Pairing: Ric/Elena (M/f) ruler

Partial prompt pairing for Florence_Nightwing (AO3) Kol/Rebekah (m/f)

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Mystic Falls High School

Morning

Ric let Jeremy pout in the car on the way to school in silence for most of the ride. When he found a spot in faculty parking, Jeremy grabbed the door handle and went to get out without speaking.

"Jer, let me talk to you a minute," Ric entreated, shutting off the car.

"Yeah, fine," Jeremy grumbled.

"You know I am going to have to talk to Elena? I don't want this to cause a fight between you two, but I also can't let this one go," Ric explained. "Do you understand?"

Jeremy slumped back in dismay.

"Yes, Ric. I get it. I mean, you guys want me to have good grades, but I just don't care about bio. What do I care about a frog's guts and crap like that? I'm an artist," Jeremy whined.

Ric nodded, "Yes, I get that. I wasn't a math or science whiz myself. But we really just want you to give it your best try. I agree that grades don't always show what you learned, but they do show if you are trying. Does that make sense?"
"Yeah, I guess. Am I really gonna get punished more?" Jeremy asked quietly. He was willing to admit that the sting in his rump had subsided and it was only his pride that had been injured. Jenna swatting him had been the worst!

Ric laughed, "That little paddling you got wasn't much of a punishment, now was it? I think the real consequence is going to be Jenna and I siting down with you nightly and going over your homework with you. Plus, I'll be checking in with all your teachers today. And I am going to go pay Mr. Connors a visit in the shop. I see now you need a bigger incentive to motivate you to behave."
"Ahhhh, come on, Ric," Jeremy sighed. "That's so embarrassing. All of it."

Ric shrugged, "You do the crime, you do the time. Now, don't let this spoil your day. Your friend Anna is going to reunite with her mother...We're still going to the lake this weekend. It will blow over, but I don't want you to get in the habit of cheating. Today, bio, tomorrow, you're in tomorrow with the IRS."

"I'm not even sure what that is," Jeremy moaned. "Can I go now? I think the bell rang."

"Internal Revenue Service. Taxes," Ric stated. "Maybe I need to tutor you in government while we're at it? Go ahead. Have a good day, buddy."

"You, too," Jeremy mumbled. "I just hope Elena doesn't chuck her pom-poms at my head or something..."

"She won't," Ric assured him. "Growing up is tough. Fourteen today, thirty-five tomorrow."
"Speak for yourself," Jeremy said, opening the door. He grabbed his backpack and trotted off, before the lecture got intense.

Student Government Office

Homeroom

Elena was happy to pass off her secretarial duties at the committee meeting to April.

"Here, just write down all of Caroline's ideas. She usually goes a mile a minute so just get down what you can," Elena said, thrusting a notebook at April. Caroline had arranged for the committee to meet before classes. As a student leader, she worked with the activity advisor to the legwork for the dances.

The younger teen nodded and fumbled in her bag for a pen.

Rebekah came in tentatively, saying, "Oh, I went to the wrong room. Sorry, I wasn't here earlier, we had a hell of a night."

April gushed, "Rebekah, your hair looks amazing! The pink looks great with your skin!"

Rebekah smiled and patted her hair.

"Oh thanks. I wanted it all pink, but I got a bit side-tracked last night. That's a cute outfit."

April was wearing the skirt and blouse Jenna and Elena had picked out for her. She was used to wearing dowdy, oversized clothes that hadn't flattered her small frame. She beamed at Rebekah's compliment, her large eyes glowing.
Elena eyed April critically.

"Hey April, you have your eyeliner smudged. Why don't you go to the bathroom? Here, take my make-up," Elena said, thrusting her purse at April.

"Oh no, I must have rubbed it," April said, rushing out of the room.

"I didn't notice anything," Rebekah said, throwing down her bag.

"She's just learning how to do make-up," Elena explained. "But really, I just wanted you to know that she doesn't know anything...Not about vampires or werewolves. Nada."

