Wow! *Another* update! I'm on a roll with this one! I still need to go through my other stories and pick up where I left off on the incomplete ones. I think I am enjoying writing this story so much because unlike my other ones that I have written, I'm really plunging into details on this one. I'm enjoying thinking up Callie's past and putting my own creative twist on it.

I see some of you have mentioned in the comment section that you would like to know a little bit about the book I published. It's a young adult novel about a girl who struggles in the foster system. She has suffered severe abuse and has major trust issues. She ends up landing in a home with a single woman who changes her life, but ends up making a huge mistake! I don't want to spoil it too much in case anyone is interested in reading it. There are some personal experiences of my own that I wrote into my character's life, which I found interesting! If you would like to know more about it please PM me!

Thank you all so much for your continued support! I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

I didn't sleep much that night. The thought of Liam upset me more than anything else. It was my fault. I could have prevented it. Every time I think of Liam I think of how I could have done things differently. The thought of him pinning me down, and breathing on my neck made me panic.

I woke up numerous times through the night. Each time I woke up in tears Stef was right there to comfort me. She didn't make me talk about it. She opened her arms and let me snuggle up to her. SHe'd wrap her arms around me and kiss my forehead, promising me that it would be okay and that she would keep me safe.

I woke up and finally it was light out. Stef was still beside me, sleeping quietly. I sat up quietly, trying not to disturb her. Marianna was still asleep in her bed. I needed fresh air. I was exhausted, and I felt suffocated by all of these nightmares about Liam.

I quickly and carefully crawled over Stef, careful not to wake her up. When I was off the bed, I turned around to make sure she was still sleeping. After seeing that she was, I headed to the bathroom.

I stared at myself in the mirror, no longer recognizing myself. I felt like I was just... there, but not really there. I was a punching bag for everyone, and I put myself on the line constantly to keep Jude safe. What was I even worth? After all of these years I've never found a home, there has to be a reason.

I blinked away the tears that were forming in my eyes, why did all of this happen to me?

I slid to the floor of the bathroom, and put my head in my hands. My body felt numb, and I felt empty.

Quietly, I cried.

"Callie?" There was a quiet knock on the door. I ignored it.

"Callie, are you okay?" I knew it was Stef, and I knew she wouldn't relent until she knew I was okay.

"I'm okay." I lied, cringing at how noticeably raspy my voice was from crying.

"Are you sure?" She asked, still on the other side of the door.

Before I could answer, I heard light footsteps approach the door.

"Is Callie in there?"

It was Jude, and I knew he was worried. Me crying in the bathroom was never a good thing. Every time I got hit in a previous home I would lock myself and Jude in the bathroom, and I would cry quietly.

"She is." Stef answered.

"What did you do to her?" He asked, his voice rating in fear.

"What? I didn't do anything to her, Love."

"You're lying!" He yelled, and he started to bang on the door.

"Callie!" He cried, still banging on the door.

I stood up, knowing he wouldn't stop until he saw me.

I opened the door, "Bud, I'm fine."

He hugged me, clinging to my sore body. I winced in pain.

Stef looked at me with concern, but she didn't press.

"Callie, I thought they hurt you." Jude said, stepping back and wiping the tears off his cheeks.

"No, Bud," I said, "They didn't hurt me."

Jude looked back at Stef and gave her a week smile, not knowing what to say. A few moments later, Lena rounded the corner.

"Oh, hey guys!" She said, rubbing her eyes and yawning.

"Hi, Sweetheart." Stef smiled.

Lena looked at the three of us questioningly, "Everything okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, yeah. I was actually going to show Callie the backyard quick." Stef told her, and I looked at her, confused. She didn't say anything about that yesterday or last night. Then I realized that we were probably going to talk about Liam.

"Okay, I'm going to start breakfast. Want to lend me a hand, Jude?" She asked, smiling at him.

He nodded, and they started walking down the stairs.

I followed Stef down the stairs, and out to the backyard. There was a large tree, and a porch. On the porch was a bench swing. Stef walked over to it and sat down, patting the space beside her. I walked over, and sat beside her.

"Alright, my love," She said with a sigh, "I know this is going to be hard." She said, not sure what to say next.

I looked down at my socked feet, not sure what to say. I didn't want to do this.

"You're not disposable, Callie. You're not worthless. I've only known you for a short time, but I know for a fact that you do not deserve the things that have happened to you. I don't know everything about your past, but I want to. I want to know you and everything that makes you who you are. I know it's going to be scary for you to let me in, and to trust me, but I want you to know that you can. I promise I will do everything in my power to keep you safe and protect you. So please, tell me what's going on in that beautiful mind, Love."

No one has said anything that kind to me. No one has ever cared about my past. No one has ever wanted to keep me safe. This was a whole new realm to me, and it was scary.

"What happened with Liam?" She finally asked me. I felt fear shoot through my body, and I could feel myself begin to shake. I clasped my hands together in my lap. Stef placed her hand on top of mine, and I let her hold onto it.

"Jude and I have been in the system for a really long time. All of them were awful, there wasn't one good one. Until we came to the Olmstead family." I shuddered. Even saying their last name brought on a fear like no other. Stef noticed this, and she gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.

