Chapter 14
A/N: I know I am concentrating more on Brandon and Callie than the other characters, but that is because it is a Brandon and Callie fanfic. But I will continue to work the other characters into the mix just as supporting roles not as staring roles. Also if this is the first time you are reading one of my stories then you should know that I mix angst in with happy times. Also Mariska fan 4 life I hate to disappoint people who review so the first part of this chapter is for you.
Brandon walks down the steps and into the kitchen, where he sees Callie sitting at the island. He walks up to her and kisses her. They each smile as the memories of last night invade their thoughts.
"Thank you for last night. It was the best date I have ever been on." Callie says kissing him again.
"I think I should be the one thanking you. Last night was by far the best time I have ever had in my life. And I am not just talking about the sex. The whole night was just amazing. I was worried you would think it was lame or cheap." He says.
"Brandon, my family never had a lot of money, even when my mom was still alive. So if you think I want you to take me some where fancy and expensive you would be wrong. What you did last night was worth more than all the money in the world. You know why?"
She asks.
"Why?"
"Because it took thought and effort on your part. You used your head and came up with the perfect first date. To me you could not have done any better if you had spent thousands of dollars. And what happened after, I still get goose bumps when I think about it." She says.
"Well why don't we get ready and go do something today?" He asks.
"Sorry lover boy she belongs to me and Lena this morning. We are taking her out shopping to get her some new clothes and stuff." Stef says.
"Hey no fair! It is Saturday, it is suppose to be our time." Brandon mock pouts.
"Oh please Brandon if u are going to try to get your way like that we will never get to spend anytime together. Learn how to do the puppy dog eyes and the stick out of your lip when you pout." Callie laughs at him when she sees his face.
"Hey I am trying at least." He says.
"Yes you are and you get brownie points for it." She says as she kisses him.
"Good I need all the brownie points I can get." He laughs.
"But sorry, I do need to go buy some new clothes. This is the first time I am actually going to get to spend some of the foster money. All the other places we were in they would use the money for things they wanted and not on me or Jude. Besides once the legal guardianship is approved we will lose that money. Si I need to take advantage while I can. To be honest I am tired of wearing the same 2 pairs of pants and the same 4 shirts over and over. So if you are nice when we get done and back I may model some of them for you." She says with a flirtatious look on her face.
"Deal, well get going come on time is a wasting here." Brandon says with a smile in his eyes.
"Ok first of all none of us are showered and dressed yet so it will be about an hour before we leave." Stef says.
"Wait you haven't taken your showers yet?" He asks with a twinkle in his eye.
"Brandon don't you even think about it." Callie says.
"Oh I am thinking about it." He says as he eyes the stairs.
"Brandon it will make us later in leaving and in getting back." Stef says.
"But it is hot water." He says.
He looks at Callie as she looks ay him. His smile gets bigger as do both of their eyes as the both head for the stairs in a run. Brandon gets there first and bounds up the stairs. Stef is laughing so hard she almost can't stay standing.
"He beat you." Stef says.
"Game isn't over yet." Callie smiles.
"How so?"
"Watch and learn grasshopper. OWE! OH CRAP THAT HURTS!" Callie says loudly as she sits on the steps rubbing her ankle, while stef leans against the counter trying hard to hold in the laughs that are threatening to escape her.
"Callie, what happened? Are you ok?" Brandon ask as he quickly rushes to kneel before her on the steps. He takes her ankle in his hand and starts to rub it lightly.
"What me, no I am fine," She says as she uses her foot to kick him down the steps a couple before he catches his balance.
He looks to where she had been only to hear the bathroom door close as she has rushed in. he shakes his head and laughs. He walks down the stairs only to find Stef doubled over laughing so hard she can barely catch her breath.
"Ha Ha! Very funny." Brandon says trying hard to hold his smile in.
"Oh my baby boy B, you are so whipped!" Stef says bursting out laughing again.
