Author's Note: Hope you guys are enjoying.
Callie's POV
I slowly stand up, I can feel a tear escape. I see tears flowing down his face, the frown he had the he entered changed to a huge smile. "Jude." I whispered, the second he heard me he dropped his keys and threw his backpack off and run towards me. I opened my arms ready for impact. Every second felt like hours, I almost didn't think it was real until he crashed into my arms. He did it with such force that he knocked both of us onto the couch I had been sitting on. He hugged me with such strength that for a second it reminded me that I was still injured from juvie but the pain was instantly gone and joy overtook everything I felt right now. I was happy I finally found him. "You found me, you promised" He said. We were still, holding each other as if our lives depended on it. It felt like it did. "Yeah, I always will." I promise him. Everything was okay now, we were together and I could protect and love him again. He was safe and loved, by me. We still held each other for a few more minutes until I remembered, Stef and Lena were still in the room.
I looked over to them, one of them had picked up the keys Jude had discarded and put them on the table. Stef had moved and sat down in the seat next to Lena, they were talking to each other practically whispering. I knew they didn't want to interrupt because when Stef looked over she looked at Jude then me. We made eye contact, this time there was something in her eyes. I couldn't tell exactly but it wasn't like before. She wasn't challenging me or anything, they were more...soft. I looked over at Lena and she had her eyes one Jude, she had the same look Stef did. I'm probably just seeing things.
Jude began to sit up, and I sat up and put my arm around him. I pulled him close, now was slightly leaning against me. Stef and Lena were still looking at us, but now both Jude and I were looking at them as well. I was getting ready to explain when Lena asked Jude, "Is this your sister, Callie Jacob?" He nodded. "I know you missed her but you can't go out in the middle of the night looking for her." I looked over at him, he knew my reaction because was already looking at me. "WHAT?" I yelled with anger and concern in my voice. I didn't mean to yell but hearing what he did. He could've have gotten hurt or worse. He knows that, he knows a lot of what has happened in the past. "I'm sorry." He said almost crying. "I wanted to make sure you were okay." He explained.
I turned my body towards and held both his hands. "I need you to promise me that you won't do something that dangerous again." I was looking straight into his eyes, to make he knew I was being very serious. He was nearly in tears and at this point so was I. "Only if you promise to tell me when you're hurt." He said, he knew that was one of the few things I couldn't promise. I always have to protect him, even if it meant lying to him. I have to lie, I have to protect him, whatever it takes. "At least that you'll try." He knew I couldn't keep that promise so he was giving me something close. I need to make sure that he won't do something like that again so I need to at least agree to trying.
"Fine, I promise." I said. "I promise too." He nodded and we gave each other a smile.
Just then someone cleared their throat, Jude and I looked over to see it was Stef. They had both been watching us this entire time, they didn't get angry or even walk away. I'm surprised by these women. "Now that that's settled. We'd like to explain a few things." Lena said. I looked at her confused as to what she meant. Stef left the room, and Lena saw the way I looked at her and continued. "I'll call Bill tomorrow, to tell him we found you. The short story is you were supposed to be here with us even before Jude. When Bill gets here hopefully tomorrow, he will explain more." Lena told me. I nod in understanding.
Stef came back with pillows and blankets, looked at me and said, "Guess you are a teenager after all." She didn't say it in a harsh tone, she said in a playfully tone. She also added a smile, at the point I knew that she wanted to make it clear that she was joking. "I never said I wasn't." I say with a smile on my face, letting her know I knew what she was trying to do. She walked over to us and gave us the pillows and blankets. Then she looked over at Jude and joked. "I was starting to think you didn't speak, kid." Good, looks like for the most he kept his head down and kept quiet. He remembered what I taught him. "Sorry, I told him not to." I admitted, hoping they would get angry with me and not him. By the looks of it, it didn't seem like they hurt him, but I can never by sure. People act differently in public and private. I couldn't be sure of them yet. I have to be with him, to protect him.
"Jude we'll let you stay down here for tonight but tomorrow night you'll have to sleep in your bed upstairs." Lena said as she stood up from the couch. Both women said their goodnight to us and headed upstairs.
