AN- Thank you for reading! Reviewing! Favoriting! Putting up with the small errors that I always miss. You guys are seriously the best readers! This chapter is all Lena/Callie.. Stef and Mariana will be in the next one! :)
"I guess, I am wearing the long dress I brought" Lena mainly mumbled to herself as she looked down at her knee brace. "That way you can't see the brace."
"Are you talking to yourself?" Callie asked entering Lena's bedroom dressed in a powder blue ribbed dress with a white belt across the middle. Her normally wavy hair held extra curl from being in the braids all day and she added a simple white thin lacy cloth headband. "Oh, Cal" Lena gasped "Baby, you're so beautiful. That dress is stunning on you."
Callie blushed slight and ran her hands down the material "First time I've worn it." She nodded "Since you got it for me." The dress had been a gift from Lena to Callie on her birthday, but Lena had given it to her in private. As Stef and Lena normally did one big gift for the kids on their birthdays and they had. They'd gotten Callie a camera of her own. Which she was still talking about. However Lena and Stef had a date night the night before Callie's party and they had stopped in at the mall so Stef could pick up a new pair of running shoes. While Stef was looking at the shoe store Lena had gone to the store next door to just look around. She wasn't looking for anything, just looking. She'd wandered to the back of the clothing store and ruffled through the clearance rack. Just as she was about done and was going to meet up with Stef her hands landed on the very last dress. She pulled it off the rack and gasped. She'd fallen in love with it the minute she touched it. Not for herself though, but for Callie. It wasn't a frilly dress, it was simple. Callie would look amazing in it the shade of blue would make her tanned skin stand out. Lena glanced at the tag and saw it was in her daughter's size and the dress was only fourteen dollars. It was a steal, and meant to be.
"I love it on you" Lena nodded "Very pretty."
"I do love it" Callie said running her fingers over the soft material. She took a seat on the big bed in Lena's room "You're not dressed, and you're talking to yourself…. Should I worry?"
"I had to move the painting into my mom's closet" Lena reminded her "And, may I add talking to yourself is a sign of high intelligence."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night" Callie grinned before sticking her tongue out at her.
"Attractive" Lena rolled her eyes at her daughter. "I was just saying to myself, I think I have to wear my maxi dress" She said pointing to her knee "So the brace doesn't show."
"You'd probably feel better if it didn't show" Callie agreed "But it doesn't look bad."
"I brought two dresses, I'll wear the other one, when we go out with mom and Mariana" She said as she took the maxi dress out of her suitcase.
Callie fell backwards onto the bed and rested her hands behind her head looking up at the ceiling fan above her. While Lena stated to change. "This place is pretty. I am going to get up early tomorrow."
"You are huh?" Lena asked "A teenager on vacation, getting up early. That's new"
Callie nodded "I bet with the view your parents have here, the sunrise will be beautiful. I want to see it."
"Oh" Lena let out a content sigh at the sound of that. "I'll get up with you, we can watch it rise together. Over a cup of coffee, wrapped up in my mom's angora blankets"
"For both of us?" Callie asked sitting up slightly.
"We're on vacation" Lena smiled. She'd already changed into her dress now she was working on pinning up half of her curls.
"Wear it down" Callie told her "You're curls are so pretty."
Lena stopped messing with her curls "Are you sure, I am sure it looks pretty wild right about now. All this traveling."
"I am sure" Callie promised her "And I am starving, do we get to leave soon?"
"Just give me five more minutes, babe" Lena laughed as she headed to the bathroom to touch up her makeup.
"What are we going to do tomorrow, before Mariana and Mom get here?" Callie asked following Lena into the bathroom and hopping up onto the counter next to her. Taking Lena's makeup bag in her hands and opening it, handing her the foundation.
"Whatever you want, baby" Lena smiled at how talkative Callie was with nobody else around.
"I don't know what to do" She admitted "I mean mom and Mari are joining us tomorrow night. I want to save stuff for them."
"How about we laze around tomorrow?" Lena suggested to her. "We will hang around the house, walk down to the lake and just hang around. Hottubbing it and reading, taking pictures and save the more adventurous stuff for when mom and Mariana are here."
