Callie POV
January 22nd
I woke up around 6:40AM . By 7:20 I had already had an early shower, I was dressed, my school bag was packed, I have ate breakfast already, I had my morning coffee and now I was making pancakes for mom.
As the pancakes were making, I quickly cut a banana in small slices and I cut one apple. I places the fruit on the plate neatly before I checked on the pancakes. As it wasn't ready yet, I poured a new cup of coffee and also checked on the bacon I was making. The bacon was ready so I placed it on the plate too, different, smaller plate that was just for bacon.
Next I took off the pancakes and placed it on the plate with the cut fruits. I poured a glass of orange juice, took the tableware, placed it on a napkin. Take the tray and walk out to corridor, I places the tray, that was made for breakfast in bed ,on the steps as I quickly run out to get the newspaper. I place it on the of side of the tray, just next to the cup of coffee.
Then finally I make my way up. Once again stop in tracks, place the tray on ground and run to bathroom to start a sizzling hot bath, so that it would be appropriate temperature when mom is done with breakfast. As I let the hot water run I walk out, pick up the tray and make my way in mom's room.
She was sleeping on Aaron's side with the pillow in her arms. She also had Markus PJ shirt on and she was sound asleep. I put the tray on the nightstand and crawl up in the bed.
She stirred as the bed moved when I sat on it "Morning mom" I say softly to wake her up. It was her day off, just like last years. I lay down and cuddle up to her back, putting my arms around her, to just give her some love, that she needs to today.
"I just want to stay in bed all day" she says as I lay down my head "I made you breakfast" I say back and that got her attention. She turned around to face me
"What did you made?" she asks and then sniffs the air "do I smell bacon and coffee?"
"I made you pancakes and I cut a banana and apple for you, also, yes 3 slices of bacon and orange juice. And coffee as you read the newspaper"
"You didn't have to Callie" she says much more sadder than before
"I know. I wanted to" I say kissing her forehead and sat up. As I stood up, she sat up against the head board. I placed the tray over her legs.
"Also I just started you bath. So when you are done with breakfast you should take the bath" mom smiled to me after she looked up from her breakfast in bed
I run out to check the bath, I still left the water to run as it wasn't full yet. I go back to moms room and just sit with her for some minute, so she would have company, before I go back and check the bath. The bath was now almost full so I stop it.
I grab my bag from my bedroom and walk again to mom "I need to go to school or I will be late. I will take the car If that's okay?" I watch as she drinks the orange juice on "I can walk if you want to go—"
"No, no…you can take the car" she puts the glass back down and takes the knife and fork in her hand again
"Text or call if you want me to buy something. I will be home around 5."
"I will. Thank you honey" she says as takes the bacon in her hand
"Don't mention it" I say and walk to the bed and kiss her on the cheek "Bye mom. Love you"
"Love you more munchkin!" I look over my shoulder before I step out and smile at her "You are the best daughter I have!"
"I'm your only daughter mom!" I call back as I was on the stairs, smiling to myself as I walk down "Don't forget about the bath!"
I was in my class, the one that was after the lunch break, when I get a text from mom
-Can you stop at the shop on your way home and buy chocolate ice cream(big box…or two little ones), chips, coca cola, M&M's. love you!
I text her back I will try to get everything and just when I pressed send, the teacher was standing next to my desk. i don't really want to look up, so i do it as slowly as i can
"Texting in class, again, Miss Scott?" the Biology teacher said in his low demanding voice, giving me a disappointed look. The whole class was looking to me now.
"It won't happen again?" I offer back but he doesn't buy it. He goes to table and writes a note "To Mrs. Adams Foster! Pack your stuff! This is not your first warning. I thought by now you would have learned there is no texting during class, Miss Scott"
I said nothing back just packed my stuff, walked up to his desk, took the note he was holding out and headed out to hall. Some kids were giggling as I walked out. Probably laughing at me. But I don't really care.
On the scale about if I should care or not, they weren't even on it. So I just headed to the VP office, and found that one other kids was already sitting with a note in front of me in the line. I took a seat next to him.
Some 5 minutes later a senior (he was on the volleyball team) walked out, I could clearly see he had gotten the lecture from Lena, he was mumbling something to himself as he took his bag over his shoulder and headed right down the hall. The boy next to me got up and walked in after knocking. I scooted to other side of the seat and waited. This boy was in there for around 5 minutes.
I was calm until the boy walked out looking really upset. I think he had tears in his eyes. I wonder what he did? I stand up, my heart starts to beat so much faster, and my palms start to sweat.
