OK guys - you guys have spoken so as promised here is the next chapter...

"Do you think he's been distant lately? I mean Mom thinks he's been around all the time...and I guess he has but I dunno, he seems like he's more absent when he's there. Maybe that's why it doesn't feel like it so much. Do you think he's hiding something?" Kasey began to chew on the end of her pen counting the beams on the ceiling.

Lena tapped the book in front of them attempting to get her attention.

"I think you've been talking non-stop about him for the last 10 minutes and still haven't attempted a single example. Come on honey, focus."

Kasey threw her head back.

"Oh come on Mama, we're here and we have the books open. Its enough to keep Mom off my back." She looked at her Mom with a knowing smile. Lena shook her head softly.

"Hey, hey, hey. We're not just doing this to keep your Mom happy - we're doing this to improve your math ability."

"Oh please, you know my score is fine. Evan got into college no problem and he was stoned most weekends of high school. Hey maybe I should suggest that to Mom?" she joked as Lena poked her harshly with her pen.

"Stop it. This is important to your Mom and you know it. Besides, would hardly do you any harm to take these applications more seriously. With your scores and character you have a high chance of getting into one of the best schools in the state."

"Yes, I am aware Mom is already erasing all the parking tickets for the admissions team at Stanford." Lena's smile dropped into a more pitiful look.

"She wants what's best for you."

Kasey's joke-insulated defence dropped as frustration crept in. "Maybe so...but I don't get the sudden pressure! Why is it suddenly all Ivy Leagues and scholarships? I've got this far in my education without having you both on my back." Kasey twirled her pen. "I just find it a little disrespectful that suddenly I'm deemed no longer capable of being in charge of my own life." Lena laughed slightly and raised her hand.

"OK, OK, could you sound more dramatic? We're talking a few extra tutorials and encouraging you to apply to some good schools. We're not shipping you off to a Dickensian boarding school!" Kasey let out a little laugh as well.

"I know, I know. Just, it feels a little like she's still punishing me for my screw-up last year." Kasey's eyes dropped down to her book. Lena could still sense the regret and it made her sad knowing how hard Kasey had tried to make up for the trouble she had got into, especially as deep down she knew that wasn't the root of Stef's concerns.

"That's not the case." She said brushing her daughter's hair back. "But anyhow, whether you want to flip burgers or graduate from Stanford, being a little more disciplined and a little quicker with math isn't gonna do you any harm."

"Flip burgers huh? Maybe that is a better alternative! Evan would love that, he is obsessed with the burger bar down on..."

"OK, jeez girl. Enough already!" Lena raised her hands to silence yet another segue to Evan. "I know a good way to get you to stop worrying about him. Every time you mention his name you owe me 5 more problems. Got it?" She smiled as Kasey furrowed her brow in protest.

"That is so unfair!" She said through a laugh "You're going to punish me with math for talking about Evan?"

"It's not punishing you, it's a creative deterrent!" She grinned. "And by the way that's five." She said smugly tapping the page. "Get to it!"

"Woah, woah, I wasn't even talking about him..." She gawped.

Lena smiled mischievously again. "Well you weren't talking about math. And that's another 5"

"I didn't even say his name!" Kasey gasped in another defeated laugh.

"Oh wow - 15. Let's get this going before the book runs out. Multiply out the bottom to get a common denominator. I'll go get us some more tea." Lena got up to go to the kitchen.

Kasey flopped her head down in disbelief. "Well it's a good thing he's out with his friends tonight anyway." She moaned to herself beginning the first problem.

"Twenty!" Lena shouted back.

Over at Anchor Beach the auditions were in full swing.

"Jude!" Callie shouted as both Mariana leapt up off the chair outside the studio. "How did it go?" Mariana beamed excitedly.

Jude looked slightly nervous and a bit stunned.

"Uhm...I'm not sure...I may have blown it." Both faces dropped.

"Why? What happened? Did you forget the words?" Mariana asked concerned.

"Not exactly...I mean...to the monologue we rehearsed...yes." He looked between them as they looked at each other.

"So...what did you do?" Callie asked.

