Chapter 16.

"Good morning, beautiful," Brandon whispered, pulling Callie close to him.

She yawned, wrapping her arms around his waist. It felt like a dream; one she didn't want to wake up from."Good morning."

She closed her eyes for a little longer, her cheek warm against his chest. She wasn't sure what time she'd fallen asleep or how low she'd slept; it seemed like she and Brandon made love for hours the night before; If the soreness between her legs was any indication, they did.

Brandon painted his fingers over her back, nuzzling her hair. Callie snuggled closer, enjoying the feeling of being so close. Then, her eyes popped open and panic rose to her chest. "Omigod."

"What? What is it?" he asked, becoming more alert.

"What time is it?" she muttered, sitting up.

Brandon took his phone from the nightstand, squinting at the screen. "Quarter after seven."

"Shit." She climbed out of bed. "I'm gonna be late for class." She turned around, looking for her clothes, pulling them on frantically.

"Hey," said Brandon. "It's okay, Cal. I'll drive you back to your place. I don't have any classes until nine today."

"Okay," she breathed, beginning to relax. "Thanks." She watched Brandon dress as she gathered her things. It was hard to take her eyes off of him; he was that gorgeous.

Minutes later, they were out the door.

When they arrived at the student housing complex Callie lived in, Brandon turned to her. "What are you doing after school?" he asked. "You want to hang out?"

"Well, I have to study for an exam," she explained. "So we can't pull an all-nighter again. But I think I can get away for a few hours." She smiled shyly. "See you then?"

"Can't wait." He leaned in to kiss her, tilting her chin up with his fingers. He hadn't shaved, and the stubble on his face brushed against Callie's smooth skin, sending delicious chills down her spine. "I love you," he told her, before letting her go. "Have a good day."

"Thanks," said Callie, unlocking the car door. "I love you too."

After her classes ended for the day, Callie hurried back to her dorm, bursting through the door. She couldn't stop smiling as she changed her clothes and brushed her hair. When she emerged from her room, Caitlin was just coming in the door.

"Callie!" she cried. "I've been dying to talk to you." She grabbed Callie's shoulders. "How did it go with Brandon? I mean, you didn't come home last night, so it must have went good, but what happened?"

Callie laughed at her friend's excitement. "It was great. And I think he really does love me."

"So, are you guys a couple now?"

"I think so," she nodded. "Yes."

"Aww," Caitlin gushed. "I'm so happy for you, Cal."

"I owe it all to you," she told her. "If you didn't force me to go on that blind date..."

"It wasn't all me," Caitlin assured her. "It was fate."

Callie shrugged. "Maybe things will actually work out for us this time?" She knocked softly on the wooden doorframe, just in case. "It killed me when we broke up the first time, you know? We had our whole life together planned out. He was the first guy I ever really, truly loved." She glanced down at her phone. "I have to run. I promised Brandon I would come over."

Caitlin smiled teasingly. "I won't wait up for you."

When Callie arrived at Brandon's, he'd suggested they go out, for a change of pace. They'd decided to see a movie, so they walked to the mall, holding hands. Callie had let Brandon choose the movie; he chose a horror film. She didn't have the heart to tell him she hated scary movies; she'd had enough to fear in her short life. She watched him buy the tickets, her stomach clenching with dread.

"Are you cold?" Brandon whispered, as they found seats in the overly air-conditioned theater. He reached out to touch her clammy arm.

She looked down at the goosebumps on her legs, wishing she hadn't worn shorts. "Yeah. A little."

"Here," he said, shrugging out of his jacket. He laid it over her lap, and gathered her in his arms. "Better?"

She nodded, smiling slightly. "Better." Maybe, she thought, it would be okay, as long as she was in his arms.

He leaned down to kiss her, and everything felt alright.

They took turns answering the trivia questions before the movie, balancing a tub of popcorn between them. Callie won; she was more of a movie buff than Brandon was. When she was younger, passed from one neglectful foster home to another, the one thing she could always count on was that there would be a movie theater nearby. She would often sneak into the movies, only when things got really bad, and hide away, entranced by the flicker of the screen. It had been her escape from real life, until she finally got caught by an usher and was banned from the theater.

