Thanks for the response so far! Glad you enjoyed the first chapter. This was originally 2&3 but I've merged them to make a longer one - hope it's still to people's tastes!
"Hey there honey, how was your meeting?" Stef beamed as Lena came in and flopped down beside her on the bed.
"Long. Everything go OK with the kids?" She smiled kissing her on the lips before flopping back down.
"Yep, all fed and watered. Except Jude, I have got no idea where he is." Stef said unphased and continuing to read her book. Lena looked at her horrified.
"What?" She snapped.
"Jude, I dunno - Callie said she saw him leave school with some guys in tattoos so I figured they'd fix him with some dinner." She smirked. Lena took her book off her and slapped her gently on the leg with it.
"I am way too tired for you tonight Stef." Lena said rubbing her eyes and slinking down deeper into the bed.
"Well...you better get to sleep. You'll need your strength tomorrow to deal with Porter." Stef put her book aside and slipped herself down as well. Lena groaned.
"Oh God. No amount of sleep can prepare me to deal with him. Of all of the teachers in our school why did Brandon have to start dating the daughter of that chauvinistic bully?"
"OK – enough! You're as bad as Kasey. And don't you dare let her hear you say a word of that, she's got me at my limit as it is without having you on her side." Stef put her hands behind her head as Lena cuddled up to her.
"You know I have tact Stef, I just can't believe we have to have that man in our house. I can't even believe he's still allowed to teach at the school. The number of kids he upsets. You know Jesus isn't going to be too chuffed either, the man tortures him as much as he did Kasey. If Jesus would only behave a little better I would sort Porter out myself but it's hard to be defensive when our son can't seem to keep out of detention." Stef let out a little laugh at the accuracy of Lena's comment. "Are you sure we should have them here at the dinner – isn't it just asking for trouble?" she added.
"Yes! For one, Jesus is grounded so we have no choice to have him with us...and Kasey - Brandon specifically wants her there to try and sort this out, plus I really need her to start getting her head around it. I want her to make peace."
"I think you want to make trouble!" Lena admitted as Stef recoiled her head in defence.
"That is ridiculous! Look, Kasey has to learn how to be civil, she's going to college next year and she needs to learn how to control her mouth. If it takes a few kicks under the table then so be it...and by the way, yes, I'll have them both at either side of me for that very purpose."
"Who? Kasey and Porter?" Lena smirked.
"Kasey and Jesus!" She giggled back. "I'll let you kick Porter."
They both giggled a little more
"Actually...speaking of college..." Lena began.
"Oh God." Stef grimaced.
"If she is going to have a chance for the big ones you're talking about she has to get her math grade up. I mean really up. Are you sure you want to put that kind of pressure on her?"
"She is too smart to let her Math let her down Lena. She is acing every other subject."
"Are you sure you want her to redo the SATs though - she can already get in to most schools in California and I'm not even sure she wants to go."
"To the good ones or college at all? 'Cause if you mean college at all - she is going. End of. And if you mean the former - well I just want her to have a shot at getting into the best of the best. She could get in to Stanford..." Lena was about to respond but took a deep breath.
"OK, maybe we should talk about this anymore. It's not my decision, or yours. As long as Kasey is happy we will support her, but I don't want to force her down a road she doesn't want to go. I will keep up the tutoring but I don't know how much more we can do. I don't want to drive her..."
"Lena, you know I don't either. Let's just make sure she's not being lazy. It wouldn't be the first time and we agreed we'd come down hard..."
"Yes, yes. OK. But let's just remember that she has responded really well to the last year. She has put the effort in ten times over, especially with the college classes. I just think that she needs to have the options without too much pressure."
"Then we're on the same page." Stef said firmly. "I just want her to have more opportunities than me." She said softly, averting eye contact almost trying to disguise the words as she said them. Lena sighed. She expected that there was more to this than Stef was letting on but decided not to push it. She could read her well enough to already have a pretty good idea and knew now wasn't the time.
As they settled they heard the front door open and close.
"That's weird." Stef pricked her head up and looked at her watch. I didn't think Brandon would be back till much later.