Callie nodded "And napping, because we are getting up early and mom is coming in late and we have to pick her up."
Lena nodded in agreement to the nap, before getting a big smile on her face as she thought of something. "My parents have some fun water toys we can bring down to the lake too. Canoe, paddle boards, a row boat, and some jet skies, I'll have to see if those have gas."
"Whoa" Callie's eyes got huge "Why don't you come up here more often?"
"We try once a summer" Lena told her "We couldn't last year and most of this summer because we'd just gotten you guys, and it's a big pain in the butt to travel out of state with foster kids." She saw Callie was about to say something so she placed her hand on her knee "None of that is your fault, it is just the way the system is set up." She explained "But one of the perks of being a foster parent is we get to go camping for free at any site. We did that instead. Until we got you both adopted. We are planning to come up next summer all together. For a big trip after you and B graduate."
"Oh" Callie nodded and took the foundation back and handed Lena her blush.
"But you, my love bug got to sneak up before everyone else. Extra bonus for you."
"Thanks for bringing me" Callie said looking through the makeup bag pulling out one of Lena's lipsticks. "Can I try this one?"
"Callie, you don't need makeup" Lena shook her head "But feel free to play with whatever I have in there."
"You don't need makeup either, mama" Callie pointed out "But sometimes it is fun to play around with it."
"Your sister would agree" Lena laughed as she took out a pretty blush that was actually Stef's. "Can I put this one on you?" She asked "I know you know how…"
Callie's eyes lit up. She did know some basic makeup tips. No that she wore it a whole lot. She's watch Mariana closely over the time they've lived together and figured somethings out, but she never had the chance to have her mom teach her.
"Nobody has ever taught me" She mumbled "I know a little bit, but if you want to, you can do some of mine."
Lena's heart jumped a little. A first with her daughter. She remembered playing around with Mariana when she turned thirteen and on special occasions letting her wear light make up. Teaching her the basics. Of course Mariana had picked it up fast and soon became more of an expect then her.
"I like that you don't wear a lot of makeup" Lena told her "You're comfortable in your skin."
"Mostly" Callie nodded "But sometime I don't want to draw attention to myself. Especially after Liam, I veered away."
Lena felt her heart slam in her chest. Her poor baby. "You're a beautiful girl, Callie Adams Foster, inside and out. Don't shy away from who you are my love, and don't ever let anyone make you feel lesser either." She tilted Callie's chin up so they could make eye contact "And you don't need to wear makeup, but sometimes it fun. Some people use it to hide, and some people don't use it to hide. I don't want you to hide in life Callie; either way."
"I am not now" Callie promised "I am okay, and sometimes makeup is fun. Though I don't want to wear it all the time. It just takes more effort and I have to get up earlier and fight Mariana for the mirror." She laughed.
"Did you bring any with you, I know your sister has given you quite a collection."
Callie laughed "Yeah, I have it with me. She packed it."
"Go get it, and I'll do some for you" Lena patted her knee "A lot of my makeup will be too dark for your skin tone. The trick to makeup is to make it look like you're wearing any at all."
Callie put Lena's makeup bag down and slid off the counter and quickly darted out of the room.
Makeup parties with your daughter, totally rite of passage. Lean thought to herself as she finished up her makeup and waited for Callie to come back.
It wasn't long before Callie came back into the bathroom and hopped back up onto the counter holding out a silver sparkly makeup bag to Lena. "Mariana made me take the bag. Bling and glitter is all her. She just extra."
Lena laughed as she opened the bag "Yes, your sister does have quite her fair share of product. Too much if you ask me. She doesn't need make up either." She opened the bag and dug through what Callie had. "You've got such great skin complexion" She told her "You really don't need much at all. I'll just show you a little" She said taking out foundation "This helps with shine, really." Lena's own make up halted as she stepped in front of her daughter and began applying light makeup and teaching her the few tricks that she knew. The act simple, but the time was priceless to both Lena and Callie.
Lena leaned back in her chair and rubbed her hand on her stomach "I am so full, why'd you let me eat the cheesecake?" She playfully grumbled to her daughter.
