Chapter 12.

"Brandon," said Callie, once she reached him on her phone. "It's me. Can you please come pick me up?"

"Sure," he replied. "I told you I would. I'll be right there."

"But the thing is," Callie admitted, sheepishly. "I'm not at the counseling center."

"Then where are you?" Brandon asked, confused.

She sighed before answering. "I really don't know. I saw Liam waiting outside the center. I got scared and ran off. He was waiting for me, Brandon. I didn't know what to do."

Damn Liam, Brandon thought to himself. "I'll be there to get you, Cal. But first I need to figure out where 'there' is. Describe what you see."

Callie paused to take in her surroundings. "Well," she began. "There's an intersection, and a huge Catholic church. On the other side of the street is a coffee shop and a movie theater."

"Okay," he replied, trying to mentally place those landmarks. "What are the street names at the intersection?"

Callie read the street signs to him. "So?" She asked hopefully. "Do you know where I am?"

"Yeah," Brandon told her. "I think so. I'm on my way, Sweets. You should go in the coffee shop to wait."

"I will," she promised. "See you soon." Once they hung up, Callie went into the cafe as Brandon told her, and ordered a vanilla latte. She went to a corner table, and sat down. As she stared into her cup, she began to cry, quietly, to herself. She wished Liam would just drop off the face of the Earth, so she could get on with her life. Eventually, she saw Brandon walk in the door and look around for her. She hopped up and waved him over. "You're here!" She breathed a sigh of relief.

He grabbed her in a brief hug, not daring to linger with his arms around her in public. "Come on. Let's go home." Once they were in their car, driving back to the house, he glanced at her, placing his hand on her knee. "You've been crying."

She nodded. "Yeah." She pressed her fingers to her forehead. "Um... there's something I didn't tell you."

"Hmm?" Brandon asked. His eyes were trained on the road, but he rubbed her leg so she'd know she had his attention.

"Liam sent me another text before group. He said he'd see me there." She glanced at Brandon, waiting for him to reply.

"Oh, Cal. I wish you'd told me," he sighed. "I would've walked you in."

"I was scared. He's my problem. I don't want him to hurt you, or anyone else in the family."

Brandon grabbed her hand, holding it in his. "You don't have to deal with your problems alone, Sweets. I really think you should tell my mom about Liam."

"I'm afraid," she replied.

"I know," he told her. "But will you think about it, at least? For me?"

Callie nodded, as they pulled into the driveway. "I guess so. Yeah."

They came through the kitchen door to find Stef sitting at the table. "Hey," Callie said, trying to sound casual as she breezed by.

"Hold it," he foster mother called after her. "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

Callie shrugged. "No."

Stef shook her head. "Wrong answer, sister." She studied Callie's face intently, her green eyes so much like Brandon's. "I know you cut group today." She turned to her son. "Did you have anything to do with this, B.?"

"No. He didn't!" Callie insisted. "He just dropped me off and picked me up. I swear!"

"Okay," Stef said, turning back to Callie. "Come with me to your room, my dear. We need to have a talk."

Callie followed her foster mother upstairs, her heart pounding with anxiety. Stef shut the door tight behind them. "Why would you skip group?" She asked immediately. "You know it's not optional. It's court-ordered."

Callie felt tears sting her eyes, but managed to hold them back. "I'll start packing," she sighed.

"Pack for what?"

"I'm going back to juvie, aren't I?" Callie asked.

Stef's heart softened as she looked into her foster daughter's face, a curtain of chestnut hair hanging in her eyes. She reached out to push the lock of hair behind her ear, and Callie flinched. "You thought I was going to hit you," Stef breathed. "Sweetheart, I'd never hit you."

"Sorry," Callie mumbled. "Force of habit."

Stef felt her anger slip away. She'd never forget the teenage girl's eyes, frightened of being struck. "I know you've lived in other homes where hitting was used as a punishment, but we don't hit kids here," she told her. "No one will ever hurt you in this house, Callie. I was only gonna push your hair back so I can see your pretty eyes. Here." She picked up a hairbrush from the dresser and stood behind her, brushing her hair with long strokes. "You're not going back to juvie, Honey. I covered for you. Told them you were sick."

"Really?" Callie asked, overjoyed. No one had ever done anything like that for her. Ever. Any other foster parents she'd lived with wouldn't have even tried to protect her.

Stef nodded. "I saved your butt this time, kiddo. But I won't do it again, okay?" She continued pulling the brush through Callie's hair until it shone, then she tied it into a ponytail. "There. You're a beautiful girl, Cal. You're very special. And I will not give up on you. I want you to succeed in life. Now, I know life's never been easy for you, but if you want to turn things around, you have to follow through with the terms of your probation." She took Callie's hand and led her to the bed. "Come here and sit down." She patted a spot on the bedspread. "I was worried when I got a call saying you didn't go to group. I want to know where you were, and why."

When Callie caught Stef's eyes, so disappointed with her, she let her tears fall. "I just hung around town," she admitted. "But I can't tell you why. Just that... I had a really good reason. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

"No, it won't," Stef replied. "because I'm going to personally escort you to group next week, and you're grounded for two weeks. I'm only punishing you because I care." She patted Callie's small hand. "I wish you'd let me in, Honey. No one can help you unless you let them. Did something happen at group? Someone being mean to you?" When her foster daughter didn't answer, she squeezed her shoulder. "When you're ready to talk, I'll be there to listen."

It would've been a great time to say those three little words. Stef protected her when she did something wrong, and she wasn't sending her away. She cared. Callie could just tell her how much she loved her. She looked to her foster mother, opening her mouth, ready to speak. "Stef... I lo-" Her tongue stuck on the words. "I Like my hair this way."

Stef smiled, knowingly. "I love you too, Callie."

That evening, after dinner, Brandon came into Callie and Mariana's room. Callie was sprawled on her bed, doing her homework. Mariana was reading a magazine and crunching potato chips. He crossed the room and sat down next to Callie. She looked up at him and smiled. "So," he teased. "I was promised some kisses?"

Callie sat up. "I might be able to help you with that." She wrapped her arms around Brandon's neck, and he pulled her into a long kiss. "Here. Lay down with me." She lifted the edge of her comforter, and Brandon snuggled under it with her, their lips meeting over and over in frantic kisses. Their make-out session quickly grew heated, Brandon's hands finding her breasts under the covers. Callie was getting turned on, and she knew Brandon was too, because she could feel him, hard against her leg. She gripped him through his pants, and he bit back a moan. "Is that a pistol in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?" She whispered. Brandon laughed and tickled her ribs, making her giggle as he kissed her swollen lips.

"Guys," Mariana groaned. "I'm trying to eat over here."

Callie turned to her foster sister. "Sorry," she apologized. She'd almost forgotten there was someone else in the room. She turned back to Brandon. "You better go now... it's getting late."

Brandon nodded. "Yeah. I think I'm gonna go take a cold shower." He winked at Callie, then gave her another kiss. "Goodnight, Cal. I love you."

"Goodnight." She pulled him down to her level and pressed her lips to his one more time. "I love you, Brandon." Once he was gone, she sat up, fixing her comforter. "Thanks, Mariana," she said. "For being so cool about me and Brandon."

Mariana shrugged. "I don't mind. I just hope that someday, I find someone who looks at me the way he looks at you."

To Be Continued