Brallie - Season 3B

Chapter 2 - Tumbling Thoughts

I hurriedly wiped my face on my sleeve before hiding my face in front of Mariana who was cautiously watching me. 
"Callie" she repeated, and I glanced up to see her eyes worriedly staring at my tear stained face. She moved herself over to me and put her arm around me. "Callie, you can tell me. Whats up?" 
I tried to force a smile onto my face and removed her arm from around me before pulling aside my sheets and hopping in. 
"It's nothing" I murmured, trying to cover my emotions that were crashing waves inside me. I looked up at her and waveringly tried to muster some joy on my face. It was a weak effort as I saw Mariana continue see through my lies immediately. God, this was so hard. How was I suppose to be happy? I had my forever family, I finally did, my anchors around me now forever. But the boy that I loved I had given up. He had persuaded me that family meant everything. Suddenly I thought of how hard this must be on Brandon too. I had broken him so many times by choosing the family over him. But I had to. For the Foster Kids watching me online and looking up to me for support, and for Stef and Lena who had given so much to help me. But for me as well. I needed a family. I need them, I thought to myself and tried to keep that thought swirling around my brain for as long as possible. I kept telling myself that I would get over Brandon, I had to. Mariana was still waiting for me to tell her what was wrong. I looked up at her and smiled.
"I'm just tired, that's all Mariana." I tried to speak positively "It's been a long day and I've been adopted! I'm just overwhelmed, that's it." 
This was enough for Mariana, who gave me a quick hug before trotting over to her bed. She turned off the lights, and whispered good night. Before she fell asleep, she whispered to me "Callie, i'm so glad we're sisters."
"Me too, Mariana, me too."

*

The next morning I woke up early and quietly rushed to the bathroom to get ready. I was washing my face, when Jude walked in. I hugged him and we conversed about yesterday and how exciting it was. I asked him about why he was sad. He filled me in about Connor and I found myself being able to empathize with him. We were going through the same thing. The ones we loved we could no longer be with. 
It was a quiet day. I sat in the kitchen, looking through my phone at some photographs I had taken. Summer was nearly over and school would be back in next week. I found myself silently looking forward to classes and the distraction it would provide over Brandon. Because I couldn't stop thinking about him. I swear every time I had a free thought it would drift to Brandon and the way his lips felt on mine... the way our bodies had fit so perfectly...  the way...
"Callie -" My head snapped up as Rita walked into the room, with Stef right behind her. I hugged Rita as she came over to me. 
"I just came over to say hi, see how my new adopted girl is." Rita grinned at me. 
I forced a smile onto my face. I couldn't seem to feel the same way as everyone else was about the adoption. Yesterday I had felt so content, and happy. But today.. today, I was down and my spirits couldn't seem to lift. 
"Rita told me about what you did to save her, Callie" Stef said. "That was brilliant, Callie. She showed me the recording. And you were so brave to do that Callie. You proved her innocence. And i'm proud of you." 
I looked at the ground and felt my emotions take over again. She shouldn't be proud of me. I slept with Brandon and I nearly ruined everything. I could have caused them so much grief...
I felt the tears come quickly. God, I was crying again. I wiped them away before looking up at Stef. 
"It was nothing." I mumbled, before lowering my eyes to the floor again. 
Stef left Rita and I to ourselves for a while. 
"Callie, what's up?" Rita said immediately. "You know Callie, it's better to get things out than keep them in. It can make a huge difference."
She had obviously noticed my wet eyes.
"Nothing, Rita, nothing. And I know. There is nothing  I need to get out." I mumbled 
Rita didn't push it further, though I know that she had her suspicions. I loved that about Rita, sometimes she just left me alone to figure things out for myself, but gave me the guidance I needed.
I was just giving Rita a cup of coffee, when Brandon walked into the kitchen.
Our eyes caught immediately, and I dropped the cup and it smashed over the floor. Awkwardness tumbled around the room as Brandon and I stiffened and avoided each others gaze. Rita looked at our locked bodies. I quickly snapped out of it and cleaned up the broken china on the floor. I apologized repetitively to Rita. Brandon tried to cover up our alarming behaviour and greeted Rita quickly before trying to escape out the back door.
But Rita quickly stopped him.

"What is going on here?" She questioned, and looked at us, demanding an answer.