Hey y'all! Okay so this chapter is all kinds of feels. Like I said for the last two chapters imma be settining it up for something big. It make get a bit confusing so if you have questions let me know. Go ahead and give me your suggestions and if you review I'll update real soon! Hope you enjoy!❤️
"Okay, fine." The two of us are strewn across my bed once more, a casket of forgotten pizza occupying the floor juxtaposed with some plates, glasses and used napkins. My head is resting in the dip between Connor's armpit and chest as my hand lays on top of his chest. Watching as it rises and falls I can tell he is staring blankly at the ceiling whilst we let our small talk wonder. "If Iron Man didn't have his suit he'd be crap." Connor tries to reason "But, yeah, I guess his smartness does sort of make up for it." Grinning smugly I laugh.
"See. Same goes for Bruce Banner, even if he wasn't The Hulk, he's smart enough to classify as one of them, ya know?" Okay so it wasn't exactly my best point but he knew what I meant. He always does.
"I mean, I guess. They'd be pretty screwed without him though." Although, getting what he was saying I couldn't help but disagree.
"Not really. He's actually an inconvenience if you think 'bout it." Connor raises his head up giving himself an impressive double chin in the process. He's got a 'what the fuck are you even on about' look.
"Tell me you're joking." Stating it with a half pleading voice.
"No seriously, think of all the times Black Widow has had to calm him down when she could have been kicking butt!" I say back. I personally thought I had a very good point. Connor…not so much.
"That's like blasphemy!" He was using his free arm to wave it round as he spoke.
"No it's not! It's so true." I tried to argue.
"No. Just no. You keep talking and I'll have to kick your butt." Laughing now I supported myself on my arm letting Connor turn onto his side.
"I dare you." I say coolly.
"Not sure you want to go there." He warned with a sly smile. Oh it was on.
"Too chicken?" Teasing probably wasn't exactly my strong point but the look he gave me was worth it. Glinting in his eyes was the beginning of an onslaught. Spotting it, I ducked off the bed and towards the door. He was too fast. Jumping at me his arms wrapped round my waist. Crashing to the floor I started half screaming, half squealing as Connor tickled me without mercy. I couldn't breathe. Gasping for air I began to squirm, trying desperately to get free. My head thumped against the bottom of the doorway and I let out a pathetic 'Ouch'.
"Shit, Jude, are you okay?" Giggling at his sudden protectiveness I used my palm to push his face away. Joining in we soon broke into hysterics. Nothing was particularly funny but it just felt too good to laugh. We must have spent a good time like that because my throat began to become dry and sore. Coughing I had to perch myself upright to keep from choking. I felt Connor patting me on the back as he too had sat up his hip against mine.
"T-thanks." I muster.
"No problem." He says back as his patting turns to rubbing small circles on my back. From downstairs we hear the door being pushed open as someone comes home. Stopping dead Connor's arm falls to his side as we listen. We're slightly panting so it's more difficult than normal.
"Hello?" It's Callie.
"It's fine it's just Callie." I claim as I get to my feet.
"I should probably be getting home anyway." He tries to counter my plan before I've even proposed it. Heading towards the door he goes to leave so, instinctively, I snatch his hand into mine. My hearts doing that weird heavy pounding thing again. Smiling he looks at me. Nervous because I still don't know if I'm allowed to do things like this I freeze. I guess he can tell because the next second he connects his lips with mine. Short and sweet. Winking at me he then pulls away. Galavanting down he meets Callie on the stairs.
"Oh, hey Connor." She greets somewhat surprised.
"Hey." He responds as he continues going.
"Is Jude in?" No Callie, Connor's here in our home all by himself, seriously? Connor laughs and presumably nods. They say goodbye and Callie continues up. "Jude?"
"Yeah?" I ask as I walk onto the landing. My sister looks oddly fancy in a dinner dress. It's cut just above the knees and is a striking black. Around her neck is a gold necklace that looks like one of Momma's.
"Where's everyone?" Callie ponders.
"Out." I tell her. Her eyebrows knit together but she doesn't say anything more about it.
"How come your all dressed up?" I ask then add "You look nice." Just so I don't sound pissed off. Callie looks down at her attire and sighs.
"I was at the Quinn's, it's Sophia's birthday." Oh right. I knew she was there I just didn't know it for her half sister's special day. An awkward fog lies between us. Ever since I found out she's not actually my full sister I have been distant with her. I'm not sure why. Like I still love her but we'd always been held together by blood. We fought to stay together because of it and now it turns out we only share half of that. Then again I share none with the Foster Adams collection yet they are 100% my family. So maybe it's not that. I suppose if I'm really honest I'm scared, no, I'm jealous. Sophia has come along and now I have to share Callie with her? Callie is my sister not hers…but she is hers. It just feels like I may loose her. I don't know how to handle that so I don't know how to act with her. "Um, Jude, we need to talk."
