OK folks - here is today's chapter. Just a comment to say regarding posting 2 chapters I usually play it like this - if I have a 2-3 reviews (therefore seeing that people have had time to read it) I might post the next chapter later that night (provided I'm awake - it's difficult for me to work it with the time zones). I just don't want to make people be catching up 2 at a time. I realise today's is a bit of a cliffhanger and some people may be a bit mad at me so if there is sufficient demand before 1am-ish (UK time) I will post the next chapter tonight. Otherwise business as usual! I won't leave you more than a day though - that I will promise!

Anyhow, enjoy!

As Callie opened her bedroom door Stef followed her in. Kasey was sat up in her bed.

"How did the rehearsal go?" She asked.

Callie giggled in response recalling the fun they had been having in her head.

"Our little man has a lot of talent it would seem." Stef smiled crossing her arms and leaning against the door frame. "And Callie and Mariana have quite an imagination...and a desire to be deported." She teased.

"Can't wait to see him in it!" Kasey beamed looking over at Callie.

"Well, he still has the audition to go but..."

"Oh stop it, who could reject that little face?" Kasey silenced her as Callie hopped in to bed and turned on her light.

"Well girls I'm gonna say goodnight. Evan, are you planning on coming out from underneath the bed or would you rather I drag you out by your ear?" She said plainly looking to the floor as Kasey shifted guiltily and Callie suppressed a small laugh.

A silence followed.

"This isn't me testing if you're there by the way, I can see your feet."

"Well now I'm too scared to..." a muffled voice responded.

"Fine, ear it is..." she said striding over as he slipped out from under it. He propped himself up with his elbows and readjusted his eyes to the fully lit room.

"How is that possible?" He whined as a towering Stef gave him a hand up.

"Just kidding, I was just testing." She pulled him up and slapped him on the back.

Sheepishly he turned to face her.

"I wasn't gonna stay the night, we were just gonna hang out a little longer. You know, just hold each other for a bit."

Stef cupped his cheeks.

"Aww that's so cute." She then slapped them lightly. "...and so not going to win me over. Come on, move it." She said this time slapping him on the behing as he went over to say goodbye to Kasey.

"I'll see you tomorrow." He whispered dreamily leaning over her. She pulled him in to a kiss as they both got lost in each other like so many times before.

Stef lifted an eyebrow and threw a look at Callie.

"I don't know how you put up with this..." She commented as Callie laughed and waved her hand at them engrossing herself once again in her book. Stef turned back to them as they continued. Evan put a knee up on the bed to support himself as Stef rolled her eyes.

"OK, OK...that's enough. Get out before I throw you out the window." She said pulling him off by his ear.

"Sorry Mrs F, it's quite rude me giving Kasey all this attention." He joked pulling her into a hug mockingly as Kasey and Callie exchanged an amused look. Evan rocked a rigid Stef side to side as she rolled her eyes before starting to slap his back again.

"Enough, out my house now...seriously. You twisted flirt, you. See you tomorrow - too soon no doubt." He turned to say something before she threw one of the cushions off Kasey's bed at him to see him out.

She sat down on the bottom of the bed and held Kasey in a stare.

"OK, what is it...?" Kasey smiled expectantly waiting for the latent comment to come.

"He really is here a lot you know...especially recently." She said quietly beginning to fidget with the sheet on Kasey's bed.

Her daughter folded her arms. "He wasn't going to stay the night Mom, what do you think we're going to shack up in my shared bedroom?" Callie gave a quiet chuckle not breaking eye-contact with her book as Stef looked between them.

"Yes, thank you. I imagine not...but I don't care about that." Kasey's eyes widened as Stef quickly re-routed.

"Wait, not that – that I do mind. What I mean is I'm more concerned about how much time he is here at all."

Kasey looked slightly confused.

"I thought you liked Evan?" She said her expression dropping slightly. "If you didn't why do you do that weird flirty "you're a loveable pain in my ass" thing all the time?"

Stef slapped her lightly on the leg. "I do like him." She reassured her. "I am just slightly concerned that he is here more than his own house. I mean I know he doesn't get on so well with his parents but I just find it a little weird that he's here for almost every meal time and practically breakfast. And you know after his little outburst at the dinner..." She said with a flicker of genuine worry.

"Mom."

"What?" Stef responded defensively. "All I'm saying is how much do you know about his situation...and is there something we can maybe help him with? I mean have you ever even met them?"

Kasey shuffled slightly.

"Mom, not everyone is close with their parents OK? If I'm honest...no. I haven't really met them. Not properly. Just in passing. Evan doesn't really have the best relationship with them and I don't want to push it. OK?" She finished hoping Stef might leave it there but expecting to be disappointed.

"Well what do you mean he doesn't have the best relationship? I mean he lives there, doesn't he? They can't live in the same house and not interact." Stef seemed genuinely surprised that anyone could live with Evan and be immune to his addictive personality. "I mean do you even know why?"

Kasey bit her lip clearly trying to not have to divulge all she knew.

"Yes I know the situation. We have talked about it, but not much. He doesn't like doing so...it's sensitive. He had a difficult youth after his Mom died...he never liked his step-mom for obvious reasons and he's always had a difficult time respecting his Dad. They find it easier to just live side by side not be in each other's lives much." Stef's eyes grew larger the more she heard. "He never would have moved back in with them after he was thrown out but he didn't really have a choice."

