AN: Heads up - you do NOT want to look up the movie Jesus talks about! DO NOT WATCH IT! It's horrible, disgusting and sick and it gives people nightmares!
Stef POV
December 21st
"Who's ready for a movie!?" I asked cheerful as I turned to all of the kids in the backseat
"We are!" The four oldest kids called back at the same time
Today was the last day of the school before Christmas holidays. Lena and I decided that we could use a little family outing. Going to movie together sounded like a great plan. We hadn't done that in a while. Usually we just bought a DVD and watched the movie at home, but this time, we decided to change it up a bit. All the kids, excluding Frankie, who hasn't even started kindergarten yet, did very well at school, so we figured this could be a nice praise for all of their hard work that they had put into this school semester. My mom came to visit for holidays and as of right now, she is babysitting Frankie at home. She is enjoying the one on one time she gets to have with her youngest granddaughter.
"Well, have you decided what movie you want to watch?" Lena asked them, as she turned in her seat to the kids
"Twilight!" Mariana called out first "I loved the first parts!"
"Nah! That movie is for girls!" Jesus replied to his twin dismissing her idea at once "I wanna watch The Human Centipede 2! Damian's older brother watched it with his friends. We were told that it was sick!" Jesus sounded way too excited about seeing the movie
"No!" Lena and I both call out quickly at Jesus movies choice
"What's that?" Jude asked curiously, having no idea
"Is that that a comedy?" Mariana asked not knowing
"I've never heard of it," Brandon added quietly from his seat in the far back
I silently was glad that none of our other kids seemed to know about the movie. And thank god for that! I don't want my kids knowing about that movie. It truly is a sick piece and not in nice way – sick. It's truly, honestly sick movie and it's very disturbing. Very! That movie could give nightmare to adults for weeks, not to even mention kids.
"Why not?" Jesus asked us back, not liking that we said no
"That movie is not for kids," Lena explained calmly to Jesus
"I'm not a kid anymore!" Jesus argued back in a very serious manner "I'm 13! Almost an adult!"
"Jesus, it's a scary movie. We wouldn't want to scare your siblings, do we?" I tried a different approach
"Everyone else can go to the stupid vampire movie. Mom, you and I could go to Human Cent-"
"That's not going to happen, bud!" I shook my head. He will watch that movie only over my dead body. Lena gave him a warning look for using bad language.
"But-" Jesus tried to argue back
"No!" I put my foot down "Jesus, you don't want to argue with me!" I gave him a little warning "Besides, we need a movie, that everyone can watch and that everyone could enjoy!"
"This day sucks!" Jesus pouted crossing his arms on his chest and sliding lower in his seat, showing his dislike
"Watch your language!" Lena scolded him lightly. When Jesus didn't say anything back, Lena raised her eyebrow at him, asking him if he really wants to challenge her right now.
"I'm sorry," Jesus apologized reluctantly not really meaning it. The only reason he did apologize was because he didn't want to get into any more trouble.
"So, others...what do you wish to see?" I asked looking over to Jude and Brandon
"I don't really care. Whatever others want, I guess," Brandon said with a small shoulder shrug "Twilight is fine, if Mariana wants to see it!" He sounded like a true big brother, allowing his younger siblings to chose the movie
"Jude, what about you buddy? Do you want to see any movie in particular?" Lena asked looking at our youngest boy, who sat in the far back, with Brandon
"I heard some kids talking in my class, that the Muppet is good," Jude said warily, glancing to Jesus. I could tell he didn't want Jesus to call him out calling him a baby for it. But Jesus didn't care. He was too busy pouting about the fact Lena and I won't allow him to see his movie of choice.
"That's the one about the toys?" I asked the kids "Kermit the frog?"
Mariana, Brandon and Jude all nodded their heads back, knowing about the movie. Jesus, still upset that we won't go see the movie he wanted to see, didn't say anything, nor did he move a muscle.
"That movie could be fun," I turn to Lena "I think I read somewhere that it was good!"
"I love the Muppet's!" Lena added with a smile, but then turned to Mariana "What do you think about Muppet's, honey?"
"That's the one Lexi went to last week! She said she liked it!" Mariana said back sitting up straighter in her seat
"So, that's a yes, then?" Lena asked to clarify. The girl nodded her head back.
