I want to thank everyone for the amazing reviews. I'm amazed at what a great response I've gotten for this story.
To the guest (Amy) that asked if I could go into Callie's recovery, I can't say for sure if I'll do that without giving up the rest of the story ;) I will say that if Callie lives then I will definitely go into her recovery process. However, that won't be for a little while since I still have a lot of story to tell. In the meantime if you're looking for a story showing Callie recovering, you can look into the new story I'll be posting this week. I'm not sure if you read Green Eyed Monster, but the sequel to that story will be about Callie and the rest of the family recovering from a horrible ordeal.
Also, I didn't make note of this last chapter, but most chapters are going to be a general point of view, but if there is a chapter where the story is being told in a single person's point of view, then I'll make note of it at the beginning of the chapter.
Lena had just pulled into the vice principal spot in the parking lot at Anchor Beach. The kids quickly got out of the car. Callie and Brandon made their way toward the trunk of the car to retrieve their bags.
Brandon took hold of both his and Callie's bag.
"Brandon, I said I can carry my own bag," Callie said as she tried to grab her bag from Brandon.
"And I said that I don't mind taking it Callie," Brandon responded as he refused to give up Callie's bag. To others it may have looked like Brandon was treating Callie how a boyfriend would treat his girlfriend. But, it was the opposite for Brandon. Brandon was getting accustomed to thinking of Callie as his sister. A part of him still loved her in a romantic kind of way, but little by little the romance was dissipating. He was treating Callie like he would treat Mariana, like a sister.
"Callie, what did I say?" Mariana asked with a serious expression. "When someone offers to carry your bag, you let them."
"Why would I let someone else carry my bag when I have two perfectly working hands that can carry my own bag by myself?"
"Callie, I have so much to teach you," Mariana responded with a sigh.
Callie rolled her eyes as she looked from her sister to her brother. "Can I please just carry my bag?"
"Can you please just say thank you and let me take the bag?"
"Fine, but I owe you."
"No you don't," Brandon responds nonchalantly as he closes the trunk.
"Alright, you three," Lena said to Jude, Jesus, and Mariana, "have to get to class. Say goodbye to Callie and Brandon. You won't see them for two days."
"Bye bro, be careful out there on the slopes. I'd like you to come back in one piece," Jesus said to Brandon as he gave him a hug.
"Thanks, Jesus"
Jesus went over to Callie and hugged her as well. "Watch out for our brother and make sure he doesn't try to teach you how to ski."
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind Jesus."
Jude hugged Brandon as he said, "Have fun!"
"Thanks"
Jude moved over to Callie and pulled her into a hug. He was going to miss his sister, but he was glad that she was finally allowed to be a normal teenager. "Have fun and please have Brandon record you the first time you try to hit the slopes. I have to see that!"
"Ha ha, very funny."
Mariana gave Brandon a quick hug, but then looked at Callie with a sad expression. "Our room is going to be so empty without you. What am I going to do without you for two whole days?"
Callie hugged Mariana as she responded, "I'm sure you'll survive. I'll be back before you know it. You probably won't even realize that I'm gone."
"Not likely." Mariana had grown to love Callie, not only as a sister, but as a friend too. Initially Mariana hated the idea of having a roommate, but now she couldn't imagine not sharing a room with Callie. Mariana and Callie hugged for a few more moments before Mariana reluctantly let go of Callie. "Alright, in all seriousness, even though I'm so jealous that I'm not going too, I hope you have a really good time."
"Thanks, Mari. Like I said I'll be back before you know it."
Mariana smiled at her sister before walking away with Jude and Jesus.
"Alright, let's get you two over to the buses."
"Oh, are you that happy to get rid of us for two days?" Brandon joked.
"No, I just don't want you two to be late. The buses really are leaving at eight, with or without you two on it. You guys have a lot of miles to cover."
"Don't remind me," Callie mumbled as she rolled her eyes.
"Hey, you'll be there before you know it. It's not like you won't have each other and your phones to keep you occupied. Callie, you could probably get a lot of great pictures on the way. I'm sure you'll see a lot of great things."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Callie agreed with her mother.
"That's the spirit," Lena said cheerfully as they approached the buses. "The buses are by alphabetical order so you're both on the first bus." Lena pulled Brandon into a hug. "Be careful and have fun. I expect you both to keep in touch with both me and mom. Just send us a text every so often to let us know how it's going."
"You and mom worry too much," Brandon told Lena as he pulled out of the hug, allowing Lena to pull Callie into a hug.
"We're your moms. It's our jobs to worry."
"Just don't worry too much. Brandon and I will be fine. Like I said to Mariana," Callie told Lena as they pulled out of their hug, "we'll be back before you know it. Just make sure mom doesn't go crazy without me around."
"Ugh, easier said than done. What is she going to do without her mini-me by her side?"
Callie smiled at the thought. Stef had told her before that she and her were a lot alike. It seemed like little by little she found more and more ways in which she was just like Stef. She was starting to love the idea of being just like her mom. After all, her mom was a great woman to be compared to.
"Okay, go on you two. We'll be waiting for you right here when you get back."
Callie and Brandon both said their goodbyes to Lena as they made their way onto the bus.
So this chapter wasn't that long, but next chapter will be longer and will get to the accident.
As always all reviews and feedback are always appreciated. And if anyone else has any ideas or anything they want to see happen, run them by me and I'll try to incorporate it into the story.