A/N: Also what you read and find out in this chapter, you may be like "why?" – but I have plans for all this so do not worry…things and drama is to come, I have it all worked out so don't freak over it. Yeah it's not usual and isn't common that they'd both be at the same time again…but it does happen – just not often. But before you fret, just continue to read because some things are going to happen!
Life was hectic as usual in both the Atwood and Cohen household. Summer's mood was sporadic making everyone choose his or her words carefully in order to avoid an emotional fit that she had been so good at lately. Ryan and Marissa were off and on with fights as well; this pregnancy seemed to be the worst with the hormones not to mention the stress that their other two girls caused them. Summer was still oblivious to the fact that maybe she was pregnant; she hadn't taken a pregnancy test yet, though after numerous hints from her husband she ended up taking one. The results were positive and the two rejoiced in the fact they were going to have another baby, their joy soon ended when their attention turned to Caitlin and the boys arguing downstairs.
The morning started off when Summer woke up from morning sickness and emptied yesterday's meal into the toilet, she washed her mouth out with some water from their bathroom sink and then returned back to Summer and Seth's bedroom. Seth groggily turned onto his side looking at the clock and offered some assistance.
"I have to get the kids up. Don't you need to get ready for work?" She grabbed the end of her hair and moved it all onto one side of her shoulder, then fanned her face with her hands.
"Yep, I'm up…. I'm up." His hair was messy and he still was half asleep but managed to get out of bed and stumble into the shower. Summer sighed and placed her hand over her mouth, the morning sickness was still present. They've been waiting for the right time to tell the kids and for now they told them she was sick with the flu. Summer walked into the twins' room turning on the main light and was surprised at the fact that both were wide awake and playing on the floor with their toy trucks.
"This is mine! You can't come onto this part." Brady scolded his brother picking up Zachary's truck and throwing it across the room.
"Hey! Fine, then don't come onto my part!" Zachary stood up, angry and began to play with his truck that he collected from across the room somewhere else.
"That's enough, boys. It's time to get dressed and then go eat breakfast. Zack, come here buddy." Summer walked over to their dresser and grabbed some khaki pants and a short sleeved, collared shirt and tossed it onto the bed.
"I don't wanna wear that." Zack said complaining as he took off his pajama shirt and tossed it on the ground next.
"Not in the mood sweetie. And what's wrong with this anyways?" Summer sat down next to him and helped him put on his shirt.
"I don't know, I look stupid plus Jenna –" He stopped in mid sentence scrunching up his face like he was angry he even said anything.
"Jenna? Who's Jenna? " Summer quirked a smile seeing that it was a touchy subject.
"Jenna's Zack's girlfriend." Brady said laughing and puckered up his lips making kissing sounds. For five year olds they definitely knew more then they needed to - primarily thanks to Caitlin.
"Girlfriend? Zack you have a little crush? Aw, that's so cute." Zack finished dressing himself and shooting angry looks towards Summer while he did. He obviously was embarrassed but it didn't help that Brady kept rubbing it in.
"Shut up!" He screamed flinging his arms towards his brother, but he was too far away to hit him. Brady continued to make kissing sounds and Zack rushed over to him knocking him onto the ground and the two began roughhousing.
"Cut it out you two!" Summer yelled hurrying to their sides pulling Brady up into the air and off of his brother. "That's enough, there is no need for this. Zachary, downstairs now – I'll be down in a minute." She watched him carefully and her nerves at their ends, she was getting extremely angry that he wasn't listening. "Now." He left the room still heated from their argument while Brady continued to laugh. "Knock it off Brady. You wouldn't like it if we teased you like that." Summer sat him on his bed picking out a similar outfit though Brady's shirt was gray – they hated being dressed in 'twin' outfits. Summer helped him dress but the morning sickness seemed to come back and Summer quickly covered her mouth hovering over as though she was going to throw up.
"Mommy? Are you okay?" Brady asked pulling on his gray shirt by himself. Summer nodded her head and took a few deep breaths. "Is it that flu bug? I hope I don't get it and that it goes away soon."
