Chapter 16

The alarm from the small old watch begins to go off. Muffled by the pillow, Callie almost didn't hear it. But lucky for her, her body was already in autopilot. I routine that it has become used to doing now after so long.

4am. Only four hours of sleep. But she didn't have a choice but to begin her day. She rolled over in her shared twin sized bed and looked over at Jude who was still fast asleep. She is able to ease out of the bed without waking him up. Even if she could allow him to sleep for just another hour, it would be worth it.

Pulling their duffle bag from under the bed she grabbed a pair of clothes and what she needed for the bathroom. She also did the same for jude and laid them on the bed for when he was ready to get up. One thing that she has learned after their many foster homes is that there's no use in unpacking. Either they wouldn't be staying long or their things would be taken. They barely had anything as it is, but in the back of her mind she knew that she needed to always be ready for a quick escape.

Callie quickly fills the sink not wanting to wake Allen and have him complaining about the water. She washes up as best as she can and gets dressed. Looking in the mirror she couldn't help but silently cry as she looked at her new busted lip and developing black eye. Pulling herself together she tried her hardest to cover everything up with the cheap makeup that Daphne was able to snag for her.

She makes her way to the kitchen and freezes when she sees Allen on the couch. After waiting a moment to see how he will react she realizes that he is asleep. Knowing his nightly hobbies she knew that he was more than likely going to be sound asleep at least for a little while longer.

She began to pull out everything she needed from the refrigerator and starts making breakfast. Eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage. Her mouth was practically watering with wishful anticipation. For a moment she thought about making an extra sausage to give to Jude, but then she knew of the possible consequences of that and thought otherwise. After placing all of the cooked food in the microwave, she began to quickly clean the kitchen.

She washed all of the dirty dishes that she saw both in the sink and laying around from overnight alone. She sweeps up all of the broken glass, and washes the blood from off of the refrigerator door; not even remembering being hit hard enough for it to reach that far. But she was glad it was hers instead of Jude's.

After everything was cleaned up she ran back to the room and woke up Jude for school. The moment he woke up he gave his sister a tight hug, knowing that something had to have happened to her last night in her efforts to protect him. But she made him go hide before he witnessed anything. He was just happy that she was there to wake him up.

It was his turn to take a quick wash, as Callie sat outside of the bathroom door, on guard, making sure he felt safe.

As soon as Jude was done Callie grabbed his hand as they made their way to the front of the house. Tiptoeing past Allen they could see that he was still fast asleep. He had a cocktail of drugs and empty bottles laid out in front of him. Pushing Jude in front of her trying to block his view on all of the negative influences they opened the door but not without it making a loud creaking noise.

With that one noise Allen woke up in a huff. "Where the hell do you think you are going?" Callie pushed Jude through the door before turning to speak. "It's morning. We are going to school", she spoke confidently and defensively. Determined to never let him believe that she is actually afraid of him. "Did you clean up?" he said reaching for a half empty bottle. "Yes"

"Is the breakfast in the microwave"

"Yup".

After that Allen didn't reply. He just put his beer down and laid back down.

Racing around the block Callie checks her watch and sees that it is still only 6am. They still had an hour and a half before they needed to get to school. They grabbed their bikes that they had chained to a tree. Callie was able to get them from a yard sale one day. They weren't the best but they were a big help.

Riding for about 15 minutes they came to an old boarded up house. Walking their bikes to the back of it, Jude looked to Callie speaking for the first time so far that morning. "I wish we could go inside". Callie placed her hand on her shoulder remembering all the great moments she shared in the house with her parents. "Me too bud".

They made their way to the shed in the back of the yard. Their father turned it into a club house for them at first. But before he was taken away to prison for the accident, that cost three people their lives, including their mother, he turned it into a safe house for them. Knowing that his kids were going to be placed into a broken system, he wanted to make sure they at least had a safe place to run to.

The house and property itself still belonged to him and once Callie turned 18 he made sure that it would go to her and Jude. But until that time, they were not allowed to be inside. Callie grabbed the key hidden under the window ledge and made her way inside.

Walking inside both of them felt an instant sense of comfort and relief. This small shed felt more like a home than any of their four foster homes ever did. Their was the old couch that they use to keep in their basement placed against one wall with an area rug in the center covering the majority of the floor. They had family pictures all over that always brought a smile to their faces even through the toughest times. Their dad even thought to place some emergency items in their as well. They had battery powered space heaters and radio, blankets, hot plates, and even small secured bins with nonperishables; which Callie saved to refill weekly.

Callie began to boil some water to make Jude some instant oatmeal. Meanwhile, Jude grabbed his school bag that they leave their each day before going back to Allen's house. He double checked his homework, even though Callie already helped him with it the night before. He sat on the couch and turned the radio to him and Callie's favorite station as music filled the small room.

Callie placed some dried fruit in his oatmeal before realizing that that was the last packet. She grabbed herself a granola bar and handed the bowl to her little brother.

She grabbed her own bag from against the couch. But instead of going over her homework she went to the trunk, that they used as a table, where they kept most of their clothes and belongings. She packed up her work uniform, and reached for Jude's bag to load it with snacks for school.

