Amy POV
For the time being, Cooper stayed outside, to see the guy off. Meanwhile, I followed Callie in the house. Once I walked in, I saw Callie trying to hurry to the stairs.
"Where do you think you are going, young lady!?" I ask her in the most serious tone of voice, to let her know, that she should not mess with me right now
Callie stops on the third step and warily looks back at me "To my room."
"No! Living room!" I point to the room on my left. Callie turns on her heal around and for a moment, we have a stare down. The teenage attitude was very present right about now.
"Now!" I add sternly not giving her any options
"Ugh..." Callie groans back and rolls her eyes. Unwillingly Callie makes the few steps down. I can see how annoyed and frustrated she is with me. Callie probably thinks she hasn't done anything wrong and that I am completely overreacting
Once she was in living room, Callie slumps down on the couch. She leans back to the backrest and crosses her arms on her chest, showing me a lot of attitude. I walk to stand in front of the couch, on the other side of the coffee table.
"Who the hell was that!?" I point to the street, to where Cooper was still standing by the guy and his bike, waiting till he drives away
"No one," Callie said back stubbornly
"Don't even try to play that game with me! It won't work! I will ask you one more time, who was he?" I won't leave this room and I won't let her leave, till I find out the whole truth.
Callie chose to try the stubborn silent response. She kept her arms crossed on her chest, but in addition to that, she now also looked sideways from me, trying to avoid me.
"I have the whole night, Callie! I am in no hurry! You can remain silent like a kid would or you can actually talk to me like an adult and get this over with. It's your choice!"
Slowly she looked back at me, to see how serious I was. I raised my eyebrows at her and crossed my arms on my chest. Once she saw how serious I looked, she uncrossed her arms and moved them to her lap and interlocked her fingers. Now she gave out a lot less attitude. She was concentrating on her hands, when she muttered something. Callie spoke too vaguely and too quietly for me to understand her clearly.
"I'm sorry, you will have to speak up!" I uncross my arms "Please correct me if I am wrong, but it almost sounded like you said - your boyfriend?"
Callie looks up to me and by her look, I can tell, she just confirmed what I thought I heard. For few seconds, I didn't take my eyes off her, hoping she would give me another some sign that tells me that I was interpreting her wrong. But the sign never came.
"Okay," I breath out trying to keep my calm composure, once I come to terms with it. I turn sideways to her and run my hands over my face.
Callie has a boyfriend. That has happened. I knew it was about to happen sometime, but to me it seemed too soon (even though is she is 17). What I did not like about these news was that it was that guy. Seeing my daughter on the back of that bike, just got my blood boiling. He was definitely not the right guy for Callie.
I turn back to her. My left hand was pressed to my hip, right hand was up to my face – I was rubbing the bridge of my nose with my thumb and index finger "Since when is he your boyfriend?"
"Since today," Callie answered when I heard the bike drive away from our street. That answer calmed me down a little bit, but not enough.
"What's his name?" I ask taking my hand down from my face
"Gavin," she says when Cooper walks in the house
"Surname!" I ask as calmly as I can as Cooper walks in the room and stands by the doorway, partly joining the conversation, partly staying out of it
"Hayes," Callie added looking from up to Cooper, then back to me. I could tell she was worried about our reactions.
My feet started to hurt. That was when I remember that I was still in my high heels. When I take off my left shoe I ask her "Okay, and how old is this…Gavin Hayes?"
Callie remains silent. Suddenly she got all nervous. Her hand flew up to her face to rub her nose, she started to bite her lower lip and she no longer could look me in the eye.
I repeat the question one more time, now much slower "Callie, how old is Gavin Hayes? And don't even think about lying to me!"
"20" Callie answered warily after a moment, when she had gotten her courage back
"20!" I repeat in much louder voice, as I stand in front of her with one high heel shoe on, but other in my left hand. My mouth parts in shock when she conforms it with a head nod. I look to Cooper, who leans off the wall looking just as surprised as I was. For a moment I was left speechless. I place my free hand over my mouth, shake my head lightly as I watch Callie in disbelief.
