I opened the front door to see Callie. I wasn't surprised. She had been coming over a lot more this past week. I didn't mind it, like I said, I knew Mom needed her.

"Mom has therapy today." I said as she came in.

"Oh, I know." Callie took off her shoes.

"Oh?"

"I came to hang out with you. Is that okay?"

"Uh... yeah, yeah." I nodded.

"What're you up to?" Callie asked, a smile on her face.

"Um, I was just doing some homework. And eating popcorn." I walked into the living room, reaching over the couch and grabbing my bowl. "Want some?" I offered.

"Sure!" Callie took some, "Thanks!"

I nodded, sitting on the couch again.

"What's your homework?" Callie sat down as well. I could feel her eyes on me. I set the popcorn bowl so it was an equal distance from the both of us, and put my laptop back on my lap.

I rolled my eyes, "Biology. I just have to finish this last conclusion part, though."

She laughed, "I take it you don't like Biology?"

"Not even the smallest bit."

"It's not for everyone."

"You probably loved it. Mom did." I started typing.

"Yeah, I did. I'm a science geek." She joked.

I smiled. "Art geek." I pointed to myself, then went back to typing.

There was some silence as I finished up. Then I closed my computer. "I'm done."

"Wow, look at you go."

I laughed a little.

"How are things at school? I know you said everyone was talking about it..." Callie said softly. Curiously. She remembered something I told her days ago. That made me feel special.

"Saturday night some kid tripped over his shoelace during the band concert and knocked over a bunch of music stands. New talk of the school. But, all my friends are still asking about it."

"High schoolers." Callie laughed. "At least most people have moved on."

"Yeah, I guess. It's just a little annoying that my whole friend group is making a big deal out of it. I try not to talk about my parents at school for this exact reason. And the teachers are still obnoxious. But they always are." I grabbed a handful of popcorn.

"Eventually your friends will drop it."

"Hopefully." I ate my popcorn. Once I finished it, I let out a breath. "I got called down to the stupid social workers office today."

"Why?" Callie rose an eyebrow.

"Because my guidance counselor saw the news and thought I needed to talk to someone. I told them I was fine and left." I shrugged.

"Oh."

"Yeah," I took some more popcorn.

"How are you feeling about it all?" Callie asked, tilting her head.

I thought about it for a minute. "I guess I'm a little worried. You know, about what Mom was saying the other day. But, also, I know we'll be fine." I had been thinking about what Mom had said a lot. But, I also trusted Mom when she said we were safe. She would keep us safe- I knew that.

Callie nodded, staying quiet, as if waiting for more.

"I'm mostly worried about Mom." I said quietly. It was true. I was worried about her more than I was about myself. She was just... off.

"Yeah?"

"She's upset, and stressed. She didn't need this kind of news." I looked down at my lap.

"She didn't, but she'll be alright." Callie reassured.

"Thanks... for being there for her." I said softly. I always felt like I needed to thank Callie. She didn't have to be this kind. Yet, she was. "And for me." I added on. Callie hadn't only been kind to my mom, but she was overly kind to me.

In the movies, the mom's new partner was always mean and treated the kid bad. I just hadn't expected her to be so nice. I guess movies give you a bad representation of scenarios, though.

That was all I really had to base things off of, though. Movies or TV shows. The idea of it is silly, I guess.

"Of course." Callie said, her smile sweet and genuine, as if there was nothing else she would be doing.

We sat in some silence until Mom got home. I was worried about her. Maybe Callie was, too. I wouldn't know. I hadn't asked.

I got up the second the door opened. When I saw Mom, her eyes were a little puffy and her cheeks were flushed.

I immediately hugged her.

"Hi, Olive." She hugged back, then pulled away to take off her shoes.

"Hi. How was it?" I tilted my head at her.

"It was alright..." She whispered.

I waited for more.

"We talked a lot about your father, it was just emotional. I'm ok, honey." Mom said softly, walking into the living room.

I followed.

Callie stood up, "Hey!" Her smile was bright as she and Mom hugged.

"Hey, Cal." Mom was smiling, too.

"How are you feeling?" Callie pulled away, keeping a hand on Mom's shoulder. That hand ran down Mom's arm, and then they were holding hands.

I sat back on the couch, taking another fistful of popcorn.

"I'm doing better." Mom said with a nod. "I'm so hungry, though," She laughed a little, clearly trying to shift the focus of the conversation.

"Popcorn?" I mumbled, my mouth full of popcorn. I held up the bowl.

Mom laughed more, "Thanks honey." She took a handful.

"I'm glad you're doing better, that's good." Callie said, looking between her and I.

"Mm. Thanks" Mom squeezed Callie's hand and then let go. "Olivia this is so salty. Gross." Mom made a face, going toward the kitchen.

"I like it. Callie liked it too."

Callie just laughed.

Mom grabbed some leftovers. "You hungry Cal?"

"I'm ok." Callie shook her head.

" 'Kay. How was school Olive?" Mom glanced at me after putting her plate in the microwave.

I rolled my eyes and dramatically tilted my head back.

"They made me go to the social workers office" I crossed my arms as a sign of annoyance, as if I was a defiant toddler.

"They what?" Mom turned around.

"My stupid guidance counselor saw the news and had me called down the the social workers office during class. I told them that I'm fine and left. But it was stupid." I explained.

"What did the social worker say to you?" Mom asked.

Callie was sat on the couch again, eating some popcorn.

"Just said that they heard about my father, and wanted to check in with me." I shrugged. They were just trying to help, in their own dumb way. I didn't need it though. "And they said that if I needed to talk about anything I could go down there," I scoffed. As if I would want to talk to someone who was totally judging me. I could see it on their face. It pissed me off.

"And they pulled you out of class?" Mom understood my annoyance.

I nodded.

"If they do that again, tell me?"

I gave her a thumbs up.

It probably seems weird that Mom was bothered by that, but I understood why. When she was pregnant with me-after news spread the school- they pulled her out of classes all the time for stupid stuff like that. Of course she knows they're just trying to help. But, she also knows why I would be annoyed- because it annoyed her, too. She always says that they tried to get way too involved in her personal life. I just think she doesn't want them doing the same with me. I'm not saying it's a bad thing- for counselors to be there for students- but it's just annoying when I say I don't need it.

And especially with something like this. I don't want to talk about it at all. Let alone with some judgmental stranger.

"How about the rest of your day?" Mom turned around to get her plate.

"It was fine, I guess" I shrugged.

She nodded, coming and sitting on the couch, she gave Callie a kiss as she passed by her, and I squeezed my eyes shut. Kinda gross.