Chapter 18

Callie gawked at her reflection in the mirror. Today was the day that she was done hiding the pregnancy from the world. The fitted, navy blue and white striped top she wore displayed her pregnant stomach prominently. With her stomach seemingly growing by day, she only had a few tops that were baggy enough to hide it and all of those had been dirty. It was time anyway; it wasn't like she was going to hide it forever. The only thing that had been holding her back after telling her family was her fear of the school's reaction. They were relentless in harassing her; taking Vico's word over hers. When they found out she was pregnant it would only strengthen the rumors and she couldn't imagine what they would say or do.

She peeled her eyes away from the mirror and inhaled deeply. It was now or never. She made her way downstairs, where the smell of freshly cooked eggs assaulted her nostrils. Her stomach churned. Eggs had become an aversion of hers during the pregnancy.

"Good morning, love. Would you like some eggs?" Stef asked, nursing a mug of steaming coffee from her spot against the counter.

"No thanks." Callie wrinkled her nose as she shook her head. She opened the fridge and grabbed a jar of pickles before slipping onto the chair beside Brandon.

"Morning beautiful." He greeted, leaning forward to press a gentle kiss to her cheek.

"It's too early for your cuteness." Mariana announced as she strolled into the kitchen.

Jude watched his sister take bite of the pickle in her hand. "Are you eating pickles for breakfast?"

"It's what the baby wants." Callie shrugged as she pulled another pickle from the jar. She paused for a moment, cocking her head to the side. "Do we have sauerkraut?"

"Eww gross!" Jude gagged.

A laugh left Stef's lips as she grabbed a jar of sauerkraut from fridge and slid it before the young brunette. "Here sweets. It's going to be fun shopping for two pregnant women with weird cravings."

Brandon watched in amusement as his girlfriend scooped a forkful of sauerkraut into her mouth. She had a lot of cravings the past few weeks but it was mostly for ice cream, different types of fruit, pickles, and salsa. Her breakfast usually consisted of oatmeal or toast with whatever fruit she was craving that morning. She had never eaten sauerkraut and pickles straight from the jar especially at 7 in the morning. A smirk spread across his lips. "That's an interesting breakfast."

Callie glared at him, but a smile found her lips. "It's what the baby wants."

"Is that what you're wearing to school?" Lena asked, noting the teenager's fitted top. Callie had only worn fitted shirts in the house since telling the family. Anytime she was out she worn something baggy that hid her pregnant belly. She was undoubtedly pregnant in the shirt she was wearing today. It was a perfectly round bump protruding from her otherwise thin frame.

Calle glanced down at her stomach before nodding. "Uh yeah. I don't really have anything that'll hide it clean and it's getting too hard anyway. People are going to find out eventually."

Stef slid a glass of orange juice and a bottle of prenatal vitamin on the table in front of Callie. She rubbed her shoulder gently. "You let us know if anyone gives you trouble."

"Okay." Callie nodded.

The Fosters finished their breakfast before loading into Lena's car. The car ride proceeded as any other morning drive to school; Mariana and Jesus fighting over the front seat, Mariana and Brandon arguing over what music to listen to, and Jude and Jesus punching each other every time they spotted a punch buggy. Lena pulled into her usual spot after arriving at the school and they all piled out of the car.

Uneasiness swam in the pit of Callie's stomach as she entered the school. Other students stared and whispered as they passed by Callie. She could only imagine the thoughts running through everyone's minds. She was always the center of rumors and false assumptions. It was something she had grown accustomed to and she had let it roll off her shoulders. She hadn't cared that people thought she was a crazy, rebellious foster kid; she had bigger things to worry about like protecting Jude from being beaten and finding enough food to eat. She had a million things to worry about now too: the pregnancy, the custody battle, the upcoming trial, Vico still out on bail. But for some reason people believing she slept with Vico and Liam made her sick to her stomach. People calling her a slut or a whore hurt. Maybe it was because she felt like one; maybe it was because she felt like she was partly to blame for what happened to her.