Concealed by darkness, She and Brandon huddled close, kissing one another occasionally. Then, the movie started. Callie spent most of it with her face buried in Brandon's jacket. If he'd asked her what it was about, she wouldn't have been able to tell him.

"I'm sorry," he'd apologized on the walk home, laying his hand on the small of her back. "I didn't know that movie would freak you out so much."

"I'm okay," she assured him, wanting to spare his feelings. "I had fun."

Now, they were sprawled on his couch, Callie tucked in the crook of his arm, her knees folded up. Brandon's arms were wrapped around her, and half a pizza sat on the coffee table, growing cold.

Brandon touched his lips to her temple, giving her s soft kiss. "Can I ask you something?" he whispered, raising the fine hair on her neck.

"Yeah," she replied, looking up at him. "What is it?"

"Do you think we should tell the family that we're together now?" He seemed to hold his breath, waiting for her answer.

"I don't know..." she shrugged, her heart thudding in her chest. "Do you want to?"

"I do," he nodded, playing with her hair. "I was thinking, maybe this weekend. I mean, there's no reason not to anymore."

Callie hugged his waist a little tighter. "What if they get mad?"

"They won't," he promised. "And if they did, they would have to get over it."

"That's easy for you to say," Callie told him. "What if they decide they can't be my moms if we're dating? I don't think I could handle that."

"I'm sure they'll be okay with it," he assured her. "They love you as much as I do." He kissed her forehead, keeping his lips against her skin for a few extra moments.

"This is important to me," he finally told her. "I love you, and I want everyone to know it. I don't like feeling like our relationship is a dirty little secret."

Callie sighed, thinking the matter over. It was a scary step, but she knew Brandon was right. How could their relationship go anywhere if they had to hide it from everyone they loved? "Okay," she agreed at last. "We'll do it this weekend."

When she arrived back at the dorm, Callie was immediately greeted with a phone call. It was Sophia. "Hi, baby girl," she said to her younger sister.

"Hi, Callie," said Sophia. "Where have you been? I feel like we haven't talked in forever."

How long had it been since they'd talked? Callie wondered. She'd been slowly distancing herself from the Quinns, since reuniting with the Fosters. But she'd promised herself she would never shut her little sister out. "I'm sorry, Soph," she apologized. "I've had a lot going on."

"Oh," said Sophia, quietly. "Well, I still have to give you the present I got you on the cruise. You're going to love it."

"Aww," said Callie. "You didn't have to get me anything. But thank you."

"I wanted to," her sister told her earnestly. "You know, since you didn't get to go. It was awesome, but it would have been so much more fun if you were there. Too bad you had to study over break."

"Study?" Callie asked, confused. Then, she realized what was going on: Robert must had lied to Sophia about her plans for Spring break. She thought her sister was more than old enough to know the truth, but her protective side won out; the truth wasn't worth hurting the younger girl. "Yeah," she said quietly, saving herself. "I'm sorry I had to miss it. But I promise I'll make it up to you. We'll do something fun soon."

"It's okay," Sophia replied, in her usual, agreeable way. "I just missed you. But I know school comes first."

"That's right," she agreed, internally resenting her father even more. And maybe herself, just a little.

"Can I come over this weekend?" Sophia asked, sounding a little more cheerful. "I know I'm not supposed to invite myself. But you don't mind, right?"

"This weekend?" Callie's head swam. That weekend, she was going home with Brandon. She closed her eyes, wondering what she should do. She couldn't break her plans; Brandon would be crushed. But how could she let her baby sister down again? She sighed, making a quick decision. "I can't, Sophie. I'm going to be out of town. I'm so sorry."

"Oh. Okay." Callie could almost see Sophia's face drop. She felt like crying. "I understand."

"Don't feel sad, honey," Callie mussed. If only she didn't love that little girl so much. Life would be so much less complicated.

"I just really want to spend time with you before you leave," the younger girl told her. "I won't see you for seven months."

"I know," she nodded, though her sister couldn't see her. "We will. We'll get together soon, Bug."

"Promise?"

"Pinkie swear," Callie agreed. "Listen, kiddo. I have to hang up for now. But I love you, okay?"

"Love you too," said Sophia. "Bye."

To Be Continued