Author's Note:

Hi everyone! I am sure that we all have the news now about the cancellation of The Fosters and their follow-up plan. I have to say that I have actually been very busy of late and hadn't updated for a few weeks already, but luckily, I had my story outline fully written and the story should be done by the time their finale airs. I am a bit disheartened by the news announced, because I truly love the WHOLE Adams Fosters clan-in case you can't tell!-but I think because a lot of people saw this coming it wasn't at painful as it could have been. I hope everyone is okay and that you all still find ways to show your appreciation for the show. I know that we fans will still keep this show alive and of course, there is always fanfiction.

Now onto the story matters: I really and truly appreciate anyone who has ever favorited, followed or reviewed this story. If you are a member of Fanfiction who also writes and have left a review, just know that you have a review coming to you when I finish writing this one. (I am one of those odd ones who can't read other Fanfiction stories for the fandom while I am writing mine, because I don't like to have any influence outside of the source material and my own ideas. But you will definitely see a review afterwards! :) I also have to say something I haven't been mentioning enough: To anyone who is reading this story and not reviewing, I truly appreciate you too. It means a lot that you think enough of this to keep reading it, even if you don't review it.

That said, as classes started back this week, I am unsure if I can keep things steadily updated, so I decided to post this longer chapter now just in case.

If you like it, have any ideas for the next few or anything else, please let me know. Feel free to PM me or review.

It's all appreciated!

Peaces!

Chapter 14:

Angry. Say.

(February)

Callie walked through the main room of Dreams. Girls. United and noted that everything was in order. All of the main computers were occupied, but other than the slight sound of someone humming the Sanctuary theme from the website and the computer keys clicking, the room was fairly silent.

The center was housed in what had once been a small charter school for a now deserted neighborhood project. It was therefore very large, with several small back rooms. The majority of the front of the building had been gutted, walls knocked down so that there was one large open space that housed a check-in center, a small library, a wall of computers for applying to various programs, a small game and "icebreakers" space (where the girls were meant to meet up and connect with each other) and a tutoring station. In addition to all of this, the back was complete with personal counseling rooms, and 4 volunteers who manned a 24 hour suicide and help hotline and various activity rooms.

Although the grand opening wasn't for another week, the soft opening of the center had gone much better than expected. There had been at least a hundred people in total who attended. Social workers, teachers, students and a few foster families had made up the crowd. Rita expected even more for the Grand Opening next week and Callie was expected to be on hand as a "Youth Director".

Callie smiled thinking of the title that Rita and Mary had given her. It was largely ceremonial as Callie couldn't make a solid future obligation being that she was definitely attending school in the fall. But, for now, it meant that Callie was the point person for any of the girls who checked in. Although somewhat in line with a role she'd held at the Drop-In Center about a year prior, Callie was given a much larger amount of responsibility. She was in charge of ensuring that each member was properly signed up and in and accounted for, directed to where they needed to go, understood and had assistance filling out the paperwork needed and was signed up for all of the eligible programs available to them.

Callie wiped her forehead over which she wore a blue bandana, her hair tied up into two pigtails and happened to glance at the bangle that Mariana had given her. Callie and Mariana had made a pact since Christmas to meet up for lunch at least once every two weeks. They talked a lot on the phone but Mariana had begun spending a lot more of her time with her extracurricular activities now that her senior year was coming to a close. Still, Mariana had surprised her with a bracelet with the letters TER in-between charms with Callie's birthstone, at their last lunch. Mariana had smiled widely as she showcased her matching bracelet with SIS in-between the charms with her birthstone.

"Just don't want you to forget." Mariana said and they hugged as Callie promised she wouldn't. She never could.

Callie was shaken from her memory of the lunch as her cellphone vibrated in the pockets of her jean overalls. Callie smiled as she saw Brandon's name flash across the screen.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Callie." Brandon said sounding a little sullen.

"Hey." Callie said distractedly as she made her way towards the hallway entrance so that she could hear him better and not disturb the girls in the main room. "What's wrong?"

Brandon paused and then said "Why does something have to be wrong?"

"Because, I know you." Callie said with a slight annoyance. She didn't feel like being bothered with Brandon's riddles "You sound stressed out."