"Yeah maybe, but can you blame me? Mom she is amazing. And no I am not saying that just because I am whipped as you say. Have you really gotten to know her? She is beautiful that is obvious. But she has an inner beauty about her. I know she can come off a little abrasive at first. But she has this huge heart and it has just been wait for someone to love. Last night on our date, I got to see that heart, I got to see that she has let me in. when we made..." Brandon starts then stops when he realizes what he was about to say.
"When you made love?" Stef asks.
"Yeah." He says looking down with a blush on his face.
"B it is ok to talk about it. Even with your lame ole mom." She smiles at him.
"No offense mom, but your my mom. That makes it a little hard to do." Brandon says.
"Ok maybe that is true. But we have to get past that B. I want you to be able to tall me anything." Stef says.
"Maybe soon mom." Brandon says.
Callie, Stef and Lena are walking through the mall toward a series of small stores. The mall if fairly busy for as early as it is. They were hoping to beat the rush by getting here early. They walk into the first store and start looking around.
"Know what you are looking for?" Lena asks.
"Honestly no. I am more a jeans and t-shirts than anything." Callie says.
"Ok we will make you a deal. You buy one dress and one skirt with a matching blouse and then we can go get you some jeans and t-shirts." Stef says.
"Ok." Callie says and goes back to looking.
They spend a couple of hours at the mall where Callie gets the items she said she would. She even got a pair of heals to match the dress and skirt. She had seen a few other things she thought she would like but decided not to waste money on things she can do with out.
"Hey are we hungry?" Lena asks.
"I could eat." Stef says.
"Yeah I am a little hungry. I could eat as well." Callie says.
"Ok so where do we want to eat?" Stef asks.
"Well we are going to the thrift store close to here right?" Callie asks.
"Yeah." Lena says.
"Well there is a diner not far from that thrift store. They have really good food." Callie says.
"Ok sounds good lets go." Stef says.
"Hey Jude want to go to the pier and hang out for a while? Maybe grab a hot dog and some ice cream?" Brandon asks.
"Sure." Jude says.
"Ok lets go." Brandon says as he opens the door.
They get in the car and head for the pier. Talking all the way, jude gives him some little know facts about Callie. While Brandon fill Jude in on some of the funner things they can do. Once they get to the pier they walk down to the hot dog vender.
"How many do you want, and what do you want on them?"Brandon asks.
"A couple if it is ok, and mustard and relish." Jude says.
"You heard him my man make it four with mustard and relish." Brandon smiles at the vender.
"Right away." The vendor says as he makes the four dogs as ordered, then hands them to Brandon and Jude.
"Thanks." They both say
"Thanks Brandon." Jude says.
"No problem, any time." Brandon says.
"So what are we going to do now?" Jude asks.
"Well I figured we would have a seat on that bench and eat our hot dogs and talk." Brandon says.
"Ok, what do you want to talk about?" Jude asks as the walk overr and sit down.
"Well I was wondering how you really feel about me and your sister." Brandon asks.
"You mean about you two being together?" He asks.
"Yeah, does it bother you?" Brandon asks.
"It doesn't really bother me, but does worry me a little. You see I know a lot more than Callie thinks I do. I don't know just what happened with Liam but I know about a lot of the other thing." Jude says.
"Like what?" Brandon asks.
"Well I know, the house we left to go to the Olmsted's she was abused. Well maybe that isn't the right word. See I know the guy told her he would hurt me if she didn't sit in a room topless. The room was all dark except two flood lights that shined down on Callie. I sneak out of bed one night to get something to drink. When I opened my door I could see several guys sitting in the dark but I could see bright light coming from some where in the front room so I sneaked to the corner. That is when I seen what was going on. Ray, that was the guys name Ray. He seen me and made me go back to bed, but not before he told me what was going on. He was making her do it or he was going to hurt me. He was charging the guys money to come and watch her sit in a chair." Jude says.
"I am sorry you saw that Jude." Brandon says.
