Pairing: Marcel/Josh (M/M) ruler
Mikaelson Compound
French Quarter, New Orleans
Monday, January 8, 2011
3:07 pm
"Josh, you need to tell me what is up! I've had it. You've been moping around all day and you almost just ran into that wall," Marcel yelled grabbing Josh's arm tightly.
"Oww, Marcel. Sorry...I'm fine. Okay, I really don't want to talk about it," Josh whined like a petulant child.
"I don't care what you want, Joshua. I told you for the last time that you need to tell me what is goin' on so I can help," Marcel said marching Josh into his study and shutting the door with his foot.
Marcel let go of Josh's bicep and grabbed his earlobe and dragged him to the couch.
"Marcel, no! What are you doing? Stop," Josh cried in alarm.
Marcel was 200 years older than Josh and stronger. He sat down on the couch alongside the wall and tossed Josh over his lap. Josh's hands hit the floor, and before he knew it, Marcel was spanking him soundly.
Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!
"Marcel!" Josh squeaked in a high pitched voice,"Nooooooo!"
Marcel gave Josh another strong volley of smacks on both cheeks without speaking before pausing.
Josh was in too much shock to really feel much over the protective layers of his clothing.
Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!
"Josh, you can start talking now or I can take down your pants and get the ruler?" Marcel intoned firmly. He was done playing with Josh. Something was going on and Marcel intended to get to the literal bottom of it.
Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!
Marcel was smacking Josh firmly, but not as hard as he could have. He knew Josh was having a rough time and he was worried about him. The last Marcel really wanted to do was hurt him. But maybe he underestimated how stubborn Josh could be.
"This isn't right! I quit!" Josh yelled.
"Fine, you wanna do this the hard way?" Marcel stood up Josh and vamped him to the desk. He tried not to remember Elijah doing this same thing to him in the same room, but was unsuccessful in suppressing the memory. Was it the same ruler? Marcel picked it up after pushing Josh down over the desk. It was heavy in his hand. They didn't make them like his anymore, was this Elijah's old ruler? It would have been a hundred year's old. Josh was struggling, but Marcel was faster and more deft with quick movements to pin Josh's hands to his back. He undid Josh's trousers with one hand and yanked them down, leaving his boxers up.
"Marcellll...," Josh begged as Marcel held him by clamping down on his hands. He brought down the wooden ruler with a heavy crack.
Whap!
Josh's head shot up in response. The ruler over his underpants lit up a line of fire instantly that he hadn't expected.
Whap! Marcel aimed lower and caught the top of Josh's thighs hard. Marcel then targeted one side, then the next in an effort to make a full sweep of the area. With his hands behind his back, Josh couldn't move much.
"Owwww, damn. Fuck, I don't have to say,-" Josh began.
Whap! Whap! Whap!
"You don't curse am me! Now, you start talking or your drawers are coming down next. Josh, you don't want this ruler on your bare butt!" Marcel warned.
Whap!
Marcel swatted him hard across the center of his behind with some force and felt Josh jump.
"I warned you I wasn't afraid to spank you again if you had it coming, Joshua. I'm your friend, you can trust me. Whatever it is, we will deal with it together," Marcel promised.
Whap! Whap! Two more of the same and Josh had enough.
"Okay, okay. I'll tell you, just stop. It hurts," Josh cried. He was frustrated that he couldn't take more but his backside stung enough and he didn't want more on the bare.
Marcel stopped right away, saying, "Okay, buddy, I'm going let you up. But I want the truth, the whole truth or you're going back over my knee."
"Marcel! I'm not a kid. Hell, you wouldn't even do this to a kid," Marcel complained.
"No, I wouldn't, but I would to a baby vamp. Y'all don't always make the smartest decisions the first few years. Most don't survive, Josh. Pull you pants up and let's talk," Marcel said making a point to set the ruler on the desk, not back in the cup. Josh glared at it.
"It stings! I know, believe me, Josh, I know," Marcel grinned.
"Your dad?" Josh asked buttoning his pants, trying to regain some dignity.
