I seriously have a problem. I am a procrastinator to the fullest extent and sucky time manager. I think deep down I just didn't want to end a story I hade been working on, sadly, for 7 years. That is so pathetic I hate myself more that any of you ever could. Luckily as I have been reading through this I could tell I improved a lot over that timeframe, so you know in order to make the ending good, it was worth it. Kinda. But I digress, and here we go one final time!

Actual Fanfic:

Jonathan Turner hates me. There is no other explanation for this torture. He is a sick man who must be stopped and punished.

Ok, maybe I am overreacting, slightly.

But really, what kind of guardian make their 15 year old charge stay home on a Friday night to study because he failed one little test?

The sadistic kind, that's who, I mean he is the reason I failed it in the first place. He was the one who insisted on a new house and all that moving led to a poor test grade. Lifting boxes fried my brain with exhaustion. It happens to the best of us. And so what if he has that stupid time managing sheet I'm supposed to follow? Who in their right mind would actually think I could live in such a strict rigid time sheet world? Jonathan Turner that's who.

I had to cancel on one of the hottest girls I have ever seen. This will ruin my reputation as the stud I am. On Monday, Cory will be cooler than me, and he owns a sweater vest. Life can be so cruel.

"Shawn, want some pizza for dinner?" I heard John call from the other room. I chose not to respond for obvious reason.

"Shawn! Did you hear me?" I roll my eyes and refuse to respond once again.

Footsteps approach my room and the door opens.

"Why didn't you answer me?" Cue Turner's upset, confused, and disappointed look.

I glare and look pointedly at the books in front of me.

"I see. Is this the silent treatment?" He asked. Semi-condescendingly, I might also add.

My eyes narrow, and I flip a page with attitude. It takes work to be an accomplished attitude page flipper, but I have practice.

John sighs and sits down on my bed while I continue to stare at my work filled desk.

"Look Shawn, I understand you had plans and that this has been a hectic week with the move and all, but we have to get those grades up if we want you to continue to live here. That was a stipulation of my permanent guardianship."

I turn another page.

"You know this attitude makes me wonder if the therapy fight went in the right direction. You obviously have trouble expressing your anger in a healthy manner. Maybe I should go get that number…"

He was goading me, and he was doing it well.

I turned around to stare at him.

"I am not mad. I was busy. You should respect the time management sheet. Pizza and meaningful conversations are not scheduled until nine at the earliest." I turned back around.

This was not meant to sound like sarcasm; it just came out that way. Honestly.

"The schedule is important to settling into a new environment." John said a little testily.

That book was really starting to cause problems.

"I don't think scheduling 'recreational fun with friends' was necessary. And my mealtimes do not have to be followed like a religious ceremony."

John sighed again.

"Shawn, you were 25 pound underweight at the hospital, and the mealtimes and meal plans are the best way to get your weight back up. You know this."

I felt my shoulders tighten. I hate those meal plans.

"Whatever." (Best teenage response in the world).

"You look tired. Are you feeling all right? You're not usually this upset over things like this. Maybe I should go get the thermometer…"

He was out of the room and fiddling around in a medicine cabinet before I could stop him.

"Ah Ha, there it is!" I heard him call triumphantly and felt footsteps moving back toward me.

I close my mouth tight. No way was he putting a thermometer in under my tongue like I was five. I could do it myself.

I felt something go in my ear and cursed myself for forgetting about that new kind they had out.

"100.9 degrees, that's not good. Lets get you into bed and rested, we don't want you getting worse. I should call the doctor…"

An hour later I was in my bed under strict instructions not to move or even breath to hard for fear of worsening my condition. John had snuck off to read the "How to Help Your Child Sick While They Are Still Recovering From Abuse" chapter of the book with increasingly annoying advice.

"Ok Shawn I want you to know that I am going to make some soup and then we can read a chapter from To Kill a Mockingbird."

John had realized some of my school problems resulted from a reading problem and had been trying to help me overcome it by reading with me at home. It was annoying but helpful.

That night I woke up after falling asleep somewhere between Scout going to her first day of school and something about a cootie that I vaguely remembered. Yes, John was reading to me. How far the mighty and cool have fallen. Cue internal sigh.

I sat up, thirsty and looking for the water John had brought me. I heard him talking a decided to snoop. Old habits die-hard.

"Probably just the flu, but I can't help but worry. He is so fragile now. I can sometimes see him assessing my mood and can tell he worries that if he makes me too mad I will kick him out or worse. I hope this doesn't lead to another two steps back. He was just starting to trust me again. Lucky, I caught this early."

I hate it when people talk about me.

"I hope he knows that this arrangement is permanent. I try to tell him how much I care about him as often as possible but he doesn't always listen."

Pause.

"Yeah, the time management is working well."

I rolled my eyes.

"I'll bring him in if he gets worse. Goodbye and thanks doctor."

I ran back to my room and hoped he didn't hear me. Despite everything, even groundings, its nice to know John cares enough about me to broadcast it to other people. I close my eyes and fall asleep feeling happy and safe. Life could be worse, that's for sure.

Authors note:

Victory! I am not going to even promise a sequel but anything is possible. I'm just glad I managed to finish this in a decade. Thank you all for the reviews!