Callie's POV
Lena had sent us home, while she stayed at the hospital and waited for any change in Stef's condition. She couldn't even look at the twins, she was trying not to be angry with them.
When we were home, we agreed on a sleepover in the living room. Brandon and I were picking out clothes for Lena to change into tomorrow.
"What was it like, when you met the twins for the first time? Were you angry that they were here?" I asked Brandon.
"No, I was actually excited to have siblings. They were timid at first, almost like Jude, but after a while we got along like siblings." He told me
"So, I guess it was just me you didn't like." I said and he smiled. A few seconds passed before I spoke again.
"You don't know what it's like to not have enough, to not be wanted." I stated. "Oh, so that means I don't have a right to be angry?" He asked, a little angry. "No it means that you don't know what it's like to wonder why…why the people that brought you into this world, the people that are supposed to love you more than anyone else, didn't. So don't be a jackass." I told him.
Soon after getting Lena's clothes Brandon went to apologize to the twins, and I sat on the steps listening in.
Another few hours passed and we were all in the living room, sleeping or at least trying to.
"This reminds me of our mom." Jude said.
"I know, but remember they're not us." I reminded him. "Now go back to sleep." He did.
A few days later Stef was still at the hospital but she was improving. Jude and I were out shopping for our funeral clothes. We were looking around when I saw it, a white tux.
The seven of us were sitting around the campfire outside, it was dark and we wanted to hangout and roast marshmallows. We were laughing and having fun.
"Ok, serious question. If we were all still friends and we had to plan the funeral how would you want it?" Alex asked.
"Oh my gosh, Alex you're so morbid." Mindy told him. Then we all laughed.
"I'm serious, if we had to plan each other's funerals how would it be?"
"Do you think we're going to die soon?" Jude asked. "No, I'm referring to when we're older." Alex explained. "Oh, in that case…I want to be in a tux, and want Callie wearing a dress. I haven't seen her wear a dress in a while." Jude explained.
"Fine, I'll wear a dress but only at your funeral." I told him.
"You know what, I want all of you to wear white. I want to wear a suit, and I want Mindy to sing. I also want you all to kneel. Since Mindy is going to sing, she needs to be in front of my casket, facing away from me. I want the rest of you to stand next to me, and the song needs to have some sort of choreography." Xavier told us.
"That sounds so extra, but I want a song too, and I want matching rings. So it signifies our trauma bond." Mindy said. "Besides, what happens if I die before you and I can't sing at your funeral?" She asked Xavier.
"If that happens then Callie could sing, Jude has said she's a good singer." He answered. I look at Jude with a confused look. "What? I like your singing." Jude defended himself and I smiled at him. "You're singing at mine too, C.J." Mindy told me. This wasn't a request, it was a demand.
"That's too gloomy for me, I want a party instead. Like a birthday party but instead of 'happy birthday', it would be 'happy death day'. No one can wear black on purpose." Jax jumped in.
"Of course you would say that." I told him and we all chuckled.
"I don't want anything fancy for me, I don't think it matters what happens to the body as my soul is at peace." Jessie said. "Aw man, I was going to say to take my body on a boat to see as much as possible before it's buried." Alex said and we all laughed.
"What about you C.J, any thoughts on how you want your funeral?" Xavier asked.
"You remember?" Jude snapped me out of my thoughts. "How they wanted their funerals, I mean." He explained, he saw what I was looking at. "Yeah." I answered.
He grabbed my hand. "I know we were joking, but…let's make their funerals how they wanted them." He said and I nodded in agreement. He grabbed my hand and I can tell he's holding back tears.
We tried out a few white suits, along with 'normal' funeral clothes. "Are you going to wear a dress to her funeral?" Jude asked. "Yeah. They never saw me in one." I said, and he smiled.
We finished up our purchases and headed to the jewelry store. We were looking at some rings when we heard someone.
"Hey! What do you two think you're doing? You thieves better get out right now before we call security." A woman in a pantsuit warned us.
