The clock on the wall ticked so slowly, I was hopeful for a moment that the world might be ending. But I was not so lucky. Carlisle arrived at school. I knew immediately he was here by the intense rush of disappointment and frustration that overtook the entire atmosphere of the school.

"Ooooh my ass is grass." I accidentally said aloud as the room heard Carlisle asking for permission from the secretary to enter. The principal didn't wait for him to get permission. He threw the door open and all but demanded he enter the room. This only succeeded in further angering Carlisle, but he remained terrifyingly calm as the principal retold the story of the morning.

After the story was concluded, Carlisle took a look in my direction. I couldn't meet his eyes.

"Surely Jaspers actions in your story were exaggerated."

The principal scoffed. I looked up. Carlisle was still staring at me. As I accidentally looked in his face, I sunk even lower in my chair. Acknowledging my guilt without having to say a word.

"I see" was all Carlisle could say. There once again was silence while Carlisle stared me into a hole in the ground. "Well Jasper's behavior is inexcusable. He will be punished accordingly, but let's speak a moment about the accusation that Emmett and Rose did not attend their detention on Saturday." He leaned forward in his chair. "Surely there were other students or adults who would be able to vouch for their attendance. A quick interview with one or two would put this misunderstanding behind us."

"That seems like a frivolous waste of time to me." The principal responded. Obviously not wanting to be proven incorrect.

"I have the time to waste."

The was silence for a moment.

"I insist you speak with some others on your attendance list. I want to hear for myself that they weren't there."

The principal scoffed again and buzzed his secretary.

"Yes Sir?" She poked her head in.

"Pick three students from Saturdays attendance log and ask them to see me immediately."

"Yes Sir."

The three students came in nervously, answered the question quickly, and left with sighs of relief on their breath.

"See." Carlilse stood, "a misunderstanding. Now I believe we have wasted enough of Rosalie and Emmetts work day. They ought to be going back to class."

The principal waved a dismissing hand at the two but did not wait for them to leave before continuing.

"Before you go, I insist we speak on the matter of Jaspers punishment for his behavior."

"I believe that is between Jasper and myself, and no one else." Carlisle warned.

"I am not speaking of his punishment at home, though I dare say if there were appropriate punishments at home, I would see far less of your children in my office."

Carlisle tensed and started to speak but was quickly cut off.

"I refer to the consequences he will face here at school. I have half a mind to expel the kid."

Carlisle moved to stand behind me.

"I don't think expelling him is quite necessary. Perhaps we could agree on a suspension instead."

"We sometimes exchange expulsion or suspension for ten whacks of the paddle, though I would still follow up with suspension in his case."

"No, I don't allow anyone to thrash my children."

I tried desperately to block out the conversation the two adults were having. I mentally beat myself up for being such an idiot and letting my anger get the best of me. The adults continued bickering while I called myself every synonym for idiot that I knew. And I apparently knew a lot. I tuned back in when I heard a definitive.

"Fine. Since there is no appeasing you. I suppose you are going to contest a three day suspension?"

"On the contrary. I am pleased we can avoid an expulsion, but I'll request he stay home until next Monday." Carlisle said motioning for me to stand.

"Why, so he can mope about and have a nice little vacation at home?"

"No," Carlisle squeezed my shoulder with his hand and the ushered me out the door. "It's going to be that long before he can sit comfortably again."

I groaned audibly as we hurried out of the office, pausing only for Carlisle to say thank you to the secretary. Once in the hallway, I could see Edward waiting for us outside of the door. He started to say something, but Carlisle cut him off with a sharp look. They stared at each other a moment before Edward nodded and then my very angry father continued to lead me down the hall by arm. Before we got to the end of it, I heard the principal poke his head out and speak to my brother in a hushed tone so nobody else could hear, except for the superhearing vampires in the vicinity.

"Kid," he said. "How does your father handle bad behavior in your household."

Edward grimaced and as he walked towards class he mumbled toward the Principal, "with his belt."

The principal chuckled.