"My uncle, and believe me, I never got to keep my trousers up for long. Now talk," Marcel ordered.
"So I go to the Bayou yesterday. The wolf elder, Mary, confronts me about the party, your party. She heard about it and was angry the werewolves were excluded. I told her I'd talk to you. Blah, blah, blah. You know she's pretty salty," Josh started.
"Yeah, damn. I don't know how they found out. I'll try to to smooth that over. You did warn me, Josh. See, buddy, that's why I need you as my right hand? So what's the problem? Did she threaten you?" Marcel pressed.
"No, she moved on from that pretty quickly. I thought she was done. I start to go in to see Aiden. And then she talks talking about how I can't keep him safe and that...," Josh began to struggle not to cry. He put his hand to his face.
"What? Josh, buddy, what did she say? It's okay," Marcel said handing him a handkerchief.
"She said if I really loved him, I'd know what to do. She said there was no where safe for him in the city. And I left Marcel. I knew he was waiting for me all day...I left him. But I can't lose him, Marcel. He's the best thing that ever happened to me. He can't leave the Bayou because of his brother and his pack, but he doesn't belong there," Josh argued.
"Where does he belong, Josh?" Marcel asked quietly. This was worse than Marcel thought. Love between a witch and a vampire was frowned up, but love between a werewolf and a vampire was unheard of.
"With me," Josh uttered, "You needs to be with me."
"Then, make that happen, Josh. Don't let Mary keep you away. There is no damn safety unless we made things safer. She's just worried. If the alliances with the factions hold, the wolves have never been safer. Josh, you go back out there and see your boyfriend. Make it up to him," Marcel ordered.
"Really? What if...? Never mind. You're right. I can't really stay away. Anyway, I think we found a way to keep him safe," Josh started. Marcel started to question him further about this. Then, they heard a hard knock at the door.
Diego bust in the room, almost frantic, "Marcel, they need you. There is a lead on the missing vampires. Father Kieran says to get to St. Anne's right away. You, only."
Marcel turned to Josh, "Don't go away. We'll work this out, man." Marcel started to walk out and then turned and hugged Josh. Josh leaned his head on Marcel's shoulder a minutes before he left.
"Thanks," Josh croaked.
Rebekah had just gotten back from picking up Davina at school. Josh followed Marcel out into the center courtyard of the compound. Diego was already gone. Josh was praying he hadn't overheard his punishment. Diego was often cold and jealous toward Josh.
"Marcel, where are you going?" Rebekah asked. Marcel filled them in and left. Rebekah hated to see him go, as she always did. She held on to his hand as he kissed her goodbye. Davina smiled sweetly as Marcel kissed her on the cheek.
Davina took one look at Josh and motioned upstairs.
"Mom, we're going upstairs, k?" Davina said dragging Josh with her.
"What is it with you people just dragging me all over the damn place!" Josh ranted.
"What happened? Were you crying?" Davina demanded.
"Marcel made me tell him about Mary and Aiden," Josh admitted.
"Tell me you didn't say a word about the moonlight rings!" Davina whispered harshly.
"No, of course not," Josh hissed back.
Davina breathed a sign of relief.
"We need to go tomorrow. The full moon is on the 19th and I have to make sure I have everything for the spell. We'll all have to skip school," Davina reported.
"No way. You let us get the stones. I'm going back to the swamp tonight to make it up to Aiden and we'll figure something out. It's too risky for you to get caught skipping school. You worry about getting the blood from Bonnie, okay?" Josh prompted.
Rebekah came in with some snacks and drinks.
"Davina, get started on that report. I don't want you up all night on the computer again. Josh, why don't we go watch some trashy tv and have a blood cocktail? Leave Davina to her homework," Rebekah said.
Davina smiled, "Okay, Mom. I'll get it done. Thanks."
Rebekah looked at her suspiciously, waiting for her to argue or complain, but it never came. Something was up, Rebekah decided.
