A/N: Mea culpa, missed this chapter from before. Sorry! xoxo

Chapter 15

Catch-Up

"Callie, love!" Sage called out as she pulled the curtain aside with Laura and Yasmine standing behind her.

"Girls! Hey!" I greeted, setting my phone down and removing my sunglasses.

They each greeted me with a kiss on the cheek, and settled themselves into our little private cubicle.

The little space was pretty much a large table with a concrete booth bench surrounding the table like a peninsula, and a large overhead lamp with curtains of rich colors blanketing the space.

"Where are the guys?" I asked, moving to make space for them.

"They should be here soon." Laura said. "So, what's been going on with you?"

"What she means to ask is if Emmett is still dating Rosalie." Yasmine joked, earning a punch from Laura.

"Okay, guys, please stop crushing on my siblings. It's weird." I said, looking through the menu. "But seriously, I've been fine. I've just been reading. A lot."

"And hiking, apparently?" Yasmine asked, pulling a leaf from my hair. "What, did you go wrestling in the wild?"

I blushed innocently and shook my hair free of debris. "No, no, nothing like that. You just know how forested my place is. Being in the middle of one." I laughed nervously.

"Uh-huh." She said suspiciously.

"I honestly don't know how you survive. I mean, locked up at home all day? How do you even?" Sage asked, looking through the menu as well.

"I run, mostly." I shrugged. "Hey, here come the guys." I said when I heard their thoughts come close enough, just as they came through the front door.

"Hey!" Aaron greeted all of us, then leaned down to kiss Sage and sat beside her.

"Callie, great to see you." Sam smiled, sitting next to Yasmine.

"Yeah, great to see you guys, too." I said. "Go, order. I'm hungry."

"Yeah, let's." Laura smiled, and raised her hand to call for a waiter.

"I'm taking care of the bill." I told the server after we placed our orders.

"Oh, no, Callie, don't. We pull you out from your quiet life in the woods and you pay for our meal?" Sage said.

Quiet, huh? If only you knew, I thought, laughing mentally. I shrugged. "I chose the restaurant. And really, it's fine." I smiled.

The waiter nodded and went off.

"You're too good to us." Laura said.

I laughed. "Yeah, right."

"Really though." Yasmine added.

"My pleasure." I said. "What's been going on with you guys?"

"Oh, you know. Just enjoying summer." Sage said.

"My family's actually headed to the beach on La Push in a few days. The waves there are supposed to be great this summer." Aaron said. "You guys wanna come with?"

I raised my eyebrows in surprise.

"Yeah!"

"Totally."

"Awesome."

"G."

The voices overlapped.

"What about you, Callie? Up for it?" Aaron asked.

I looked to him. "Yeah, yeah sure. I just have to find my old surfing gear."

"Great!" He said, and the others discussed ride plans.

"Oh, guess what." I said, smiling.

"What?" Yasmine asked, making the group listen in.

"I got a new car." I said, as the waiter set down our appetizers.

"No kidding!"

"No way!"

"Awesome."

"I know right?" I said, taking a piece of naan bread.

"What is it?" Sam asked.

"You'll see it later." I sang, as we all got pieces of food.

We talked about random things as we ate. Sam, the newly elected student body president, started talking about the annual opening school fair.

"You're totally coming, right Callie?" Laura asked excitedly.

"Yeah, sure, I'll go. Our Sammy's first project as president. Wouldn't miss it." I teased Sam.

He smiled proudly.

"Oh, what's this?" Sage asked from my left. She grabbed a gentle hold of my wrist and took the wooden wolf Seth just gave me.

"A gift." I tried to say as nonchalantly as possible.

"Yeah, okay, from who? This wasn't here last time." She pointed out, showing Laura to my right.

"It's just from a friend." I shrugged and tried retracting my hand. "Just got it awhile ago."

Sam took a closer look. "Looks hand-made."

Sage, Yasmine, and Laura all woo-ed.

"Callie has a boy!" Yasmine announced, her giddiness evident on her face.

I covered her mouth, only to have her lick my palm for release. "Ew! Okay, I do not have a boy."

"Yeah right. I'll believe it when that blush comes off your cheeks." Sage said with the widest grin, flipping her hair knowingly.

"It's blush. It's artificial blush." I said, looking down.

"We all know you don't wear nor need makeup." She said pointedly, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, you know how I hate being talked about. Let's talk about something else." I pleaded, then sighed when she didn't give up. "It's nothing. Really. Just a late birthday gift."

She turned back to her food, and so did everyone else.

"If you say so."

"Really! He's just a family friend whom I got close to a few days ago." I defended.

"Yeah, alright. We dropped it already." Laura said coquettishly.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, good. So back to the school fair."

"We're planning on putting up a talent show." Sam said, assembling his shawarma wrap.

"Oh, my God, please tell me you're going to do a screening for that. I cannot take another ten-minute plate-spinning act." Yasmine said, grabbing Sam's arm firmly.

