Disclaimer: I do not own The Fosters or any of the characters.

Chapter 1.

"Sophia. Soph. Time to get up!" Callie shook her younger sister awake.

"Ugh. What time is it?" Sophia groaned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"It's almost nine," Callie told her. "We have to hurry up and get dressed."

She got out of bed and quickly changed out of her pajamas, dressing in denim shorts and a red t-shirt. Sophia sleepily dressed, too, and soon, Callie was dragging her down the hall to the elevator, shouldering her duffel bag.

"I see dad's car," Sophia told her, peering across the student housing parking lot.

"Good," said Callie. "Think you can take it from here?"

Sophia gave her a disappointed look. "Don't you want to go say hi to him?"

She shook her head hurriedly. "Look, Sophia. I love you. You know that. And none of what happened is your fault. But you know how I feel about... Robert..."

"He just wanted you to be with your family," her younger sister told her. "You can't blame him for that."

Callie gave her a pained look. "I was with my family. And he took me away from them. I just can't forgive him yet."

"Yet?" Sophia asked. "So, does that mean there's a chance you will someday?"

"We'll see," she replied half-heartedly. She squinted as Robert's big sports car came closer. "I have to go, kiddo. Kiss me goodbye?"

Sophia wrapped her arms around her in a tight hug, and Callie bent down to kiss her. "I love you, Sophie. I'll call you later."

"I love you too," said Sophia. "Can I stay with you again soon?"

"Sure," Callie nodded. "Maybe next weekend."

"Can't wait," her sister smiled, turning to her father's car. "Bye," she called back, waving.

"Bye, baby!" Callie waved a small wave. Before Robert could approach her, she turned and hurried back to the dorms.

Once she was safe in her own room, Callie pressed herself against the wall. She felt like screaming. It wasn't fair that she couldn't have Sophia without Robert; she had to see him to see her, even if it was just in passing. She did it for Sophia, but that didn't make it any easier. She loved her little sister more than words could describe, especially since she and Jude, who hadn't uttered a word in three years, had drifted so far apart. Sophia was what kept her going.

She held her wrist up now, glancing over the pale, silvery scars that creased her skin; souvenirs from when she would lock herself in the bathroom and cut herself with a razor blade, then clean the blood off with one of Jill's precious guest towels. She'd stopped cutting a few years ago, for Sophia's sake, once she realized how much the younger girl looked up to her. Her little sister made her a better person, even when she didn't want to be.

So much had changed since Robert came into her life; since he refused to sign away his rights to her. He tried to justify what he'd done by telling her that she belonged with them, that he was just trying to do right by her, that he would provide her with every opportunity. Then, he ripped her from the family she loved. Sure, he sent her to a great college, and set up a trust fund for her. But that didn't make up for the love she'd always felt when she lived with the Fosters. The only bright light in Callie's future was that she would be moving to London in two months, to study abroad. She would be an ocean away from the father she resented and the step-mother she hated. She would miss Sophia though; her little sister was just an innocent, and she could never fault her for the mess that was her family. If anything, she tried her best to shield her from it.

Suddenly, Callie's roommate, Caitlin burst into the room, and tossed her bag on the floor. Caitlin was a slob, and Callie was neat, but they had become good friends.

Callie hurried to wipe her tears away, but Caitlin had already seen them. "What's wrong, Cal?" she asked, her face creased with a frown.

She shrugged. "Just the same old crap."

Her roommate nodded knowingly. "Daddy issues?"

Callie nodded. "And I use the term 'daddy' loosely."

Caitlin put her hand on Callie's shoulder. "Well, fortunately, I have some news that will cheer you up."

"Try me," Callie replied sarcastically.

"Okay," she chirped. "You, my friend, are going on a date with a sexy musician tonight!"

"What?" she cried, confused."Who?"

"Leo has a friend," Caitlin explained. Leo was her boyfriend, whom she'd been dating for three weeks. "The four of us are going on a double date to dinner and a concert."

"Not going," Callie quickly decided. "I don't do blind dates."

"Sweetie, you don't do any dates," Caitlin countered. "You should get out and have some fun!"

"I'm not in the mood for fun."

"See, that's your problem," her friend told her. "All you do is mope around and study. You haven't gone out with anyone all semester. You wouldn't be so depressed if you got out and socialized."

"I need to focus on my schoolwork," Callie replied. "You should try it sometime." An outsider would think that she and Caitlin didn't get along, but that wasn't true at all. The snarky, sarcastic banter was just part of their friendship.

"What have you got to lose?" her roommate went on.

"Have you even met him?" Callie asked. "He could be some kind of psycho."

"No, I've never met him," she sheepishly admitted. "But according to Leo, he's a great guy, and he's perfect for you. He's good looking, he's into music, and he's single. He's even that brooding, sensitive type, just like you. What more do you want?"

"Do you even know this guy's name?" Callie asked, skepticism in her voice.

"Yeah," Caitlin nodded. "It's Brad, or Brent, or something like that. It definitely starts with a B."

"Oh, that makes me feel so much better," Callie laughed. "I'll remember that when I'm laying in a ditch."

"Please go?" Caitlin begged. "Leo's tickets are nonrefundable. And for all you know, this guy could be your soul mate. If not, you never have to see him again. Please, just do this?" She gave her a sad, pouty look.

"Fine," Callie finally relented with a defeated sigh. "I'll go."

To Be Continued