This chapter is 6 months in the future. The italics are journal entries. Also, if you are reading my other story, Not So Nice Guy, I will be updating ASAP. But I am going to alternate days (most likely) on updating these two stories. It's too hard to write new chapters for different stories in one day. I moved into college this weekend (go Illini!) so my life is going to be pretty crazy for a while. I will try my hardest to get new reviews up every other day (every day for both stories combined)! Don't forget to review! -SDD
Stef's POV
I can't believe I haven't updated my journal since Callie was attacked. My last entry was from the night of her rape. That seems like a lifetime ago. These last six months have been some of the hardest of my life. Callie has struggled so much. She moved back into her room five months ago, but she still suffers from nightmares (although they are getting much better). Mariana told Lena and me that the only reason Callie went back to her own room was because she felt bad for taking Lena's spot and she didn't want to annoy us. I wish she just would have told us that she was still scared to sleep alone. Callie closes herself off so much... although I can't really blame her. But luckily she hasn't harmed herself since we brought her home from the hospital. Also, she won't leave the house without Lena, Brandon, Jesus, or myself. She's always clutching her pepper spray (something I bought for everyone in the family) when we are out in public. I thought she was getting better a while ago, but she got even worse than before a couple weeks ago. I'm guessing that's because Liam's trial started and she has to testify tomorrow... She is terrified. Liam called her from the jail and threatened her. He said if she testifies he will send his friends after her. It took detective Vaughn and me an entire week to convince her that we will keep her safe. Luckily the prosecution attorney was able to tack on threatening a witness to the charges. I can't wait for the trial to be over. Hopefully once she sees him being sent away to prison she will be able to heal more. Lena and I tried to get her to go to therapy but she refused. The other da-
"Mom?" I looked up and I saw Callie standing in the doorway. I smiled. She had recently started calling Lena and me 'mama and mom'.
"Come on in, love." I put my journal in my drawer. "What's up?"
"I can't sleep. Can I stay in here tonight?" Callie looked down at her feet and shuffled awkwardly.
"Of course you can, love. Come here." I scooted over and pulled back the covers so she could get comfortable.
"Where's mama?"
"She's putting the boys to bed and getting lunches ready for tomorrow." By this time Callie was snuggled up to me. I kissed the top of her head and felt her flinch. "Are you nervous?"
"Yeah. Way more than the first time I testified against him. What if I screw up again? I mean, the last time I had to testify against Liam it did nothing. It didn't even go to trial…" She wiped a tear away quickly.
"That wasn't your fault. Your lawyer fed you questions that you couldn't answer truthfully. You did nothing wrong, Callie. Okay?"
"I guess." She mumbled. Callie rolled over so her back was against my side and buried her face in Lena's pillow.
I sighed. I wanted nothing more than for her to feel happy and safe again. After a while her breathing evened out. She would jump or flinch in her sleep occasionally, but other than that, she was very peaceful.
"I am finally done! Lunches are packed and everyone's outfits for court are ironed! I am so ready for bed." Lena walked into the room and immediately went to the bathroom to brush her teeth. "I can't believe the trial is tomorrow already. I thought it normally took at least a year before trials started."
"First of all, please spit! I don't want to see your mouth foaming over with toothpaste, love." I smirked. "And second of all, I may have had a little pull with the DA. I wanted this to be over as soon as possible for Callie. Speaking of which…" I motioned to Callie sleeping in the middle of the bed.
"Couldn't sleep?" Lena wiped her mouth and shut off the lights.
"She's scared about tomorrow. She thinks her testimony isn't going to do any good." I looked down at my oldest daughter who was fidgeting in her sleep and laid my hand on her back to calm her.
"Is she thinking about her last testimony? Because that wasn't even her fault. Her idiot of a lawyer…"
"I know. I already explained this to her." I interrupted. "Lena, I don't know how much more she can take before she falls apart completely or runs… again."
"Let's just focus on getting her through tomorrow." Lena grabbed my hand across Callie and squeezed it reassuringly.
"I love you."
"Love you more."
Callie's POV
I woke up crammed between my moms. Stef had one arm wrapped around me, holding me close to her, and Lena was holding Stef's hand and mine with her other. I squirmed a little to see if they would let go, but Stef just pulled me closer. There was no getting out of it. Even though it was a little claustrophobic, it was nice. I felt safe and warm. I still had a few hours to sleep so I closed my eyes, praying I wouldn't dream anymore.
Three hours later
"Should we get her up so she has extra time to get ready?" Lena's voice poked through my sleepy haze.
"I don't know. I think she would like a little extra time just in case she has a hard time. But on the other hand, she loves to sleep and I really don't feel like waking the beast." Stef laughed at her own joke and gained a snort from Lena.
"Beast, really? I guess that makes Mariana the beauty!" I joked.