My hand shakes before I knock. I stopped breathing before I reached for the door handle and walked in. This is place where Lena makes kids cry, she was the Grinch of Anchor Beach. I hope that day never happens to me –when she makes me cry. I step in and I can see that she is not in a good mood.
"Take a seat" she says looking at some papers in front of her. as I sit down she looks up and extends her hand for the note "You want to tell me what you did before I read it?" she asks as I lift the hand up to give her the note
"Texted in class" I say almost choking up on my own words. She takes the note and looks to it, checking if I was telling her the truth. That probably was a point in my life that determined if she would trust me further in life. Or if she would stand up to me, if I get in really bad trouble with Principal Sanchez. Actually not only in school but also with Jude.
"This is not the first time. Mr. Young has said that you have been texting in his class. Probably not only in his class. Am I right?"
I swallow a lump in my throat "Here and there, but it is not like I have disturbed him or anything. Or any other student" that seamed like a reasonable answer, at least in my mind
"You disturb yourself. You are in school to study. Not to text. If you can't concentrate for 40 minutes at a time, you can go back to your previous school Callie." ouch, okay that hurt a bit. I didn't not expect her to say that, that I should just leave. I don't want to leave, I love this school. Does she want me to leave?
"We don't need students who rather spend time looking at their phone screens than actually listening to what teacher is trying to teach you!" she didn't raise her voice, but it was still very stern. The voice you better not argue with, because she means business. I will admit it- I was scared of Lena. She may look cute, but she can be real hard ass if needed.
"I'm sorry" I say quietly back. I want to pull my head in like turtles can. I want to hide in shell.
"You want to tell me what was so important that couldn't wait-" she looks to her watch "-20 minutes until your class ends?"
"Not really" I say honestly "Let me rephrase that, Callie- I wasn't asking if you want to or not!"
I swallow the knot in my throat "Mom…wanted me to…..buy something on the way home"
"So it wasn't even close to emergency!"
I shake my head and voice my thought too "No"
"Your mom enrolled you here so you would have the best education possible. DO you really want to just throw that away. A good education is what gets you a better life after school. You can get in better University-"
"I know okay. You don't have to lecture me on life. I have had a fucked up life before I don't want to go back to that, Okay? I get it!" I snap at her and then regret the second after
Lena leaned back a bit in her chair, behind her big desk, crossed her arms on her chest "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to….i apologize" I try to fix what I just did. I have a feeling I failed, big time.
"One week detention-" she says after she had started at me for few seconds "-and you are lucky I am not giving you detention for swearing in school right in front of me! Next time, I won't be so nice!" I for one did not think this was nice, nice would be – she wouldn't give me detention, just a warning. After all, this is my first detention in this school. It only took me 3 weeks. That's progress right there!
She gives me a note "Go back to class! And don't text during them" she says sternly and I quickly pick up my bag and with hurried step run out of the office. Mackenzie – my only friend in this school besides the Adams Foster kids, was sitting there with a note in her hand too.
"She is pissed as hell" I warn her. Fear now took over her face, she went pale as chalk "Why did you tell me that! I didn't need to know that…she will bury me!" she looks so scarred
As I turn to walk back to class I see Jude walking over with a note in his hand, he was looking down at his feet so he hadn't noticed me yet "What did you do, rebel?" I ask him, and when he looks up to me I smile at him
"Oh…hey…" he looked really guilty "I, um….talked to Connor during class. The teacher only called me out. Mom is going to be so mad" he says sounding miserable
I guess telling him she was already pissed wouldn't work this time. I never pictured Jude as the type of student who gets sent to Principals or Vice Principals office. I can only imagine how much more terrifying it is when it is your mother.
"Hey, it will be fine. She was forgiving to me. Only gave me one week, and I accidentally cursed in front of her" I try to brighten him, make him feel better
"You were just in there?" he questions me back
"yeah, I kind of texted in class." I said looking back to the doors
"How mad was she? On the scale from mama to Mena-Lena?" he asked me back taking me back by surprise "There is a scale that goes mama to Mena-Lena?" I raise eyebrow at him
"Yeah, well, for us it goes mama to Mena-Lena, but for others just Lena to Mena-Lena. Lena or mama is like 0, when she is nice and fluffy and she uses the soft gentle tone of voice and her eyes are all like puppy dog eyes. And Mena-Lena is 10, when she has the worst day and she is " he leans closer and whispers "pissed off" then leans back and continues "you know, all on edge because someone has made her day horrible. Or like she has had a disagreement with Sanchez or some tour for new possible students has taken its toll on her because of well, stupid, parents. And she is just, like I said" he whispers the last part again "pissed off"
He then just looks to me and when I don't say anything back, because I was trying to figure out which one was she. It is not like I have seen every Lena there is. He asks me again, expecting an answer from me, probably wishing for mama/0 "Well? Which one?"
