Charlie POV
Slowly my sobs turn to silent tears, my whole body aches and I feel like curling into a ball and ignoring the world around me. I can't believe I have just let all my walls down and shared one of the hardest moments of my life with somebody, even if that somebody is my sister. In reality I have only just met this girl who is currently holding me, I feel that I can trust her but I don't actually know her. For all I know I am going to be pulled out of this house tomorrow and I will never see any of these people again in my life, leaving me with more emotional baggage, leaving me more broken. I hear footsteps walking into the lounge, slowly I separate myself from Callie, my torso screaming in pain as I move my body, I really need to get those painkillers as soon as possible. I look towards the sound of the footsteps, Stef is now standing in the archway looking in "Sorry for interrupting, are you okay love?" I must look a mess by the expression Stef has on her face "Yeah.. yeah i'm fine" I use my sleeve to wipe my tear stricken cheeks. Stef gives me a small smile, she definitely has a way of making me feel safe, even from just being in the same room. Stef told me earlier that she is a police officer, I usually don't like police officers but Stef is different, Stef is nice. She moves further into the living room and sits in the armchair to the left of me "I called Tim and I have organised all the paperwork for you to stay with us for the next two nights" Stef gives me another smile and I can't help but smile back, a small smile but still a smile "Thanks" I reply "I have also organised a meeting with Tim which will be in two days. From there we can figure out what will be happening next" What does she mean by that? I would love to stay here but I feel that is very unlikely. There are already a lot of people that live in this house and it's not the biggest house, I don't want to leave but I also don't want to be a burden to the family. I want more information, I have so many questions but I can only muster up the courage to reply to Stef with "Okay" I guess i'll find out in two days.
Lena POV
I am waiting for the kids at the car, my fingers are tapping on my upper arm as my impatience is setting in. They one day I want to get home as soon as possible and the kids are taking forever. Stef texted me earlier telling me she had found Charlie and she was at our house, she didn't go into details but she said she will tell me everything tonight. I only just replied now saying I would be home soon, today was hectic so I didn't get the chance to earlier.
Finally I notice Jude making his way out of the school, he is walking alongside Connor and says a quick reply before he races over to the car, he gives me a hug before he jumps into the backseat. Ten minutes later all the kids have finally made it to the car and we are getting ready to leave the carpark, I don't know if I should tell the kids now about Charlie or wait until we get to the house. It's definitely going to be a shock, especially for Jude, and I do not want to blindside them with the news. I decide to talk to the kids before we leave the school, this means at least they will have the drive home to go over the news of someone new being in our house. Brandon is sitting next to me in the passenger seat and the three others are in the back, I turn my head around so I can see all four of the kids in my line of vision "So I have something I need to talk to you guys about" "Is it about why Callie wasn't at school today?" Brandon asks, before I have the chance to answer Jude is quickly talking "I thought I didn't see Callie today, Why wasn't she at school? Is she okay?" Jude has instant worry written on his face. I make sure to quickly cut that worry "Callie is fine, everything is fine. What i'm about to tell you is part of the reason why Callie was away" Silence fills the car as the kids patiently wait for me to talk. My thoughts jumble as I think about what i'm going to say next "Callie and Mom were busy today trying to find someone, someone you know Jude" Jude raises his eyebrows at me "Who was it?" "Well last week we found out that your sister Charlie was living in the area, we found out that she was in foster care" Jude begins to talk but shuts his mouth again, confusion clear on his face "I thought she was adopted" he eventually says before taking his eyes away from mine "We did too and I don't know what happened with that but unfortunately she wasn't. But what I do know is that Callie and your Mom found Charlie today and she is currently safe at home" Jude looks up at me again, he still looks utterly confused but a smile has formed on his lips "Let's get home then!" I let out my own smile before I turn to my other three children "How do you guys feel about this?" Jesus is the first to talk "Awesome! You know what I say I love having a big family, I will just have to set my alarm extra early for my morning shower now" He looks at his sister and winks, it's returned with an eye roll. I'm not surprised by Jesus's reaction he is the most laid back out of all my children. I turn to Mariana "What about you Mari?" she gives a shrug "um it's cool, like it's really awesome you have found her but..." she looks to Jude before she continues, I know Mariana and she wouldn't want to say anything to hurt her little brothers feelings, she turns back to me "our house is already really crowded with just us, I already have to have cold showers at least two times a week and where is she supposed to sleep" Mariana looks down and I can tell Jude is already getting worked up about Marianas reaction by the death stare she is receiving to the back of her head. I quickly try to cut the tension "We don't know what is going to happen yet, I need to talk to Mom first as I still don't know anything about Charlie's situation but I do agree Mariana our house is very busy already". Jude looks up to me with a look of betrayal, oh god, why did I decide to do this on my own. This is one of the situations where I wish Stef was here with me to help. I look to Jude "I'm not saying she isn't going to stay with us, i'm just saying we haven't made a plan yet but I assure you.." I look to each one of my children "I assure you we will keep you fully updated and you will all have a say in what we decide to do, okay?" I receive a nod from Jesus, Mariana and eventually Jude. It is at this moment that I notice Brandon hasn't been involved in any of the conversation that has just happened, he hasn't even looked towards myself or his siblings, turning towards him I place my hand on his forearm "You okay B?" he just stares through the front window "yep" "You sure?" "Yep" I give his arm a squeeze, I know Brandon has something going through his mind but I'll talk to him in private later. I start up the engine "Okay, well let's get home then" I pull the car out of the car park and start to drives towards home, I don't know what tonight is going to bring but I have a feeling it will be interesting.
