Chapter 730: The Yawning Wolf
Tuesday, March 21st, Afternoon
Afternoon, after school, these two women walk into the shop The Yawning Wolf and look at the clothes on the racks and on the shelves. They are on a mission to find new clothing for the younger woman, a girl of fourteen tender years old. The older one was quickly approaching her 30th year on the planet.
The younger woman is Callie Ashe, the recent ward of Brooke Davis. She looked around the store awkwardly, as she had never been to a place like this before. She wore long blonde hair, a jean skirt, a white blouse, white knee socks, and simple flats. Clothing her ultra-conservative parents had chosen for her. Something that didn't feel right to her.
The older woman is Ellie Scott, the second youngest daughter of Lucas Scott, and currently a resident of Beaulieu Manor with Callie. She has the reputation of being the wildest of Lucas's kids. Her curly blonde hair was worn down, and she wore her usual garb of black jeans, black motorcycle boots, black leather motorcycle jacket, and today she wore a purple shirt with the black letters "FC" on it. This was tied in with her regular purple choker. Ellie looked at her young companion and over the clothes.
.
"This should be a good start," Ellie said.
Callie felt like she might pass out, "This is all kind of new to me," she admitted, "I wouldn't know where to begin." It wasn't just the overwhelming thought of picking out her own wardrobe that was distracting her either.
"Well, how do you want to start?" Ellie asked, her voice calm and even. In her mind, she was out of her depth, this was more her friend and Callie's foster sister Trin's area, but Trin was in NYC and hadn't met Callie yet.
"Casual first," Callie said and glanced over at the outerwear and jackets.
"Okay, what makes you feel comfortable? Do you like skirts and dresses? Do you want jeans or slacks? Are you booty shorts or basketball shorts?" Ellie asked.
"Jeans and Slacks are more my thing," Callie admits with a smile, and maybe one of those!" she points to the leather jackets.
"Okay, go pick out three pairs of jeans and slacks you like, different styles," Ellie said with a laugh, "The leather jacket is a different store, and you might have to earn."
Callie felt like she spent the next hour trying everything on, but she came out with a few pairs in three different styles, knowing they fit perfectly, "Not bad for the first time. Pretty proud of myself," she said.
Ellie shrugged, "Okay, tops, go find a top that you think would work with each set of pants," she said.
Callie sometimes has a near eidetic and photographic memory, so she takes mental notes and then browses the tops. Some Henleys for layering, some long-sleeve tees, some long and short-sleeve polos, and she went to try them on.
"Take your time, Callie," Ellie said, "You can miss a day of homework."
"Not if I want to get out of this god-forsaken town," Callie said, peeking over the door to the stall. She'd never felt so gargantuan.
"Missing one day doesn't hurt your chances. Don't believe the lies your teachers tell you," Ellie said.
Callie just went silent after that, wanting to return to Beaulieu.
"What's wrong?" Ellie asked, "Don't clam up, I have a sister just like you, and I have to beat it out of her. Can't help if you don't speak."
Callie dressed, "You would never understand, you-" She's finally feeling something: anger. But Callie knows she shouldn't take it out on Ellie, especially when she's only trying to help. "Your father didn't stop loving you," she whispers, shaking her head, "God...!"
"No, my dad still loves me, there were times me and my mom weren't speaking, and I am talking for months on end. You know why I am in Tree Hill and not kicking it on Hell's Kitchen?" Ellie said.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" Callie whispers.
"Well, for one, I like being nice to people. Also, my sister likes you, and that makes you cool in my eyes. Something about you is screaming to be let loose; you just need the confidence to let your freak flag fly. Mine is a red stain thong, by the way, for freak flags," Ellie said, chuckling at the wit she tacked on.
Callie has the room attendant bring the things she's planning on purchasing, "I've got the rest of my life to figure that out," she grins, "I just... I used to be so close with my family, and no one is talking to me now," she sighs again, "So it's hard. My siblings have made their decisions, losing me in the process. They can keep the money; I don't want it, not after all that."
"Don't worry about them and who they expect you to be. I look like my mom, eerily like her. People expect me to be the next her. I chose to be the first me. That's all, girl, be the best Callie Ashe you can be," Ellie said, "Now, next foundation garments or dresses?"
"Can we come back for all that later? My bras don't really need replacing at the moment," Callie admitted, "I have about ten of them."
"It's not about wear but how it works with the outer clothing. It shows on the outer clothes if you're not wearing the right foundation garment. You reside in Beaulieu; you supp at Brooke's table; even with your own style, you should look put together," Ellie said.
