The New Fosters: A Brallie Story

Chapter 8

Brandon's POV:

A party. I've never been to a party before. I know that's weird but I haven't. I would rather play piano in my room, but Callie's going and I don't want anything to happen to her... or Mariana.

I knock on Jesus' door. He opens the door and says, "what?"

"Are you going to this party that Mariana and Callie are going to?"

"Maybe, if Lexi goes." He hasn't done anything without Lexi since they started dating. It's kind of annoying.

"Oh okay, well tell me when you decide." I say and then go back into my bedroom to get ready.

I put on a white undershirt and a plaid button up and some jeans. This should be okay right? I unbutton my shirt and let the undershirt show. No. Maybe with a black undershirt. Yeah. I put on a black t-shirt and then throw my shirt over it, but keep it unbuttoned. This should work.

I brush my teeth and then knock on the girls' door. "Are you two almost ready? It's almost 8:15."

"We will be out in a minute." I roll my eyes and lean against the wall as I wait. Do I look okay? Why am I even worrying about that? Can we just leave and get this over with?

The door opens and Mariana comes out. "Ready to leave?" I nod. "I'm gonna go wait in the car." She says and then skips down the stairs.

I hear the door shut and turn to see Callie coming out. I'm speechless. It's like the day of Mariana's quinceñera all over again. She's beautiful. I mean she's always beautiful, but... Wow! She's wearing a flowy, ripped tank top with a black undershirt and black skinny jeans. "Wow. You- you look grea- great." I stupidly stutter out.

She smiles shyly and says, "thanks."

*~~~*

Callie and Mariana ditched me when we got here, well more Mariana dragging Callie thought the party. Frankly I'm bored and just want to go home. I don't even know who's throwing this party. I push my way through the crowd to the drink table and grab a soda because I'm driving and I don't really like drinking.

I glance at the staircase and see Callie at the top on her phone. She glances away from her phone and looks down the stairs and a scared expression dashes across her face. What's wrong? She tries to turn around, but there are too many people in her way and someone calls her name. A guy. I've never seen him before how does he know Callie?

I set my soda down and start towards the staircase. Callie moves her way down the stairs. When she tries to walk past the guy he grabs her arm. "Let go of me," she says through gritted teeth. She's scared? Callie's not scared of anyone.

"Why are you being like this? Didn't you miss me? I know I missed you." He says creepily or at least he gave me the creeps. I try to push my way through the crowd and to Callie, but it's packed in here.

"Let. Go. Of. My. Arm. Liam." Did I hear her right? That's Liam? Now I know I have to get to her. I push through the crowd of sweaty bodies.

"I'm hurt. Callie, I miss you and I miss us." I'm almost to the bottom of the stairs and they are in the middle of the staircase.

"I'm going to say it one more time, Let. Go. Of. My. Arm." She sounds angry but I know she's really scared. Why did we come here?

"Come on, Callie, let go talk and catch up somewhere." He says and then starts plowing through the crowd up the stairs, pulling Callie with him. I can't handle this. I can't handle him with her. I run up the stairs after them, accidentally knocking people to the floor. I get to the top of the stairs and see them outside of a closed door. His hand reaches for the doorknob. All I know is that I might not be able to get to her if he gets her in that room.

There's only a few people between me and them now. I get to them right as Liam is pulling Callie through the doorway. He tries to shut it, but I lean against it so it can't shut. "She said to let go of her arm. Let. Go. Of. Her. Arm."

"Who are you?" He asks furrowing his eyebrows and looking at me.

"That doesn't matter. Let go of her arm, Liam." I spit his name out in disgust.

"No. This is none of your business, this is between Callie and me. I don't know who you think you are but you better get out of here and not let me see your face again."

"Callie is with me. It is my business. Let go of her, NOW." I know Liam is bigger than me and normally could take me down in a second, but now I can feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins. And I know why... because I will do anything to protect Callie, even if that meant taking a bullet for her, I would.

"No," he says smirking. Is he trying to taunt me? I'm done with this. Callie gave him the change to back off and so did I, but now I'm done.

I charge Liam and tackle him to the ground. His hand releases from Callie's arm as he falls. I hear the door slam shut because I'm no longer holding it open. My actions took Liam be surprise, so I took this opportunity to punch him in the face, repeatedly. I got about five punches in before he started fighting back.

He flips us over and punches me. I'm so amped up that I don't even feel the pain that should be in my eye. I kick him, where no man wants to ever be kicked, as hard as I can. He falls on top on me from the pain. I push him off and quickly get to my feet.

Callie's standing by the door with a look of pure horror on her face. "Are you okay?" I ask her. She nods. I turn back to Liam who is still in a heap on the floor, "you will never touch her again." Then I grab Callie's hand and we leave the room. "We need to get out of here, where's Mariana?"

"Um..." She scans the room. "There. She's down at the drinks table." We run through all of the people and to the table. "We have to leave, Mariana."

"Why?" She slurred. Oh great now I have to explain my black eye AND Mariana being drunk.

"We just do." I said getting impatient. I grab her arm (call me a hypocrite if you want) and pull her outside and to the car, never letting go of Callie's hand. We lay Mariana down in the backseat and get into the front seats. I start the car and race home.