By Your Side

Chapter 4: Restless night

Callie's POV

Unable to sleep, I sit up and check my phone to see what time it is. It is almost three in the morning which means I have been tossing and turning for about four hours. I really want to go sleep in my bed but we all decided to sleep in the living room just like we did after Stef was shot. Moms went to their bedroom but it just seemed wrong for the rest of us to leave each other after yesterday. I decide to get a glass of water from the kitchen and try my best to stay quiet and to not step on any of my siblings on my way there.

I flick on the light and open the fridge and turn around when I hear footsteps. A moment later I see Brandon walking down the steps.

"Hey. You couldn't sleep?" I say as I pull the water pitcher out of the fridge.

"Not at all"

"Me neither."

I decide to get out a second glass and I hand one to him. The room is filled with a very awkward vibe because neither of us knows what to say right now but clearly we need to discuss the elephant in the room. I mean we did kiss yesterday, and we are not only "brother and sister" but we are also both involved with other people. We have been down this path before and it always gets really messy.

After what seems like forever I decide I should speak up. "So.." we both chime in at the same time.

Brandon laughs and I can't help but smile because we have always been so in sync. That is why we worked so well together. I have missed him lately. It feels like we don't spend much time with each other all that often anymore.

"So we should probably talk" he finishes both of our previously interrupted thoughts. I nod in agreement. "We were just scared yesterday...right? That's all was" I could not tell if that last part was a question or a statement.

"Yeah" I say not very convincingly. "That's all it was."

"Right, we have both moved on and Cort and I are doing great. Plus you and AJ are happy right?" I didn't want to get into my complicated relationship about AJ with Brandon right now because I didn't even really know what was going on between us anymore. So I just smile attempting to move past this subject.

Is he serious that had moved on? I certainly have not. No matter how hard I try, I can't do it and I thought he felt the same way. I really do want him to be happy and I know that we both need to move on with our lives but I still thought we would always harbor love for each other.

I look at Brandon and it is clear that he is in a daze. I hate that me telling moms about our relationship is going to get him in trouble with them. I can deal with them being mad at me, but I don't know if I can deal with the guilt of ruining his relationship with them as well.

"Brandon?"

"Yeah?" he snapped out of the daze he was in and looked up at me.

"Thank you"

"For what? " he replies with a puzzled look on his face.

"For everything. Look, I could not have gotten through yesterday without you" My voice sounded shaky as I try to hold back tears.

He smiled back to me gently before saying "I know. I couldn't have gotten through it without you either"

"But seriously, even after everything I did... You forgave me and were still for me. So thank you."

"Callie-" He paused trying to gather up his thoughts. "I wasn't mad at you. I was mad at the situation. But I know you only confessed because you had to, and I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you." I turned around so that I could quickly wipe away the tears from my eyes. I do not know why I'm crying. I think it is just a combination of everything that has been happening. I pull myself together so he would not see me cry.

"What are we supposed to do now?" I ask as I turn back around.

Brandon lets out a sigh and shakes his head. "I don't know. I really don't know what to expect."

"They didn't even say anything after I told. Stef just said she couldn't deal with it and that she had to go back to work...And before Lena had a chance to say anything, we uh- we heard the-" I drifted off mid-sentence, but he knew what I was talking about. "When do you think they will talk to us?"

"They're probably just waiting for things to cool down at school."

"They aren't going to want me anymore." The tears start flooding back into my eyes blurring my vision. I look down at the floor feeling ashamed. I wasn't ashamed of what I did. It was more about disappointing my moms.

"Callie, that's not true" He rested his hand on my shoulder and ducked his head down so that he look into my eyes when as he spoke. "They love you, and they always will no matter what you do."

"They are going to make me leave"

"Hey, now if they kick one of us out, it's going to be me. I'm 18 now so technically they don't have to let me live here anymore. I can always try to move back in with my dad or I can stay with Cort and Mason. Everything will work its self out in the long run. Its going to be ok. You're going to be ok." He pulls me in for a hug to calm me down.

Once I get my act together, I pull away so that I can see his bright green eyes. "They'll be watching our every mov

"I know. We should probably keep our distance from each other for little while." I felt my heart drop to my stomach. I was hoping we would be in this together, and the thought of losing, even if it would help the situation made me sick. Brandon is my rock, and I have a feeling I am really going to need him.

"Yeah, that's probably best." I manage to mumble in response.

"We just need to make it clear that we aren't together anymore, and that we are both happy with other people." I think Brandon starts to feel guilty or uncomfortable when I do not say anything. I just gaze into his bloodshot eyes. "We should try to get some sleep." he stated as he broke eye contact and turned back to the living room.

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