I laughed at her distraught face, remembering the last talent show.

"You have to agree that was terrible." She said, looking to us for support.

I chuckled as I cut my chicken. "Yes, that was."

"Yeah, we're doing a screening. Sometime around August, and sign-ups will be done online." Sam concluded.

"Great. Hey Callie, you should totally join. Is it limited to students?" Sage asked Sam.

Sam shrugged and shook his head. "Well, no. Technically not."

"Sage, no." I glared her down.

"Oh, come on Callie. The only people who have heard you sing are us and you're amazing." Aaron said.

I shook my head. "Exactly, and that's how I want to keep it, capiche?"

He raised his hands in surrender, going back to his food.

"Just a suggestion. It's best to have something that makes you stand out so you can have a college choose you." Sage shrugged.

As if I've never been to college.

"Callie won't need that. I mean, her grades are like," Yasmine started, then raised her hand up over her head horizontally to illustrate her point.

"Thank you for the advice, Sage, but I'll be fine." I said, patting her back in consolation.

She sighed. "Have it your way. Competition is still fierce."

"Yes. I know." I said nonchalantly, happily continuing with my meal.

After lunch, we hit the mall itself. New summer clothes lined the display cases and mannequins. There was an explosion of color everywhere, making our shopping spree all the more fun. I was able to buy a new swimsuit, a cover-up, three new pairs of sandals, and a pair of sunglasses.

"I swear, you are so lucky you can spend so much." Yasmine said as we checked out. Sage and Laura were busy in the store across us.

I shrugged, collecting my bags. "I like to save."

"You probably just spent like, over a thousand dollars today alone." She said, a concerned look on her face.

"Okay, that's an exaggeration." I said, holding up my pointer finger.

"Maybe, but that's definitely over two hundred. At least."

I shook my head as we walked out of American Eagle. "It doesn't matter, Yazz."

She sighed, never having looked so desolate. "Okay, fine."

I stopped and quickly read her thoughts, finding the curses she was throwing at herself. "Hey. What's wrong?" I nudged her side with my elbow lightly. As a result, she swayed a bit before returning to her full standing position.

"Nothing." She waved, clearly distressed.

I moved to stop her. "It's clearly not nothing." I said pointedly.

She took a deep breath, then let it out. "It's just… my cousins Diego and Hunter went missing a while back in the kidnappings in Seattle."

My eyes widened in surprise. The name struck a chord in me. Bree's Diego…?

"What?" I asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"My aunt went mad, like... crazy mad. Her job fell through, and then her sons go missing… We're spending so much to care for her." She started tearing, doing her best to hold in her sobs.

"Oh, Yazz, why didn't you say anything?" I asked, pulling her into a hug.

"I was scared to. I didn't want to believe it." She sniffled. "But the kidnappings have stopped and they found a few bodies just lying around in Seattle."

"I'm so sorry." I said, and took her to sit on one of the mall benches.

"It's not your fault." She shook her head, sitting up.

It kind of is, though…

I fished my bag for a pack of Kleenex and handed it to her. She gladly took it and blew her nose.

"It's just… They're our age, you know? And that stuff's scary." She said.

I nodded in understanding. "Yeah, I know. I'm sure. I can't imagine." I sighed. "How long ago…?"

"A few months now. I don't think they're coming back. They were good boys..." She said as calmly as possible.

I patted her knee in consolation. "I'm really sorry, Yazz."

She took a breath and looked up, trying to stop the flow of her tears. "Yeah. Yeah, thanks, Callie. You're a great listener." She smiled, giving me a side hug. "Oh, God, my mascara's gonna run."

I shook my head, snickering. Back to business for Yasmine. I watched her as she reapplied her make-up. "How about I buy you a new swimsuit instead of you spending your money." I offered. "Think of it as a late 'congratulations-for-making-junior-year gift'."

She nodded, laughing as we met with Sage and Laura.

"This is your car." Aaron declared more than asked for the nth time.

"Yes, Aaron." I rolled my eyes as we stood before it in the parking lot. The others were walking circles around it.

"And it's brand new. There isn't even a plate yet." Sam admired from the rear of the car.

"What's her name?" Aaron asked me, dead serious.

Sage and Laura rolled their eyes.

"Please don't tell me you named her." Laura looked at me, just as seriously as Aaron.

Yasmine laughed aloud, standing the farthest from the group.

"I'd say she's more of a he." I nodded in contemplation, playing along.

"Fair enough. This lady's got a manly engine." Aaron commented.

"You have to name him, Cals. It's like, a first-car rule." Sam said, coming up to us.

Not my first car, but, alright.

"What about…" I thought.

"Bruce." Sam nodded in satisfaction. "It can't just be me getting that vibe, right?"

I narrowed my eyes at him, smiling. "What? No way."

