xp_logs | Callie and Julian: Making amends (Reply)

In an effort to make amends for her behavior the previous night, Callie brings Julian cookies. After all, nothin' says lovin' like somethin' from the oven.

Callie paused in front of the door and glanced down at the plate of fresh baked cookies she was holding. The brightly decorated sugar cookie people and Christmas trees were meant as a peace offering. To say that she hadn't quite been the nicest person ever last night would probably be an understatement. Even though she knew that it wasn't entirely her fault, she still felt bad. Julian had come to help her, and she didn't want him to think that she didn't appreciate the thought. So she found herself standing outside his suite, her homemade sweets in hand, knocking on the door.

Julian was in his room reading the book of Fairy Tales Mister Beaubier had given him earlier. His suitemates were out and his door was open, had he had his music on there would have been no way for him to hear the soft knocking from out in the hallway. Julian sighed, the story was just starting to get good and it certainly wasn't what he remembered from his childhood. "Coming," he yelled, finding his slippers and sliding them on before heading across the cool hardwood floor.

The suite area was a mess from the previous night's activities- his suitemates were alright guys, but none of them were very tidy. Of course Julian had an excuse for this, having had a house staff for most of his life and his mother before that to clean-up after him. The only time he'd ever cleaned in his teenage years was at his friend Lance's house when they'd found out his parents were coming home early. They'd barely made it that time and here there was no rush to make things tidy- since no one really ever came to visit. Julian was almost to the door when the knocking came again, "I said I'm coming, hang on." When he swung the door open, he was genuinely surprised at who was on the other side- given the state she'd been in the night before.

"Um hi." Callie made her voice sound as friendly as she could. He didn't seem too upset at seeing her, so she hoped that quite possibly he wasn't mad at her for how she had acted. Still, the fact that she was worried that he might not want her there weighed heavily on her, making her feel a lot less confident than she was putting out. Although the two were the same height, Callie was unable to bring herself to look Julian in the eye. Instead, she tried looking past him as she shifted uncomfortably in place. "I hope I'm not disturbing you. I just wanted to apologize for last night. Um something happened and I wasn't myself. But I wanted to thank you for being there you know? It meant a lot. And I baked cookies."

She held out the plate to him. "These are for you."

The plate of cookies looked delicious and Julian was a bit peckish, "Oh, thanks, Callie, you didn't have to do that." He made a gesture to invite her inside, fully aware she wasn't meeting his eyes. "It's okay, you can come in. You're really not bothering me at all." It had been an interesting day, but this was, by far the most unusual event thus far. He'd been very worried about Callie, having taken her measure as one who was generally very calm and collected. "You're feeling a little better now then?"
A genuine smile appeared on Callie's face as he invited her inside. Even the mess that lay therein could not deter it from her. "Thanks," she said as she stepped inside. "And I know I didn't have to, but I wanted to." The plate was set down on one of the end tables where she was sure it would be safe. She leaned against the back of the couch, and turning her attention back to Julian began to speak.

"Ya. I'm better. Thanks. Something happened last night with someone and it got me really out of sorts." She fidgeted, picking lint off her sweater, pulling her sleeves over her hands. It wasn't so much that being there was uncomfortable, it was more the fact that she knew that she couldn't reveal what happened. She had promised Manuel and Morgan that much. But at the same time she didn't know what to say to make it not sound worse than it was. "I mean everything's all good now, and we're fine. I'm fine. They're fine. Everything's fine. I promise."

Julian walked over to Callie, he could see that she was struggling with all of this- whatever had set her off must have been huge. He placed his hands on her shoulders and tilted his head slightly, trying to catch her eye. "Callie, what I said is still true, you're my friend and I'm here for you." He smiled and jerked his head toward the plate of cookies, "Would you have one with me?"
A small laugh bubbled out of her as Callie shifted her gaze from her hands to meet with the one that was peering down at her. "Thanks, that really means a lot to me. And I've already had like three, but I would love another one."

Julian smiled broadly, "Glad you're back with us Callie." In a smooth motion he pulled Callie towards himself in a friendly, though lingering hug. After a brief moment of surprise, she hugged back, her head resting against his shoulder. It was nice to have that physical reassurance that someone was there for you. Finally, he pulled away and motioned towards the cookies, "Come on, if you've already had three I've got some catching up to do."