Rebekah was surprised, "Oh, I see. So she might be a little shocked that we took out the whole bloody lot of Travelers last night?"

"You did?" Elena raved. "Oh my goodness, is Damon okay?"

"Okay, he's doing wonderful. You should have seen it, Elena, it was an epic battle. Heads were rolling, limbs flying, and the Traveler who possessed Damon is gone!" Rebekah enthused.

"Whew, that's a relief!" Elena said in relief.

Bonnie and Caroline came in with coffee and doughnuts.

"Refreshments are served," Bonnie said, yawning. "Oh, I didn't notice your hair last night. It's great!"
Rebekah smiled and took the coffee.

"Thank you, Bonnie. You and your cousin were wonderful last night," Rebekah said shyly.

"Thanks, babe," Bonnie said.

"I can't believe we missed it," Caroline complained. "My mom sent a patrol around the area to gather up any 'lost' vampires. She never fills me in, but I heard on the radio."
April came in and Elena gave her friends the eye.

"Elena, are you ready to write?" Caroline said, taking her seat at the head of the table.

"No, April is the new secretary," Elena informed them. "She knows what to do. Now, I thought I'd take over decorations."

Caroline frowned, "If you think you're up for it. It's a big job, Elena. You need to keep your head in the game."
"I think I can handle it, Care. This isn't my first dance committee," Elena snarked.

"Girls, focus," Bonnie chided, taking a sip of her coffee. She had barely gotten any sleep as thoughts of Enzo haunted her dreams, but she had to focus. The dance was in two weeks. "I was thinking that this year..."

A crackling voice came over the PA system.

"Elena Gilbert, please report to Room 117-E," a secretary announced.

Elena looked at the speaker.

"That's Ric's room," Bonnie chirped, as she twisted her new ruby ring around her finger. "Did you forget your stuff in his car?"

"No, I drove myself," Elena said, getting up. "But he probably wants to make sure I have lunch money. Excuse me, girls."

Caroline rolled her eyes and continued told Bonnie to continue. Elena picked up her stuff and headed for the social studies wing. It was probably nothing, but Ric knew she had this meeting. What a pain!

Jeremy printed out 'his' paper in the library nervously. Surely, Ric wouldn't out him to his teacher before class. His mind tried to recall what exactly he had blurted out this morning when he was under threat of the paddle. At any rate, he didn't have time to redo the paper...but he could use the original one he started. Jeremy stared at the perfect typed sheets and his ragged notes. He groaned, his safest bet was to just turn in his own work and take whatever grade he got. With disappointment, he tossed Elena's work into the garbage. This sucks.

As he left, he saw Principal Weber showing around a blond guy. He turned and asked the student library aide, "Who's that?"

The girl looked over and whispered, "Oh, I heard them talking! That's the new chemistry teacher. The old one retired...Did you hear how he caught on fire in class?"

"I don't think that actually happened," Jeremy said in a low voice, watching Wes laugh politely at something Weber said.

"Oh, it definitely did. I heard about it from someone who was in the room. Tyler Lockwood did it. You know, the Mayor's kid?" the girl attested.

"I know who Lockwood is," Jeremy added. "Well, thanks. See ya."

Jeremy walked off with his rumbled papers in his hand, as the girl tried to get his attention.

"Guess you don't need a pass," she said, but Jeremy was already on his way out.

Salvatore Boarding House

Pearl couldn't believe this house. She made sure that Harper and the others were taken care of before letting Katherine help her in the bath. Nadia had found the blood bags and cautioned each vampire to take it slow. Then, she found rooms for them to rest in.

In the long weeks or months before they had mummified, Pearl had grown very close to a young African-American man named Harper. He kept her from going mad in the first days as others pounded the cave door bloody and hunted all the rats for their blood. Harper had counseled Pearl to keep her wits for her daughter. Now, he promised to look after the others while she cleaned up and got some rest.

"This is the shower," Katherine said. "But I think you need a hot bath first. Here, you have to let it run and then..."

