(36) Punishments and shopping.
"I hate telling her off, she appears strong, but every time I tell her off she looks weak and scared"
"We're the Alpha's, she should be scared of you and me" Matt reasoned
"I don't want us to rule with fear," Viv sighed
"But when people do something wrong they have to be punished. It's the way life is," Matt pointed out
"What should we do with Kerri? I know she needs to be punished for arguing with Ruby but what with?"
"Take her internet access away and make her do dishes by hand for a week," Matt suggested
"Okay, will that seem unfair though, to the rest of the pack I mean?" Viv asked, curling up on the small sofa in her and Matt's private den.
"Who else needs to know Ruby and Kerri argued?" Matt pointed out as he sat beside Viv and turned on their small television.
"Ruby I'm sorry" Kerri said quietly as she walked into the living room and giving Ruby a hug.
"its okay, I rebelled at the unfairness of it as well, Viv and I always used to clash heads, only difference was my dad was here and he was the one who told me off" Ruby sighed "you're braver than I am to clash heads with Viv, but don't tell anyone I said that okay"
"Okay, what was your dad like? Luke talks about him sometimes in his sleep, I don't mean to hear it but …."
"Its okay, my dad was a good man, I miss him loads. He loved this pack, and always tried his best to be fair." Ruby sighed, hugging the cushion close looking younger than her 25 years. "Any way I'd better get going, John needs to get to the station and at the moment he's got Shona"
Standing up Kerri gave Ruby another hug before going up to her bedroom.
Smiling as Kerri walked into the bedroom; Jamie paused the game on her laptop and wrapped his arms around her.
"You scared me today" Jamie murmured through kisses
"I was scared too" Kerri replied between kisses.
Running her fingers through his long hair, Kerri sighed as she heard a knock at the door 'I swear they do that on purpose'
"Kerri, can we come in please?" asked Matt. Knocking once more
"Yeah sure whatever" Kerri sighed, flopping back onto her bed
"Jamie could you leave us to talk please?" Viv asked quietly
"Why?" Kerri snapped
"Because I have asked him to" Viv said calmly sitting on the small chair at Kerri's desk
Silently Jamie walked out the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
"Viv and I have decided your punishment Kerri" Matt said calmly, as he leant his body against the door frame of the en-suite.
"You are not allowed your internet access for this week and you will do the evening dishes after each meal for a week,"
"And that doesn't mean using the dish washer" Matt pointed out,
"Okay whatever"
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Matt
"That means, yeah, sure, fine, I'll do it, whatever, I don't give a damn. I shouldn't have yelled I get punished for it, that's the way the cookie crumbles" Kerri rambled, not really interested.
'Kerri' warned Viv mentally annoyed with her attitude
"I'll do my punishment till you see fit to end it, I'll go to school. I'll behave." Kerri promised
"Could you walk Tasha home for me please? And perhaps if you take Caitlyn you could both get outfits for the school formal and maybe some more clothing for Caitlyn. I'm sure Caitlyn will like that." Viv suggested
Digging out his wallet from his back pocket, Matt handed Kerri 400.
"Will that cover it all?"
"Keep it, I'll use my own card thanks" Kerri offered, stepping past Viv to reach into her top drawer and pull out her purse. "And its no problem walking Tasha home, has she got new clothes?"
"Yeah, she's wearing some of Ruby's old jeans and a baggy tee-shirt of Luke's, how come you have enough money to buy two formal dresses and clothes for Spencer." Viv asked
"my dad used to pay tuition costs at Acorn Falls, but I was a free student so the money would get transferred into my account and over the years he bought me things I didn't want, like new cars and furniture so I'd sell them, and he's always paid me an allowance on top of that."
"So you just saved all the money instead of spending it"
"Pretty much I'd spend the allowance but leave the rest, I didn't need it, but down the line I know I will. Can I get dressed yet?" Kerri asked motioning to the short nightie she was still wearing.
As Tasha closed the door, Kerri and Caitlyn relaxed again and headed for the few shops that sold clothes in town.
"We could always order something from the net,"
"We could if we knew when the formal is, and I still had my internet access" laughed Kerri
"Okay so manual shopping, I haven't done it in ages," Caitlyn laughed, "ooh we could try on everything and annoy the staff, leave things in the changing rooms and generally bug people"
"Oh wow and deliberately not put things on the hangars properly. Then we could go to the diner for something to eat and show Sophia what we got." Laughed Kerri as the entered a small shop.
"Can I help you ladies?" asked the male attendant
"No thank you "giggled Kerri, enjoying his thoughts
"You're doing in again aren't you?" Caitlyn accused in a sing song voice
"Doing what?" Kerri giggled, fluttering her heavy eye lashes
"Ooh you are!" Caitlyn giggled tickling Kerri at her neck "share! Go on share"
"Nope I'm not gonna share, come on lets get some clothes for Spencer and Jamie first. Since this seems to be a mans store"
Winking at the attendant as they left, Caitlyn and Kerri burst out laughing as soon as they got outside and into the street.
"OMG are you serious? …. Kerri were you serious …. Is that what he was thinking" Caitlyn managed to get out in-between fits of laughter.
"Yup, he was thinking about buying that glittery thong to surprise his boyfriend. That why I had to buy it too," laughed Kerri twirling the thong around on her fingers.
