By Your Side

Chapter 11: Car Rides

Callie's Pov

As soon as I got home from school earlier I came straight to my bedroom.  I had a lot of homework to do and I have to work this evening.  I have also been freaking out the past few days because I really need to figure out what I am going to do my senior project on since obviously I can't do it on Justina anymore.   I have no clue what to do, and most of my classmates are already started on theirs. 

After two hours of homework I feel like my brain is about to explode, so I decide now would be a good time to take a little break.  

My tummy growls so I check the time hoping that it is almost dinner time.  It is only 4:00 and we usually don't eat until 5:00 so I decide to go outside and take a walk. 

On my way to the door, I hear moms talking in the kitchen.  I peak my head in and tell them I am going outside for a little while but I would be back before it is time to eat.

It is such a nice day outside.  The breeze blows through my hair and I really get to clear my head.  Pretty soon I decide that I should go back home so that I can squeeze in a little more homework so I don't have to do it later tonight.  

As I enter the house, I am greeted by the welcoming smell of spaghetti and meatballs.  My mouth starts to water as I tip toe into the quiet kitchen hoping that it would be empty and I could sneak a bite of food now.  

When I enter, Stef is standing at the counter reading a catalog.  Dang it... now I cant get any food. 

"Just wanted to let you know I'm back"  I tell my mom as she smiles at me.

"Okay dear. Thank you for letting me know."  

I am about to go back to my room when I notice that there are nine place settings at the table instead of six like normal.  Stef must see me looking confused so she fills me in.  "Brandon, Mike and AJ are coming over for dinner tonight."

I nod and she gives me a stern look, but she doesn't say anything else so I go back to my room.

Brandon hasn't been back here since he moved out a few weeks ago.  I begin to get a little nervous because this means that we are going to be together in front of the family for the first time since our talk with moms.  

I have seen him a few times at school, but since we don't have any classes together and I have been sitting with Mariana at lunch we haven't spoken that much.  We make small talk sometimes but that is it because we don't want to call attention to ourselves. 

A few minutes before 5:00 I fix my hair and make up a little partly; because I have to leave right after we are done eating and partly because I am kind of nervous to see B.

I go downstairs and take a seat at the table.  Everyone that lives here is already sitting down but Brandon, AJ and Mike don't seem to be here yet. 

I sit next to Jude and see him give me a funny look.  The whole family has learned the truth about Brandon and I by now, but none of my siblings have really said anything to me about it.  I was especially surprised that Jude hasn't yelled at me for it yet, because he was so against us being together originally.

Just as I smile at Jude to reassure him that everything would be fine the rest of our dinner party enters.

We all greet each other and then Aj sits next to me, Brandon takes the seat across from me and Mike places himself at the end of the table.  I keep my focus down for a few minutes, because I feel awkward.  I wish that AJ wasn't here with us because I don't think it would be as weird if he hadn't come.  The rest of us have eaten together so many times that it would have felt almost normal having the Foster boys back.