Pearl leaned over and felt the warm water pouring out of the elaborate faucet.

"It's hot!" Pearl gushed.

"Yep, the lights are electric. No more candles and lanterns," Katherine shared. "That's just the start, Pearl, the world has completely changed."

Pearl let Katherine strip her from the filthy rags she wore.

"You still never told me what happened," Pearl said dully. "How you escaped?"

Katherine heaved the clothes into the small wastebasket, overflowing it.

"Oh, just a bit of persuasion to George Lockwood. Don't look at me like that, I didn't do him," Katherine giggled. "He wanted me, of course, but he wanted the moonstone more. Of course, Emily had the real one. I gave George a fake. Silly wolf!"

Pearl frowned, "And Johnathan Gilbert? After he betrayed me?"

"I assume he knocked up that uppity wife of his again. His progeny still reside here. Real pains in the asses. But really, Pearl, I had to flee so I don't know the details," Katherine deflected. "Now, step into the tub. It has a drain so no one has to empty it. Isn't that fine?"

Pearl knew she was still not herself, she let Katherine wash her and her long, black hair. The water grew dark and Katherine drained the tub twice.

"I'll get you some clothes. You just soak a moment," Katherine said. "I think some of Nadia's things will fit you. I have a bit too much on top for the two of you."

Pearl washed her hands again with the fragrant bar of soap, cleaning her nails. But she couldn't wash away the regret. She had left her daughter for so long after promising to protect her always...

Pearl drifted off and woke up to Katherine frantically rousing her.

"Come on, sleepy head," Katherine sang. "Let's get some pants on you and all that!"

"Pants?" Pearl questioned.

"Trousers," Katherine clarified. It was kind of a drag to keep explaining everything, but Katherine supposed she owed it to Pearl...

"I never had a pair. I shall look like a yeoman, I should think," Pearl intoned.

Katherine chuckled, "I am joking with you. I found you the one skirt Nadia had. It is not the dresses we used to wear. You'll get used to it."

Katherine hastily dressed Pearl.

Katherine wrapped her hair in a towel and then made Pearl sit while she dried and combed out her hair.

"There, you look presentable," Katherine determined. "I think I hear someone downstairs..."

Katherine grinned at Pearl vamped out of the room, almost crashing into Annabelle who was running past Nadia on the second floor.

"Mother!" Annabelle wept. "Oh, it's truly you..."
Pearl was not an emotional woman. She had buried her husband and other children after fever took them. That part of her heart was closed, but she felt the door open when she felt Annabelle's lithe arms around her.

"My darling, you survived," Pearl wept. "My girl, my last girl...I'm s-so sorry I left you."
Annabelle sobbed, "No, Mother, tis I who failed you. I t-tried so hard to get you out, but the tomb was sealed. Only the Bennett witches could open or close it...Are you okay?"

Pearl got a hold of herself. "I am well enough now that I see you are here. Come, you must tell me everything. Have you continued your lesson? How have you supported yourself?"

Nadia gave Katherine a look and said, "Mother, let us leave them to speak. Come, you should take some rest yourself."

"Don't forget who the mother is and who the daughter is, Nadia," Katherine reprimanded haughtily. "I do suppose I could use a nap, though. Can you get me some blood? I am famished."

"Of course," Nadia said, deferentially. "I'll be right back."

Katherine vamped back to the door and listened. She was a little concerned at what that imp of a daughter would say. She did try to help Pearl, but she also had to make sure she survived. Maybe she could have helped sooner, Katherine admitted to herself. But Pearl was out now, and she would work to make sure her best friend didn't blame her. After all, it wasn't her fault...not at all.
Ric's Classroom

MFHS had a rotating schedule and today Ric had his conference period first during homeroom and first hour. Elena walked into the empty classroom.

"What's up, Ric? I had that dance committee meeting...," Elena said, seeing Ric at his desk.

"Yeah, I know," Ric said evenly. "But we need to have a talk. Wanna tell me why Jeremy was stealing two twenties out of Jenna's purse this morning?"