"That guy was 20!?" Cooper asks and points out to the street, while I still try to recover. Callie only nods back to him and then again, start to look between me and Cooper nervously, to see our reactions.
Once the shock moment passed, I asked in raised voice "20! Are you insane? What are you thinking!?"
"What's the big deal?"Callie asks back casually, not understanding my worry
"What's the big deal!?" I repeat what she said in a frustrated tone and then toss my left shoe to the hallway
"Yes, why are you so upset about it? He is only 3 years older than me! 3 years is not that much..."
"Not that much..." I mutter to myself taken aback by her words and look to Cooper "Not that much?"
I turn back to Callie. I slightly lean towards her and hold out my left hand - emphasizing every word I say with tapping my side of the right palm to my left palm "Callie, he is an adult!"
"So?" Callie didn't understand what I was telling her
"So, he is an adult! And you are not!" I explain to her and then remember, I was now only waring one shoe. I take off my right shoe and toss it to the hallway as well.
"He is only 3 years older!" Callie argued back as I started to slowly pace in the living room "Aaron was 3 years older than you as well!"
"That's different!" I stop in my tracks and argue back
"No it's not!" Callie moved to sit on the very side of the couch, her back straight. She was gesturing with hands a lot and her voice was now raised "It's the same situation!"
"No, it's not Callie! It was completely different! When Aaron and I started to date we were both adults, we were both over 18! Gavin is 20, he is an adult. But you...you are not an adult Callie. You are a minor!"
"I'm 17! in few months I will be 18!" Callie stood up as she got all fired up in this argument
"That's right" I pointed to her and said in louder more sterner voice "You will be 18, but you are not 18 now! And right now you are a minor, but he is an adult!"
"I don't understand what you are so upset about! It's not like we are having sex or anything!"
"You were making out with him quite passionately 5 minutes ago on the street right in front of our house, after you got of his bike" I gesture to the living room window once again "Pretty soon he will want to move the relationship to the next level and you may not even be ready for it! He is going to hurt you!" I give one quick look to Cooper, to back me up on this. And he does, without hesitation.
"Your mom's right," Cooper spoke up and took a small step closer to her "Guy's like him, they are not particularly known for their willingness to wait. Most of the time, guys like that only want one thing from a girl and it's not relationships. I don't want to see him hurting you, Callie!" Cooper said concerned
"I don't have to listen to you!" Callie snaps back at Cooper "You are not my father! What are you even doing here!" And there it is. Callie used the – not my father – card first time to Cooper. It was bound to happen sooner or later. This only seemed appropriate.
I opened my mouth to defend Cooper, but Cooper replied before I could "I know I am not your father, Callie. But I am the closest person you have to a father figure. I know you don't believe it, but I do care about you and I do only want the best for you. And that guy, he is not the guy for you! He is not a good guy!"
"Why are you both trying to make him sound like Liam!?" Callie glanced from Cooper to me "He is not like Liam!"
"Are you sure about it?" I did not know this Gavin guy. I did not trust him, especially with my daughter.
"Gavin is not like that! You don't know him, like I do!" Callie argued back
"Oh, and you know him so well!" I say sarcastically, crossing my arms on my chest again "Exactly how long do you know him?"
"2 weeks but that is not important-" Callie said quickly and tried to change the subject quickly before I can comment on what she just said
"2 weeks," I laugh out frustrated and rub my face again "Oh, god, Callie, you are killing me here!"
"Why him?" Copper asks her while I try to wrap my head around all what was happening right now "Why not someone your age?"
"There are no guys my age!" Callie answers him in annoyed tone of voice, telling us just how obvious it is "Guys my age are only interested in popular girls, cheerleaders, blonds...I am not the type of girl! I don't fit in that category. Guys my age, don't even look at me! I am invisible to them!"
Callie was now looking between me and Cooper "But Gavin, he is interested in me. He likes me, for who I am. And I like him back!"