"And plenty of clean underwear," Callie laughed, "Oh, fair point," Callie said, "Okay.. let's get this over with."
"Fair enough, and trust me, Trin spent many hours teaching me these secrets," Ellie said.
Ellie leads Callie to the intimates section of the store.
Calle had her size memorized and the things she tried on earlier with her; she changed into each outfit, meticulously seeing how the undergarments fit.
Ellie nodded, "Good, looking good," she said.
Callie just beams; her confidence is slowly coming back.
"Okay, now hear me out; I think you will need a few skirts and blouses, formal dresses Brooke can handle that and will. But trust me, every young lady needs a few summer dresses, at least two used as a beach cover-up, and trust me, you will go to the beach," Ellie said.
Callie changed into what she was initially wearing, grabbing all the purchases and putting them back into the bags, "I have a feeling I'll be getting dragged to the beach," Callie laughs. She nods at the statements about formal wear; she isn't too worried about that.
"Yeah, when you're a bit older, I might just explain to you the importance and benefit of having the right leather skirt," Ellie said, laughing.
Callie huffed, "Are you trying to kill me?!" she asked.
"When you are older, you'll understand when fishing, to catch a fish, you need the right bait," Ellie said.
She just sighs, nodding.
"Go find stuff you like, and we won't have to worry about swimsuits; it's almost that time of year. Have you checked out the pools at Beaulieu in the North Range?" Ellie asked.
"Not yet; the Manor is a Manor for a reason; it's huge!" Callie exclaimed.
"You'll love the pools; the sauna is a favorite of mine as well," Ellie said, "After the summer dresses, we'll need to talk shoes. You might be the right age to start learning to walk with heels."
Callie grabbed a white piece of blank paper, waving it like a flag, "I'm done... but I also really appreciate you taking the time to help me," she said.
"Well, let's check you out, and how do you feel about ice cream?" Ellie asked.
"Are you buying?" Callie said, joking.
"Why would I not be buying if I brought it up," Ellie said, guiding the young lady to the counter to pay.
"Fair enough," Callie said, laughing.
At the counter, the sales clerk looked at Ellie. "Hi Ellie, how are you?" she asked; her nametag said Sadie.
"Good, Sadie, just helping the latest addition to the family shopping for some clothes," Ellie said.
"Oh, really, who adopted?" Sadie asked.
Ellie laughed, "Brooke," she said.
"Oh boy," Sadie said. "Callie is a good egg," Ellie said.
"So, cash, card, or account?" Sadie asked.
"You know Brooke," Ellie said.
"Of course, it will be charged to Brooke's personal account," Sadie said.
Ellie smiled, "Thanks," she said.
"Appreciate it," Callie smiles meekly.
"Just a small fringe benefit," Ellie said, "No, come, let's get some ice cream; I hear chocolate call my name, Ellie, Ellie!"
Callie has her bags in hand, and she's grinning, "Anyone ever tells you you're funny?"
"Funny looking, maybe," Ellie said.
"Which one of your siblings thinks that!?" Callie frowned a bit.
"Who said it was one of them," Ellie said and laughed.
They came to the ice cream place, and Ellie ordered chocolate topped with hot fudge, chocolate sprinkles, and chocolate whipped cream.
"Would chocolate milk be too much?" Ellie asked Callie.
"Do your thing," Callie shakes her head. She orders mint chocolate chip, rocky road, and whipped cream.
"Okay, so, what's your deal?" Ellie asked.
How are you expecting me to answer? I'd like context," Callie smiles.
"I want to know who you are. Also, how someone as nice and great as you come across ended up disowned and dumped at the Saltwater Motel," Ellie said.
"They're ultra-conservative, and I'm gay," Callie shrugs.
"Hmm, okay, they're assholes," Ellie said.
"It doesn't fit their narrative, but what's worse is I lost a lot more than just my parents; my siblings had no choice but to cut ties," Callie sighs, not wanting to go any deeper than that. "Yeah, that's what I meant when I said you really wouldn't understand how I feel, at least not from personal experience. Please never forget how lucky you are," Callie whispers.
"I do have a sister I hardly talk to; I miss her dearly," Ellie said, "Ever have one of those relationships where you were with someone your whole life, and they walked away, and it's not because anything you did, or they did. It was because of a third party."
"Yeah, I have a few of those relationships, sure," Callie replies.
