First off - just want to apologise slightly for not making the keys situation clear in the last chapter. I never wanted to give the impression that Michelle ever risked Evan driving drugged - I just forgot to mention in it that she was the one who had hidden his keys (that was why I was putting so much stress on him having lost them). I have added it now though so thanks to those who highlighted it. In her screwed up way Michelle is trying to protect Evan from being hurt (by Carl) so that would never have been something she wanted to risk.
OK - Here is my least favourite chapter (the Jude parts not included in that). I flipped so many times whether to do this or not but I decided it was necessary for the next section. Michelle's psychology may be hard to keep up with here but that is deliberate to show the confusion she's having between her morality, her fear and the way the Fosters have touched her conscience.
I'm expecting a bit of backlash about this but I would request you direct any anger to the characters rather than at me - it is just a story and I feel guilty enough as it is. Bigger picture - trust me. This had to happen to facilitate other exchanges that will happen (some sweet and important).
As this chapter is horrible I am quite willing to post the next tonight if people want it? None of the next few chapters are nice but they all have nice bits in them which resolve the story a little more each time. And thanks to TheTBone for the last minute informal beta-ing again.
OK - bracing myself...
Jude tugged away at his costume. It felt like it didn't fit. It felt like it fit yesterday for the dress rehearsal. Why didn't it fit today? He tried to ignore it going through his lines again. He knew this play inside out. His heart didn't like him to think it though. That must be why it kept thumping in his ear. He'd felt sick all day. Nothing was worth this. He should just back out now. No. This was his moment.
Callie approached him and put her arms over his shoulders. He jerked slightly with fright, completely oblivious to the world around him. She looked at him in the mirror. She could feel his nerves. Callie always felt Jude's nerves.
His body relaxed as she cup his body in her arms and kissed the side of his head.
"Whatever happens - which will be good either way - you are amazing." she whispered.
"What if I forget my lines?"
"Then the audience get an exclusive version." she joked flicking his cheek as he smiled. He put his hand on the arm that rested over his shoulder.
"I love you buddy." she said kissing him again before ruffling his hair as he smiled and nodded his reciprocation. His costume somehow felt like it fit again.
"Ten minutes guys!" Mariana chimed clapping excitedly as she could see outside filling up. "So excited. Jude you're going to blow them away! Moms are here with the others."
"Is Evan coming through before the show? He said he'd come say hi."
"Don't worry - he'll be here." Callie assured him as she nervously looked at her phone. "I'll just go see..."
"Evan through yet?" Callie asked Lesley.
"I was about to ask you the same thing...I told him if he was coming through to be no later than ten mins before." she said while fixing one of the costumes.
"I'll go ask Kasey."
Callie worked her way through the audience from the side and spotted her family. They were quite near the front but didn't want to sit too close and put off Jude.
"Hey - Evan come with you?" She asked.
Kasey shrugged, phone to her ear.
"Been trying to get hold of him - he couldn't find his keys. Don't know if he maybe had to walk or something..."
"Well he doesn't have much time. I hope he doesn't turn up late! I'll just tell Jude he'll say hi at the intermission. Can you tell him?
"Of course." Lena added as Callie returned to her post back stage.
"Set's looking awesome by the way!" Jesus shouted after her as she smiled her thanks looking back.
"Wouldn't mind a go swinging from that wire..." he added under his breath to Kasey
"Do it and we'll leave you strung up there." Stef responded as the others laughed.
"I'm sure Evan will let you have a go if you...never mind." Kasey diverted as Stef threw her a look. "And that would be if he isn't in a ditch somewhere..." she added typing away furiously after another failed call.
"I'll have a check." Stef whipped out her phone and noted his location still being at the house.
"Still home..."
"Ladies and gentlemen, as could you please switch off all cell phones as we transport you..." a voice came over the PA and continued the setup as the lights dimmed.
"Maybe he's walking and left his phone at home..." Lena suggested as Stef signalled for Kasey to put off her phone. "Now come on - let's enjoy! You can kick his butt later." she nodded as Kasey folded her phone away in to her pocket to free up her hands to clap.
The first half of the play went off without a hitch and all of the Fosters were brimming with pride at Jude's performance. Evan having still not emerged was a sticking point for Kasey however, as well as most of the others.