"Unless it's someone sneaking out..." Lena said, eyebrows raised and they listened more carefully for signs of life. Nope, they're definitely downstairs."
"So maybe it's someone sneaking in..." They exchanged knowing glances.
"OK I can't deal with her any more today, or Evan – I may end up strangling one of them." Stef admitted.
"Oh come on Stef...it's be a long day for me too..." Lena sighed. Stef grinned as Lena groaned knowing what she was about to suggest.
"One, two, three...Ha! Paper gets rock. Every time, loser!" Stef jeered as Lena thumped her lightly with her defeated rock and rolled off the bed.
"If he charms his way into staying past 12 tell him he's out by 1 or he'll be leaving here without parts of his anatomy at half past!" She shouted out as Lena flapped her hand at her lazily.
Evan and Kasey settled onto the sofa.
"Kasey, I love you, but if you're going to spend the entire movie talking about Brandon's girlfriend I may begin to get jealous." Evan said stroking her hair back from her face as they snuggled.
"I'm sorry." She replied, "I'm just dreading tomorrow so much. I'm gonna hate it and say something stupid, Mom's gonna get mad at me and Brandon's gonna hate me and the Porters are going to love it, just wanting me to say something worse."
"You should just do what I do." Evan smiled. "Every time I want to say something horrible to someone I really don't like I spark up a conversation about something they won't understand to make them seem inferior."
Kasey looked at him side on. "How do you know they won't understand it?"
"Because I completely make it up." He smiled. "I make up a book or an author or a poet, pretend they're super famous and then let the bullshit flow. If they pretend to know what I'm talking about I know they're full of crap and it makes me feel good about myself."
Kasey squinted her eyes. "And if they don't pretend?"
He smiled even wider. "I get to make up an awesome story and I am in no danger of them sparking conversation - plus, I don't have to listen to them talk."
Kasey laughed as he kissed her head.
"Wow, from what I hear it's been hard to squeeze a laugh out of you all day. Well done Evan!" Lena smiled as Evan sprang up like a deer in headlights.
"Calm down" Kasey said to him noticing his agitation and sitting up. "It's not 12 yet Mama" she stated ready for a fight.
"OK, simmer down. Just because you've been fighting with your Mom all day doesn't mean you have to fight with me."
Kasey looked slightly guilty as she apologised.
"You look really pretty in your pyjamas Mama F!" Evan beamed.
"Well thank you Evan, loaded as that compliment may be." Lena smiled knowing she was hardly looking her best.
"However I do feel I should remind you that though it may still be early now if you're gonna start watching a film you won't be finishing it before our night time visitors cut off... Why have you decided on this late night movie night anyway?"
"We're waiting to check Brandon gets back." Kasey quipped. Evan looked at her puzzled.
"We are?" He asked, apparently not realising this part of the plan.
"Why's that? Are you trying to check he makes his curfew?" Lena asked putting her hand on her hip.
"Nope. Making sure he comes back alive after his date with the black widow." she smiled as Lena rolled her eyes.
"So you were planning on keeping Evan here past midnight then, even though you didn't ask our permission to do so?" She asked folding her arms.
Kasey avoided eye contact and continued to eat at the bowl of popcorn she had in her lap.
"I just assumed that if Brandon can stay out till 1 that it automatically meant I had till 1 as well." She smiled facetiously.
Lena laughed to herself and sat down positioning her arms over the back of the chair.
Evan shuffled nervously. "You know I really can go...I didn't think…" he stuttered.
"Calm down Evan," Lena assured him. "You're not in trouble." He relaxed slightly but still fidgeted with the popcorn in his hand.
Kasey beamed with mock innocence.
Lena had a similar expression. "Well I can see why you've been driving your Mom crazy all day." She said reaching forward and taking the bowl of popcorn off her daughter to have some herself. Evan innocently moved to put the pieces he had been fiddling with back but Lena waved her hand at him assuring him it was OK.
"Kasey, I don't like Porter either." She said blankly. "I know how he treats students like you and it makes me crazy. I have to put up with his 1950s attitude to women and his cologne. He gets away with murder because we can't shift him and he only seems to pick on pupils that compromise their own position. He's not a nice guy, but you know who is? Your brother."
