Callie scared and unsure what to do or how to react, she felt like she was betraying Lena. She had no idea why she felt that, because they had sneaked around before and she had no anguish about it.
Brandon wrapped his arms around Callie, because he saw that worrisome look in her eyes-the one she gets when she feels pain or guilt or alone. Callie hugged Brandon right back, but a little tighter than he had in his hold.
Brandon let out a sigh and re-arranged his hands on Callie, “Don’t worry, we will be fine.”
Callie’s rejoinder was sassy, but not meant to come off that way; she was just scared, “how do you know that? We don’t know Lena won’t come in here to get a book or a damn pencil and see us and then get mad at me. If they ever found out, I don’t think they would ever want me again,” Callie paused and twitched her eye-though she had no control over it-then she looked deeply into Brandon’s eyes and continued, “Brandon, they can never find out about this,”
“But Mariana?” Brandon questionably asked in search of an answer.
“Yea, Mariana.“
Maybe we can convince her that is will never happen again and pretend,” Brandon takes a big gulp scared to say the words, “you know, um, pretend to break-up?”
“Brandon I cant do that, at least I don’t think I can. IfI do that we can never sit with each other or honestly be us with each other, because you know Mariana.” Callie said with a little tension in her voice, but she is mad at herself-that she can’t be herself with her own family.
-
They hear the footsteps come closer, louder. Callie clutches Brandon’s hand while looking around the room for a hiding spot, or even a way to get out of there. She then nudges Brandon’s hip motioning to the closet in the back of the classroom. They hear keys drop and rumble on the floor, which was there clue to get going to the closet. Brandon quickly gets up and leads Callie down the classroom, but he hits a table in rush to get back there. They then stood still, the silence laid like a down-filled duvet over the area, muffling the slightest sound and creating an atmosphere of total tranquility. Continuing. Tip toeing-literally-to the closet. As they got closer, they realized it looked like it could only fit one. Brandon unsure of his decision, but he surged into the closet and left Callie pretending to look out the window incase Lena walked in after hearing a thud.
-
Undoubtedly she did. Lena walked into the room to see Callie by the window.
“Callie?”
“Oh! Hi, you scared me.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Um…” Callie paused to think of a comment, but nothing came to mind-that would make sense.
“I mean, are, are you okay? Is something wrong? When I left you were pretty shaken up.” Lena spoke in a worried manor.
“Yea, I am fine. I just needed somewhere to go, you know?”
Lena softly answered, “Ya, I do.”
“Just to think.”
“Okay, well I will leave you too it.”
Callie taking in a big breathe of air as if she had been holding her breathe for minutes. Lena quickly walks back in with a reminder, “Oh, Callie. We have company coming over for dinner tonight, so been back at home and ready at 5:00”
Callie responded with a question. “Who is it? I mean coming over?”
“Timothy. We haven’t had him over in a while, so. Tonight, 5:00 don’t be late.”
“Okay, promise.”
-
Lena is finally gone-down the hall and into her office. Callie then walks over to the sealed closet and lets Brandon out. He comes shooting out with his hand on his chest, in need of air. Callie looks at Brandon and backs up until she feels her back hit the window wall. “Brandon, I cant, I don’t know what to do!” Callie throws her hands at her head on both ears sides, while bending down in a cradle position-ripping her hair out.
Brandon confused on what just happen-still catching breathes, “What? What are you talking about?” Brandon not meaning to, but his voice level got higher. “What does this mean? Where is this coming from Callie!”
Callie nervous on her response she was hesitant to give. “All I want is to not be afraid! I don’t want every moment with you to be like today, where it is interrupted by something so stupid as someone walking in on us. I am afraid they will never look at me the same if they found out. I am afraid Jude will get hurt; again. I am just afraid of this, of us!” Callie took a deep breath and let out a big groan, “But all I really want is to not be afraid, I just want to have you and a family! God!”