"We're not stealing, we're going to buy…" She hadn't let me explain before she yelled for security. "SECURITY!" She yelled and a man with a security jacket came running. "These kids were stealing." She accused us. "We weren't…" I was going to explain what actually happened when the security interrupted. "Where are your parents?" He asked us.
I was so sick of these people already, I looked at Jude. He knew what I was thinking, he gave a small nod, letting me know he was ready. I quickly grabbed his hand and we both booked it out of the store and away from them. Security chased after us, we ran about a mile or so before they stopped chasing us.
"We can't go back there for a while, not unless we come with Stef or Lena." I was able to say between breaths. He nodded trying to catch his breath. We recovered our breaths and headed home. Jude was a bit scared about us almost going to jail for just being kids and on our own. However he didn't understand that it wasn't because we were kids or that we were on our own, it was because despite everything we still looked poor. The woman and security could tell just by looking at us, but I didn't want him to know that. At least we were able to get our clothes for the funeral.
We arrived home and we heard Lena. "Jude, Callie, can you come in here, please?" We were nervous but we did. We entered the living room and the kids were all there. Jude and I sat next to each other.
"There's some good and bad news. The good news is Stef is going to be ok and she'll be coming home soon." Lena informed us and we were all relieved. "And the bad news is, she'll need help with some things. This could last from a few days to a few months." She explained, she also told us she would take some time off of work and we would have a temporary vice principal. We then returned to what we had been doing. Jude actually stuck close to Lena, something about that hurt. I went to work on some homework in my room.
Jude and I met up with Jax, Alex and Jessie for the funeral arrangements. We ended up talking about our time together at the house and how we planned our own funerals. We decided on a song and we rehearsed a quick choreography that would give them a good send away.
Most of us went our separate ways however I decided to hang back and talk with Jax a bit more. Brandon had picked up Jude and I told him I would walk home later. He told me to call if anything happened, then left.
I told Jax we were going out for a walk and as we walked he began to ask. "Where are you taking me?" "Somewhere you need." I responded. It was a quiet walk all the way there. We stopped right in front of it.
"A rage room?" He asked. "Trust me." I said before we walked in. I paid for everything and we headed in. "This is pointless." He said after hitting a TV once. "Just keep doing it." I told him and he did.
I swung his hammer once then twice, then again. Each swing had more and more force, he did need this. Eventually he was swinging with all his anger and then he stopped. He released his hammer and started sobbing and yelling. "WHY HIM, WHY HIM? IT SHOULD'VE BEEN ME. I'M THE OLDER BROTHER. I WAS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT HIM." He kept yelling. I could hear both the anger and sadness in his screams.
I walked over to him and hugged him as tightly as I could. I couldn't imagine how he felt knowing his younger brother was really gone. It felt like hours standing there hugging him.
"Thank you. I really needed that." He told me. "I know." I said before we parted ways.
Stef came home a few days later, Lena had started taking off time from work to help her. That weekend my group therapy had started since I was unable to attend the first one. Dur to me being shot and all.
Stef walked into the kitchen where I had been making some coffee. "You know Lena doesn't like it when you drink that stuff." She told me as she took a seat. I grabbed a cup and filled it up. I put some creamer in it.
"I thought you didn't like cream in your coffee." She was attempting a conversation. "I don't." I said before handing it to her. "And it's not for me." I told her.
"So are you ready for group today?" Stef asked. "I don't have a choice. How are you doing? Are you in any pain?" I asked, trying to avoid that conversation.
"Yeah but most of the pain has gone down." She told me. I grabbed another cup and filled it with coffee creamer and sugar. "That's good." I said. Stef seemed to want to say something but before she did Lena walked in.
"Morning, is that coffee I smell?" She asked. "Morning Love, Callie made us coffee." Stef told her, as I handed Lena the coffee I had just made. "So, I was just wondering if I could delay going to group a little longer?" I asked them. "I knew these coffee's weren't free." Stef joked, I missed her jokes so much I smiled. "Stef." Lena warned her but Stef responded with. "What? She thought it was funny."