"I know sweetie, don't worry – mommy's fine. Just go downstairs with your brother and I'll be down after I wake Cait up." She watched her son leave the room and sat down on the bed sighing and mumbling to herself. "I hope this goes away soon too." She rubbed the side of her face, flustered, but calmed down a bit when Seth came to her side.
"Are you alright?" He asked from outside their door, unsure if Summer needed help or not, he decided to pay her a visit. He was dressed in a white button down shirt, black pants and a tie with black and gray boxes covering the fabric. He was finishing tying his tie but heard Summer from down the hall.
"Yeah, I'm just feeling nauseous. I'm fine now." She stood up placing her hand on Seth's chest giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Well with the kids in school it should give you some time to rest. I could call my parents and have them watch the kids tonight; I doubt that my mom would have a problem making dinner. She has been going to cooking classes and is a lot better now so –"
"No, no. I'm fine. I really don't want anyone to know yet. But anyways, the boys are downstairs if you could go give them their cereal I have to go wake our oldest." They kissed once more and after Summer left the room, she poked her head into the door frame to remind Seth of something. "And if I'm not out in ten minutes, call 911." He laughed and Summer gave him one last kiss before she left to wake up Caitlin. When Seth finished buttoning up his shirt, he walked downstairs into the kitchen to feed the boys.
Summer knocked on her daughter's door, opening it slightly. "Caitlin? Caitlin – it's time to wake up." The room was pitch black and on the bed was a visible lump underneath Caitlin's blankets where her sleepy body lay. "Caitlin, it's time to go to school." She pulled the blankets off the bed while Caitlin continued to lie there unaware of anything. Summer sighed definitely not in the mood for this. She turned on the bright lights, which did the trick and Caitlin's eyes tightened up as she yelled at her mother for doing that. "If you're not out of this bed by the count of three I'll add another week to your punishment." She was treating her fifteen year old as though she was five, using a punishment technique that she used on the boys. "1…" She began to count. Caitlin didn't move. "2…." Again, no movement and when three came around there was still no movement. "Okay that's it. I've had it. One more week to your punishment and if you're not up right this instance I'll add more."
"I'm up, I'm up." Her words similar to that of her husbands this morning, her voice groggy and her hair similarly messy.
"Now Caitlin." Summer's hands were upon her hips and she wasn't going to move until she knew her daughter was actually up and not just saying she was.
"I'm up mom, now leave." She rubbed her eyes and sat up in bed giving her mom enough evidence that it was okay to leave the room and right when Summer did, Caitlin turned off the lights and went right back to bed.
This whole ordeal took a good forty-five minutes to complete, waking up, throwing up, getting their twins ready and then waking up their daughter. How was it going to be with a screaming newborn? She could only imagine. Still dressed in her pajamas and a shirt of Seth's, she joined part of her family downstairs in the kitchen.
"That was almost ten minutes, I was starting to get worried." Seth said sipping on his coffee. He was pouring more cereal into the boys personalized bowls and then topped it off with more milk then stepped back to let them eat.
"Yeah well I came out alive, but it did cost her another week to her punishment."
"Surprise, surprise. So are you just going to hang out at the house all day? Have any plans? Oh – I'll be able to pick the boys up from school if you need me to." Seth sat down next to his sons continuing to sip on his coffee and spread the newspaper out on the table to read.
"I'll call Marissa and see if she wants to go catch a movie or something. By the way, Mrs. Anderson is taking the boys on a play-date after school so they wont be home until later tonight. And my boys will be good and behave wont they?" Summer asked sticking her head between her sons and giving them kisses on the cheeks.
"Mrs. Anderson…. Mrs. Anderson? He said trying to remember who that was.
"Conner's mom. You know the little boy that's been over here a couple of times. Brown curly hair? Remember?"
"Oh yeah, the little kid who said I act like his two year old brother. Great, good influence on the boys."
"Seth, Zack and Brady have a friend. Do you want them to have no social interactions so when they get older they stay at home all day, never go out and be – " Summer kept rambling on until Seth cut her off.
