Scott had made it through his first week back in lock up without any major hiccups. His attorney had been by again to ask about the plea deal. Scott told him he need a few days to think. Mr. Soles left promising to return the following week in need of a final answer.

After dinner on Tuesday, Scott was again escorted to the visitation room. However, there were now four chairs across from his. A few moments later the trio of teachers entered followed by a woman that Scott didn't recognize.

The teachers greeted their student with hugs before they introduced the woman as Ms. Thompson, a lawyer.

"So Scott," Ms. Thompson began, "Amber, Summer, and Kyle have given me a brief overview but I want to talk to you directly about the case."
"What do you want to know?"
"Start with your background, how did you get involved with everything?"

Scott glanced nervously as Ms. Marez wanting her approval before sharing his story. When she nodded he began.

"Well it started when I was almost 15, I'm...uhh...I'm gay and I told my parents. I didn't think they'd react badly but they did. They kicked me out. From then on I was just really trying to survive. That's how I got into the drugs. I needed money and that's the only way I could get it. I wasn't even using in the beginning, just dealing. That didn't start until...until Alex." Scott got quiet and looked down at his cuffed hands, not wanting to continue.

"Scott, it's okay, we're not judging you," Ms. Marez assured.

Scott took a deep breath before continuing. "Well...ummm...Alex and his friends would force me to do... uhh...umm...sexual favors. It was the only way I would get my payment for what I sold. They forced me to get high, until eventually I was doing it on my own, trying to forget about my life and the mess it had become. I was picked up twice but didn't do much time because of my age. It was just probation. And I finished that up 3 months ago."

Ms. Thompson asked the question that everyone always did, " why didn't you go to the police?"

"I was a fucked up street kid whose parents didn't want him. Alex is rich. The police wouldn't have done anything. Look at me now, I'm chained up in jail and he's out there doing whatever with whoever, consequences don't apply to him."
"So how did you get arrested this last time?" Ms. Thompson pressed for more information.
"Alex showed up at Martin."
"That was the day you came to my room during lunch, right?" Mr. Ward questioned.
"Yea, Alex caught me in the hall, he'd seen me with Mitch and started threatening him. Saying he was going to make Mitch do what he used to make me do. I didn't want to risk running across him in the cafeteria. I tried avoiding him but it didn't work. And then he texted me and sa...."
"Wait he texted you?!?" Ms. Marez piped in.
"Yea, told me to "tell my man to watch his ass, he was coming for him." That was the day we fought."
"Do you still have the message?" Ms. Thompson was intrigued.
"I guess. I don't have my phone. They've got it somewhere."
"And the drugs Scott, you need to tell me the truth. Were they yours?"
"No! Absolutely not! I've been clean since Mitch agreed to be my boyfriend. No way in hell I'd risk our relationship."
"Okay, I believe you. And I think that, if you want me to, I can help you."
"For real? You do?"
"Yes. If I can get the evidence I need, you should have a much short sentence. I'm not making promises about getting you off completely but I should be able to work something out."
"Thank you so much," Scott cried.
"Scott, we also have a proposition for you," Ms. Cook said. "We've all been discussing this week and we've applied to be foster parents, all four of us."
"I'm confused..." Scott replied.
Ms. Marez smiled, "well, all four of us live together, so we all had to apply."

Scott was still confused so Mr. Ward continue to explain. "Scott, what Amber and Summer seem to have such a problem explaining is that we've been approved by the state to be foster parents. And, if it's okay with you, we would, all of us, want to be your foster parents."

"But why, why waste your time on me?" Scott couldn't comprehend.
"We want you Scott. We love you." Ms. Marez stated simply. "The final decision is yours though."
"Yes. Yes! I want to be y'alls."
"We have an appointment at social services tomorrow morning. If things go according to plan, we will be your guardians by this time tomorrow."
"Thank you all...so, so much." Scott broke down from happiness.

---------------------------------------------------------

On Wednesday Mitch got up for school, once again putting in as little effort as possible. However, when he walked outside, he saw Jeremy's car sitting in his driveway. He walked over to the passenger window.

"Hey Mitchie, want a ride?" Kirstie asked.
"Sure." Mitch said as he hopped in the backseat.
"How are you Mitch?" Jeremy questioned.
"I'm okay I guess. I got a letter Monday."
"From Scott? That's great. Did he say how he was holding up?"
"He said he was fine but I don't know if I can believe him. He told me to tell y'all he loves and misses you."
"Awww," Kirstie cooed.
"Also that y'all are being held personally responsible if anything happens to me."
"Good thing we decided not to let you walk to school alone!" Kirst laughed.
"We're sorry we weren't there for you Monday." Jer said, meeting Mitch's eye though the rear view mirror.
"It's okay guys. I honestly didn't think it would be that bad... I just miss him so much."
"We all do."