"I have to go meet with my music teacher, but meet me in the music room for lunch?" Brandon asked Callie, earning a nod of agreement. "Don't listen to what anyone says, okay?"

She nodded again, watching him take off towards the staircase. Jude had already left for the middle school wing, Jesus took off to find Emma, and Lena stopped in a classroom to talk to a teacher, leaving just Mariana and Callie. The two made their way to their lockers together. Callie felt her stomach lurch as she saw Talia approaching her locker. She averted her eyes on her locker, pulling a book out and slipping it into her bag. Maybe Talia wouldn't notice her. But that hope was short lived.

"I thought you were trying to cover all that weight gain with those baggy clothes, but turns out you were hiding a pregnancy." Talia's voiced boomed throughout the crowded hall, earning the attention of nearby students. "Why am I not surprised? Whose is it? Vico? Liam? Brandon? Wyatt? Let me guess, you don't even know."

Her words stung. She didn't know whose baby it was, but for different reasons that Talia was implying. She inhaled deeply and closed her locker. She tried to focus on closing her lock and ignore Talia, but she could see her standing there with her arms crossed over her chest.

"It's pathetic really. Is it that hard to use a condom?" Talia snarled loudly, producing snickers from passing students.

She was trying not to let Talia's words get to her, but her comments were like pouring salt into her wounds. Her mind couldn't help but wander to that terrible night in the woods. She flinched when Mariana slammed her locker shut. The short brunette spun on her heels to face Talia with narrowed eyes. "She didn't have that choice, Talia."

"Stef provided Brandon with condoms when he and I were having sex so I don't think it was really that hard to use one."

Callie's stomach churned. She was aware of Talia and Brandon's relationship, but being reminded of it sickened her. It tugged at her insecurities of her inability to be intimate.

"She didn't have a choice, Talia. You don't get a choice when someone attacks you. What part of that don't you understand?" Mariana took a step closer to Talia, crossing in front of Callie. "Now leave before I kick your ass."

"Mariana." Callie warned, gently tugging on the fuming girl's arm. "It's not worth it."

"I feel bad for that baby having you as its mother." Talia glowered before spinning around and strutting down the hall.

Once again Callie tried to let the comment roll off her shoulders, but Talia knew how to pick at her insecurities without even knowing it. Talia was probably the worst of the girls. She was one of the few girls who would confront her to her face, while most of the other girls whispered behind her back. But she feared the reactions from the guys, especially the wrestling team. It was only five minutes into the school day and she already wanted to crawl away and hide.

"Are you okay?" Mariana asked.

Callie nodded a little too quickly as she pushed her hair behind her ears. "Yeah I'm fine."

"What she said isn't true. Don't listen to her or anyone, okay?"

Callie nodded again as she watched Mat approach their lockers. She smiled at the long-haired boy as he wrapped his arms around Mariana's waist and leaned down to press a kiss to her lips. The two had finally become official shortly after the party. Callie was happy for her foster sister. Mat was a good guy and treated her well. "Hey Mat."

"Hey Callie, I was just talking about you with Brandon."

"What about?" Callie asked. Mat, along with Emma, knew about Callie and Brandon's relationship. They also knew about the pregnancy and had sworn to keep quiet about both. Although now they only had one secret to keep.

"He was just telling me to keep an eye on you in English. To make sure nobody bothers you since you aren't hiding the pregnancy anymore."

"Brandon loves you so much it's sickening." Mariana whispered with an eye roll before she looked to her boyfriend. "But you just missed Talia."

Mat shook his head. "I hope you know not to listen to a word that girl says. Or anyone for that matter. They don't know the truth."

"So I've been told." Callie sighed. "I'm going to get to class. I'll see you guys later."

Callie strolled down the hall, earning whispers and stares as she did so. Some were so blatantly obvious pointing at her stomach or dropping comments loudly. She counted down the minutes till lunch. Partly because she was excited to eat her tuna salad sandwich and three pickles that she had for lunch, but mostly because she was able to spend it with Brandon and away from the judgmental students.