Kasey flinched slightly looking down to her feet before back up to Lena.
"And he wants you to be at this dinner. You're the only one of his siblings he really wants to be there. You mean more to him than anyone and he wants to try and help you bury this hatchet. Like it or not, he cares about this girl and therefore he cares about her family. You owe it to him to give her a chance."
"I don't owe her anything!" Kasey protested.
"I didn't say that." Lena looked at her compassionately.
"I said you owe it to Brandon." She waited for a response as Evan pulled Kasey a little tighter and kissed her head.
She sighed. "If I go…I mean not that I have a choice…but if you're making me go then I will try and stay civil. For Brandon. But I am not going to sit there and be ganged up on without being able to stand up for myself!"
"No one is asking you to." Lena smiled and put her hand on her knee.
Evan smiled and winked at Lena as she stood up.
"OK – as for you sir." His smiled dropped and he moved to get up. "Sit still, you don't have to be on eggshells all the time you know." She smirked.
"However we do have the midnight rule – this is a family house after all. Plus we're not thrilled about your attitude today." She said, raising her eyebrows and giving the popcorn back to her daughter, now looking slightly guilty.
"So…how about this: Evan, you go home at 12 but you can finish the movie tomorrow after dinner?" Lena said with a smile.
"After dinner…? But…do you know what time you'll be finished?" He asked wide eyed looking between Kasey and Lena.
"Well it doesn't matter if you join us for it. That way you can give Kasey a little moral support too."
Kasey gave a genuine smile for the first time that night. "That sounds fair!"
"Well, of course…I'd love to." Evan said squeezing Kasey a little.
"Good. That's settled then. Though Kasey, just remember I'm doing you a favour here…don't let me down." Lena kissed her head and walked back up to bed as they wished her goodnight.
Stef lifted her head briefly before putting it back down.
"How did it go? Did he do that nervous shuffle? I love it when he does that." Stef grinned without changing her position as Lena returned to their bedroom.
She slipped into bed beside her slapping her slightly on the leg.
"You're so mean to him!" She smirked. "He's a sweet boy. You shouldn't bully him just because he's respectful."
Stef turned. "Oh I'm only teasing! Evan knows I think of him almost as one of our own. I just also love that he's about the only person in this house still scared of us." She gave an evil chuckle. "Kasey certainly isn't anymore."
"Well if you like him that much, you'll love this." Stef looked across at her wife suspiciously.
"So…we may need to set one more place at dinner." Lena responded to the stare.
Stef buried her head into her pillow.
"You invited Evan? Wow that boy can work a charm." She laughed to herself closing her eyes.
"He didn't suggest it, I just figured if we're making her do this then the least we can do is try and make her a little more comfortable. You're not mad are you?" Lena looked across as Stef squinted her eyes at her after re-opening them.
"Oh Lena. No, I'm not mad at you for trying to be a thoughtful mother. Besides, it's always fun when Evan is around. That way we can take bets on how long into the dinner he'll start backtracking for sticking his foot in it." She giggled.
"Ha! Well you know another game is which of of you two will start backtracking first. You're the queen of putting your foot in it so don't you be having a go at him."
"Hey!" Stef slapped her gently on the arm. "Well…OK fine. Touche."
"You know…if Evan is at the dinner tomorrow…I mean…are you sure we need all…"
"Don't even think about it Missy. You're going!" Stef teased tickling Lena lightly in the stomach.
"OK, OK…but I'm not going to be happy about it!" She grumbled mockingly.
"Well you better behave yourself!" Stef replied, mocking the tone she'd use with the children.
"Oh really...that's not something I often hear you say?" Lena raised her eyebrow suggestively.
"Well…we could have some wiggle room…" Stef responded as they turned out the light.
Chapter 4 Preview: Brandon and Michelle have some quality time together.
She shuffled a bit but composed herself back into a smile. "I know your sister and I have never seen eye to eye...but it's just sometimes difficult to respond when she's always so...hostile." She said fluttering her eyes as if their feud was one sided. Brandon was lapping up every word.