AN: Quick reply to the guest (I hope you read this far) - that is a typo that I have made. Pica -in my language means pizza in English. They are pronounced the same, so that is probably the reason why my brain overlooked the typo.
Callie POV
June 20th
On the last day of school I got home little after 7. Mackenzie and I went to the Anchor Beach boy's volleyball playoff game. Our school team won, which put them in the next round, to the finals.
When I walked up to the house, I saw that Coopers dark red Nissan Qashqai was parked just by the house. He has been coming over more often. Last week was the first time he spent the night here. They made breakfast together the next morning. Besides that, he has spent the night just one more time, this Monday. I saw thought the living room window that they were watching TV.
When I closed the doors behind me I heard the volume of the TV lower and mom's voice calling me "How was the last day of school?"I kick off the shoes and place them neatly with the other shoes.
Mom was cuddled up to Coopers left side on the couch, his hand was wrapped around her "Hey, Callie" Cooper greets me casually when I enter the room. I greet him back kindly and then I slump down on the other side of the couch, once mom pulls her legs closer
"Pretty boring if you ask me" I say tossing my bag down by the end of the couch on the ground "I don't understand why they insist on dragging the school year so long. The last week of classes are so boring. They don't teach anything new, they just do recaps and then whatever the teacher wants…some stupid games usually. Or they just let us go to break faster"
"Well, you won't say that next year. Then you will still be preparing for the exams and stressing over how your teacher hasn't taught you something…" Mom replied and stretched one of her legs over to my lap
"How was the game?" Cooper asks leaning out from behind moms cover
"Good. Fun. At least that was interesting. Our school team won. The final game is next week on Monday."
"How did Jesus do?" Mom asks back dividing her attention between me and what was on TV
"He made some nice hits, few blocks...dig few ball out. He is pretty good, more than good actually."
"I do sometimes wonder how he could do both -wrestling and volleyball…" mom just wondered out loud
"Which one was Jesus again?" Cooper asked perplexed
"The middle son" Mom explained
"The one with the twin sister" I added
"Ah, the twin, got it" He said confirming that he understands what we are talking about. Cooper hasn't actually met them, he hasn't been introduced to them, so it is pretty normal for him to be confused about all the names
"Yeah" I nod back and look up to the TV. I didn't recognize the show they were watching "What is that?" I ask nodding to the screen
"Oh, just some Australian cooking show" Mom replied back, eyes on the screen
"Since when do you watch cooking shows?"
"My bad!" Cooper raises his left arm up "I like them, your mom is just keeping me company"
"He actually is a really great cook" Mom said glancing to me
"Ugh…what isn't he good at?" I still thought he was too perfect to be true. And now this – great cook. I mean, come on. Getting real tiered of this. I needed to find a flaw!
"Show off!" I mumble to myself and lift moms leg up "I'm going to my room. Can I use your laptop to Skype with Jude?" I ask mom grabbing my bag that I had dropped
"Sure" she replies without hesitation before I head up
That night started out like any other night. We had a nice dinner, which Cooper made. Around 11 I got ready for bed, had a quick shower, brushed my teeth, got in my PJ, called out good night to mom and Cooper and headed to my room, closing the doors behind. The last I saw mom and Cooper, they were cuddling on the living room couch and were watching news together. Discussing all that was on, all the topics.
It was few hours later, when I was woken up by a noise. I guess you could say I am a light sleeper. I sat up in my bed, my room was dark. Window to my room was open and soft wind was blowing in the room, moving the curtain slightly.
I sat, not moving, listening to the noises around me. For few seconds I didn't hear the noise that woke me. But then just when I laid back down I heard it again. I jolted up in the bed and listened closer.
The wind stopped blowing for a second and then I heard it again – a soft, distant moaning sound. I tossed the blanket aside and tip toe over to the window, thinking maybe the sound came from outside. Or maybe I just didn't want to believe the fact that it could be coming from inside the house. You could say I was in denial. I pull the curtain in front of the closes window and crawl back in the bed.
I place my head down on the pillow and lay on my back. A moment passes when I was thinking, that was the last I heard of the moans. But then just when I pulled the blanket more to my chin, I heard the moan again. This time I it was louder.
My eyes flew open and I stared up to the ceiling "Please no...no" I mumble to myself realizing what that sound was. I was hoping and praying I won't hear that sound again.
But then I heard it again, it sounded more intense now "Oh my god – no…no, no" that was the moment I realized it was my moms voice and it was coming from my moms bedroom…where she and Cooper were sleeping…or no longer sleeping.
I pulled my blanket over my head, now I was in like a cocoon. It wasn't helping. I still hear the moans. They were getting more louder, longer, the time between them was shorter as time went on.
I toss the blanket off my face and turned to my side. One ear pressed to my pillow, silencing the sound, other ear I covered with my hand. Pressing hard on my ear, hoping that will hush the sound. Another loud moan filled the house, but this time it didn't stop there. Addition to the moaning I also heard groaning from Cooper, bed creaking sound.
I felt so freaking uncomfortable, so embarrassed, so….disgusted. I grabbed the blanket with my right hand and pressed it over my right ear, silencing the sound even more. But even then, I still could hear it, much quieter, but still, the sound was there.