"Like me? No, no… I wouldn't want them to be like their father. Not to mention that when I was their age I had lots of friends, it was just back in high school where all the stuck up ass-, I mean jerks outcast you just because I read comic books. I wasn't into the party scene or doing drugs and drinking…. sorry to all those people who wanted to screw their lives up because they had nothing going for them…but no, I had a lot going for me until you found out that you – "
"Seth. Not now, please. Where is Caitlin? I woke her up fifteen minutes ago and her bus is going to be here soon. Caitlin!" Summer screamed from the kitchen. The boys giggled as they began an eating contest, seeing who can stuff the most in their mouth – Brady was clearly winning from his squirrel-like appearance.
"Boys, eat normal." Seth skimmed the newspaper until he got caught up in an article of interest.
"I'm here, I'm here – stop your yelling, please." Caitlin came downstairs, fully dressed in her usual attire – a big baggy sweatshirt and blue jeans. It could be one hundred degrees out and she would still wear that, her and Brittany had similar taste in clothing and though they were cousins, they acted like twins.
"Thank god - she's alive…. good thing too because if we had to come look for you we wouldn't know where to look because your room is a miserable pit." Seth looked up from reading to look at his daughter who was stuffing her hand into a cereal box and pulling out a handful of fruit loops.
"Nice to see you this morning, too." She said sarcastically. Nothing like being complained to early in the morning.
"But there's a brighter side to that because since you're grounded for the week you can use that time to be productive. Maybe doing something out of the ordinary, say clean your room? Hmm?" He said with an open smile knowing she wouldn't go for it, but he was using his parental authorities where it was one of those times that it was a done deal.
"Grounded? For what now?" She lifted her hand and released some cereal into her mouth. When Summer told her she was grounded though, she acted as like she was just informed.
"Well, you've been grounded for the past week due to your grades and then you're grounded for another week because you refused to listen to me this morning." Summer said nibbling on a piece of a bagel.
"What? I knew I was grounded the past week but I don't know what you're talking about with this newest punishment. C'mon…I get off my grounding today – I'm sorry for, um…. for whatever I did but please? Please?" She said begging them to take off this newest punishment. Caitlin knew if she was the twins' age this would work, but her parents were so much more strict with her then them.
"No, you're grounded. And I love how you think you can control us with your smooth talk. That," she turned to look at Seth, "you get from your father." Seth raised his glass to that and smiled, not really listening to what she was saying but became interested when he was mentioned.
"At least I contributed to our children in some way."
"But you're grounded. I came to wake you up for school, like I do every morning, and like every morning you resisted. After I gave you three chances to get up you continued to not listen and so now you're punished. Get this through your head kid that we are the parents. Us, okay?" She said pointing to herself as though Caitlin didn't know it already. "We call the shots and kids who don't listen to their parents get punished and you my friend, need to learn that we are the bosses around here and what we say goes. No smooth talk is going to change this so when you're done with school – it's straight home, got it?" Summer looked at Seth who was ironically quiet especially since he's the one who usually does the arguing and punishment part while Summer's usually the one who just stands there and nods her head.
"Fine, whatever. I don't care anymore…this house blows anyways." Caitlin took a bite of her Rice Krispy's treat - a very nutritious breakfast.
"Do you want me to add another week to it? You also need to learn to stop making those sarcastic comments – again, thanks Seth."
"How about since you're on it, why don't you add another flaw I contributed to the kids, okay? Smooth talking and sarcastic comments – which aren't bad things, but please tell me what other defects have I passed on?" He was sick of hearing how it was his fault the kids had their bad side and wasn't sure if this was Summer talking or the hormones talking but whatever it was, he was sick of it.
"You two don't want to hear it then fine I'll – " She stopped in mid sentence, covering her mouth with her hand she ran into the nearest bathroom to succumb to the wonderful affects of morning sickness.
"She's been sick for like two weeks now." Caitlin said curiously, jumping up on the counter just staring into the room that Summer went into.
"Uh-huh." Seth said taking another sip of his coffee and straightening out the newspaper. He was trying to avoid what his daughter was hinting at because he knew she was on the verge of figuring it out.
"And she's been moody, and obviously nauseous. And I don't think the flu normally last this long so…"
"So? What are you hinting at now Cait?" He said wearily staring up at his daughter.