"Brandon? Jesus?" I looked over to the two boys, who hadn't said anything yet
Brandon showed thumbs up, but Jesus muttered something under his nose, that sounded a lot like "Fine...whatever!"
"The Muppet it is!" I concluded
"Mari! Use your seat belt, please!" Lena reminded the young girl as she pulled her own seat belt over. Mariana instantly reached for the seat belt to pull it over "Boys, are you all buckled up?" I called looking in the rear view mirror to the boys
"Yes, mom!" Came a reply from Jude
"Okay, then we are on our way!" I said with a smile on my lips, glancing to Lena, as I turn the key in the ignition
When we all stood in the line. Mariana walked to stand next to me and reminded me "We need to get seats in the middle. Not too low, because I don't want to hold my head up all time. That could hurt our necks! But not too high either. I don't want to be too far away! In the middle. Preferably the 10th row…in the-"
"Middle!" I finished for Mari "Yes, I know honey. So we would be looking straight to the middle of the screen, not from a side!"
"Mama!" I hear Jude's small voice and glance over my shoulder to the young boy
"Yes, Jude?" Lena asked back running her fingers fondly through the young boys hair
"Could we get popcorn? Please?" Jude asked, when I turned to see my family that stood little behind me "It's no movie without popcorn. That's mom's rule!" Jude added glancing back to me. Lena and I both chuckle.
"If we get popcorn, can we buy coca-cola too?" Brandon added, spark in his eyes. It was rare that Lena allows them to eat junk food and sugar filled drinks. Lena tries to give as healthy food to our kids as possible. This could be one of the rare moments, where Lena would allow it.
I glanced to Lena. We know how these things go. There is a big chance that the popcorn will be scattered though out the kids laps or that at least one drink would be spilled during the movie.
Last time we went to movie theater, Jesus spilled his drink all over himself, when he reached for Mariana's sweet popcorn. Mariana didn't want to give it to him, so she moved her popcorn further from him, but Jesus reached as far as he could. He ended up spilling the drink on his pants. I took him to bathroom to try and dry the clothes a little, but when we returned, we had missed a big part of the movie and, Jude had managed to pour his popcorn all around his seat, his lap and on the ground. Money well spent!
Lena and I had a silent conversation with our eyes before I looked around to the kids "Okay, but I don't want what happened last time to happen today okay. I want no spilled drinks, no popcorn on ground, no complain that the popcorn is too sweet or too salty or too crunchy or not enough crunchy-"
"Honey, they can't promise that!" Lena said placing her hands on Jude's shoulders
"That's a yes then?" Brandon asked hopeful
"Yes," Lena and I say together. Huge smiles appear on the kids faces, Mariana even did a little jump.
"Can I get some popcorn as well?" Jesus spoke up quietly, thinking because of what happened in the car, we would not allow it
"Of course!" I told him with a smile. Jesus relaxed once he heard my answer.
"Can we go buy it now?" Mariana asked eager to get her hands on the surgery drinks and popcorn
"We need to get the tickets first," I said moving one spot closer to the cash register, after one set of tickets were bought
"You could buy them, mama and us could go buy the drinks. We would save time that way!" Mariana sounded way too happy about the chance of getting sugar filled drinks
"She s right about saving time," Lena said, when she glanced at me "Till they chose what drink they want and what popcorn they want..." Lena moved her eyebrows up a bit
"You are probably right. I will buy tickets, you can take the 4 rascals to get the drinks and popcorn. I will meet you up there!"
"Good plan!" Lena said smiling and ushered the 4 kids to move out "Come on guys, lets go get the snacks!"
"Mom, remember - in the middle!" Mariana managed to remind me once again before she followed her brothers and mom away
"Yes, Mari! I know! In the middle!" I show her an OK sign and move another step closer to the cash register
Callie POV
I was sitting in Amy's car with the rest of my foster family. Aaron met us at the parking lot and got in Amy's car with us. Markus had opened the web site for the movie theater on his phone, to show me all of the movies that are playing today, so I could chose.
