Brandon took a deep breath and entered the room, making sure to close the door behind him. Callie was sitting on her bed sans makeup with a sullen look on her face. As he stepped closer,she looked up and their eyes met, he could see the faded streaks of tears recently left behind. Suddenly he felt an ache deep within his chest where his now guarded heart beat. Just as Callie was about to dismiss Brandon, he spoke."Callie! I'm sorry about what I said, I didn't mean for it to come off like an insult. "You know in my eyes you are beautiful, and I'm proud of how you are going out into the world and letting others see your light." She saw the sincerity in his eyes as she responded. "Brandon, I know you didn't mean to hurt me and I'm sorry I blew up at you like that, I didn't mean it." She sighed deeply and continued."You are right you know, that wasn't me, not really. Im just trying so hard to project a confidence I have yet to find in myself."Brandon wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms, but instead replied."Well you're wrong too,I don't see you as the poor foster girl who needs to be protected. You have come so far, and you are stronger then you think you are."A smile spread across her face as she heard these words. She wanted so badly to reach over and take his hand, the hands that she so easily intertwined her fingers with so many times before. She quickly reminded herself, that couldn't happen."Callie! Brandon spoke, something I wont apologies for is seeing the person that others are missing out on. The girl who can make jeans and converse look like they belong on the front cover of a magazine, who prefers her chucks over high heels and most importantly the girl who projects her beauty on the inside, out."Brandon's eyes never left hers as she let a single tear fall. They sat there in silence for a moment until Brandon rose from the bed, suddenly something hanging on the wall caught his eye. Neatly framed, incased in glass was a comic drawing of Callie depicted as a super hero. It stung to see this, and immediately Callie noticed the look of hurt on Brandon's face. As he made his way to the door, She asked. "Before you go, can you hand me my antique copy of Romeo and Juliet, Jude wants to borrow it for his assignment." "Oh yeah, where is it?" Brandon asked still wounded from what he just saw. Callie replied."It's on the bookshelf in the leather case that contains all of Shakespeare's works.""Ok! Brandon said, as he located the set and pulled out the volume that was the tale of two star-crossed lovers. The irony was not lost on him. As he slid the book out something fell from between the pages. He lean down to pick it up and was met with the familiar notes he knew all to well. His eyes surveyed the page were he once confessed his love through song. At the very top he could see the words, Callie's Song: Outlaws and he was met once again with that familiar ache, but this time it was accompanied by relief. He quickly slid it between the pages of the next novel over, before turning back to face Callie. He didn't know if she saw or not as he walked back over and handed her the book. Callie looked up with a coy smile as She said."I would much rather have that on display.” Brandon was taken back by her words and they were then drawn into a longing gaze that could never be appeased. Smiling one last time, he turned to leave, both their hearts beating faster than before. He closed the door and returned to reality where the only thing that remained of their love was lost between the pages of a tragic love story. Yet again, the irony was not lost on him.