"Oh nothing, nothing…. but she's not, you know?" She raised her eyebrows like he should know what she's hinting about.
"She's not…. what?" He shook his head, trying to act like he had no idea what she was saying because he didn't want to confirm her suspicions.
"You know. C'mon dad, you two didn't? You not having another one of these, right?" His daughter asked pointing to the twins who were sticking dry cereal up their noses.
"Boys!" He yelled and ran over to their side to help them get the cereal out of their noses. They thought it was all a joke and tried it again but was rebuked by Seth. "And getting back to your question, no…we're not having – you know what, nevermind. Don't you have to go to school? And Caitlin, why don't you start a new trend, um…maybe called going a day without getting kicked out of class? Try it – it's fun."
Caitlin stood up and threw the wrapper in the trash giving her father a dirty look. "Yeah and I got one for you. Why don't you and mom try something new too, called contraception. It's fun and you two should try it." She gave him a cynical smile and grabbed her book bag that was up against the wall.
"The stuff I hear from you. Where did you learn this?" Seth asked putting his dish and the twins' dishes in the sink.
"It's called school, you know the place I've been going since I was six – and to be exact it was in health class. You know the newest rave is teen pregnancies and just about everyone is doing it. So in high school all we hear about are STD's, teen pregnancies and drugs - the greatest topics in the world. And you and mom know all about that stuff… or teen pregnancies I should say."
"Will you stop it, your mother's not. She isn't – "
"I'm not what?" Summer asked returning into the kitchen picking up Brady from the chair.
"Nothing, nothing. Go to school." Caitlin gathered all her stuff and exited their California home walking a few feet from their door to the bus stop.
Seth was holding Zack in his arms, and Summer picked up Brady. Seth grabbed some papers on the counter-top putting and put it into his briefcase for school. "The kids are onto us." Seth said putting Zack onto the ground.
"Onto us? The boys?" She asked curiously.
"No, the big one. She's putting the pieces together, damn those health classes teaching them stuff. She goes to school for nine years and decides to only listen in health class."
"Well what did you tell her?"
"I said you weren't, but I think she knows we're lying. Kids are especially good at knowing when their parents are lying – or at least Caitlin is very good at knowing. " Seth repositioned Zack in his arms and rocked back and forth, but when Summer told the boys to get their stuff, Seth put him down.
"Who's onto you?" Brady asked running back into the kitchen catching the tail end of the conversation. They were all ready to go with their jackets on their backpacks by the door.
"No one sweetheart, but you two are going to be late for school. You sure you don't mind taking them?" Summer asked her husband, and when she noticed his tie was a little crooked she lended her hand to fix it.
"It's on the way, but we better get going or I'll be late. I love you." Seth leaned in giving Summer a kiss.
"And I love you…. and I love my little munchkins. You two be good in school, behave, and behave over Conner's house okay?" She pulled the boys towards her, they were playfully trying to escape but after Summer planted three kisses on the twins' cheeks they were parted by Seth who sarcastically asked where his was. She giggled and helped Seth gather the troops into their car and waved a farewell as he pulled out of the driveway. Summer was exhausted and decided she would catch up on some shuteye and then do a little cleaning.
Caitlin arrived at school and was currently at her locker stuffing her bag with books and saying hi to her friends who passed her in the hall.
"Hey cous – how goes it?" Brittany asked leaning against the locker next to Caitlin's.
"I've had better days but I can't complain yet, it's only eight. We still have six hours left to go and let's see how much damage we can cause today." Caitlin said laughing.
"I'd love to but I can't, grounded yet again and this time I don't even know why. I swear it's because my mom's crazy. These damn pregnancy hormones. It's like my parents do something that we have no say in, not that I'd want any, but it's like me and Kiley have to suffer because of what they did. Can always count on those parents to make your life easy, right?"
"Yeah well my life sucks too, so I guess we're even. Want to hang out sometime next weekend?" Caitlin asked shutting her locker.
