Streetlife

73 - Street Life

CALLIE POV

"Why didn't you tell me what was going on, sweetheart? Mm? You have nothing to be embarrassed about with me. You know this, right?" Stef had come to Julius' apartment about an hour after I had gotten here, and I'm thankful that I had already showered and eaten a little bit of oatmeal. Unfortunately, I was feeling super anxious and upset about all that happened and I didn't really know what to do about it. But between Olive stealing my money and Lena being soo harsh and not believing me I just felt sad.

Right now, I am leaning against my headboard as I smoke, my hair drying around my face as I was already so damn hot from this insane August heat, I have nothing on but one of Stef's tanks and panties. "Talk to me, Callie, please baby?" Stef says as she scoots beside me and gently takes my hand in hers and honestly I had been surprised to see her at the Palace this morning but relieved at the same time.

"Am I a joke to people? I really want to know. I know that I am pretty laid back, but people must really think I'm some kind of joke," I say as a single tear rolls down my face, and Stef moves to look me in the eyes her facial expression growing more worried.

"A joke? No baby why would you think that?"

"I don't know. Didn't you see me as one? When you first met me? That I was a weird joke." I laugh awkwardly as she takes the smoke from me and rests it in the ashtray on my night stand. I'm really trying to remain calm but I had a feeling it wasn't working right now and I knew I was about to spill.

"No. I never saw you as a joke Cals. Weird yeah, weird as shit but it's just who you are. That weirdness that I love about ya, it gets my heart sweets." she says as I feel more tears fall down my face as I try to wipe them. "Hey, now, Cals, don't cry love. Listen, I'm not mad at you. You know I will always have your back, and..."

"I'm losing my friends, and Julius and I haven't really been right since he was so damn rude to you. I...I just care about you, Stef, and, well, I didn't want you to worry about this...this Olive shit. She'll back off eventually."

"How long has she been harassing you, Callie? How long?" Stef brushes a wet strand of my long hair from my face as I grab my smoke again and take another puff.

I shrug now as I finish it and put it in the ash tray by my bed. "Since I started working here. Kinda why I live here now. Tess rescued me, but ummm, it'll be okay. I was the dumb ass to leave my purse unattended. I mean, it was up on the table, but I didn't expect Julius to run off and for Tess to be gone so long and I sure as hell didn't see Olive anywhere around. She...she kinda leaves me alone as long as one of them is with me."

"What the hell has she done to you? You said Tess rescued you? What happened, baby?" Stef looks angrier than ever now as I sigh and look down as I feel her lift my chin. "She will pay for this. Tell me what happened my love because I'm still not getting much from you."

"Stef, it's really nothing. It's in the past, and..."

"Oh, hell it is! She steals a hundred and three dollars from my girl! That shit doesn't fly with me. Never! Has she stolen from you before? Hurt you? What babe?" Stef is angrier than ever, and I wish I hadn't told her. But I guess she deserves to know, so, why not? But I didn't want to put this on her even if I had wanted to talk to her about it at the same time,  I hated negative stuff and it was never good for my soul.

"She...she tried to beat my ass, but I fought back pretty hard. And thankfully Tess was nearby because I was only in a tshirt and panties as I was running from the room and I um ran outside. I...I used to live at the Palace with some of the other girls, and Tess brought me back here a few weeks before you showed up. I...I never told you all that because well, Olive has pretty much laid off since."