OK - I'll post tonight. Afraid this may leave you with a cliff hanger over the weekend though as I may not be able to post Saturday. There are going to be several fall-out chapters now. Several characters will be focussed in them as they all react differently but all overlap. There are obviously going to be a lot of arguments and a lot of tension but I promise that I have included a lot of heart to hearts too as that is the main reason I wanted to have the angst - for the reconciliations and interactions that can be produced. Also why it was done in a way that did affect them all - hard as it was to write it that way. We'll be zoning in on Michelle one character at a time as it's happening though...and trust me - this happening to Evan is what is most likely going to give him what he needs to be a hero...
Stef pulled him towards the nearest exit and threw him out into the night. He stumbled over onto the side and she followed him as he rolled onto the sidewalk.
She dragged him back up again as he stuttered through his anguish.
"I...I thought she was Kasey."
Stef pulled him over to a nearby bench and pushed him down as he collapsed his head into his hands.
"Do you have any idea what you just did!" she raged.
He couldn't find any words other than what he had already said. He repeated them over and over.
"Damnit Evan! What...how did you get...how many did you drink?"
"I don't..a lot...I think. I don't remember it...I don't...Kasey"
Stef put her hand on her forehead, her heart thumping. She had no idea what to do. She had never seen her baby girl so distraught. She was burning with anger at the culprit but he was practically unconscious to the world, she couldn't leave him alone in such a state. She was close to taking him to the station to let him spend another night in a cell, drag him out in the morning, but she knew she couldn't abuse her power. Lena approached and put her arm on her shoulder as she shook her head angrily.
"Kasey?" she whispered.
"With Callie."
Both women sighed and looked at Evan.
"I'm going to walk him back and leave him in the basement. I can't leave him alone in this state on the streets, God knows where he will end up. Give me at least 20 minutes to get him back."
Lena nodded. "Best not tell the kids."
"He's gonna wish we'd left him in a ditch come morning." Stef spat before taking another breath and calming her voice. "You take care of..."
Lena nodded and rubbed her shoulders before heading back into the school.
"Right." Stef said dauntingly as she dragged him up again throwing his arm over her shoulders.
"No!" Evan yelled and tried to run as Stef caught him. "I can't go to your house! Don't make me go! I can't do that to her. I need to leave!" he slurred as she forced him back into her hold.
"You'll go when we tell you to." she said sternly and hopped slightly forcing him into a walk.
The morning broke and Evan had an early morning wake up call.
He groaned as the light was flicked on. He had only vague recollection of the night before but he had hoped it was a nightmare. He had never had a hangover this bad in his life.
Stef stormed into his room and whipped the comforter off him.
"Get up." she whispered harshly.
He blinked in the light and tried to find his voice.
"Stef...I...Mrs F...what happened?"
The obliviousness enraged her even more. He didn't even remember the pain he had caused.
"What happened? You broke my daughter's heart - that's what happened!" the only thing keeping her from ripping him apart was the fear one of the kids would hear her.
He gulped down and rubbed his temples.
"I just...I don't remember."
"No! Because you were wasted. You got absolutely wasted before a school play and then kissed Brandon's girlfriend! Not to mention Kasey's mortal enemy! What in...I can't even find the words Evan!"
He propelled himself off the bed.
"I have to get out of here." he gasped, the full reality hammering him down. Stef grabbed him.
"Don't you dare! Don't you dare run away from this!"
"Well how can I stay here! How can I..." his voice broke.
"She means everything to me Stef - everything! She's my world!" He stormed around the room grabbing his things. "She deserves..I just..." he swiped the bag he was packing across the room and crawled down into a ball. "This doesn't make any sense!" he yelled.
"Her! She did this! She must...I...Damnit!" he kicked the bag again from his sitting position as Stef flapped her own arms down. She had no idea how to react to this situation. She knew he was referring to Michelle but still unsure of what had actually unfolded. She was desperate to defend Kasey - fighting the urge to beat Evan into a pulp for hurting her but could see the regret in his face beating him up harder than she ever could.
She 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. She stormed out of the room unable to face looking at this any more.
Evan rolled back onto the bed. This was not right. He had no clue what had happened but he trusted his love for Kasey. He had never got so drunk that he would ever hurt her. He had been on benders harder than he thought his liver could take and he had never betrayed her. There was one person who had featured too much in his life recently that he didn't put there - and he would get to the bottom if it. Whatever Michelle had done to him he would find out and he would clear his name. He would fight for her like he had always sworn he would.
The kids morosely gathered for breakfast. There was no-one in the family the events had spared. Jude's entire performance had been overshadowed by the drama that had followed, warranting anger from Mariana and Callie and Jesus was left trying to process his unbending loyalty to Evan in the wake of it all.
Kasey was last to emerge as Lena tried to help the mood by sparking comments about Jude's performance. He shrugged them off.
Stef was too engrossed in the memory of the night before and the exchange she had just had with Evan. He had remained neatly tucked away trying to recall even smudges of memory - it was all completely blank. The last thing he really remembered had been the others leaving, everything after was a blank bar a few dream like sequences. Kasey and Michelle brawling, Stef dragging him home. Everything else complete darkness.
Nobody quite knew how to greet her. They were surprised she'd come down at all but she was stronger than that. She would not let this defeat her.
"He's downstairs isn't he?" was the first thing she said after a painful few moments of silence.
Stef and Lena shared a look.
"He was in a bad way. We couldn't leave him by himself." Stef responded. "Whatever next...it's up to you..." she said into her coffee, barely able to say them.
"He's here? Right now?" Brandon piped up, anger creeping in.