"Well...anything?" Aaron asked me some 5 minutes after I had started to look through the possible movie choices
"There are so many," I said as I scrolled through the choices. I tilted my head up and looked at my foster family "Why do I have to chose?" I asked and handed Markus back his phone
My social worker was the one that decided where I would live next. But in the previous foster homes, I was never given the chance to chose anything. Everything was chosen for me. I had no say, what so ever. Not to mention, no one had ever taken me to movies, expect for Liam, but I don't want to remember that. In Juvie I had to follow a schedule every day I was there. I was told where to be, what to do, how to act every single day. In Juvie I had no choice at all.
"Because we promised you, Callie!" Amy said gently pushing my hand and the phone back to me "You did your part of the deal, now this is our part!"
"Maybe we can help you narrow the list down," Aaron added leaning a bit closer to me, so he could see the phones screen "Here," He points to one list "What genre you would like to see? Comedy, drama, animation, romantic, action, adventure, sc-fi…" Aaron read off just few of the choices on the list
Looking at the list, I realized that I had no idea what I want. I have been denied of my own opinion and decisions for so long that I don't even know what I like or don't like. Maybe I liked comedy, because it's light and funny, but maybe I will not understand a single joke and the happiness and cheerfulness will get on my nerves. Sc-fi – well, I'm not even sure it's what I think it is. It could be completely different thing that I have in mind. Animation – aren't those for like babies, who have short span of concentration. I used to watch animation films when I was 6. Can adults watch them as well? Do I even still like animation movie or cartoons? Drama sounds too much like my real life, filled with nothing but pain and heartache. Actions probably is filled with shooting and fast cars and different stunts. But do I like action movies - I have no idea. Adventure movie association in my mind for some reason is Moby Dick.
"Anything?" Amy asked me a minute later "Maybe watching some of the trailers will help," Amy suggested when I hadn't replied
I decided to click on the section - adventure. I clicked on the first movie that was on the list and opened the trailer. Aaron watched it with me, because he sat in the backseat along with me, but Amy and Markus only heard the sound.
"This looks okay," I comment quietly after the trailers ends
"Do you want to watch it?" Amy asked me
At first I shrugged my shoulders a little. The trailer did looked very interesting. It seemed to have some few jokes in as well. I liked the main actor that they showed. I read the description again. At least I knew what the movie was about – I knew, who Sherlock Holmes is.
"Yeah...I guess," I said not too convincing as I reread the description again
"Are you sure?" Aaron asked "If it doesn't look good to you, we don't have to go to it!"
"No," I shook my head as I looked back at Aaron "I mean…It looks okay,"
"Okay, Sherlock Holmes it is!" Aaron smiled at me. I handed Markus phone back to him, before we all got out of the car.
I follow Amy and the others inside the movie theater. We stop briefly, when we enter at the big hall, where the cash registers were.
"I will go to bathroom," Markus announced "I will meet you by the popcorn stand!" he called as he walked off. I guess Markus knew his way around the movie theater. He seemed to know where he is going.
"That line is short," Aaron points to the far one, where a group of kids and a woman with black, curly hair walked away from
My heart suddenly beat faster and I gasped. I had to do a double look, because for a moment I thought I had seen Jude.
In the small group of kids, that walked with the woman with the crazy curly hair, there was a boy, that looked to be around Jude's age, brown hair. I didn't get to see his face, I only saw his back as he walked away. As I tried to catch a glimpse of his face, I held my breath. I walked few steps forward and to the side, trying to get into an angle where I could see it. Right now, I was behind him.
I squeezed pass few people as I tried to follow the group of people where I had seen Jude. For a second I lost sight of him, but I saw the group once I had squeezed pass a group of teenage girls. My heart had never beat so fast in my chest.
"Callie!" I hear Amy call my name. I briefly look back at her. That's when I realize that I had wandered a bit away from my foster family. When I looked back at the stairs, I lost the boy and the group of people he was with, in the crowd. I didn't get a look on his face.
"Where are you going?" Amy caught up with me "Everything okay?" she asked as she looked straight to my eyes. Aaron walked up as well.
"Yeah...everything's fine," I brushed it off and glanced to the stairs one more time, hoping I could see the boy
"You sure?" Amy asked. When I looked back at her, Amy glanced to the stairs as well, trying to see whatever I was looking for.
It was probably not Jude. Just some other boy, that looked similar to him. I saw things that weren't there. What are the chances that we would be in the same part of city, same movie theater, in the same time? Slim to none.
