28th December 2008

its about 8:30 am brett donte and janeece have already left for breakfast Mika who is wearing toms jacket and Chlo who has toms watch are joined by maxine who has Stephs key ring with the hotel room key attached*

Brett: morning how are we today

Mika: alright got a headache though

Brett: okay well after breakfast Mika Chlo Maxine Janeece are gonna visit Tom and Steph in prison this morning

Janeece: huh i'm not going to no pyscho prison

Maxine: no i can't I don't think i could handle it

Chlo: tom might not want us to go

Donte: brett mate whats this come from

Brett: Janeece you said american prisons had a high rate of violence right

Janeece: don't remember saying that

Brett: *rolls eyes* anyway they are going to need our advice and help because lets face it we can hande ourselves in an envirmoent like that everyday but can they.

Donte: Bretts right if it was the other one round and we were in prison Steph and Tom would do anything to get us out and lets be honest they have helped us at one time or another.

everyone nods*

Brett: right then everyone meet at the met steps at 1:00

Chlo and Mika are sitting in the visiting room waiting to see tom. There is a partition of glass separating the visitors from the imates.. Tom is led out cuffed at the hands and ankles. He spots the girls and smiles and sits down.

Tom: Chlo mika what are you doing here

Mika: we had to see you tom

Chlo: *noticing toms disheveled look: are you okay

Tom: *trying to ressure the girls* its not as bad as you think

Chlo: everyone is trying to get you and steph out its so unfair whats happeing

Tom: I know but please stay safe and look out for one another

Mika: don't do any heorics in here tom remember we need you and we care a lot

Tom*chuckles* I won't

Steph's prison*

maxine and janeece watch the inmates come out.*

Janeece sipping on cold hot choclate: omg steph isn't going to last a day in here

Maxine*to janeece* be quiet

steph sees the girls and come over and sits down*

Steph: hey girls

Maxine: are you okay

Steph i mean its okay

steph notices the bruise on maxines hand from the night before*

Steph: where did you get that

Maxine: don't worry

Janeece: she battered someone last night

Steph: max why

Maxine*ashamed* they were saying bad stuff about you I was drunk

Steph*shaking head* max you are gonna have to all look out for each other now. Tom and I aren't gonna be able to save you from a bad situation if you get yourself in them

Maxine: i'll try not to get into any trouble

Donte and Brett entered the lawyers office where they were ushered into a seating area. A lawyer came out and shook both of their hands.

"You must be Donte Charles and Brett Aspinall "

"Yes we are"

They were led into a private room. They acknowledged that Donte and Brett had spoken to him on the phone.

"Right so I obviously know about the situation and I have researched about it"

"Can our teachers be released"

"It's not as simple as that, you are on USA soil so you have to abide by American Laws. Lets start with Tom Clarkson there is no written evidence that Izzie Redpath asked her to look after her children"

"Well no, she was murdered how was she meant to know what was going to happen".

"What about Steph Haydock"

"We have rules around fostering here in the US, however it appears Miss Haydock didn't approach the proper channel"

"It was arranged via the school"

"I'm also sorry to say but your friends may be asked to leave the country"

"Why"

"Well, they are here without parental supervision"

"That's because you locked up their parents"

"Come on Brett, we can handle it it ourselves"

The lawyer hands them his business card. The boys take it clearly annoyed. "Thank you, for nothing".

the kids have all met up on the met steps*

Brett: okay how is steph and tom

Mika: well Toms okay but i don't know I feel like he was covering the truth a little bit

Chlo*hugs mika* he will be okay

Maxine: Steph is okay but i think we need to work quickly I can't see either of them surving that long in prison

Brett: we can do that later first lets have some fun

At the prison all the inmates have been led out to the courtyard. Though they are in seperate prisons the male and female prisoners have been allowed to interact*

Steph: *seeing tom: Tom how are you

Tom: i'm okay

A group of rough looking adults come and say hello*

one of the adults* oi you two what do you think you are doing

Steph: I don't see why that is any of your business

same adult* it is when i find out you are in for taking advantage of kids

tom Steps forward* excuse me, what did you say?

gang steps forwards* you make me sick is that how you get your kicks taking in inncoent children and taking advangtage you are peados

steph* what apauling language, we are no such thing

tom* so bugged off

steph* you heard him

gang steps closer with bats and a wrench* no wonder those kids are so messed up

tom* hang on, what are you doing? We've done nothing wrong

gang* We need to make sure people like you are never allowed near kids again

steph pleading* look, we haven't done anything. You've got us wrong

tom* it's not like you lot are good people

the gang steps forward* it will only take us 2 minutes to ensure everyone you love hates you

the gang jump( beat up) steph and tom*

steph in pain* we *gestures to tom* survive everything

the gang* *holding knife* we aren't done we won't stop till y pay for what you have done

steph* *tries it on* smack bottom?

gang* *disgusted* yea I can see what our contacts meant you really are nonces

Oh yes thats right they've met your so callled kids

tom concerned* are they all okay?