Stef looked at him mildly shocked. She had barely thought about Brandon. Her increasing disdain for Michelle had eclipsed most feelings toward their relationship and she was hit with guilt for forgetting about his feelings. It was swiftly replaced with fear however as he pushed himself off his chair and stormed towards the basement. Jesus leapt up at the same time however and pulled him back.
"What are you gonna do Brandon? Fight him?" he yelled as Brandon pushed him off.
"He forced himself on Michelle!" Brandon fired back, exasperated.
"You believe that?" Jesus' bitterness towards Michelle was showing as Brandon looked back horrified.
"What are you saying?"
"That he wouldn't do that!" Jesus responded. Kasey dropped her spoon down and put her hand on her face. Stef stood up ready to intervene as Brandon stepped forward towards Jesus.
"OK, we need to calm this down." Lena said raising her palms.
"I'm so sick of everyone defending him and making Michelle out to be the bad guy! He had her up against the wall, Callie saw them!"
"Well sure, like she wouldn't want you to think that!"
Brandon lurched forward and shoved Jesus as Stef pulled him back.
"That is enough! Both of you. Calm down or go to your rooms. Now!"
Brandon swung round and faced her. "He is not staying in this house!" he demanded as Evan sheepishly emerged from the stairs.
"I'm not."
The family gulped round and stared at him.
Kasey fought off more tears. She thought she was cried out but seeing him brought it all back.
"OK guys, let's move it through to the living room." Lena shepherded the kids not involved away from the scene leaving only Kasey and Brandon and a resilient Stef who refused to budge.
Brandon could have smacked him but he held back knowing the only person more upset than him was Kasey. His protective instinct over her outshone his own desires for now - plus Stef was hovering mere feet away and he knew she wouldn't condone violence.
"You say the word and I'm gone."
Evan challenged her looking at Kasey, fighting back tears.
Kasey couldn't fight hers back quite as well.
"I don't want you to go Evan..." she said through the now free flowing tears. Stef put her hand on Brandon's shoulder as a tear now escaped down Evan's cheek.
She sucked back 3 short breaths.
"...but I don't want you to stay." her voice broke as she turned away and Evan now couldn't fight his back completely.
He nodded and grabbed the bag he had left around the corner.
Before walking out he turned back. "It's not ending like this." he said. "I promise you." he finished as he left.
Brandon took a few deep breaths before storming out himself up the stairs. Stef bit her lips together and pulled Kasey into a hug as she broke down further.
"I know." she consoled her, pulling her close. "I know."
Evan did his best to stay composed leaving the house but the emotions were making him shake. He produced his phone.
"Stuey, I need a favour." He said quickly trying to hide the quivers in his voice. "I need to probe your knowledge. Dealers. Yep." he winced in the morning light. "And I need a sofa."
Kasey sat on her bed in silence. Her head hurt from the crying but she had stopped a bit before. Callie had stayed with her for a while but decided to give her some space alone to think things through. She hadn't broken up with Evan but their relationship hung by a thread and she had so many new fears and issues to face she needed time to understand what she wanted.
She tried to understand if there had been more to it or not. She couldn't believe that Evan would cheat on her with Michelle. It wasn't in his nature. It was because he was drunk. Was that what she was mad at? That he would get so drunk? This was strange though. She had seen Evan drunk many times. Maybe he had been dabbling in drugs again. Maybe there had been more to the pot? Had she misunderstood him this whole time? No, that wasn't possible. The thoughts all nagged away at her. She found herself going round in circles. Taunting circles. Her train was interrupted by a quiet knock at the door. She turned and shouted for them to come in and was a little surprised to find Jude the source of it.
"Hey..." she responded, her voice cracking having not said anything aloud for a while.
"Can I come in?" he whispered sheepishly as she moved up and patted the place next to her on her bed.
He closed the door and joined her awkwardly putting his hand on her knee. She flickered a smile at his timidity and sweetness. He was long in the family now but there were still some quirks that he would never shake.
"I'll not ask if you're OK because I figure it's a bit of a stupid question."
She laughed a little at his bluntness but welcomed the honesty.
"You know a lot of people have been talking about me." she responded. "are you OK?" she asked brushing back his hair.
He looked up at her slightly shocked.
"Well we sort of stole your thunder last night. I'm sorry things happened that way. It hurts even more to know we ruined your special night." she explained realising Jude was confused at the remark.
Jude looked up at her with a timid smile. "I don't think anything could take away that night from me Kasey. I mean..." he stuttered worrying he would come off as conceited. " not that I'm not really sad for you, I mean - "
"It's OK Jude," she laughed. "Go on, we're talking about you remember."
He chuckled a little. "I just...I've never felt like that before. So comfortable in my own skin. Well, in Puck's skin I guess..."
Kasey now was laughing again, for the first time forgetting the aching.
"Maybe you are a fairy." she said with a smile. "It would explain how you manage to light up out family even at the worst times." she teased affectionately as he nustled his head on her shoulder.
"I'm really sorry about Evan, Kasey." he said after a few minutes of silence. "Want me to give Michelle a donkey's head? I can try." Kasey laughed through a tear and kissed his head. She would get through this one way or another.
Chapter 39 Preview: Kasey concerns Lena, Callie tries to help Brandon and Jesus' search for Evan lands him in trouble
On the flipside, why couldn't he be there for Evan? What if this was his time to step up for him. To repay the favour. He needed to find him. Stef could find him but Stef was determined not to get involved. He looked blankly across the room thinking. He saw Stef's phone. He shouldn't have phoned Evan, he should have tracked him, seen where he was and talked to him in person. But...Stef's phone could do that too.