Here's Chapter 3! Please review, they keep me motivated! :)
Callie was getting ready for bed when Stef walked into the bedroom she shared with Mariana. Her foster sister was in the bathroom which left her alone with the blonde police officer. The older women smiled and gestured for the teen to take a seat on the bed before doing the same.
"So I got an email from Detective Carlson and he sent me the information for the wake. It's going to be this Thursday and Friday and the funeral will be Saturday morning."
Callie nodded and looked down at her hands. Today was Monday which left her with two days before reality came crashing down, "Okay."
Stef placed a hand on Callie's shoulder and the teen moved away. Stef sighed, "Do you want to go?"
Callie shrugged, "I don't know…I have to talk to Jude."
"Callie, it's not just what Jude wants," Stef said softly, searching for dark brown eyes, "It's what you want, too, Love."
The brunette shook her head and stood up, "I'm gonna go ask Jude what he wants to do."
Jesus and Jude both looked up as they heard a knock on their bedroom door. Callie was leaning against the doorframe and the look on her face gave Jesus the feeling that she wanted to speak to her little brother alone.
"I'm gonna go get a drink," Jesus said, closing his laptop and standing up, "Want anything, Jude?"
"I'm good," the boy replied, and watched his foster brother leave the room before turning to his sister, "What's going on?"
Callie took a seat on Jude's bed, "Stef told me that the wake for, um, Dad was later this week, and the funeral is Saturday. Do you…want to go?"
Jude looked at the floor before looking back up at Callie, "We should…right? Because he's our dad?"
Callie shrugged, "We don't have to―"
"I want to go."
Callie nodded and forced a smile on her face even though her heart had sunk into her stomach. She tried not to hold it against her baby brother: he didn't know any better. She leaned over to kiss his forehead.
"Goodnight, Baby." She headed out of the room but was stopped by Jude's voice.
"Callie? Are you mad at me?"
The teen shook her head and plastered a smile on her face, "Of course not, Jude. Sleep good, okay?"
He nodded and turned back to what he had been doing before. Callie ducked into the bathroom and opened the faucet before sitting on the closed toilet seat. She pressed her hands over her mouth as tears began to well in her eyes and a lump settled in her throat. She didn't want to go to anything that had to do with her father, but there was no way she was going to let Jude go alone. She took a deep breath and thumbed away her tears before shutting off the faucet and opening the door. To her surprise, she was met face to face with Brandon.
"Were you crying?" he asked, a concerned lilt in his voice.
"No," Callie answered gruffly, leaving no room for discussion, "I'm going to bed. 'Night."
The following morning, Callie woke up feeling like she had barely slept at all. Looking at her clock which read 5:30 AM, she realized this was completely true. She had only fallen asleep around 3 in the morning. She looked over at Mariana who was deeply asleep before pushing off her blankets. She quietly collected some clothes before tiptoeing out of the room, deciding now was as good a time as any to get ready for the day. She took a shower and towel dried her hair, weaving it into a French braid. After getting dressed, Callie quietly made her way downstairs. She looked around―she needed a distraction from her incessant thoughts. Her gaze landed on the kitchen. Cooking was busywork and most definitely a distraction.
Lena cracked an eye open as the smell of pancakes infiltrated her senses. She ran a hand through her curly hair before looking over at Stef who was still sound asleep. She placed a hand on her partner's shoulder and gently shook her.
"Stef…Stef, wake up."
"What?" Stef croaked, not bothering to open her eyes.
"Do you smell that? It smells like food."
Stef snuggled beneath the covers, "Well as long as it's not smoke…"
"Stef!"
The blonde huffed and sat up, "I'm up! What were you saying, Love?"
"I smell food," Lena replied, already slipping on a robe, "Who's cooking?"
The women made their way downstairs and to the kitchen. The table was set with two plates stacked with pancakes as well as a plate for every member. The orange juice was out along with syrup and freshly washed fruit. They walked past the breakfast feast and into the living room where they found Callie, dressed and ready to go, sitting on the couch seemingly doing nothing.
"Good morning, Callie," Lena greeted her, taking a seat next to her on the couch, "Did you make breakfast?"
The teen nodded, "Yeah."
Stef offered her a soft smile, "Well that was very kind of you. How long have you been up?"
"A while." Stef shared a look with Lena. Most of the time, talking to Callie was like talking to a brick wall.
"Did you sleep okay?" Lena asked next, needing to hear more than two words from the young woman.
"When are we leaving for school?" Callie asked, ignoring the question she was asked, "I have to talk to my teachers about the work I missed."
"I'm sure they'll understand, considering the circumstances," Lena offered, "Besides, are you sure you want to go back to school? It's only been a day…"
Callie shook her head, "I don't need any more time. I haven't seen my dad for like seven years, we weren't exactly close. There's nothing to be sad about."
"Callie, he was still―"
"My dad," Callie interrupted Stef, knowing where she was going, "Yeah, I know. I'll be in the backyard, let me know when we're leaving." She got up and stalked to the doors that lead outside, grabbing the guitar Brandon had given her on the way out.
Stef let out a breath, "Forget sugar and spice, I think this girl must be made of barbed wire and stone." She walked into the kitchen to get started on a batch of coffee while Lena trailed behind her.
"That's what happens when everyone you thought you could rely either leaves you or hurts you," Lena said sadly, "She's learned to adapt."
"But she shouldn't have to!" Stef interjected in a frustrated voice as she slammed her mug on the table. She took a deep breath, "I'm sorry, I'm just so angry at her father and the system and this freaking grandmother who had better have a good excuse as to why she let those kids get sent away!"
"Mom?" Both women turned around to see Brandon standing cautiously by the entrance of the doorway "Is everything okay?"
Stef offered him a small smile, "Yeah, Sweets, everything is okay. Or will be, at least."
Brandon peered at the food on the table, "Wow, did you guys make all of this?"
"This was Callie's doing," Lena answered, "She's hanging out in the backyard."
F chord…E minor 7th chord…F chord….E minor 7th chord…
Callie mindlessly strummed her guitar as she thought about what was to come in the following days. She would be meeting her grandmother who she thought was dead as well as any other family that planned on attending the service. She never thought of the possibility that she had living, biological family, just the fact that she and Jude had not been offered a home any of them.
"Did you eat any of the food you made?"
Callie didn't bother looking up when Brandon asked his question, "Yeah," she lied.
"You're lying."
"Okay."
Brandon took a seat next to her against the large tree, "What song are you playing?"
Callie eyed him suspiciously; surprised he had dropped the breakfast thing so easily, "It's nothing special."
"What song?"
Callie glanced at him before turning her attention back to the guitar on her lap, "My mom used to sing it to me, when I was little," she answered after a moment, "It's a Beatles song. She really liked them…if Jude's name is any indication."
Brandon smiled, "Yeah. I came out to let you know we were leaving in 5 minutes."
"Thanks, I'll be ready."
He nodded and stood up, heading for the door back into the house. Before completely closing the door, Brandon paused because he thought he could hear singing.
"There's a shadow hanging over me.
Oh, I believe in yesterday."
Merry Christmas Biznitches! (Or Happy Holidays if we're keeping it P.C.) I am so happy because this year I got not 1, not 2, but THREE pairs of footie pajamas which is three more than I've ever owned. I don't know why everyone feels inclined to buy them for me but I'm not complaining.
I hope the story/characters seem authentic. I watched some Foster's on Fios On Demand to get a feel for how they would act/speak.
Please review! They keep me warm ;)