I let out the breath that I was holding and look Amy and Aaron "Sorry..." I apologize for wandering off
"Okay, well, let's go!" Amy said nudging me to walk. I follow Aaron and Amy to the line and stand with them behind some blond haired woman.
"Stef?" Amy asked trying to have a better look on the woman in front of her, the moment we stood in the line
The lady turned around with a surprised look on her face "Amy! Hey! What are you doing here?" She sounded excited to see Amy
"Family movie time!" Amy announced happily looking back to me and Aaron "Aaron, this is my partner Stefanie!"
"Oh!" Aaron stepped forward and extended his arm to Stefanie "It's nice to finally add face to the name!"
"Pleasure to meet you as well!" Stefanie shook his hand back, with a smile on her face "And, please, it's Stef. My mother is the only one who calls me by my full name!"
"This is one of my kids - " Amy turned to me and introduced me to her partner "Callie!" I was surprised that Amy didn't call me her foster kid. Actually, I was even surprised that she acknowledged me at all.
"Hi, Callie!" Stefanie waved her hand at me, the smile never left her face "Your mom talks a lot about you!"
I highly doubt it, but okay.
I don't say anything back, remain as quiet and small as I was before, hoping that they would talk about something else and leave me alone.
"Is your son here as well?" Stefanie asked looking around
"Markus went to bathroom," Amy explains "Are you here with your family or alone?" Amy asked her partner
"Uh, with my family. They went up to get popcorn and surgery drinks, just moment before you came up!" Stefanie said glancing over to the stairs. I guess that's where the shop is.
"What movie are you here for?" Amy asked curiously "Maybe we are going to the same movie!"
"The Muppet's. You?"
"Newest Sherlock Holmes!"
"You are up!" Aaron told Stefanie as he pointed to the free cash register, where a couple had just bought their tickets
"Thanks!" Stefanie returned a smile and started to buy her tickets
Amy and Aaron talked to one another about small stuff, the movies that were showing and how this place has changed in few years, while we stood in the line, waiting for Stefanie to buy the tickets. Like often, I found the floor very interesting. For a moment I counted the lines that were on the floor making the floor patter. But my mind kept going back to the kid that I thought was Jude. I have no way of knowing if it was him.
Once Stef was done, Aaron stepped up to the cash register and Amy and Stefanie chatted for a little while longer.
"Callie!" I hear Aaron calling me "Come help me chose the seats," He waves me over. I warily walk up and look down to the screen. There were 4 seats colored in yellow, others seats were red, but the rest were green
"Is this too close?" He asked me like I knew. I shrugged my shoulders looking up to him. Honestly, I had no idea which seats are the best.
"How about one higher up...row 10!" Aaron said, the yellow seats suddenly changed position
"Will these be good?"
"Probably," I mumbled quietly
"We will take these!" Aaron said pulling out his credit card
I turn back to Amy, who was still talking to Stefanie "Okay, well, I have to go. My family is probably waiting for me!" Stefanie said
"Of course. Have a nice holiday!" Amy replied with a smile
"Yeah, you too! I will see you-" Stefanie started to wonder about it
"January 2nd!" Amy pointed out
"Oh, right! In January. You took out that vacation!"
"I sure did!" Amy smirked back at her "Have fun!
"You too!" Stefanie said to Amy and then turned to me "It was nice meeting you Callie!" Stefanie smiled at me, before she walked away with her tickets in her hands.
"Bye!" I say quietly, I doubt Stefanie heard it. This woman smiled more than anyone else I knew. Maybe she is simply very happy person.
"Do you want popcorn or some drink?" Amy asked me some minute later, while Aaron was still buying tickets
I didn't want to play with my luck, so I shook my head. Movie and popcorn sounded too much. The movie alone sounded too much!
"You sure? I wouldn't mind some sweet popcorn!"
"I want sweet popcorn!" Aaron walks up to us, putting away his wallet and the tickets
"Then lets go buy some popcorn!" Amy announced and we all headed towards the stair
10 minutes later, after we all had a box of popcorn in one hand and drink in other hand. We walked to the movie theater and found our seats. I ended up sitting at the right side of Amy. Aaron and Markus sat on Amy's other side.
We had arrived just in time, because when we sat down, the lights dimmed down and the movies started. I tossed some popcorn in my mouth and in awe watched the big screen.