Callie's POV:

I looked nervously at the floor, waiting for him to say something, anything. But he stayed silent which scared me. We already had one silent person in the house...but two would make it too quiet.

"Oh" I sighed with relief that he at least said something. "I'm going to go...get something to eat..." he continued. I awkwardly stepped aside to let him pass, slightly regretting it. I followed a little while behind him, far enough back so he didn't notice me.

His speed increased as he reached the stairs, jogging down them. I guess one of our moms was there because as he ran out the door he told the person "I'm going for a walk..."

Oh crap.

That sounded more cracked and hurt than I was hoping. But honestly what did I expect?

I walked the stairs at a completely different pace, very, very, slowly. Jesus with also in the room and he and Lena were exchanging glances. Jesus and Lena realize I'm there and turn towards me.

I must have had a worried expression because as soon as Jesus saw my face he said "Ohhhh... I get it." I shot him a look.

I turned towards Lena and said "I told Brandon about next Saturday" trying to be vague so I wouldn't be telling Jesus too.

"Ok, that makes sense..." she says and I run out the door. I hear footsteps going to the right so I follow them. I was almost tip-toeing so I decided so go faster. His footsteps are in sync with mine, the noise pounding in my head: Pat Pat... Pat Pat. He stops for a minute and I stop and watch. I realized he was crying, something the footsteps had blocked out. He starts up his jog and I follow. But he stops again, and I had caught up to him. He stops crying, as if he realized I was there.

I froze. He did.

He turns around and faces me. I brace myself for the worst, afraid he was going to yell at me. But the normally predictable Brandon Foster blew my mind once again.

"I'm sorry." he looks at me so deeply and intensely that my dumb-founded eyes trail down to the concrete. It reminded me of our relationship: there were so many cracks in it but out of the cracks came sprouts of hope.

"I was going to say I was sorry. Why are you sorry?" I looked up just so I could say that. When I was done, my eyes once again find the concrete.

"I was being selfish. I know this is what you want" his eyes were brimming with fresh tears which I felt resembled mine.

"But I shouldn't have sprung all of this on you at once...It's a lot to take, considering..." I replied looking up to him.

"I get it. You need our family, Callie. No matter what it takes" he paused looking deeply into my eyes.

"Nothing matters unless you are happy."

I lose it and cried into his shoulder. Trying to imagine a perfect world. The one I never seem to live in. The one where we could be together and I could live with the Fosters. The one where Liam never existed. The one where my life was perfect. In a perfect world everything would be...perfect. To bad I don't live in that world.

"This is what I want." I croaked out confirming that this was the right thing to do. The best decision. But why did it feel so wrong?

Next Saturday 10am:

Callie's POV:

This was it. In 6 hours I was going to be adopted. I was at the island, enjoying my eggs and bacon. Brandon came down stairs and said "Going to eat Breakfast at Dad's. He's making crepes. I'll be at the adoption-" the word tasted like venom in my mouth when he said it "Dad said not to call him, his phone isn't working." The whole thing sounded too scripted.

"Callie can I borrow some money? The gas is running low." I was the first time he talked to me since the day I told him I was getting adopted.

I hand him $50 dollars (what? Gas prices are high!) making sure he says he will return it.

I still had some suspicion so when he walked out I looked in his pocket for the key to his dad's apartment ( keeps his house and car keys separate 2. Mike never answers the door when he is cooking). I saw the car keys and the money in his hand and only one thing in his back pocket. Something I didn't want to see.

His fake ID.

5:30pm:

Half an hour until my adoption and Brandon still wasn't here. Stef and Lena said something about how they got a call from Lou saying he was fine and they had some really important things to do. None of which was probably true, just a cover-up from his band mates.

I was looking at myself in the mirror, trying to see if this red dress looked like my personality. Oh my gosh, I'm turning it Mariana!

Mariana comes up behind me, scaring me to death. "You look great" she tells me sounding slightly deflated from her usually peppy voice. She sounds...worried.

She gives me a sad smile "He will come" she tells me knowingly.

I look down and whisper softly so only I could hear my words "I hope so."

5:59pm

Everyone is ushering me into the courtroom and I let them but then I stop. He needs to be here. He needs this. No, I need him. Here. Now. I run and in one swift move grab Stef's phone, rushing out of the courthouse. I hop onto a bus and pull up the tracking feature, ready to burst. The location doesn't surprise me. I got a hint of luck seeing that the bus was going in the exact direction O needed to go. I tried to look out the window for the others but it was blocked by an older lady in a pantsuit. I knew what I was going to do.

I was going to find Brandon Foster.