Forever And Always

Chapter 15

On the way to school, Callie rode with Reggie, she stared out the window most of the time.

"How was the baby shower?" Reggie asked. " Did Polly like everything?"

"It was fine," Callie answered. She looked out the window. " And yes she liked everything."

"Are you alright?" Reggie as he pulled into the school's parking lot. " Is this about your mom?" 

"I'm fine," Callie assured him. Reggie pared the car, the two started for the building. " All those girls get to have their mom around."

"There it is," Reggie stated. " You miss your mom and that is okay, you are allowed to feel those things."

"It's been two years, she pops in every once in a while," Callie explained. " She barely texts me."

" Big breaths Callie," Reggie advised her. " You barely text her as well."

"Maybe I should text her more," Callie sighed.

" Do whatever seems like the best option to you," Reggie advised.

******

Callie now sat in class, they witnessed Ethel perform a depressing poem.

"They put me in a wooden box as I desperately opposed. But all my screaming was for naught. My mouth has been sewn closed. Curled up in bed was just a girl. Needing Daddy's arms to hold her," Ethel performed. After that Callie made a b line for the bathroom. Ethel's poem was a cry out for help, it was the same way she felt before her parents separated. The divorce papers are still pending, but it still feels very real.

"Are you alright?" Cheryl asked walking.

"Fine," Callie assured her.

"You are hurting Callie," Cheryl stated as she ran her fingers through Callie's hair. " After Ethel's poem, it's clear she is hurting as well. Do you need to go home?"

"I will be alright, Cheryl," Callie assured her. " Honestly."

" Don't come to practice later," Cheryl advised. 

******

Callie ended up staying home the next day. She now sat the table doing her history homework with Archie and Jughead.

" You should go to school instead of skipping," her dad advised her.

"I was just not up to it today dad," Callie defended herself.

"Did something happen at the baby shower?" Her dad asked.

 " You have been acting weird ever since," Jughead added. " I would know, I attended the baby shower." 

"It was all the girls there with their moms," Callie answered. " All these girls get to go out and do mother-daughter stuff. Get their nails done, go shopping, make dinner together, help each other get ready. Just be around each other"

" Maybe you should go down and live in Chicago with your mom," her dad suggested.

"No," Callie denied. " I can't leave you or Archie, besides my whole life is here, including Reggie."

"Then just go for a weekend, " Archie suggested. 

" No, it's alright dad and Archie," Callie assured him. " Dad, you are doing really good for filling in her spot for me. I shouldn't take that for granted." At that moment someone knocked on the door.  Her dad walked over and opened the door.

"Mr. Andrews! Nice haircut," Cheryl greeted, Callie got up and walked over to see her best friend at the house. " You're looking extremely DILF-y today. Is Archie home?"