Callie was leaning back in her chair, her eyes out on the water as the sun was setting. The restaurant they were at was located right on a pier that looked over the water. The girls had picked to eat outside. Callie was mesmerized by the view. Lena had to remind her to eat throughout her whole meal.
Thankfully it was still warm outside as the sun was setting, in Washington a lot of the times once the sun set it became cool fast. Since it had been a warmer day it was staying warm longer, a muggy warm but still warm.
"Pretty, isn't it?" Lena asked.
Callie finally tore her eyes away from the colors painting the water. "Breathtaking, the colors, the trees reflecting on the lake."
"When we come back with mom, and Mariana we will have to make sure you bring your camera."
Callie nodded as her eyes traveled back to the water. "Yeah, but this is one of those moments, where you know you'll never capture this view as you are seeing it. Right now is the best. I am making a memory, that I'll have forever."
Lena smiled "A good one too, slug a bug." She rose to her feet. "I am going to go use the ladies room, you enjoy your view for a few minutes longer, yes baby?"
Callie nodded as her eyes went back to the water.
It wasn't a minute after Lena had left did a guy from inside the bar cross the restaurant to the outside patio and took Lena's seat.
"Beautiful view" He commented.
Callie jumped a foot at hearing a male voice from right across from her. She whipped around to come face to face with a man in is late 20's maybe early 30's. He was dressed nicely, as anyone would be if they were in this fancy of a restaurant. He was clean cut and smelled heavily of after shave and alcohol.
"Uh" Callie nodded "Yes, it's a pretty sunset."
"Sure" He nodded "But I wasn't talking about that view."
Callie's cheeks turned red quickly as she tried to not role her eyes. "Does that seriously work on women?"
"Maybe" He laughed "I've never tried it before, is it working on your pretty lady?"
Callie looked disgusted "No, it has the quite opposite effect on me, Sir. It makes me feel like my dinner is about to seen again, all over you."
"So you really are hot" He laughed "Firey hot."
Callie groaned "Look, whoever you are, go back to the bar. Your drink has gotten lonely."
"Jamee" He offered his hand out to her "My name is Jamee, and why don't you come join me at the bar, I'll buy you a drink, so my drink isn't so lonely, and what was your name gorgeous?"
"Not going to happen" Callie waved him off with her hand. "Did you not see the sweater on the back of the chair you sat down at? I am not here alone."
"I know" He winked "You're here with the smoking hot lady with the curls."
Callie visibly winced at that. "You're such a pig."
"You don't like your friend?" He said ticking his tongue against his teeth. "Shame."
"She's not my friend!" Callie snapped "She's my mom."
"You expect me to believe, that hot babe is your mom?" He laughed "Classic."
"She is" Callie insisted "And you need to leave before she gets back."
"Baby doll, you don't gotta be so cold" He said leaning back in Lena's seat grabbing her glass of wine and sipping from it, while Callie looked horrified. "If you don't want to have a drink with me, I'll try your hot friend."
Callie shook her head "She's my mom!"
"You two don't look anything a like, you're white hottie and she's a…."
"Don't you DARE finish that statement" Callie said raising to her feet and ripping her mother's wine glass from his hand forcefully, accidentally spilling some on him.
"HEY!" He yelled standing up quickly "This an expensive shirt"
"Why don't you take your expensive shirt, back to the bar and have a good cry about it there" Callie pointed. "Now."
"Excuse me, is there a problem here?" Lena demanded as she came rushing to the table after hearing Callie's raised voice. She couldn't understand why no wait staff had come over at the commotion.
"Yeah, she just ruined my shirt" He yelled.
"The question is, why are you at the same table as my seventeen year old daughter?" Lena demanded as now the manager came from the back to assess the situation.
"Seventeen?" He gasped "She never told me she was a seventeen year old child. Little slut was flirting with me."
Lena's jaw tightened. For a brief second she thought about slugging this guy.
"I was not!" Callie defended herself. "I told you to leave, several times and I told you my mother would be right back."
