Thomas groaned out, pulling his covers past his eyes as the door to the room opened and he was blinded by the light, he could hear his father's annoying voice, telling him that it's time for him to get ready for school.
Spongebob sighed, walking in the room to get him up, he could remember his days, when he didn't want to get up for school, but, he was the parent, and he had to do his job, he reached his hand down to shake him.
"Tom, I said wake up, you're gonna be late, your moms going to see the doctor this morning, so, I'm taking you, and i have to leave after I drop you, and your sister off." Spongebob informed before Tom threw his pillow over his head to block him out.
"Thomas, James Squarepants, i'm going to give you a count of three to get your yellow behind up, or you'll leave me no choice but to give you a visit from the tickle fairy!" Spongebob spat, and Tom just groaned, "Hnn, Go away."
"One." Spongebob began to count, crossing his arms as he glared down at his son, who was daring to test him.
"Two!" Spongebob raised his voice, "Don't make me say three, you won't like it when i get to three boy." Spongebob assured, and Thomas just growled, "THREE!" Spongebob said with a joyful smile.
"Here comes the tickle monster!" Spongebob shouted as he knelt down to his son and started to tickle him, for the first, few seconds, it seemed to work as Tom started thrashing in his bed, laughing before he pushed him off.
"STOP!" Thomas yelled, now angry, "Can't you get it through you thick stupid head that I'm not going?" Thomas questioned, "stupid.." Spongebob mumbled to himself before he became angry.
"THOMAS JAMES SQUAREPANTS!" he shouted, shaking the room with his voice, turning the head of the other two residence in their house, Laura, who was in Lola's room, brushing her hair when she heard her husband shout their sons name, she sighed, tapping Lola on the shoulder before she stood up and went to investigate.
"You better get your butt, in that bathroom and wash up, now, I don't want to have to dress you up, and, drag you down stairs, and believe me, I will!" Spongebob informed, his happy mood already flown out the window.
Thomas yelped as his father grabbed onto his wrist, having forgot that his father possessed some monster strength, he yanked him up on his feet and dragged him to the bathroom, "Get a shower, brush your teeth, get dressed, come down stairs, eat breakfast and go to school! Don't make me come back up here!" Spongebob threatened.
"Let go! You're hurting me!" Thomas cried out, dragging his feet in front of him to keep from going into the bathroom, "Come On! I don't have Time for this! You're making this harder than it has to be."
"It's always about you, huh?" Thomas questioned before he was shoved in the bathroom, "You have ten minutes!" he said before he slammed the door, he shook his head and marched towards the exit, sighing as he seen his wife standing at the door, he just brought her in a hug, resting his head on her shoulder.
"He just has his days, dear." she said as she rubbed the back of his head, he just sighed, pulling out of the hug, he looked at her, "I don't know what I'm gonna do, Laura, my son, hates me, and-" he looked down at her belly where a third was growing.
"If he hates me, then, i'm sure that, he will too." he said as he placed his hand on her belly, "am I a bad father?" he asked her, and Laura smiled, hugging him, "No, you're a great father, he's gonna be a little rebellious, from what i heard, even you were a bit rebellious as a teenager as well." she smiled, and he smiled back, "Thanks, come on, dear, let's go get you two some breakfast." he said as he walked her down stairs.
Spongebob sighed as they pulled up to the school, he smiled to his kids as he put it in park, and he got out. He walked around to the other side of the boat to open the door for his children, reaching for Thomas's door before he opened it on his own.
Spongebob sighed as he opened Lola's door, having her jump out and hug him, he laughed, bending down to wrap her in his arms before he kissed the side of her head before he stood up and let her leave.
He turned around and looked at his son who kept walking, "Thomas!" he shouted, having him sigh, rolling his eyes before he turned around, "What!" he said, and Spongebob extended his arms, "I'm not leaving without my hug." he said, and Thomas grawled, "Then I guess you're gonna be standing there for awhile." he said, and Spongebob sighed, "Don't make me come up there." he narrowed his eyes and Tom let out a sigh, marching down to him.
