Callie's POV
It's the last day of school and the night before we leave for the tour, and Brandon made plans to go out with Jesus and Mariana tonight so we can hang out with them before we leave for two months. I have to say, I'm pretty excited to go on tour with Brandon. After our talk about getting our own place and getting a dog, Brandon and I decided that we're going to work toward getting both when we get back from tour this summer. Brandon is supposed to be starting his job at the music store when we get back, and I've been saving money ever since I started working. If we work together, we can put enough money together to get our own place and maybe even a dog. I know I wanted to wait to get our own place at first, but after Brandon and I talked about it, I realized that it would probably be to our advantage if we got our own place. We wouldn't have to worry about staying at anyone's house and being in their way, and we could have all the privacy we want. We basically live in Mike's house alone, so it wouldn't be all that different. I'm grateful Mike is letting us stay with him, but I know he misses the freedom he had before we moved in. I always feel like we're in his way, and I don't want him to feel that way anymore. So getting our own place was the best option. When Brandon and I arrive at school, Jesus and Mariana are waiting for us by the entrance. "Hey guys," Brandon says. He reaches down to grab my hand, and I lean into him as we walk toward them. "Dude. Mom is acting freaky ever since you left the other night," Jesus says. "What do you mean?" Brandon asks. "Like she hasn't talked to anyone at all. If we try to say something to her, she gets this sour look on her face and she just walks away. She won't talk to us. And this morning she didn't go to work. She told Lena that she just wants to stay in bed all day without anyone disturbing her," Jesus replies. "What the hell?" Brandon asks. "Why is she acting like this?" "I think it's because you told her that she isn't part of your life anymore. I think you broke her when you said that," Mariana says. "I only said that because that's how I feel. She kicked Callie and I out and refused to hear us out. As far as I'm concerned, she doesn't want anything to do with us anymore, so I'm just giving her what she wanted," Brandon says. "We understand where you're coming from," Mariana says. "But we're just saying that you broke Mom. She's never been like this, and it's starting to freak us out. I think she misses you guys, but she won't admit to it. She doesn't want to admit that she was wrong, so she's just going to push everyone away instead." Stef reminds me of myself in that way. We both push people away when things get hard, and we can both be pretty hard headed at times. That's part of the reason why we were always so close when I used to live there. "Let me talk to her," I say. "Maybe I can get through to her and let her know that we didn't mean to hurt her. I can explain to her what our intentions are, and maybe she'll go back to normal." "No," Brandon says. "Why not?" I ask. "We were close once, so maybe she'll be more likely to listen to me." "I appreciate that you want to help with this, I really do, but this is for me to worry about. I don't want you worrying about this. I'm supposed to take care of you now that we're on our own, and I wouldn't be doing that if I let you do this," Brandon replies. "But you're not asking me too," I say. "I'm offering." "I know, but I don't need you anywhere near this. I know my hurt you, and I won't let her hurt you again. Her hurting me is one thing, but I don't want her to ever hurt you again. You deserve better than that," Brandon says. "Callie's right though," Jesus says. "Mom and her were always close, and Mom always listens to Callie. They're alike in so many ways, and I think Mom needs someone like that talking to her right now. Maybe it would work." "I don't know," Brandon says. "Please, Brandon," I plead. "Just trust me." "I do trust you," he says. "I just don't trust what she's going to do if you go to her." "You have to let me find out for myself," I reply. "Fine," he says. "But I'm dropping you off and waiting for you outside. You aren't going alone, and that's the deal if you want to do this." "Okay," I say, kissing his cheek. "I don't like this at all," he says. "We don't like it either," Mariana says. "But it's worth a shot. We hate that the family is divided, and anything that can help us go back to the way it used to be is worth a shot."
