by Rachel Burns
He wanted to go and apologize.
Maybe he should just tell her the truth. He fished the top half of his pajamas out of the drawer and went to her room.
He heard the crying a few doors before he reached her room. She sounded heart broken. He was the one causing her that pain.
Scott went back to his room and laid down. He could still hear her crying in his head.
He decided to tell her an hour later, but when he stood in front of her door, she was still crying, and he chickened out again.
Brianna was extremely tired the next morning. Her eyes were puffy from crying. She used some of the cream around her eyes that they usually used for their backsides after a spanking. She didn’t look much better.
Her mouth fell into a frown as she looked at herself. She told herself that she would just have to keep her head down low.
Cathy was waiting for her outside of her room. She latched onto Brianna, and they went to breakfast. Cathy had a sprained ankle. Brianna was more than happy to carry her books for her. Cathy asked her in a whispered what had happened when Scott came by. Brianna told her he gave her the new schedule, and that was it. She left out so much.
Cathy looked disappointed. This must be very hard on her, Brianna thought. Her best friend and her brother didn’t like each other, so she couldn’t relax with them. Well, Brianna used to like him. He just couldn’t stand her, and then he saved her life, and then he moved funny in his sleep, and she made a big deal about it proving what a baby she was, and he couldn’t stand her again.
She wondered if he wished that he hadn’t save her? Tears pricked her eyes again. She wanted to get them under control before anyone noticed.
Brianna hadn’t needed to worry; everyone was staring at Cathy. If they noticed her eyes, then they would have thought that she was crying for her friend, who still looked very beaten up despite the smile on her face.
Brianna even forgot her own silly nonsense with Scott and just concentrated on Cathy.
Brianna managed to avoid Scott very well. It was almost like he was trying to avoid her too. Which was silly because he probably didn’t think twice about her other than it was cool to have saved her life, and that she was his baby sister’s friend.
She was so easily forgotten.
Of course, it had been an accident that he had forgotten her, and she was stupid enough to bug him that late at night anyway. It could have happened to anyone. She was the idiot that felt the need to point out his mistake after eleven in the evening. It was only natural that he wouldn’t be in a good mood.
She was just too sensitive. Especially after what she had accused him of doing. That must be how he saw it.
Who wouldn’t avoid someone like that?
Next thing she would start telling people that the sky was falling.
She concentrated on her homework, but after two weeks of him not showing on Friday nights, an idea started to take seed in her head. Maybe if her grades slipped, in this very last trimester, after already being accepted to the next college of her choice, maybe he would stop by. He might even spank her, and she could pretend that it was for leaving her friend in a lurch.
The seed of that idea started to grow. Could she do something like that? She had never gotten in trouble on purpose before.
Brianna was starting to get obsessed with the idea of getting into trouble. She would sit in class and think about that instead about what was being said. German seemed to be the only class that she was doing well in at the moment. But try as she may she always got a ‘B’ and never a ‘C.’
Still, Scott must be getting reports. Maybe this week he would actually stop by and see her?
Chapter 7 – Guilty as Sin
“Hello.”
“Scott, here is Charles Banks.”
“Oh, hello, sir.”
“I’m calling because I got a call from the Dean. It seems that my daughter isn’t doing very well in most of her subjects lately.”
“Yes, sir. I have noticed that too.” Scott’s heart was beating so loud.
“Can you tell me why that is?” Mr. Banks sounded very mad.
Not really, Scott thought. He hadn’t spoken too or hardly seen her since that late evening when she showed up at his door. He just peeked over at her in the school cafeteria, feeling like a high school kid once again. “Her grades are still within her expectations,” he offered lamely.
“Really? And what exactly are her expectations?”
“The Dean decided that she didn’t need any because she has always been the best of all the girls.”
“I see. Well she isn’t the best anymore. I think it is time to give her some expectations. Or is she having health problems that I don’t know about?”
Damned if I know, Scott thought. He was worried. He hadn’t thought about that. What if she needed help, and no one had been checking on her?
She wouldn’t want to knock on his door. She would expect him to send her away again.
“Sir, I will have a sit down talk with her yet today. I’ll call you afterwards.”
“Scott, I want you to nip this in the bud. I don’t care how.”
“I’ll take care of it. You can depend on me.”
“I already do. Goodbye, son.”
“Goodbye, sir,” Scott answered. They hung up, and Scott fell back into his chair.
It was Saturday afternoon, and he had skipped Brianna’s room again last night. Just like the weeks before. He knew that she wasn’t doing as well as usual, and that she had been daydreaming in her classes, but she hated him, and she had every right to hate him.
Who was he to go to her and tell her she wasn’t being good?