"Wait, what do you mean 'back' in with them? I thought he lived at home throughout college?" Her brow creased.

"It wasn't when he was at college, it was when he was at high school - when he was about 15." Kasey said drifting off at the end hoping her Mom wouldn't pick up on the finer detail. "He lived with his grandma for a bit until she died." She was now trying to avoid eye-contact to avoid the looks of pity Stef had.

"Wait, wait...his Dad threw him out when he was fifteen?" She couldn't believe that someone as sweet as Evan could be rejected by his own parents. Stef had found it hard enough to reject him even when she had reason to, never mind if he had been her responsibility to look after.

A momentary silence followed.

"Mom, look. It's a complicated subject - his step-mom is a bit of a battle-axe. I'm not even sure his Dad can stand her any more. His Dad didn't know how to cope with him and his step-mom pressured him to get rid of the problem." She paused seeing the genuine sorrow in her Mom's eyes. "Not every kid can have the kind of relationship that we have, Mom." Kasey smiled compassionately. "But he's happy. Besides, he has me now."

Stef sighed and took a moment to reflect she leaned forward and kissed Kasey's head.

"He has all of us, babe."

Kasey smiled slipping back down under her covers.

Stef took another moment to compose herself again shaking off her sympathy the best way she knew how. "Just tell him he should try and remember only to have us at appropriate times of the day." She smiled patting Kasey's leg and getting up off the bed.

"OK, bedtime for all. School tomorrow. Goodnight loved ones!"

She threw the cushion from the floor back at Kasey and they exchanged their goodbyes before the room fell into darkness.

After he had left the house Evan closed the door still smiling from his time with Kasey but paused as he got to the bottom of the yard and sat on the grass at the edge of the sidewalk. He looked at his watch and sighed before taking out his phone, his expression dropping a little. He dialled a number several times becoming increasingly frustrated as the receiver refused to pick up.

"Is that your phone ringing again?" Brandon said pulling himself apart from Michelle as for the fourth time he could hear the buzzing from Michelle's bag. "I'm gonna start to worry you've go a secret fella!" He joked.

She closed her eyes and flopped her head down on the pillow.

"Ugh! It'll be my Dad!" She moaned. "I didn't tell him I was going out tonight." Brandon chuckled and perked his head up as he heard voices outside.

"Speaking of annoying parents...I have a feeling Mom is doing the rounds. We should probably find your shirt..."

"Oh rebel Brandon. Topless girl in your room." She teased.

"OK, OK. So I'm nervous about being caught. Sue me! You've not had an awkward sex talk with my Mom before."

Michelle laughed. "Get caught doing what? This is hardly the worst we've done."

Her phone began to buzz again. "Oh for God's sake! I guess that is a sign."

She kissed him one more time on the lips and rolled out from underneath him grabbing her top from the chair and the phone from her bag. "Just gonna nip to the bathroom, I'll be back once I've assured Dad I'm alive and well." She blew him a kiss as he rolled over to smile at her laid back on the bed.

Quietly in the bathroom Michelle sat leaning on the edge of the bath.

"Why are you calling? You know where I am!" She bit her fingernails nervously listening for any sounds of stirring around her.

"No - you can't come round later. Look we've talked about that! If this is going to happen we need to be careful" She scolded. "I need to figure out a safe place to meet where the family won't be breathing down our necks. Look I'll see you tomorrow. I have to go."

She hung up angrily and splashed some water on her face still fuming at the compromising position she had been put in. In order to keep up the guise she flushed the toilet.

She opened the door and found Stef passing by after having come from Kasey's room. She stepped back nervous for a second.

"Michelle? Were you talking to someone?" She asked with a slightly furrowed brow.

Michelle looked down at the phone that was still cupped in her hand then back up at Stef open mouthed.

"Oh – yes. My Dad. He was just getting nervous about where I am." She smiled. "Heading home now."

Stef nodded slowly. "OK, good. It's late. Are you sure you don't want a ride home?"

"No, no. I've got the car. I'll text Brandon when I get home. OK – goodnight!"

Stef nodded again and disappeared into her room. Nothing Stef had said had indicated she had heard anything but Michelle knew would have to be more careful if this was going to stay below the radar.

Outside the house Evan's call had been answered.

"Hey, it's me. You weren't picking up. Look, about that thing..." He paused waiting for a response.

"I know, I'm sorry - but it was you that suggested...I just...can I come round tonight? Stay at yours?" His face dropped as he shuffled his feet.

"OK - I get it. Yeh, tomorrow. OK...b-" the phone cut off. He put the phone down with a sigh and rubbed his hair furiously. He was angry with himself for what he had done but he didn't regret it. He wouldn't regret it. The first time he met her he could barely resist and he knew he would go through anything to be with her. He wouldn't let anything get in the way now, no matter what trouble he would have to deal with as a result.

Chapter 11 Preview: Lena tries to tutor Kasey, Jude has his audition and Evan actions land him in trouble

"So...you didn't do a monologue?" Callie asked confused.

"I uhm...I kinda did." He spluttered "I just chose a different one...and a different style"