"The bike plays a role, doesn't it?" Cooper asks opening the only buttoned up button on his suit jacket and then he presses his hands to his hips
Callie's mouth parted a little, like she wanted to answer, but something stopped her. The look in her eyes held the answer Cooper and I were looking for. It was the bad boy act, that pulled her towards him, that made him so attractive to her. Girls very often fall of the bad guys. Very often, the girls end up getting hurt.
"Callie, he is basically a walking organ donor!" Cooper replied referring to the bike
"You are not getting on that bike ever again" I stated firmly, looking at her
"Mom, I like him! Can't you be happy for me?" She asks back quite desperately
"Well..." I briefly glance to the ground "you can like him from afar! And trust me, I want you happy! I truly do, but you will not be happy with him!"
"MOM!" Callie whined back, trying to get me to change my mind
"No!"I shook my head "Callie, you are not going to continue to see him!"
"Why not?"
"Because, he is not the guy for you, Callie!" I reply simply. It was a mother's instinct, that told me that he was not the guy for her. I just felt it. And I dreaded Callie getting hurt.
"How do you know that?" The anger she felt towards me grew, quite visibly
"If you thought yourself that he was a good guy, the right guy, that what you could have with him could be a good relationship - you would have told me about him and wouldn't have tried to hide this from me. You would not be this nervous about it! Deep down, you know it yourself, he is not the right guy for you!" I said as calmly and gently as I could. The emotions were high. Both me and Callie were fired up about this.
"He is the right guy! You don't understand – I like him and he likes me!" Callie shouted back at me, upset
"He may like you, but not for the reason you think," I shook my head back "You are going to stop seeing him. You are going to break it up, Callie!" I say as calmly and gently as I can, yet still very sternly, to know that I am meaning it, every bit of it
"Why do you always think you know what is best for me!"
"Because I am your mother!"
"Well you are wrong about him! And you can't tell me what to do! I am not a child and I can make my own decisions! Especially the one's about my dating life! I am not going to break up with him, just because you don't like him and you said so!" Callie shouted back and then stormed pass me, heading out of the room. I heard her loud footsteps going up the stairs and a moment later she slammed her bedroom doors shut, very loudly. I don't call after her or run after her, because I knew, both of us needed to to calm down. We both needed a little pause. Running after her and yelling at her will do no good.
Cooper slowly turned back to me from watching, how Callie stormed out of the room, with a shocked facial expression "What just happened?"
"Callie entered the rebellion phase – which will include lot's of sneaking around, lying and arguing" I conclude and walk over to the couch to sit down. Cooper came up to the couch and joined me. When he was sitting down next to me, I press my head to his shoulder.
Callie POV
November 15th
For the last week, both, mom and I have had more than one heated argument about Gavin. She was clearly not happy for me and was not supportive of me and this relationship. Mom keeps trying to tell me that he is not a good guy, that he was not right for me, that he is a walking organ donor, that I should not get on the back of the bike and that he is way too old for me.
But this is one of the rare times, I do not care about what mom thinks. This was my life and my choice. She has no say in this, she has no say in who I can and cannot date. Mom can't stop me for dating him. Clearly mom does not like Gavin. We have had more than 5 heated conversations about it, where she showed just how much she disliked Gavin.
And Cooper...ugh. I don't even want to think about Cooper. He keeps acting like he is my father or something. Which he is not. I wish he would just stay out of this and mind his own business.
I still had to do the rest of the Kids Cooking lessons as a punishment for when I baked the pot brownies and mom and Stef ate some. So now that I was back on my feet and I was no longer sick, I was back to the schedule – for the next few Saturdays I had to teach the class at the morning.
Gavin was supposed to pick me up after the Kids Cooking lessons and we are suppose to drive to another one of his biker events. This time to some Tijuana River County Open Space Preserve.
After the class, I head out to the street to wait for Gavin. He texted that he was running 5 minutes later. While I wait for him, I stand by the building, scrolling through my phone - just passing time.
"Hey Callie!" I hear two familiar voices. When I look to my left, I see Stef and Frankie coming towards me.