"Sure if I'm not grounded again. Lucky you, you get the taste of freedom…no more punishment. Don't you get off punishment today?" Brittany readjusted her bag onto her shoulder because it was sliding due to the large amount of weight the books and notebooks cause.
"I wish, but this morning they added more because I apparently didn't get out of bed quick enough for mommy-dearest. But I don't care, they hate when I'm home so I'll just make it miserable."
"Good thinking." The two laughed but the fun was interrupted by the first period bell. The two made it just in time before the pledge of allegiance. English with Mrs. Carter, or bitch, as she's known to most. This class was the worst class ever, especially since she hated both Caitlin and Brittany. Though she denied it, they could put money on the fact that she'd do anything just to get the girls in trouble.
"Alright…. everyone's here, first thing can everyone get out their homework from last night?" Mrs. Carter said grabbing her grade book and coming to everyone's desk making sure their homework is present. "Taylor good, Hannah great job…. Caitlin?" Her tone dropping to that of disgust. "Homework?"
"Um, yeah about that. My brother's, um…they ate it. They're going through this phase; you know how five year olds are and well they got into my bag and they ate it." The teacher didn't find this amusing whatsoever and what annoyed her more was the uproar of laughter from the class.
"Silence!" The teacher yelled loudly and the class grew very silent. The teacher looked down at Caitlin and then over to her cousin who was laughing.
"Ms. Atwood – you think this is funny too, hmm? Yes well I doubt you have your homework. Do you?" She asked, her patients wearing thin.
"No but I have an excuse my – " Brittany started but was reprimanded by the teacher and the uproar resurfaced causing the teacher to become irate.
"Silence! Or would you all prefer to do a five hundred word essay on 'To Kill a Mocking Bird'?" She asked turning to face all the kids.
"Me personally, I'd like the essay." Caitlin said sardonically. She turned to Brittany who was laughing and the girls gave each other high fives.
"That's it, not only is the class going to be assigned this essay but it is due tomorrow and it counts as a test grade."
"Aw come on Mrs. Bitch – I mean Mrs. Carter…." Caitlin said, allowing bitch to slip out by accident.
"Excuse me? What did you just say?" Mrs. Carter said circling around their desks like a shark around its prey.
"Um, I think she called you a bitch." Brittany said with no fear, and once again the class busted out in laughter.
"That is it! The office… you two…. right now! Out!" The teacher said walking to the door and opened it up for both of them. "Now!"
"Alright, alright. Calm down. We're always getting rushed and then parents wonder why their kids grow up so fast." Brittany said grabbing her stuff and holding it in her arms.
"Or in some cases the parents can't believe how slow it takes for their kids to grow up, not necessarily mature, but grow up and leave. Speaking of leaving – good bye you two." She practically shoved the girls out of her classroom.
"That lady's crazy!" Brittany said looking back at the door.
"Tell me about it, just be lucky we're not her kids." Caitlin joked as they walked down the hall into the principal's office and sat down on the bench where they were joined by many familiar faces. Both came down so much they made some friends who'd they'd constantly bump into when meeting in the principal's office.
"Hey Cait, hey Brit." Sydney said. She was a regular down here too, one of the kids the girls constantly bumped into. "What brings you down today?"
"Mrs. Carter… I accidentally called her a bitch and she tweaked. She constantly puts us down and when we state a comment that by all means is truthful, she can't send me fast enough to the principal's office."
"Yeah well it is true, I have her for English and she's like that to everyone – but me more then the whole class. What about you? Why are you here?" Sydney asked Brittany.
"I'm not exactly sure, I think it was because I laughed but that teacher's crazy so who knows. What about–"
"Ms. Cohen, Ms. Atwood, my office please?" Principal Brody came out of his office and took the stance of how their parents look when they're about to yell at them.
"We'll be back and hopefully not in too much trouble." Britt said standing first.
"Good luck!" Sydney said, watching Caitlin and Brittany enter the office seeming as though they'd never return.
"Let's see, sent down first period and I must say this is a record for you both." Mr. Brody said leaning back in his chair.
"Thank you, thank you. I try my hardest." Caitlin joked but only Brittany found it amusing.
