Callie is having a bit of a rough time. Slightly sorry for that? Also slightly sorry to say it'll all only get worse. Anyway, read and enjoy!
Callie woke, her head feeling stuffed and fuzzy. It took her a moment to recall the previous day - the sighting, the breakdown, the message. For a brief moment she was happy, but then it all came crashing down. Liam had found her. Not just online, but he knew where she lived, where she worked, where she went to school. He knew her life. And he knew that she couldn't avoid him. So long as he made no threats, she couldn't do anything. No one would believe her. Well...that wasn't true. Stef and Lena would believe her, but she was meant to keep quiet. That was the deal.
"Callie?"
She turned at her brother's voice and gave him a tired smile.
"Hey baby," she whispered. He smiled back and crossed the room, lying in the bed beside her. Callie curled her arm around him, pulling him into her. This was what made her okay. Just having her brother near made everything alright.
"Are you okay? You were acting kind of weird last night and we heard you and Mariana arguing before bed."
"I'm fine bud," she answered. He pulled away slightly to look at her.
"No you're not. It's okay to say you're not fine. We don't have to be afraid anymore."
"I was just having an off night," she tried. "Work was really long and I didn't really feel like myself. I was just tired."
"Why couldn't you just tell us that? We wouldn't have made you stay up if you just said that."
"I didn't want to make a big thing of it."
"But by not telling anyone, Moms were worried all night which made it no fun for any of us. It's not just about you anymore Callie. You need to talk to people, otherwise it ruins it for everyone."
He was right. She had been selfish. She'd kept to herself and ruined everyone's night. And it wasn't the first time she'd done something like this. This was why they always assumed she'd run. She was a selfish person by nature. She never thought things through, never trusted anyone aside from herself.
"I'm sorry buddy," she muttered. "I'll do better."
"I just wish you could trust them," he replied. "They deserve better than how you've been acting. I just want them happy. I want you happy. We finally have a family, Callie. We don't have to be scared anymore."
He had a family. She had a placement. Nothing was official until those papers were signed. Nothing was over until she had a new last name. And until that moment, she couldn't relax. She knew she was loved, but she was also on thin ice with everything going on. She couldn't afford to tread too heavily or things around her may just shatter.
Callie kissed the top of Jude's head and gave a sigh. He snuggled in for another moment before pulling back.
"Moms wanted me to get you for breakfast."
"I'll be right down," she stated, running a hand through her hair. Jude gave her a smile and got off the bed, heading downstairs. When had she last cuddled her brother like that? When had he let her? These days if anything happened he went to Lena or Stef. Callie was never first call anymore. She was an afterthought. And that was good, because he had parents who loved him, but it meant her job had changed and she didn't know how to act in this new role. She was used to parenting him, but now he lashed out when she took on that role. She was supposed to just be a sister, but she wasn't sure she knew what that meant anymore.
Callie stretched as she got up from her bed. She glanced down at her pajamas before deciding her clothes didn't really matter and heading downstairs.
"Hey, there's Sleeping Beauty!" Stef called as Callie entered. Stef circled the kitchen island and placed a quick kiss on Callie's forehead. "Morning love."
"How'd you sleep Callie?" Lena asked. Callie shrugged as she moved to her seat.
"Alright, I guess." She reached across and grabbed some pancakes to toss on her plate. She dribbled a bit of syrup and kept her head down, focusing on her food.
She tuned out the chatter as everyone discussed what was happening that day. She didn't really care. She didn't feel like doing too much. She just wanted to lounge around the house and try to pretend yesterday hadn't happened.
"Callie?"
"What?" she startled, looking up from her plate. Stef gave her a cautious smile.
"Zone out a bit there sweets?"
"Yeah, I'm just still kinda tired," she answered, trying best to look normal.
"So do you want to come out today or no?"
"Come out?" she questioned.
"Moms wanted to go to the beach today. They were thinking we could do a picnic and stuff," Brandon explained. She met his gaze across the table. There was no anger in his eyes anymore. Maybe he'd moved on. Maybe he'd forgotten about how everything was her fault.
She shrugged. "I don't know. It's up to you guys."
"I'll tell you guys what," Sharon interrupted. "I was thinking about going to get something for later. Callie how about you join me on a little trip and then we'll meet up with the others a bit later?"
"Get what Mom?" Stef asked, squinting her eyes.
"It's called a surprise for a reason Stefanie. That didn't work when you were a kid, it's sure not working now."
"Okay, well you can't make Callie go along -"
"I'm not making her do anything!"
"How about -" Lena interrupted, "we let Callie decide for herself? Can we do that?"
Callie felt all eyes turn to her. She slowly chewed her bit of pancake and gave a small nod.
"I can go along," she answered. "Sure."
"You're sure sweets? If you want to stay in that's fine too."
"There's no need to try and save her from this. I'm not gonna torture my granddaughter Stefanie."
"There are many kinds of torture," Stef muttered, taking a sip of her coffee. Callie masked her laugh with a cough, prompting Stef to give her a quick wink.
"Alright, so we're set then? Yes? Beach for a few hours, picnic, then what? Movies for the rest of the day? Maybe we can order in," Lena offered. The kids all grinned in response. Lena and Stef shared a smile as everyone started cleaning up from their breakfast. Callie looked down at her unfinished food.
"Don't worry about it doll," Sharon murmured behind her, "we'll get some better food on the way."
"Mom, please do not spoil them with whatever it is you're getting," Stef begged as everyone ran upstairs to change. Lena smiled, leaning on Stef's shoulder.
"Hey - I'm the grandma. I have one job in this life and that's to spoil. Let me do as I please!" Stef groaned, burying her face in Lena's shoulder. "Now if that's settled, Callie and I are gonna head on out. Ready to go kid?"
"Just give me a second to change?" Callie asked. Sharon nodded and Callie bolted up the stairs. She quickly shed her pajamas and pulled on her clothes for the day.
"Are you not taking your bathing suit?" Mariana questioned, leaning in front of her dresser.
"Are you still trying to decide what bathing suit to wear?" Callie countered.
"Never know who you'll run into," Mariana defended. "There could be some cute guys!"
"It's a Thursday morning. Any guy on the beach is going to be skipping school which Lena won't approve of, or he'll be over 18 which Stef won't approve of. You're losing either way."
"Ugh, fine," Mariana groaned, grabbing the one on top. "This is what I get for trying to look good."
"You suffer so much," Callie laughed, grabbing her phone. She headed to the door.
"Callie?"
She stopped and turned back.
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry about last night. It was just really stupid. I didn't mean anything that -"
"I know," Callie cut off. "We're cool."
"Sisters fight, right?" Mariana asked hesitantly. Callie gave a soft smile. Despite how they'd started off when Callie first moved in, she and Mariana had become really close. They had become best friends and hearing Mariana's question gave Callie a feeling of comfort. Security.
"Yeah, they do."
"Good," Mariana grinned.
"Now I need to get downstairs before Stef does something to Sharon."
"Yeah, go save grandma. I'll see you later."
"Okay."
Callie raced downstairs and slowed as she neared the kitchen, hearing an exaggerated "Mom!" from Stef. She grinned and entered the room.
"Ready to go?" she asked.
"Perfect timing kiddo, I think your Mom is just about ready to kick me out."
"I'm not -" Stef started.
"See ya!" Sharon called, pulling Callie away with her. Callie looked back, giving a shrug and an amused grin to her Moms. A day with her family doing nothing but relaxing together? The week looking up already.