"Callie, you have to go, it's required and you're going to have to go eventually. Why not get it over with?" Lena said, she was right. I hate that she was right.
Later that day after work, Brandon drove me to therapy. I didn't feel like talking so I didn't, I let everyone talk. It felt like I was there for an eternity but I managed.
The rest of the weekend went on faster than I could remember, but it was Monday and we were in school. The kids there were still talking about the new teacher, , according to everyone he was some sort of saint.
It was lunch time and I was one of the last to go outside, until I heard something in the restroom. I couldn't tell exactly what, so I went in.
It was her Talya, she was crying and she hadn't noticed me. I knew I should've mined my own business but I couldn't. Something told me she needed someone, as much as I wanted to stay out of conflict after everything that has happened, I couldn't leave her like this.
I walked up to her and she noticed me a second right before I hugged her. "It's going to be okay." I told her, in reality I had no idea why she was crying alone in the restroom. I assumed it was the same thing as the last time I caught her but I never found out what it was. I had just assumed it had to do with her and Brandon.
"No it's not, no one's going to believe me." She said, I still remained clueless. "Believe what?" I asked, letting her out of the hug.
"What he did to me. Everyone thinks he's the best. No one is going to believe that Mr. Wilson raped me." She said through her sobs. I knew she was telling the truth from how much she was crying.
I knew what she was feeling, the exact same feeling. I told her what I wish someone would have told me at the time. "I believe you." "You do?" She was surprised but there was a slight relief in her voice. I nodded and hugged her.
We sat against the walk and she began to speak. "Everything was fine, he was a good teacher and all. Until one day, when he asked me to stay after class because he needed to speak to me. I did, and he started off congratulating me on my test grade. Then he started making inappropriate comments and he was touching my leg. I tried getting out of there but he grabbed my arm and threatened me, and I was so scared. I froze up and then he…" She couldn't say it, it was too hard for her. "It's not your fault." I told her.
I grabbed her hand and held it. I wanted to make sure so she didn't go back, I didn't want her to relive it. We sat there until we had to go back to class, we had to split ways. The rest of the day, the only thing I could think about was what Talya told me. She trusted a monster, I know the feeling.
For the next few days I tried checking in on Talya, she told me I was the first she told because she couldn't do it alone. She told me she wasn't ready to tell anyone else yet. I respected that, but that meant I had to try and intervene every time Mr. Wilson wanted to talk to her alone. Every time I just went in and practically dragged Talya away, since he really didn't want to let her go. He kept insisting that he would need her for a quick discussion.
It was the day of the funerals and most of the Fosters insisted on coming with us. They said they wanted to support, Stef had to stay because of her recovery and Brandon stayed to help her. I knew she wanted to come but couldn't.
Jude, Jax, Alex and I all wore white suits, while Jessie wore a white dress. I was going to change into a dress after I sang.
When we arrived there were barely any people, there was the Fosters, Mike, Alex's foster parents, Devin, Andrew, and a couple who I didn't know.
We sat down and took a seat, Jude and sat next to each other and I held his hand. This made me remember our mother's funeral.
Jude wore a tux, and I wore a dress, we both wore black. We were holding hands as we walked down the path, leading up to our mother. The casket was opened, she looked like she was sleeping.
"Thank you all for coming." Jax announced, snapping me back to reality. He was standing next to the caskets. We had decided pretty early on that they would have wanted to have a funeral together and be buried next to each other. "Some of you may have never met my brother and…"
He thought deeply on how he would introduce Mindy. He took a deep breath and continued. "The love of his life. Those who did know them knew how deeply they loved each other. Some people may think they were too young to be in love or understand what love was. But you didn't see the way they looked at each other. The way Xavier tried to give her the world and the way that Mindy would try to do things that she'd never done before, because she was too scared, just for him. I hope now that they are in whatever afterlife exists together."
