Hey everyone! Thanks for the reviews - it looks as if Kasey's choice of wording was a hit with people - it was a fun scene to write and I'm glad you like the Stef/Kasey pairing as there will be a lot of Kasey still to come. I do like to try and mix it up but it is easier to keep things flowing if I can have a lot of Kasey.
Anyhow, here is the penultimate chapter for Quinceañera. It may be a few days for the next episode after tomorrow's posting as I've not finished episode 5 and am extremely busy, but I will try to get it to you as soon as I can.
Once at the venue, Kasey had taken up residence at their table, not planning on moving much.
"Hey kiddo." Mike approached putting an arm on her back.
"Hey Daddy." she smiled as he leaned in to kiss her cheek.
"Just saw your Mom and brother. Everyone's looking very snappy." he swilled a beer in his hand. "You'll make a pretty picture." he added with a smile patting her knee.
She could detect the small hint of sadness in his voice - not resentful, but longing.
"You look pretty good yourself Dad. I hear you're taking centre stage." she asked conversationally. Mike gulped down another mouthful of his drink at the reminder.
"Your Moms really OK with it?" he replied.
Kasey raised her eyebrows. Honestly, she wasn't sure but that admission would do no favours to anyone.
"You're part of my family and so's Mariana..." she shrugged. Mike nodded with a smile, grateful for the vague answer but knew it was made with the best intention.
He returned to his beer and she looked at him with a flicker of sadness.
The reduced tension between Mike and Kasey had reinforced something to her, and sometimes she almost wished she hadn't noticed. Mike really did seem sad. She had inferred it and flippantly referenced it, but it was only now after all that had happened that she could really see it in his eyes. Whenever her looked forlornly at Stef or at Brandon, and she imagined that he did it with her too, though not when she was with him.
"So..." she asked. "You got much going on this week? Anything with your buddies...?" she hoped that this time the answer may be more substantial than just paperwork. He looked back at her from a daze across the room.
"You guys I guess - you gonna be joining us more when that thing is off?" he looked down at the boot and she couldn't help but draw it under her chair slightly. She still hated the look of it next to the dress.
"Yeah, probably." she replied softly as he smiled and took another sip.
"You not doing anything with anyone else though? Any of the guys from the station or...I dunno. You thought about...maybe trying to meet anyone?" she danced around the subject as Mike laughed.
"I may have scrubbed up well, kid, but I'm not twenty one." he punched her cheek softly. "Guys from the station mainly have their own families to take up their time. They got theirs, I got you guys. Anyway, I'm gonna get me another drink before the big show. You want anything? Gotta look after my girl." he stood up in the hope the original question would remain at the table.
Kasey's shoulders dropped down, she couldn't hide the look of pity in her eyes.
"Just make sure you're looking after yourself too Dad." she responded, ignoring his question.
He flicked her cheek softly with his forefinger.
"Hey, don't look at me like that, I'm doin' fine." he gave her another smile before gulping down the rest of his drink. "I'll get you a coke." he turned but Stef hurried over and grabbed him.
"That can wait - everyone get ready. Especially you." Stef put his bottle down on the table and dragged him off. "Come on Kase, you may be getting out of the court but you're gonna be standing with us. You wait with your Dad for us to join."
Stef strode off, tray of corsages in one hand and Mike's sleeve in the other before plonking him next to Dana.
As the tables of people rose, Stef returned, hand in hand with Lena having both sorted out the rest of the kids. They clasped hands and made their way across to join the rest of the observing family.
The audience applauded as the court was announced.
First, was Lexi and an old childhood friend of the family's - except that it wasn't Lexi who emerged. It was Callie. Stef looked across to Kasey who raised her eyebrows suggestively. Next came Lexi with Brandon, announced with Callie's name. More looks were exchanged and Kasey noted Talya's relieved grimace. She indicated to Stef with her eyebrows and after flashing a look, Stef raised a warning eyebrow to her daughter. It could have just been a mistake - a last minute panic. Or maybe there was more to it. Stef shook it off - no teenage drama was going to ruin this for her.
Even through the dance with Mike, both she and Lena bore it well. Their daughter was a vision of beauty and in some ways it was more special for them to be able to watch and see her in all of her glory, knowing she was happier this way. They exchanged a look between each other. They knew they were thinking the same and Stef nuzzled into Lena briefly as their hands squeezed tighter.
The dances rounded up, with the observers barely noticing the tensions shooting between the dancers. As the formalities ended the disco began, but fireworks flew that weren't in the budget.
