Chapter 14

Callie walked into the house to hear a lively melody playing throughout the house. A small smile sprouted on her lips as she climbed the stairs. The music grew louder as she approached Brandon's room and stepped inside quietly. He sat on the bench before his keyboard, playing along to a recording from the band. Callie closed the door quietly and sat on the chair by Brandon's keyboard.

His fingers stopped moving when he saw her and he paused the recording. He turned on the bench to face her with a smile. "Hey, I didn't hear you come home."

"I just got home a few minutes ago. Stef and Lena were on their way out for the baby moon so I had to convince them for ten minutes that I'd be okay."

Brandon laughed. "Yeah they were starting to think it was a bad idea to leave with everything going on especially without grandma coming."

"Yeah well them being here isn't going to change anything. And they need this baby moon, especially once they realize there's going to be two babies." Callie pursed her lips. "Plus, them being gone makes it a little easier for us to be together."

Brandon smiled before leaning forward and pressing his lips to hers. "How was your dad's?"

"Good. He told me he signed the papers, but it'll be another two weeks before they get here because they have to be processed by his lawyers or something. So, I guess we have to tell Stef and Lena about us before then." Callie bit her lower lip.

"Okay." Brandon nodded again. His thumb gently stroked the top of her hand. "And your positive you're okay without the piece of paper?"

"Yes." She smiled. "There's no turning back now. I think we both know we can't just be friends. And as long as they don't kick me out after we tell them, I'll still be a part of this family with or without a piece of paper."

"They're not going to kick you out. They may be mad, but they would never kick you out." He said. He opened his mouth to ask her a question, but his words escaped his mind when Callie jumped slightly and her eyes widened. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"I think the baby just kicked." She whispered, sliding her hand onto her growing stomach. A small flutter was felt beneath her hand. "The baby is kicking."

Brandon watched as Callie took his hand and placed it on her stomach. The movement was small, but it was there. It felt surreal. There was actually a baby growing inside of Callie. "Wow…that's amazing."

"I'm going to make an appointment at the doctors. Will you come with me?" She asked nervously.

"Of course." He pushed a curl behind her ear. "When are you going to tell Moms?"

"Soon. After the doctor appointment." Callie said. She looked at him hesitantly. "Is it weird that I love this baby already?"

"No, that's not weird. It's your baby. It's half of you. And you have a pretty big and loving heart." Brandon smiled.

Callie's face contorted into worry. "What's going to happen with us after I have the baby?"

"Callie, I am still going to be here for you even after the baby." Brandon's voice was soft and sincere as he gently placed is hand on her stomach. "I love you, all of you, which includes this baby. And I am here for you and this baby."

Callie nodded as tears welled in her eyes. "I love you too."

Callie closed her eyes as Brandon's fingers danced in her curls. Her head rested on his chest as they laid on top of Brandon's bed. She never wanted to move from this spot. She felt as though no harm could reach her when she was in his arms.

"Why don't you take a nap?" Brandon suggested softly. He was well aware of her poor sleeping habits since the winter ball. Anxious thoughts made it hard for her to fall asleep and when she finally did, she was plagued by vivid nightmares. She began to dread sleep.

Callie opened her eyes and looked up at Brandon. The house was quiet as the twins claimed they were working on a project outside and Jude was sleeping over at Connor's. The offer to take a nap was tempting, but she shook her head. "I don't want to risk someone walking in. Plus, I really don't feel like having a nightmare."

Brandon frowned. Sleep was on the long list of things Vico and Liam had taken from Callie. "I'll wake you up if I see you having one."

Callie smiled. "You're sweet, but I can't. Plus, it's kind of late to take one too."

"Okay, but you need sleep not just for you, but the baby too." Brandon whispered.

"I know." Callie sighed. She opened her mouth to say something, but the words escaped her mouth as she felt another flutter in her stomach. A small laugh left her lips as she moved her hand to her abdomen. "The baby is kicking again. See the baby is wide awake and doesn't want me to sleep right now."

Brandon chuckled as he slid his hand over her stomach to feel the tiny movement. He was pretty sure the feeling would be incredible every time. "I think the baby is agreeing with me that you need sleep."

Callie sat up slowly, her hand remaining on her stomach. "Actually, I think the baby is telling me it wants food."