He gave him a quick hug, too quick, having his father pull him back for a tighter and longer hug, "I love you, son." he said before he kissed the top of head.
"Dad! Let go, you're embarrassing me!" he hissed as he watched several students walk by and laugh at them, Spongebob just sighed, letting him go, "i'll be here after to pick you, and your sister up." he said, and Tom shook his head, and marched for the door as his father walked back to his boat.
He ducked his head as he walked through the front doors to avoid any, and all eyes, that was until he heard the familiar sound of Jack, and Bean, two brothers, who'd also liked to pick on him, they were standing by the door, waiting for him to get done hugging his loser father, they couldn't contain their laughs as he walked past them.
"Hey, freak! Kissy kissy kissy!" one of them said as they both started puckering their lips, Jack, Bean's older brother, elbowed him in the chest for him to follow after the strange sponge, Tom growled under his breath as he heard them run over to him, Jack had suddenly wrapped his arm around Tom's neck and pulled him closer, "Gah, hey! Let go!" he shouted at him as he gave him a noogie.
"Hey! Stop that hurts!" he shouted as he kept trying to pry himself from the head lock as they dragged him to a locker, Tom dragged his feet as they tried to push him in, he then growled, ducking under them, he was able to grab Jack by the belt of his pants and shove him into the locker.
Tom grunted as Bean charged at him, pinning him against the lockers, he grunted again as Bean punched him in the face, he moaned as he held his nose that'd started bleeding, he licked the blood from his lip before he ducked from the next punch, Tom jumped back a little as Lola suddenly came out of nowhere and kicked Bean in the jaw, having him fly back to the ground.
Bean sat up, wiping the dirt and blood from his cheek, he glared at the two as Tom yelled at her, "Lola! Why'd you do that!" he shouted at her, "Well, he was hurting you so I-" "I could handle myself! I don't need my little sister to- Lola, watch out!" Tom shouted as Bean came charging at her and Tom ended up, wrapping his arms around him and body slammed him to keep him from touching her.
Lola had her mouth covered as she watched her brother sat on top of the boy and repeatedly punched him, she gasped as she heard the door open to the principal's office, she then ran to Tom's shoulder, shaking him, "Come on, the principles.." she stopped talking when their principle finally stepped into the ring and had to have him, and another teacher pull Thomas off the other student.
Tom blew a piece of his hair out of his face, "Hey Mr. Lupid." he smiled, but it soon faded as he realized that there would be no way out of this, the Principle looked over the scene, at the two other students, one was shoved in a locker, and the other, well, he might need to see a dentist, he looked over to Lola.
"All four of you, in my office, now!" he said as he dropped Tom to the floor with a thud, Tom then stood up, using his hand he brushed back any lose hair, "Come on, Lola." he said as they followed after.
"You two got in a fight!?" Spongebob shouted at them, "It wasn't our fault!" Tom yelled back, his face still bruised, and bloody, Spongebob then looked at his daughter, "and, you too, Lola?" he questioned.
"Those boys were picking on Tommy!" she said, and Spongebob looked at his son, "This wouldn't have happened if you'd just let me stay home." Tom crossed his arms, "Well." He looked at him with furrowed brows and he began to cross his arms, " If you don't want an education, a good job, or the ability to move out on your own then be my guest! Stay home your whole life and end up a slob, why don't you! Maybe even a criminal while you're at it!" He yelled.
"It's not like you ever actually cared! All you care about is yourself!" Tom yelled back, "You don't know what it's like going to school and getting thrown in a locker every time I walk through those damn doors! and it's all your fault!" Tom pointed at him.
"YOU WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE YOUNG MAN!" Spongebob gets in his face and jabs his pointer finger into Thomas' chest, "And I do TOO care, because if I didn't, you'd be sleeping on the sidewalk by now, and I also know what that kind of bullying is like because, buck-o, whether you like it or not, you're turning into the exact same way I was! So you can't say I don't know anything, because I EXPERIENCED IT FIRST!" He gets in his face and Tom begins to tear up.