"Ms. Cohen when are you going to realize that getting kicked out of class and using foul language to a teacher is inappropriate? You're fifteen years old, a sophomore in high school and you act like you're still in middle school – when are you going to grow up? Both of you for that matter?" He sat back in his chair and rested his folded hands on his desk.
"Harsh words." Brittany retorted, crossing her arms and focusing her attention out the nearby window. The principal sighed pulling out their records and studied them for a few minutes.
"Three detentions in a month, tardy to class and to school and Ms. Atwood, two detentions in a month and you're tardy to school practically everyday. You receive detentions almost everyday and you get called down to the office on a regular basis? Do you two plan on going to college because if you are, colleges looks at your permanent records and when it comes to a straight A student who have never gotten detentions and a C- student who has over twenty detentions since the beginning of sophomore year, they'll choose the A student."
"I know, Mr. Brody. Will you just stop with this college crap? I hear it from the teachers, I hear it from my parents and I don't need to hear it from anyone else. I'm not sure what I want to do – maybe I want to be like my mother and father…take their route." Caitlin said staring at a picture of the school that hung behind Mr. Brody's head.
"Really? Did they go to college?" He asked curiously.
"No, actually. You see senior year they found out they were pregnant…. with me, so they were able to finish high school because my mom wasn't that far along yet, but my grandparents kicked them out and they had to move into a crumby little apartment. Now my dad's a teacher of a third grade class – he went to college to get a teaching degree but my mom, no…she stays at home. She's a housewife. The only reason we're rich, or both of our families are rich, are because of our grandparents…they're like the richest people in California. But she didn't go to college and look how her life is."
"Caitlin, people choose their own path in life and I'm glad your parents are both happy with where they are but, with college it opens the doors up so much wider then just having a high school diploma. But enough college talk since you're not interested and I'm not in the mood to talk to a wall so, usual punishment. I hate to do this to you two but you leave me no choice."
"Yeah, yeah, three detentions and a day of suspension. Call our parents and just get it over with. Can we go get our stuff?" Brittany stood from the chair and stretched her arms out in front of her. The girls have gotten in trouble so many times that this kind of stuff was second nature to them. The consequences had no affect to them anymore and plus, their parents usually expect to receive a phone call everyday or they think something's wrong.
"No, not yet. We have to talk about what was said in class. Let's see, you're teacher says you blamed not having homework because your brother's apparently ate it?" He looked at the sheet confused then stared up at Caitlin who just shrugged indifferently. "Um…you caused a disarray, and you called your teacher a swear word? What were you thinking?" He asked seeing how absurd this was. "Why do you two do this?"
"I'm sorry…" Caitlin said putting on an act and began to fake cry to get sympathy. "It's just my parents have been fighting a lot lately and my dad has to constantly sleep on the couch and my mom…she's crazy, more crazy then usual. You say one wrong word and you'll get your head bit off…seriously. I'm scared they're going to get a divorce and not to mention my parents just found out that my brother's are mentally retarded and they have the intelligence of a two year old." Caitlin shaded her eyes with her hands pretending to cry and looked over at Brittany who was trying with all her might not to laugh.
"I-I, I didn't know but this is school protocol – I have to do this. Can you two go upstairs, get your things and then come back down to my office?"
When the girls left Mr. Brody's office, he heard the ring tone from the phone and the name "Mrs. Atwood."
"Damn, I was hoping that'd work." Caitlin said as they waved good-bye to Sydney and walked slowly through the halls, taking their time to get to their lockers.
"I liked it. You added just the right amount of emotion and if I didn't know you were lying, I would have felt really bad. It just sucks that it didn't work on him because Mr. Brody doesn't have a heart." Brittany nudged Caitlin with her elbow and they got into a pushing fight while they walked down the hall.
"What am I going to do? What are we going to do? We're both grounded, we basically have no lives because of it and our parents already hate us. Why don't we drive in to then the point of what a bad decision it was to keep us."
"Tell me about it. I can just picture it. Mom and dad sitting in the living room on one couch, me sitting across from them and Dad looking like he was going to kill me while my mom looked as though someone just died. I can hear her saying how I didn't get this from her and then dad telling me just how disappointed he is which basically means he thinks I'm a failure. The conversation ending with something like, you're grounded until your thirty and then mom runs out of the room crying. Yes, I'll look forward to that when I get home."
