present at the table. It was then that Callie realized that there was 2 empty seats on the other side of her. Maybe he'd choose the seat closer to his dad. Despite Callie's wishes, he sat in the seat closer to her. The happy look in her eyes turned to utter fear. And Jude had noticed.

"Good morning, everyone," Liam said with the same evil smirk he used last night.

"Morning, Liam," his father said, "Did you sleep well?"

"Oh, I slept very well," He said as he glanced over at Callie, the smirk still present on his face. Callie didn't look at him. She looked straight, focusing on something outside. She didn't want to look at him or talk to him or even acknowledge his existence. He was now a revolting person, according to Callie.

"Did you two get along well while we were gone?" his mother asked.

"I'd say so. Callie, what would you say?"

Callie truly hated Liam at this point. He makes her feel worthless and disgusting. She didn't say anything, she just continued to stare outside.

"Callie,"

"Hm," Callie breathed, angrily.

"I asked you what you thought about yesterday," Liam said. He put his hand on her upper thigh, without anyone else seeing. Callie tensed up, she knew she was about to cry, but she continued her act. Liam was moving his hand up her thigh slowly. He knew that he was terrifying Callie.

"It was great, Liam," Callie finally croaked out. Liam smiled and removed his hand from her leg.

"That's nice, you guys," Liam's mother said with a smile.

"Uh, can I be excused? I have to get caught up on my homework," Callie said, untruthfully.

"Go ahead," Mr. Olmstead said.

And with that, Callie exited the kitchen and ran up the stairs and into her room like she was being chased by a bear. As soon as she got to her room, she sat on her bed in a fetal position, and started crying. Was this how it's gonna be for her entire life? She was petrified. She was in a hysterical state. She didn't think it was ever gonna get better. She heard footsteps outside of her room and she ran to the door, ready to hold back anyone that tried to get in. She felt pushing on the other side of the door. Callie was strong, but the other person was stronger.

"Let me in, bitch," the familiar voice hissed. Liam.

He pushed the door all the way open. Callie ran to the other side of the room. Liam's lips suddenly formed into his signature villainous smirk.

"So you liked what happened last night?" Liam moved closer to Callie.

"Liam, get away from me," Callie whimpered. But that just made him want to come closer, so he did. He pinned her against the wall, both of his hands on her arms, above her head. She screamed in pain, due to Liam's tight grip. He decided she was too loud, so he put his hand over her mouth. She was sobbing uncontrollably.

"Listen here, slut. You see how the game is played? You either co-operate with me or you'll get what you deserve," Liam said, close to her face. "Now are you gonna play nice, or are we gonna have to have a repeat of last night? Because I will. And I'll tell my parents your little secret." Liam laughed and took his hand off her mouth., "Do we have a deal?"

"Fine," Callie cried, "Please let me go,"

He let go of her arm and he left. She sank to the ground. She wonders what she ever did to deserve this. Jude came into their room a few minutes later. He shut the door behind himself. He saw his big sister on the floor, tears streaming down her face, quickly. He ran over to Callie. He knelt in front of her.

"What happened? Was it Liam? I saw how weird you guys were this morning," Jude whispered, "Callie," She looked at him. Jude was on the verge of tears, himself. It deeply saddened him to see the one he loves the most in such a state of fear, "Did he hurt you?"

"J-Jude," Callie managed to croak out, "I can't-"

"Don't worry, Cal," he said and wrapped her in his small arms. She continued to sob for another few minutes. After she was done, Jude went back to kneeling in front of her. She was already dressed and ready to go to school. "Do you want me to help you downstairs?" Callie nodded. She grabbed her backpack and, with Jude at her side, walked out of her bedroom door, down the creaking stairs, and out the front door.

"I'm fine now, Jude. You can go back in,"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm ok," She hugged Jude and said goodbye to him. She wasn't ok. She put on her bravest face, again, for his sake. But she was running out of patience. And she would break her courageous mask sooner or later. But for now, she still wears it well.

..

After breakfast, since it wasn't a school day, Callie knew that music would probably be therapeutic. So she went up to her room, closed the door, and picked up the guitar that Brandon had given her a couple months ago. She only knew a few chords. To be exact, she knows the chords D, Em, G, and C. Which she knew where some of the easiest chords. But that was enough for her. She sat on her bed with the guitar and strummed a few chords. She quickly developed a pattern. All of a sudden, she heard someone opening her door. She stopped playing. It was Brandon.

"Why'd you stop? That was really good," Brandon said, a half smile present on his face.

"You scared me a little," Callie with a half-hearted laugh. She looked at the ground, the back up at him. Brandon approached Callie and sat close to her on her bed. Unusually close. It made Callie's heart skip a beat, even though she knew that it shouldn't.

"Do you want me to teach you a few more chords?" Brandon asked her.

"Yeah," Callie said, "Thank you,"

"It's not a problem," Brandon smiled. He took her left hand, which was on the neck of the guitar, and properly placed her fingers on top of the strings to form an F chord. His hand lingered on hers. She looked at him, who was already gazing at her. He brushed the hair out of her face and behind her ear with his free hand. Callie half smiled and broke the eye contact.

"So what chord is this?"

"It's an F," Brandon said, now looking down and his hand that was still on hers. She strummed the chord. It made a clear noise, unlike some of the other chords she tried to teach herself. "Sounds good," Brandon took his hand off Callie's hand. He heard someone knock on the door, so he instantly separated himself from Callie.

"Come in!" Callie said. Mariana walked in with Lexi. Brandon stood up from Callie's bed and walked over to the door.

"Hey, you two. Uhh what are you guys up to?" Mariana gave them a suspicious smile.

"Uhh, nothing," Brandon said quickly. "I was just leaving. Callie, I guess we'll finish this up later,"

"Ok," Callie said, "Don't forget," She warned with a playful smile.

"I won't," he returned her smile as he left the room and went back in his own bedroom.

"What was that!?" Mariana asked with a wide smile.

"What was what?" Callie was a little confused.

"That thing that just happened between you and Brandon!" Mariana exclaimed.

"What? There's nothing going on between me and Brandon. He was helping me learn more chords on guitar."

"Callie, you don't have to hide it from me," Mariana smirked, "I knew it was gonna happen sooner or later. I'm not gonna tell moms if that's what you're worried about. But Brandon is totally into you," Mariana gushed.

"Mariana, you don't understand. Look, I gotta go talk to Jude. I'll talk to you later."

"Ok, but you won't be able to lie to me for very much longer," Mariana winked and smiled. Callie got up off her bed and walked out the door and past Mariana and Lexi, and into Jude's room.

xXx

Brandon lied down on his bed, thinking about what he was getting himself into. He thinks about all the things that can go wrong with chasing after someone like Callie. There's so many bad things that could happen, but Brandon comes to the conclusion that it's worth it. He's not gonna push her. He's gonna be there for her whenever she needs him to be there. He made that a silent promise. And he's gonna need to keep it.

xXx

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you so much for reading. I hope you liked it. I'm sorry the update took a while, my mind was going into writer's block mode again, haha.