Chapter 2: Trouble At Home
The end of the school day came far too soon for Rachel's liking. Her peers were all excited to start their weekend, but Rachel really wished she had Glee or a detention—possibly a surgery—to delay having to walk to her mother's office and face what was coming.
"Rachel," a familiar voice called from down the hall. Rachel groaned. Of course her mother would seek her out.
Shelby had to hide her amusement at her daughter's put-upon demeanor. It wasn't that she had intended to find her child before the girl herself showed up at her office door. Shelby just happened to be leaving a class she had subbed in the social studies wing of the building, and Rachel had American government last period. It was pure circumstance that they found themselves together.
"I was going to come to your office, you know," Rachel said as she dragged her feet towards her mom. "You didn't have to come find me."
"I didn't," Shelby said, her tone light. "I was subbing Mrs. Goldstein's class for her. But this is just as well. We can get out of here even sooner."
"Yay," Rachel mocked.
"C'mon," Shelby nudged her sullen child and smiled when Rachel looked up at her. "We have the rest of the night and weekend to look forward to after we deal with the last little bit of your punishment. I'll make it quick, I promise."
"Mom!" Rachel groaned, glancing around the hallway at the handful of kids milling about. What if one of them heard and knew?!
"C'mon," Shelby repeated, taking Rachel's hand and leading her down the hall.
The ride home was short and uncomfortable. Rachel's butt was still sore from her earlier meeting with her mother's hard hand and her stomach fluttered with nervous butterflies for what awaited her at home. Shelby, for her part, tried to keep matters light. She even tried to get Rachel to sing along to the radio. The teen wasn't having it and Shelby soon gave up, leaving the girl to her thoughts.
The mother sighed as she got lost in her own thoughts. Part of her regretted ever promising Rachel a spanking at school and then home if she repeated her actions. The other part knew she needed to follow through and that this would even do Rachel some good. Her daughter was so used to getting away with her misdeeds. Someone needed to hold her accountable and teach her important life lessons. Shelby was just sad that job fell entirely on her shoulders (and more literally, her hand).
Pulling into the driveway of her two-story condo, Shelby cut the engine. Both mother and daughter breathed a forlorn sigh. Shelby was out of the car first, telling her daughter to hurry up—it was cold outside.
Rachel followed her mother into the house, dropping her bookbag on the ground by the entryway closet. Her shoes came off, then her jacket. She raked her teeth over the raw skin of her bottom lip.
"Go change out of your school clothes. I'll do the same. We'll meet in my office in fifteen minutes, okay?" Shelby said. She waited for Rachel to nod her agreement before heading off to her room. She heard the girl's slow footsteps trailing behind.
Rachel drew out a long sigh as she stepped into her bedroom. It was vastly different from her bedroom at her fathers'. The one here was smaller than the childhood bedroom she'd grown up in, but this one was decidedly more mature for the teenager Rachel was growing into. Shelby had helped her pick out the color for the walls (a smoky purpley-blue), and the furniture stain was a warm gray-brown. Several Broadway posters adorned the walls, each in their own matching silver frames. Rachel loved it, but right now, she wished she was in the butter-yellow room at her dads' house with her brightly-colored quilted bedspread and her small collection of favorite stuffed animals piled up on her pillows—mostly because if she was there, she wouldn't be here, about to have her butt roasted for the second time today.
Rachel shook her head. She needed to focus. Moving to her dresser, she opened several drawers and quickly pulled out the articles of clothing she would need. She picked her favorite sleep shirt (an over-large and worn Carmel t-shirt she'd commandeered from her mother ages ago), a fresh pair of underwear, and a light pair of star-patterned pajama bottoms. She added a pair of plain white ankle socks and carried them all into the Jack-and-Jill bathroom connecting her bedroom with the guest room on the other side.
Rachel went to the bathroom and washed her hands and then face, removing the last of her make-up. It left her feeling fresher, but made her look years younger. Her youth was further emphasized as she traded her school clothes for the too-big t-shirt and star pants. She frowned at her reflection in the mirror and then rubbed ruefully at her bottom. Turning to the side, she peeled her pants and underwear down and peered over her shoulder at the mirror. A faint pink blush colored her skin and she winced as she imagined how red it would be once her mother was through with her.
The teenager gave her butt one last rub and then fixed her clothing. There was nothing to do now but go face the music, she supposed. She could already feel her tears returning and wondered briefly if their presence along with her looking like a little girl would sway her mother at all. One could only hope!