Collapsing to her knees Caitlyn hugged her side. "This hurts! Help me stop laughing; I've got a stitch, oww!" Caitlyn giggled, tears in her eyes.
"Here" Kerri strangled out while projecting an image into Caitlyn's mind of the poor male attendant in the thong.
"Oooh you're an evil witch you are," Caitlyn sighed trying to gain control of her laughing, "but one I've missed, we'd better get some things for ourselves before the shops shut"
"Okay but don't you dare try paying Caitlyn, this is my treat." Kerri warned wagging her finger at Caitlyn,
"Yes boss" saluted Caitlyn, starting to laugh again.
The diner was quiet today most people getting food to take out for picnics, taking advantage of the warm May weather, smiling across to where Luke was playing pool with Sean. Sophia smiled and shook her head at Presley and Randy glaring at each other from opposite sides of the booth.
Everyone in the diner knew what was up with them, but they also knew to stay well clear, it was something they did. Randy would get pissed at Presley for pretending to fawn over Luke, but Presley only did it because Randy showed her no affection in public.
Turning to serve the customer to her left Sophia caught sight of Kerri and Caitlyn in the street with their shopping, heading into the only shop in town that sold formal dresses.
"Soph, you with us today?" asked Kitt serving the customer for her,
"Huh what, sorry Kitt"
"Its okay, head off early if you want. Its quiet enough today" Kitt offered
"Are you sure Kitt?"
"Yeah go on. Take that hunk of yours and go do something fun, I don't know why you even keep this job, its not like you need the money is it Hun,"
"I like to work usually but I can see Kerri and Caitlyn shopping…"
"And it looks like more fun than cleaning tables" laughed Kitt
"Something like that"
"Then go!"
"Thanks" Sophia replied hugging Kitt,
"See you at howl" Kitt smiled. Before giving Sophia a playful kick up the arse.
"If you girls are looking for dresses for the formal, there's not many left, most girls bought them a while ago to have them fitted."
"When is the formal?"
"Friday. Did you not know?" asked the shocked girl behind the till
"We're kinda new" Caitlyn mumbled
"Don't worry about getting them fitted, I'll alter them at home Caitlyn. Do the guys have to wear a tux?"
"No just a suit, or shirt and trousers, it's not fair but that's the way it is," Sophia explained as she walked into the shop,
"Well we got those covered, we need dresses for the formal then some clothes for Caitlyn and if I see something I like I'll get it" Kerri said, excitedly heading to the rack of dresses in a deep blue.
"Oh wow Kerri, its beautiful" Caitlyn purred as Kerri held a deep blue dress against her.
"Its gorgeous" Sophia agreed, "try it on"
Stepping out of the dressing room and looking into the full length mirror Caitlyn was amazed, the fine boned corset built into her dress enhanced her breast and flattered her waist and hips. And the long flowing skirt just skimmed the floor making her look taller than she already was.
"It's amazing but have you seen the price," Sophia warned showing her the 250 price tag.
"Fuck the price it looks amazing on you Caitlyn, so I'm getting it for you!" Kerri squealed
"Your turn Kerri, have you picked one yet?" Sophia asked
"Yup," Kerri laughed showing them the 3 dresses she had picked out, "I can't decide so I might get all three,"
"Chinese, all three, might have guessed" laughed Caitlyn "go try them on, but knowing you they'll all look amazing"
After trying on each of the three dresses Kerri had decided she liked the black with red embroidery best, the red with white came a close second and the white with pale blue pattern was beautiful but a difficult shade to keep clean.
"What kind of dress have you got Soph?" Kerri asked as she walked up to the counter.
"It's a dusky pink one like Caitlyn's with a small train"
"You'll have to show us when we get in. are we going up to howl tonight?" Kerri asked while she paid the 1000 bill using her card without caring.
"Yeah so we'd better get a move on." Replied Sophia fairly shocked at Kerri's lack of response at the bill.
"You'll get used to Kerri's way with money after a while, she doesn't waste it though Sophia, 100 dollars a month go to various charities across the world and she regularly used to do random charity work like work in hostels, her mom taught her to respect money and to value it, and to use it for good. She only occasionally has blow outs like this"
Collapsing on the couch Kerri was exhausted, she had spent nearly 3000 in a short space of time, but she would spend another 1500 before the weekend was over by giving it to charity, her way of validating blowing as much money was to give half of it again to a needy cause.
"Had a good day?" Viv asked sitting on the small chair near the fire place.
"Yeah, I got quite a few things for me and Caitlyn and some other bits and pieces, I got some things for Sophia and Luke as well as new clothes for Jamie and Spencer, and I got you these for putting up with me," sighed Kerri reaching into her messenger bag to retrieve a small box,
"Kerri you shouldn't of" sighed Viv as she opened the box and saw a small delicate ring of white gold with white and rose gold laced through it and small diamonds.
"These are for matt" Kerri said quietly putting a larger box on the coffee table, he's not to open it till I've gone to howl. I'd better go get ready"
Sneaking a peek into the box Viv gasped when she saw the two keys and a Polaroid of a restored ford mustang. Shaking her head Viv sighed as she closed the box and placed it back onto the coffee table.