"Please stop, please stop, please stop…" I kept mumbling to myself as I kept hearing the moan "Oh God, why me...why?"
The moaning kept echoing in the house for some another excruciating, horrifying, extremely long 15 minutes. And when I thought I heard the last of it, I heard a groaning and moaning in much lower voice. The fact that I know what they are doing makes it so, so, so much worse.
I won't be able to look them in the eye in the morning. I don't know if they realize that they were loud? Maybe they think they were quiet? They probably thought I was asleep and didn't hear a thing? I was sure that all the doors were closed, mom always sleeps with doors closed, just like I do. And there is Markus room between ours. They probably had no idea that I heard every single moan and groan and bed creaking. At least they weren't doing it intentionally, I think…
I am not sure if I want to tell mom that I heard her. On one hand she could then at least think about me hearing and trying to keep it down. On other hand – super awkward, uncomfortable, embarrassing talk, that I do not wish to have...ever!
I could of course, pretend nothing ever happened, but then that would be uncomfortable only for me. For who knows how long time. And she may continue making sounds like that every time Cooper stays over.
I had no idea what was going to do. I have heard foster parents having sex before, but somehow, someway this was the worst of all the other times. I guess I could blame the fact that I actually love Amy, I didn't any other foster parent. Amy was my mom, I see her as one, not only that, but she is my friend. That was what made all of this even worse.
That memory was now engraved in my mind...
I was tossing and turning around in my bed, because I just couldn't fall back asleep. Around 9 AM, I hear mom and Cooper walking around. They were talking about shower and breakfast and their plans for today.
I think mom went to grab a shower, but Cooper went down to make breakfast. That is when the house quieted down again. I turned on my back and look up the ceiling, remembering (unintentionally) about what happened few hours ago. I really didn't want to face them. And I haven't figured out my approach –ignore or confront.
I reach for my phone and check the time – 9:21 AM. I have never really been a long sleeper. I don't sleep till noon, I usually get up around 9-10 on weekends. Just then I hear bathroom doors opening and mom footsteps down the stairs.
I was now on my right side, one hand under my head, I was staring at the doors. Listening to the house. 5 minutes ago I smelled fresh coffee and bacon from downstairs. I knew, mom would probably wake me up soon, so we could all have breakfast together. And never have I been so right.
I hear mom's footsteps coming up the stairs and to my bedroom doors. There is a knock and then mom calls in "Callie, honey, we made breakfast. We would love for you to join us…"
"Give me 5!" I call back
"We made fresh coffee" she said before I heard her walk back down
There was now no way out of this. I will have to face them...
I change out of my PJ to my sweats and walk out of my room. I stop at the stairs and just stare down the steps. I hear them both talking in the kitchen. I was torn – part of me wanted to just slip in my shoes and run, the other part was really hungry. My stomach growled loudly so I kept walking down towards the kitchen. The food, what they both have made, smelled really good.
"Morning Callie" Cooper greeted me cheerfully. I mumble it back, I doubt he heard me.
I only saw a glimpse of them, because I quickly looked down to floor once I entered. I sat in my usually spot, head down. There were scrambled eggs, bacon on my plate in front of me. Cup of coffee, like mom said, waiting for me.
"Any plans for today?" mom asks casually reaching for her cup of coffee. I shake my head back, chewing the food, looking down at the scrambled eggs and bacon. I had a feeling they had no idea that i heard them. No clue what so ever.
"Are you going to Jude or is he coming over?" I shrug back even thou I had told Jude I would come over to his place
"Callie, is everything okay?" Mom picked up on my attitude. I nod back trying my best to avoid the conversation.
"Then why haven't you even looked up to me? Does something hurt? Are you feeling sick?" she asks concerned, she reached over the table for my hand
I pulled my hand away and softly ran my left hand fingers over my forehead. Then I took my hand to my ear and covered it gently, because in my mind, I heard the moans and groans from the last night. I just couldn't get them out of my mind. It was killing me, from inside out.
"Does your ear hurt?" Mom asks noticing the hand was covering my ear. I couldn't keep doing this. I need to tell them. I won't be able to avoid her for days.
"Yeah…yeah, I um…a bit" I said and briefly glanced up to them
"How bad does it hurt? Is it buzzing or-" she asks concerned, even on Coopers face flashed concern, he was chewing slowly, eyes on me. I look back down, away from their looks. I pushed the scrambled eggs around the plate.
"Yeah…um, no, it is actually more like-" I couldn't find the right word to describe it, Cooper interrupted me
"Ringing? Does it like...pulses?" he gestures to his ear "If it is pulsing, you could have middle ear infection"
"No, no ringing or pulsing" I quickly cleared that off so mom wouldn't jump to the hospital-sick-train "I um…well, I actually keep hearing these moans and groans and gasps..." I say and look up to both of them, getting my courage back all of a sudden
Mom froze once I said that, Cooper stopped chewing. Now they both just stared at me – horrified about what they have done, about what I just told them. Guilt and embarrassment was written all over their faces. They both knew instantly that it was about last night. There was no doubt about that.