Josh glumly followed Rebekah. A part of him had just wanted to confess the whole plot to get moonlight rings to the wolves to Marcel, but he knew Marcel would be furious. Josh wanted Aiden and his friends safe, but was this the best way to ensure that? Josh really didn't know. Josh felt a slight rawness in his rear as the cotton from his boxers rubbed when he walked. Yeah, it was better that he kept his mouth shut. He just wasn't sure how Marcel would react if he got really angry.
Louisiana Bayou
3:30 pm
"Well, folks, no black eyes! Better than you thought?" Mary asked as the kids got off the dusty bus. They quickly came into the house slamming the door on the way in.
"Yes, ma'am," Jackson replied, "It wasn't too bad. I liked some of the classes, I guess."
"Oliver, Aiden, Tommy? What about you?" Mary questioned.
"Good," Aiden and Tommy chorused.
Oliver smiled, "You was right. There were a couple of real pretty ladies there. One talked to me."
Hayley rolled her eyes, "She was the office secretary, you dummy. She had to when she was enrolling you!"
"She still talked to me!" Ollie countered as everyone laughed. Mary was relieved that no one had gotten in a fight or seemed to hate it. Maybe they could have a few years of respite from pack politics and just be regular teens.
Then, they heard a knock and saw Josh on the porch through the glass.
Tommy shouted, "Aiden, it's Josh!" Mary's heart sank. So much for normalcy.
Aiden ran to the door and let him in.
They embraced and Josh whispered his apologies. They went to talked on the porch.
Mary gave the kids something to eat and signed some of their forms and papers.
Haley asked, "Wonder if Marcel will come by tonight?"
"I don't know, child. I hope," Mary said patting her on the head as she put a plate of cookies on the table. Marcel had arranged for paperwork for Haley to be seen as Mary's ward to get her into high school under the name Haley Kenner. She was still listed as a runaway from the foster system.
"Wow! Chocolate chip, Grandma?" Jackson asked in surprise.
"Just like you like 'em, Jack," Mary replied.
Oliver two in each hand until Haley smacked his hand. Tommy laughed to see the slim, brunette teen put Oliver in his place once again.
"Manners, Ollie!" Haley reminded him.
"You're as bad as her," Ollie whined stuffing a cookie in his mouth.
"Save some for Aiden!" Mary growled lightly looking out to the porch. She had tried. The vampire wasn't so easily scared off. It wouldn't be an easy path for them, but maybe it was meant to be?
"Okay, if y'all have any school work, I want it done now. I won't be fussing at you tonight. Get it out, Oliver. I see you brung home some books," Mary revealed.
"Ugh! I can just do it later. I already had to set them all damn day!" Oliver exploded. Tommy got up to go to the bathroom. He hated it when Oliver threw a fit.
"Oliver, let's get that there math done and then we'll go on the porch and do the reading, okay?" Jackson suggested.
"I can help you with the geography. I had that last year at my old school," Hayley offered.
"Don't y'all have nothing to do?" Oliver pressed.
"We both have a study hall at the end of the day," Jackson smiled. They had sat together, but spent the entire time writing notes back and forth on a piece of paper.
"Alright then," Oliver said heavily opening the book. "After this, can Tommy and I go check the traps?"
"Yes, Oliver. After your work is done. Schooling has to come first now," Mary reiterated.
Mary nodded her thanks to the two. They had at least saved her an argument with Ollie. Haley and Jackson were inseparable. She could tell that they were growing closer each day.
Out on the porch, Josh apologized profusely for the day below. He blamed it on work and said nothing about Mary's words.
"It's okay, Josh. I know how important you are to Marcel," Aiden insisted.
"Yeah, when he needed something," Josh smiled.
"So any update with Davina and the rings?" Aiden whispered cautiously. Mary also couldn't know of this plan until they could could prove what a good idea it was and having the rings in place.
"She needs us to get the stones tomorrow at that burial ground. I'm afraid you'll have to skip school," Josh cringed.
"No problem. But Tommy can't lie and be deceptive. Is there anyway we can leave him out of this? He's a good kid and he's never been in any kind of trouble. I'm afraid he won't be able to handle the lying and all that," Aiden admitted.
"No, I think that's probably better because he wouldn't even fit in the car," Josh smiled.