I lean off the wall, place my phone in my pocket and turn to them "Hey, Frankie...how was your class?" I ask and crouch down her height
"I learned how to make muffins! Mommy said I made better muffins than what mama makes!" Frankie beams at me. Her eyes glowing, smile from one ear to other. She was clearly enjoying these classes that Stef singed her up to.
"Well, obliviously! You are taught by the best! Your mama does not stand close to you," I tell her and poke her tip of the nose softly, making her giggle
"When are you coming over?" Frankie asks me, while lightly swinging her arm that Stef was holding on to "I got a new puzzle! It has dogs on it!"
"Not today," I say hating to disappoint her "I already have plans. Sorry, kiddo."
"Oh," Frankie said clearly saddened. I could tell she wants to show me the puzzle. Frankie always shows me all her new toys and puzzles, and all the drawings whenever I come over
I tussle her gently as I stand up "Maybe next Saturday, Frankie!"
"What are you and Mackenzie up to today?" Stef asks me curiously
"Um..." I look sideways to the street. I didn't want to tell Stef about Gavin, not yet anyway. I already can imagine how her and Lena would react to it. Probably quite similar to Amy's and Cooper's reaction. I didn't want two more adults to tell me how to live my life.
"Nothing...particular" I lie to Stef, hoping Gavin won't drive up anytime soon. At least not until Stef and Frankie leave.
When I look back to Stef, I see her eying me closely. She looked kind of suspicious. I hate that she reads people so good. Stef probably knows I just lied to her, otherwise, she would not be looking at me this way.
"Then you can come over!" Frankie exclaimed loudly "Mommy, tell her that she and her friend can come over. Pleeeeease! Please mommy!"
Stef glanced down to her daughter "Sweetie, Callie already made plans-" I kind of zoned out of it and didn't hear what Stef said to Frankie next, because I was now starting to get worried that they will see Gavin. I got even more anxious when I heard a bike noise somewhere in the distance.
"Don't let me hold you back," I tell Stef, looking at both ways of the street "You two probably have plans on your own!"
"Not really," Stef replied with a shrug "We have the whole day for ourselves!"
"Can we go get some ice cream mommy! I want chocolate and strawberry!" Frankie suggested looking up Stef
"Ice cream, huh?" Stef asks, looking down to Frankie, who nods back vigorously "Ice cream does sound good," Stef says smiling at her daughter
"You should go then. Can't keep Frankie away from ice cream" I kept trying to make them leave as soon as possible "Don't let it melt!"
"Mommy, it can't melt! We have to go! We have to go!" Frankie started to pull on Stef's hand, trying to get her to walk
"Don't worry, it won't melt, honey" Stef reassured her, just when I saw Gavin pull up at the empty spot a little bit down the street, from where we stood. I looked to him nervously and then to Stef and Frankie.
"Callie!" Gavin put up his visor and called out to me, catching Stef's attention as well
Stef looks over her shoulder to Gavin "You know that guy?"
"No," I lie to Stef again, trying to keep my cool, while I was freaking out on the inside. There was no way out of this.
"You sure? He looks like he knows you," Stef comments turning a little and placing both of her hands on Frankie's shoulders, keeping her close
"Yo, Callie! Come on! We need to go!" Gavin waved at me
Stef looks to me surprised, because now she knew for sure, that he was calling for me. Not knowing what to say, I just storm pass Stef to Gavin. He hands me the jacket.
"Callie!" Stef calls out concerned as she watches me put on the jacket. Her eyes were big, filled with worry and shock.
When I put on the helmet, Stef scoops up Frankie to her arms and marches over to me and Gavin.
"You know her?" Gavin asks me when I close the helmets snap
"Yeah," I mumble back and sit on the bike "Can we drive. Now, please!"
"Sure thing,babe" He says closing the visor and starting up the bike
"Callie!" Stef calls out again, now looking scared for me. I warp my hands around Gavin and he accelerates driving out. I see Stef look at me in disbelief and shock as Gavin drives pass her on the street.
AN: Sorry, I went with the typical impressions people have about bikers. Don't hate me for it. I know not all bikers are that way (One of my ex is a biker).