Brandon stormed out of the back hallways away from Talya and back into the party room. He couldn't stand the noise right now. He kept walking out to the balcony wall and took in the sea air hoping it would blow his mind clean. He was so angry. He had a tingling through his body and his head buzzed
How could Talya do something like that? He knew she had been jealous but this was just too far. She didn't even know Callie and she was trying to what? Blackmail her? Get her kicked out? Did she do it to try and humiliate her? Those journals were about guilt and Talya made a point of reading it. Even when it was over and exposed, she was trying to take her down.
"Who would do that? " He whispered to himself.
He leaned over the side and rubbed his hair. Was he sad about losing Talya as well? They had been together for almost a year. Surely he should feel more? What did he really lose though? Talya had shown her true colours and if that was the kind of person she was he hadn't lost anything. It made him think about all of the good things though, all of the reasons that they had fallen for each other. Then all the reasons he was falling for Callie. Wait - what? He didn't just think that. That was insane. He heard his Mom's words echo in his mind.
"Get a grip, Brandon. It's not allowed." He instructed himself in more mumblings.
He knew it was forbidden even before his Mom had brought it up. Not that it mattered, he had a girlfriend. Though now he didn't. He wished he could dive into the sea below to cool his head down. He also couldn't ignore that whatever Talya did read in Callie's journal was bad enough to try and use against her. He shook it out of his head. That wasn't fair. Callie had a difficult past - who knows what context that entry was in? Callie was starting a new life and her last one had been determined by more misfortune than anyone should have to suffer. That was an old page and this was a new one. He had seen the good in Callie - more good than he had ever seen in Talya. He could think that without it being anything more than admiration. Right? He took a deep breath and decided to go back to face the noise. Maybe it would drown out the voices in his head.
"You wanna dance Kasey?" Mike asked gently with a hint of a slur and patting her hard on the shoulder. He placed down a finally arriving glass of coke in front of her.
"Uhm...I think I'm fine thanks, Dad. Boot - remember...". She pulled her head back slightly as he burst into laughter.
"Right - idiot!" he smirked gripping her chin affectionately. "I'm sorry about all that you know Kasey."
"It's OK, Dad." she assured him with a reluctant smile.
"No, I made you feel bad and you're so important to me...you and your brother. I love you both so much. Your Mom too, I always will..." he squeezed a little tighter as she tried to break free.
"I know Dad...can you maybe let go...? You're kinda hurting me..."
He quickly let go and patted her cheek as she forced another smile. He chuckled again taking another drink but finding there was none left.
"Well - you don't wanna have to talk to your old man. Looks like I need a refill. I should find Brandon. Where does that kid get to? Be with that girl o' his no doubt." He turned to take off towards the bar.
The feeling returned to her chin just as another squeeze caught her attention. This time her Mom, with a hand on her shoulder and glass of wine in the other.
"Enjoying yourself?" she asked.
"Oh it's super - the table entertainment is exquisite." she quipped as Stef gave her a slightly harder squeeze before taking the seat next to her and putting her glass down.
"I'd happily come sit with you if Lena wasn't dragging me off every few minutes to dance. Will enjoy the break now while she's talking to her Mom." She indicated with her head seeing that Lena and Dana were absorbed deep in conversation. "I'll take her a drink after. She'll probably need it." Stef laughed to herself.
"I know the feeling." Kasey teased as Stef shook her head with a look.
"So come on - I don't believe you've just been daydreaming. What have you been doing here?"
Kasey shrugged. "People watching. Brandon and Talya had a fight, Little Wilkins is wallflowering, Jude's got a little girlfriend and Jesus keeps trying to get Lexi to dance. Oh - and Dad's drunk." she added taking a sip of Stef's wine while she was distracted looking in all the directions Kasey had pointed in. The last statement caused Stef to turn, mainly because of the underlying concern in Kasey's voice.
"You worried about him?" Stef asked nervously.
Kasey shrugged again playing with the cutlery on the table.
"I'm just observing." she answered with a half hearted smile. She didn't need to say more for Stef to get the hint. She didn't know if the kids knew Mike had struggled with alcohol in the past but she knew never to underestimate Kasey's perceptiveness.
Kasey gave her an exaggerated smile to try and shake it off. She was worrying more and more about Mike's state of mind. This was a party though, and maybe he was just using the opportunity to let loose. Stef looked back across the hall at her husband at the bar. She had similar fears but also a similar understanding that they may just be over-reacting. Pushing her own reservations aside, a distracted Stef gave Kasey a chance for another grab of the wine and having succeeded she hid it on the chair next to her.
"The dancing was fun though, right? Shame you couldn't join them." Stef nudged her, turning her attention back but having given Kasey just enough time for her crime.
"Fun to watch, yeah." she laughed nervously having cut it fine. "I'd pay to see that again."
"Hehe, me too." Stef looked around the table. "Hey did I bring me glass over?"
"I didn't notice one..." Kasey lied with a smile as Stef brushed it off.