"OK - now I'm worried. Gonna check the GPS again." Stef commented as Kasey retrieved her phone too.
"Guys, maybe he's just had enough of it and didn't have the heart to tell us? He has sat through 2 dress rehearsals and several others." Brandon commented folding his arms.
The family ignored the suggestion as Stef once again noted his location to be unchanged. "What can he still be doing there? I'll call the landline. That'll ring if his phone is on silent."
Evan jerked awake as the unfamiliar ring filled the room.
"Shit!" He gasped as he tried to locate the ringing. He had 7 missed calls from Kasey but it wasn't his cell.
He ran over to where it was coming from.
"Evan?"
"Stef?" He coughed sleepily. "Mrs F! The time...I..."
"What the hell are you playing at? Are you OK?"
"Yes...I mean...I'm still looking for my keys..." he could feel his brain a bit patchier than before. He wasn't sure what it was. Maybe he was feeling light headed because of the nerves.
"You've missed the entire first half!"
"I'm going to walk..." He said bluntly out loud but more as an instruction to himself realising there was no way he could get on his bike like this even if he did have his keys. "I'll be there...just late..."
"OK..." Stef said slightly concerned. "Just hurry up, Mister." She hung up eyebrow raised. "We can hide you missing the first half from Jude but not being here at the end may be pretty hard to explain."
"What's wrong?" Lena asked as Kasey at her equally confused.
"He...he was still looking for his keys. He sounded like he'd been asleep...this is just weird."
"He only had a couple of those light beers right...?" Kasey added as both her Moms looked at her.
"Far as we know..." Lena commented.
"If he had any more we may be in trouble - he loses his judgement pretty fast after a 3 or 4...he may have had a stronger one when we left and then..." Kasey sighed. She knew Evan better than anyone. One or two would be fine but once he started getting the taste he could become sloppy."
"He wouldn't ride if he...?" Lena's eyes flared open in fear.
Kasey shook her head. "No, no. He's never done anything that stupid."
Stef was still trying to get her head around him drinking more after they left.
"He said he was going to walk." Stef added. "He's coming to a school play though - surely..."
"He's not working with the kids directly though tonight...and doesn't have any responsibilities...that was all in the rehearsals. He is a college boy remember. He's used to going to things half cut. We often have..."
Kasey noted Stef and Lena's condemning looks as she quickly changed her phrasing. "I mean...he often has a few drinks before we go places." she chuckled guiltily as Jesus smirked.
"Well you better be wrong..." Stef warned "Or he'll have more than a sore head in the morning I can tell you."
"Are you sure it was OK? I could have sworn I missed a line."
"Jude you were brilliant! Keep that up the Tony Awards will be knocking!" Mariana clapped.
"Jude! Fantastic! You have them in the palm of your hand!" Lesley chimed rubbing a circle on his back with her hand.
"Has Evan come through yet? I wanna know what it was like from the audience."
Callie looked out to the audience nervously having still seen the empty seat the last time she checked.
"I'm sure he'll be through if he can" she said hopefully as Jude nodded. "Did you hear them laugh after giving the potion to Lysander instead? I had to try so hard not to laugh at their reaction."
"You deserved the laugh!" Callie beamed squeezing his shoulders affectionately.
"Five minute call guys!" Lesley informed them bobbing through the crowd of students.
"OK - you better get ready to blow them away again, buddy! By the way, Stef texted through. Said you look and sound great!"
Jude smiled and took a deep breath.
"OK - here goes. I think I can, I think I can." he whispered to himself as Mariana and Callie exchanged a smile.
"All the props are in order for part 2." Michelle announced wandering through.
"Right - we better get back to our positions."
The students buzzed around to their designated spots and got ready as the lights dimmed once again.
Before long there was a small crash in the back of one of the drama rooms, only just audible from the wings but luckily not quite loud enough to ruin the flow of the play.
Lesley swung her head round and moved on to investigate. Her face flared up with anger as she identified the source.
"Evan! Are you drunk?" Lesley whispered harshly.
"I...I don't know - I don't think...I didn't have that many..."
Her eyes flashed with rage as she grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the way harshly out of the view of any children.
"How many did you have?" she scolded.