Tom growled under his breath, "Get off of me!" he shouted as he shoved him away, "I, am Nothing like you! You think you know, but you really dont, you say you care, but you only care about yourself! You don't care how I feel, or how mom, or, Lola feels, you only care about what people think of you, and because of you, because I'm your son, these kids have been mean to me, since day one, and it's all your fault, you're a pathetic excuse for a father, and I didn't ask to be born, from you!" he shouted before he ran out of the room
"Tom!" Spongebob shouted as he attempted to run after him but was stopped by the principles next words, "It's none of my business, but maybe you should learn to discipline your children, that way, they don't start acting like monsters." he suggested as he gestured towards where Tom had left.
Spongebob glared at him 'Oh- let me get in on this' Spongebob heard Savage hiss in his ear, veins popping out from his head and shoulders as he tried to take over, 'no, i've got this.'
He calms himself down, takes a deep breath and sticks on a half-assed smile with resent behind it, "THANK YOU... For your time..." at that moment he felt a pinch on his back a little below his belt, and he turned expecting it to be Lola trying to get his attention.
He turned to his daughter and grabbed her hand, "Come on, Lola." He instructed as he left the room stomping his feet a little and causing the principal's office to shake with every step, the principal's face was greeted by a dark and evil looking tail from the sponge's back. The dark figure smacks the principal making him fly out from his seat and break his arm on the table and hit his head from falling to the floor.
The principal shuffles up as quick as it would let him, and he stares, petrified at the leaving sponge as the tail dissipates."...um... i think i should take a break from this school... maybe for a week to forever...?" He says to himself, rubbing his head.
They walked out, Spongebob looking in all directions before finding Tom, who was already in the passenger seat. Spongebob opened the door for his daughter before he walked around to the driver side.
He sighed as Tom put his ear buds in his ears to block out his father, he started the boat and left the school, for a quarter of the ride home the ride was quite, Spongebob adjusted the rear view mirror on Lola who signed, "It really wasn't his fault, daddy." she said, and he shook his head, "It doesn't matter whose fault it is, you both got suspended."
Lola just slouched, "You two, made me call out for work, not even ten minutes after I dropped you guys off, you guys got in a fight that could have possibly been avoided-" "How could we have avoided that?" Tom suddenly cut in, "They were pushing me around, and we're gonna shove me in a locker, one of them, punched me in the face, and then, miss, Lola, stepped in- they were gonna hit her too!" Tom shouted.
"What were we supposed to do? Let it happen? Weren't you the one who told us not to let people bully us? That it's ok to stick up for ourselves?" Tom questioned.
Spongebob sighed, "I'm not mad because you defended yourselves, I taught you that, and so i can't get mad- but, you got kicked out- Do you know how important a highschool education is?" Spongebob asked him, and Tom sighed, looking out the window.
"and because you two got suspended, I've got to punish you, since i'm the parent- so, you're both grounded for, two months."
"What!?" they both shouted, "Even me?" Lola asked, and Spongebob nodded, "You're in just as much trouble as he is, and I don't want to hear that it's not fair, because it is, so that means- No electronics, no T.v, no going over to friends, or, girlfriends, you have to do extra chores, you must, help out your mother in any way possible, no groaning, or moaning, if I come home and there's a single dish in the sink, or any toys that aren't in your toy boxes, if your rooms dirty,- it's an extra day, if you're rude to your mother, especially your mother- it's another month." Spongebob informed.
Tom turned his head back to Lola, before looking back at their father, "but dad-" "but nothing, if you're not happy with my decision, you can take it up with your mother." and they sighed, "and Tom- after today, until you're off groundation, you have to sit in the back, with your sister-" "What! That's not fair!"
"I don't want to hear it and there's to be no fighting, or name calling, or- that's a whole day, in your room, with nothing, same goes for you, Lola." he looked back at her the mirror.
"Grr see what you did Tom! You made daddy mad at me!" Lola shouted at him, "well if you'd just stayed out of it- you wouldn't be in this mess!"
"What did I just say? now, miss Lola, this isn't just about you, do you understand, it's about the both of ya, until you guys can behave and act like mature young adults you're grounded, and this will be the last warning you get." He said and they sighed.