"Two twenties," Elena fumed. Was that little shit going to short her? Then, she regained her senses and make her face blank. "I have no idea. Why would I know?"
Ric stood up slowly.

"Elena, look at me," Ric said carefully, moving closer. "You're Jeremy's big sister, he looks up to you. He's at an impressionable age. I know you might have been trying to help, but..."
Elena stomped her right foot.

"Damn him. When I get through with him, a D in biology is going to be the least of his worries," Elena yelled, her brown eyes flashing anger.

"Hey, believe me, he didn't want to talk...but he was in a precarious situation," Ric explained. "Jer is getting punished, but it's you we need to discuss."

"Fine, Ric. So I tried to help the little dummy! Sue me," Elena exploded. "He was freaking out about the paper. It was mostly done, I just fixed it and did the conclusion. It just so happens that I aced that class when I was a freshman. Is it my fault the teachers are too lazy to make new tests?"

Elena put her hands on her hips and waited for a response. This was bullshit and Jeremy was a goner!

"Are you listening to yourself right now?" Ric asked, his voice rising.

Elena flushed and stepped back, now playing with her hair.

"Okay, sorry about the last comment. I know you work hard and stuff. But it's not like Jer is going to need that class. What's the big deal?" Elena demanded.

"The big deal is that Jeremy isn't going to learn the material if he cheats. Maybe he doesn't think he is going to need something, but things change. Didn't you want to be a writer when you were younger?" Ric added, trying to calm down.

"Yeah, but now I want to be a doctor. Do you think Jeremy is going to turn to medicine when he can't even dissect a worm? Come on, Ric. Everyone cheats!" Elena scoffed.

"Oh really? And that makes it right?" Ric challenged. "I never cheated. Ever!"

Elena winced, she had walked into that one.

"Well, no," Elena said. "I just didn't know how else to help him...And I needed money for a new dress for the dance! Ric, please don't make a big deal about this."

Ric shook his head.

"It is a big deal. You can get expelled from college for cheating. Is that the kind of person you want to be? A cheater?" Ric pressed.

"I don't need to cheat. I was just trying to kill two birds with one stone. I think you are freaking out over nothing," Elena ventured. "Now, can I go back to my meeting? Homeroom is almost over. I really don't have the time to waste on this crap."

"No, we're not done here. I want all the old tests so we can burn them. From now on, we will be checking Jeremy's school work a lot closer. You can consider yourself grounded until further notice. You come home right after practice today. We're not done discussing this," Ric said sternly.

"But I was supposed to go out after. Ric, you're being a dick about this!" Elena wailed.

Ric's face grew stormy.

"I will show you how much of a dick I can be," Ric stated. He locked his classroom door and pulled the blind down.

"Ric, what are you doing? Come on. I-I got mad...I shouldn't h-have," Elena stammered.

Ric picked up a heavy ruler from his desk.

"Jeremy already got a spanking. I guess you need one, too," Ric shared. Her grabbed Elena's arm and put his foot on the rung of the student desk.

"No! Ric, you're not allow to," Elena squealed.

"Hush or you are going to draw a crowd," Ric warned. He leaned Elena over his thigh and swatted her skirt with the flat side of the ruler. It feel dully. Looking out through the windows and seeing no one, Ric flipped up her short skirt and started whacking the seat of her underpants.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Thwack!

Elena made an "ow" sound and tried to get up, but Ric held her down and started spanking her exposed thighs.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Thwack!

"I can't *thwack!* believe that a smart *thwack!* girl like you *thwack!*, thinks cheating is *thwack!* okay," Ric lectured, swatting firmly.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Thwack!

Elena flinched at a hard whack, gulping, "Okay, I don't...Ric, I-I s-sorry!"

"You will be *thwack!*, young lady," Ric replied, swatting up her thighs and landing a flurry of cracks back on her panty-covered behind. She squirmed and tried to move, but could only grip on to Ric's pants with her fists.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Thwack!