"Now you may be wondering why we're in white, instead of black. Xavier was a bit adventurous, he also wanted people to have fun. We all talked about what we would want our funerals to look like. We were a bit morbid for our age but we talked about it. My brother requested we wear white, and for Callie specifically to wear a suit. They both requested for Callie to sing, and Jessie, pl\ease." Jax signaled for Jessie to go to the front.
Jessie was carrying a brown lock box, she stood next to Jax and opened it. It was five rings in a straight line with a bit of space in between each of them.
"Mindy wanted us to all get rings together, she called them 'trauma bond' rings. She wanted something that would help us remember where we came from, and what we went through." Jessie explained.
Jude, Alex and I walked up and collected our rings, they had the initials 'MX'. For Mindy and Xavier, Jessie ended up buying the rings but I didn't think she would have them custom made. We put our rings on, I put mine on the ring finger of my right hand.
We prepared for the song choreography. We all had gotten in formation, we were facing away from the caskets. Jax and Alex were to my right next to Xavier's casket and Jessie and Jude were to my left, next to Mindy's casket. I was standing directly in front of both caskets.
The music slowly started and I began to sing.
This is just the start of your story
We had all gathered at Mike's apartment, since Jax was staying with him now and Mike was at work. The five of us were trying to decide on what song I should sing.
If you got guts you get glory
"Maybe we should choose a song that isn't sad." Jude suggested. "Yeah, that's probably for the best. Oh, and maybe something that's symbolic of being in the afterlife together." Alex agreed. "They are having a funeral together, what do you think, Jax?" Jessie asked.
"Whatever's fine." He replied
Anyone can make it even you
"How about something of hope, like despite being gone they're not gone." Alex added, ignoring Jax.
"What if we choose a song that has a choir in the background that way you guys get to sing too." I said.
(In New York City)
"You just don't want to sing alone." Jude stated before giggling.
And now's the time you gotta stand tough
"I've never sung in front of a crowd." I told him. "That's fine by me, it'll probably be just us anyway." Jessie said and Alex nodded. "Jax?" I tried to get him to join. "Sure." He wasn't in the mood to talk and he had every right to be.
'Cause if you work hard you can rise up
"Oh, how about 'This City's Yours'." Jessie suggested, and played it for us.
Anyone can make it even you
"That's a good song." Alex commented. We agreed on the song and the four of them would do the choir. Even added a small choreography at the end.
(In New York City)
Look at me I'm just blood pumping
You and me are two hearts thumping
We are two souls giving the same feed
So take it all
The city's yours
It's worth fighting for
It's all yours
So take it all
The city's yours
It's worth fighting for
It's all mine
It's all yours
(In New York City
In New York City
In New York City)
So put your gloves on start training
You gotta get wet when it's raining
And If you got heart you can make it too
(In New York City)
You see what I see look harder
You know we're the same when we start off
Four walks two heads one heart paired
So take it all
The city's yours
Ask it for more
When you arrange a tour
So take it all
The city's yours
It's worth fighting for
It's all mine
It's all yours
(In New York City
In New York City)
So take it all
Instead all four Jax only sang the choir.
(So take it all)
The city's yours
Now only Alex, and he got on one knee
(The city's mine)
It's worth fighting for
Now Jessie sang but stayed standing.
(It's worth fighting for)
It's all mine
Jude was next and he got on the opposite knee as Alex
(It's all mine)
So take it all
Now it was back to Jax and he kneeled in the same position as Alex.
(So take it all)
The city's yours
Jessie sang again and kneeled, copying Jude's pose
(The city's mine)
It's worth fighting for
All four sang together again
(It's worth fighting for)
It's all mine
(It's all mine)
I kneeled on both knees as I sang the next line.
It's all yours
All five of us sang the final line together.