"You can earn back your privileges once you two learn to behave, school is for learning, not fighting, and don't think you're getting out of not going to school, you'll have homework, and a lot of it." he said as they pulled up to the house, "Hey!" Spongebob shouted after Tom who'd left the boat a little before it had time to park, he then sighed as he put it in park.
"Come on Lola, off to your room." he said as he opened her door for her, "Awe daddy, do I have to?" she asked, and he nodded, "You've got a room to clean." he said, and she sighed, walking ahead of him.
Laura stood at the front door, wondering why her family was home so early, that was until she seen her son's face, she gasped, rushing to him, "Oh my gosh! Tommy!" she could almost feel herself cry as she jerked his face in her hands.
"Mom." he tried to pull away from being even more humiliated but she wouldn't let up, "Oh, my poor baby! Oh, what happened to your beautiful face? Tell mama." she said, and he just shook his head from her before he pushed past her.
She then looked at her daughter that walked up the driveway, seeing that her hair that she'd just brushed this morning was a mess, "Lola? You too? Did you do that to your brother?" she asked as she placed her hands on her hips, and Lola shook her head, "There was these kids at school, I had to save him, but then he save me and-" "They were suspended." Spongebob spoke up.
Laura cocked her brow, looking back at Lola, "Suspended?" and Lola sighed, "They're grounded, for two months." Spongebob informed her, "Two months?" she questioned, and he sighed, "Until I say otherwise, they're not to have any electronics, or watch t.v, they must help you around the house, you and I shouldn't have to be the only ones who picks up things around here." he said, and she nodded.
"Now, off to your room, little girl, and I want this house, spotless when I get home from work." he informed, "Tell your brother the same thing, I trust your mother to tell me if either of you is disrespectful." he looked to Laura, and Lola sighed, "Yes daddy." she said before she went to turn around.
"Hey, where's my hug?" he asked her, and Lola turned around, smiling she couldn't refuse one of those things, "I love you, now you be good to your mother." he said as he rubbed her hair, "Now, go get washed up." he said before he turned to Laura, he reached his arms out and hugged her before he looked down at her belly.
"What the doctor say?" he asked as he placed his hand on her belly, and she smiled, placing her hand over his, "That he's healthy and that he should come out any day now." she said, and he smiled, kissing her forehead, "I can't wait." he said before he leaned further down to kiss her lips.
Spongebob sighed as he walked through the door, after a shorter shift at work, he was ready to come home to his family, he smiled as his stomach growled, and his house smelt of food, he walked into the kitchen to see his wife cooking dinner while Lola helped. He walked over to them, brushing his hand through Lola's hair and kissing the top of her head before making his way over to his wife.
Laura let out a relaxed sigh as his hands drifted around her waist, he rested his head between her neck and shoulder before kissing her ear, "Hmm, hey." he softly whispered, and she smiled, falling into his chest, "Dinner smells great." he complimented, "and of course, I expect that you didn't cook all this yourself?" he looked back at Lola who smiled.
"Where's your brother?" he asked her, and she pointed up stairs, "He's in his room, he won't come out." she answered, and he nodded, "Did you take his phone away?" he asked his wife, and she nodded, "It's in our room." she answered, and he smiled, "I'll go check on him, tell him that dinners done." he said before he turned to leave the room.
Tom sighed as he heard his door open, the light from the outside, filling some part of his room, Spongebob sighed as well, seeing his son laying on his side with his back faced towards him, wondering why it was so dark in there, he flipped the light on, "Tom- dinners done." he informed.
"I'm not hungry." he said, and Spongebob sighed, "Come down stairs." he said, but Tom didn't answer, "Thomas, that's an order, your mother just-" "Ok, fine!" he raised his voice as he shot up and pushed past his father.
"Eat your food, Thomas." Spongebob ordered, making sure not to raise his voice at him as he ate his food, he then picked up is glass to wash down what he'd just swallowed, "I'm not hungry." he said, Spongebob sighed, gently placing his glass down.