"Callie! You scared the crap out of me!" Stef gasped.
"Stef…" Lena warned. I opened my eyes just in time to see Stef roll hers.
"How long have you been awake, love?"
"Ever since mama asked if you should get me up. You are both really bad at whispering."
"Well, you can sleep for a little bit longer if you want. I can get you up before mama takes everyone else to school."
"I'm already awake so I might as well get up. Am I not going to school today?" I really wanted to just so I wouldn't be thinking about testifying all day. "I think it would be nice to have distraction."
"Sorry, love. You have to go to the courthouse early so you can practice your testimony with the prosecution lawyer. I will take you and then mama will bring everyone else by later." Stef explained.
"But, mom! I don't want to stay here all day and mull over what's going to happen in court! Please, can I just go to school?"
"Callie..."
"Whatever." I knew I had to go early but I didn't even have to be there until noon. Stef just wanted to keep me close. I got off the bed and walked to my room.
"Callie!" Stef yelled. "Get back here!" She followed me but I shut my door and locked it before she could come in.
"Stef, let it go."
"She can't just get pissed and walk away. She knows she has to talk about things." Stef and Lena were arguing right outside my door. Lena must have pulled her away because I couldn't hear them anymore.
I flopped down on my bed and let out an agitated sigh.
"Are you okay?" Mariana asked from the bathroom.
"No! I'm so sick and tired of Stef hovering over me like I'm going to freaking fall apart!" I buried my face in my pillow.
"You know she's just worried. We all are…"
"Well don't be! Today is the day that all of this gets put behind us. Liam is going to prison." Even though I was completely terrified and I wanted nothing more than to not testify, I couldn't wait to put him behind bars. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you."
"It's okay. I understand. I'm going down for breakfast. Are you coming?" Mariana questioned. She's been really good with me over the past couple months. She didn't push me when I didn't want to talk and when I did she was always there.
"No. I'm not hungry and I really don't feel like talking to moms. And if they say something about coming to check on me, please tell them not to. Say I'm asleep or something."
"Okay. See you later." Mariana bounced out of the room and I closed my eyes, trying to sleep a little more. But that didn't happen.
Mariana's POV
"Morning, Miss Thing! Eggs and bacon are on the stove." Mama greeted me.
"Uhh, is there anything a little less… animal?" Everyone laughed. "What? It doesn't feel right to eat animals who were born just to be killed for food! It's sad…"
"You ate pepperoni pizza last week!" Jude pointed out. I stuck my tongue out at him and he smirked back at me."
"Is Callie coming down?" Mom asked. I knew she was going to say something. Callie was right, moms have been watching over her like a hawk for months. I guess it's because she was cutting, but she doesn't do that anymore.
"No, she went back to sleep. I don't think she wants to be bothered."
Mom got off her stool and wiped her mouth with her napkin. "I'm going to go check on her and see if she needs anything."
"Mom, don't! She wants to be alone." I tried my hardest to keep my mom down there but she is really stubborn.
"Well, that's just too bad."
Callie's POV
I was just starting to doze when I heard a faint knock at my door. I groaned inwardly. Couldn't Mariana do one simple thing?"
I pulled the covers over my head and pretended to be asleep.
"Callie?" Stef walked in and sat on my bed. "I know you aren't asleep. You only pull your blankets up when you want to be left alone."
"Then leave me alone." I shot back.
"Listen, I'm sick of your attitude. I know you're upset that I won't let you go to school and that you have to face Liam today, but that doesn't give you a right to be rude to me." Stef pulled the blankets down and grabbed my chin so I couldn't turn away.
"Sorry." I mumbled as I pulled my face away from her grasp.
The hardness and anger in her eyes quickly disappeared. "Why don't you come down for some breakfast and then we can watch some movies or do whatever until we have to leave for the courthouse."
"I'll come down but I really don't want anything to eat. It will just upset my stomach."
My mom smiled at me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders as we walked down the stairs.
Five hours later
"Callie Jacob." The bailiff announced my name from the doors that led to the courtroom. It was my turn to testify. The woman who saved my life walked out and gave me a reassuring smile.
"Are you ready, love?" Stef squeezed my hand. Lena was on my other side and kissed my cheek.
"No, but I have to go in." I stood up and walked to the doors but paused before I went in. "He's in there."
"Yes, but don't look at him. Just stare straight ahead until you get to the seat. Look at the lawyer who is talking to you or me and mama. All of us will be in there the whole time."
I took a deep breath and walked in. Everyone turned slightly to look at me as I walked in. Their eyes burned into me. I could feel the sadness and suspense in the room. Once I was seated I couldn't help but look at Liam. He was smiling at me. The same twisted smile he shot me when he saw me at Wyatt's party.
"Place your left hand on the bible and raise your right. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
"I do."