Time Alone (OPEN!)

[Callisto "Callie" Sanders]

Callie smiled in spite of herself. She was starting to loosen up, which was something that only happened when she was really comfortable with someone. She had never felt this comfortable with a boy before, and if she had been thinking about it, this realization might have scared her.

“Yeah, I did. Kids are cool, you know? They don’t judge, they’re trusting and honest, and they never pretend to be something they’re not. The girls always wanted things like hearts and butterflies… the boys used to ask me to paint their faces to look like monsters. Sometimes I would tell them stories about mythical creatures and stuff… It was fun, you know? I think if I wasn’t a witch, I’d want to teach kindergarten or something.”

[Dierks Brooks]

Dierks wanted the people he spoke to to be at ease instead of being uncomfortable. It was apparent that Callie had relaxed a little bit because the conversation became a lot easier.

He let out a laugh, imaging the children running up, asking for things to be painted on their faces. "Yeah, kids are cool. They're always fun ter watch too." People in general were fun to watch, but there was something else about watching little children. They had a carefree way of life and were open to anyone being their friend.

"Teachin' sounds prudy cool, 'specially kindergarten. I used ter watch the little kids that lived down the road back from my house in Texas while their parents were at work. They were a handful, but it was fun.”

[Callisto "Callie" Sanders]

"I know a lot of people would probably be surprised if they knew I liked kids," Callie said. "I just... I don't know. Sometimes I'd give anything to be that innocent again, to not care what anyone else thought, to just have fun with life. It just seems like the older you get, the more you see... and the more you see, the more jaded you get."

She sighed softly, then focused on him again. "Anyway... who knows? Maybe I'll open up an orphanage for wizarding children. So often they either are sent to muggle orphanages, or set up with foster families who aren't equipped to handle them. It seems like we should be able to do better than that, you know?"

[Dierks Brooks]

"As my parents told me, it's all part of growin' up," he said with a shrug. "They also said that you can't really grow up by yerself 'cause yer gonna need friends ter help you when things get tough."

Dierks also knew that if you blocked yourself off from different things and never experienced them, it could jade you even more. However, he knew he wasn't perfect and there would be things that he would block himself from just like anyone else. "That would be nice of you. If you did open up an orphanage, it would give them a chance ter be around people like them instead of worryin' why their different from the others." He smiled softly.

"Yer gonna do great in whatever you do. I'm sure that the kids will love you if you choose ter do that."

[Callisto "Callie" Sanders]

"I guess I'm lucky," Callie said. "Being one of triplets means that, no matter what, my best friends are never far away. And my dad's pretty amazing, too, since he raised the three of us by himself from when we were just babies. I wish we could have known our mom... but Daddy never made us feel like we were missing out."

She sighed sadly. When she was younger, she used to ask their father about their mother all the time. She knew that he missed her terribly, and that, even though she was gone, he was still very much in love with her. Guys like that... they were rare and wonderful, and she didn't think she could settle for anything less in a man.

"I forget, did you say you had any siblings?" she asked, looking back at him.

[Dierks Brooks]

"That's good." Hearing that the triplets didn't have their mother was sad. Dierks wasn't sure what he would do without his mother. Although their father raised them alone, he had to admit that from what he had seen of the girls, he had done extremely well.

"No ma'am," said Dierks with a shake of his head. "It's just me, Jake, and my parents." He never complained about not having any siblings. Sometimes it could get lonely not really having anyone else to talk to, but he always thought that that was part of the reason his parents allowed him to have a dog.

"'Suppose it was just easier with one child since my mama was off workin' and dad too, but I didn't mind it cause there was Jake. He's a great listener, that's fer sure." At the last bit, Dierks gave a quiet laugh.

[Callisto "Callie" Sanders]

Callie smiled. "Animals are good for that sort of thing. Other than the firehouse dog, we could never have a dog... our house was crowded enough. But I did have a hamster once when I was 8. Linette hated it, she said it looked like a rat. But I loved him. I called him Oliver."

She laughed. "I used to try and scare Linny with him, until Dad told me to stop. Oh, and one time, I captured a frog from the creek a few blocks from our house and put it in Linny's bed." Her laughter increased at the memory. "I was grounded for that... no TV and no reading, except for school. I made up fake book reports just so I'd have an excuse to read..."

[Dierks Brooks]

"Someone used ter be a bad girl," he said teasingly. "And you do know that frogs give you warts, don't cha?" Dierks let out a laugh. He felt like he was let in on little secrets. Not just the fact that she was telling up, but hearing her laughter, learning about the things she liked. It was like Callie was slowly letting down a wall that had been put up for almost everyone.

"Sounds like it was a lotta fun growin' up with yer sisters."

[Callisto "Callie" Sanders]

"I still am," she teased, raising an eyebrow at him. She was now flirting with him and she didn't even realize it. She had never done it before, even though she had watched Linette flirt many times.

"I never got any warts," she continued. "And I used to catch a lot of frogs. I used to try and get them to race each other, but they never seemed to cooperate."

Actually, the truth was that she used to kiss the frogs to see if any of them would turn into a prince. Like Bobby, she had a romantic heart and she believed in fairy tales. She had grown out of it, mostly, but there was still a secret part of her that kept hoping to find a prince charming.

"We had a good childhood. It wasn't always easy, and we fought sometimes... it's not easy being a triplet, you know? People can't tell you apart, they mistake you for your sisters, or they try to put you in a category. Linny was always the 'girly' one. Bobby was the 'girl next door.' And me... I was the tomboy. The rebellious one. That's if they remembered me at all."

[Dierks Brooks]

"Now that ain't that hard to believe I don't guess," Dierks said teasing with her again.

He let out a laugh at hearing that she tried to get the frogs to race each other. That image was fairly amusing, especially if there was any frustration because they wouldn't cooperate.