Brandon laughed as he sat up too. He pushed himself off the bed and took Callie's hand to help her up. Her nausea had mostly disappeared this past week, with the exception of certain foods and smells, and now she had a new love for food. "Let's go figure out dinner. Should we order in?"

Callie paused as she they reached the door. She sniffed the air. "I smell pizza."

Brandon took a whiff of the air, but burrowed his eyebrows. "I don't smell anything. Are you craving pizza so much you're smelling it?"

Callie giggled as she hit him playfully. "I could go for pizza, but I'm telling you I smell it. Your sense of smell gets stronger when you're pregnant."

Brandon opened the door and started for the hall. "Maybe the neighbors ordered pizza or something."

The two made their way downstairs and into the kitchen. Brandon grabbed the bin of takeout menus and searched through them for the local pizza place. Callie strolled towards the window by the sink with raised eyebrows. "I think I found the pizza."

Brandon whipped his head to where she was looking with a puzzled expression. He squinted his eyes as he walked to where she was standing, peering through the window. Two tables sat in the corner of the backyard. One had a stack of pizza boxes as well as plates, napkins, and an assortment of snacks. The other table had drinks and stacks of cups. "What is going on?"

"I think Mariana and Jesus are throwing a party." Callie said.

Brandon shook his head as he started for the back door. "I'm going to kill them."

Callie followed Brandon to the backyard where they found Mariana, Jesus, Mat, and Emma. A flash of worry flickered in Mariana's eyes before she grinned wide. "Hey guys, what's up?"

"What are you doing? What is all of this?" Brandon waved his hand towards the tables.

"We're just having a few friends over." Mariana said casually.

"You need that many boxes of pizza for a few friends?" Callie asked. There had to be at least ten boxes stacked on the table. "Besides Moms said no people over."

"I told you this was a bad idea." Mat whispered to Mariana. The two had grown close since Brandon joined the band and had even went on a few dates, but had yet to define their relationship.

"Look you guys, this is our baby moon too." Mariana said matter-of-factly. "This may be our last chance to throw a party."

Callie shifted uncomfortably. What Mariana didn't know was that there was going to be two babies. "I don't think this is a good idea."

"It's too late to cancel." Jesus piped up.

"Mat invited Lou and Jasper. They're going to play and want you to play with them." Mariana enticed in an attempt to get her brother on board with her plan.

"I'm not getting involved in this." Brandon shook his head as he held his hands in the air. He narrowed his eyes at Jesus. "I hope you didn't invite any of the guys from the wrestling team."

Callie bit down on her lower lip and cast her eyes to the ground. She suddenly felt very uneasy about this party. Everyone from Anchor Beach disliked her and the majority of the students harassed her. She avoided her classmates as much as she possibly could and now they were going to be at her home; one of the few places she felt safe.

"I didn't invite them, we don't talk to them anymore, but it's possible they heard about it." Jesus said, his eyes glancing at Callie. Guilt swam in his stomach. He didn't think about Callie's problems with the school when he planned the party. "If anyone bothers Callie, they're out ASAP."

"Tommy Walker is not allowed here at all, got it?" Brandon said through a clenched jaw. Tommy Walker was best friends with Vico and relentless in harassing Callie. He was also the one to break Brandon's hand.

"Of course. Nobody wants him here." Jesus agreed.

Brandon grabbed a box of pizza from the table and started for the door. "If moms find out about this it's on you two. I'm taking pizza for me and Callie."

"Just don't let anyone in the house either." Callie said before she followed Brandon back into the kitchen.

Brandon slid the box onto the counter and grabbed two plates. He shook his head as he grabbed cups and a pitcher of water. "Those two are unbelievable."

"It'll be fine as long as they stay outside. If they get in trouble, it's on them." Callie said. Her mouth watered as she threw open the pizza box. Her eyes widened with excitement as she lifted a piece of pizza, watching the cheese ooze.

Brandon watched in amusement as she took a bite and closed her eyes. "Why do I feel like you're more in love with that slice of pizza than you are with me?"

"Not more than you. About the same." Callie teased with a grin. "But in all seriousness, pizza has never tasted so good."

Brandon chuckled. He couldn't help, but beam as he watched her enjoy her pizza. For one, he was glad she rekindled her relationship with food. She had been limited to bland foods that still made her nauseous, which made her dread eating. Watching her throw up multiple times a day had been torture for Brandon; he had felt helpless and it was just another reminder of the pain Liam and Vico continued to inflict on her. But mostly he smiled because she continued to amaze him. She was forced into this pregnancy, forced into being a mother at sixteen, and yet she managed to find the positives.

