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Up In Flames

Callie was silent during breakfast the next morning. And frankly, it was starting to creep the children out.

"So, um, Callie?" Mariana asked, taking a seat down next to the only available spot at the table, which was next to the brunette.

It was completely obvious that the Foster family was afraid of the girl. Well, minus Stef and Lena. And possibly Mariana. The others; Brandon and Jesus both tried to avoid making her angry. The brunette wasn't surprised, really. People tended to be afraid of former prisoners.

Callie placed her spoon down and looked up at the Latina, waiting for her to speak.

"How've you been feeling lately? After my Moms took you home. It must feel better than where you usually used to."

The brunette looked down. True, it did feel good to get off the streets. But as kind and caring the Fosters were, she didn't want to be here. She wanted to be with Jude. Because regardless of the family's kindness in taking her in, Jude was her home.

"Fine." Callie said, feeling she had to say something. Getting up, she dumped her unfinished cereal down the garbage disposal and headed outside to the elm tree but was quickly stopped by Stef.

"What?"

"I signed you up for classes at Anchor Beach Charter School, where Lena's vice principal. You'll be attending until we figure out a way to fix your situation."

"What situation?" Mariana asked.

"Duh, she's homeless." Jesus pointed out, "Why do you gotta be such a dummy Mariana?"

"Shut up, Jesus!" The Latina shouted at her twin brother.

But he was dead wrong. Stef wasn't talking about her being on the streets, she was referring to Jude. So, in other words, she would be attending Anchor Beach until the restraining order was lifted.

The cop handed the brunette a navy green backpack, a black notebook and a pencil. The Moms shoved all their kids out the door (including Callie) and into the car.

The brunette stared out the window and stared at all the houses the car would pass by, wondering what dangers they would be hiding.

Callie had learned from experience that no house was what it seemed. There was always some sort of downfall for her and Jude. Mainly her, though.

Even this family, who seemed to be living the most perfect of lives had some sort of issue buried beneath them, though they probably didn't realize it. Because sometimes a problem couldn't be as obvious as it could be.

Like with Liam Olmstead, her old foster brother. Just two years ago he had ruined her life. Taken the one thing that shouldn've without consent; her virginity. Yes, Liam Olmstead had raped Callie.

She shivered at the thought of him, which caught Stef's attention. Looking at the girl's reflection in the rearview mirror, she noticed how scared she was.

"Callie, sweets are you alright?" Stef asked.

"Yeah." She lied, feeling relieved when they pulled into the school parking lot. Grabbing her backpack, she slid out of the car and instantly felt overwhelmed.

Heart pounding, breath shaking, she ran back over to Stef and climbed into the squad car.

"Callie?" The cop questioned.