"At first, they were really nice. They treated us like we were part of the family. Jude didn't get in trouble, even when he did things that got him in trouble in other homes. They didn't hit me or yell at me the way everyone else. Liam is their son. He was really nice to me too. It felt so good to just be... loved. He would surprise me with little things. Things like candy bars, small stuffed animals, small things that made me feel special. Then he started kissing me. At first it was my cheek, and then he started kissing my lips. He would tell me he loved me, and that I was special. His parents even planned on adopting Jude and I. His parents ended up going on vacation and the night they left he came into my room. He made me do stuff, and said he would tell his parents something crazy so they wouldn't adopt us if I didn't. Then he..." I trailed off. I couldn't bring myself to say it. I couldn't bring myself to tell her how he pinned me down and tore my clothes off. How he held me down and breathed down my neck, saying gross, dirty things that still haunted me. I couldn't tell her how much it hurt, and how much I begged for it to stop. Tears formed in the corner of my eyes, and I knew I was going to cry. I was scared. The memories scared me. The thought of him scared me.

"Callie, I am so sorry that happened to you." Stef said. She pulled me into her arms, wrapping me up into a tight, protective hug. I didn't reject it. I needed it. I needed to feel safe, and protected, and... loved?

I sniffled, trying to control my emotions.

"I want to do something about this." Stef told me, still holding onto me.

"No." I said, terrified. If she brought this up, made something about it- that would mean he would be back. I couldn't stand the thought of that.

"Baby, you deserve justice. You didn't deserve that. I want to kill him myself." I looked up at her, noticing that her eyes were welled up with tears. Why did she care so much?

"Stef?" I looked up at her again.

"Yes, Calliebear?" She said, looking down at me. She pushed my bangs behind my ear, and smiled at me.

"How come you care so much?" I was genuinely curious. How did she come into my life and suddenly care so much about Jude and I?

She sighed, "When Jude came into the station that night crying and sobbing, begging for help... I knew you two were alone. The way he was so... afraid to lose you... And then I got there and saw you... and the place where you two were living... The bruises on you... the tennis ball in the room... I knew you had put yourself on the line to get that ball... I knew you were in charge, always on the lookout for Jude... but no one was on the lookout for you... I saw how strong you were... and how badly you needed a family... I couldn't leave you in that hospital alone. I had to be there with you, and I grew so attached to you, there was no way I was going to let you two go back into a horrible home again." She explained, toying with my hair.

I didn't say anything. It was true. I needed somebody. I needed a family. I needed Stef.

"Thank you for saving me." I whispered, so incredibly thankful for this woman and her family.

She gave me a quick squeeze, "I love you two so much."

I thought about Liam again. What would happen when he found out I told somebody? What would he do to me? I felt myself start to shake.

"What are you thinking about, Love?" Stef asked.

"Liam." I admitted.

"I'm going to do everything I can to make him pay for what he did to you."

I nodded, "Okay."

"Thank you for telling me all of this. I know it was hard for you. You're so brave, and I'm so proud of you." She told me, planting a kiss onto my forehead.

I didn't say anything, it was scary, but I trusted her. It felt good to feel protected.

"I trust you." I told her.

"I'm glad you do."

*BREAK*

"So, Jude," Lena said, as she rifled through the cabinets, "I know things have been really tough for you and Callie."

I looked down at my cup of hot chocolate that Lena made for me. I wasn't allowed to have coffee, but that's okay. It was for adults anyway.

"Now, you don't have to tell me... but what has happened to Callie?" She asked, turning around with a box of pancake mix. Her hair was messy from sleep, and she was wearing a red t-shirt and plaid pajama bottoms.

I paused for a moment, thinking about this. I wasn't sure if I should tell her or not. Would Callie be mad?

"How come you want to know?" I asked, looking up at her.

"Well, Stef and I want to be able to help her as best as we can. But, we don't know much about her. I was hoping you'd share a little bit with us, just so we'd have an idea." She explained to me.

I guess it couldn't hurt if they only wanted to help her, right? Besides, I liked Lena. She was nice.

"Callie got hit a lot." I told her.

Lena frowned a little, and sadness creeped into her eyes, "Why?"

I frowned, "She would take the blame for things I did. But sometimes they would hit her for no reason. Sometimes it would be really bad, and she'd have big bruises. It was scary. She would lock us in the bathroom afterwards, and she would cry quietly. Sometimes they would throw stuff at her, or push her down stairs."

I looked at Lena, and noticed that her eyes were watering.

"Why are you crying?" I asked.

Lena swatted at the corner of her eyes and sniffled, "That's horrible that she had to endure those things."

I nodded, "Yeah. Sometimes our foster dads would take her into their rooms. But I don't know what they did in there. I know when they let Callie out she would be really quiet and scared."

Lena's body kind of drooped, like she was overcome with a wave of sadness, "Oh my gosh."

"What?" I asked, not understanding.

She shook her head, "Thank you for telling me, Jude."

I smiled, "I hope it helps. I think she really likes it here."

She smiled, "I'm happy to hear that. Are you happy here?"

I nodded my head vigorously, "Yeah!"

Lena chuckled, "Good, we really like you and Callie."

I smiled, it was nice to hear that.