"You're just too drunk to get the hint" Callie glared "You need to go home sir, and sleep it off. And don't you dare think of driving."
"Callie, don't talk to him" Lena told her firmly as she held up her finger at her daughter. "You need to get this man away from my daughter and me, now." Lena said calmly to the manager.
"Yes, ma'am" The manager said placing his hand on the man's shoulder. "Jamee, you've had too much to drink tonight. I am calling you a cab" He said pushing him back.
"The girl was flirting with me, I had no clue she was seventeen."
"Go" The manager said more forcefully pushing Jamee away from the table.
"Ma'am I am really sorry about this" He said calmly "Don't worry about your bill tonight, it is on us." He nodded "If you wanted to get your daughter and leave now. We'd understand."
Lena shook her head "How about banning this guy from your bar" Lena grumbled as she grabbed her sweater.
"What about my shirt?!" Jamee yelled "The little girl ruined my shirt."
"Jamee, you're already on probation, if the cops show up and find you've been talking to a seventeen year old…" He left the statement un-ended.
Chills ran down Lena's spine. She quickly grabbed her daughter's arm and pulled her to her side. "I hope you'll consider banning this gentleman from your fine establishment." She then practically drug her daughter out. She didn't stop moving until they were outside. "Are you okay, I am sorry I left you."
"I am seventeen" Callie grumbled "You can pee in peace."
Lena grabbed Callie's face in her hands and used the pads of her thumbs to rub the girl's cheeks softly. "Do you want to talk?"
"I didn't flirt with him!"
"I know" Lena promised her. "He had no right to talk to you like that. He had no right to look at you like you were a piece of meat. He was wrong."
Callie nodded "He was watching us all night. He knew you. He talked about you too. That made me mad."
Lena pulled Callie into her arms and held her tightly "I know baby, I know how that feels. He made me mad when he talked about you."
"People aren't just sex objects!" Lena looked around as Callie exclaimed that while two people stopped to stare. "You're right' She said softly as she tugged gently on Callie's hair "And that man was wrong to flirt with you like that, and to not leave you alone. If that ever happens again, you need to get help Callie. Promise me, you'll get help. You don't have to handle these things alone."
"I was handling it, just fine" Callie said pulling away from her. "Don't judge me on how I was handling myself. I am not a baby."
"I am not judging you" Lena shook her head "I came back to you arguing with him, it might have been easier to just get help?"
"From where?" Callie demanded "All the people that rushed to help in the first place? No. Sometimes in this world you just need to handle them yourself. I was fine. I didn't need saving."
"Callie" She started to say
"No" She held up her hand "I didn't do anything wrong! He did. You won't make me feel guilty."
Lena groaned "You're so much like your mother at times, its funny."
"Good" Callie grumbled "At least she knows how to take care of herself."
"What does that mean?" Lena demanded standing in front of her.
"Nothing, it means nothing" She wrapped her arms around her self and shut her eyes for a minute "Can we just go back to the house, I am tired. I want to go to bed."
"Callie, I feel like we should talk about what happened, tonight" Lena said softly as she reached out to touch her arm.
"Well, I don't!" Callie jerked away from her. "I just want to go to bed."
Lena sighed "You're upset, I really want to talk it out with you."
"I really want to go to bed!" Callie snapped.
Lena held up her hands "That may not be a bad idea, you're obviously tired." She said as she headed to the car. "We can do hot tub and stars tomorrow night" She said trying not to sound to disappointed.
"Don't let me stop you from the hot tub" Callie mumbled as she shot an angry glance back at the restaurant and then to Lena "And if you want to come here with mom and Mariana, don't count on me joining you!"
Lena decided it was best to not say anything right now. She knew Callie was mad, and deep in her heart she knew she wasn't mad at her. She was mat the situation. She was mad that even on a vacation people can show you their ugly side.
Lena slid into the driver seat and started the car. "I do love you" She said quietly "And I am here, if you do feel like talking."
Callie rested her head on the window and watched cars around her as Lena pulled out. She was quiet for a good few minutes. "I love you too" She said quietly. After that the two were left to their own thoughts as Lena drove back to her parents house.