Charlie POV
Stef, Callie and I have been talking in the living room for about five minutes now. We haven't been talking about anything in particular and Callie has stopped asking me questions about my past, she is probably worried I will break down again. Stef has asked me about my favourite food and if I have any hobbies in which I replied with Pizza, however, I stumbled a bit on the hobbies question, I don't really know if I have any hobbies, I haven't really had the opportunity to develop hobbies so I decided to reply with a simple "I quite like art; drawing and painting". Stef gave me a big unexpected grin at that comment "Lucky we have a few people in this house that like art" She gives Callie a wink "So if you feel like doing some drawing while you are here than just ask, we have lots of supplies" I can't help but smile at Stef, she seems so excited over something so small "Thanks" I say. Our conversation is cut by the sound of a car pulling into the driveway "That will be everyone else" Stef says as she jumps up to her feet "You ready to meet the rest of the village?" Stef says to me with a laugh. I don't know what to say, no i'm not ready, i'm not very good with people anyway let alone a whole group of strangers in an unfamiliar house but obviously i'm not going to say that out loud so I reply with a nod.
Within a minute the front door has opened and I hear footsteps as they make their way into the house, surprisingly no one seems to be talking, I wonder if they already know about me being here. "Good afternoon love" I recognise that voice, it's Lena's voice, Stef replies "Good afternoon my love, we are in the living room". A few seconds later Lena walks around the corner, she is followed by four teenagers, which I am presuming is Brandon, Jesus, Mariana and.. Jude. I look at the smallest of the four, I recognise him from the photo in Callie's room. At this moment everything feels a bit awkward, I feel like everyone is just staring at me, I look to Callie who gives me a small smile. Lena is the first to say anything "Hi Charlie" She smiles, a warm welcoming smile "It's nice to meet you again" It's at this point that I remember all the lies I told Lena last time we talked, I completely forgot about them and now she is going to know for sure that I was lying to her "I'm.. i'm so sorry I lied to you Lena, I didn't mean to lie but I did and I'm so sorry, I..." Lena walks closer to me, she holds her hand up in a gesture to tell me to stop talking "No need to apologise, it's fine. I'm just glad you are okay, you are okay right?" I nod "I'm fine" Lena looks to Stef almost like she is asking for a second opinion. Stef doesn't reply but I know she gave Lena some kind of answer silently as Lena gives Stef a nod as if she is replying to her. Lena walks back towards the other kids "Well i'm going to go put my things away, why don't you lot make Charlie feel welcome" Jesus quickly makes his way over to me at this point he opens his arms and hugs me, I flinch at the contact, this is too much too soon "Nice to meet you new sis, i'm Jesus, the coolest one that lives in this house" he steps back and looks at me, I let out a small smile, although this is super awkward at least he is funny. Mariana is right behind Jesus, she is a lot more stand offish "Hi, i'm Mariana" I smile in reply "You look so much like Callie, this is weird" I look up to Callie then back to Mariana "Yeah i guess it is a bit weird" "Hmm yeah so weird. If you ah.. If you want help covering up those later I have heaps of make-up. It's kind of my thing" I lift my hand up and place my hand on my cheek, I almost forgot about the bruises that cover my face "Mariana" Stef addresses her sternly "Well it is and i'm just trying to help. Anyway, it's nice to meet you. I'm going to go have a shower considering I probably won't get one in the morning" she makes her way out of the room. The only people now left in the room is Stef, Callie, Brandon, Jude and myself, I have noticed that neither Brandon nor Jude has made any attempt to come and talk to me. This is getting more awkward by the second, I almost just want to avoid the situation all together and leave the room myself, I thought Jude might have been excited to see me like Callie was but he is hardly even looking at me. Stef and Callie have obviously noticed the tension in the room too as they both make their way over to the two boys, Stef goes over to Brandon "You okay B?" "Yeah fine" He looks over to me now "Hi, I'm Brandon" "Hi" I reply, for some reason I feel like he doesn't even want to be in the same room as me, from what Callie told me she said Brandon would have been the one who would welcome me with open arms but this is the complete opposite. Brandon talks again "It's uhh... It's nice to meet you" He looks to Stef "I have lots of homework to do so i'm just going to go up to my room" "Okay love, i'll call you down a bit later for dinner yeah?" "Hmm yeah" he replies before he makes a quick exit out of the room. I look to Jude, who Callie has been whispering to for the past minute, I haven't heard any of what she was saying but I know it must be about me. I feel like Jude isn't going to say anything so I decide to talk to him instead "Umm hi Judi" he looks up to me now, finally making some eye contact "You use to always call me that" He doesn't smile but at least he is acknowledging that I am here "Yeah, I remember you getting angry because you said Judi was a girls name" I laugh at the memory. It's now that Jude lets out a slight grin but it doesn't last long "I'm so sorry you were in the system Charlie, We didn't.. I didn't know you were. I'm sorry you had to go through that" Oh i guess it makes sense now, does he feel guilty? is that why he wouldn't look at me but it wasn't his fault, it was no ones fault really "it's okay" he has come closer to me now and after a beat he wraps his arms around me, he is tall now so my head in just under his chin "no it's not okay, you should have never been alone but i'm glad you're here with us now. This is the best family ever and they will keep you safe just like me and Callie" I wish I believed that but I don't know if I will be staying here for that long. Jude still hasn't let go of me and after a minute I feel Callie's arms wrap around both Jude and I. This feels like a dream, never in a million years did I think I would be standing here, in this beautiful home getting hugged by my brother and sister, warmth instantly fills my heart; I haven't felt anything like this in a long time.
Finally the full family reunion. How do you feel about Jude's reaction? I struggled figuring out how I think he may have reacted in this situation.
