Author's note: I want this to be as accurate as possible, so from now it will follow the show's dialogue, but only what Callie can see and hear. I've also added a couple embellishments, like what Jude says to her on the phone. Please review! I'll be updating every day, and reviews make me really happy. I'd love to know whether you think the story is still interesting now that we're in the show's territory.
It seems strange that the buzzing sound that lets you out of the facility is the same one you hear when you go in. It feels like it should be different. Like instead of a locking sound, it should be a pleasant female voice saying "Access Granted," or, "Congratulations," or maybe just a freaking Hallelujah chorus.
It's not that I feel like celebrating. It just feels like they're saying it's the same thing, going into jail and coming out of it. Really, there's nothing more different in the world.
The sun hits my eyes so brightly, bouncing off the hoods of parked cars that I have to squint to see anything. The world feels so surreal.
Underneath the smarting pain in my ribs, I feel panic rising. I don't see Bill. He's supposed to be here. Where is he? Where is anyone?
"Callie!" A man, not Bill, rushes over to me, and his voice is far too happy for my mood and my headache.
"Callie, hi, I'm David, I work with Bill over at Child Protective Services."
What? This makes no sense. Why would they send a new case worker?
"Where's Jude? Do you know where he is?" I don't know whether to hope that he's in a new foster home so Frank can't hurt him, or to hope that he hasn't moved so that I know where to find him.
"I don't—I don't know…" David stammers, looking uncertain. Why did they send this guy? Bill would know where Jude is. Where the hell is he?
"Bill—I need to speak to him—Where's Bill, why isn't Bill here?" I ask. Something isn't right.
"We'll have to talk about that later," David says. He's not meeting me in the eye.
Oh no. No, no, no. What if they gave me a new caseworker? If Jude and I have different caseworkers…are they trying to split us up?
"I just, I don't understand why I can't talk to Jude," I press, feeling panic rising in my chest. I have to find him, I have to.
"Um, that's enough, I don't know what you're talking about." Now I'm sure he's hiding something. For the first time I notice that there's a woman standing nearby. I thought that they'd be putting me back with Frank. With Jude.
They really are trying to split us up. I think I might just break down and cry. If I don't have Jude, I don't have anyone.
"Callie, this is Lena. Lena, Callie."
Lena smiles at me. She's pretty, with light brown skin and unruly hair she has tied in a sort of bun on top of her head. I can't stand that smile, though; it feels so misplaced when everything is falling apart around me. I just stare at her. She doesn't look violent. I wonder if David is trying to shut me up because he's afraid she won't take me if she knows I have siblings. He's probably right. I shut up. She must notice my silence because the smile slips off her face.
David notices too. He looks at Lena. "I guess I could take her to one of the group homes."
No. Oh my God, no. Group homes are just Juvie without the protection of the guards. My injuries scream at me as I imagine them magnified once, twice, a thousand times; years of beatings ahead. My eyes fill with tears and I look at Lena, hoping desperately that she'll see how much I want her to take me home with her.
I think she does, because she says, "It's just for a few weeks, right?"
The feeling of relief rushes through me, loosening the knot in my chest. A tiny part of my brain registers the sting those words caused. But beggars can't be choosers, and I've just been given a reprieve.
Thank you, I try to tell her, looking in her eyes.
I think she sees it and understands, because she just takes a deep breath and says, "Okay."