"I didn't ask you if you were hungry, I said, eat your food." he said, and Tom hissed under his breath, "and I told you, I'm not hungry." he replied back, Spongebob glanced at his wife who shook her head for him to drop it, he then looked back at his son.
"Your mother and sister went through the trouble to make you something to eat, and you better eat it." he said as he jabbed his finger on the table, but he didn't answer, he just slumped further in his seat.
"You're not leaving this table until you eat every last bit of that, and I'm not leaving until you do!" Spongebob said between his teeth, "Robert." he heard his sweet wife udder his name, signalling him to let it go.
"Then I guess we're going to be staying here for a while, I have nothing better to do, since I'm, grounded." he shrugged, and Spongebob growled, "I said eat your food!" he roared, slamming his fists down on the table.
Tom jumped for a second, "You can't tell me what to do!" he shouted, "Oh? I can't, can I?" he questioned, "Robert." Laura called out to him again, "What happened to us?" he questioned, Tom shook his head, "Like you really care." he rolled his eyes.
"You acted NOTHING like this just 3 years ago! You used treat me with respect and you let me hug you and play with you, like a father, so what did I even do to make you act this way?! Where did I go wrong? Are you just trying to be "cool"? like the rest of these children? Hmm?" he asked.
"Or are you just being an angsty teenager?! If you want me to care, you have to open up to me first, son! That's how it works! And you can't expect me to know everything about you, because I will readily admit that I don't, but I can also admit that I do actually care about you, because you're my son! What do you WANT from me?! PERFECTION?! TO DISAPPEAR?! WHAT?!" He shouted with a mighty growl from the back of his throat as he shot out of his seat.
Tom casted his eyes down to his feet, wiping his eyes, "That time is over, that Tom you knew back then, is gone, and you wonder why? It's because of you. You're the reason for all of this, you're the reason why mom had to suffer, she had cancer, and you did nothing, you think she can handle having another child? She can't!" he shouted at him, gesturing to his pregnant mother.
"You even let that monster, get to her, and, you did nothing, i watched as that thing pointed its tail at my face, and how my mother sacrificed herself, for us, while, you did nothing, you let that thing fly off with her." he glared at him, knowing full well that the beast was listening.
"That part is over, it doesn't matter now, we got over that." Spongebob spoke, and Tom scoffed, "Maybe you did, but not me." he shook his head, "i remember, waking up, to find her, covered in scars, while she took care of you, she should have let you die." he hissed, tears filling his father's eyes.
"and, you think that I can forget, and forgive everything? Everything was fine before 'SHE' was born!" he pointed at Lola who was sitting across the table, tears rolling down her eyes, having Spongebob and his mother gasp, "That's not true!" Spongebob shouted at him.
"You're asking me to open up to you, how can I open up to the man responsible for everyone's pain? How can I open up to a failure, like you, you asked me what I wanted you to do, what I want from you, you asked if I wanted you to be perfect, you were perfect, maybe when I was a child, you used to be my hero, but now that's changed, along with everything else, I wish you were never my father, I wish, I wish you'd just go to work one day, and, and never return home- Alive!"
"Thomas!" Laura shouted at him, "You don't mean that, y, you're just, upset-" Spongebob stuttered, and Tom growled, "Yes I Do! I Hate you! I hate all of you!" he shouted as he stood up, pointing to everyone at the table.
Laura jumped when she heard a loud roar erupt from her husband, "Go to your room!" he shouted over his lungs as his face twisted to that of his demon who was threatening to come out and rip this boy to shreds (not literally of course :p ).
Tom gasped, before he grew even angrier, he shoved his food to the center of the table before he ran out of the room. Spongebob sighed as he walked over to clean up the mess, picking up the shards of glass, he then wiped his eyes, looking away to hide his tears from the rest.
"R, Robert?" Laura softly spoke as she stood up and walked over to him, she ran her hand up his back to comfort him, he turned his head further away before he turned to her and buried his head in her shoulder, "H, he hates me, I, I don't know what I'm going to do." he shook his head before they jumped at the sound of the front door slamming shut.
…. TO BE CONTINUED….