When she made her way to English third period, she was greeted by a large, red A on her chair. They were reading the Scarlet Letter in English and Callie knew this was her peers comparing her to Hester. Several snickers met her ears as she stood before the chair. Her eyes glanced up to find the students behind her giggling.

"Really? This is pathetic!"

Callie whipped her head to find Mat standing beside her, shaking his head angrily.

"What is she banging you too?" One of the boys spoke up with a smirk.

"Be careful, Mat. She'll claim you raped her." One of Talia's friends chimed in.

Callie's shoulders dropped. How did Vico manage to turn the whole school against her? How was she supposed to convince a jury to convict him when practically the entire school believed him over her? She had returned to school with clear injuries- with evidence- and yet they still believed him. She met Mat's eyes with defeat. "It's fine."

"It's not fine." Mat ripped the piece of paper with the marking off the chair and crumbled it before tossing it into the garbage. "People need to grow up.'

"They're not going to." Callie sighed as she took her seat. The rest of English was spent with students muttering comments about Callie in relation to the classic novel's plot line. Although Mat yelled at a few students, Callie ignored every comment. Yet they still continued. She thought they would leave her alone if she didn't provide any reaction, but the reactions from other students seemed to be enough motivation.

By lunch time, the entire school was aware that Callie was pregnant and she was grateful to hide in the music room with Brandon. She made her way to her locker to put her morning book away. Her fingers fumbled with the lock, clicking it open after she spun in her combination. The locker spit open with countless condoms erupting and scattering on the floor. She stood frozen as laughter assaulted her ears. She moved to pick them up, but stopped when she realized her bump prohibited her from bending that low.

"It's a little late for those." A blonde sneered as she passed Callie with her giggling friends.

Callie didn't know what to do. She wanted to cry and she wasn't sure if it was from the utter defeat or the pregnancy hormones; probably a combination of both. But she knew she couldn't. Not here and not now. It would only give them more incentive. She jumped when she felt a large hand on her lower waist and she spun around to find Adam, one of the wrestlers, smirking at her. She pushed his hand away and took a step back. "Don't touch me."

"Let's go find an empty classroom. I'd say to take one of these, but I guess it doesn't really matter at this point." He held up one of the condoms as the smirk on his face widened.

"I wouldn't touch you with a ten-foot pole." She spat, feeling her heart gallop steadily in her chest.

"Babe, you don't have to play shy. There's no hiding it anymore. We share on the wrestling team, so what's Vico's is mine." He winked, taking a step closer and erasing the space she had put between them.

She was against the lockers now with nowhere to go. Her heart was racing wildly and her hands grew clammy. He was too close. She blinked back images of Vico and Liam in the woods; their rough hands wandering her body hungrily, their teeth ripping at her flesh and scarring her skin forever. Her eyes darted the crowded halls. Plenty of students sauntered, but anybody who even batted their eyes towards her laughed and whispered, ignoring the panic in her eyes. She inhaled deeply in attempt to fill her chest with oxygen, but her lungs still screamed for air. "I'm not Vico's and I'm not yours. I'm not an object, you don't share me. Now get out of my way."

"Hey, it's okay. I can give it to you rough like you love." He lowered his head so his face was inches from hers.

"I said, get out of my way, jackass." She spoke through gritted teeth and she swung her knee into his crotch, producing a pained groan from the wrestler. He bent over, stumbling backward slightly.

"You bitch!" Adam shouted, gaining the attention of every student in that hall.

Callie slammed her locker shut and started for the staircase, leaving behind the pile of condoms on the floor and Adam writhing in pain. Her feet moved quickly to the music room in attempt to avoid any more confrontations. The upstairs was quiet though with the majority of students heading outside for lunch. She opened the door to the music room quietly, meeting the harmonious sounds of a piano. She closed the door quietly behind her. Brandon was so deep into his piece that he didn't even hear the door open. A smile stretched Callie's lips as she listened to the beautiful piece. The anxiety and tension in her stomach eased. She hadn't heard Brandon play classical since he broke his hand. Brandon hit the wrong key before stopping and letting out a sigh of frustration.

"That was amazing."