"Oh and not to mention what great embarrassment we'll cause our grandparents. Jimmy, Julie, Kirsten and Sandy's grandchildren getting into trouble and on the verge of becoming arrested - we'll be the talk of the town. You know everywhere we go people we'll stare and be like those are the Cohen and Cooper grandkids… I heard that they got expelled from school because I don't know, um…."
"We were caught with drugs." Brittany added.
"We have to be famous somehow. Basically following in our parents' footsteps except for –" Caitlin shut her locker grabbing a few books and placed them in her bag.
"Yeah. Ready to go face our parents?"
"Ready as I'll ever be I guess." The two walked down the hall with their arms interlocked not ready to face the music.
Summer, Seth, Ryan and Marissa followed Mr. Brody into his office and listened while read off the list of what their daughters had done today.
"I'm sorry that we all have to meet like this every week." Mr. Brody said addressing the parents and after he was done reading off the list, he put their files back in the filing cabinets.
This brought back memories for Ryan, Seth, Summer and Marissa. Not too long ago this was the four of them sitting in the principal's office awaiting punishment, scared out of their minds that their parents would be called – and now they were here waiting, not because they were in trouble, but because their kids were.
"The girls during first period were kicked out and not only were they not prepared with their homework, but they also caused a scene when they were asked why they didn't have it. You see I wasn't present at the time this was going on, so all I know is what the teacher wrote up and what the girls say. And from what the teacher said, they swore at her and then was asked to leave."
"Swore at the teacher?" Seth said shaking his head in disbelief. The four thinking what they did to deserve such obnoxious teenagers.
"Yes, so it's the usual….three detentions each and a day of suspension. The girls are upstairs getting their stuff so they'll be down any minute." After Mr. Brody was done discussing everything with the parents, he followed behind them all, but pulled Summer and Seth aside to discuss a further issue.
"Oh, Mr. and Mrs. Cohen – it's probably not my place to say anything, but Caitlin also told me that you two are experiencing marital troubles. I know that it's none of my business but it seems to be upsetting her and I wanted to let you know that we have guidance counselors available for her to talk to."
"She did, did she?" Summer turned to Seth shaking her head outraged that her daughter would say something like this. She bit her bottom lip trying not to convey how angry she really was. "We're not having marital problems we just –"
"No need to explain anything, I understand." Mr. Brody said opening the door to the hallway.
"Thank you Mr. Brody and hopefully we wont have another visit like this for awhile." Summer was the first to walk out and she smiled back at the principal with gratitude, but couldn't wait until she saw her daughter to figure this whole thing out.
"I'm also sorry about your sons…I have a nephew who's mentally challenged and I know how much of a handful he can be for his parents."
"Mentally challenged? She said that? Mr. Brody our son's aren't – " Seth moved his hand out in front of him, trying to get across to the principal that their sons aren't mentally challenged, but Mr. Brody didn't listen to that.
"Again, none of my business." They shook their hands once more and Summer and Seth look dumbfounded at how crazy her lies got. The four sat on the bench outside the principal's office pending the arrival of their fifteen year olds.
Ryan had his arms crossed and was tapping his foot against the floor, Seth was sighing loudly like he does when he's angry and the girls sat on a nearby bench looking like they were going to cry.
Ten minutes later, Brittany and Caitlin walked down the stairs seeing all four of them sitting there, waiting with fury in their eyes.
"Hi mom…. dad." Caitlin made eye contact with her parents and could tell right away they were angry – it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out.
They didn't say anything; neither did Marissa and Ryan when Brittany said "hi".
The car ride was silent, not awkward to Caitlin because she didn't really care that much and soon fixated on outside to make it look as though she was thinking about what she's done.
"You know, just one day, just one day I'd like to go to work and not be interrupted by a phone message that says I have to leave to go pick up my fifteen year old from school because she was being a total ass to her teacher, not to mention completely lying and making us look like we're insane. You're brother's are retarded? Your mom and I are getting a divorce? I can't believe you'd do something like that."
