Hi all! First off thanks for all the great reviews from yesterday! Made up you all enjoyed the chapter so much- also love the suggestions and comments. Very good point made about Lena not responding to Jesus being so down. Hopefully the next couple chapters will elaborate that a little and that nothing will be too far out of character, I've tried to pull from Episode 2 but hoping you grant me some artistic license. I'm afraid we'll be leaving the fluff behind for a few chapters but I promise it will return after some heavier stuff. Afraid I'll be sticking to 1 chapter a day for now unless you all send me some free time and inspiration vibes to rattle off lots of chapters for the back stock! Right - let's get on with poor Jesus... Warning: This chapter has a lethal Porter/Michelle combo. Would love feedback on these chapters to know if I'm on track with a more angsty topic.

And excitingly (for me) I never realised you could put these line thingies in. Hooray for simple things! (It's been a very long day...)

"Hey handsome! Did you get in a lot of trouble." Michelle asked cuddling up to Brandon's side as he kissed her head. Jesus shuffled nervously as she approached.

"No more than I can handle." he replied with a smile.

"How are you Jesus? How was your weekend?"

"Good." he replied bluntly.

Michelle paused slightly waiting for more but seeing it would need some prodding she continued. She had to try and get as many Fosters on her side as possible.

"What did you do?" she added as Brandon flashed his brother a look.

"Oh...well...Evan and I shot some hoops...and uhm...watched the game." he said still quite hesitantly.

Michelle gave a forced smile. "You and Evan are pretty close, huh?" he nodded and with it came a lightbulb moment for her. She remembered the other night and the movie and the meal. Her Dad bringing up him getting fired for the weed on the pizza. Evan was a huge influence on Jesus and everyone knew it.

"We also did some bonding over some of your Dad's slave driving!" Brandon smiled.

"Ugh. He's a nightmare" she replied still trying to hook eye contact with Jesus.

"Yeah...he's pretty close to pushing me over the edge."

Michelle laughed but realised quite quickly he was being serious.

The two boys looked at her.

"Oh wow I thought you were kidding. Can't your Mom help you out?"

Jesus shrugged. "I don't like talking to her about it. I know it's my own fault and they can't help. They just keep telling me to try and stay calm so he can't get the better of me. She wanted to come and monitor the class or something but I don't want to draw attention to it. It'll just make him worse."

"It's not your fault Jesus - Moms know that." Brandon chimed in.

"I can have a word with him tonight if you want?" Michelle offered though knowing it was pointless. She had no more sway over her Dad than anyone else but at least the offer would be well received.

Jesus just shrugged again.

"Well I'm off to the music room...you I will see later..." Brandon said kissing Michelle on the lips. "and you, knock 'em dead with that homework!" he punched Jesus on the arm and left them both standing awkwardly next to each other. "Well...see you later..." Jesus said before heading off inside.

She followed him slightly behind and waited as he took his folders for the first couple of classes and left the rest in his locker. She watched and recorded the code in her mind then held back slightly as the bell rang and the corridor emptied.

"Where's your homework, Foster?"

"I...I did it sir...it was here...I swear!" Jesus panicked to try and locate the missing script. He didn't understand. He packed it in his bag that morning, he was sure!

"I must have left it in my locker..." he said defeated. "I'll go get it...or just ask me anything. I did it all, I promise!"

"Well what happened then? Forget your Ritalin and get distracted by a bird outside the window?" Porter scoffed with patronising venom.

Jesus' pose drooped as he heard some of his classmates snigger, almost more out of fear of being picked on themselves.

"I did it." he responded angrily, more reassuring himself than anyone else. He knew Porter would never believe him.

"Don't worry Foster, it's a good lesson preparing you for your future of being found lacking."

Jesus took a deep breath and counted to ten. He could hear his Mom in his head telling him to calm down.

"Well son, there's always volleyball. Provided you actually pass this course that is...wonder how that's looking."

That was it. He couldn't take it any more. Usually he could put up with it but not today. Not when he'd done everything he was supposed to do. He had done the damn work!

"Screw you." he whispered loudly, shaking his head. The class fell silent in keen anticipation.

The corner of Porter's mouth twitched slightly.

"Now, now son. That's no way to talk to a teacher." he goaded, towering above him as Jesus' leg twitched violently.

He looked up at him, ceasing the movement and raised his shoulders up.

"Teacher? I didn't know that was slang for "dick" these days." He said coolly as the class murmered in shock.