Brandon spun around to find his girlfriend standing in front of the closed door. "Eh…it was okay."

Callie strolled into the room, dropping her bag on an empty chair. Brandon stood and pulled her into his arms before leaning down and planting a kiss on her lips. She smiled when he pulled away. "It sounded amazing to me. Plus, you're out of practice. What inspired you to play classical again?"

"I possibly have an audition to this really awesome music school for their summer program, Idyllwild." His hand came up to push Callie's curls behind her ears.

"That's incredible."

"Yeah I just don't know if I still have it in me. Plus, it'll be a lot over the summer and you're going to be super pregnant then."

"Super pregnant?" Callie raised an eyebrow with a grin. "Classical was your dream and if you have the opportunity you have to take it. Don't worry about me. I don't want to hold you back and I'll be fine. We'll be fine."

"You're amazing. But let's just see if I get in first." He leaned down to peck her lips again. "So how is your day going."

Callie peeled her eyes away from Brandon's. She pulled out of his arms and grabbed her lunch bag from her bag. After pulling a chair over, she plopped down. The day was awful so far. "Uh…it's going."

Brandon searched her face as he pulled a chair up beside hers. "Can you be a little more specific? What happened?"

Callie recounted the day's events from Talia, to the stares and overheard comments, to English class, and finally the latest incident involving the condoms and Adam. She closed her eyes for a moment, practically feeling the anger radiating off Brandon. "I'm just…so tired of this."

Brandon reached into her lap to take her hand in his. "You know what happened. The people who matter to you know what happened."

"But even if they don't know the truth or don't want to believe it, why I am the one that gets shamed and Vico gets crowned a king? I mean suppose what everyone thinks was true. It still doesn't make it right of them to say and do what they're doing. I'm a slut because I'm a female, but he's a hero because he's a male?"

"No, it's doesn't make it right either way. It's an ugly double standard that needs to be changed." Brandon reached into his bag to pull out his own sandwich.

Callie nodded, unwrapping her sandwich from the tinfoil. She took a bite of the sandwich as Talia's words replay in her head. "Are you okay…with us not having sex?"

Brandon burrowed his eyebrows at the sudden change in the conversation. "Where is this coming from? Did someone say something to you?"

Callie glanced away, shrugging slightly. "No Talia just mentioned how you two were…together and I…we haven't and I don't know when we will."

"Callie…" Brandon began gently. "I'm not expecting you to do anything you're not comfortable with. I'll wait for you for as long as you need."

"I don't want to hold you back." She took interest in her sandwich, unable to meet Brandon's eyes.

"Hey, look at me." Brandon said softly, reaching out to gently lift her chin. He gazed into her chocolate eyes. "You are not holding me back. How many times do I have to tell you this? I want to be with you and nobody else. If anything, you inspire me to be a better man, to help people, to follow my dreams, to be brave."

Callie met Brandon's eyes with a small smile. Brandon was the ray of sunshine on a never-ending string of cloudy days. No matter how bad her days was going, he found a way to make her smile. No matter how insecure she felt, he found a way to reassure her. No matter how anxious she was, he found a way to ease it. "I love you."

"I love you too." Brandon leaned forward to capture her lips with his.

"I also love this sandwich." Callie grinned as she took another bite. Tuna salad had become a huge like of Callie's during the pregnancy. She only allowed herself to have it once a week though because of the mercury content, so she enjoyed it when she did have it.

Brandon laughed. "I feel like this baby is going to come out fat."

"Hey!" Callie nudged his arm playfully. "Fat babies are cute anyway."

"I'm just saying all this food must be going to her because it doesn't seem to go anywhere else."

Callie narrowed her eyes at him with a small smirk. "Nice save."

"I'm serious." Brandon chuckled. "But fat babies are indeed cute."

The two spent the rest of their lunch period in the music room, enjoying one another's presence. Callie was grateful for the distraction; she didn't have to think about the harassment from the school, the trial, or that she was being forced to see Robert after school for the first time she he found out about the pregnancy.

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed! Next chapter Robert returns…

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