Ric let her up just before she started crying. If someone came across this, he'd probably be fired. Guardian of Elena or not.

"That's just a taste of what you are getting tonight. I want you to think of what you did wrong and how you could have handled it better," Ric said, letting her up.

Elena sniffed and rubbed at her bottom and thighs.

"Ric, that stung!" Elena conceded. "You're right. I shouldn't have done it. Don't spank me tonight."

"A spanking is going to be the least of your worries. And what happened to the money you saved? You should have had plenty for a dress," Ric wondered, putting the ruler back on his desk.

"I bought April make-up as a surprise," Elena said, starting to cry.

Ric softened, "Oh honey, that was a nice thing. You know, you could pick up a few more chores and we'll increase your allowance...Did you consider that?"

The bell for first hour rang, but Elena ignored it. She was in no state to deal with Caroline and the dance right now. Maybe she wouldn't even make it to the dance.

Elena's eyes watered and a few tears dripped down.

"No, I didn't," Elena said. "I just I-I w-wasn't thinking at a-all."

"Come here," Ric said, pulling her to him. He let her cry into his chest and stoked her hair. "I'm not angry, but you need to realize this whole thing is wrong. Sitting down and teaching someone is a lot harder than giving them the answers, but it's worth it in the end. Why don't you share with Jeremy what interests you about science? It might not work, but it's better than getting your tail roasted, right?"
Elena had to laugh at that. She pulled away.

"Yeah, you're right. But I'm going to be late for class," Elena acknowledged.

"I'll write you a transfer slip," Ric said. "I think you need to go fix your face before you go back to class."

Elena tugged down her short skirt.

"I might have to put on pants. You really whacked my thighs," Elena said, turning to see if there were red marks. She didn't see any.

"You're fine, but we are going to talk tonight," Ric said, writing the slip. "Jenna wants me to visit the wood shop now. You better go."

Elena took the transfer and got her thing. She was in shock that Ric had taken that ruler to her, but she did see what he had. She had been a bad example for Jer, that stung the worst.

"Tell Jeremy that I'm sorry," Elena said, gathering her things. "I guess I'm not mad at him. Just myself."

"You can tell him," Ric said, following her out of the room. "And better to get caught by Jenna and me then get suspended. You could have been removed from the cheer team, at the very least."

Elena's mouth opened in shock. "And it could have been on my record. Colleges would see it...Oh, Ric, I never considered that."

"Yeah, it can be serious. Now, is there anything else I need to know?" Ric inquired.

"I don't think so," Elena said.

"What about everyone cheating?" Ric went on.

"You know the only kid in your class that tries to cheat is Tyler," Elena smirked. "But everyone knows that."

"Yeah, but he's not very good at it," Ric smiled. He patted her on the back and they parted ways.

Lunch

Rebekah was exhausted and now famished.

"Kol, I can barely keep my eyes open," Rebekah complained. "And now you make it worse...Thanks a bloody lot!"

"Aye, it was a late night, but great fun," Kol remarked. "Damon's getting a bit free with his magic, though. I warned him about burning himself out but he did not seem too concerned."

"If he's anything like you, he'll be too busy chasing witch skirt to notice," Rebekah prattled, pushing her lunch tray towards Kol. "Oh, there's my friend Matt. You can have my pizza since you gulped my...drink."

Kol had drank Rebekah's thermos of blood while she was in the bathroom. She was saving it for lunch as she was also especially hungry today. All the exertion of last night really was catching up with her.

Kol sneered at the food.

"Tastes worse than cardboard," Kol replied to no one in particular.

April laughed, "Oh, it's better than the food at my old school."
"Where did you attend? A prison?" Kol quipped, looking at the pretty brunette who always seemed cheerful. Odd, since her father had just died.

"Basically," April admitted. "I was sent there for 'behavior problems.' My dad didn't agree with me wanting to, well, really do anything fun."

"That's a drag," Kol said.

Rebekah got up and skipped towards the blond, Matt Donovan.