Porter's eyes squinted narrower and he let out a small laugh.

"You're mine, Foster." he whispered. "Detention for the rest of the week. If you want we can get some flashcards. I'll make sure they're bright and colourful with minimal words."

Jesus took another deep breath before standing up and walking quietly towards the door.

"Foster...if you leave you won't get past the end of the corridor. I've have your Mom on speed dial since you got in this class."

"Well just make sure you press the right button." he said calmly. "Wouldn't want to dial one of those hookers you frequent by mistake." he added swaggering out as the room erupted. Porter was right. He barely got to the end of the corridor before Lena cornered him and tried to get him to talk to her about it but he felt better than he had done all day. Better until the memories of Porter's taunts replaced the memory of his own.

Jesus rested his head back over his chair. Detention was quiet and he'd been there since his science class. Lena had thought it was better to let him cool and deal with it at home with Stef there. This had tipped over way beyond how bad she had thought Porter was and decided it was something they'd need their full weight to approach.

Michelle poked her head through the door and a quick smile flickered across her lips upon seeing his presence. Everything was falling into place.

He saw her hand in her slip and approach. He nodded vaguely as she smiled at him. He sighed internally as she took the seat by him.

"What are you in for?" she asked.

"You don't wanna know." he replied bluntly.

"Ha. I can probably guess then."

Jesus continued to stare at the ceiling.

"I'm sorry about my dad." She said earnestly. "His teaching is out of the stone age. I'm glad I never had him." Jesus looked round at her.

"He just hasn't caught up. I know he gives you a hard time because of your ADD. He just doesn't understand it."

Jesus looked back forwards and began to fidget with his fingers.

"I don't care about my ADD. He just doesn't like me." he whispered back.

"must be hard though. I mean. Do you notice it?" she asked sounding genuinely concerned. Jesus shrugged.

"I dunno. When I forget the pill I guess..."

"and does it ever feel like the pills aren't enough?"

He looked across at her.

"I mean, have you ever thought you need something else or something?" he squinted towards her.

"I know what you need." a voice said behind them. They both turned to see a scruffy looking kid. Jesus didn't recognise him but Michelle clearly knew who he was.

"I don't think he needs your advice Ryan" she said before turning back.

Jesus did the same but took a double take.

"What do you mean?" he said squinting.

"ADD?" he asked as Jesus nodded. "Weed sorts that shit out. Medical, isn't it." he scoffed.

"Don't listen to him Jesus." Michelle said looking between them.

"But...is that true?" He asked innocently.

Ryan smiled. "Think about it...ADD is all about everything being sped up...weed slows things down. It's science. If you don't believe me, Google it. Worked for my brother." Jesus looked at him one more time before the teacher scolded them all for talking. No more was said but Jesus looked around every now and again. Could that possibly be true? He was generally nervous of drugs after everything that happened with Ana, but if this was the case was it any worse than the drugs the doctors would prescribe? What if they had stopped working? What if the reasons he had been struggling were because of that? His Moms would never agree though. It was ridiculous.

As detention ended he made his way home, the thoughts still buzzing through his mind. "Medical, isn't it." he could hear Ryan's voice. "Worked for my brother". Michelle didn't trust him though - though Jesus didn't really trust Michelle. Ugh, Michelle. She was probably no better than her Dad. She probably didn't understand what Jesus had to go through every day. Maybe this guy did? His thought train was halted by the very subject of it.

"Jesus, right?" He turned as Ryan ran up behind him.

"We got cut off before..." He said as Jesus looked at him without saying a word.

"Look dude, it sounds like you need some help. You're in detention almost as much as me."

Jesus laughed slightly but still didn't say anything.

"Look - our secret...but maybe just a test drive." He produced a small bag from his pocket and Jesus stopped in his tracks. His brow furrowed and he was about to reject before Ryan continued.

"It may not be for you...it may not work. But how will you know unless you try?"

Jesus hand twitched in his pocket.

He wouldn't know...it was medical. It was a medical possibility that his parents wouldn't let him try otherwise. Maybe this was his only option? He could take it home at least and then decide. Do some research. He may not get this opportunity again - he wouldn't ask for it, and here it was being offered. His hand twitched again as Ryan didn't break eye contact.

"I haven't got all day dude...this one's free, honestly. Just call it a one-off for keeping me company."

