Battle Scars

chapter 17 - "I love you more."

I run out of Wyatt's room and to the waiting area. Lena's reading a magazine off the table beside her seat. Jesus scrolls through his phone. Steph's  talking to some other person in a police uniform. I search the whole room. Sitting in the corner is a tiny girl with thin brown hair who looks about 14. On the other side of the room there's a blond teenage girl with her head in her hands and a tall boy sitting next to her with his arm around her waist. There's a few other people, but Jude is no where in sight.

Brandon and Mariana are soon by my side looking just as worried as I am. I look for Tyler, Liam, anyone who would know where he is. Nothing. I feel Brandon's arm wrap around my waist, pulling me into a long hug. Mariana rubs my back and tells me he'll be ok, by the cracks in her voice though, it's not so convincing. Lena looks up and asks if everything's ok.

"Where's Jude? When's the last time you saw him? Where was he and who was he with?" I ask with tears in my eyes.

"He - he went to the bathroom. What's wrong, Callie?"

"I think someone took him," I struggle to get out the words. The lump in my throat grows and I can barely breathe. I begin to shake and a tear slips out, "How long has he been gone?"

"I don't know, maybe about ten minutes," Lena speeds over to Steph. I hear them whispering and before long Steph is out the door speaking into her phone. Lena nearly looses he balance and grabs onto the back of a chair for support. I can't even move. Tears continue to spill from my chocolate brown eyes but I don't care right now.

Brandon pulls me into another hug and I cry in his chest. It's not like we're in danger of anyone finding out about our relationship because it's completely normal for a friend to help you through something like this.

*****2 weeks later*****

I've been ditching school a lot. Ever since Jude went missing, he's all I can think about. Where is he? Is he ok? What have they done to him? When will I see him again? Will I see him again? The questions haunt me and keep me up all night.

Wyatt got out of the hospital the day after they took Jude. Steph and Mike have been searching for Jude hours and hours a day and they still haven't found a thing. Lena hasn't been doing much at school; mostly she just sits at her desk and cries. Jesus says his room is too empty now and he's been sleeping on the couch. Mariana told me that she thinks of Jude as her baby brother too and I can tell she's really hurt over his disappearance. Brandon's been telling me that everything will be ok, but I know he's worried too and he's only saying it to comfort me.

No one's taking this harder than me though. Even walking by his room makes me tear up. I swear I can hear his laugh sometimes and it makes it that much harder. I can still see his smile and hear his sweet voice. Last week, I was doing the laundry and I found one of his shirts in the drier. I cried for hours and I could barely catch my breath. Jude is the only family I have left, the only family that hasn't given up on me.

Looking back on all the memories we have forms another lump in my throat. I remember how when he was little he used to sing along to the songs my mom put on the radio in the car. Or the one time he got into our mom's makeup and it was all over the bathroom floor, mirror, and sink. Also the time when I had a friend over for my 9th birthday and he wouldn't leave us alone so we put on a scary movie and we all had nightmares. Oh and I can't possibly forget when my dad took us both fishing for a weekend and Jude was so excited until we got there and he realized that you had to stick a worm through the hook to even have a chance of catching a fish.

And I will always remember when my best friend ditched me for the meanest 3rd grader on earth. I cried and when he caught me crying he hugged me. He made me laugh even though he was only 4 years old. I remember how even the sound of him laughing made my day and cheered me up.

I sit up straight in my bed. I hug my knees tight to my chest and rest my head on them. Mariana slowly comes in and sits next to me on my bed.

"I'm really sorry, Cal. I know this is hard on you. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to Jesus."

"I haven't hurt this much since I lost my mom," I say as a tear slips down my cheek

"I'm so sorry. I'm also sorry that I don't have anything else to say. I just... I miss him too. I worry about Jude too and I can't even get myself to understand," her voice cracks a bit as she talks and so does mine.

"Believe it or not, you're helping. Just sitting here and talking me through it helps."

"What about Brandon? Look, I want you to know that I won't tell anyone about you two-"

I cut her off, "How do you know?"

"Last week? When your old foster brother said something about you two? I kinda caught on to that."

"Right.... Thanks, Mariana."

"No problem. I wouldn't do anything to hurt you guys."

I smile back at her. I'm starting to feel like I have a sister. I straighten up when I hear the front door open and close. Seconds later Steph calls my name and me and Mariana run down the stairs.

I immediately burst into tears. I honestly don't know if I'm happy or sad. Jude leans on Steph and Lena for support. He's here but he doesn't look like the same 12 year old boy I saw last. He's wearing the same striped tee shirt and jeans he was wearing at the hospital two weeks ago. His hair is a mess and so is he. He doesn't look too hurt though. Only a few bruises which is way better than I expected. I run over to him and wrap my arms around his weak body.

"I love you Callie," he says faintly.

"I love you more," I whisper back and hug him tighter.