Brandon sighed deeply. "They're having tryouts for this intense piano class this week. I want to try out, but I'm really nervous."

Callie rolled her eyes. As much as she cared about Brandon, sometimes his neurotic behavior could be a bit tiresome. "Brandon? You know that you'll get in. Just try out."

"Wow. I see you're still working on your motivational pep talk skills." Brandon said with a sarcastic laugh.

Callie sighed a little deeper as she recalled a 14 year old girl name Cecilia who'd been homeless for 4 months whom she'd spoken with earlier today. Sometimes other people's first-world problems seemed so trivial compared to the destitute and truly desperate people she encountered.

"Am I really going to have to give you a pep talk for every step that you take in life, Brandon?" Callie bit out before she'd realized it.

Brandon was quiet for a moment and then said "Why are you being so mean to me? I was really glad to get to talk to you and I was going to surprise you with something… Now you're making me feel like maybe I shouldn't."

Callie sighed deeply and shook her head, the smile involuntarily crossing her lips. She knew that she was being a little harsh but she couldn't help it. She'd been feeling exceedingly stressed out with everything she'd been working on lately and the grand opening in the next week. Not to mention still having to decide on her school.

"Sorry, Brandon. I'm just a little…frazzled today, I guess. With the soft opening over, we have the grand opening coming up in a week and I'm handling a lot. I didn't mean to be so hard on you though." Callie glanced at her phone for the time and saw that she had just come upon her lunch and actually had plenty of time to talk. "So, please; tell me more about the classes." Callie finished heading into the hallway and then added "And about the surprise."

Brandon was silent for a moment and then said dishearteningly "No, it's okay. I can tell you're really busy and wasn't trying to bother you. I'll just talk to you later."

"No!" Callie said, as she felt a slight anxiety making her way farther along the hallway towards the entrance of the center. Callie felt ridiculous as she was suddenly desperate to keep speaking to Brandon but she couldn't help it. "What was the surprise?"

"You sure you want to know?"

"I'm sure." Callie said as she made her way out of the center. "Tell me."

As Callie opened the door she collided with someone who was apparently about to walk in and they both ended up sprawled out on their backs.

As Callie sat up, she felt a slight throbbing in her head "So sorry." She said weakly glancing around for her phone.

"You should be." Came the familiar voice and Callie glanced ahead of her and seeing Brandon sprawled out in front of her she gasped.

"Brandon?! What are you doing here?"

Brandon rubbed his head a bit and then smiled at Callie saying in a mock revelatory tone "Surprise!"

A Little While Later

"So that," Callie said as they came upon the small music room and she dropped into a half-curtsy flourish. "Was the Dreams. Girls. United Center." Brandon gave a half-smile and bowed playfully in response with a small flourish of his own. "Why thank you Youth Director Callie, for the grand tour."

Brandon placed his hands in his pockets and glanced around the small pink room. There was a keyboard in the corner, a drum set beside the window and what looked like a karaoke machine with a dusty mic. "Well, this is…nice…" he said hesitantly.

Callie laughed walking over to the keyboard and playing a few errant keys "It's kind of pathetic, Brandon. You don't have to pretend."

Brandon's smile broke through as he agreed "Yea, it's pretty sad."

"But, it's all we could afford for now." Callie said crossing her arms. "Music wasn't exactly a priority to Mary. She said that the girls have a lot more serious issues than "tapping on a drum". But I mean, I know how much having some kind of artistic outlet can help; it can even be therapeutic. So, I was determined that we would have one and a few of the girls can even sing. Maybe only about 5 have even come in here so far, but I'm really glad that they have it."

Brandon nodded and stared off out the small window "You were determined…? So you actually put things together in here. Had a say?"

Callie smiled a little bashfully "Yea…I mean, I guess. I was able to tell them what I thought would help. Being that I stayed in Girls United, Worked for Dreams. Girls. and was a foster kid Rita said I was probably the most qualified non-applicant they had." Callie laughed at the remembrance. "And that's how I became the official un-official Youth Director." Callie said proudly. It had been so long since she'd been doing something she was as proud of as she was of this. And being able to share it with Brandon was the best thing that had happened in a while.