"Hullo, Matt, ready for English?" Rebekah chattered.

"Oh, hey, wow...Your hair is really different," Matt stammered, not sure how to take the pink streaks.

"Yeah, I had a crazy night..." Rebekah smiled. "So English? Did you read the story?"

"Oh, we have sixth hour today," Matt explained. "Remember, I told you how the classes rotate. Tomorrow, it will be first. I know it's confusing, but just ask if you get messed up."

"Oh, okay," Rebekah smiled. She looked into Matt's eyes and compelled him, "You will follow me, but you won't remember any of it."

Matt said robotically, "I will follow you, but I won't remember any of it."

Rebekah led Matt back in through the cafeteria to an empty storage room. She could sense humans and hear their heartbeats. She knew it was free.

Rebekah told Matt to bare his neck and bared her fangs. She drank deeply, but knew how much she could safely take. His blood tasted like sun and fresh cool air to her. She remembered Elena saying that they had dated. How could Elena have given Matt up? He was the purest soul.

Rebekah pulled away, her fangs dripping with blood. Matt looked dazed.
Just as Rebekah healed Matt of his neck wound, Kol burst in.

"What the bloody hell are you doing?" Kol fumed.

Rebekah backed up, "You ate my lunch!"

"I didn't think you'd eat this bloke. I thought you liked him," Kol thundered.

"Keep your voice down," Rebekah hissed, glancing at the door. "Matt, leave us. Go back to lunch and tell them you were in the loo."

Matt left walking slowly.

Kol snapped, "You are in for it!"

"Don't tell on me! Please, Kol," Rebekah pleaded. "The others don't need to know."
"Jolly right they don't," Kol stated. He sat down on a stool and pulled Rebekah over his lap.

"I haven't spanked you since you cracked me over the head with that chamber pot!" Kol recalled, flipping up Rebekah's skirt.

Smack!

"Uh! Not so hard!" Rebekah pleaded.

"I told you the next time, you were losing your bloomers," Kol warned, pulling down Rebekah's sheer underpants.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Kol was not holding back and the smacks reverberated in the small closet.

"Ohhhhh," Rebekah moaned, holding in her cries. If anyone saw this, she would be mortified.

Smack!

Kol shook out his already stinging hand and leaned over and grabbed a large heavy brush.

Crack!

"ARGGGGH!" Rebekah shrieked, kicking her feet wildly. "What the-!"

Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!

"You don't feed at school!" Kol reprimanded, spanking her bottom hard. The red welts were healing, but he laid more on top of them.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!

Rebekah was crying too hard to speak or breath by the time Kol stood her up. She clutched her fiery backside and tried to stomp out the sting.

"Let that be a lesson to you," Kol said, catching his breath and throwing the brush back in a bucket. He found a roll of paper towels and tore some off.

"Here, clean your face. Your tears are mixed with blood. You can't go out looking like a ghoul," Kol said, feeling guilty seeing Rebekah so upset. The few other times he had put her over his knee, he had just smacked her lightly, but this time he had really paddled her hard. Kol tried to mop off her face, but Rebekah snatched the towels and loudly blew her nose. His anger had died down to regret, maybe he had been too hasty. After all, he had drank her blood.

"Look, I'm sorry I drank your blood," Kol apologized. "But I do fancy the hair. Come on, don't be cross with me. You deserved it."

"I hate you!" Rebekah groaned, pushing back him. "And I'm going to tell Elijah about what you did...No, I'll tell Finn! And then Niklaus. Or maybe I'll tell Dr. Wes, he's a teacher here now. He can give you a good caning right in front of the class! He likes me better than you, you are done!"
Rebekah ran from the room before Kol could reason with her. He shook his head and found a cigar in his jacket pocket. He couldn't go back to class without a smoke first.

Kol chuckled at the thought of that puny human Wes trying to thrash him. He chewed on the cigar, thoughtfully. Best wait until later, he thought. Kol knew that Elijah would sniff out the scent on him as soon as he got home.