Welll... *walks closer* lets say if those meddling boys hadn't got there the girls were very intoxicated who knows what could of happened

tom looks at steph* steph looks at tom* we have to get out of here *in unsion*

the gang* we'll tell them you said hi *winks*

tom throws punch*

Steph: tom they aren't worth it

the gang walk away* we will be seeing you

tom shakes his head* why do these things always happen to us

Steph: because we work at waterloo road

tom sighs*

at times square*

Brett: so yea if i get at least 3 A's i will probly hear to oxford

Mika: oh yea hanging out with other girls much smarter than me

Brett: no one could ever match up to you

Janeece: aww don't make me puke

melissa phillip and Rachel are enjoying an nice family lunch*

phone rigns rachel picks up* hello

Chlo: Miss

Rachel: Chlo how are you

Chlo: everyones struggling mika and maxine are barely holding it together

Rachel: *slowly* right okay chlo i have to go but please be careful

rachel hangs up and then tells melissa and phillip she has to go*

at central park at 1 am*

Donte: *drunkly* come on guys lets goo

Mika*chuckles* that was a wild party

Maxine: uh i feel sick

the kids accidentally bump into the gang*

Chad: alright lads

Mika: what do you want

Brooklyn: don't be rude guys

Evie: we just wanted to invite you guys on a little bike ride

Chlo: why

Zack: lets just say theres a lot at stake

Brett: like what

Brooklyn: like your "foster parents" being let out

Janeece: ugh why can't you leave us alone

Chad: the course *laughs* oh and with no helmet.

everyone looks worried* Mika: none of us can do that we will get hurt

Brett: wait *looks at maxine* there's one person who could potentially do it

Maxine: *sees bretts look* fine i'll do it

Donte: no max you'll get hurt

Chlo: Max this is Steph and Tom's lives we are dealing with

Maxine: i will win

everyone lines up and watches maxine and brooklyn start the race*

as maxine and brookyln race around the city brooklyn cycles into maxine knocking her off and causing maxine to fall down some steps*

Rachel is driving in a cab and sees this commotion* *asking the driver to stop*

Rachel *running towards Maxine* Maxine are you okay,

Maxine*grimaces in pain* "Yea I'm fine". Donte, Chlo, Mika and Brett run over to Maxine and Janeece starts shouting blaming them for what happened.

"They pushed Maxine off the bike Miss"

"Sore loser are we"

Rachel who was already annoyed, "I think you should leave now thank you". Looking towards Donte "Donte can you help me get Maxine onto that bench". Whilst Donte and Rachel bring Maxine to a bench, the others all try and inform Rachel with what's been going on

"Steph and Tom have been arrested"

"We are going to be put into care"

"They might make us return to the UK"

"I can't live on the streets again Miss"

"Okay, please can we all just talk one at a time"

"Miss, we have no one literally"

"Okay first of no one is going back into care or on the streets, let's go back to the hotel and talk in the morning, it's 2AM!"

"Are we in trouble"

"No but I am not impressed by you drinking and cycling at night" Rachel sighs she knew that these kids were worried and they had done well in keeping it together these last few days.

"Look why don't i get a coffee and then we can talk"

Back at the hotel Rachel pulls Donte and Brett aside.

"I understand you contacted a lawyer, can you give me their contact information"

Brett pulled out a name card "here you go miss"

"Thanks boys, also I just wanted to say. I thought you looked after them very well"

"Thanks miss good night"

"Good night"

Rachel looked at the number on the card and dialled it. Someone picked up on the other end.

"Hello, Smiths and Co, Jack Johnson speaking"

"Hello my name is Rachel Mason I understand you spoke to two of my students a couple of days ago, Donte Charles and Brett Aspinall?"

"Yes i did, and I'm sorry but I'll tell you what I told them. I can't help you. There's nothing I can do"

"I understand but surely there's something. Steph and Tom are the only family these kids have got. They are also very popular and well respected teachers"

"I guess you can try and gather evidence, but the fact remains the same. They took these kids out of the country and brought them to the USA without consent from their parents"

"I understand where you are coming from with Donte and Brett also Janeece but Donte practically lives with Tom and the girls. Bretts dad is always away and Janeece, well she's never seen apart from Maxine." "The girls one the other hand well I don't know what do you expect me to do they won't leave without Steph and Tom"

"They may be forced to return to the UK"

"On what grounds"

"They are young vulnerable kids and we need to make sure social services look after them"

"That's not your call, at the moment due to the fact that your justice system has locked their parental figures up. I as their head teacher have the right to say what's best for these kids"

"You're quite right Miss Mason, but you aren't a official foster carer are you,so there's very little you can do"

"Don't worry about what I can or can't do I'll do my best by these kids and I'll see to your little concern don't you worry"

""Okay, good luck with that"

"Good day"

Rachel sighed with frustration. She knew how much Tom and Steph meant to the kids so she wanted to do whatever she could to get them back safely. She remembered that Matt had asked for a reference a couple of weeks ago to become a emergency foster carer. He was there best chance of allowing the kids to stay in the US. Rachel dialled Matt number

"Hello who's this"

"Matt, it's me Rachel"

"Oh hi Rachel Merry Christmas, what can I do for you"

"Merry Christmas as well, well it's complicated but Steph and Tom have been in-prisoned in New York"

"What!, Why?"

"Someone called the police and made it out as if the kids were being kidnapped"

"Do they not know how much they have helped the kids"

"I know, I actually need your help"

"Okay what is it"

"You know you are a official foster parent well I was wondering due to the fact that the children may be forced to return home can you come to New York and temporarily say that you are their foster parent"

"Sure, anything to help"

"It's much appreciated Matt"

"No worries, see you soon"

"Take care, see you as well"