Brandon glanced around the room again and was oddly quiet. He continued staring out the tiny window and Callie leaned gently against the keyboard and said "And what about you?"

Brandon shrugged "What about me?"

"How are things going for you? Are you really trying out for those classes or was that just the cover story?"

"Not really…I mean I was going to. I thought about it. But you need an original piece."

Callie squinted over at him. "And…? You have lots of original pieces."

"Yea, well. It can't just be original it has to be good. And I haven't really been able to…compose anything for a while now."

"But you composed "Sanctuary".

"That was different. That was like fulfilling an assignment, I didn't write that for me." Brandon said with a shake of his head.

Callie paused and thought as Brandon made his way towards the drum set tapping it with his fingers.

"Well," Callie said walking over beside him. "How did you compose before? For yourself, I mean?"

Something flickered across Brandon's expression, but he didn't look at Callie. "I probably shouldn't say." He said as his fingers stilled over the tight drum cover.

Callie smiled gently, but for some reason she was also suddenly nervous. "Say."

"Well…" Brandon began and then he huffed out in a quick and harsh whisper "Usually it was just after you'd devastated me. So if you could do that again, maybe I can come up with something."

Callie paused and just looked at Brandon and he glanced over at her. As he saw her eyes filling with tears, he seemingly realized just how hurtful his words had been and began to say something else. Before he could, Callie reached out and shoved him into the drums. Brandon yelped in pain and fell so that his legs and arms flayed about among the cymbals and drums. "Callie!"

"Go to hell, Brandon Foster!" Callie called back as she marched off to the bathroom to dry her eyes.

A Week Later

Callie was busy rushing around the event. The chairs were in place, the food was ordered and everything was set up, yet somehow she was still anxious. The official, official grand opening of the center, the website, the program and everything that they had been working towards for months was finally under way. She tried to remember the advice Mariana, Sophia and Jude-who'd all come to support her-had given earlier this afternoon.

"Callie…stay calm." Mariana said

"And breathe." Sophia added

"Trust me; I know what happens when you let anxiety take over you." Mariana said.

"And I know what happens when you keep everything inside." Sophia chimed in.

"So if you need to talk. We're here." Mariana said as she reached out and squeezed Callie's shoulder.

"Hey!" Jude piped in "I'm here too."

"Sorry, Judicorn." Mariana said as Sophia nodded in agreement to whatever she was about to say "But, this is kind of about girl power today." Jude fake pouted and Mariana nudged him gently before turning back to Callie "Sorry Jesus and Brandon couldn't come. They wanted to. But, Jesus had to finish a few more interviews for our senior project and Brandon is practicing piano for something." Mariana said with a roll of her eyes.

"It's fine." Callie said with a shake of her head "I already know. Jesus called me." She didn't mention Brandon and wished Mariana hadn't even said his name.

Callie was trying not to be, but she was still angry at Brandon. She had been waiting so long to see him and was so happy to be able to show him everything she'd been a part of. And all he'd done was ruin it with his horribly mean-spirited comment. It was like a stab in her heart. After she'd shoved him into the drums and headed to the bathroom, she swore rather dramatically that she'd never speak to him again. It took her a few minutes to get herself together and when she'd gone back out into the main room of the center, Brandon was nowhere to be found. Not that'd she'd even looked for him.

Now, Callie blocked out thoughts of Brandon as she made her way to the front of the crowd and listened to Rita introducing Angel, a singer they'd brought in for an empowering song in honor of the grand opening.

"Wow she sings beautifully." Sela said leaning back into Marcus.

"She does." Marcus said with a quick kiss to her cheek.

"She's okay." Daniella piped in.

"She's more than okay." Callie said with a slight edge to her voice. She could tell that it was only a matter of time before she finally blew up at Daniella's consistent negativity when it came to Sela. "She's amazing."

"She really is. Too bad she wasn't around back when I was having open auditions for R + J." Callie heard and whipped around to see Brandon staring at her sheepishly, in his eyes an apology that she didn't want to hear. Immediately, Callie stormed towards the back of the crowd, not wanting to hear anything from him.

"Callie, wait!"