"I'm sorry." Caitlin said just staring out the window, not really listening but pretending she was.
"Sorry…. really? Not as sorry as we are. We give you what you want, we love you more then you can imagine, but you just do these things that normal teenagers don't do and it's just one thing after the other. We try so hard to keep this family normal but you're making it difficult – why do you do things like this?" Summer rested her hands in her lap thinking this day couldn't get any worse and the baby was furthest from her mind.
"I'm sorry I just, I don't know why I do this." Caitlin looked down at her shoes, basically anywhere but at her parents. She was so used to this speech that she received every time she got in trouble that she really didn't listen and just filled in the words when needed
"Yeah we are to. I mean what are we suppose to do? Ground you again? Take away more privileges? All your stuff has been taken away, you've basically been grounded every week since who knows when – when is this going to stop?"
"I'm sorry." Caitlin shouted out.
"Yeah and the sad part about it is we don't believe you anymore." Seth looked in his rear view mirror at the image of his daughter – his little girl, and couldn't help but be sad by what's become of her. The rest of the car ride was soundless and when they all got home Caitlin returned to her room, a familiar place, since she's been spending most of her time in there lately. Seth and Summer resigned to the living room where they were able to talk about what happened.
"What are we going to do with her? I'm out of options and my patience is wearing thin."
"I know, but I believe she's sorry and I don't know – we'll just take it day to day. How about we don't give her a punishment tonight making it seem like she's being punished and just see where that takes us." Seth kissed Summer's forehead trying to relieve her stress, but it didn't seem to work too well.
"I love you." Summer said resting her head on his, her smile reflecting his, their lips met and two shared in some much needed affection that has been missing for quite some time.
"And…" Seth started kissing all over her face. "…I…." Taking a breath and continuing…."love you." He finished as Summer's finger touched his lip stopping him. That lasted for about five minutes until the doorbell ended their make out session.
"I'll get it." Summer said climbing off the couch and staggering to the front door. She combed out her hair with her fingers and pulled down her shirt.
"Mommy!" Brady and Zachary screamed in unison barreling towards Summer, their hands attached to her legs.
"Boys, hi sweethearts." She gave them a hug and then returned to talk with Conner's mom. "Thank you so much for taking the boys, I hope they weren't a handful."
"No, not all. The boys all got along great and Conner's actually at home sleeping – he was exhausted so hopefully they'll go to bed easy tonight." Mrs. Anderson said laughing.
"Oh that'd be great but I doubt it with these two. They have more energy then I've ever seen and it never seems to run out. We're hoping they'll be better before they start real school. But anyways – thanks again, next time we'll have the play-date over here if you'd like?" Summer rested her hands on the boys' back, moving her hands in circles.
"I bet Conner would love that, just let me know when." Mrs. Anderson said smiling at Summer. She seemed like a very nice lady, someone Summer could potentially be a friend to.
"Let's see, how about next Tuesday – after school?"
"That sounds great. See you next Tuesday. Bye boys." She bent down to Zack and Brady's level to say goodbye and waved on her way out.
"Say thank you." Summer looked down at them, their manners were clearly absent. "Thanks again." Mrs. Anderson walked back to her car and Summer shut the door behind her.
"We played with his trucks…. and his mom made us grilled cheese – and…and…." Brady said rambling on about his play date.
"Sounds like you two had lots of fun. Conner's coming over next Tuesday to play at our house, are you two hungry?" She stepped back and bent down to her sons and stroked their blond hair with her fingers. The boys shook their heads and when Zack tapped Brady on the shoulder and yelled tag, the two ran off engaging in yet another game.
Seth came to her side and they embraced in a hug. "How crazy is this house going to be with a fourth child? Four kids, can you believe this?" He asked kissing her forehead and Summer gave a fake laugh of excitement.
Caitlin walked down the stairs after hearing the doorbell just in time to overhear her parent's conversation. She stopped at the bottom of the steps and looked at them confounded. "Wait a second. Did I just hear you correctly? M-m-mom, you're pregnant?"