I twirl my thumbs as I wait for Edward to return with Esme. I know they're most likely biding time because they have to move at a human pace instead of running here. And we need to keep up the appearance of a normal family, of course. But I sure do wish they would hurry up.
Finally I can hear the two of them talking, and from the sound of it, Esme is pissed.
"What would posses him to do something this ridiculous? He knows better! I swear, when Carlisle finds out about this-"
I drop my head and try to stop listening. I really don't want to think about when Carlisle hears about my little prank.
"He thought his last whooping was bad. He has no idea what he's in for now." Edward says smugly.
"Wipe that smirk off your face, Edward Anthony. There is no need for you to be so happy about your brother's punishment."
He apologizes halfheartedly and they're both quiet as he shows her to the principals office. Esme identifies herself to the secretary and is quickly sent in.
"Ah, Mrs. Cullen. Thank you so much for coming in!" Mr. Becker says, his whole tune changing once she walks in. I glance up at her and bite my lip nervously.
"What seems to be the problem, Mr. Becker?" She asks. I sigh. Straight to business.
Becker explains everything that happened and he makes sure to emphasize the fact that I encouraged and coached Deck and Caller through the entire prank. The "immense embarrassment" and "loss of dignity" that Jonathan has to deal with now is also exaggerated. I wanted to point out that he was a little shit who deserved to be embarrassed, but from the look on Esme's face I can tell that she's been pushed to the point that she would whoop me herself, and the last thing I need is her telling me to bend over so she can tan my hide.
"I think it's clear what the problem is, Mrs. Cullen." He tells her at the end of his speech.
"It is quite clear." She says, giving me a stern look. I advert my eyes and sink down lower in my seat.
"It has also been brought to my attention that your family does not believe in corporal punishment." He adds on. Esme quickly shakes her head.
"You've misunderstood. Emmett will most definitely be getting his rear end lit up once his father comes home. What we don't believe in is others disciplining our children in a physical way." She explains.
"I see, Mrs. Cullen." Becker says and shoots me a glare. Esme catches it and raises her brow at him. He coughs to try to cover it up, but she knows what he did. "Well, that was the issue I had hoped to resolve in bring you to the school. Emmett must still be punished by the school for what he did today. What would you deem as a reasonable consequence for his actions?"
"Whatever you find is appropriate, as long as it does not include anyone spanking my child." She tells him.
"Do you have any suggestions on what that should be?"
"Have him beat out erasers, run laps around the school's perimeter, write a paper about what he did wrong, have him clean up the school, hold him after class." She listed. "I am not against the school punishing my children; I'm against the school using physically punishment on my children."
"That's completely understandable, Mrs. Cullen." He says with a sympathetic nod. I roll my eyes. He couldn't wait to bust my ass earlier, but now he completely understands why Esme doesn't want him to do so. "The school's policy for such behavior is three strokes, but because of the situation, three laps around the school will do."
"That will work." Esme nods.
"Outside, Emmett." Becker tells me. Funny how I have a first name now that Esme is here.
I push myself to my feet and Esme does the same. We let Becker get ahead of us. Esme rests her hand on my arm. The gentle touch doesn't match the angry look on her face.
"Make it believable." She tells me. I nod.
"Sure thing."
When we get outside, Becker points to the line of pine trees to the right of the school.
"Follow that until you reach the fence, run the length of that, and when the fence ends come back up this way and back here. Three times." Becker says. I nod yes, take another glance at Esme and start the laps.
If I we're human running around the school would be a better punishment, this is one of the biggest schools around, but it's a breeze for me. Acting like I'm tired and out of breath is the biggest challenge. I play it up some so Becker feels that I'm really paying for my actions. He and Esme talk about how this can be used for a punishment for all of us Cullen kids, but she assures him that he will not be seeing any of us in his office again. She tells him again that I'll be getting my butt warmed once Carlisle comes home.
"That makes three." I say, huffing and puffing as I come to a stop in front of them after the third lap. Becker nods in approval.
"Then get back to class." He tells me.
"Can I have a minute with him before he heads back?" Esme asks. Becker agrees instantly and slowly heads back to the school. He enters to building, but I can see him watching us from the window.
"I cannot believe you would do something like this, Emmett." She scolds. "Carlisle will not be happy when he hears what you've done."
"Esme, please! Can't we just let this slide?" I plead with the biggest eyes I can muster, a little trick I learned from watching Edward weasel his way out of trouble. She shakes her head.
"Do you realize what a risk you put our family in? This will not 'just slide'!" She tells me firmly, but quietly. I sigh. "When school is out, you better come straight home. You can tell Carlisle what you've done when he's off of work."
"Mom, please!" I beg to the best of my ability. She shakes her head again. "He'll whoop me!"
"That is something that you have earned yourself, Emmett Cullen. Now get back to class." She tells me and swats my backside. I sigh and do as she said. When I enter the building, Becker is right there smirking at me.
"Get to class, Cullen."
"Yes sir." I mumble.
OoOoO
Carlisle's car pulls in the drive and I duck my head. I'm banished to our sitting room, which took over the purpose of Carlisle's study. His and Esme's room in this house is big enough for him to put his desk in there, but he chose not to drag us in there for our whoopings. I'm thankful for that, because I've only been in his and Esme's room a handful of times, and it's just weird to be in there. Carlisle and Esme keep their space to themselves. So instead, we get sent here. To anyone who was looking in through the archway, it would seem like a nice little room. A fancy couch sits against the wall, two matching chairs with pillows arranged neatly on them. It all seems pretty nice. But when you're on the couch looking out, you know you're in deep shit here. The strap hangs on the wall to the right, and in the left corner is a simple wooden chair. Neither of these two items something that I want to deal with.
"Hello, my love." Carlisle says as he enters the house. He sounds like he's in a good mood. Just like in the principals office, Esme waists no time.
"Hello, Carlisle. There's an issue that needs attending to this afternoon." She tells him.
"Is there?"
"Yes. Emmett has pulled another prank."
"What did he get himself into now?" Carlisle asks with a chuckle. "Let me guess. He pulled something over on Edward, didn't he?"
"No. It's much more serious."
"More serious? Did they get into a fight?"
"It's not between Edward and Emmett. Emmett pulled a prank on one of his classmates at school and was sent to the principal's office. He was going to be paddled, but luckily he was able to talk his way out of it. Edward came home during lunch and told me the principal wanted me down at the school to discuss Emmett's behavior."
Carlisle's quiet for a few seconds, then sighs.
"He was sent to be paddled?"
"Yes."
"I see the issue." He mumbles. "Where is he?"
"In the sitting room."
"And the others?"
"They have just left for a hunt."
Carlisle sighs again and I can hear his steps coming closer. I keep my eyes down, not wanting to see the disappointment that I know will be shown in his own eyes. The sound of his shoes against the hardwood floor stops and I know he's in the archway.
"Emmett." He says. I lift my head just enough to see him leaning against the arch. "What happened, son?"
"I screw up." I admit and drop my head again. A pang of guilt shoots through my stomach. He was so happy when he came home, and now I ruined it. "I'm sorry, Dad."
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