Begin Again

Chapter 7: Blame

Brandon ran in a panic, his vision a blur and his hands clamming up by his side.

How could I be so stupid? Brandon thought to himself as he walked into the elevator. It's all my fault. I ruined Callie's life. If I just didn't go into her room that night this would be different. She would be happily adopted and I could just suck it up and move on. I can't expect Callie to drop everything she has worked so hard for. I don't care what happens to me. I just want the best for Callie. That's all I ever wanted. Fuck. What did I do?

He rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hand and walked out of the elevator when it dinged. Without paying any attention, he ran into a female who was making her way into the elevator. Brandon didn't give the female a second glance. He mumbled his apology and continued on his way out the door.

"Brandon?" The voice was familiar. All hopes of avoiding anyone that Brandon and Callie knew was thrown out the door.

"Sophia, sorry. I uh- I wasn't looking where I was walking. I uh, sorry." Brandon tried to avoid eye contact with his now sister's half-sister. He turned around and made an attempt to walk away.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" She asked curiously as she approached him hesitantly.

"I can't exactly talk about it. Sorry."

"My appointment isn't for another twenty minutes. My mom just likes to drop me off early. I think my dad is waiting for me upstairs but he'll be fine til I get there. Come with me." Sophia grabbed ahold of Brandon's wrist and began to pull him along.

"Where are we going?" Brandon questioned.

"There's this little area I like to go to think when I come here. It's quiet and no one walks there because it's to the side of the building where there aren't any doors."

"How'd you find it?"

"I have an appointment here every week with my therapist. I know this place inside and out."

"How do you manage to sneak off from your parents?"

"My mom typically drops me off and my dad is already here waiting. They won't even talk to each other after what happened. I wasn't talking to him either until recently. After a few therapy sessions they said I should try. So he attends my appointments with me and we go get ice cream after. It's what they call a 'decent start' toward working to get back to our so called 'normal.' I don't know." She pulled Brandon over to a large tree. She sat down by the truck and motioned for Brandon to join her. "It's quiet, private and as a bonus, the branches block out extra sunlight so it's nice shade."

Brandon's hands were quivering as he considered sitting beside the young teen. He was hesitant but followed along.

"So what's going on?" Sophia wasted no time questioning the guilt-ridden boy.

"It's complicated." Brandon sighed.

"We're teenagers. Everything is complicated. Try me." Brandon thought to himself for a moment. He didn't think he should tell Callie's sister before she was able to but keeping his thoughts to himself was agonizing. "It's about Callie isn't it?"

"How'd you know?"

"I've been in the same room as you both. I saw the way you longed for her at her party last month. I've seen her talk about you. Anyone with a brain could see how in love you two are."

"Clearly not everyone." Brandon muttered. "We did something without really thinking it through. Now we have to deal with the aftermath."

"You're gonna have to be a bit more specific."