Chapter 14 (the last chapter) Part 1: Monday Worries

On Monday morning, I'm part of the mad rush of showers, breakfast, and running out the door to school. I like walking with Jude to school. I feel like a real sister doing everyday things with him.

Lena takes me to my first class. "You did very well on the entrance exam, Callie, so I put you in some honors classes. They may be harder than you're used to. You're going to have to stay on top of the homework and try hard, okay?"

"Maybe I'd be better off in regular classes?" I ask hesitantly.

"I think you can do this, honey," she insists, "You're smart, but your grades don't really reflect that. I think you need some challenge to get you engaged with school."

I nod. Lena thinks I'm smart. No one's really told me that I'm smart before. She's right that the classes are challenging, but they're interesting too. I think I can do it.

I make it through my morning classes, but lunch is a bit more daunting. I don't know where to sit. I walk through a sea of blond white Barbies and Kens staring at me or making a point of ignoring me. I finally see Mariana waving at me and go sit with her.

"This is Jude's sister, Callie, who's living with us now!" Mariana explains to her plastic friends. Her friend Kelsey says, "I swear your moms just keep taking in strays."

"Don't be rude, Kelsey!" says Mariana. "Callie's part of my family now."

I'm glad Mariana defends me, but I don't know why she hangs out with these people.

Kelsey just shrugs and says, "Mariana, wait until I tell you about this hot guy I met on the weekend. His name is Liam. Here I have a picture of him." She takes out her phone and there's his face, the face I never wanted to see again! I can't believe it. I feel like ice water is running down my back.

I excuse myself and run to the bathroom. I look ash pale. I splash some water on my face, but all of a sudden, I can't breathe.

I run out in a panic and make my way down to the beach, as far away from people as I can. I know I'm having a panic attack. It's happened before. I try to calm myself, breathing in and out with the waves. The bell rings and I know I'm late to the next class, but I can't move. What am I doing here? I need to get away.

Chapter 14 Part 2: Aftermath

I walk further down the beach and sit out of sight through all of my afternoon classes. I feel frozen with panic and fear. My old life has come crashing down on me.

My new phone buzzes, but I don't answer. I glance at texts from Lena and Stef that say "Where are you? Answer your phone Callie!", but I don't answer them. I can't answer. I wouldn't know what to say. I don't know why I thought I could be normal again and be a part of a family. I can't fit in here. I can't fit in anywhere.

Stef finds me an hour later. I see her walking down the beach in her cop's uniform with her phone in her hand. Lena must have called her from work to find me. I see her texting, probably to Lena to say she found me. I feel guilty all of a sudden, guilty for running away again. But part of me is disappointed that I didn't run further away so Stef couldn't find me. I'm tired of running, but afraid of staying and disappointing everyone. I'm not sure what I want anymore.

Stef quietly walks up and sits next to me. "What's going on, love?" she murmurs gently.

"I don't think I can do this, Stef," I reply, my voice quivering. "I'm just not cut out for this. You need to let me go."

Stef looks at me intensely and says, "We can talk about what you're feeling, but first I have to say that running away is never the answer, Callie. We were really worried. Things seemed to be going well, and then you completely disappeared again. We didn't know where you were. Jude was worried sick when you weren't there after school."

That pushes all of my guilt buttons. "I'm sorry," I whisper.

"Mariana said you left after Kelsey mentioned a guy named Liam. Who's Liam?" she demands.

"Um, I don't really want to talk about him," I choke out.

"Well, we're not going anywhere until you do," Stef insists sternly.

All of a sudden I'm angry, at Stef, at the world. I angrily shout, "Fine, you want to know who Liam is? He's a foster brother who told me he loved me and then turned into a monster. He raped me when I was 13. No one believed me, and they put me in a group home, so I ran away!"

Stef gasps, but then she pulls me into her lap and holds me tight. She strokes my hair while I bury my head in her shoulder and cry. It feels like I cry for hours. She just holds me and murmurs, "Sshh, baby, it's okay. I've got you."

"I'm sorry," I finally say when I'm all cried out.

"It's okay," Stef says. "I want you to know that I'll make certain that Liam never hurts you again, and he will pay for what he did. And we will get you help. I just wish I could take all your hurt away too, my love."

"I'm better off on my own," I say, "and you are all better off without me too."

Stef looks in my eyes and says, "You and me, we're a lot alike. We think we have to be strong and not need anyone. But sometimes it takes more courage to let down your walls and let someone in and accept their help and support."

I start to cry again, but Stef is crying too. I don't want her to hurt. I want to let down my walls and let her in.

She continues, "You are a part of our family whether you want it or not. We're not going anywhere. And I will always track you down, so you better get used to it," as she gives me a little squeeze.

She smiles, "And you're still grounded."

"Grounded? What?" I ask astonished.

"You didn't answer your phone, and that was one of our rules, as well as not skipping school, if you remember. I know you were having a hard time, but I need to keep you close to me for awhile for both our sakes," Stef explains in a serious tone.

Somehow I don't mind about being grounded. For the first time in a long time, I want to let someone, Stef and Lena, take care of me. I put my head on her shoulder and murmur, "Okay."

We sit and watch the sunset over the ocean as the waves crash to the shore. I feel at peace. Finally, Stef says, "Let's go home, love". She pulls me up and takes me back home, holding me close.

You never know about life. Things fall apart, but then things change, and sometimes it's worth letting your walls down and taking a chance at something better.

The End.

Author's Note: I really enjoyed writing this story, especially the Stef and Callie conversations in Chapters 4, 9, 11, and 14. What were your favorite parts (if you liked the story)? I'm trying to figure out why I love the Stef and Callie interactions so much. If anyone has figured it out, let me know. Maybe it's because I have a crush on Stef (and often Lena too) or maybe it's because I want to be more like her or maybe both. That tough on the outside but so loving on the inside persona gets me every time. They're great characters! Can't wait for the new episodes!