Shelby had also changed and removed any trace of make-up from her face. She wanted to be comfortable, so she'd chosen her favorite pair of velvety-soft sweatpants and another of her dozens of old Carmel t-shirts. They were big on her, but nowhere near as much as on Rachel's petite frame. She'd then padded downstairs on fleece-lined slipper socks to her office to wait for her daughter to join her.
The mother's heart thumped inside her chest as she paced back and forth, her eyes constantly flicking to the clock as the minutes ticked by. "Come on, Rachel," she mumbled. She didn't want to do this any more than Rachel wanted it done, but some things were just like that. Best to face it and get it over with as quickly as possible.
Rachel took as much time as she could getting to her mother's office. The door had been left open and the girl could see her mom pacing inside. She looked just as anxious as Rachel felt and the girl frowned. Her mom had seemed cool and collected and absolutely sure of herself in her office at school. She wondered what had changed since then, and if she could use that to her advantage.
Shelby spun on her feet at the sound of the floor creaking outside of her office. She met the glassy eyes of her child and her heart clenched. Rachel looked so little standing there in her too-big t-shirt and guilt-ridden face. It was easy for Shelby to picture the six-year-old version of her daughter standing there instead, and the mother had to quickly dislodge that vision from her mind. She'd never be able to go through with the next few minutes if she didn't.
"Come here, Rach," she spoke softly when her teenager hadn't moved on her own. She tucked her lips inward in sympathy as she watched Rachel struggle to do as asked.
"Mama," the girl whispered in a pleading tone. Her big eyes beseeched her mother, but she took a step toward the woman, and then another.
Shelby had to quickly steel her heart against that sweet title and the sad face that muttered it. She knew what her daughter was doing and could even feel it working. That's why she had to be quick to shut it down.
"We are due a serious conversation, young lady," she returned, pointing to the spot directly in front of her. Rachel grimaced but picked up her pace until she was where Shelby expected her. Shelby took her child's hand and guided them to the sofa at the far side of the room—they might as well be comfortable as they dealt with this.
Rachel inhaled through her teeth and shifted as she was pulled down to sit beside her mom. As unpleasant as sitting was right now, the girl knew this was as good as it was going to get for a while. She was certain she'd be much sorer the rest of the night…and probably well into tomorrow. She groaned.
Shelby kept Rachel's hand in both of her own as they sat and stared at one another in silence for a long moment. Rachel squirmed and let out little pained hisses while Shelby collected her thoughts.
"Tell me, Rachel: when you stormed out of your biology class this morning, did my being in my own class at the time have any bearing on your decision? Did you do it because you expected to get away with your rule-breaking?" Shelby asked directly.
Rachel paled, shaking her head frantically as her mother stared her down. "No! Mom, no! I-I didn't—I swear!" she rushed to say. "I wasn't thinking about anything other than those poor frogs we were going to have to dissect."
Shelby nodded, relieved. Her child's misbehavior wasn't premeditated. That was good. "Okay, Rach, I believe you," she reassured her anxious teenager.
Rachel's entire body relaxed and she slumped against the sofa cushions, suddenly exhausted. Cautious eyes met her mother, who rewarded her with a small smile. "I did think maybe you wouldn't find out, since you hadn't tracked me down by lunchtime. And when you came to the auditorium, you said something about being truant, so I just assumed you were talking about study hall. I guess I should have figured Mr. Fitz would come talk to you, it's just that…" At this, Rachel stopped and looked away from Shelby's attentive gaze.
"Just that what, Rach?"
Rachel sighed and flicked her eyes up and then back down. "It never seemed to matter before. But now that you're at school, suddenly it…does," she confided.
It was Shelby's turn to sigh as she reached out to run her hand over Rachel's hair soothingly. Then she cupped her daughter's cheek, forcing eye contact. "It should have always mattered, but late is better than never. One way or another, your storming out of class needs to stop. It'll earn you a trip over my knee each and every time, and I'm going to be talking to your teachers to make sure they all know I expect them to come to me with any issues in class and to hold you accountable by giving you a zero for the day whenever you have an unexcused absence."
"Mom—"
"No," Shelby stopped the argument before it could even begin. "We've talked about you not storming out of your classes. You know you aren't allowed to but continue to do it anyway—and I get it, Rach. You've never had to face any consequences for your actions before—but that doesn't change the fact that it's wrong. There are consequences now and I expect you to remember that. We've also talked about the importance of not storming out because you aren't getting your way. You can't do that in the real world, kiddo—I'm not about to let you continue to do it now. And lastly, today you stormed out because you thought you knew the answers to what was happening, but it turns out, you were dead wrong."