"It is ok. That was when I realized just how much my sister loved me and just what she would do to keep me safe. So no it doesn't bother me that you two are together. I have never seen her as happy as she is right now. That is all because of you. Yeah I know she would be happy that we were in the house with you guys even if you two weren't dating. You guys treat us so much better than any place we have ever been while in the system. But she wouldn't be as happy as she is now that you two are happy." Jude says.
"Maybe you're right. I know I wouldn't be as happy if we weren't together." Brandon says.
"I know more too, but I really don't like talking about it." Jude says.
"You know Jude, maybe you should talk to your sister. Tell her what you know. Then maybe the two of you can go and talk to a counselor, maybe it would help both of you." Brandon says.
"I'll think about it ok?" Jude says.
"Sure and you know you can talk to me anytime right." Brandon says.
"I can?" Jude asks.
"You bet, I may not have all the answers for you but I will listen and then maybe the two of us can figure out the answer. If not maybe I know someone who can, ok."
"Ok."
"Well if it isn't Jude Jacobs." A stranger guy says.
"Tim, what do you want?" Jude asks.
"I have to assume you are Brandon." Tim says.
"I am. Who are you and what do you want?" Brandon asks standing up.
"Just to give you a little info is all." Tim says.
"And what info is that?" Brandon says.
"That your little girlfriend is going to get what is coming to her." Tim says.
"If you lay one hand on her..." Brandon starts.
"Not me. I am here talking to you. But the person who is going to do it wanted you to know. You two have a nice day." Tim says as he turns and leaves.
"Who was that?" Brandon asks Jude.
"He is a friend of Liam." Jude says worried.
"What, oh no!" Brandon says as he pulls out his phone and dials his moms number.
Jesus and Mariana are sitting on a bench in the park close to their house. Jesus was suppose to meet Lexi so they could spend some time together. Mariana had decided to come along to see if she could handle being around them.
She wasn't a fan of them dating, as she had said Jesus could have any girl he wanted. But it had been Lexi he chose, well maybe they chose each other. But she either had to get on board with them dating, or lose her best-friend.
"Lexi, hey Lexi over here." Jesus yells out.
"Hey."She says as she kisses him.
"Hi Lexi." Mariana says.
"Hi, Mariana. I am glad you came." Lexi says.
"Yeah I am trying. But for a little while, you know till I get use to it, maybe keep the kissing to a minimum, please." She says.
"You still can't say it can you?" Jesus asks.
"Say what?" Lexi asks.
"That we are dating." Jesus laughs.
"No not yet but maybe one day." Mariana says.
"Oh that. Well like she said maybe one day." Lexi says smiling at Mariana.
As the continue to walk through the park they talk. With each passing minute the tension between Mariana and Lexi is melting away. By the time they make it back to the bench, they are laughing and giggling like nothing had ever happened.
Jesus' phone starts to ring on their third walk around the park. He pulls it from his pants pocket and see's it is Lena calling. He walks a little ways away from Lexi and Mariana to answer it.
"Hello, what's up mom?" Jesus asks.
"Are you at home?" Lena asks in a shaky voice.
"No me, Lexi and Mariana are in the park. Why what's up?" He asks again.
"I need you to go back to the house. Wait there for me to call again ok." Lena asks.
"Ok, do I get to know why?" Jesus asks.
"Jesus I will explain later I just need you to listen to me right now ok." Lena says again in a shaky voice.
"Ok we are on our way." Jesus says as he hangs up the phone.
"Mariana that was Lena she wants us to go back to the house and wait for her to call back." He tells her.
"Did she say why?" Mariana asks.
"No just that she would explain later." Jesus says.
"Ok well we better get home then. Lexi you want to come over?" Mariana asks.
"Sure." She says as they head for the house.
Callie, Stef and Lena arrive at the diner near the thrift store and take a booth. Lena and Stef sit side by side as Callie sits across from them. They all grab a menu from the table and look through it to decide what they may want to eat.
"So Callie, what do you recommend here?" Stef asks.
