Hey guys - thanks for feedback on yesterday's! Glad people are liking the slight change of tone. This is quite a mix of a chapter emotion-wise as there's the impending doom but still a lot of fluff with sweet Evan. Thanks to TheTBone for not only suggesting the Stef/Michelle storyline here but also acting as a last minute beta (even if it was just to get an advance copy...). Cheers T!
Michelle's thoughts are going to get quite conflicting over the next couple of chapters - I hope it isn't too confusing, I'm trying to get across how the situation is causing this irreconcilable battle from what she knows and what she is experiencing.
Small theme warning: Drug use in this chapter but I have made a small amendment to rule out any chance of intoxicated driving. Don't want to give the impression that could have been a danger.
OK - on with it!
"Is this one OK? Does it match my shirt?"
"Evan honey, your shirt is white - and it's a school play, you're not meeting the President. I don't think the tie is necessary..." Kasey teased rubbing his arm as he adjusted the knot nervously completely ignoring her.
"I think I should go with the blue. The blue was more approachable."
"But if you wear blue you'll clash with me..." she said with mock seriousness as he began to panic.
"Evan! Calm! I'm kidding. I don't even know what I'm wearing yet." she added casually taking a sip of tea.
A look of horror flooded his face. "Kasey! You're not dressed yet? We're gonna have to go!" He moidered ripping his tie off and changing it for another as she laughed through a gasp.
"Will you relax! We have ages! Why are you so nervous?"
Evan fumbled with the tie he had taken off getting it caught around his finger as he tried to respond.
"Its just. They've all worked so hard! Jude is so excited. And nervous. I mean what if he forgets his lines? He'll be mortified!
"He won't forget! He's gone over them a hundred times." she assured him freeing his hand from the tangled tie.
"Will you please just go and get changed?" he pleaded anxiously as she pulled him down to kiss him on the forehead.
"OK, OK. I'm going - but you need to calm down."
"Hey guys - your Mom home?" Lena asked coming in the door with Brandon and Michelle just as Kasey left. "Evan! You're looking smart. You'd think you were meeting Shakespeare himself!" She teased. "Is Jesus ready?"
"Nearly." a voice shouted through followed by a loud curse and some soundbyted gunfire. Lena rolled her eyes.
"Switch it off and get dressed. Now!" she shouted through. "Jesus, now!" she repeated still hearing the faint sounds of clicking. "And watch your language or I'll be cutting you off from anything above PG."
A sigh was heard.
"I'm gonna go get changed too." Brandon commented kissing Michelle as Lena nodded her approval.
"Wait, Michelle I thought you were helping out with the props now too since Darren left." Lena enquired.
"I am but we got it all organised before. Lesley said as long as we're there at quarter to it would be fine."
"God damnit this fu-"
"Evan!" Lena cut him off as he once again failed to tie his next tie without getting his fingers stuck. "Language! Or I'll cut you off from novels!"
Michelle giggled slightly as Evan sighed. "I can't tie this stupid tie properly!" he complained with the air of a child as Lena rolled her eyes and helped him.
"Why are you so tense?" she queried, just as concerned as Kasey.
"I'm nervous!" he whimpered as she batted his hand away from interfering again.
"Well you need to find a way to relax or you're going to make all the kids nervous too."
"Damnit!" another cry came from next door. Lena slapped Evan lightly on the chest as she finished. "You're done. Stop fiddling with it!" she reprimanded as he went to fidget with it again before she slapped his hand and he flinched it away.
"Right. Now number 2. Jesus! If you're still playing that game by the time I get in..." her voice trailed off as she left the room swiftly followed by a stampede of footsteps up the stairs.
Michelle lifted her eyebrow at the now almost vacant room - Evan now nervously tucking his shirt in and out.
She pushed herself off the counter. It was now or never. She had wanted to leave this alone but her now more frequent bouts of guilt were being overshadowed by her fear of Carl getting too involved. He would make him squeal. He had already got violent with her again when she had picked up the pill and had repeated her doubts. She had hoped by then he would have calmed and seen the dangers of this extra complication but he was just as aggressive and stubborn - this time she even had a small mark on her cheek she had convinced Lena and Brandon was from clumsily walking into a door. Carl only really got violent with Michelle when cracks were starting to show in his own confidence. His words and threats against Evan echoed in her head - not to mention his demoralising of her spirit that he knew too well could make her do his bidding. This was the best way for everyone. She had to do it. She went over to the fridge getting him a beer. She carefully reached into her pocket and slipped something out before popping open the can and offering it to Evan.