He decided to get it over with. He walked down the hall that was a little too noisy. The noise lessened as he passed by. He knocked on Brianna’s door. She didn’t answer. He knocked again and then fished out his master key. He was scared that he would find her dead, laying on the floor. Her room was empty. He sighed relieved.
He went to his sister’s room. “Do you know where Brianna is?”
“She is in the music room at this time,” Cathy answered him. “Why?” she asked as innocently as she could with a huge smile on her face.
“That’s none of your business.”
“Of course,” she smiled. She went back to studying.
Cathy wondered if she should just tell Brianna. This whole cat and mouse thing was getting on her nerves. She had been observing Brianna watching Scott lately. She would get all red and peek over her shoulder and then turn back quickly. That must be what a normal coed high school would have been like.
Scott wasn’t sure what to do. Should he go and find her? She had probably been in her room last night, waiting for him. No, this was her time to do what she wanted. He couldn’t just burst into the music rooms and discuss her grades there.
He went back to his room and waited while watching the clock. What if she really wasn’t feeling well?
Maybe it would be best to mosey over and just check on her. No, he wouldn’t do that. He had a responsibility here too. She wasn’t his only problem. She wasn’t even the only one whose grades were suffering. If he went looking for her, he might as well admit that he was hopelessly in love with her. He could tattoo it on his forehead.
The problem was he missed her, a lot. He missed looking into her eyes and talking to her. He didn’t just love her he also liked her. She was nice and so easy to talk to when he was acting normal. Why was it so hard for him to act normal when she was around?
He wanted to make a good impression on her. She should be proud to be his girlfriend when he finally asked her. Would she be?
He checked on her again and again. The clock was ticking away. Five minutes to curfew. He stood outside of her door, waiting. He had knocked and unlocked the door to check on her several times.
Scott looked at his watch every ten seconds.
Six o’clock, still no Brianna. He was pacing in front of her door. Should he call the Dean and maybe arrange a s
earch party? Should he call the hospital? They would have called him if something had happened, right?
Maybe he should get her one of those bracelets that informed people about her condition. He could have his cell number engraved on it.
Brianna walked in the door and saw him right away. He looked like he wanted to kill her personally. She took a step back. She honestly considered running for it.
“Where have you been?” He walked closer to her. His hands were balled into fists.
“I was in the music room, like always.”
“Don’t get smart with me.”
“I wasn’t. I’m not even late. I don’t understand what the problem is.”
He turned bright red and lifted his watch up to her face. It showed that she was one minute too late.
She looked at her own wrist. Her watch showed that it was two minutes before six. She smiled at him and showed him her watch.
“Do you think this is a joke?”
“No, but truthfully, I don’t understand why you would pounce on me like this the second I came back.” She used her hand and waved it at him.
“You don’t have any idea why I would be waiting for you? None at all?”
“Scott, everyone is listening. I wasn’t late. What are you doing?” she whispered to him so that he could save face.
It didn’t work he got even more mad. He grabbed her by her arm and brought her to her room. All the doors on the floor closed as he came nearer. He guided Brianna into her room and locked the door behind them. “I decide if you are late or not.”
“I wasn’t late.” She stared back at him completely surprised by his audacity. “Besides, what do you care? You haven’t talked to me at all this trimester or at all this year. Why today?”
Scott watched the fire in her eyes. He had to fight with himself not to pull her close and kiss her. Something about fighting with her was really turning him on. He better wrap things up in here quickly.
“I wanted to talk to you about your grades.” He pulled out her desk chair and sat down, hoping that she wouldn’t notice the bulge that was forming. He just couldn’t be near her without his body reacting to their closeness.
“Really? Again I sat in my room waiting for you last night, and you didn’t come. Just like practically every other Friday this year. I wait. No show. Sometimes Cathy comes, but usually I just give up around ten and go to sleep like a normal person.” She didn’t sit down but stood by her desk unpacking her sheet music, and her empty water bottle.
“Brianna, will you please sit down,” he asked her as politely as he could.
That got her attention. She looked at the back of his head and scowled at him. “Why now? Why are you here now?” Her tone even sounded mean to herself.
Her words hurt, mostly because they were true. He had been avoiding her, and he had hurt her so much already. “I got a phone call from your father.”
“Oh.” She moved around to her bed and sat down across from him. “Are my parents okay?”
“No, they aren’t. Your father sounded like he was about to have a heart attack. The Dean called him and informed him about your grades. He is fit to be tied.”
“Oh that.” She had done it on purpose, but then she hadn’t. She just couldn’t concentrate.
Now she was biting her lower lip as she thought about the reasons behind her bad grades. Guilt was first and foremost for not waiting for Cathy. Hurt, that was there too because Scott hated her. And with all that in her head she hadn’t been able to concentrate.
Maybe if Scott did punish her, then she would be able to concentrate. She got up and went to his right side.