"I think you three have little differences, even if all three of you dressed the same." Dierks didn't really know how to explain their differences. "And I'm sure that people remembered you. Why wouldn't they? Yer a nice girl and if it helps ya any, I ain't gonna ferget you."

[Callisto "Callie" Sanders]

It was hard to explain to people who weren't triplets just how hard it could be. Where ever you went, there were two other girls who looked exactly like you. Callie was the middle sister, and as such, she often thought of herself as being overlooked. She wasn't the oldest, nor was she the youngest. Sure, the difference wasn't a big one--she was only twenty minutes younger than Linny and a half an hour older than Bobby. But somehow, she always felt it. Growing up, before she learned to act out and speak out in a way that would make her memorable, she was always mistaken for either Linny or Bobby. And most people expected her to be like one of them or the other. She began to rebel against it from a very early age and develop her own ideas and interests that were totally separate from her sisters. And if people didn't like it, then she had no use for them.

"Back when I was a kid, every time I went somewhere without Bobby or Linny, everyone would mistake me for one or the other. It was like I was in the middle... forgotten. I mean, really... how could they possibly forget a name like Callisto? I had to find ways to stand out, you know? I love Bobby and Linny, but I'm not them, I'm me."

[Dierks Brooks]

Dierks didn't quite understand what it was like to have any siblings, let alone a twin or triplets, but he did understand the fact that it could get annoying especially with two other people that looked like you.

"I think you stand out prudy well, now anyway and you've done a good job." He offered her a smile. Dierks didn't mean the fact that she a lot of people were probably intimidated by her. Calli was a sweet, caring girl. A lot of people didn't really take the chance to see that. Plus, her mannerisms stood out as well. It wasn't a bad thing.

[Callisto "Callie" Sanders]

Callie probably would have laughed at him if he told her that she was sweet. She did not think of herself as sweet. Bobby was the sweet one, not her. She thought of herself as a healthy dose of salt.

"Thanks," she said. "Um... hey, listen. What I said... about feeling like I was forgotten and all that? Could you do me a favor and not tell Bobby about it? Or... well, you don't really know Linny, but don't tell her, either, OK? I've kind of... never told anyone about that before. Most people think I'm tough and confident, and even my sisters... they don't really know that I ever felt that way. I was afraid they'd be hurt by it. Especially Bobby."

[Dierks Brooks]

"Wouldn't dream of tellin' 'em," Dierks said with a shake of his head. "You ain't gotta worry 'bout me tellin' 'em anythin', promise." He was pretty good with keeping secrets. Besides, he didn't see the point in spreading them. If someone confided in you, then they trusted you not to say anything. Dierks wouldn't say a word to Bobby or Linny about hat Callie had just told him.


"If it helps you any, I still think yer prudy tough and confident."

[Callisto "Callie" Sanders]

"Well, I am," Callie said quickly, suddenly wondering if she had said too much. It really wasn't like her to start opening up to someone she hardly knew, and she was starting get a little uneasy about it. The walls were starting to go back up again.

"I mean, I have a soft spot for kids and animals, but I can still kick butt if I need to. Especially if anyone tries to hurt my sisters. Speaking of which, if you're friends with Bobby, maybe you know if she's been spending time with any guys who are... well... Guys who don't just want to be friends. Have you?"

[Dierks Brooks]

"Never doubted that you ain't tough and confident. Just sayin' I believe you are." Dierks gave her an honest look. He wouldn't doubt Callie's confidence or her toughness. After all, that was what she was known for and he had seen it before.

Hearing Callie's question almost made Dierks freeze up. He did know about a person that Bobby had been around that wasn't looking for just friendship. However, Bobby did make him swear he wouldn't say a word to anyone. Dierks also knew that he couldn't just down right lie to her. "I don't know," he replied. "At one point I thought I saw her with someone, but I was in a rush and didn't have time to really stop by to see who it was." He made his voice even, just like he was telling the truth.

[Callisto "Callie" Sanders]

He seemed nervous, and Callie, always suspicious, wondered if he was lying. She had a bad feeling that he was... Maybe Bobby had sworn him to secrecy. Well, she wouldn't push it, but she wasn't thrilled, either.

"If you ever do see anyone with her that you don't think has honorable intentions, please let me know," she said. "Bobby is so innocent and she trusts everyone. I don't want to see her get hurt, you know?"

[Dierks Brooks]

Bobby had made Dierks swear to secrecy about Rabastan. He didn't want to lie to Callie but Bobby had already sworn him to secrecy. In the end, he hoped that it was going to be alright but then again part of him knew that someone was going to get hurt before it was all over with. Dierks wished there was a way he could stop it but he didn't know how.

"I can do that," he replied. "And I know. I don't wanna see her hurt either, but I'll keep an eye out fer you."

[Callisto "Callie" Sanders]

It said a lot about Dierks that Callie was asking him to do this. It meant that, in a very short period of time, Callie had decided that he was someone who could be trusted enough to keep an eye on her sister. There weren’t many guys of whom that was true.

“I always try to teach her to be tough like me, but she’s just… she’s too trusting. She wants to see the good in everyone. I, on the other hand, usually see the bad in people until they prove me wrong. Maybe my way’s not right, either… But at least I’m less likely to get hurt.”

[Dierks Brooks]

He could have said that she needed to open up more because she wasn't really living life if she didn't open herself up. Getting hurt was supposed to be a part of life. That was something his parents told him but then again it wasn't his place to really say anything about that.

"I'll try ter make sure she don't get hurt. Bobby is just Bobby. Everyone has their way of lookin' at people." Dierks gave a shrug. "There are sometimes, however, when you got to make an exception with the way you look at people. Maybe that could help and Bobby might be able to see trouble before it starts."