"No, Brandon! If I had anything to say to you, I would have answered one of your hundred phone calls." Callie called back as she practically shoved out into the open space away from the crowd. Brandon's calls had been consistent and Callie's screening had been just as consistent. She'd barely left the Quinns' all week, because she just knew that Brandon would never dare show his face there and she'd been right.

Callie glanced back and with no sign of Brandon made her way towards the hallway. She'd needed to head to the kitchen anyway to ensure that the chef would be bringing out the cake in time. Just as she reached for the kitchen door Callie felt someone reaching out for her and she sighed with exasperation already knowing who it was.

Callie turned towards Brandon, fire in her eyes "What?! What do you want, Brandon?" Callie hissed angrily.

In the sudden quiet, as with everyone else in the grand room they were alone in the hallway, Brandon just stopped and stared at Callie.

Callie was wearing a strapless knee-length grey dress that began plainly at the top but had sparkles of glittering dust as it neared the bottom, ending with bursts of glitter at the bottom. On anyone else her cotton short sleeved jacket, might have seemed an odd choice, but it tied in with her white knapsack. Her shoes were white flats with grey tips that matched the dress but were much easier to walk in then heels. Her hair was in waves around her face and her makeup was minimal as usual, with grey eye liner framing her dark brown eyes.

Callie looked absolutely stunning and if she hadn't been so furious with him, she'd have noticed that Brandon was caught up noticing this.

"Well?" Callie huffed crossing her arms and forcing Brandon's eyes to meet hers. "What. Do. You. Want?" she asked, biting out each word sharply.

"T-to say sorry." Brandon stammered. "To say I was mean and I was out of line and I'm sorry." Brandon said, as he stepped away from Callie and hung his head gently.

Callie shook her head "Well, I don't accept that!" Callie said as she turned back towards the kitchen.

"Callie-"

Callie turned back around and about screamed "I miss you, Brandon!" and Brandon backed up a little, clearly thrown off by the intensity of her anger. "And I don't just mean as my…as my…fr-" Callie's voice broke as she glanced down and then quickly wiped the tear from her eye and she began again "I just miss you and me. Talking. Hanging out. Whatevering. Before everything blew up and got crazy. But when it did, you moved. Like immediately left. And so, even though I missed everyone else too, they're here and you're not." Callie said with a harsh point at Brandon and he hung his head again.

"And so whenever I see you, I'm always happy to. And this time, I was so stressed out and anxious, but seeing you all of a sudden it was like…I was just happy again. And I was really proud to be able to show you the Center and like, that I wasn't just the "poor little foster girl" anymore and that maybe-maybe things don't have to be so…awkward with us anymore."

Waiters began bustling and in out of the kitchen doors, but Callie and Brandon were practically unaware, safe inside the bubble of their own private drama as usual.

"So for you to say…that. Of all things? When I already feel like trash. Like I messed up everything for every one-"

"I know."

"-I'm sitting here, happy to see you and thinking that maybe we're getting back on the same page. Maybe we can start being friends again and all of a sudden, you turn into Captain Asshole."

"Not just Captain Asshole," Brandon said lightly, "King Asshole, ruling over Asshole land, in all my Asshole glory and I'm really sorry. Being a passive-aggressive jerk never helped anyone and I swear I didn't mean it. I miss you too…A lot. I just…I was…"

Brandon paused and glanced down at his feet again.

"You were just what? Wanting to hurt me? Wanting to make me feel worse than I already always-"

"I was jealous, Callie." Brandon broke in and Callie stared at him flabbergasted.

"Jealous? Of what…?"

"Of you." Brandon said with a defeated shrug and then motioned toward the room "And Mariana and Jude and Jesus. Hell, maybe even Sophia, who knows?"

"What could you possibly have to be jealous about?" Callie wondered aloud.

"You guys are all on track. You're getting ready to go off and start your lives, Jude is like the captain of everything and Mariana is at the top of every class. Jesus is doing so great and on track to finish school. And you? You're not even in school yet and you're already starting to like, change the world. Meanwhile, I'm stuck in this weird loser-reject limbo, trying to convince myself that maybe Juilliard will still accept me again even though I'm practically middle-aged."