"The burgers. They have the best in town." Callie says.
"Sounds good to me." Lena says.
The waitress comes over and takes their order. She walks away, but returns soon with their drinks.
"So Callie how are things going for you here?" Lena asks.
"Good, better than good actually, great may be a better word." She says.
"Ok we know it is going great with Brandon and all of that. But what about school? Have you thought about what you are going to do when you graduate from school?" Lena asks.
"Babe I think we should just let things lay for now. There will be time for her to figure that out later." Stef says.
"No it is ok. You know before me and Jude came here I always thought I would end up a statistic, you know. I never even tried to imagine a future. Now though I have been looking a few things up. If I bust my butt the next two years and keep my grades up. I can get a scholarship, then maybe apply for a few grants. And then a student loan for what ever that doesn't cover. So I can go to college." Callie says.
"That would be a nice goal for you. What would you plan on studying in college?" Stef asks.
"Yeah you know you can do anything you want if you just put it in your mind you can." Stef says.
"I was thinking of maybe getting into social worker, so I can help kids like me and Jude." Callie says.
"Oh Callie I think that would be perfect." Lena says.
"I agree Callie. I think you would be great at it. I mean you have been through it, so I think the kids would listen and respect you more." Stef says.
"Those were my thoughts. I still have the rest of this year and all of next to figure out if that is what I really want to do. But I don't really see myself changing my mind." Callie tells them.
"If you want Callie I can do a little research for you. Find out what schools are the best for what you are looking to do. Maybe get you some info on what your courses would look like and on the schools." Lena says.
"That would be great, now if you will excuse me I need to go to the restroom." Callie says as she gets up and heads for the back of the diner.
Stef and Lena have their backs to where the restrooms are, so don't see the two guys get up and follow Callie into the restroom. They are sitting talking to each other about what Callie had just revealed.
"You know I think that we do good taking those two in." Stef says.
"I agree. Do you know how proud I was when she said she was thinking about becoming a social worker. She is a smart young lady." Lena agrees as Stef's cell phone starts to ring.
"Brandon what's the matter?" Stef asks.
"Mom Liam is going to try to get to Callie and do something to her. Is she with you?" Brandon asks.
" Yea. We are at the diner my the thrift store. When do you think he will try?" She asks.
"Right now I am on my way be there in 5 minutes." Brandon says.
"Ok I will go check on her, she is in the restroom." Stef says as she hangs up.
"What is it?" Lena asks.
"Brandon thinks Liam is going to try to get to Callie some time today. I will be right back I am going to go check on her." Stef says.
"Ok."
Callie walks into the restroom with a smile on her face. It really seems like Stef and Lena want to help her. She hadn't know that kind of people since her mom died. Everyone she had contact with only wanted to use her or abuse her. But with luck she may be able to break the cycle she has been in since she was 10.
"Well look what we have here." A voice she knows too well says.
"What are you doing in here? You are violating the protection order." Callie says.
"That's ok when we are done with you, you won't be able to tell them who did it." Liam says.
They step forward and the one guy grabs her as Liam starts punching her. After the first couple of hit the guy holding her lets her go and joins in on punching and kicking her. This continues for what feels like forever.
"Do I get to fuck her now?" The other guy asks.
"Sure have fun." Liam says.
The other guy starts undoing her pants when the bathroom door opens. Before anyone knows what is happening four gun shots ring out the diner causing people to dive for cover under tables and behind counters. As she is ducking for cover two guys run out of where the rest rooms are at and out the door.
Lena stands and starts to walk in that direction as Brandon rushes through the front door of the diner. He sees Lena and the haunted look on her face and he starts to shake.
"Where?" He asks.
"Stay out here." Lean says snapping out of the shock she had been in as she rushed for the restrooms.
"Like hell." Brandon says as he beats her to the door to the ladies room.
What he sees when he opens the door is an image that will haunt him for the rest of his life. There are his mom and Callie laying in two pools of blood.