Rachel shifted and looked thoroughly abashed by her mother's scolding. Shelby continued. "It all comes down to this, Rachel: You need to start thinking before you act. You react to situations and let your emotions control your decisions rather than your head. Rational thought, Rachel—use it. You're going to have an awfully hard time as an adult if you don't start practicing that skill now."
The tears that had been swimming in big brown eyes before now fell slowly from long lashes. Rachel swiped a hand across her face and sniffled. "I'm s-sorry," she cried.
"I know you are, sweetheart," Shelby soothed. "You've still done wrong and I still have to punish you for it. I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't."
"But you already—"
"Mmm, no," Shelby intervened. "You've earned another spanking from me and that's exactly what I'm going to give you. Come on. Stand up for me and we can get it over with now." Shelby nudged the girl to her feet and then scooted into the center of the sofa.
"But Mommy—" Rachel cried as she found herself standing between her mother's knees for the second time today. "I'm still so sore from earlier!" Shelby's hands went to her waist, resting there as the woman met her eyes. Shelby looked sympathetic but determined.
"It will all be over soon, Rachel," was all Shelby said before hooking her fingers in the waistband of Rachel's sleep pants. The thin material fell to the ground, pooling at Rachel's feet. The girl cried harder.
Shelby took a steadying breath as she prepared herself for this next part. Rachel squirmed and met her gaze with wide-eyed panic as Shelby's hands returned to her waist. "I spanked you over your underwear at school because I want to know how far down I can go—I don't want to risk spanking too low and having it show under your skirt. We don't have to worry about that at home, so I am going to bare your bottom now."
Rachel's stomach plummeted down to her feet and she let out a horrified gasp as she tried to step back. Her feet tangled in her pants, preventing her from going anywhere—that and her mother's firm grip to her hips. Before she could react further, Shelby had grabbed hold of her panties and yanked down.
"No, Mom, please!" Rachel squealed, her hands tugging at the front of her shirt to preserve her modesty. It wasn't necessary, the hem fell well below mid-thigh on its own. Her mother ignored her embarrassment and Rachel was toppling over her lap in the next instant, covering her front from view anyway.
The teen pushed up on her elbows as soon as she was face-down, hoping to right herself, but Shelby already had an arm wrapped around Rachel's waist and was brushing her too-big t-shirt away to expose her bare bottom to the room.
"No, Mommy!" Rachel protested, tossing her left hand behind her, palm up to cover her unprotected target. Shelby caught it easily and pinned it to the small of Rachel's back. "No, no, noooo," the girl moaned, burying her face in the sofa.
Shelby used this moment to survey the upturned bottom over her knees, noting the pink blush that still colored the area. She had no doubt that her daughter was still sore, but reminded herself that the girl had brought this on herself.
"Yes, Rachel," she answered firmly. "I warned you last week. I made it very clear that I would spank you both at school and at home. You didn't listen. Perhaps now you will take my words seriously."
"I do! I do take them seriously!" Rachel insisted, wiggling back and forth across her mother's lap as she fought against the woman's hold. "Please, Mom, I won't storm out of class ever again!"
"I'm glad to hear that, Rachel," Shelby said, readjusting her child over her knees. "But I'm still going to repeat my lesson to ensure that."
With that, Shelby raised her hand, letting it hang in the air for a moment before bringing it down. It connected with Rachel's pink bottom with a thunderous crack, and Rachel reacted immediately, a shrill cry piercing the air.
"Ow! Ow, ow, Mom! Ow! Ouch—No—OW!" Rachel hollered, tears streaming down her face. Her mother ignored her, cracking her palm down in a relentless staccato that burned her bottom fiercely.
In fact, Rachel couldn't believe how much these swats hurt compared to earlier. Either her panties had provided more protection than Rachel realized, or else her mother was spanking that much harder now that they weren't at risk of being accidentally overheard. Maybe it was a bit of both. But whatever it was, Rachel was not a fan!
"Mommy! Mommy, ow—please! Oh—Oh, ow! Ouch! Ah—No! No m-more! I—I'm sor—OUCH—sorry!" Rachel cried, drumming her feet against the floor. The movement untangled her pants from around her ankles where they'd precariously hung on and now landed on the floor in a heap. It freed her legs to kick, which she gladly did.
"I need you to remember this, Rachel," Shelby told her child, her hand never faltering in its correction. "Every time you fail to stop and think before storming out of class, this is where you're going to find yourself—bare bottom over my lap at the end of the day. I don't want that and I know YOU don't want that."