The two enjoyed their pizza while the twins continued to set up for the party. Within a couple of hours, the backyard began to fill with people. Brandon and Callie settled in the living room, finding a movie to watch, and keeping guard that nobody came into the house other than for use of the downstairs bathroom.

A few minutes after the movie ended, Mariana strolled into the living room. "Brandon, please come play with the band. They're about to start and they'd really like you to join."

Callie watched Mariana take off through the back door. "You should go play. Playing doesn't mean you threw the party. Go have fun."

Brandon grimaced. "I don't know…"

"Mariana is right, although for more reasons than she knows. This is our baby moon too." Callie placed a hand on her stomach. She flashed a smile at him. "Go be a carefree teenager before the baby comes."

"Ugh if you insist." Brandon groaned dramatically, but his lips widened into a smile. He glanced around to make sure the room was empty before leaning forward and planting a soft kiss on Callie's lips. He stood and took her hand to help her up. "But I want you out there watching."

Callie grinned. "I would never pass up a chance at watching you play."

Brandon and Callie made their way out to the crowded backyard. Brandon had to resist pressing a kiss to her cheek before he left to meet up with the band in the center of the backyard. Callie felt anxiety settle in the pit of her stomach as she stood in the corner. She fiddled with the hem of her shirt as her eyes scanned the people strolling around the yard. There were too many people for her liking; too many people she didn't trust, and the one person who made her feel as though no harm could reach her was too far away.

A smile found her lips and the anxiety started to ease as the sound of Brandon's voice met her ears. She was so happy he was playing music again. At the start of the second song, she felt sudden pressure on her bladder. She made her way into the quiet house and headed into the downstairs bathroom. A small smile found her lips as she rested her hand on her stomach. "My bladder is not a squeeze toy, baby."

Callie let out a startled gasp as she opened the door after she was done and found a male figure standing there. Her stomach lurched as her eyes met Tommy Walker's. She swallowed thickly and she attempted to move passed him, but he blocked her path. "What do you want?"

"For you to stop accusing Vico and admit that you're a slut." He said as he loomed above her.

Callie could hear the band starting a new song and it made her stomach twist even further. Nobody was supposed to enter the house and with Brandon playing that meant the chance of someone coming inside was slim. She clenched her jaw, trying to hide her fear. "Get out of my way."

He ignored her, taking a step closer to her. "Why don't you tell everyone what really happened that night? How you were begging for it, how you wanted it rough, how…"

"You need to move now." Callie's voice was firm, but her heart was thumping so hard as though she was running a marathon.

His eyes moved up and down her body, sending unnerving chills down her spine. His head swooped down to her ear. "You know Vico told me he'd share you. He said you were so good I should see for myself."

Callie's breathing hitched. Her muscles tensed so much they began to ache. She took a step back in attempt to move away from him, but he took another step forward, leaving her nowhere to go in the small bathroom. She tried to step passed him again, but he gripped her upper arm. The panic in her stomach was growing with each second. "Let go of me."

"It's okay, Vico won't be mad." He smirked. She could feel his hot breath against neck and it made her stomach flip.

"Hey! What's going on?" Mariana shouted as she spotted the wrestler trapping a panicked Callie.

Tommy released his grip on Callie as he turned to face Mariana. His smirked widened. "We're just having a little fun. Would you like to join us?"

Mariana's face scrunched with repulsion. "You're disgusting. Just because no girl wants to touch you doesn't mean you can force yourself on them. You get away from her and away from our house right now or I will call the cops on you for trespassing."

He narrowed his eyes at the short brunette before turning back and glancing at Callie. "Vico says hi by the way."

Callie blinked back tears as she watched him start for the door. Her head whipped towards the back door as it clicked open. Brandon stepped inside, his face contorted with fury when his eyes fell on Tommy. "What are you doing here? What's going on?"

Brandon started for the wrestler, but Callie stepped out from the doorway and tugged on his arm. "Brandon, don't. It's not worth it."

"Yeah he was leaving anyway." Mariana shot Tommy a warning glance. She watched as he made his way to the front door. "Oh by the way, I'm friends with Haley now who told me the reason you guys broke up. So, if you ever bother Callie again, I will make sure everyone knows about your small penis."