Once I was sure they were upstairs I looked at Jude and said, "Tell me everything." He nodded and began. "Bill came to Jim's house and told me you were out of juvie and I was going to stay with you and the family that took you in. When we got here, Lena told him that David never came to drop you off. Bill called David and he said he didn't remember the family's name that picked you up. He said it might take a few days to get the paper that David messed up sorted. Bill also told them the reason that you were in juvie, they know you were protecting me. After he left I didn't talk, I didn't bother anyone and did as they said, like you taught me." I smile knowing he did as I taught him, but I have to ask the next question despite how polite and nice they seem, for all I know they could be wolves in sheep clothing. "Have they hurt you?" "No, they've been really nice. They gave me food, let me still at the table with them and their other kids. I have my own bed upstairs, in Jesus's room. Oh and they give me snacks and juice between meals." He said excited to tell me about his time here. I can tell how much he likes it here. "Remember this is only temporary, Jude." I know it hurt him when I said that but he'll get more heartbroken if I let him believe that he could stay here.
"Who's Jesus?" I asked trying to change the subject. "He's Mariana's twin, they're adopted." "Oh, so they have two kids?" I asked confused, I remember Talia telling me that Mariana's brother was named Brandon. She never mentioned someone named Jesus. "There's also Brandon. He's Stef real son." He explained. Oh great, another real kid, this is great. I just hope he's not like Devin...speaking of which... I was pulled out of my thoughts by Jude's question. "How'd you find me anyway?"
That question made me think, me being here wasn't a coincidence. Was it? Devin knew I was looking for Jude, he somehow knew Talia and that she knew Mariana. Who just so happen to be Jude's current foster sister. There's no way he could have knew that, right? Maybe I'm just overthinking this. I'm just glad I found Jude. Coincidence or not, I'll deal with it later. "Hey, don't worry about that baby. I'm just glad I found you." He looked at me, knowing that was the best answer I would give him. "Me too." I ruffled his hair and told him to get ready for bed. That night he slept soundly and I stayed up making sure he got a good night sleep.
Hours had passed and now the sun was rising, when I heard someone come downstairs. I saw as Stef peek her head around the doorway. She saw I was up and signaled me to go with her. I thought about it for a second but they hadn't laid a finger on Jude. I decided to go with her, I carefully untangled myself from Jude. I then followed Stef to their kitchen. She started the coffee machine, while I sat down. She sat across from me, for a few minutes we just stare at each other. We waited for the other to talk, and after a few she asks me.
"Did you sleep?" Why is she asking me that? Why does she care if I slept? "Yeah." I lied, she squinted her eyes. She knew I was lying, how? The coffee was ready, she went over to grab a cup. I stare at the coffee machine, I start thinking when was the last time I had coffee, it was the morning before I went to juvie. I'm guessing Stef saw me staring at the coffee because she asked, "How do you drink your coffee?" "Bitter." I answered without thinking. She grabbed another cup and filled both cups. "Me too." She said as she placed a up in front of me. "Don't tell Lena, she is against giving kids caffeine." She smiled as she took a sip of her cup. We drank our coffee in silence for a minute or two when Lena came in.
She went over to Stef and as soon as she saw the cup in my hand she looked at her partner with a puzzled look. "Stef did you give a kid caffeine?" "I'm not a kid." I stated. Stef looked at Lena with a grin, "She's not a kid." She told her, Lena smacked her arm. I attempted to hide my smile by drinking my coffee.
Stef's POV
Lena smacked my arm and I gave her fake hurt look. I looked over at Callie, I saw her smile at our interaction but attempted to hide it by drinking her coffee. I thought back at what Bill had told us.
"Calle is a great kid, the only reason she was in juvie was because she was protecting Jude from getting hurt. Apparently their foster father was beating Jude and she tried to get him to stop but nothing she tried work. So she went outside with a baseball bat and smashed his car. It worked but the police took her to juvie. They didn't charge him with anything, they thought she was lying. Jim told them that she went crazy and he hadn't touched these kids. This doesn't surprise me, in a system like this there isn't much anyone can do. Callie is always protecting Jude, that girl would do anything for him." He explained. "Things like this have happened before?" Lena asked with a voice full of concern. I was going to ask the same thing but she beat me to it. "This was her first time in juvie, but they have been hurt before. After the first few times Callie stopped telling me. Jude has told me a few things here and there but doesn't say most of the things that have happened to them in those homes anymore either." He explained.
