Love Will Keep Us - Book 5

I'm Home

"So you're back? Like, are you staying???" Frankie asks Callie as they were now hanging out in the basement along with Stefanie. Frankie was so happy to have the older girl back for she missed her more then anything. Finally she would have someone to talk to again and someone that accepted her and her new look.

"Yes, I'm back. Remember our deal?" Callie laughs as Stefanie glances over at the girl and taking a seat on the girls bed.

"You, two, had a deal? What kind?"

"Yes. She was supposed to talk to Moms about how she was feeling, and I'd come home and talk to my mom," Callie explains as she continues to unpack her bag and set her clothes on her bed to put away.

"And I did, but you didn't have to if you didn't want to, Cals. I'd understand," Frankie interjects as Callie looks right at her and laughs.

"No, you wouldn't, Franks. You know you would be mad at me, but it's time I came home anyway."

"We did miss you Callie. Did something happen at your Dads?" Stefanie asks now flipping through a magazine.

"No, nothing happened. INfact I felt super guilty leaving him. I really did but he was super supportive about me coming home and I missed everyone."

"I missed you too Cal but I'm different now!" Frankie objects. "I'm not that little girl who gets mad easily anymore! I swear it!! I'm mature."

"Frankie, it's okay. Callie understands," Stefanie softly places her hand on Frankie's bouncing knee, for she knew that the girl was going through something. Time would tell, but she hoped maybe with Callie being home, they could help her through it. Whatever it was.

"I noticed that you've changed your style, Franks," Callie smiles as she sits on the bed and looks at her younger sister. Stefanie walks around the bed and begins to help Callie hang her clothes, and Frankie rolls her eyes.

"Well, ya, but I mean, it's who I am now."

"You weren't yourself before?" Callie asks kindly.

"Well, yes, but I mean, I'm growing up. I'm not this little kid anymore, and I'm trying new things," Frankie explains as she now sits Indian style in the middle of Callie's bed.

"There's nothing wrong with that, little sis. You look different with your hair straight, and your new clothes but if it makes you happy, go for it."

"But does it make you happy?" Stefanie now asks, and Frankie's cheeks turn pink as she hugs one of Callie's pillows to her chest.

"It takes a lot of work, but you do it, Stefanie. I mean, I see you taking time for yourself and stuff. I like it."

"Yeah?" Stefanie asks as Callie looks at her knowing Frankie really wasn't happy. She wasn't being herself and her sister had some idea as to why.

"YES! Are you both deaf? This is me and my new look and I like it!" Frankie becomes defensive as she slightly tosses the pillow to the side, and Callie walks over to where Frankie is and looks her in the eyes.

"Ok, Franks, it's ok, little sis. We get it and it's cool to try new looks, so go with what feels good."

"I'm going to bed. See you tomorrow." Frankie says rather quickly getting up from the bed as Callie sighs and throws up her hands in frustration, for she really didn't know what to say to the girl. And she didn't want to fight with her by any means.

"Franks, don't be upset! Come on, I just got home and..."

"I'm fine. I'm just tired, ok? I'll see you in the morning." The girl says heading upstairs as Stefanie lets out a sigh.

"So much for her not getting mad. She's got some temper, Cals."

"I know, but she's really pretty defensive. It's because of that girl. She really broke her heart." She says getting up  and continuing to put her clothes away as Stefanie looks confused.

"What girl? What do you mean?"

"Oh, um, nothing. Just a friend she had that decided not to be friends anymore with her. Hurt Franks a lot." Callie shrugs, for she wasn't thinking at all and didn't mean to say as much as she had.

"Ok, but why would that make her change her look?  Did she like her? Like, Frankie likes girls, right?" Stefanie implies as Callie shrugs her shoulders again not wanting to spill her little sister's secret even if Stefanie was her best friend. "Cals, I've known for awhile that Frankie likes girls. I just wasn't 100 percent sure. I mean it would make sense about a few things, and I just observed it, ya know?"

"Stefanie, she's having a hard time about it, and just don't...don't let her know I spilled anything. I wasn't thinking at all." Callie pleads softly as Stefanie shakes her head.

"Of course, I won't say anything, Cals. And you really didn't. I... I knew, and she's little and that's hard. I mean, it's hard no matter what. I still struggle with what Alby did to me."

Callie finishes up and shoves her empty bags under her bed before plopping on the bed beside Stefanie. "Oh, really? You don't really talk about him anymore. He try to contact you?"

"Oh, no. Nothing like that. But I kinda have my eye on this other guy, you know? And then I remember all that happened with Alby," Stefanie admits softly as Callie takes her hand.

"It's okay to like someone again, Stefanie. Not all guys are the same exact way, but who do you like? Maybe I know him? I mean I don't know everyone in the school yet, but maybe I do?"

Stefanie giggles softly. "You might know this guy cuz he hangs with AJ."

"Oh...ummm, his one friend...what's his name? Don't tell me," Callie squeezes her eyes shut as she thinks. "The blonde kid, Jason?"

"Yes, but I don't know if he even knows I exist. He's got a cute ass," Stefanie giggles again as both girls fall back on the pillows and turn towards each other so they could keep talking. Stefanie was so grateful to have Callie closer to her house again. She had missed visiting with her.

"I hadn't noticed," Callie giggles as she becomes serious again and whispers. "But I think I'm ready, you know?" She admits as Stefanie moves closer so she can hear.

"You mean, ready? As in...sex?" She barely whispers not wanting anyone to hear at all.

"Ya. But do you think I'm dumb?"

"What? Why would you ask me that, silly goose?" Stefanie laughs as Callie places her forehead against Stefanie's as she keeps whispering.

"Because! I told you I was ready before, and I still haven't, you know...done it yet. I think I'm scared my mom will somehow know, and I just got home. She's gonna watch me like a damn hawk, and I don't wanna fight with her anymore. I really don't."

"I get it, Cals. But you gotta talk to her. You really do. I mean, I talked to her, and everything is cool with us again."

"Ya, she's good at that," Callie admits as she becomes sad, and Stefanie can see it in her eyes as she pulls back to look at her best friend. This was the part that made her really sad, for she never really noticed this until recently, and the fact that her god mom could make things right with her and not Callie was really bothering her big time.

"Cals, I don't know all that went down between you, two, but maybe try and be calm with her? I mean, I don't know how it feels to be her actual daughter, but I know how stubborn you BOTH can get. I hate that it's like this, though because I have a feeling you're both kinda playing victim."

"What? I'm not playing victim, Stefanie! I have tried..."

"No! Don't take it wrong. I mean, you both have similarities in how you...you deal with stuff, and this is just my observation, ya know? I know you don't mean to do that, Cals." Stefanie grabs Callie's hand and squeezes it tightly. "Please don't be mad I said that."

"I'm not. I'm just sad about it, I guess."

"I know, Callie. I know. But talk to her. She loves you Cals. She really does."

"I know. I love her too."