Aiden and Josh talked about a plan for getting the stones and eventually Haley, Jackson, and Ollie came out. Aiden went in to get a drink.
Haley pressed Josh, "Did Marcel mention coming out to talk to me?"
Josh shrugged, "I'm so sorry. There are two missing vampires that they think were kidnapped by siphons. He's been freaking out over that. Believe me, you don't want to get on the man's bad side this week. He hasn't forgotten."
Haley smiled, "Thanks for filing me in. So what's the plan?"
Josh told them where he would pick them up the next day.
Tuesday, January 9, 2011
3:22 pm
Twenty-four hours later, Josh, Jack, Haley, Ollie, and Aiden stumbled out of Josh's small compact car.
"I never thought we'd make it," Haley breathed laughing.
"Me, either," Jackson said picking her up.
"But we did! We got them. Hot damn. The stones are ours," Oliver grinned.
Aiden winced, "All we had to do was unsuccessfully rob three graves and then have Josh compel an ancient native American man...Y'all realize how much bad karma we racked up?"
Josh agreed, "It's a lot. But we got the black kyanite stones! Now, you guys better get your backpacks and act like you had a rough day at school. You remembered to call yourselves off school right?"
"Jack did it," Haley said as Jack said, "Haley did it."
"I thought you were gonna," Jack said slowly.
Haley gasped, "Oh my god, I started to and then I got distracted. Shit!"
Ollie was unperturbed, "Don't worry about it. The school didn't say nothing, we've only been there one damn day."
Josh took the stones, hugged Aiden and said he was going to meet Davina.
The bus came and dropped off Tommy. He looked pale.
"What's wrong, Tommy?" Aiden asked.
"I'm sorry, guys. They was looking for you. I don't know how they found out, but I think they called Mary," Tommy cringed.
Together, they all walked the short distance to the house in silence.
Mary was there waiting for them.
"Well, howdy, now who is gonna explain where the hell y'all were all damn day?" Mary thundered.
No one said a word.
St. Anne's Church
4:45 pm
"Sorry, I'm late, Father. Rebekah wasn't happy that I was going to miss dinner a second night in a row," Marcel admitted.
"Hopefully, we'll find them tonight, Marcel. The witches are upstairs and they are ready to help with the locator spell," Father Kieran admitted.
Father Kieran hated using the dark objects, but sometimes he felt like he had no choice.
Marcel picked up the metal bowl, it looked slightly familiar.
"What is this again?" Marcel asked.
"It's the the blood rider, a Tibetan singing bowl spelled to amplify the body-soul connection between the lost and a witch. If this doesn't work to find your vampires, nothing will," Father Kieran said.
"Hello, Mr. Gerald," a lovely witch with copper skin and bright eyes said coming near the altar.
"Hello, Theodora. Thanks for helping us with this," Marcel replied politely.
"I'm not sure I can help but I will try," Theodora intoned.
She did the tracking spell looking for the two lost vampires. What they were really looking for were the siphons who emerged from the prison world. The vampires were most likely long dead.
As the witch sliced open her own palm and let blood drip into a chalice, she poured it out over a map of the United States. Theodora shut her eyes and chanted, "Phasmatos Tribum Nas Ex Veras, Sequita Saguines, Ementas Asten Mihan Ega Petous."
Marcel and Father Kieran watched as the blood traveled north to Mystic Falls, Virginia.
"Of course," Marcel spat.
Father Kieran wasn't happy either. Sean watched from the shadows.
"What's happening?" Sean asked stepping into the room.
"The siphon coven is in Mystic Falls as we feared," Father Kieran frowned.
"Is Cami safe?" Sean asked.
"My dad won't let any harm come to her," Marcel promised.
"It's always going to be something, though, isn't it? Some enemy, some issue, I just want her to be safe," Sean complained.
Father Kieran turned to him, "That's life, Sean. Trust in God. You can't lose faith just because it gets difficult. Thanks, Theodora. I'll clean up here."
"I guess I better call Mystic Falls. Then, I need to head to the Bayou," Marcel said tiredly.