"You need to relax." she said sweetly as he looked down at the can.
"I shouldn't..."
"Oh come on! It's one - I bet you won't be the only teacher who's indulged in some Dutch courage before the play!"
He looked her up and down. He was nervous of her and still had a lot of questions after his encounter the day before but today his mind could only focus on the play and it was a enough harmless suggestion - Lena wouldn't mind him having one!
He nodded and took a gulp before taking a deep breath.
Her heart lurched slightly as he drank it. There was no going back now.
"I swear that boy...Evan!" Lena scolded as she came back in.
"You told me to relax!" he protested recoiling the can slightly as she rolled her eyes.
"Great plan there sunshine. One! No more. Honestly how many kids do I have?"
"Oh God!" his face dropped as if prompted by something she said. "What if one of the kids don't show up? What if we don't know till it's too late? We don't have understudies for all the parts...or one of the prop guys. Only Liz knows what props to go out at which time, I mean Michelle and that are helping but Liz has the actual order - if she's not there...I can't believe I didn't make a back-up list of it all..." Evan snowballed into another hysterical rant before Lena looked at a smirking Michelle and took a deep breath. Midway through his train she grabbed a dish-towel and slapped him firmly on the cheek with it.
"Ow! What was that for?" he exclaimed rubbing his cheek as Michelle giggled. "You're hysterical! Get a hold of yourself - it will all be fine!" she assured him bunching her hair up into a hair band just as Stef came in.
"Hey guy- what's going on in here?" she asked noting Evan's sorrowful expression.
"Your wife just slapped me!" he complained still surprised as Stef gawped through a laugh.
"And I missed it? Lena you're becoming a bit slappy happy these days aren't you?" Stef quipped before spying Michelle and quickly coughing apologetically as Lena threw her a look.
"He was being hysterical." Lena explained calmly, folding her arms.
"And drinking I see? Already Evan? Before a school play?" Stef raised her eyebrow as Evan threw his hands up defensively.
"It's one beer!" he protested "and they're low alcohol," before clocking something else. "Wait - Mrs F! Where have you been?! Do you know what time it is? You need to get changed! Like right now!" Lena let out a laugh anticipating Stef's reaction. Evan immediately recoiled as Stef raised her eyebrows.
"Wow - you're really are asking for slaps today, huh?" She folded her arms as he slumped down slightly.
"We have plenty of time." She commented grabbing his beer to take a swig. Michelle's heart jolted and she opened her mouth to try and stop her but Lena beat her to it .
"Stef!"
Stef turned slightly perturbed as Michelle heaved a sigh of relief and she handed the drink back.
"Oh fine! But I don't see why he gets to drink and I don't." as Lena rolled her eyes.
"Well...I better start thinking about getting ready..." she said gradually, "Or maybe I should go back out check I locked the car. Actually I think I need to pop back to the station..." very slowly moving past Evan to wind him up. It worked as he nervously shuffled.
"Mrs F - please!" he whined as she folded her tongue out over her bottom lip. "OK teacher man." she commented slapping him on his chest and tightening his tie knot up to his neck throttling him slightly.
"Don't touch the...tie." Lena sighed anticipating Evan's flustered reaction as he huffed and set about unravelling it again.
Kasey and Brandon appeared at that moment.
"Mom! You're home. Question - can I..."
"Nope."
"But you don't even know what..."
"Nope."
"Wome-!" Evan began to exclaim throwing his hands up before Brandon swooped in and covered his mouth. 3 of the ladies in the room turned to him with eyes of daggers - Stef however had hers kept on Michelle who she noticed had flinched as Evan raised his hand. She hadn't noticed the small bruise on he cheek before then.
"Never group accusingly like that here." Brandon whispered supportively from experience. "It's like a one way ticket to a feminism convention."
Evan retreated his shoulders down.
"I mean...please. Can we just get ready!" he whispered.
"Although the delivery could do with some work I am inclined to agree. We've got less than an hour guys." Lena added patting him on the back and offering some moral support. "Stef - go change out of your uniform. Kasey, whatever it is we can talk about it later, finish getting ready. Michelle, well...do whatever it is you need to do and Jesus - if you've put that game back on..." there was a clear sound of a game being switched off faintly ringing through from next door.
Stef patted Evan on the back harshly as he buried his face in his hands.
"Thank you." he whispered still laced with stress.
"But I'm gonna have another beer..."
