Thank you Chlollie and aphass for your PM's. I assure you I have a good idea about how court will go down aphass and everyone should read Chlollie's story You're Not Alone because it's fantabulous! ;)
"So here's the truth," began ADA Colbert. He was seated at the Foster's kitchen table along with Callie, Stef, and Lena to discuss the outlook of Callie taking her complaint against Liam to trial, "There's no way this case is ever going to get in front of a jury. The judge is going to throw it out, sure as I'm sitting here. There's no direct evidence, it's been what…almost two years since it happened?" He looked at Callie, "And…it's just you. And with your record…"
Callie glanced across the table to look at Stef and Lena, her expression resigned. She didn't know what she was hoping for but she knew she shouldn't have expected much.
Colbert sighed, "It's not fair; I'm sorry." He paused while he closed his file, "On the other hand, uh, if the sex with Liam had been consensual, that would be a different story―"
"But is wasn't," Stef clarified in a firm tone, Lena put a hand on her shoulder as she felt the anger radiating from her partner, "It was not."
"If it was consensual, well," Colbert continued, "Based on your age difference that would be statutory rape and Liam might just go to jail for up to a year."
Callie looked at his in disbelief as she tried to understand what was being implied, "Okay so you're saying that nobody would believe that he forced me to have sex but they might believe that I did it because I wanted to? And that Liam would go to jail for that?"
"Yes," Colbert answered bluntly, "That's exactly what I'm saying."
Callie bowed her head and Stef stood up, "Thank you for your time," she said, leading the lawyer to the front door, "We'll keep in touch." He left and she shut the door behind him before heading into the kitchen where Callie was still sitting with Lena.
The younger girl looked up at her foster-mothers, "What do I do?" she asked quietly, hoping they would be able to give her an answer.
Lena sighed, "It's up to you, Honey. I know that this is hard―"
"I'm not a liar," Callie interrupted, picking her head up, "I don't want to lie. But…I want Liam to be punished, too."
Stef stood up to wrap an arm around Callie and pull her to her side, "Whatever you decide, we are one hundred percent behind you, Sweets." Callie shook her head that she understood although her decision was not made any easier.
Jesus walked sat on the couch in the living room playing video games. His foot tapped incessantly as he unconsciously turned his body in the direction his character was going. Callie walked into the living room and watched for a moment before sitting herself down in an armchair.
"Jesus?"
"Hm?" he answered distractedly.
"When you feel like you have all this energy in your body, what do you do?"
Jesus shrugged as his eyes remained glued to the screen, "Uh, I don't know. Volleyball, skateboard, video-games."
Callie picked at a loose thread on her shirt, "What about running?"
Jesus paused his video game and tossed the controller on the couch, "Running?" Callie nodded.
"Okay. Let's run."
Twenty minutes later, changed into appropriate running gear, Callie and Jesus were jogging in the street along the curb. Their plan was to run to Anchor Beach and back.
"So," Jesus panted as he pushed himself to keep up, "Do you plan on joining the track team or something? Why are we running?"
"Too much energy," Callie answered, keeping her eyes ahead as her feet hit the pavement, "Too many thoughts."
"About?"
Callie thought for a minute, "Why did you lie for Mariana? About the pills?"
Jesus pushed his hair out of his face as he continued to jog, "She was all scared and I felt bad, I guess."
"Didn't you think your moms should have known the truth?"
Jesus shrugged, "Well, yeah. I wish things hadn't gone down the way they did. Why are you asking me about this?"
"My trial," Callie gasped out as she attempted to get air in her lungs, "I have to decide whether or not I lie and possibly put Liam in jail or tell the truth and let him get off free." They finally reached the school and slowed down to a walk as they headed towards the beach. Jesus took off his sneakers and socks, leaving them on a nearby bench and Callie followed suit. They walked into the water until it reached almost their knees and stopped to cool off.
"If I learned anything with Ana," Jesus said as he wet his hand and ran it through his hair, "It's that lying just isn't worth it. One lie and you're pretty much fucked."
Callie gave him a look, "That was very profound." Jesus pushed her into the water and made a break for the sand, laughing manically the entire way. Callie got to her feet, completely wet, "Jesus! I'm going to kill you!"
Jude carried a stack of dishes over to the table from the cabinet. Lena was draining pasta in the sink and he was helping by setting the table. He looked at her from the corner of his eye and went about putting a plate down for each of the seven family members.
"Lena?"
"Yes?
"Will you and Stef ever get married?"
Lena placed the colander in the sink and turned around, resting her hip against the counter, "I would like to, one day. What do you think?"
"I think you guys should totally get married!" Jude answered, eyes bright with excitement at the idea, "It would be so much fun. And you would get to wear a pretty dress and make-up…"
"Are we talking about a wedding?" Mariana asked, coming into the kitchen, all ears as she sat down on a stool.
Lena rolled her eyes playfully, "That is some hearing you have, Miss Thing. Jude and I were just talking about Mom and me possibly getting married…"
"You and Mom are getting married?" Brandon asked as he entered the house, home from his piano lesson, "When?"
Lena looked at Jude, "Do you see this?" She turned to Mariana and Brandon, "I'm just thinking about it. Nothing's set in stone." The back door opened and in came Jesus holding Callie piggy-back style, both teens completely soaked in ocean water.
"Ew, did you guys really sweat that much?" Mariana asked, taking in her siblings' appearance.
Jesus put Callie down and walked over to his twin, "Totally. Take a whiff." Mariana shrieked and darted to the other side of the room.
"How was you run?" Brandon asked, taking a seat at the table.
Callie glanced at Jesus, "It was informative. I'm gonna go change before we eat." She headed towards the staircase.
The back door opened yet again and in came Stef, eyebrows raised in suspicion, "Anyone care to tell me why there are puddles on the floor?"
"It's Jesus' fault!" Callie shouted down.
"Is not!"
Stef greeted Lena with a kiss, "We are running a mad-house, I see."
"Do you expect anything less?" Lena teased.
"Is the food almost done?" Jude asked, looking over at the stove. Lena walked over to lower the fire underneath the pot.
"Yes, Hungry Boy. Brandon, can you get glasses please? Mariana, water?"
"I'm going to go change," Stef announced. She gave Jesus the once over, "I think you should, too."
Jesus grinned and flexed his biceps, "You don't like the au natural vibe?"
Stef rolled her eyes and swatted his arm, "Change. Now."
Callie peeled off her water soaked running attire and threw on some leggings and a sweatshirt in its place. She would definitely need to take a shower before bed tonight. She released her hair from its ponytail and shook it out, the strands curling from being exposed to ocean water. She headed for the stairs and was almost down them all when the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" she called to whoever would listen as she descended the last few steps and opened the door. Her eyebrows furrowed when she registered who it was.
"Bill? What….what's going on?"
The man looked apologetic and uncomfortable, "Callie…"
Adelaide stepped out from behind Bill and walked up to the teen, "I'm here for Jude."
OH SNAP!
Midterms are done! Yay! Senior year, boy. Stressful! I applied to nine colleges, got into one and have had two interviews so far with one coming up next week. Muy cray.
Please review! I would LOVE 150 reviews. I'm a bit OCD so I like numbers that end in 0 or 5…
Feed into the disease, darlings. Hit that review button.
-Liv