Louisiana Bayou
6pm
Mary had sent all the kids except Tommy to their rooms.
"Oh Tommy, darling, you just watch tv out here. Don't be upset. I ain't going to do anything tonight. I'm mad as a mule chewing on bumblebees, but you know even when I wanna kill them, I love them," Mary said putting her arm around the upset boy.
"It's okay, Grandma. I'll go check the traps," Tommy said getting up slowly. Mary walked the boy get his boots and walk out of the house.
"Y'all come out here. I wanna have a talk with you," Mary hollered.
Jackson came out first, then Aiden, and Haley.
"Oliver, don't make me come get you," Mary shouted louder.
Oliver finally dragged himself in the living room. He couldn't stop himself but looking for the strap which he was about 100% sure they were all going to get a taste of.
"Sit down," Mary said in a rough, but not unkind voice. Hayley, Jackson, and Aiden squeezed into the old, worn plaid couch. Oliver sat on the arm chair next to it.
"They called me to ask where y'all was today. What the hell was I supposed to say? You put Tommy in a terrible position. That poor child was worried sick. It was your second damn day of school and y'all thought it was a good idea to skip? Tell you tell me where you were, right now," Mary demanded.
Jackson balked, "Grandma, I ain't never lied to you and I don't want to start now. Please, can you trust us to say we wasn't fooling around. We were doing something to help wolves become safer in these parts."
"Jackson Kenner, I ain't going to ask you nicely again. What the hell was you kids up to? Tell me, boy," Mary growled.
Jackson paled at Mary's tone. He couldn't bring himself to lie to her.
Aiden wiped his sweaty palms on his thighs.
"This is all my fault, Grandma. She's gonna find out sooner or later, anyhow. What's done is done," Aiden attested nervously.
"Aiden,..." Hayley said softly.
"It's okay, Hayley. Gram, I asked Josh to see if Davina, his witch friend, would make us...moonlight rings. We'd be able to turn anytime if we could attacked by a siphon or vampire," Aiden confessed.
Mary coaxed, "I never heard of such a thing. It ain't the worst idea, unless the vamps and witches found out and took offense, breaking the so-called alliance. Does Mr. Gerald know about this?"
"No," Jackson admitted, "He don't know nothing. Davina can't do the spell until the full moon. She needs hybrid blood and black kyanite gemstones."
"We had to get them gemstones today, from the Natchez Indians in Natchez, Mississippi, about three hours away," Ollie admitted.
"What? Y'all went to Mississippi and back today? How the hell did you manage that?" Mary roared.
"It wasn't easy, but Josh drove. They held the kyanite sacred and buried them with their dead, but we found an elder who, um, sold us some kyanite," Hayley lied.
"Hayley, that is the most foolish thing a child ever tried to get me to believe. They sold you some?" Mary restated skeptically.
"Okay, Josh compelled him. I'm sorry, Mary, but we were desperate," Hayley protested.
Jackson held his breath, he knew Mary promised not to put her hands on Hayley again, but he was still apprehensive.
Mary paced in the small room.
"This could be good for wolves, give us a large advantage, but if the other factions fear us, they might overreact. Did y'all consider that? You know, my generation's time is almost up. We will soon leave the mantle to y'all. I wish it weren't so. All your parents, may they rest in peace, are all gone. It has been left to the old to raise you up right. Maybe I ain't done such a good job, but I thought y'all understood how fragile peace is," Mary remarked.
Aiden paled, "Grandma, that's what we want, peace. We want to be able to live free, as y'all taught us. We don't want to only have power one night a month."
"My sweet, sweet boy, there is a cost to power. If these rings get used, then, the whole house of cards comes down on our heads again. Do you understand that you are all that is left? If they wipe you off the map, the Crescents are gone. The North Atlantic packs will send wolves down here to secure this swamp, but they can't survive here. This is our land," Mary affirmed.
"And don't we have the right to defend it when a witch vamp comes in and kills and attacks our pack?" Oliver asked.
"Yes, we do, Oliver. But to defend is one thing, to counter attack is another. The only way this could work would be if we never went into the city at all. Aiden, do you understand what that would mean?" Mary asked gently.
