"I don't really want to go." Taylor muttered. Lena, Lexi, Mariana and Taylor were all supposed to go get Mariana's quinceanera dress fitted that day. "What?" Mariana was clearly hurt. "Are you sick. You haven't really eaten the last few days." Lena and Stef had been trying to figure out what had been wrong with Taylor for a week, she wouldn't eat much, she had been in her room almost all the time unless Mariana was in there and then she went out back. And most of all she kept giving everyone except Callie and Jude the cold shoulder. "Uh I guess so." Taylor turned to the sink and threw her almost full bowl of food in. "Can I go up stairs?" Mariana had already left the room, "Can you come? I don't know what's wrong with you, is it because of Brandon or what? I've been covering for you at school and with Stef, you've been ignoring Jesus when he asks you to go out and now this with Mariana. It's not you against us." Lena sighed, "please just come." Taylor shook her head, "I have homework, plus I don't feel well ." She was lying. She hadn't even gone to her classes Friday. What Lena had said was mostly truth but one thing it was them against her. It was them, against her, Callie and Jude. "Callie's playing guitar so you may want to stay down here." Lena finally caved.
"Callie, hey can we talk." Taylor walked into their room and fell onto her bed. "I think they're onto me. In fact to quote Lena "it's not them against me." Plus skipping my classes on Friday wasn't a good thing to do." Callie stopped playing, "you did what? Showing them it was them against us is one thing. Proving that we aren't going to pretend we were theirs was one thing but I can't do anything that would get Jude and I kicked out!" Taylor sat up, "that's why I did it. They have no where to send me plus they don't even know your in on this. I have the final step to the plan thought up." Callie sighed maybe this hadn't been that great an idea, "okay go over the whole thing." Taylor smiled, "well, give the, the cold shoulder, make them realize that we aren't theirs and they can't teat us like that because it would hurt more when they get rid of us. But we don't do anything stupid to get us kicked out. And then the last step happenes in two years, I was thinking that you would be eighteen and could adopt Jude and I could come live with you two. Just until I was old enough to be out on my own? The three of us we could be a family, or at least sorta." Taylor stopped realizing Callie didn't seem that enthusiastic. "Do you really think they would just let you leave then, you'll be almost seventeen right?" Callie saw Taylor stop smiling, "but we have a few years to figure it all out." Callie saw Taylor have the smallest smile twitch across her face.
"Why didn't she want to come? She keeps leaving the room whenever I'm around." Mariana was still hurt by this morning with Taylor. Lena kept looking straight ahead knowing that she couldn't bear to see the tears in Mariana's eyes, "I think she may be still really hurt over everything with Brandon and is just holding the grudge against all of us." Marian shook her head no, "she told everyone that it was fine after Brandon apologized. That it hurt but anger had gotten the best of her once or twice." Lena leaned back in her seat, "maybe." Mariana looked at her mom, "what was Brandon's punishment anyways?" Lena took a breath "not your worry."
Mariana was being fit for her dress when the lady mentioned something about the father daughter dance, Lexi said how Mariana was going to dance with her moms as in plural. "Oh an uncle or family friend would do." The lady mentioned. Mariana looked to her mom who didn't seem to be affected by the commet. "It's perfect!" Lexi exclaimed, Mariana smiled and agreed "yeah it is!" She had been so excited for her fifthteenth birthday for a really long time. She had never even thought about the father daughter dance.
Callie was sitting on her bed playing guitar, Jude was sitting on the floor of the girls room doing homework and Taylor had just woken up from a nap. "hey Callie, do you mind playing a certain song I know?" Taylor didn't know how Callie knew to play guitar or how well but she decided to ask today. Callie nodded, "sure. Ill try." Taylor smiled, "here's a little something the two of you didn't know I love signing. You ready to here a dying peacock sing?" Jude laughed and nodded, "okay. Callie it's called warrior by Demi lovato." Taylor loved the song and it was perfect for right now. Callie smiled "I've heard of it" Taylor took a breath, it had been so long from the last time she had sung, "this is a story that I've never told..." She took a breath and waited, " all the pain and the truth I wear like a battle wound, so ashamed and confused, I was broken and bruised, now I'm a warrior now I've got thicker skin, im a warrior, I'm stronger than I've ever been and my armor is made of steel, you can't get in. I'm a warrior and you can never hurt me again." Callie stopped playing and Jude smiled, "a dying peacock really? Your really good!" Callie laughed. Taylor stopped, "I've never heard you laugh like that. Cool." Callie laughed again, causing Taylor and Jude to burst into giggles also.