"About what?" I grumble. Callie walks past me into my room. She squats down onto my bed and taps the spot next to her. Neutral faced and curious I acquiesce her silent request.
"Okay, so Robert has decided to let me stay with you." Shocked my bottom jaw hangs open. Smiling she continues. "I have to visit him and Sophia a lot and everything but we did it Jude! I'm going to be adopted."
"Wait, are you serious?" If she was this was perfect! Everything was falling into place. Within minutes Callie and I were hugging each other tightly tears streaming from both of us. I couldn't believe it.
"We did it," she whispers "We found our forever family, Jude." We rushed into detailed accounts of what had happened and what Robert had said. Sophia was not so thrilled but she got why Callie had done it. She was no less her sister than Marianna but I was her brother first and she wasn't just going to abandon me for a new family. After discussing it for a long long time we moved on too new topics. "So how come Connor was here?"
"Moms said I could have a friend round since I was alone all night otherwise." I explain. Callie looks at me. Really looks. It actually got uncomfortable. "What?" Biting her lip she internally battles herself before her curiosity gets the better of her.
"Do you…" She's twiddling her fingers nervously. "You know, um, like him?" What?
"I, I mean yeah, he's my best friend…" Callie shows a confused expression.
"It's just I thought you two had a fight, the other day you said, you know about not wanting to talk about it…" At least she listened. Even if it did make it inconvenient later on.
"We, um, made up." Okay, so we had more than made up but she didn't need to know did she?
"Jude, you don't like him as, you know more than a friend do you?" Staring at her blankly I can't think of what to say. We just wanted to keep it private for now so I wasn't exactly going to tell her now. Instead my only other option was to challenge her.
"Do you like Brandon, as you know, more than friends?" Eyeing one another we know the answer to both questions but why fight now. Let's not spoil it. Moving on we talk about school for a bit.
"Well, I'm going to go change." Callie announces kissing my forehead despite my protest.
The rest of the evening I hum happily to myself as I play on Clash of Clans. It's not until almost twelve when we hear the door downstairs open and Marianna and Jesus show up with Brandon. Callie and I waltz down the stairs to meet them sharing the good news. Everyone starts hugging and cheering. Even Jesus joins in though I never really see Callie and him talk much. After relocating to the living room we spend the next half hour in a full and lively conversation. That is until we hear a car pull up and a few seconds later…Shouting.
"I'm sorry, please. Can you just calm down?" It was Lena. The five of us fell deathly still.
"Sorry for what? For letting her? For not telling me sooner? Or for getting found out?" Steph howls back. There's a slamming car door and my heart rate accelerates. In the corner of my eye I see Callie grip Brandon's arm whilst a pale Marianna clutches her twin in fear.
"Honey, can we please talk about this calmly?" Lena's voice is threaded with cautious hesitation. Their footsteps are coming closer and closer to the front door.
"Don't honey me! I don't want to discuss this with you!" Steph is furious. Her hateful words are blazing with fire as they ignite in the silence. Catastrophic and unashamed. Flinging the door open she storms in. Stopping when she sees us her anger falters for a second before she rages up the stairs. Lena is trailing pitifully after her and gives us that same look, almost saying something, then chasing her wife up the stairs. The five of us exchange anxious looks all too stunned to vocalise our single thought: what the hell is going on? Above there's more shouting and screaming only to be followed by Steph charging downstairs with a brimming overnight bag. A puffy eyed Lena is once again following her spilling words of excuse weakly. The front door opens again. Steph is gone.
"Brandon?" Callie breathes out tensely. Too late. He's off straight out, past Momma and through the door off to find Steph. Robotically walking into the living room where we're all stood Lena slumps on the coach. Then the crying starts. Gentle at first but slowly becoming more desperate. Marianna is there in seconds wrapping an arm round Momma's shoulders. Callie goes to the kitchen to make tea whilst Jesus and I hover, unsure what to do. I had no idea what was going on, nor did anyone for that matter. A lifetime seems to pass before Lena thanks us and says she's going to bed. Jesus and Marianna go up and so do I. It's not until I'm lying in the dark do I hear the door open. Footsteps up the stairs and voices on the landing. It's Brandon talking to a sympathetic Callie.
"What happened?" Callie hisses "Where's Steph?"
"At Mike's." Brandon whispers back. "She's going to stay there for a bit, till she's calm again."
"Okay but why were they fighting?"
"Apparently Lena…" His voice, although hushed lowers even more, to the point where I have to strain my ears. "Cheated on Mom…" No. Callie's gasp physically denotes my disbelief. No way was that true. It couldn't be. I idolised their relationship, their ability to look past anything. And now…no.
"B, I'm so sorry." Callie soothes to him. "Look at me," there's a pause "Everything's going to be okay." I can no longer hear them. They've stopped talking. Are they? No… I focus on what's just happened. It was so fast I'm having issues processing it all. So much for perfect.