"No, Grandma, please. You can't mean that," Aiden cried.
"Think about it. If your bite was lethal to vamps all month, do you think they would just let you hang around the city in their fancy houses, bars, and casinos? They wouldn't. Think about it," Mary said.
"Marcel would find out, too. Wouldn't he?" Jackson said bitterly.
"Find out what?" Marcel said from the porch.
Mary grunted.
"Come in, Mr. Gerald. I guess we have a decision to make," Mary reported.
Tuesday, January 9, 2011
8pm
Marcel made a deal with the wolves that if they wore the rings, they had to stay in the Bayou. Words could not express his disappointment in Josh and Davina. He would deal with that later. They still had a coven of Heretic siphon vampires in Mystic Falls and two missing vampires to deal with.
Hayley caught Marcel as he was leaving.
"Yeah, right, about your family," Marcel said.
"That's the whole reason I'm here," Hayley said.
"I was ready to make an alliance with your parents. They were good people.
They wanted peace and a safe future for you. When I didn't hear from them, I came out here myself to check. What I found that day, I wish I could forget," Marcel said pausing to clear his memory.
"They were dead?" Hayley said.
"I'm sorry, Hayley. Yes, it was bad. They hid you in a secret closet and covered you with a blanket. My vampire hearing heard your cries. I took you and gave you to Father Kieran to put up for adoption. I'm so sorry that you ended up in foster care. I really don't know what happened there," Marcel admitted.
"I was an angry wolf kid, Marcel. No one could handle me. I got passed from home to home until I triggered my curse and ended up here. I need to know how killed my parents," Hayley pleaded.
"I know have anyway of knowing for sure. I hate to tell you this, but I always suspected it was another Crescent, anger that your parents 'capitulated' and made peace with me, a vampire. So after I got you to safety, I had the witches curse your pack. I figured as long as they behaved and didn't trigger their curses, the innocent would be fine. But Hayley, almost all of you killed someone so early. It must be a wolf thing that drives you to kill," Marcel mused.
"So you cursed the pack to protect me? You have a pretty shitty way of protecting me. Do you know what foster care is like? If I wouldn't have killed my foster brother, I'd be dead myself," Hayley ranted.
"I'm sorry. I did the best I could. I can see it wasn't good enough. Let me make it up to you. I'm going back to Mystic Falls to help protect my family from those siphon witches. Come with me. Between Freya and Davina, they can figure out a spell to see if we can untangle the night your parents died. You'll be safe there," Marcel vowed.
"But what about Jackson and the wolves here?" Hayley wondered.
"I'll let Davina make the rings. They will be safe. As long as the other factions don't find out and they stay here in the Bayou, they will be safe," Marcel promised.
"Fine. I'll come with you. I need to find out what happened. Then, I need to kill those responsible for my parents' deaths. It's the least I can do," Hayley pointed out.
Marcel nodded, "Okay, we need to go now. Can you say your goodbyes? We won't be gone long. My family has a private jet so I can fly you back anytime."
"Wow, okay. Let me say goodbye," Hayley said nervously. She had never been on a plane or been anywhere. Now, she was leaving with this charming, handsome vampire, the King of New Orleans. She somehow trusted him. He had apparently saved her once.
Before going back into the house to say goodbye, she turned.
"Um, Marcel, I don't know if I said this, but thank you. My life up until now might have sucked, but coming back here and meeting my pack, has made it worth it. Those bad times made me stronger, so don't have any regrets, okay?" Hayley said shyly. She meant it.
Marcel smiled and nodded.
Hayley went in the living room. She looked at Jackson and felt like she couldn't do this. Jackson got up as soon as she came in. He looked so handsome in his blue and white plaid shirt. His brown hair was longer and his beard had grown in some.
"I'm so sorry, Jack. Marcel is going to take me to Virginia to meet with his sister about my family. I won't be gone that long," Hayley said melting into his arms.
"You do what you gotta do. We'll get the rings and lay low. I love you," Jackson whispered in her ear.
Hayley wept a moment, "I love you, too. Be safe."