"Well...I uhm...was stood up there on the stage and it was all so quiet and tense. Lesley was staring at me along with that music teacher with the pointy face...and some other guy I didn't catch the name of..." he stuttered. "And well...I was about to start the monologue just as we planned...I thought about Moms...then I got nervous being watched and I mean I tried imagining them in their underwear but that just kind of grossed me out a little..."

"OK Jude, could we beeline this story a little..." Mariana interrupted getting impatient with his rambling. Callie nudged her slightly as he apologised.

"Well...so anyways, I was about to begin when I realised I'd had a complete mind blank."

"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"

"So...what did you do? Did you have any others memorised?"

He shuffled nervously looking slightly embarrassed.

"I was a little scared and I remembered what Callie used to always do to help me when I was scared and I realised I did have something do...I did the only book I know off by heart..." he looked sheepishly at Callie who began to laugh in disbelief. "You are joking?" She said through a knowing grin. Mariana looked between them confused. Jude just shrugged and walked away to grab his bag.

"I don't get it...what did he do?"

Callie turned to her and folded her arms with a smile. "When we were little there was a book I used to read Jude all the time. Like every time our parents were fighting or he was sick or even if he was just feeling a little down. It got us through the bad foster homes. Eventually we both knew it so well we could recite it by heart. He loved it."

"So...what book?"

Callie grew a big smile shaking her head. "The Little Engine That Could." She laughed and caught up with Jude rubbing his shoulders.

Mariana rolled her eyes with a laugh and followed them out.

"You managed to turn a kids story into a monologue?" She said still trying to understand.

He paused momentarily. "Well...not a monologue exactly, but I turned it into an audition piece I guess...I did all the different engines as if they were personalities. I used the same trick you guys did last night, trying to personify them in people we know." Mariana let out a laugh as Callie rubbed his hair. Their method had at least worked in one way or another.

Later that night Evan lingered on a wall outside Kelly's Bar checking his phone. A text beeped through.

"Ugh, my mom's got me doing like a hundred math problems. Can't wait till these stupid SATs are over. Have fun out tonight - don't do anything I wouldn't do. Xx"

He rubbed the phone screen affectionately as if it was Kasey he was stroking. Before heaving a nervous sigh and looking at his surroundings again. He saw a familiar face approach and immediately leapt up putting the phone back in his pocket.

"Hey!" He smiled nervously. "Really glad we finally had the chance to get together."

The figure came into the streetlight and pulled Evan into a hug.

"Me too! Look I'm sorry I couldn't help you out last night. Hope you found somewhere to stay. Let's make up for it today huh! Have a crazy night like the old times!" A tall, brown haired man pulled away from Evan smacking him on the back.

"Sounds good, Stuey." They headed into the bar laughing like they were back in their school days.

As the night rolled on, Evan groaned at the light being flashed in his face.

Sir? Sir? Can you hear me?"

"Stuey?" He slurred barely able to make out any shapes surrounding him.

"Son, you're on private property. Do you have somewhere to go?"

Evan groaned again rolling over. He could feel a lump growing in his stomach. He realised very fast it was not staying in his stomach but fast projecting itself up through his body and all over the grass he seemed to be lying on.

"OK, I think you better come with us. Let's get him down to the station." Evan could barely make out the words but saw two figures towering over him.

He felt a firm grip scoop up his left arm before another supported him under is right shoulder.

I'm genuinely shocked at how little faith you all have in Evan! I didn't think I'd fool anyone! He was clearly talking about Kasey in the last chapter...did anyone see the bluff? Would love to know what you thought and thanks for the reviews so far - hope I didn't upset anyone too much. The lad is in a bind though - luckily Stef is on the case...

Chapter 12 Preview: Stef tries to get to the bottom of Evan's strange behaviour

"Don't worry, we took it with your wallet when we brought you in. You'll get it back when you leave. You're the Romeo of one of the Foster kids, right?" He said chewing on a piece of gum.

Evan rubbed his eyes immediately realising where he was and the fear suddenly hit that there was no way Stef wouldn't find out.