Stef

Later on in the week, Callie is well enough to go back to school. I wish I could keep her home forever and protect her from the world, but that's just not possible. Everyone is bustling around because we need to be out the door in three minutes.

"Are you sure you feel alright?" I ask Callie. I think this might be the third time I've asked her but I just want to make sure.

"Yes," she answers in an exasperated tone, "I'm okay."

I nod, "Okay, well if you need anything―"

"Find Lena," she cuts me off as she slings her backpack over her shoulder, "I know, Stef."

I smile, "Okay. Have a good day."

She nods and heads for the door.

An hour later I find myself waiting outside of Bill's office. I haven't had a chance to speak to him because our schedules keep conflicting, but we have the time now and I don't plan on leaving until I know for a fact Liam Olmstead will have charges pressed against him.

"Stef?" Bill is standing in the doorway of his office and waving me in. I stand up and follow him inside. He takes a seat behind his desk and I take a seat across from him.

"Is everything okay with Callie?" he asks me immediately.

I shake my head, "No, it's not."

He sighs and rubs a hand over his face, "Look, just give me a couple of days..."

What?

"No," I stop him before he can get any further, "No, Callie has been an absolute angel. The reason I'm here is because she brought something to my attention and it needs to be addressed." I take a deep breath, "Callie told me that two years ago she was raped by her foster brother."

Bill pales and he brings a hand up to his mouth, "Oh, God." He breathes, "Did she say who?"

"Someone named Liam Olmstead."

Bill perks up a bit at the name and turns to his computer. He types something out and begins clicking on some files, "The Olmsteads filed a complaint which is why Callie and Jude were removed from the home," he tells me as he reads off the screen, "They reported that Callie initiated an inappropriate, sexual relationship with their son."

"Bullshit!" I exclaim angrily, "They're just covering their asses!" How did these people have the audacity to write something so untrue about Callie? How could they stand by their perverted son?

Bill reaches into his drawer, "I'll file a report so that an investigation is started," he tells me.

"Thanks," I say, although I feel like there's more we could do, "Keep me updated, please."

Lena

"Are you busy?"

I look up from the test results I am analyzing to see my boss, Karina Sanchez, poking her head in the door. We have a love-hate relationship. As civil as I try to be with her, we often clash in when it comes to how we believe the school should run. Because she is the principal and I'm just vice-principal, she usually gets her way.

"Not really," I say with a genial smile, "Do you need something?"

Karina takes a seat across from me and folds her hands, "I saw that Callie was sick these past few days,"she begins in a tone that comes off as bogus concern, "How she is recovering?"

"Great, thank you for asking."

"And how is she adjusting with your family?"

This is turning into an interrogation; it feels like, "Amazingly. She gets along with all of the kids and so does Jude."

Karina nods, "Very good. Well as you know, I have to fill out a progress report about Callie's progress report thus far."

"Yes."

"Of course I want to give her a good report, but I'm afraid I can't do that unless Callie really proves herself?"

I raise my eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

Karina shrugs, "Participate in a sport, a club…something to show that she's valuable member of Anchor Beach."

I don't like how she phrased that, as if Callie is just taking up space.

"Those things aren't really Callie's style," I let her know, "She's a quiet girl, keeps to herself―"

"Well, she'll just have to change then, won't she?" Karina cuts me off with a look. I dig my nails into my thigh to hold back what I truly want to say. You can't just ask somebody to change who they are. We've made a great deal of progress with Callie and I'd hate to make her regress by pushing her to do something she doesn't want to do.

Karina stands up and heads for the door, "I expect you will find something for Callie by next week? I'd hate to not have anything good to write about." She shoots me a smug smile before disappearing into the hallway. As soon as she is out of sight, I lean back in my chair and run my hands through my hair.

I'm sure she'll be looking for the tiniest reason to give Callie a bad report. Karina was not too happy to let the Jacob siblings into Anchor Beach in the first place. She was more concerned about the reputation of the school rather than what was best for Callie and Jude. I won't let her mess this up for Callie.

I'll find something.

Callie

After school we have to walk to the house because Lena has a meeting with the English department. I feel a lot more comfortable around the Foster kids than I did when I first met them. They're pretty nice and have their different shining qualities. Although, I do have mixed feelings about Mariana getting so close to Jude. I'm glad that he has someone he can trust and look up to, but at the same time that's my job. I'm his sister.

But Mariana is nice and I know she has no bad intentions.

We get home and everyone goes their separate ways. Mariana heads to her room to look something up in a magazine she just got and Jude is eager to follow. There's a little pang in my heart as I watch them go but I shake it off. I head into the kitchen with my backpack, take out my books and begin to work on my homework.

Maybe twenty minutes pass when I hear the back door open. I turn my head to see Stef walking in. When she sees me she smiles and I smile back.

"Hi, Sweets," she says to me, squeezing my shoulder as she takes a seat next to me, "How was school today?"

"Okay," I answer with a shrug, "How was work?"

A look comes over Stef's face and I know there's something she wants to tell me. I put down the pen I was holding and give her my undivided attention.

"Actually I met with Bill today," she begins and I can't help but stiffen. Foster parents having to talk to Bill has never been a good thing in the past, "I told him what you told me…about Liam. He's going to file a report and an investigation is going to take place."

Wow.

This is surreal. For years I dreamed of Liam getting caught; getting some kind of punishment for what he did to me and now that it's beginning to happen, I don't know what to think.

"What's gonna happen next?" I wonder aloud.

"We'll take Liam to court," Stef answers and I get a warm feeling at the way she says 'we.'

A thought pops into my head and I have to ask, "Would…would I have to see him?" I have a pretty good idea at what the answer will be to this question but maybe there will be a way around it.

"Yes, unfortunately," Stef answers in a genuinely apologetic tone, "He'll be there when you testify, but I promise I'll be right there with you. You won't go through this alone, Callie."

I nod; her just saying that makes me feel loads better. After being taken out of the Olmstead's care, I never imagined I would have to see Liam again. Stef puts her hand on my back and moves it up and down, "What is it, Love?" she asks me gently and the pet name is all it takes to make me admit what's on my mind.

"I'm scared," I whisper, "Of seeing Liam."

Stef pulls me into her arms and I am quick to hug her back. It's a bit embarrassing, really, the way I become so needy and dependent when I'm around her, but she has that effect on me. She presses a kiss to my forehead and I melt.

"I love when you talk to me," she says quietly, "I love that you trust me enough to say what you really want to say. It's going to be scary, yes, but like I said: you won't be alone. If I need to, I'll be brave enough for the both of us."

I love you.

That's what I want to say.

"Thank you."

That's what I say instead.

I'll update again Wednesday. My sister is sick. I'm a little sick. Work has been difficult.

Love you all.

-Liv