What have these kids been through, and why would a child need to grow up protecting their younger one. That thought begins to remind me of the twins and how they were the first time they came to us to. Jesus was always protecting Mariana.
"So Bill will be here soon, and he's going to tell us the next steps. Hopefully you'll be able to stay here with Jude soon." Lena tells Callie. I can see Callie process the information and then nod. Then it seemed like she started thinking about something, "Do you know if he'll take long? I have to return the car." She informs us. Who's car is that? It's a weekend and I doubt her foster parents let her take a car, especially without a permit.
"Who's car is that?" I asked before Lena could answer her. She looked at me thinking about her answer. Maybe now that she knows who we are, she'll tell us how she ended up at a party, with alcohol. Not to mention with a car and having to bring my drunk daughter home. "I told you, I friend let me borrow it." So she's still with that lie. I know this probably isn't the best time but I need answers. "Was that friend at the party?" "Yeah." I looked to see if she was lying, she wasn't but I could tell she didn't want me to know the full story. "Stef." Lena warned me. Just then there was at the front door. "I'll go get Jude." Callie said already walking toward the living room. Lena left to open the door Bill. Lena and Bill entered first, I greeted Bill and Callie and Jude soon joined us.
We all settled down around the table. "So I was able to find the family you were placed with and a few other things. It looks like your paperwork to go to Anchor Beach is all processed. All you have to do is take the entrance exam and you should be able join the next day. Now I have to ask, is everything okay with the Ashtons?" Bill asked Callie. She looked nerves being asked that but responded with a nod. "Including Devin?" She tensed up even more. Who's this Devin guy? "Yeah." She confirmed to him. "Who's Devin?" I can't help but ask. "He's the oldest son, he twenty-one but still lives there." He explained. Something about that made me uneasy. "Why are you driving his car? You need a permit to drive." So this is why she didn't want to tell me. It's her foster brother's, who is the old enough to buy and drink alcohol. "He gave me the keys, it was an emergency." "How'd you end up here anyway?" "Drove their daughter home from a party." Callie replied instantly.
I looked over at Callie, she was looking at Bill. She looked as if she challenging him. "Was there alcohol?" He asked. "I don't know ask Devin." "He was at the party?" What was a twenty-one year old doing at what was supposed to be a high school party. "He told to take them home and gave me his keys." This Devin guy is really something, I look over at Lena and I can tell by her facial expression she was thinking the same thing as I was.
"Then how'd he get home?" "He brought another car."
"Was you taking his car the plan?" I was thinking the same thing. "Not me, someone. He said last time they had to leave early. He brought the other car just in case."
"Who drove the other car then?" "No idea, and I didn't ask. The less I know the better, right?" She was clearly referring something only Bill and her knew about because Jude looked at her confused. However Callie never once took her eyes off Bill. Whatever she was referring to made Bill uncomfortable because he stopped asking questions after, instead he changed the topic.
"Most of the paperwork is done and fixed so you should only be there a few more days. Okay?" He told her. She nodded and finally looked away. "Is that okay with you two?" He asked Lena and I. "The sooner the better." Lena said and I nodded in agreement.
"Now, your parole officer..." Callie scoffed with an annoyed look. "...wants you to go to group therapy once a week." "A shrink?" Callie asked. "Once you get moved and settled with the Fosters." Bill completely ignored her. Is he really ignoring her? "Once you enroll into school, he wants to attend all your classes unless it's a medical emergency." He looked at Callie. "Really?" She asked as if it was a joke. Lena and I both gave each other a confused look. She didn't look like the type to completely dismiss her education. Nor did we understand why she thought he was joking. "He saw your attendance." "Oh." Was all she said, understanding what he was saying. At this point it seemed like they were talking in a language only both of them understood, because the rest of us looked puzzled, including Jude. "I can't promise...I'll try." It seemed like Jude was starting to understand, he puzzled expressed faded. Instead he looked worried. "Fine, but you have to..." "try, I know. " She interrupted him. "Good."
"Now I have to speak to just Stef and Lena." Before anyone could say anything else both kids stood up and left. As they left, I realized that they were holding hands the entire time, as they left. After they left Bill began talking.