"And this…bed creaking sound. It just keeps bugging me" I continue to both of their horror. They were both stunned by my words
"Oh my god" Mom mumbles as she leans back in the chair
"Yeah, that too. I heard that a lot too…a lot" moms face drops once I say that "Along with other things like - right there, don't st—"
Mom hushed me quickly, not wanting to hear the other things. She had gestured with her right hand and then she placed it right hand over her mouth. She turned bright red, Cooper hasn't moved or said one thing. Mom's hand moves up to her eyes, shielding them, she keeps mumbling to herself, slowly shaking her head.
She looked horrified, embarrassed, guilty, ashamed, uncomfortable. I couldn't say I felt any better. I was also slightly disgusted and grossed out by the fact that my mom was having sex. It was safe to say this was more awkward and weirder than the sex talk she gave me last year.
Well, at least now, by both of their reaction, I can tell - both of them thought I didn't hear them. So it wasn't like they did it intentionally. It was a very weak reassurance, but it meant that mom probably will think twice before they have sex at night. Or they will at least trying to keep it down, for my sake.
She buried her face in both of her hands. Cooper was still not moving. His eyes were big, they were fixated on the kitchen table right in front of him, his mouth was still full with the food. His free hand was pulled in a fist, his right hand was squeezing the fork in his hand. His knuckles had turned white, he has gotten pale and sweaty. He looked mortified.
In a way I blamed Cooper more than mom. Yeah, mom was the one making most of the sound, but it was because of him. If it wasn't for Cooper, all would be good and I would have had a good night sleep. Of course, any sexual active adult would say that sex is a natural thing and it good and healthy that parents are sexually active.
But right now, I didn't care about all that stuff. I didn't care that it was natural. Right now I only care about how awkward and uncomfortable they made me feel.
Mom lowered her hands a bit and spoke up, her voice shaky "Callie I…" she opened and closed her mouth few times, she was speechless
A moment passes till she can stutter something out "I…we…we thought…that you were asleep…I didn't think…I thought you were sleeping"
"Yeah, well I woke up" I reply back with a hint of attitude "How about you two plan your sex life when I am not here…or at least warn me beforehand so I could leave. So I could move to the garage for the night or head over to Jude's…or go over to Mackenzie for sleepover. Or maybe you two should at least try to keep it low…"
"I'm so, so sorry…" mom mumbled still bright red cheeks "That will...never, ever happen again. I'm am so sorry Callie. I promise you" She was very apologetic about it. She obviously felt bad about it and she never thought that it would happen.
"Yeah, well the damage is done" I say pushing the plate away and grab an apple from the bowl on the window sill
"I will just go" I say and biting in the apple as I was walking away
"You know we didn't mean it!" Mom said when she walked in my room, when I was getting a sweater from the closet
"Yeah, I know. But that didn't make it any more easier for me to hear!" I say back pulling the sweater over my head "What I don't understand is how you could possibly thought that I wouldn't hear that?! You were pretty freaking loud!" I said hurt
Mom's face dropped "We thought you were asleep. I'm truly sorry you had to hear us. That will never happen again"
I let out a chuckle "Year, right…like you will never have sex again" I knew there was no chance of that happening. Mom also knew that was true, she let out a small chuckle, but then continued "I think Cooper is the most traumatized from this. I don't think he can get it—"
"No!" I hush her at once, I placed my index finger over her lips "Don't say it. Just…don't!" I shake my head at her "I don't want to hear you say it…not now, not ever"
"Sorry" she mumbled back when I took my hand back. We stand there silently. I have to say, I have never seen mom looking as guilty as she looks right now
Mom contort her mouth to one side and asked barely above whisper "Can you forgive me?"
"I can forgive, but you have scarred me for life" I reply back "I think your ultimate goal as a mother has been achieved"
She looked down guilty, biting her lip "Well, if it makes you feel a better...when I was your age I walked in on my parents having sex. I actually saw them doing it…"
I blinked back at her at first, but after a moment I let out a small chuckle "It helps…a little"
"The sex talk I received after was even more embarrassing. But we already had that so…but if you want…" she pointed her finger between us
"No!" I reply quickly, way too fast actually, I almost yelled at her "All good here!"
"Good…good!" Mom replied just as fast and uncomfortable, we both just stood there, nodding back to one another
"You want a hug?" Mom asks slowly and awkwardly
"Nop! No!" I almost shout back "Too soon for any contact! In fact I hope you understand that I will be trying to avoid you any way possible for at least the next two days" I take a step back giving her a clear message
"Yeah..." she showed me a thumbs up "Already figured that one out"
"I am going to Jude's. I will be home...late" I answer quickly, not missing a beat
"Yeah, okay…" Mom said back in sadder tone
"Can I have my license back and take the car?" I ask turning back to her once I reached the stairs. There wouldn't be a better time to ask for my license back. It has been 2 months, and with how much guilt she felt, I knew this would work.
"Yes, you can!" she said and quickly walked to her room, gave me my license back finally, the car keys and registration
"Bye" I grab the stuff from her hands and with a quick step walk down
"Just drive safely" Mom calls after before I close the doors behind "Always" I call back closing the doors shut.