They got to Jude's school first. He turned to Callie, to ask if she was actually going to be staying at her school today. "I will for the most day Bud. But I might head to work early. Daphne said she will come and get you once school is over and bring you to the Burger Hut. But remember, if no one comes after 10 minutes go straight to the shed. The cell phone in their is for emergencies only. But no matter what I will always come for you. Ok?"

Jude hugs his sister, wishing their life was different before turning to walk away. Callie watched him go inside of his school before she made her way to hers.

Throughout the day Callie kept getting in trouble in class for dozing off. But her teachers were still so reluctant to send her to detention because they could even hear her stomach growling. Besides, she always handed in her work, and did quite well in school. But even when they asked about her home life, she refused to say anything was wrong or to ask for help.

Walking down the halls, Callie was always a target. With her ratty clothes and quiet demeanor people always tended to bother her. Especially today with her terrible attempt of a makeover to cover her bruises kids were constantly bumping into her. Once she got to her locker she could hear the other girls snickering and talking about her. Having enough with the day she decided to go to work even earlier, knowing at least she had Daphne there.

Once she got to work, Daphne just finished up making Callie food which she usually hid in the back for her. Practically devouring it Callie sighed with relief.

"Girl, you are in pretty bad shape. I talked to Rita about having an extra space. You should just come to Girls United. They take really good care of us there."

"That isn't going to work. I have Jude. I can't let him go to a new home without me. Who is going to protect him? What if I loose him?"

"Ok, you have a point. But look at you. You need to find some help. That house isn't a safe place for you two. There has to be someone that is willing to help or that can help. I'm worried about you two."

Callie has been considering calling Stef. She did seem like a genuine person, but she also knew that you can't put all of your hope and trust into someone.

The daily lunch rush begins and everyone is working diligently. "Heads up," Daphne whispers to Callie as she sees her manager talking to a very concerned customer looking in their direction. He comes over and pulls Callie aside. "Listen, you have to go home. People can tell that you are hurt Callie. Plus you are young and I am letting you work here under the table. It's just causing more attention to you"

"I can't just go home."

"Callie," he cuts her off, "Go back to school, go to the hospital, go somewhere. You just can't stay here". Seeing the look in her eyes and understanding her situation he continued. "Listen you aren't fired. Just take the day off. You can still get paid for the day and I will let you take half of the tips from today so far."

Callie knew that that wasn't much but she didn't really have a choice right now. Callie goes to change out of her work clothes and decides to turn her day into a positive. She made her way to one of the corner marts and grabs two sandwiches for her and jude to eat for lunch. As well as a few other things that she noticed that they were running low on in the shed.

Paying for her items and seeing the sympathetic look on the cashier's face she quickly grabbed her things and made her way out of the store.

Of course, as luck would have it, she ran into Stef and Mike who just finished responding to a call from the store next door. But before she could go the other way Stef called out to her. "Hey, Callie". Walking closer it was so obvious to the cop that the girl was hurt, and just like that her protective motherly instincts kicked in. "Who did this to you?" Stef reached for Callie's face but she flinched and stepped away from the cop. Retracting her hand, Stef took note but continued, "Is everything alright Callie. Where is your little brother? Jude, right?"

Callie looked up to the woman, remembering the conversation that she had with Daphne earlier. "He is in school. I am alright. I'm just…" Stef interrupted her, "clumsy. I remember. Can we offer you a ride?" Before Callie could decline Stef carried on. "I insists. I want to talk to you about your foster home…with Allen" Shocked that Stef knew so much, Callie agreed. Clearly this woman has taken some interest in her; enough to find out a bit about her home life.

Mike remained quiet while driving, knowing the situation as well and knowing that the young girl does not tend to do well with male figures. "We arrested Allen a few times in the past. I'm sure you could probably figure out why," Stef said glancing back at the girl who was looking out of the window. "I'm surprised that he has to custody of you guys to be honest."

"I'm surprised a lot of people have custody," Callie mumbled, but both cops clearly heard her. "I guess witch private fosterization he was able to foster you two. I really don't want you two to have to go back to that house". Callie looked up to better hear what the cop had to say. "I can find you a really great foster home". In the same amount of time that she became hopeful, her heart sunk. Callie couldn't lie to herself. For a moment there she thought Stef would want to take them in. From what Jude told her, the little girl that was with her that one day was her adopted daughter. So she knew that she couldn't be against the idea of adoption. But she was younger than Callie. And no one wants older kids anymore, maybe Jude, but they were a packaged deal.

"Let me out please" Callie suddenly said forcefully. Mike pulled over the car as they both turned to look at her. "What's wrong," Stef asked confused.

"We have been in the system for five years now. I have to fight everyday, especially to keep my brother safe. I have been abused, beaten, raped, and worse. There's no such thing as a good foster home. That idea is a lie. We don't need a foster home, we need a home" Callie couldn't stop the tear escaping from her eye as she jumped out of the car and ran as far and as fast away from them as they could.

She waited outside of Jude's school until it was time for them to come out. A confused Jude walked up to her saying everything with his eyes. "Come on Bud, today is about you and me". They headed back to the shed, where they ate and did their homework. They even played a board game and ran about the yard with the radio playing as if at the end of the day they could just turn and go back inside their house and eat the meal their mom would've had prepared for them. But instead they stored their things, grabbed their bikes and made their way back to their foster home.