"Like...I...I don't remember." he slurred lazily squinting.
"Lesley...they need you for...Evan?" Michelle acted confused as she saw him. Her heart thumped and she gulped. This was happening.
"He's wasted. Look, I don't have time for this. These kids have worked way too hard. Go home, Evan!" she 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 with a sigh, half watching what was happening on stage.
"OK - let's get you in here."
"I need to talk to Jude! Wish him good luck."
"Yeah honey, I don't think you'll be seeing him."
Evan rubbed his forehead drowsily. "Why do I screw everything up?" he cursed himself. " I don't understand!" he said punching the desk as he walked in.
Michelle nervously sat him down. The guilt was eating away at her. It was all for the bigger picture though - she had continued to tell herself that all evening. Maybe this would be enough. She didn't need to follow through with the next step. The next step that could either make or break everything. But then if she did at least she would be the villain too. Maybe this strategy was a way for her to be punished as well. They would no doubt see her as the bad guy too whatever she said - and she deserved the hatred. She didn't deserve Stef being concerned about her welfare or Lena asking about her feelings.
"OK Evan, I need you to stay here, OK? You think you've screwed up - the only way you can begin to make this up to them is to stay here, got it?"
He nodded before putting his face in his hands.
"I don't understand. I only had a couple..."
Michelle bit her lip. She had to pull herself together. Stop letting this guilt creep in. Why was this happening now? The endless seesaw. She took a deep breath. She didn't owe Evan anything. What should it matter to her if he's stupid enough to make himself fair game. She was trying to survive.
"You had 7 or 8 Evan. You told me before..."
He looked up at her eyes, his squinted in fear.
"8? I...I did?"
"Yes...you said just before. You had meant to just have a couple to ease your nerves but you kept going."
"I don't remember."
"OK look, you just sit back and try and sleep it off. Well come get you later."
"Its blurry..."
"It's the beer." she brushed his hair back as he placed his head against the wall and drifted off again. She took a deep breath. This would be fine. It would work.
The family had become so engrossed in the performance even Stef was whooping in excitement at the dialogue. Jude hadn't put a foot wrong and quiet exchanges of compliments flew off the lips of every audience member. The whole production had been flawless.
"Callie - " Michelle whispered as soon as Jude was no longer on stage. She dreamily turned.
"I think we're gonna have a problem." she explained as Callie's expression changed to intrigue.
"Evan showed up - he's very drunk."
Callie's expression morphed into flat out confusion.
"How the hell did that happen? That's not like him! He was so excited..."
"I think that may have been the problem. Drowning his nerves?" Michelle suggested.
"Idiot!" she scolded. "Kasey is gonna flip - not to mention Stef and Lena!"
"That's why I thought you should know first."
"OK - where is he?"
"Back classroom -"
Callie nodded. "I'll go check on him after the play. Jude's about to be on again and I'm not going to risk missing him because Evan can't hold his beer."
Michelle nodded. Tonight may be the last night anyone in that family spoke to her again - but she hoped it wouldn't come to that. Carl wouldn't like that either. She needed to be able to keep an eye on things. Still - it was catch 22 whatever she did. He had put her in an impossible situation.
The final lines of Jude's monologue rang out and the audience exploded. The cheers and whoops resounded around the hall and every member of the Foster family was on their feet.
Callie wiped back a small tear as she watched his face light up and he took his bow. He flushed pink, shaking and emotional himself to hear the applause. The resounding applause.
Callie waited for him to emerge before giving him a huge hug, lifting him off the floor. "I'm so proud of you - you killed it!"
"Thanks sis!" he beamed as more students approached to pass on their congratulations. Michelle noted Callie's availability and watched her carefully as she disappeared to the audience. It was now or never.
If the pill had worked at the right pace Evan's vision would be blurry and disorientated. Carl had given her one that would take a few hours before any serious effects would take place so that she could assure he got to the right place. By now however he wouldn't know what was happening or be able to tell the subtleties of the person he was talking to. It was all resting on this.
Michelle slipped into the room as he sat dozed in the chair she had left him in.
"Evan, Dummy." she whispered sweetly.
"Evan, we've come to get you."
He rolled his head down trying to focus but the lights blazed in his eyes.
"Kasey?" he mumbled.
"Yes...it's me."
