"Come on, son." Carlisle says as he cuts the engine and opens the drivers side door. Jasper nods and follows Carlisle into the house.
They can hear Esme's agitated lecture. She still has Edward and Emmett on the couch. Both boys lean forward with their elbows on their knees and their heads ducked down as Esme explains to them just how dangerous and reckless and disrespectful their behavior was. The sharp tone in her voice is so rare that the last time Edward remembers her speaking like this was centuries ago. Jasper shutters as he feels the full impact of her anger. He stands straighter, lowers his eyes and tenses his muscles as he waits for her wrath to turn to him. Deep down, he knows Esme would never attack him, and the only way he would be hurt by either Esme and Carlisle is through a well-deserved butt whooping, but he can't shake his nerves.
"Esme," Carlisle interrupts as he clears his throat. "Do you want to speak to Jasper?"
"No, I'm sure you've told him what he needs to be told." She says.
"Jasper!" Alice calls from at the top of the stairs. Within a blink of an eye, she runs to the lower level and wraps her arms around Jasper's stomach. He smiles and hugs her back. When she rises to her tip-toes, Jasper kisses the top of her head.
"Come on, let him go, Alice." Esme tells her. "I'm taking you and Rosalie out for a hunt."
"Can I just talk to Jasper before-"
"No, Alice. You heard Esme. Go before I decide to give you a spank or two for not listening." Carlisle threatens. Jasper tenses even more and pats Alice on the shoulder.
"Don't get in trouble, sweetheart. It's not worth it." Jasper says firmly. Alice looks up at him with a pout that pulls on his heart, but he doesn't let her see that. If Carlisle decided to give Alice even one swat, Jasper doesn't know if he can handle that. Besides, Alice is now the best behaved Cullen child, and Jasper doesn't want her to ruin her clean record.
"Fine." She sighs. As Esme calls up to Rosalie, Alice kisses Jasper's cheek before the three ladies leave the house and run towards the woods. Edward and Emmett look at Carlisle with sad eyes. It doesn't phase Carlisle, though.
"You three, in my office." He commands. The brother trio sigh and drag their feet towards the dreaded room, Carlisle following right behind them.
"Dad, we're sorry." Emmett starts to say. "We've already learned out lesson-"
"Hush, Emmett. You're not getting out of this. You and Edward can wait for your turns on the couch." Carlisle says firmly. Jasper gulps and waits for Carlisle to tell him what to do as his brothers plop down on the couch. He pats the edge of the desk, looking at his nervous boy. "Hands right here, son."
Jasper nods and does as he's told, dropping his head. He quickly glances over and Emmett and Edward to see that they have their heads lowered as well. It brings him a little comfort knowing that they weren't going to be watching intensely as he gets punished, but not enough to calm him down at all. He feels Carlisle's right hand fall on his lower back, and just as quickly, his left delivers a sharp smack to the seat of Jasper's jeans. Jasper clamps his eyes shut as the motion is repeated again. He keeps quiet, though. He knows he deserves this, and he's felt the stress it puts on Carlisle when Edward and Emmett are overly dramatic over their whoopings. The last thing he wants to do is add more stress. So as the fourth, fifth, sixth smack rains down on his rear, he just clenches his jaw without any sound. The stinging feeling in his skin intensifies at the seventh, eighth, ninth swat. He reminds himself again that he deserves this right as the tenth smack hits him. He braces himself for another, but instead, Carlisle pats his shoulder.
"You're done, Jasper. Go pick a corner and put your nose in it." Carlisle says. Jasper stands straight with a confusing look in his eyes.
"I'm done?"
"Do you want more?" Carlisle asks. Jasper quickly responds with a 'no sir'. "Then do what I told you."
Jasper nods and walks around the couch to the far left corner. Edward and Emmett exchange hopeful looks.
"Don't get too hopeful, boys. You two aren't getting off that easy." Carlisle says.
"What? That's not fair!" Emmett huffs.
"Yeah! Why are we getting different punishments? That's not fair at all!" Edward adds on.
"Because you two tricked him, that's why!" Carlisle yells angrily. "You two were the ring-masters of this harebrained scheme, you just drug Jasper along! He didn't call the school, he didn't lie to you two, he didn't push you two towards an unsafe decision. So you both better lose those attitudes and someone better get their ass up here before I have to drag one of you up here!"
Both Edward and Emmett scowl and sink lower into their seats. When Carlisle starts tapping his foot impatiently, they exchange glares as if to say 'you go up first'.
"For God's sake," Carlisle rolls his eyes with a groan. He walks over at grabs Edward by the arm, pulling him from his seat and around the desk. Jasper tenses as Edward is giving the same instructions he was, only this time Carlisle's voice is much harsher. "Hands right here, Edward."
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