CALLIE'S CHOICE CHAPTER 9
Callie is off the next Monday so she visits the house for dinner.
She strolls through the door and finds Lena and Stef in the kitchen making dinner.
"Hey sweetie. What's up?" Lena asked.
"Brandon is out giving piano lessons. He won't be home until around eight." Stef informed her.
"Oh, I know. I missed your cooking." Callie admitted.
"Wow, you must be a really bad cook." Lena teased both Callie and Stef.
"Wow, who should be more offended here, Callie?" Stef glared at Lena playfully.
"Probably the both of us." She laughed. "How can I help?"
Well everything is basically under control... do you want to give me a hand with the salad?" Lena asked while grabbing vegetables from the refrigerator.
"Sure. Chopping is my favorite."
"Well, have at it." Lena said while handing the Callie vegetables.
Jude comes into the kitchen a few moments later. "I thought I heard your voice! I didn't know you were coming over."
"Hi bud!" She said while giving him a big hug. "It was kind of a last minute thing. Hey, do me a favor. Stop growing. I'm worried you're going to be seven feet tall next week."
"You're just jealous that I'm taller than you now." Jude laughed. "So you're staying for dinner?"
"Absolutely. As you can see, I'm in charge of things that do not require actual cooking."
"Will you stay after? Maybe we could watch a movie or play a game or something."
"Yeah, of course!"
At dinner everyone was buzzing talking about what was going on in their respective lives.
"You know, it's kinda overwhelming when you are out of the loop. I forgot how you have to stay on your toes listening to everyone at dinner." Callie observed.
"So how is it? Being on your own?" Marianna asked.
"Well it's only been a week, so I really haven't had a chance to take it all in. But pretty good. I've got a routine down, I think."
"I think you ran out of food. That's why you came, especially on, you know, meatloaf night." Jesus said, always borderline offending.
"I'm not sure if that's an insult or compliment, young man." Stef said, grabbing the bowl of mashed potatoes from him.
"Well, I love your meatloaf. I'll have to insist you send me home with leftovers." Callie jabbed Jesus in the side.
"What do you cook then, miss meatloaf butt kisser?" Jesus asked, jabbing her back.
"Jesus... really?" Stef glared at him.
"Sorry."
"It's okay." Callie assured, rolling her eyes at him. "Actually I make a lot of little things. It's strange cooking for one person when I'm used to having so much here. I did make a lasagna the other night. I was able to have it for lunch and dinner for a few days after I made it." She let out a little laugh.
"Lasagna, really? You'll have to show off your culinary skills on a day we don't feel like cooking." Stef offered.
"Honey, that would basically be every night. Don't scare her away." Lena smiled at Callie.
"Not possible. Remember, I've seen the best and worst meals you've cooked up. I'm still here eating with you aren't I?"
"So," Stef said while chewing, "what's up with the vague insults and compliments tonight, huh?"
"I like all the dinners you make." Jude said, digging into his meatloaf.
"Of course you do, that's why you're our favorite." Lena winked at him.
After dinner Callie cleared the table and started doing the dishes.
"Callie, that's sweet, but it's not your job anymore." Lena said.
"It's nothing. I want to help out when I can after you all helped me so much."
Brandon walks into the kitchen. "I see I'm too late." He kisses Callie on the cheek then Lena.
"Actually, there's plenty of dishes left for you to wash..." Lena joked.
"Very funny."
"If you want, sit down I can put a plate together for you. I haven't even put any of the food away yet." Callie offered.
"Sounds good, but I'll do it so you can continue with that bang up job you're doing with the dishes there."
"Brandon, you did not just go there." Lena gave him a look.
"I'm just trying to help."
"Good luck with that one." Lena said as she left the kitchen.
Callie smiled. "Hmmm I wonder what she meant by that..."
Brandon began loading his plate with food. "Man need food. Woman do dishes." he said in his best caveman voice.
Callie immediately whacked him with the wet dishcloth. "Really?"
"Hey, I was joking!"
Another whack.
"Sorry! Sorry!" He quickly grabbed the dishcloth from her.
She immediately grabbed the faucet sprayer and aimed it at him.
"Truce!" he pleaded pathetically. "Please don't spray me with that."
"Girls rule, boys drool."
"What?"
"Say it."
"Girls rule, boys drool. Am I safe?"
"For now..."
When they are both finished, they head outside while the others are finishing their homework.
"Hey, don't you have homework?" Callie asked.
"I do, but I'm gonna do it while you guys watch the movie. Then you can watch it together with Jude."
"Wow. That isn't at all caveman-like!"
"I have my moments. Plus it's Jesus' turn to pick a movie and it's Ferris Bueller. Dude should have been born in the 80's."
"He's just an old soul." She puts her head on Brandon's shoulder.
"So I was thinking." He puts his arm around her. "We need a date night. We really haven't even had one yet."
"It's been a crazy first week. And you've been over twice."
"That's not what I mean. Like go somewhere. On a date."
"Awww. Romantic."
"What days do you have off this week?"
"Well, today and Friday."
"Friday! I don't have any lessons, and curfew is midnight. What do you say, Callie Jacobs. Will you go out with me on Friday night?"
She turns his face to hers and smiles. She leans in for a kiss, long, with just the right amount of intensity for the moment. It catches Brandon by surprise for a moment.
He pulls away just long enough to ask, "So that's a yes?"
She laughs and kisses him again. Brandon is ready for this one, as he holds her head in his hands.
When he stops, he gets up and holds his hand out for her. She grabs it and they walk, hand in hand.
"Where are we going?" She giggled in a puzzled way.
They go around the corner to the side yard.
"Scene of the crime. Where you stole my heart. Right here is where we kissed for the first time. I knew then and there that I was in love with you. Not attracted, not intrigued. In love."
"I remember how scared I was. I wasn't sure how to tell you how I felt. And then you said all those amazing things to me. I wasn't scared anymore."
"I felt my heart beating out of my chest. Like now."
They grabbed each other and kiss like it was the first time. This time, no interruptions, no guilt.
She started to melt in his arms. He kisses her again and again.
After a minute, he slowly pulls away from her. "Maybe we should save something for our first date?" He suggests, breathing heavily.
Callie just laughs.
"I just meant..."
"I know what you meant. You're cute when you're awkward."