By Your Side

Chapter 13: Water Fights

I feel so at peace sitting here in Brandon's arms. I am not worrying about anyone seeing us because I don't care anymore.  But it doesn't matter because thankfully we are not interrupted anyway.

"So what happens now?" Brandon speaks up.

I sigh not wanting to think about the future. Why can't we just enjoy the present?

"Well it looks like I'm going to get emancipated."

"Callie, no."

"Brandon, I want to be with you"

"You know I want that too, but I'm not going to let you give up being a part of the family!"

I sit up and move so that I am sitting with my legs crossed in front of him and I hold his hand.

"Look, I used to think that the most important thing was having a family, but I was wrong... What I want, what I need is you.  Ever since I was adopted I have been miserable. I thought I would get used to it and get over you, but I haven't and I'm not going to."

"But you need a family too.  I'm not going to let you give up everything you have ever wanted for me."

"You know that I love everyone in this family more than anything in the whole world, but it feels wrong being adopted because it means I had to give up you."

Brandon holds his arms wide open for me and I climb over and sit by his side once again as my legs swing across his lap.  Once he is holding me close to him once again I close my eyes and just listen to the sound of his breathing and his heart beat.

After a few minutes of peace and quiet Brandon says "you are not giving up this family."

At first I feel like he wants me to finally give up on us. It is a painful feeling, but it takes me only a few seconds to understand where he is coming from. Over the last year he has watched how hard I had to fight to be adopted. He knew how badly I wanted this and he doesn't want me to eventually regret throwing that all away.

I tilt my head up to look at him and I tighten my grip around his torso.  "Well... I'm not giving up you again."

" So then we hide our relationship."

"Seriously?" I ask kind of shocked that he would suggest such an idea.

"Yes, why not?!" The excitement in his voice is adorable.

"Because. Sneaking around in the first place is what got us in the mess!"

"So this time we don't get caught."

"Brand-"

He cuts me off. " I know it sounds kind of crazy, and I am not saying it has to be forever, but at least for a little while so you can make sure this is what you really want before you make any decisions you might regret."

"I don't know about this Brandon."

"Why not? It's not like I'm living here anymore. And this way we can be together and you can be a part of the family." I stare into his eyes as I think about it before resting my forehead back in his neck.

" And what if we do get caught? Do you really think they would ever forgive us for lying to them again?"

"I am not saying they won't be mad. They most definitely will be pissed!" He laughs. "... But they would have to find a way to get used to it eventually."

"I guess you're right." I sigh dramatically to let him know how bad this plan sounds. "I can't believe I am letting you talk me into this."

I feel him jump up in excitement. "Does that mean we're going to give it a try!?" 

"Yes." A huge smile grows across my face as I see how excited he is about this.

The next thing I know, I am being tackled and pinned to the ground. Laughter is erupting from both of us.  As Brandon hovers on top of me he brushes my hair out of my face and then leans down to kiss me.

This kiss is hot and heavy. I want him and only him at this moment.  I am actually kind of glad that Jesus and Mariana are home because otherwise I know I wouldn't have stopped myself. 

As much as I love and adore this boy, we need to take it slow this time around. 

I pull away and giggle out of pure happiness. "If we are going to try to hide this, then maybe we shouldn't be making out in the backyard while people are home." I peck his lips once more and then sit up.

"You are probably right"

"I'm probably right?" I mock.

And just like that Brandon tackles me again. This time we just play around wrestling on the grass.

I finally break free and make a run for the garage. I barely make it inside and get the door closed before B catches up and starts knocking on the door. 

I dig through a box until I find a water gun.  I run over to the spicket and quickly fill it up.

When I open the door to get back outside I immediately start squirting Brandon.  As I did he pursed his lips and shook his head. Then he starts running past me into the garage to get a water gun of his own. "Oh, so that's how you wanna play"

I run and hide behind a tree and try to control my laughter, but I do not succeed. Before I know it the back of my shirt is soaking wet.

We chase each other around the yard squirting each other with water when we can for about ten minutest.

By then we are both getting tired from all of the running. I run out of water and get cornered in by Brandon. "Okay! Truce, truce, truce!" I beg.

"Mhmm. That's what I thought."

He walks over to where I am standing and pins me up against the fence to kiss me. While we kiss I manage to get   the toy out of his hands and then I step away pushing him into the corner.

"Oh, come on. This is just wrong!" Brandon says with a straight face.
"You can't call a truce and then steal my gun!"

"Whatcha gonna do about it?"  I tease.

He hurried over and picks me up to spin me around. "Why are we going after each other? You know we always work better as a team." He smirks. I raise an eyebrow at him.

Things are always so serious around here so I love it when we can act like normal teenagers for a change. 

"Go grab one for Mariana while I refill ours." I do as he says and soon we are sneaking into the living room. We hide behind a wall and Brandon squirts the back of her head and she jumps because she is still watching some action movie.

She shrieks and jumps off the couch. "Oh. My. God. I am going to kill whoever did that!"

We both crack up and reveal ourselves. "What the hell?"

"Come on, we're going to get Jesus." I tell her tossing her the extra water gun we filled up.

The three of us tiptoe up the stairs and all at once storm into his bedroom soaking him in the mean time.  He comes storming at us and we make a run for it.  Moms are probably going to kill us for getting water everywhere.

For the rest of the afternoon Jesus, Mariana, Brandon and I mess around in the back yard.

Eventually moms come home and we find them standing in the kitchen watching us and smiling.

This is the first time they have seen us all genuinely having a good time in a while.

***
Yo its my Birthday!! :)