"I'm so sorry, Kasey!" he slurred. I don't know what happened I..."
"Shhh!" Michelle whispered as he still winced in the light. "Its OK."
She pulled him up off the chair and embraced him in a hug.
"You seem different...what's happening."
"You're drunk..."
She kissed him and he willingly latched on to her lips. A fire took over him. This was different but he couldn't figure out how. When he kissed Kasey it was perfection. It filled his body with calm and purpose. This kiss was fiery and lustful. His head fuzzed to and fro as the confusion in his brain tried to challenge his primal instincts. What had come over Kasey? Michelle guided him backwards towards the wall and swing herself round so she was against it. She had practiced this before but rarely with someone so drunk or so faithful.
"You're not mad?" he made out still wincing in the strong light. Or maybe she was - maybe this was how she kissed when she was really mad with him.
"No." Michelle responded trying to keep words to a minimum.
Every cell in his body flashing warning signs were silenced by the drug that flooded through his bloodstream. He pressed her up against the wall as the door swung open.
"Evan get off!" Michelle yelled pushing him off.
"Oh my God!" Callie screeched unable to hide her shock. She ran over to them and pulled Evan off shoving him into a nearby table. He stumbled and stretched his eyes, wrought with confusion.
"He just sprung on me!" Michelle gasped wiping her lips. Callie looked between them enraged as Evan staggered up off the table.
"Michelle?! It...Kasey...I..."
"Evan...how could you...her...?" Callie stuttered completely distressed.
A whimper rang out from the doorway as both Callie and Michelle swung round.
Kasey stood there, tears prickling her eyes gasping for words.
"Kasey!" Evan bound forward as she grabbed his shirt and shoved him back. Her eyes were set on target.
She stormed over to Michelle and dragged her off the wall shoving her back before slapping her across the face. Michelle swung round trying to defend herself. "He thought I was you - he sprung on me!" she pleaded before Kasey dragged her towards her again - 3 years of rage flooding her veins. Callie tried to pull them apart as Michelle fought back clawing at Kasey.
It took a stronger force to tear them apart as Stef swooped in cupping a flailing Kasey around the waist and pulling her into a hug from behind, restricting her arms in a tight lock of hers. She held her tight and turned her slowly until she had her fully wrapped in her arms as Kasey cried. Stef hadn't seen what had happened but she could piece it together quite fast and stared at a Evan, horrified who simply gawped, still shroud in confusion as to what he had done.
Lena arrived onto the scene with Jesus and Brandon as Michelle ran out past them. Whatever fallout this created she couldn't witness it - she had done her bit and the endless conflict in her brain was too much to see the consequences first hand. She no longer took any pride in her successes. Brandon tried to grab her as she ran past and his eyes locked on Evan. Lena, anticipating his next move, grabbed him. "Get him out!" she barked at Jesus who quickly guided Brandon out of the room.
Evan rubbed his eyes pressing them back into his forehead. He was crying as well as the full gravity hit his ever deteriorating brain.
"It was...I thought..." he rocked on the edge of the table and smacked the back of his head in frustration.
Stef signalled Callie over to her as she handed Kasey over to her. Callie pulled her into a hug of her own and rubbed her back taking her over to the corner of the room.
Stef looked at Lena and strode over to Evan dragging him up by the arm and out into the hallway.
I'm sorry. Oh how I hate this part. You were warned though...and at least someone finally slapped Michelle.
I really needed to drive a wedge between Evan and the family temporarily and in order to keep him in character this was my only solution. I assure you though, although there will be a lot of fall out chapters over this Michelle won't be getting away with things much longer. Almost all of the remaining chapters (though there are still a lot to come) will be taking place over one week in story timeline and the relevant characters will be on to her one by one over this "episode".
Chapter 37: The family faces the fall-out, Kasey and Evan make a tough decision and Kasey gets comfort from an unexpected source.
Stef took a deep breath and guided him off the floor sitting him on the bed. She was about to say some words before she froze and simply sighed.
"You can't make me stay here." he whimpered. "I need to get out of her way."
Stef bit her lip. "It's up to you and Kasey." she yielded, powerless. She realised that regardless of how protective she was - this was not her call to make, not for Evan or Kasey. It was beyond her.