In New York city
In the corner of my eye I saw the last person I expected, Kennedy, he was never the door that went into the hallway. Everyone began to clap, they only clapped because they didn't know what else to do. Jax then explained that this was our final goodbye. After a minute or so we went our separate ways but stayed in the room. I was on my way to see how Jude was doing but he had rushed toward Lena and hugged her. Something in me was slowly breaking at the sight. Don't get me wrong I was happy he had someone else but it also reminded me of what Kennedy said. That even Jude would leave me at some point.
Speaking of which, what was he doing here? I went outside the door into the hallway, I didn't see him. Instead I decided to head to the restroom to change into the dress. There he was right in front of the door, he was waiting for me.
"You shouldn't be here." I told him. "And you shouldn't have let Jax stop you." He replied. I was puzzled, what was he talking about?
"The other night, after Stef got shot. You wanted justice, you shouldn't have let him stop you " He explained. How does he know that? It was only me and Jax that night. Then something disturbing clicked in my head, he wanted me to shoot someone. He wanted me to be like him, now I get it. He showed and taught me all those things so I could become like him.
"I'm not you." I stated. "You almost are." He said. I was becoming more and more angry by the second. I needed this conversation to end.
"What are you doing here and what do you want?" I asked him. "I wanted to say my goodbyes and tell you that it wasn't my intention to kill them."
"So what? You pulled the trigger by accident? On both of them?" I asked angrily.
"No, she…she saw what I was doing to one of those people." He tried to explain.
"You mean before they become what was in the basement?" I asked letting him know that I was calling him out.
"We both panicked and she ran out and I grabbed my gun. Once I found her she fought me. I was trying to calm her down but she didn't listen. She ended up falling backwards hitting her head on a rock. She died instantly, I didn't know what to do so I threw her into the river." He tried to defend his actions.
"What about Xavier?" "He was getting too close even without the clues. If he found her, would have gone to someone. At the time I had no other choice. I didn't need to hurt you, you stayed quiet for the safety of Jude and I could scare Jax into silence easily. In fact, that's exactly what I did and you remember our deal. Keep quiet and the rest will live." He reminded me.
I took a second before saying anything.
"I need to change and you need to get out of here." I tell him before going into the restroom.
I was so distracted by the interaction I just had that I quickly took off my suit without thinking. And as I was putting my dress on I heard a gasp. I looked to see it was Mariana, she had just walked in. I was puzzled as to why she reacted the way she did. I followed her eyes and they had landed on my bruise that was on my side, which surprisingly hadn't healed fully yet.
"It's not what it looks like." I told her. "So that's not a bruise." She responded. "Ok maybe it is."
"Who gave that to you?" She asked.
"It's one of the bruises from Juvie." I answered. "I don't believe you, it should've healed by now."
"I know but it was a pretty big bruise, it probably just needs a few more days. Please don't tell anyone." I pleaded, I had lied. It was the same size since juvie, however I didn't want to draw attention to it. I had more important things to deal with.
"I have to tell moms." She said, I started panicking.
"I don't want to make a big deal out of this. It doesn't even hurt. It just needs some time to heal and it'll be fine." I tried convincing her. She thought about it. "I still think you should tell them." "I will if it doesn't heal soon, or if it starts to hurt. I promise." I promised, I knew it wouldn't get better but I just needed to buy some time.
At least until I could figure out a way to help Talya without needing to be next to her all the time.
"Fine, but if you don't tell them, I will," She said, and I nodded in agreement with her.
"Lena asked me to check on you, you were taking too long." Mariana explained. "Yeah, I was talking to someone I came across." I informed her.
"Ok then hurry up and change, we don't have all day." I looked at her confused. She saw the confusion on my face and explained. "I don't like funerals, they're creepy. With the dead people and all." I couldn't help but smile, this girl.
I finished changing and we headed back. Jax came up to me, as Mariana went back to her family. "Hey, come meet Alex's parents." He said and led me to them.