"No! No—Ow! Ow, Mommy, no! I don't—Ouch! I don't w-want that!" Rachel squealed, shaking her head furiously and sending tears flying. She twisted her hips, trying to avoid her mother's hand—at least hoping the woman would smack somewhere else on her bottom that was less sore—to no avail. Shelby hit her mark each and every time. "I won't—Ow! Won't—Nooo–oohooo—do it again! M—Mommy! Mama! I sweaaar!"
"Your actions affect more than just yourself, Rachel Barbra Berry." Shelby had to raise her voice to be heard over the sounds of the spanking. "It's disrespectful and childish to storm out of anywhere when you don't agree with something or aren't getting your way. It's disruptive to your teachers and your peers. You miss out on important information. And frankly, Rachel, it makes everyone form opinions of you that are less-than complimentary. Do you want others to view you as a bratty, immature child that refuses to acknowledge any other opinion besides your own?"
"No! No, Mommy, I'm sorry! Ow! P-Please, I'm sorry!" Rachel cried. Her mother's words stung worse than her palm in this moment and that was saying something.
"I know you are," Shelby acknowledged, wrapping her arm more securely around Rachel's waist. "Let's finish this now."
The mother's hand was a flurry of movement as she focused on her daughter's sit-spots. She peppered the area with hard swats, turning the girl's bottom bright cherry red. It was practically glowing! Rachel howled and bucked her hips across Shelby's lap, fighting against the searing pain. Then she went limp and Shelby finished off with half a dozen cracks across the whole of Rachel's bottom.
Rachel was sobbing and breathing heavily by the end. She was too exhausted to even move, and she was sure she'd never be able to sit without squirming ever again!
Shelby's hand returned to her child's bottom as she began to soothe the fire she'd ignited, knowing it wouldn't go away any time soon whether she rubbed or not. But for Rachel it provided comfort words couldn't, making it clear that her punishment was well and truly over and all was forgiven.
When her daughter's tears slowed, Shelby returned the girl's underwear to its proper place and then helped her stand. Rachel's hands immediately flew behind her to clutch at her throbbing bottom and then jumped away as if they'd been scalded (which wasn't altogether that unbelievable considering how hot the girl's skin was at the moment). The mother knew it was for a different reason as Rachel turned anxious eyes on her.
Shelby's expression softened as she reached out to rub her daughter's arm. "Go ahead and rub if you need to," she said gently. When Rachel stared at her as if she had two heads, she added, "It's only at school that I won't allow you to rub, Rach. I haven't spanked you as long or as hard in school, so I want to make sure you keep that sting I've given you. Here, your punishment is over. Rubbing won't take the heat away, but I'm sure it makes it feel better all the same."
Rachel's face glowed as bright as her bottom at her mother's words, but her hands snuck back behind her anyway. She hissed as her fingers brushed against tender skin and she quickly gave it up. With a deep-set pout, she stared at Shelby with shiny, tearful eyes.
"Come here, baby," Shelby cooed, holding her hand out for Rachel to take. The girl did so reluctantly, and Shelby eased her back down onto the sofa. "Rest your head in my lap, there you go," she directed, helping Rachel get comfortable. Her fingers carded through silky locks as Rachel rolled onto her belly and stretched fully out on the sofa.
Mother and daughter were quiet for a time before a sniffling Rachel spoke up. "I'm never going to get in trouble again," she lamented.
Shelby couldn't help but laugh at her child's somber edict. "I'm not sure you can keep that promise, sweetheart," she reasoned.
Rachel grumbled and then yawned, rubbing her face against Shelby's sweatpants. The girl's eyes fluttered and Shelby felt her heart melt.
"Close your eyes and rest, baby," Shelby encouraged, rubbing her hand down Rachel's back in slow circles.
"I don't need a nap, Mama," her daughter said, her words garbled with tiredness. Shelby smiled fondly at the childish protest, easily imagining a much-younger Rachel curled up next to her.
"Of course you don't, honey," she appeased. "I've got some papers I need to grade though, so you stay right here and keep me company, okay?" Rachel hummed her agreement and Shelby just shook her head. She contented herself with continuing to rub her daughter's head and back until the girl's body grew heavy and her breathing evened out.
Carefully extricating herself from her dozing child, Shelby stood and stretched. Then she pulled the throw blanket off the back of the sofa and laid it over Rachel's prone form. A kiss was placed to her daughter's head and then Shelby moved over to her desk to get started on her grading. She'd let Rachel sleep for a bit and when she woke, Shelby had plans to order in Rachel's favorite and watch a marathon of Barbra movies. It was going to be a good night.