By Your Side

Chapter 3: Safety

Callie's POV

We sit in silence for the ride home. Jude sits between Marianna and I in the backseat while Jesus rides shotgun. It is really nice being with them all and not having to worry about their safety. When we finally pull up to the house and go inside, the silence becomes uncomfortable. I cannot stop thinking about not only the shooting, which we still know nothing about, but also Stef and Lena's reactions to finding out Brandon and I had sex. I feel so awful that I hurt them. Time after time, I have screwed up by lying to them and they have always forgiven me but this feels different. They looked like they were so disgusted by me. Can they send me back? I know my adoption has already been finalized, but they can probably still find a way to get rid of me. Being a part of this family was exactly what I needed and I don't know if I can handle losing them.

We all just stand in the living room, no one is quite sure what to say or do. Finally Marianna takes a seat on the couch and we all follow her lead, except Brandon who is leaning against the wall and starring off into space. Oh God, Brandon. I know hearing those gun shots were traumatic and that's why he kissed me today, but it just felt right. I didn't feel like he was my brother (I never do), or that it was forbidden for us to love each other. It was like I forgot about everything else that was going on in my world for those few seconds when our lips touched. Now all of the feelings that I have tried so hard to repress have come back to a full boil and I need to find a way to let him go again. When Brandon came with me to get Jude when I first got here, he tried to protect me from the gun that Pierson pulled on me. Today, he was the one to get up and lock the door as soon as we heard someone stirring outside and he held me while I cried. He has always protected me in any way that he can, so how am I supposed to get over him? I've been trying for a year and nothing has worked so far.

My thoughts are interrupted by the first words I have hear since I left school. "When do you think moms are coming home?" Jude questioned.

"Probably not until late tonight. They told me they both had a lot of stuff to take care of" My sister answered. That makes a lot of sense, I haven't even thought of all the paperwork that will probably need to be filled out.

"What a shitty day" Jesus says as he releases some stress by rubbing his face and stretching over the back of the chair he is sitting in.

" You can say that again" Brandon mumbles back.

"I'm just glad we are all okay". I smile and look at my family for a brief moment, all of whom were nodding in agreement.

"Me too, but I'm REALLY glad this sandwich is okay" Jesus says while pulling out a sandwich from his backpack and taking a bite. Leave it to him. We all laugh and Jude throws a pillow at him.

"So can we watch a movie or something?" Jude suggests.

"Only if it is a really happy movie" Marianna adds.

We look through our stack of movies and pick out Mrs. Doubtfire because who can be sad while watching that movie. Before we pop the DVD in, we get popcorn and drinks from the kitchen and then proceed to all pile on the couch. Jesus sat on the arm of the couch while Marianna sat next to him and Jude next to her. I squeeze in next to Jude and Brandon sits on the other side of me. The couch was not made to fit this many people but we made it work. It's what we needed, to be surrounded by the people that love us. I wrap my arm behind Jude's neck causing him to smile. We may have been fighting about me telling Jude that Jack only liked him as a friend, but that's totally over now. A few minutes into the movie Brandon adjusts himself so he can get comfortable and I lay my head on his shoulder. He puts his hand on my arm and rubbed it gently. It was so soothing. I imagine this is how it feels to be in a relationship with him. We never really got a chance to do the whole "relationship" thing. Sure, we were together while I was at GU, but we never had time to just relax and be with each other, and the other times we were together were both cut short. If only we could be like this all of the time.

I doze off for a little while, and wake up to see that Marianna and Brandon were also sleeping now. I try my best not to disturb B who's shoulder I was just sleeping on. He looks so peaceful, and I look down to see that he was now holding my hand. I wonder if that happened while I was still awake and I just didn't think anything of it because it feels so natural, or it he moved his hand there after I had already fallen asleep. I figure it doesn't really matter, so I go back to watching the movie.

Once the movie finally ends, Jesus walks over to the wall and switches the lights on causing Brandon to wake up. I feel him stirring so I decide that I should stop using him as a pillow. I suggest that we find something to eat for dinner and we wake Marianna, who was still sound asleep. I stand up, releasing Brandon's hand and make my way into the kitchen where I am soon accompanied by the others.

I rummage through the fridge for something that I can make because I am the only one with any experience in the kitchen. The fridge is pretty empty but I do find some vegetables that I pull out and place on the counter. I then grab a box of spaghetti from the pantry.

"What? No biscuits and gravy?" Brandon mocks at me. I just smile in response remembering the conversation we once shared when Stef was shot.

Dinner didn't take long to make since all I had to do was cook the noodles and then add some cheese sauce and the already cut up vegetables. After we have finished eating, we stay seated at the table and make small talk because everyone wants to keep their minds off of the gun shots we heard earlier.

Around eight o'clock we start making cookies for desert. I took a handful of flour from the bag sitting in front of me and throw it across the table at Jude. The others laugh while he gets the biggest grin on his face " Oh, you are going to wish you didn't do that". He grabs some flour of his own and throws it back at me. Before I know it, there is a full on flour war taking place in the kitchen. I giggle and try to take cover under the table.

I was so caught up in the moment, that I didn't even hear the door open. None of us even knew mom's had come home until Stef chimes in "What is going on in here?". I try to contain me smile while I figure out if she is seriously mad. Then, the room grew quiet as she walked over towards the refrigerator. She opens the freezer, pulls out two ice trays and quickly walks back over to Lena, handing her one of the trays. I wonder what they were going to do next for a moment, but my questions are answered shortly after when Steff shoves an ice cube down the back of Marianna's shirt.

"OH MY GOD" she shrieks and I can't help but burst out laughing.

"WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT" Lena says as she does the same to me.

Our five person food fight has now turned into a seven person war. This is definitely the most joyful any of us had been all day.

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Sorry it took so long for me to update, I had a lot going on the past few days.  Anyway, sorry if this chapter was slow or if you didn't think there was enough Brallie. Just remember this is a brallie fanfic so more will keep coming!  If you liked it please vote/comment so I can get some feedback.  Also, I just made a new tumblr account last week "fandomchamp2" .  I'll post on there to let y'all know when I have updated!