"Um…" I scratch my temple
"Oh, no…she is in Mena-Lena mode." he takes off his bag and flops down on the bench. Looking miserable once again "She is going to be so mad at me"
I walk back to him "No she won't. You are her youngest son. The youngest always are their favorite ones"
"But Frankie is the young one! Now I will be grounded for like…EVER. And mom is going to mad at me too!" I rubbed his shoulder just trying to give him some comfort when all of a sudden the doors opened and Lena and Mackenzie were both in the doorway to her office
Lena shot me a death stare. I pulled my hand back, like I have been burned or something. She looked to Jude as Mackenzie walked pass me to hall, then looked back to me "WHY are you not in class!?" Lena says to me sternly.
This is the moment my color left my face. Whole blood went to my feet and I just turned and in very fast hurried, almost running step went to hall and then to my class. This will definitely come back to haunt me later. Or even come back in my dreams as my new worst nightmare – The Mena-Lena!
I open the doors to the house and pick back up the two shopping bags and head to kitchen, kicking the doors close with my leg. "Mom I'm home!" I call and make my way to kitchen. After I put the bags down I head to find mom in the house.
She was in her bedroom, curled up in a ball. Asleep for now. I quietly make my way back down and put away the food. Then clean up the glasses and bottle of whiskey that was left in the living room along with empty bowl that I think had chips in before. There was also a box of ice cream that no longer had ice cream but only had the spoon in. The photo albums were all out, and on TV there was stopped video or Markus smiling.
After I put everything away, clean the room up, I head up to change into sweatpants and simple T-shirt, then head in to moms room. I lift the blanket up and cuddle up to her. She turns around and cuddle up to me, pressing her head to my shoulder. She was still curled up as small as possible. I too fall asleep as I was so warm and comfortable.
I wake up when mom was scooting to sit on the side of the bed, her hand was up to her face. I didn't see what she was doing, but I figured either rub away the sleep in her eyes or wiping away some tears.
"Where you going?" I ask as she stands up and turned to head out of the room "Bathroom" she says and walks out, swaying a bit. I lay there for few seconds and then lift the blanket off and get up myself. I make the bed real quickly just neatly putting the blanket over and fluff up the two pillows and set them where they need to be. As I head out to corridor mom walked out of bathroom.
"How was your day?" she asks leaning at the wall at the bedroom door, her eyes were red, I lean at the wall just closer to her bedroom door "Normal. Got one week detention for texting you back in class"
She closed her eyes "Shit! Callie ,I am sorry" she somehow thinks this is her fault.
"Don't be. I decided to text you back when I was still in class, not the other way around. My fault, not yours"
"Still…I am so sorry." mom says regretfully
"You want to eat something?" I ask as I figured she hadn't eaten anything solid that normal people would call lunch, only chips, whiskey and ice cream
"No, not right now" she rubs her temples, maybe a headache from the booze "did you take something for your headache?" she nods this time.
"Did you went to see them?" she only shakes her head at me, her eyes are sad. "You want to go now?" I offer and she nods
"Take a jacket. It is late and probably chilly outside" I warn her as I go get my hoodie, when we leave it was about 9:50 PM.
I pull up to the cemetery around 10:30 as we had to stop at mall buy flowers for them. Mom was always picky. The first shop didn't have flowers mom wanted to buy so we had to drive to another shop, bit further away from cemetery, where we had to convince the lady that was locking up to let us shop quickly.
I give mom the flowers from the back and she gets out of the car first. I follow her, few steps behind her. She places the flowers neatly on their graves. Her finger now runs over the engraved name on the stone.
I stand looking at the two graves for some 2 minutes until I decide to give mom the privacy and space she needs "I will be in the car mom. Take as long as you need" I say as I had placed my hand on her shoulder. She puts her hand on my hand for few seconds, appreciating the support and comfort "Thank you Callie. For everything you did for me today" she says quietly, mom lets go of my hand, staying kneeled down by the two graves, but I walk back to car.