Jesus opened his mouth and closed it before finally yielding and taking the small bag. He put it deep down in his pocket as Ryan flashed a grin and walked off. Jesus took a deep breath. That hadn't been as hard as he thought. Tons of kids smoked pot...he would be fine. As long as he wasn't caught. He could give it a go and see if it helped. He slowly began to walk again.

Ryan disappeared into the next street along where Michelle was waiting for him.

"So, how much is that?" He smiled.

She paused.

"It's my weed, genius. I'm not going to pay you for it..."

"No...technically that means it's my brother's weed - but whatever. I'll sort it with him. I still don't see how this is going to help you anyway? How is getting Brandon's brother in trouble going to help your cause?"

Michelle stood up off the wall. "It may not. It's a long shot, but it's worth taking. If he gets hooked on the stuff there's one person in that family who could have put the idea in his head. One person he idolises - and I don't want that person there."

Ryan smirked. "You're right. That is a long shot."

"Sometimes those are the most effective when they work - and mine work."

Jesus slowly approached his front door and took a deep breath. He was dreading the talk he was going to have to have - especially now.

"Well it sounds like you've had some day." Stef said as Jesus traipsed into the room

He folded his bottom lip into his mouth and looked up at her without saying anything.

"Sit." Stef said motioning to a stool. Jesus felt his pocket to check the drugs were firmly out of sight and draped his bag against the wall.

He climbed up on the chair and clasped his hands making minimal eye contact.

"OK. We need to figure this out Jesus. I know that Porter is a handful and I am trying to figure out away to get you out of that class - I really am but I think you know what it is you did wrong..." Lena began

"What? Standing up for myself?" he sniped defensively. Stef's voice lowered into a whisper.

"OK, the attitude really isn't going to help Jesus."

He looked down at the table. They couldn't understand. He was generally able to ignore most things like this...but they couldn't protect him in the classroom. It was unusual for him to be this low but it was like Porter had crawled inside his head.

"Jesus, we need you to be able to control your anger a little more. It's the only way we can pin Porter down." Lena said leaning on the table to try and make eye contact. Jesus was always so confident and lively, it was hard to know what to expect of him in this state of mind.

"And what if I can't? You always told me that if someone is bullying you, take a deep breath and walk away. That's what I did!" he said, his voice growing more agitated.

"Yes, but you can't walk out of class..."

"Well it was that or punch him! I thought you'd prefer this! Or maybe not? Maybe I should have just punched him and get suspended! That would just take me off everyone's hands. It's not like I'm gonna achieve anything anyway!" he whimpered.

Both mouths of his Moms' flapped.

"Jesus, that's not true, you can't let him get under your skin like that..." Stef consoled him, putting her hand on his arm.

"Well no-one else is stopping him." he said back pulling his arm away slightly. "I'm not sorry for what I said."

Lena and Stef exchanged a look. They knew Porter - he had picked on Kasey and Lena had locked horns with him many times but he was tricky. What they didn't realise this time was the extent to which it was affecting their son. Porter's attacks had never been this bad before and they were only starting to see how hard he was taking it. It wasn't that they weren't desperate to help but they were up against the wall. He had so often been in trouble that the lines were blurring between what was bad behaviour and what was induced. It reminded them of when he first was diagnosed with ADD and striking the balance was delicate. More than anything it was frustrating for all of them to try and protect his needs and best interests.

"The problem is Jesus is that when you rise to the bait we can't help you. As soon as you act out you don't have a defense. It's unfair, but it's the way it is. You have to figure out a way to keep more under control. Maybe it's time we did call the doctor again." Lena commented with slight fear in her eyes. Stef threw her a concerned look. Jesus just slapped his hand down.

"That's just always the way. Drug me up. Why does everyone want to drug me up? Does anyone actually know what they're doing?" his voice was breaking. He was angry about the pills but also about his weakness knowing he had taken the weed from Ryan. He didn't understand why it should have to be this way. Why this condition had him at the mercy of everyone else. He needed air. He wasn't used to being so emotional. He pushed against the table kicking back his stool and stormed outside. He didn't understand why this was screwing so much with his head. For some reason Porter just pushed his buttons - he had slowly worn away at his confidence bit by bit. He needed to escape it.

Poor baby! If only there was an adorable college boy with a heart of gold to help him on the right track...

Chapter 20 Preview: Evan thrusts himself into a brotherly role but the boys aren't necessarily alone for their conversation.

Evan's lip quivered. He could see where this was going and had to play it very carefully. He had been in situations like this many times but he had always been the one seeking the guidance. He knew the fragile state he was dealing with.