The remainder of the ride was quiet. Once Jeremy parked the car, he and Kirstie got out and escorted Mitch to his first class. However, when Mitch saw a substitute instead of Ms. Cook, he nearly turned and ran back home. Kirstie managed to convince him to stay only by promising that she and Jer would walk him to and from every class.

Mitch was exhausted by the time he got to lunch, but when he got to the choir room, the door was locked and there was a note telling students that Mr. Ward was out. Mitch couldn't face the cafeteria so he text Kirstie that he was going to lay in the nurse's office until his next class. Somehow he managed to make it through an entire day without his favorite teachers and without Scott.

Jeremy dropped him off at home but Mitch was surprised to see two cars he didn't know in the driveway.

"Who's here Mitch?" Kirst asked as they pulled up to the curb.
"I have no idea. I don't recognize the cars. Must be friends of my parents from work or something."
"Well do you want to come to my house or something?"
"No, I just want to go lay down. Thank you though. And thanks for today, I couldn't have made it without you two. I love you guys!"
"We love you too." The couple replied in unison.

He got out pulling his backpack behind him.

"Hey Mitch..." he turned and looked at Kirstin, "promise you'll text me if things get bad. I don't want to lose my best friend...plus Scott will kill me if anything happens to you."

Mitch dropped his bag and reached through the open window to pull her into a hug.

"Thank you Kit, I will, I promise."

And with that he turned and walked into the house.

He went in and headed straight upstairs, paying no attention to the six adults in his living room. He went to his room and threw himself onto the bed with a groan. Moments later his father entered.

"Mitch; how was school today?"
"Absolutely horrible. No Scott. None of my favorite teachers. It sucked."
"I'm sorry it was bad."
"Yea, I just miss him so much dad," his voice broke.
"I know you do son." His dad reached over and pulled him into a hug, making him cry harder. His dad continued after a moment, "did you see who was downstairs?"
"No."
"Well, wipe away the tears and come down."
"Why?"
"Just do it Mitchell."
"Okay," Mitch sighed as he stood.

Mitch walked into the living room to see his three absentee teachers and a woman they introduced as their fourth roommate. Both his parents were there as well. All six of them were smiling.

"Is this some sort of intervention, like on that TV show?" Mitch asked though there was no humor in his voice, those around him laughed.
"No silly," his mother said directing him to the couch. "We just have a surprise is all."
"What kind of surprise?"
"Well, I'll let them explain," Mrs. Grassi gave the cue for the quartet of visitors to begin.
"Mitch," Mr. Ward was the first to speak, "last week after Scott was arrested and dropped from his foster home, we, all four of us, knew we had to do something."
Ms. Cook took over, "there wasn't much we could do at school for Scott so we discussed what we could do outside of the class."
"I'm confused." Mitch said flatly.
"Last week we went and registered to be foster parents. We got the approval Monday." Ms. Marez stated, hoping Mitch would catch on, he didn't.
"We went and spoke to Scott yesterday. We are his new foster parents."

Mitch stared dumbfounded and unable to form words. After a moment of utter silence, Ms. Thompson, who had instructed Mitch to call her Sara-Beth, spoke up.

"I'm... we're all trying to help Scott. I'm an attorney and I'm taking over his case. I'm not making guarantees but we're all working to get him out and home as soon as possible. And now that he has foster parents we can sign his visitation list."
"Does that mean I can see him?" The thought of seeing Scott for the first time in over a week was overwhelming.
"That's exactly what that means." Sara-Beth continued. "In fact if you're up for it, we're on our way to Dallas now."
"Now? Today?!? I get to see him today?!?!"

All the adults around him grinned at his joy.

"What am I going to wear?! I'm a mess!"

It was Ms. Marez who spoke this time, "Mitch, it doesn't matter what you wear or how you look, he's just going to be glad to see you."

Less than an hour later Mitch was in the backseat of Mr. Ward's car, Ms. Marez was riding shotgun. Sara-Beth and Ms. Cook were in a separate car. As they were driving north to Dallas Mitch decided to pen a letter to Scott, so he could read it after Mitch had to leave.

Baby!!!!!
I cannot believe I'm on the way to see you. I'm so excited and it's hard to contain my joy. I cannot wait to see you, to hold you in my arms, to know you're okay.

You have great foster parents now. I know they'll take care of you. But won't it be weird having our teachers as your guardians. That means that when you're out, you'll be staying with them.

Speaking of getting out I meet Sara-Beth, she seems hopeful about your case. I hope she's right. I need you out now. A week is too long to go without you.

Well according to the GPS we're about five minutes from our destination, five minutes from you. I'm leaving you this letter hoping it will remind you just how much I love you Scott Richard Hoying. I miss you. I can't wait to see you. Write soon.

Unconditionally,
Mitch