I don't know what she talks about, but I guess as we are pretty similar, it wouldn't surprise me that she was now telling everything in detail what had happened over the course of the time when she was last time here (that was on Aaron's birthday in the middle of November) and just telling them how much she misses them and still loves them.
We get back home and it was already around ~11:30 PM. Mom goes up to her bed but I make us some quick sandwiches which I bring up to mom to her room, also I grab the box of ice cream and the M&M she asked me to buy.
We basically have a picnic up in mom's bedroom. After the sandwiches are eaten we turn to the big box of ice cream, mom digs in the box fast and puts a big spoon of ice cream in her mouth. Then winks – brain freeze! Or maybe just her teeth are frozen. I take the ice cream much more slowly, avoiding the freezing sensation.
She eats the M&M parallel to the ice cream. Yes, I agree it is a weird mix, but she will eat what she wants and when she wants it for her comfort food. If that means mixing ice cream with M&M, so it be.
I reach and turn the light is off, mom places her head to my shoulder and wraps her hand around me as I lean back "What would I do without you Cal?" she whispers quietly in the dark
"You would probably have the Volvo you wanted" I say the first thing that was on my mind
"I'm so glad I arrested you" she takes a deep breath after and sights. After some pause where only our breathing was heard and the clock on the nightstand ticking, she adds "I really do want that Volvo"
"I know" I say as I scoot a bit lower to get more comfortable "I will buy you one when you are old"
"Ha…when I won't be able to drive? Will you give me a ride in it?"
"I will drive you everywhere you want. We could drive to Boston, to see your brother and parents or like…go up to Canada. To the nice people" I like the thought of us having a real road trip. With road songs blasting thought the car, soda cans around, chips, legs up the front panel, cheap motel rooms, super fun road trip.
"My grandmother was Canadian, on my mom's side" mom again whispers to me
"That explains why your mom is always so nice and polite. Raised by the nice people. Night mom" I say closing my eyes before we both drift asleep.
I am jolted awake by mom shaking me up and yelling "WE ARE LATE, GET UP GET UP!" she let's go of my shirt and my upper body falls down to bed again. She runs out jumping in her shoes, her uniform pants on but the shirt was still only in her hand
"What time is it?" I ask still calmly not understanding the rush as in my head it felt like it was around 6.
"7:50!" She yells back. Just like that I am on speed 10 as I just jump out of the bed, run to my room, grab my bag stuffing some random books and notepads in, then run down and grab a two piece of bread and soda can with me. Mom is buttoning her shirt by the front doors "HURRY UP, HURRY UP!" she keeps calling from corridor
I run from kitchen to front doors with the food in my hand, if you can call that food. I notice she doesn't have her belt on "GUN!"
"What?" she asks tucking her shirt in "Your gun! Where is it?"
"Crap!" she runs up skipping every other step. I get in my sneaks in the meantime. Mom runs down like elephant with her belt around her waist "Go, go, go!"
I give half of the bread slice to mom and open the can of soda to wash down the dry bread. After our super brief breakfast i kind of have the need to brush my teeth "You have gum?"
"Check my bag?" she says taking a sharp turn
I look to back seat "What bag?" there was no bag on the backseat
"Fuck! Okay….umm, then no. No I don't"
"You need to make your hair, mom" I say as I run my hand thought my hair using my fingers as a brush "I will do it in squad car. I will let Stef drive this time"
"Ha! Nice plan" I chuckle and rub the sleep out of my eyes
She barely stops the car to drop me off and I jump out of running car and then run over the street to school. I pull the doors open and run down the hall.
"STOP!" I hear a voice just as I made the last turn to my classroom. It was the meanest teachers. I stopped and turned to him. Watching as he made his way over with his big steps. He always dressed the same, light blue jeans, brown shoes, white shirt, a vest, his glasses were around his neck on a string, he had the physics book under his arm.
He stepped up to me, looked me up and down as I did too. I was still in my sweatpants, simple T-shirt, slippers, my hair was down, bag in my hand
"Aren't you late, Miss Scott" he holds the book up front, tapping his fingers to it
"Our car had empty tier. And the spare was cut by some thugs 2 weeks ago and we didn't have it repaired. I had to call the guys that toll your car to repair shop and then I had to run back school . I got here as fast as I could Mr. Warrick! And – NO- I do not plan on repeating that! Meaning being late!" that was the first lie that popped in my mind that could get me out of even longer detention that I already had
He kept looking at me, I just kept straight face hoping he bought the lie "This time only, Miss Scott. Next time you are coming with me to Principal. Take this as a warning! The only warning you get!"