"So here's the deal. She doesn't drink or smoke but she has destructive behavior. Her brother's well being comes first. When she scared she uses anger to cover it, when she's sad she's avoidant. I only know these things because Jude has told me. Oh that reminds me, no matter how much progress you make with her, if she thinks you are a threat to Jude's safety she'll turn on you in less than a second. I learned that one myself." What did he do to make her think that? "Why has she missed so much more classes than Jude?" Lena asked. "Other than moving homes, I don't know. She won't even tell Jude, I know she doesn't skip to drink or smoke. I've tested her for drugs and alcohol. She kind of just disappears most days." He can he not know? Did their foster parent even realize she's missing? Why are these adults so irresponsible? Which reminds me...
"What did you do to her?" I asked, curiously. He sighed and said, "If Callie is comfortable she will tell you." What does that mean? "It's not my place, I was not really involved, it's complicated. She will tell you if she wants, honestly I don't know the full story. I was told what was on the report, and I was somewhat responsible on what happened afterwards." Something about the way he said that made it seem like she was hiding something. That or Callie was too traumatized to talk about it, both options are bad. She doesn't seem like a bad kid. "What about Jude? Does he know?" Lena asked with worry. Maybe the kid also witnessed it too, whatever it was. "Maybe he heard but I doubt it. She hid him and made him listen to music on the iPod she had at the time. He said the music was too loud to hear anything, and he only left when Callie went to go get him. He did say she was pale and has a busted lip but by the time Callie got to him the police was already there." Police? Why would they need the police? What the hell happened? "That was when she stopped telling me anything, at the they lived with four other kids. They were all best friends I know that much but after that incident, they all seemed too want nothing to do with each other. With the exception of Jude of course. Anything else you would have to ask her." Lena and I nod our heads, understanding that the topic was over. We needed to process this, what they...no what she could have gone through.
Callie's POV
Jude and I were sitting on the couch that was our makeshift bed. "Callie?" I looked at Jude. "Yeah?" "Is Devin another Liam?" He asked. I had told him after we were moved from the Olmstead's house what Liam did. Not because I wanted to but because he knew something was really wrong after that day, and I wanted him to be aware of the danger.
"I don't know." I answered honestly.
"Did he..."
"No. He hasn't tried anything, he feels similar. I don't trust him." I confessed, although it's true that he hasn't tried to do anything, I don't trust him.
"Why'd you go to a party with him?" He curious, he knows I tend to avoid anything social, that isn't with him.
"I think I made a deal with the devil." I told him, he didn't understand. I saw the perplexed look he had. "Don't worry about it." I didn't want to tell him that I made a deal, just to find him. He hugged me, and embraced him. We both needed this hug. We only hugged for a few seconds but it felt like an eternity.
After a few minutes Stef and Lena walked in. Stef was holding a phone, she over and gave it to me. "This is my old phone, it's on the family plan. It has all our contacts preprogramed. We were going to give it to Jude since he kept disappearing, but I'm guessing we're going to have less of that now. We thought you should have it in case of an emergency." She explained. There's a catch, there always is, no one gives someone a phone for free. I take the phone. "Thank you." I said.
I looked at and ruffled his hair a bit. "I'll see you soon." I told him, as I stood up from the couch. "You can stay for breakfast, if you'd like." Lena told me. I could tell they all wanted my to stay, especially Jude. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't. I need to return Devin's car. I didn't know his reaction to me keeping his car overnight, I didn't even know if he cared.
"No thank you. I have to get going." I hold up the car keys to let them know why. Lena gave me an understanding look, Stef however gave me a stern look. "You calls us if there's an emergency." She reminded me. I nod without a word and head to the door, Jude follows me. We hug and say our goodbyes before I leave.
Stef's POV
As soon as his sister leaves Jude heads upstairs without a word. They are so different without each other. Jude doesn't talk unless his sister is with him and by the looks of it Callie gets defensive. She only calmed down when she realized Jude was here. "They are different without each other." Lena states. She knows I saw it to. "Yeah." "One is quiet and hides." "The other is defensive and ready to fight." I finished her thought. "But when they're together, he smiles and seems a little more carefree." "And she is protected but more friendly." They are both in survival mode, I hate just thinking of what could possibly put them in a position where they would need to learn that.
Author's Note: Let me know if you guys like it so far.