When the three kids had contained their laughter Jude spoke first, "are you sure you want to cold shoulder Stef and Lena like that Taylor?" Both Taylor and Callie stopped, they hadn't told Jude the plan. "What?" Taylor spat. "They really like all three of us that's all." Jude was still looking at Taylor, "I know." Taylor whispered.
"So Callie I was wondering if you wanted to be in my court for Saturday." Mariana asked, Callie and Mariana were finally on neutral ground. "Uh sure." Callie wasn't sure what it meant to be on the court. "That sounds like a great idea Mariana!" Stef smiled. "Mhmm," Lena smiled at the two girls, "we'll just have to get you your gown before Saturday." Jude laughed, "you have to wear a gown!" He hadn't seen his sister in a dress that he could remember that she wanted to. "Great." Callie grimimced. Taylor walked in to grab some food. "Taylor is your dress already for Saturday?" Stef asked, she looked at the girl wearing baggy sweatpants and a tank top that made it look as if Taylor had just gotten out of bed. "Uh yeah." Taylor had completely forgotten about the party. "Can't wait." Taylor had done an okay job hiding the sarcasm and only Stef heard it.
"Can I go out back before bed? Taylor asked after another dinner of not eating "I guess so. Be in soon though." Stef replied. "Callie you want to come?" Callie nodded, "I'm gonna go grab my guitar." The two sat out in the back yard staring at the stars and singing the same song as earlier the song seemed to be an anthem between the two. When they hard the door open they stopped. "In to Ned girls, we've got a big party tomorrow. Uh Taylor wait out here." Lena said. Taylor looked at Callie and mouthed the words "help!" As she dramaticly rolled her eyes.
"Taylor, what's wrong with you? You don't eat, you don't talk. Please tell us." Lena's calming voice almost made Taylor fall to pieces. "Nothing." Taylor pulled her hair into her face. "Taylor, you're even ignoring Mariana now." Lena had hopped this would hit a nerve, Taylor didn't flinch. Stef began to speak, "about the incident with Brandon, we've decided that we were going to check with you but thought of having him move in with his dad for awhile so everything can cool off. He already has agreed to do anything to gain back your trust and wants to be your big brother again..." Taylor cut Stef off, "I don't care what you do to him alright!? And he's not my big brother, you guys aren't even my family so stop acting like you are!" Taylor stood and started to walk into the house she turned around. "It's family against the strays it always has been. Night we have a party in the morning." Taylor sighed and fell asleep on the couch not being able to talk to Mariana tonight.
"Maybe you should stop with this." Callie was zipping up the back of Taylors dress. "Why?" Taylor had kept her cool last night. "It seems to have a big effect on you, plus I mean sure it's not forever but having a family while you can is worth it isn't it?" Callie turned around so that Taylor could zip her dress. "Besides," Callie continued, "It seems to be hurting them, didn't you see Stef last night, she sat there and watched you lie on the couch, she kept trying to figure out what was wrong. "I heard her talking to Lena, they think you've been talking to your parents or something. Or maybe worse. Their worried." Callie whispered. Taylor stopped for a minute and turned Callie around, "I haven't talked to them. Besides what would that have to do with anything. Besides like I said, them against me." Taylor finished zipping up Callies dress and left the room. "I'm not stopping." Callie sighed.
The downstairs was buzzing with excitement. Mariana was in the bathroom finishing up her hair. Lena was doing last minute planning. Stef and the two boys were bringing party favors out to the car. Jude was with Mariana, "Thanks Jude, needed someone to tell me what it looked like." Mariana looked in the mirror and began to mutter under her breath, "Because apparently somebodys too cool to. But she won't even come today." Mariana sighed. Jude tapped her shoulder and then walked out right as Taylor walked in. "You look amazing." Taylor stood in the doorway and looked behind her to make sure no one else was there. Mariana smiled, "Thanks. Glad you're feeling better and can come today. Wouldn't want you to miss it." Mariana was giving Taylor the benefit of the doubt and tried to believe she really had been sick. Taylor left Mariana standing there in thought and joined the rest of the family in the car.
"Mariana's gonna take so long she's going to miss her own party." Jesus sarcastically said. As if on cue Mariana came out and the family went out to the party.
"Brandon, can I talk to you when we get there?" Brandon had barely heard the whisper but knew that it wasn't his imagination when he saw Taylor looking at him waiting for a reply. "Sure." He smiled and she looked away. He never expected Taylor to forgive him this quickly, or ever but was glad she wanted to talk.
Authors note: Sorry I split the party into two parts but I felt like there was so much before the party and so much during the party I wanted to capture. Next chapter soon. Sorry it took so long for this one.