"Yeah, that's me and my sister Kay. When we talk, I always feel she wants to end the conversation as soon as possible," Ellie said.
"I'm sorry, Ellie," Callie says, "I know how much that can hurt."
"It's deeper than that, I'm a twin, and Kay is my twin," Ellie said.
"Family," Callie sighs, shaking her head, "What to do about them?"
Ellie shrugged, "I don't know," she said.
"That makes two of us," Callie says.
Ellie rubbed her choker, "So, how many more of you did your parents produce?" Ellie asked.
"Five," Callie said.
"So, there were six kids?" Ellie asked, "Where were you in birth order?"
"Youngest," Callie said.
"All boys?" Ellie asked.
"Minus me," Callie said.
"Yes, not including you, since you are a girl," Ellie said...shaking her head in humor.
"Funny," Callie said and smirked.
"How many brothers do you have?" Ellie asked directly.
"Five," Callie said and grinned.
"Opposite of me, I have one brother," Ellie said, "Keith, or lunkhead, depends on my mood."
"You call your brother lunkhead, too, huh?" Callie said, chuckling.
"I believe it is a tradition that younger sisters call their older brothers lunkhead," Ellie said, taking a spoonful of her sundae.
"At this point, it sounds like it," Callie smiled.
"You're right; I can't complain about family; some of the things my brother has done for me are above and beyond," Ellie said.
Callie slowly enjoys the sweet treat before her, responding, "That's how it was between us too, well before…" Callie motions with her hands.
"I went to college with my brother; he was two years ahead of me. He was the big man on campus but watched out for me. You should see him and Candi; they both try to act like they are the oldest," Ellie said, taking another spoonful.
Callie laughed, "Yeah, that's Dave and Junior," she said.
"But Keith, when you meet him, you will understand why everyone talks highly about him. Your foster sisters have made some good choices in partners," Ellie said.
Callie smiled.
"There is one thing I remember Winnie Churchill saying, When you find yourself going through hell, call the fire department," Ellie said.
Callie smirks, "I feel like, in certain cases, burnt bridges are not meant to be rebuilt," she said.
"Don't waste your time looking back. You're not going that way. There is a great line I want to steal; I am a writer; by the way, it goes, Don't waste your time looking back. You're not going that way," Ellie said.
"I just hope my family isn't surprised that I've planned to go no contact after this. It shatters my soul, but some things are too hard to get over," Callie said.
"From what Brooke had said, it seems like they already cut contact with you. So, no major loss there," Ellie said, "As I said before, assholes."
"They'll regret it someday," Callie said with a fire in her eyes.
"One would hope," Ellie said, "Some people are just too bitter to change."
Callie nodded.
"So, have you thought about your bathing suit for this year?" Ellie asked.
"I've been attempting to move out of survival mode, to be completely honest," Callie said.
"You have time, but think about it because Brooke will ask," Ellie said.
Callie nodded.
"They didn't tell you that perk?" Ellie asked.
"I was just trying to survive," Callie whispered, "This is all so much more—- I—"she shrugged.
"That's fair, but well, Brooke can be considered generous but also likes to spoil those she cares about," Ellie said, "Just be used to the fact you're a princess living in a castle ruled by a queen, that is benevolent to her queendom."
Callie sighed a lot that day, "Can you really blame me for that waiting for the other shoe to drop?" she asked.
"No, but guess what, get used to the tiara," Ellie said and laughed.
"I'm not a princess; I'm just a girl," Callie said.
"So, are princesses just girls? So, what college are you thinking about?" Ellie asked.
"I've got plenty of time to worry about that," Callie said.
"Well, what do you want to go for?" Ellie said, "Trust me, you can have that time shortened on you fast."
"It was business for the family, but I think I'm leaning more toward the arts now," Callie said.
"There are many good art schools; it just depends on what specific area you want to study," Ellie said, "I just stayed local."
"Music," Callie said, smiling.
"Hmm, how good are you at music? Are you Juilliard good?" Ellie asked.
"Maybe UCLA and NYU are good; learning an instrument was practically required in the House of Ashe," Callie said.
"Good, maybe if you go to NYU, we'll see each other; I normally live in NYC," Ellie said.
"We'll see what happens," Callie smiles.
"We shall," Ellie said, checking her smartphone, "Finish up; we should be heading back, or the Queen will get mad."
"No one wants to anger the Queen," Callie gets up and tosses her trash in the trash bin.
The two women left and headed to Ellie's car. Once they secured Callie's purchases, they got in and headed to Beaulieu Manor.