"Brandon…"

"So, I'd been feeling miserable lately and I only even came home to support you for the opening after Mama told me about it. But, seeing the center? And hearing you talking and seeing how great you were doing I just…got really jealous and I guess I…I wanted you to feel as bad as I was feeling. But, it wasn't right and it wasn't true and it was just really low. And I'm really, really sorry."

Callie shook her head. All at the same time that she felt badly for Brandon, was still angry at him and accepting of his explanation, Lena's words about taking care of herself first rang in her head and she said. "I get it, okay? Whatever you think, I'm not exactly where I thought I'd be either; 18 years old, living with my birth dad, working at a nonprofit and taking a gap year just to get my head together. But, whatever's going on with you, from now on? You can talk to me about it, Brandon. You can tell me what's happening and I'll listen. Or ask me for advice and I'll give it to you. But you do not get to take it out on me." Callie said emphasizing the words in the last sentence and then added "I don't even know who I am to you right now, but what I do know is that I'm not the one that you get to treat like shit."

Brandon stared at Callie with an increasingly apologetic look and as much as she wanted to, she didn't waiver "We go forward, Brandon and I'll be your friend. I won't be your punching bag." Callie finished and crossed her arms, her strong statement a bit comically interrupted by her wavy hair, which had been bouncing around in a frenzy with her gestures, falling over her left eye.

Brandon smiled slightly and Callie wasn't sure why but she wanted to reach out and smack him for it. Brandon reached over and gently pushed her hair from her eyes. Callie pulled away, refusing to let him turn the moment into anything aside from a response to what she'd just said.

Resigned, Brandon shoved his hands into his pockets and said "I get it, Callie. You're right, of course and I get it. And from now on, if I need to, I'll just talk to you."

"Good," Callie said with a nod.

"So how about, now that that's settled," Brandon said holding his arm out for Callie to loop hers through. Callie just stared down at it and then back up at him "I mean…it is settled, right?" Brandon said, hopefully.

"Right," Callie said calmly and walked over to Brandon sliding her arm through his. So often she forgot that this was okay now. They could touch, hold. In public, with people milling about. Nothing wrong…

"Now, that that's settled," Brandon began again as he guided Callie back towards the door to the main room. "How about we get back to what this day is supposed to be about? Celebrating you and the amazing things you're doing."

Callie began to smile as they walked through the doors, but the smile left her face as she remembered that Brandon was right, she was supposed to be doing something. "The cake!" Callie yelped as she tried to yank away from Brandon and instead pulled him with her back towards the large kitchen doors.

Just before reaching them, both doors flung open and out walked the chef wheeling a large cart with the giant cake. Just in time, Brandon pulled Callie out of the way and her back slammed into the wall to the right of the giant doors.

Callie's breath caught as Brandon's hands pressed against the hallway walls on either side of her face and he stood hovered in front of her protectively. In a matter of seconds, Callie was glancing up at Brandon, him staring down at her and Callie could feel Brandon's breathing going ragged.

Callie stared up into Brandon's eyes, his scent filled her nostrils and those eyes wouldn't let her look away. Brandon's look was one of pensive contemplation and his glance at her quivering lips was hard to mistake.

Kiss him. He's practically begging for it. Callie thought, but she made no move except to glance at his lips too. Callie bit her own and then glanced back into Brandon's eyes.

At the sound of a waiter laughing, Callie was jolted out of this moment that involved only Brandon's eyes and lips and remembered that she was needed in the main room and had to get back to work.

Now's not the time for Callie: Brandon Kisser; it's time for Callie: Youth Director, she thought.

Callie gulped as her hands hung limply at her sides and she finally managed to choke out "T-Thank you."

Brandon's eyes flickered for just a moment before he seemed to recall where they were and what had just happened, "You-you're welcome." He said and as the doors to the kitchen swung shut, Brandon pushed away from the wall. This time however, he didn't hold out his arm, the air thick with the tension of the moment. Instead, Brandon opened the door to the main room again and said softly "Shall we?"

Callie swallowed the saliva that had gathered in her mouth and croaked out "We shall." as she quickly rushed past Brandon and into the main room.

Well, Callie thought as she made her way to her place beside Sela and Daniella up on the dais, at least I'm not angry at him anymore.