As he went to the fridge and the others departed Stef signalled for Michelle to follow her. Michelle swallowed hard, nervous of what Stef could possibly want to talk to her about.
She pulled her into the hallway and listened around.
"Hey Michelle, I don't mean to pry..." she whispered as Michelle's heart thumped.
"But is everything OK with you...?"
Michelle swallowed again trying desperately to not betray her secrets in her expressions. Stef was a cop and knew how to read people. Michelle tried to hide it by furrowing her brow and flashing a confused look across her face.
"Should it not be?" She raised an eyebrow.
Stef became slightly flustered hoping she hadn't over-stepped. "Just, your cheek." She motioned to her own as mirror as Michelle heaved a sigh of relief.
"Oh - that!" Michelle immediately put a hand to her face covering it from Stef's view temporarily.
"Oh no, I just had a run in with a door."
Stef nodded, not utterly convinced.
"OK - I just wanted to check...you know - and I'm not making any accusations here or anything - but..." Stef stuttered. She realised how incredibly out of line it was for her to project that Porter may be violent when she knew so little about him and Michelle and their relationship - but at the same time she had also been stunned as to how easily Michelle complied with getting him fired.
"I just wanted to make sure that your Dad hadn't taken anything out on you for being with Brandon or...I'm sorry - now I'm saying it out loud I realise how unfounded it is. I'm just...I should probably just be quiet."
Michelle smiled and shook her head. "Really it's OK - you have every right to be worried - but don't. My Dad has a temper but he wouldn't do that." It wasn't a total lie - Porter rarely hit Michelle and certainly had never hit her hard enough to leave a mark.
"Well as long as you know there is support out there if that ever changes. With your Dad or anyone. Maybe not with doors though..." Stef joked trying to hide her slight embarrassment. Michelle let out a small laugh.
"Right - I better get changed before I provoke Evan into something I'll make him regret." She rubbed her hand down Michelle's arm and disappeared up the stairs.
Michelle leaned against the wall and looked down at the ground. She was flushed with regret. Part of her felt safe in this family for the first time in as long as she could remember, but then reality would hit and she had the bitter taste of the poison she was inflicting on such a loving family. She had never intended for stuff to get this out of hand. Sure, she had enjoyed the fact she could torture Kasey a little at the beginning, but she never wanted to inflict any pain on Brandon or the others - or even this much on Kasey. They were always just pawns.
It was too late to have these thoughts now though. She had burnt her bridges, even if they ever had been a viable way back. She tried to focus on the lies she kept telling herself. The lies she tried to etch into her brain. This would all be over, she would have a new opportunity where at least she had some control and her impact on their life would be a fleeting blip.
The family filtered in, ready to go all dressed and by the door. The last to approach was Stef.
"OK - all ready? Let's get going. Evan you're going on the bike, yes? We won't all be able to fit on the way back otherwise."
"Yes..." he replied sleepily. "Just need to find my keys."
Michelle's hand twitched, at least she had thought enough to hide the keys to rule out his being in control of the bike.
"You doing OK there, dummy?" Stef teased. "You sure you'll not be too stressed to ride? We can make two trips..." she suggested as he shrugged her off.
"I'm fine - I never get on it if I feel funny about it. You guys go, I got them out before...I want you to get good seats - I'll be right behind you."
The family agreed and left as Evan bumbled around looking for his keys.
"Do you think we should have let him have those two beers? He looks kind of drowsy" Lena whispered to Stef who shook her head.
"He's fine, he has more than that usually without even feeling it. They've got barely any alcohol in them. I think he's just over-tired from all this stressing. He'll wake up a bit when he goes outside."
He had felt the stress lifting and snuck one more beer. Michelle's pill working he was losing his sense of perception. He felt slightly dizzy and lazily looked for his keys but he was losing energy. He sat down. Five minutes wouldn't hurt.
NB: Made one small change since original posting - Guest comment pointed out the danger of Evan riding the bike spiked. What I'd forgotten to put in (but have now added) is that Evan couldn't find his keys because Michelle had hidden them to avoid that very scenario. Very good point though - thanks for pointing it out.
Chapter 37 Preview: Jude wows in the play but Michelle's plans have a damning effect on Kasey and Evan.
"He's absolutely wasted. Look I don't have time for this. These kids have worked way too hard! Go home, Evan!" Lesley whispered harshly her eyes flaring.
"He can't go home alone like this...I'll take him through to one of the classrooms to sit it out till after the play. Then Lena and Stef can sort him."
"Thank you Michelle." she responded.