"Riley. That's a really hot name." Sage said, twirling a lock of her blonde hair around her finger.

"Uh, no." I quickly dismissed it, the dead vampire's face lingering in my mind.

"That's the same name as the guy from the news." Laura pointed out.

"Exactly. No." I said.

"What about Wolfgang? You know, like Mozart? This thing is like, art." Aaron suggested.

"Wolfgang? Seriously? Hell no. You are not naming any of our kids in the future." Sage contradicted, slapping him playfully on the chest.

I suppressed a giggle.

"Blaise. That's the one." Sam said confidently, snapping in revelation.

The others agreed, but I furrowed my eyebrows. "No way." I said.

"Why not? That's a totally cool name!" Laura said.

It's also the name of my ex. "Just, no." I said.

"Why don't we discuss this while we take it out for a spin, eh?" Aaron asked eagerly.

"Ok, fine. Get in." I said. "And no, I'm driving." I smirked as Aaron reached for my keys.

"Shotgun!" Yasmine called, making a beeline for the door as Aaron cursed.

We loaded the shopping bags into the trunk and filled the car. Yasmine sat with me in front, while Sam, Laura, Aaron, and Sage rode the back.

We carefully pulled out of the parking lot and drove around the area.

"Isn't this a convertible?" Aaron asked, and I pushed the button just as he did. "Freedom! Wahoo!" He said, sliding up.

I rolled my eyes, driving carefully.

"Hey Callie, what about that, Freedom?" Aaron suggested.

"Aaron, no." Sage, Laura, Sam, Yasmine and I said simultaneously.

"You know, Romeo's perfectly good." Laura said, her curly fiery red hair blowing around in all directions.

I considered it. "Romeo."

"Yeah, that's actually really cute." Sage agreed.

I said it again. "Romeo. Yeah, I could totally feel that."

Aaron and Sam looked at us in disgust. "Seriously?" They both asked.

"Hey, don't like it, you can get out." I said, parking by our favorite diner.

"Yeah, alright. Desserts." Sam said, alighting the car.

I pulled the roof back up and locked the car.

"Callidora Cullen! Haven't seen you around lately." Marcus appeared with his two friends Leo and Hal.

I smiled. "Hey, Marcus." I greeted, giving him a small hug.

"Nice ride you got there." He said, walking closer to the Camaro.

"Thanks." I said.

"How've you been lately? You disappeared without a reason, or even a goodbye." He asked, locking eyes with me under his lashes.

I shrugged. "Good. I've been good. Just needed some time for some things." I replied vaguely. "You heading into the diner?"

"Just finished, actually." He said. "Nice seeing you, though."

I nodded. "Same. You too, Hal, Leo."

They smiled back.

"Will I be seeing you at the school fair?" He asked, making me turn back.

"Oh, yeah, I'm going." I waved. "See ya!" I walked up to the diner where I sat in the booth with my friends.

"Usual?" Aaron asked us.

Variations of "yes" overlapped as Aaron ordered.

"Callie?" I heard a young voice call across the diner.

I turned to see that it was Brady Fuller dressed in a shirt, cropped knee shorts, and sneakers.

"Brady, hey." I stood as he did as well, and we met in the middle. "I just stopped by Emily's awhile ago. Dropped some stuff off." I said quietly, giving him a small hug in greeting.

"Yeah, I know. Thanks." He smiled cheerfully.

"Who are you with?" I asked looking past him to his booth.

"Just family." He said, not bothering to look back. He leaned in as if to tell me a secret. "My parents don't know I'm a shapeshifter, so if they ask who you are just say a friend of Seth's."

I looked at him in shock but still nodded. "Alright then… What's up?"

"Speaking of Seth, he said if ever I saw you to tell you that Aunt Sue's inviting you for dinner tomorrow at six. Don't be creeped out, he told me he knew you were going out in the town." He smiled, then handed me a piece of paper. "And he also wanted me to give you his number."

I facepalmed myself. "After all this time, we haven't exchanged numbers! Well, thank you, Brady. Really appreciate it."

He nodded. "He asked to call by tonight to let him and Aunt Sue know."

"I will, thank you thank you thank you." I smiled, and hugged him again. "Have a great day!" I said, before walking back to the booth.

"You, too." He smiled, and went his way again.

I got in the booth and my friends stared at me.

"What?" I asked.

"Who is he?" Yasmine asked.

I waved them off. "Just this guy I know."

"How do you know so many guys now? Family friend?" Sage asked.

"Actually, yeah. He is. He just had to give me something." I muttered, tucking the number in my phone case.

"He's really cute." Laura commented. "Like, adorable baby cute." She added quickly just as her cheeks turned as red as her hair.

"He's thirteen." I chuckled.

"Exactly." Laura said, shrugging.

I rolled my eyes just as my vanilla milkshake with strawberry sprinkles was set before me.

"Let's just eat." I said, ripping open the paper straw pack.