It was the couple from earlier they were talking with Alex and Jessie. "Hey C.J, these are my parents. Mom, dad, this is Callie. They adopted me a few years ago." Alex introduced us. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Alex talks wonders about you." His mother said, and I extended my hand. "The pleasure's all mine." I told her as she shook my hand. "A superhero with manners." His father said and him and I shook hands.
"Superhero? Hardly." I said. "Actually Callie, you are my hero." Alex told me.
I am no hero, I know that but I was happy he said it. It made me glad he still believed in people. Even in me.
"There's something else, my parents are fostering Jessie." Alex finished. "That's great." I said with a smile. "I freaked out when they told me." Jessie said with excitement.
After the funeral we went back home and Jude stuck close to Lena. Stef and Brandon greeted us and asked if we needed anything. I heard Lena tell them how the funeral was, As I headed upstairs to read a book in peace.
After a few minutes Lena came in. "Everything ok?" She asked. "Yeah." I responded, my eyes never leaving the book. "It's okay if you're not." She told me. I set my book down and sat up. "I know but I am, I've grieved them already." I told her. "Ok…" She wanted to say more but didn't, instead she left.
Later that night we were sitting eating dinner. "So mama and I have an important announcement." Stef said, getting everyone's attention. "We're getting married." Lena said ecstatic. We all congratulated them.
"I could be your wedding planner." Mariana offered. Lena and Stef looked at each other. "I don't know, honey." Lena said unsure. "Please, It'll give me something fun and exciting to do." Mariana added. "Stef?" Lena asked for help, but Stef didn't know what to answer either. "I don't know it's up to you."
"Ok fine, but we want something small." Lena gave in and Mariana was excited.
The next day, Talya told me she was finally prepared to report for what he did. She told me that she didn't want it to happen to anyone else. That she needed to do this, not only for herself but for possible past victims and to prevent future girls from being his victims. She was brave, despite her pain she would be able to say what happened to her.
She asked me to accompany her for support. I gladly agreed, I would be there no matter what. I didn't want her to feel alone in this.
We went in to talk to the principal. While Talya explained what happened, she couldn't hold back tears while I was struggling to.
"Do you realize what you're accusing him of?" The principal asked her. Did she really say that? No way, she said. Principal Sanchez did not just ask that?
"That's what he did." Talya responded through the tears. "Listen, I can't do anything about this unless you have proof. Do you have proof?" The Principal asked. I realized that she didn't believe her and was not going to do anything about it.
After talking for a bit, she made it clear that she wouldn't do was more devastated than when she walked in.
I kept making sure she was away from him as much as possible but at this point Brandon was suspicious as to why we hung out at school together so much. At first we were able to ease his suspicion when we told him we met at the party and became good friends. However the more we 'hung out' at school together, the more he worried.
The very next day I was checking if Talya was as good as she could be, when I noticed a few boys talking to her.
"You're just doing this for attention so stop making up stuff and leave alone." I heard one of the boys say. Before they could say anything else I jumped in. "What the hell is your problem, back off." I told them.
"This is none of your business so stay out of it, freak." One of the other guys told me. "It is my business, because you're messing with my friend." "Whatever, foster kid." Ouch. That kind of hurt again but whatever, at least they walked away.
"I shouldn't have told the principal, now somehow the whole school knows." Talya said. "Does the whole school know what he did?" I asked, puzzled. "No, they think I'm lying."
"We can go to the police instead…" "No, I'm done with this, I just want it to pass. So please don't tell anyone who doesn't know already." She interrupted me, I knew from her tone she was tired. "Okay." I gave in. I didn't know what else to do.
A.N: I never clarified Callie's and Jude's ages because I wasn't to keep this fanfic going for very long but I've decided to commit to it. So I made a timeline and I've decide to put put Callie's age 13 and Jude's age 9. They were 8 and 4 when their mother passed and 10 and 6 when they met Kennedy. Jax is the same age as Callie, only older than her by a few months. If you guys need anything else clarified let me know.