"I will. Thank you Mr. Warrick!"
"Off you go! Straight to class, got it?"
"Yes, sir!" I turn on my heel and run down the hall to my English class.
In the break after my second class I am scared by Jude as he jumped out as I walking to my next class "Hi Callie!" he seemed in good mood.
"Hey bud!" I give him a quick side hug "Why are you in sweatpants?" he asks looking down to my legs as we walk down the hall together
"I overslept today" i reply back
"Sweatpants and t-shirt suit you!" he says now walking backwards in front of me "What is Red Hot Chili Peppers?"
"What?" I pull on my shirt "You don't know them?"
"Nop" he turns around and now walks next to me. I put my arm back around his shoulder "Who are they? Are they famous? Are they old band like the Beatles?"
"Red Hot Chili Peppers is only the best band ever!" I say to just get him to listen to them. To search them up. They were good, but I could never pin point the one and only 'Best band'. There is no such things. Different artists, different music, different sound. You can never compare them. No one can.
"Then how come I never heard of them?"
"Because you only listen to One Direction" I tease him as the group songs pretty often filled his home. The sound thou was coming from Marianas and Frankie's room, but still I get to tease him a bit
"Na-ha! That is Mariana! I like other groups too!"
"Yeah, name one?" I bump his shoulder with my
"I like Foo Fighters!"
"Foo fighters! Are you serious?" I ask surprised by his answer "Yeah. Jesus is listening to them pretty often and I know pretty much every song. They are cool"
"Aren't they a bit too rough for you? How about some classical?"
"I know every song Brandon is playing too. I am universal. I like all the genres! Not just one"
"That's…pretty rare these days, actually" I admire that trait very much. Then I remember his yesterday's trouble. "How did it go with your mom yesterday? The whole…talking in class thing?"
"Detention for 3 days. And I am not allowed to play video games at home for a week"
"That's not so bad, is it?" I give his shoulder a light squeeze "No, I guess not. But every time I get in trouble with school the home punishment grows too."
"They just expect you to be as good in school as you are at home. There is nothing wrong with them wanting you to succeed at life. You have to remember they want what is best for you. I am pretty sure with Lena being the VP, she wants her kids to behave good at school too, to set a good example"
"Yeah…I guess so" he says looking down, but then his head snapped up when someone called his name.
"JUDE!" I boy called him from the hall on our right. The boy was taller than Jude, bit more buff too. Light hair. Jude waved back at him "I need to go!" he says slipping out of my hand around him
"Is that Connor?" I ask looking at the boy down the hall. I have never talked to this Connor guy, but I have seen him around the halls few times.
"Yeah, see ya later" he says before he takes off
"See ya!" I wave back as he runs off to his friend. I change my course and head to my lockers instead straight to class. I pick up the books I need and put away the ones I don't and when I closet the locker room doors I see the girl Mackenzie going thought her locker just few lockers down.
"Hey" I walk up. Her locker is covered in some pictures. "Oh, hi. Like your shirt" she says and then points to one of the pictures on her locker , that had the band name on "Cool, you a fan too?"
"Yeah, one of my favorite bands to be honest" i reply as i lean to some lockers just next to hers
"Have you ever been to their concert?" she asks putting some notepad in "No, haven't had the chance" nor the money, but that part i don't tell her. She took all her light brown hair and twirled it up in a bun. Then she had to move her glasses back up her nose as they had slipped down a bit.
"Did you wrote in the journal for Timothy?" she asks me next, as she checks her bun
"I think the journal thing is pretty dumb, if you ask me" i say back as she closed her locker and we turned to walk to our next class – Chemistry
"I think it is stupid too. You missed out on few entries as he started the journal thing somewhere around October/November. I don't get what is the reason to write in the journal if he isn't going to grade it. Nor read it. Nor everyone else is going to read it. I just sat in the class and wrote this word jumble, just like, I was thinking about some TV show and I wrote it down. Then I pictured popcorn and I wrote popcorn down. Pretty funny text comes out of that" she chuckles at that herself
"I should try it next time. I just sat not writing in it and he almost wanted me to keep after class. I somehow managed to talk myself out of it"
We arrive at the classroom just as the bell rings. Chemistry, that's the class I met her. I sat down next to her the first day at Anchor Beach, and just like that we started talking and we became what people call – friends. She is officially my first friend besides all the Adams Foster clan kids.