For The Love of Callie

Ms. Alter

Callie's POV

After packing a bag, I'm on my way to yet another foster home. I should have known it wouldn't last. I shouldn't have confided in them at all. I shouldn't have needed them the other night. They'll never renew their license if it means they have to have me again.

My thoughts are torn by the social worker's voice. "Okay, the home you are going to is run by an older lady. It'll be just you and her, she isn't currently fostering but agreed to take you in."

I just nod and continue to look out the window. She tries to make small talk but I'm uninterested. I don't want to talk.

We pull up to a house and she parks on the side of the road. I grab my bag from the back of the car and head up the sidewalk with the social worker to the front door.

After the social worker knocks, an older lady appears at the door. "Hello, you must be Callie. Come on in."

I slide my shoes off. I've made the mistake of walking in with shoes before and it's one I won't make again. I silently curse as I recall going to the fosters to begin with. I didn't take my shoes off there. While they didn't care in the moment, I should know better.

I plop my bag down on a couch and while the social workers speaks to the woman, I take in my surroundings. It seems like a pretty standard home. No red flags as of yet but every home usually reveals them as the first night goes on.

I feel a ping of hurt when my mind flies to the Fosters again. The talk with Brandon last night, and the way Mariana opened her space for me is unlike anything I've ever been through. They seemed to actually care. I shake that thought off. Who could care about you?

"Okay Callie. I'm going to let Ms. Alter take the reins. You okay?" The social worker asks.

"Yeah I'm fine." She nods and walks out the door after a final handshake.

"Okay Callie, now that it's just you and I, I have some rules." As she reads off the rules, they seem pretty standard.

"Because you are a flight risk, I did have to take some precautions in the room you are staying in." This statement catches my attention. Precautions? What kind of precautions?

We head down a hallway to a bedroom. "This is where you will be staying. The windows are barred so don't even think about fleeing. You will be locked in here come bed time for the night to prevent any possible plans you may have." She says kind of coldly.

Unfortunately, this is pretty standard still. I've never been locked in a room before like this but I have been locked in a closet for several hours. Can't be worse than that.

I sit down on the bed after she leaves the room. As I look around the blank, characterless walls I can't help but think about the Fosters again. Maybe I should be in a place like this instead of there. Maybe this is more what I deserve. They certainly don't deserve the extra burden of having me there.

Maybe it's for the best that this is where I live from here on out. Regardless. It can't hurt if I partially make the decision myself to not go back. Not like they'll renew for me anyway.

Lena's POV

Stef and I sit on the bed in our room. "We have to get her back as soon as possible. Not only because we don't know who's out there but she needs medical attention." I point out recalling her statement before she'd left.

"I know. I'm going to go to the courthouse later on today and try to get this figured out. As soon as she's home, we will call the family doctor and get her in." Stef says taking my hands in hers. "She's coming backing here." She tries to assure.