Hayley hugged Mary, kissed Aiden and Tommy, and then hugged Oliver tightly.
"I love y'all. I'll bring ya back a Virginia ham or something," Hayley laughed.
Mary smiled, "Just get back here safe. And I hope you find the answers you are looking for."
Without another word, Hayley was gone.
Mary let Aiden call Josh and give him a head's up about their talk with Marcel. Josh was freaking and needed to call Davina. Aiden reassured them that Marcel seemed very calm about the whole thing. Josh was not convinced.
Mary let Jackson and Ollie sit on the porch talking until 9 or so.
"Okay, boys, come in now and get ready for bed," Mary called.
Ollie started, "You mean, get ready, get ready? Or actually get ready to go to sleep?"
"Oliver, I understand y'all had good intentions. I don't approve of what you did to get the stones at all so the three of you can consider yourselves on restriction for a week for that. As for the missing school, well, I reckon, the school will deal with you tomorrow," Mary reported.
"Deal? Grandma, we don't have to sit in suspension all day do we? In that room? I can't do that," Oliver whined.
"Oh no, I told them to go ahead and give y'all the paddle. It was either that or three days out of school suspension. You go to the office first thing in the morning. No jeans either, you wear those slacks I got you, you hear me, boy?" Mary said sternly.
"Yes, ma'am," Oliver said getting up off of the porch. Jackson was still sitting there as Mary went back in the house.
"Jack, are you out of it? Come on, so she ain't gonna switch us herself, but we're getting the board at school tomorrow. Great," Oliver grimaced.
Jackson snapped out of his stupor, "What's the big deal, Ollie? We got it before when we weren't even triggered. At least we'll heal now."
Everything aside from the absence of Hayley seemed inconsequential to Jackson now, he didn't care what happened to him. They trudged inside and get their night clothes on. Aiden came in their bedroom.
"Josh is terrified Marcel is going to kill him," Aiden blurted out.
"He might," Jackson replied.
Aiden looked at Ollie, who just shrugged.
"You okay, Jackson?" Aiden asked quietly.
"Not really. What if she don't come back?" Jackson asked glumly.
"Hayley? Of course, she will. Why wouldn't she?" Aiden asked with a smile to reassure his friend.
"Thanks, Aiden. I guess you were smart to keep Tommy home today. Grandma said we're getting the paddle at school tomorrow instead of suspension," Jackson informed him.
"Paddle? Really, oh, jeez, can't we just get suspended? I heard kids talking about getting their asses busted yesterday by some coach, but I didn't think...," Aiden said worriedly.
"It's no big thing, Aiden. Just a couple of licks, I'm sure," Oliver reassured him.
"That's the thing, I never got any. I mean never, aside from that time Grandma smacked all of us when we were coming in the house late and that made me cry," Aiden fretted.
Even Jackson put down the pants he was getting out of the drawer.
"How is this possible, Aiden? Ollie and I have been whacked plenty of times at home, by neighbors, by Gram, at school, hell, we even got walloped that one time at Martha Mae's funeral...I don't understand," Jackson pressed.
"I guess I just never misbehaved that badly, or got caught? Guys, what am I gonna do?" Aiden panicked.
Ollie thought, "I got it. Triple your underwear. Grandma said we can't wear jeans, but ain't no one gonna know what's under, right? Maybe go four pairs. It will totally work."
Aiden nodded, "Yeah, that might work. Thanks. Jack, hang in there. Night."
"Night," they repeated.
Ollie looked at Jackson, "He's full of shit, right?"
Jackson shrugged, "It could be true. But I mean, that shit ends tomorrow when that board meets his butt."
"Damn, he's gonna piss himself. Maybe we can get Josh to compel them to forget swatting him. I'm kind of worried," Oliver suggestion.
"We don't have no time for that. Like you said, ain't no thing. He'll live...sore until he heals. I just can't believe she left so quickly. Hardly looked back," Jackson moaned.
"That ain't true," Oliver swore, "I'm tired. Night, Jack."
"You, too, Ollie, good night," Jackson yawned.