"Better re-stock and get one for Lena too." she stood up patting her daughter a couple of times on the shoulder and headed towards the bar. Kasey pulled the wine out after she had gone and laughed smugly to herself only to turn and see Stef had been replaced by a sulking Jesus. He was hunched over the table.
"'Sup bro? You only just realised you Moms have forgotten your birthday?" Kasey asked.
"Mariana knows." Was all he said. Kasey sighed, realising the possible repercussions he must be facing. She rubbed his arm.
"I thought you two looked like you were fighting during the dance. I'm guessin' she hasn't taken it well?"
The look he gave her was enough to answer the question.
Kasey turned to look at Mariana, dancing and smiling away with some other friends.
"She looks OK - " Kasey observed before Mariana turned to look at them and her face dropped down into a full on evil eye.
"OK - maybe not..." Kasey turned back to Jesus.
"She'll get over it..." she assured him.
"I don't even mind if she doesn't - but now Lexi's all sad and it's ruining everything! I just don't get why she has to be so pissed about it!" He moaned flicking a fork furiously. It turned over and rattled off the table.
Kasey thought for a moment.
"Hey, do you wanna slip something racy on the DJ's playlist while I distract him. Mess with Moms? It'll be just like Janet's wedding." Jesus looked up at her from under his frown, it turning ever so slightly into a smile. Kasey raised Stef's glass to her lips before it was snatched away.
"I'll be having that..." Stef's voice scolded, retrieving it. She gulped down what was left and put the empty glass back down. "No more!" She warned her before pushing Kasey's face back playfully and making her way out to find Lena.
The siblings exchanged a defeated laugh and turned to look at the DJ.
"Go on then." He finally responded before they made their way to the DJ booth.
The party headed towards its close. Photos had been taken, the cake was eaten and the montage had induced tears.
Callie sat on the stairs leading down from the venue. She couldn't believe how much had happened. Her brain thumped in over-drive replaying all of her concerns. Her feet ached from the shoes. She slipped out of them, along with the façade that this could ever be her. She left them on the step and continued down to the beach. She sat on the step ladder that went down to the sand. As she looked out over the sea a multitude of competing voices fogged her head.
"Brandon broke up with Talya..." One shouted.
She focussed on that one first. The bitch was gone - but the bad feeling wasn't. Now it had morphed into dread.
"Your secrets are safe now - you've got nothing left to fear. So why do you?" the next butted in.
"That 'look'. He had that look." Another taunted across. Brandon had had that 'look'. That look in his eyes as he said something from the heart. She had seen looks like that before. Infatuated looks masked as something else, even if the beholder didn't even know it yet. She shook the memory away.
"Jude saw it too. He could tell you'd screw up." Another point of view chimed in as the shaken memory made space. He really did pay attention - her baby. She couldn't do it again. Not to him or to herself. She rubbed her forehead furiously with her thumb to try and massage it into quiet. The last time she strayed into this territory it ended wrong in every way.
"You wouldn't trap yourself like that again." One attempted to comfort her but the fog in her mind grew even thicker as the more voices shouted.
"You may have ignored it so far but you're both single now." a more negative one reminded her, unhappy that her reasoning was gaining unprecedented control over her fear.
"You may know the consequences but he doesn't. He doesn't know how this works." A wise and experienced one added in. It was right, he clearly didn't - not if he said what he said for the reasons she thought he did. Jude really was right - it would all happen again. Brandon would tempt her and she'd screw up just like she did before. It would all be over for another house. The best house.
She looked down at herself. All of these things they had bought her. She had slipped into it - almost fallen for the lie for Jude. It wasn't her - why pretend it ever would be? This dress, those shoes that had caused her feet to ache. It was just more pain. She needed a distraction. She thought back to a chat with Wyatt in the hallway. He was having a party. She suddenly found his offer drawing strong - the thought of it almost cleared the fog. When your thing gets boring he had said. How about when it gets smothering and awkward and complicated? She longed for boring. She felt her body deciding for her, finally dominating her head. Maybe it was because he was a boy who wasn't Brandon, maybe it was because of the air of danger around him or maybe it was just because he was the only person who'd even tried to talk to her - but most importantly it was away from here. She felt her body climbing off the ladder and beginning to walk.
Next Chapter Preview: Jesus makes Mariana think about her actions, Kasey and Jude have some peanut related fun before Kasey finds Callie to give her some sisterly reassurance.
It wasn't long before Kasey saw the smoke coming from the makeshift campfire and heard the sound of laughter and a ukelele.
"I think you've got a visitor..." Wyatt whispered to Callie who looked to see her arrival but then quickly looked back towards the group. It wasn't the worst Foster it could be but she would rather it weren't any of them.