OK - I've decided to post this tonight! It is a bit of a filler chapter to set up a couple of the other storylines. Thanks for comments on last chapter - to publicly comment on Callie question: she will be in story more as chapters go on. She doesn't have a main story for herself but she has a support role to almost all storylines. Writing her more dominantly in more and more scenes, especially some nice Stef interactions. Hope you enjoy!

Several days later, the school day was dissolving at Anchor Beach. Kids filtered their way through the halls preparing for their temporary freedom before the next morning would roll around.

"Jude?" Mariana came bounding up behind the freshman as he quickly turned.

"What are you doing in the drama studio?" she said smiling.

"I...I was just looking around." he stuttered. "I mean I had homework to hand in."

Mariana stared him up and down suspiciously.

"You had homework? For drama?"

He flushed pink as she looked to the wall where he had been reading.

"Are you thinking of signing up for Midsummer Night's Dream?" she said, excitement growing in her voice. Jude shuffled nervously.

"I...well I was thinking about it. I mean Lesley said I should consider it. She said it may help my confidence a little. But I dunno, you're right. It's stupid." he looked down to his feet.

"Jude are you crazy? I think it's a brilliant idea! You're great at drama! Those lines you read with me for my mid-term were awesome. You should totally audition! There's another day of them."

Jude gazed up at her, eyes open wide.

"Oh I meant just like set design with you and Callie or something...I didn't mean for a part in the play."

"Jude honey, no offence but your art sucks. You need to audition for a part. I'll help you rehearse, it'll be just like when we did 'Importance' but I'll read for you! Come on, it'll be fun even if you don't get in!"

"I don't know..."

"You know what, I'm not even asking, I'm telling."

Mariana took the pen he had been flicking around his fingers off him and before he could say another word she had scribbled his name up on the board.

"Mariana!" he shouted trying to wrestle the pen off her put she place a hand over his face and held him away.

"There! It's done. No going back." he sighed in response with a reluctant grin and he free himself from her grasp.

"Hey! What's all this noise about?" the young drama teacher emerged from round the corner.

"Sorry Lesley, we were just playing around."

"Jude, you've signed up! Brilliant. I look forward to your audition! You could be in for one of the main parts if you pick the right monologue."

He looked up at her and back to Mariana. "Well really it was Mariana who..."

"Agreed it would be a good idea!" she smiled putting her hands on his shoulders. Jude looked over at her. He had just about reached her height now but still had a boyish face still lacking the confidence to fully exert his presence.

"Super. Well we have some suggested monologues for you to choose - anything other than from the play. If you'd rather come up with your own that's fine. Just make it original and enthusiastic. Mariana, I'm sure you can help him prepare." she nodded with a glint of excitement at the prospect.

Before Jude could respond they heard a clatter come from behind in side the room with the stage. The three of then ran in with Lesley walking briskly through.

As they entered they saw Jesus bundled on the floor skateboard in tow and his friend Jordan running over to him a camera hanging off his left hand the two boys froze as they noticed the party that had entered. Mariana rolled her eyes. She had seen Jesus in this position many times before.

"Lesley!" he yelped with a shock rubbing his leg. Jordan pulled his hands and the camera behind his back. "We thought you had gone..."

The teacher crossed her arms and scowled at the boys. She was fresh faced but fierce when she wanted to be.

"Oh really, Foster? Why does that not surprise me." she scolded. "Well as it turns out I haven't left yet so which of you would like to explain to me what you are doing?"

"We were...uhm...doing a film for our film class." He panicked. "It's homework." The two boys looked between each other.

"Oh I see. Would you like to talk me through the plot?"

Jesus flapped his mouth open a few times realising it was pointless to try and fight it.

"What were you thinking?" Lena admonished, her voice flaring as her son sat before her yet again.

"We were just goofing around, nobody got hurt."

"Why is it that is your yard stick for everything Jesus? Believe it or not sometimes it's best judge the danger of things based on whether you could get hurt, not whether you're lucky at the time."

"Not if you're always lucky.." he smirked briefly before her nostrils flared up again with anger.

"Jesus, this is the fourth time you have been in my office this month. That's averaging at once a week! Of course if you'd been paying any attention in math you'd probably have been able to work that out yourself." He snapped his eyes up to her.

"Great, so you think I'm stupid too."

Lena bit her lip in frustration as his face sunk.

"You know that's not what I mean." she said sternly but with a quiver of compassion.

"Most of those have been because of Porter anyway." he pleaded, his eyes wide.

"Well today's wasn't. And by the way this is one of the dumbest of the lot. If you wanna talk about stupidity young man it's not with your abilities it's you're recklessness."

He sighed. "I'm sorry..."

"I am not playing around with this Jesus...did you take your pill today?"

He threw his arms down frustrated. "Why does it always come down to that? Look, we had an opportunity, we took it. If this had been any other kid you wouldn't have immediately gone to the ADD."

Lena flicked her pen a few times. "I'm serious. You're worrying me." he looked up at the disappointment in her face and dipped his own slightly.

"Don't be, really. We were just goofing around. It won't happen again."

She looked him up and down seeing his regret but knowing it wouldn't last long.

"OK. But seriously, you need to keep your nose clean. Detention for the rest of the week - and I'm gonna be keeping a firm eye on you."

He nodded silently.

"And you better prepare yourself for your Mom's reaction when she finds out you've been filming stupid stunts again. Come on, let's get you home."

He skulked off his chair and went to grab his skateboard.

"Uh-uh, that's staying here for a while..."

He turned in horror. "You're confiscating it?"

"Until I see some genuine effort to stay out of trouble, yes."

"But..."

"We can ask Mom's opinion on it if you like? I'm sure she'd happily take the car away instead."

Knowing he was defeated he turned and slumped his way out the door.

I decided I would make a couple of references to the Bouncy Castle Fostering Fun. Apologies for not writing any of those recently by the way - got severe one-shot writer's block! I've not abandoned it though - promise!

Chapter 8 Preview: Stef nags Kasey and Michelle sets her sights on Evan

Brandon began to talk about his ideas for where to apply much to Kasey's boredom. She turned her attentions back to the TV to try and zone out Stef's exaggerated interest. Michelle was lost looking up at the stairs and the thoughts of the naked college boy above them.