Brandon watched Tommy slam the door shut. He turned to Callie, noticing her chest heaving and her eyes wide with panic. He took her hand and led her into the kitchen to sit down. "Breathe, Callie. Take some deep breaths."

Mariana moved to the entrance of the kitchen, watching warily. She wasn't sure what she walked in on, but she was glad she interrupted it. "Callie, are you okay?"

Callie inhaled deeply, feeling her heart rate gradually slow. She met Brandon's eyes as her own glistened with unshed tears. She was not okay. Tommy hadn't actually hurt her, but he evoked the same feeling she had when she was in the woods with Vico and Liam; that paralyzing, suffocating terror. She had felt like she was out of control of her own body, her own life. It was a feeling she never wanted to face again and yet it was the very feeling Tommy had just caused.

Brandon's stomach knotted when Callie failed to answer Mariana's question. He could practically see the battle in her head. "Callie, what happened? What did he do?"

A single tear escaped Callie's eyes and she closed her eyes for a moment to stop the others from spilling over her lids. "It wasn't…he…he just scared me. He trapped me in the bathroom and just…said things."

Brandon looked to Mariana. "Can we please shut this party down now?"

Mariana nodded, her eyes holding concern for her foster sister. "I'm on it."

Brandon waited for Mariana to leave before he pulled a chair over to face Callie. "What did he say?"

Callie peeled her eyes away from Brandon. "He was telling me to admit that I…wanted it that night and that…Vico told him he'd share me."

Brandon gritted her teeth as fury pumped through his veins. He took in a calming breath before reaching out and taking Callie's hand in his own. "Did he touch you?"

Callie shook her head as more tears began to trickle down her cheeks. "He just grabbed my arm. He just…he scared me. I…I felt like I was back in those woods."

Brandon frowned. "You're not in those woods and he's not here anymore. You're safe."

"I just want to forget. All of it. What happened, the terror, their faces…" Callie shook her head with frustration as the tears began to stream down her face faster. "I just want to forget and I feel like it's all my mind thinks about constantly no matter how hard I try to stop it."

"Callie…" Brandon sighed sadly. He so badly wanted to pull her onto his lap and hold her in his arms, but he knew he couldn't risk it with the chance of anyone walking through the backdoor. "You went through a really traumatic experience. That doesn't just go away. Trauma is messy and it can take a while to work through."

Callie nodded as she wiped at her dampened cheeks. "I feel like all I do is cry lately."

"Before…before all of this happened, I could count the amount of times I had seen you cry on one hand. You think you have to be strong for everyone, which means you don't let yourself cry in front of people and you try to hide when you're hurt or upset. But the problem with that is everything gets bottled in and builds ups. And so, it's okay to cry, it's okay to break down. Doing so doesn't make you weak. It breaks my heart to see you cry, but it also makes me relieved because I know you're letting some of that pain out." Brandon brought her hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss to the top of it. "Why don't we head upstairs while they make everyone leave. They have to clean up too so they'll be a while. We can have a nice, uninterrupted cuddle session."

A small giggle escaped Callie's lips. Words couldn't explain how incredibly grateful she was for the curly haired boy before her. He was there for her in her darkest moments. He always knew what to say and when to say it; the only person who could put a smile on her face when her world was falling apart. She nodded and stood as he did. "That sounds like a great idea."

Thanks for reading! As you can probably tell, I'm trying to incorporate some of the events that took place in the show. If there's something that happens in the show that you'd like to see in this story, let me know. I'm always open to suggestions- it doesn't just have to be something that happened in the show either.

I know I've said in more than one chapter that I wasn't too happy with my writing. I have been suffering with many different health problems for a few years and just found out in December that it's from Lyme disease. Often symptoms get worse before they get better after starting antibiotics and this was the case for me. And so, the minor cognitive difficulties I had have become worse. They're starting to get better, but it definitely affected my writing. Anyway, the reason I am saying this is just to apologize if the writing hasn't been the best quality; I didn't want to put the story on hold nor did I want to stop writing since I love it so much and it's therapeutic.

Anyway, enough ranting, I hope you enjoyed! One more chapter and then the moms find out about the pregnancy. They do find out about another secret though next chapter.

Review!