Brallie Metropolis AU | In This Together

Chapter 17 | Red or Black

Saturday morning was particularly cheery, but dry in between Callie and Brandon. Callie had been waiting for Brandon to bring something to the table. But it was a day of celebration. A day of happiness. Everyone got up a little early to set up the kitchen.

"Ok, so the balloons are up, the cake is in the fridge, everyone bought gifts, yes?" Stef hushed, everyone nodded. "Oh, I hear him!"

The family gathered around the table as they heard the stairs squeak with his every step.

"Happy Birthday, Jude!" Everyone yelled as his figure became visible.

Jude blushed, "Aw, thanks guys. You really didn't to due all this though." He said sweetly has he looked around in the midst of hugging his family.

"Oh course we did, Jude. It's your day!" Mariana giggled.

Everyone sat down to eat the well-prepared breakfast Stef, Lena, Brandon, Mariana, Callie, and Jesus made.

"So, is dinner still what you want to do for your birthday, Jude?" Lena questioned.

"Yeah!" Jude exclaimed.

"Got any place in mind?" Stef asked.

"You know that new steakhouse that opened a few months ago?"

"The really expensive, fancy one?" Mariana pointed out.

"Mariana..." Stef scowled. "If that's were Jude wants to go, then that's were we'll go." She told to the gang.

"I was just checking that we were thinking of the same one." Mariana tried to cover her ass.

"Mhm Mhmm." Lena grunted.

"No really! I knew we were going to dinner, but I didn't know if I should wear heels or wedges, and know I know."

"What?" Brandon chirped in confusion.

"Well, I would wear wedges to a place that's casual, but still fancy. And I would wear high heels if it was fancy fancy. And where we're going is fancy fancy. I'm thinking like a little less than black tie but a little more than a casual night dinner." Mariana looked around the table to all of the zoned our faces. "Oh whatever you guys. You all will be sorry when my attire is appropriate and all you look frumpish."

"Forget I asked." Brandon muttered under his breath, making everyone laugh, except Mariana.

"Haters." Mariana blurted. "When are we leaving? For dinner tonight?"

"Mariana, it's 10:30 in the morning." Jesus mocked, leaning over the table to grab the bowl of scrambled eggs.

"I don't get what that has to do with like, anything. I need to know what time I need to start getting ready."

"Wha-, you know what, never mind." Brandon laughed.

Mariana rolled her eyes then continued, "So, what time are we leaving?" She chirped up.

"Uh, seven, I think." Stef said.

"'You think'? Ugh, never mind." Mariana gave up. "Can someone pass the syrup?"

The hours ticked by and Callie was thinking of something little she could do to get under Brandon's skin. She was also thinking about why it's been dead silent with him as of yesterday at dinner. What happened? she thought.

Brandon's mind was swirling. Why did Wyatt call Callie? He heard her talk on the phone for hours last night. He couldn't of anything else. He knew they had made a deal, and the thing about seeing other people. But he had to admit, he was jealous.

Around five, Callie started to get ready for dinner. Mariana had been hogging the bathroom since three, Stef and Lena were in their rooms, and the boys hadn't even started to get ready yet. She had a few fancy, but not black tie, dresses and she couldn't decide which one to wear. Callie grabbed her final two choices and examined them. A long black dress with a long slit on one leg, little revealing in the cleavage area, and thin straps or a short deep red cocktail dress with a bateau neckline that shows off her legs. She wanted to stir the pot. She walked into the hallway and sneakily opened Brandon's bedroom door, quickly shutting it behind her. Callie sees him messing around on the piano but shortly turns around after he hears Callie start to speak. He had a relatively sad look on his face.

"Black or red?" Callie asked, Brandon looking at the pieces of fabric dangling for the hangers in her hands.

Brandon stood up and walked towards Callie, clenching his jaw. Callie noticed his face, making her face go from a sheepish grin to a slight frown. She dropped her hands to her side, making the dresses hit the floor. "Brandon, what's wrong? What's going on?"

"Why did Wyatt call you yesterday?" Brandon said immediately, cutting her last words off a little.

"Wha- what?" Callie giggled a little. "How did you know that he-"

"I saw his call come through during dinner." Brandon interrupted. "You didn't answer the question."

Callie laughed nervously. "It was like a friends thing, like a 'hey how are you?' call."

"You were on the phone for hours, Callie." He said sternly.

"Okay, Brandon it was one hour and we had a lot to catch up on. You do remember he was my friend first right?"

"Yeah, for like five minutes!?"

"Oh my gosh Brandon. You are blowing this way out of proportion." Callie exaggerated.

"So he's not moving back?"

"Brandon," Callie put the dresses on his bed, stepped closer to Brandon, wrapped her arms around his. "There is nothing happening between me and Wyatt."

"It was just a 'what's up' call?" He tried to ease his mind.

"It was just a 'what's up' call." Callie leaned in a little bit more. "Are you...jealous?"

Brandon ignored the question. "Black."

"What?" Callie's head went back in confusion.

"The dress, I like the black one." He got out of the hold and walked to his closet. "Now get out. I have to change." Brandon mocked. "That little performance of yours yesterday did numbers on me."

"Oh yeah?" Callie smirked and turned around to walk out, but stopped right before grabbing the door handle. "Thanks for the dress suggestion by the way. Now I know what I'm not going to wear." She rubbed in as she opened the door and walked back to her room.

Jesus, Brandon, and Jude were standing by the front door, all dressed up, waiting for the four women in the house. Stef and Lena came down first in their dresses and jumpsuits. Then Callie came down, black fabric swinging back and forth between her legs. Brandon's jaw dropped. He had seen her in that dress before, but he was still amazed. Amazed that he found the love of her life at 16. Amazed that anyone can be so perfect and genuine and kind.

Brandon couldn't help the way his eyes wandered over Callie's body. Head to toe. He couldn't keep his eyes off her. The top of the dress hugging Callie's upper half and hips, slightly pushing up her breasts, the fabric hovering around her legs, the slit going up mid-thigh on one of them. His daze was interrupted by Mariana purposely stomping down the stairs, trying to catch everyone's attention.

"Mariana, this is Jude's day. Do not go prancing around wanting everyone to look at you telling you about how fabulous and beautiful you look. Which you are very beautiful, love. But let's go." Stef laughed as she roller her eyes.

"Ugh, whatever. But I know I look good." Mariana marched passed everyone and went through the door.

Jude and everyone laughed as they paraded out the door and into the car.

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A/N- Did you enjoy this chapter?! Don't stress, there is much more to come! And side note, ONE THOUSAND READS!!!! WOO HOO! I can't believe it! Thank you everyone for reading! I am SO GLAD you all are liking it!