Scott just stared up at her. The last place he wanted her just now was over his lap. He was so shocked that it took him a moment to think of something to say.
“Um – I don’t have a reason to spank you – yet. Please, sit down again. Right now I just want to hear the why of it.” He watched her sit back down before he started. “Why aren’t you working up to your normal standard?”
She was back to biting on her lip again. Her lips were getting red, wet, and she was so close. He wanted to kiss her so badly. Scott was already suffering. He took a deep breath.
“I’m sorry you had to come. I know you don’t really like me, especially after what happened with Cathy. I’ll try harder to concentrate. You don’t have to come back again. I’ll make sure I just get straight A’s again. I’m sorry, and I’ll change the time on my clock too so that won’t happen again either.” She gave him a brief nod and tried to look into his eyes, but it hurt too much.
Her crush on him had gotten worse, even if it was so obvious that he didn’t want her. He was still the only man she had ever talked to.
“Brianna, is that what you think?”
She shrugged her shoulders and didn’t meet his eyes. “It doesn’t matter. I realize I am more annoying than most people, more needy. Less than two months, and then you never have to see me again. I’ll stay away from your family’s house too. You can forget about me then. Have me over and done with.”
It hurt just hearing her say that. He could tell she believed it too. “Brianna, I believe that we had this conversation before. I don’t hate you. I don’t blame you for anything. What happened to Cathy would have happened if you had been with her. The only difference would have been that he would have been able to hurt you too.”
“Whatever.” She didn’t believe him, and it didn’t matter anyway. Soon she would never have to see him again.
“Don’t get sarcastic with me. I mean it when I say that I like you. I even think that you are amazing. I know this wasn’t your dream college. You didn’t deserve to go to a college like this. I even understand that a person gets a little relaxed about homework and studying, but like you said, it’s just two months. After that, you get a three month break. Take your break then. You did really well here. You are the best every trimester, and you can still hold your record. And the other part you mentioned about me never having to see you again. Well, that is just crap. I enjoy being a part of your life. I will even be at your wedding one day.” He smiled at his own private joke. In two months, he could tell her how he really felt.
She snorted.
“Does that mean I’m not invited?” He could hardly hide his smile. It was so great just talking to her and her saying that she would avoid him took care of his other problem. His bulge had softened.
“What wedding?” She even rolled her eyes.
He laughed at her. She was being so silly. “I’ll bet, good money even, that as soon as you get out of here, you will find a boyfriend.”
She shook her head.
“And why not?” He was getting a little upset with her.
She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.
“Brianna, your floor disciplinarian just asked you a question.” He sounded even stricter than he wanted too.
“Scott, you of all people should know.” She was beet red in the meantime.
“Well, apparently I don’t.” He was getting worried. What odd thing was going through her head now?
“I’m not all that – shall we say pretty.”
“What?” He hadn’t expected that.
“You know.”
He shook his head. He had no clue what she meant.
The burning sensation in her face was getting worse. “Never mind. I’m sure you have something more important to do.” Like tattle back to her father, she thought.
“This conversation is the most important thing in the world to me.” He was dead serious.
She was going to have to spell it out for him, and then he would tell her that it wouldn’t matter to the man who really loved her, crap like that. “Because the operations, and the scars that they left behind,” she admitted.
He cracked up laughing. Brianna was in shock. That wasn’t the reaction that she had reckoned with. Scott couldn’t stop laughing.
Brianna swallowed hard and nodded. She stood and went to her door. “Thank you for yo
ur concern. Good evening.” She opened her door wide and waited for him to leave.
He was still laughing, loudly.
“You can’t imagine what kind of stupid crap I all hear, but that was –” Scott broke into another fit. He stood and went to the door and closed it.
He was hurting her feelings, but his laughing was being a bit contagious. She smirked slightly, avoiding his eye.
“I’ve seen you. Trust me it won’t bother your future husband in the least.” Scott sobered up from one second to the next. “He will probably be thankful that they are there because without them he would never have met you, and that thought would be so terrible that it would break his heart. He will appreciate them.” Scott couldn’t stop himself. He reached out and stroked her cheek.
“Trust me. I will see you on Friday at the latest.” He left then, thinking just two more months until he could confess his true feelings.
Scott sat down at his desk and called Mr. Banks, who answered on the second ring. It was clear that he had been waiting for this phone call.
Scott was once again impressed with how much her parents cared. So much more than the other parents did. It was a world of difference. If he and Brianna ever had children, then he would be the same way.
“Sir, I had a sit down talk with her. I think I got to the bottom of it. She was doing it on purpose because she feels extremely guilty about not waiting for Cathy to go into town. She blames herself. I told her it was nonsense, but she seems to have her own opinions about that. I gave her a pep talk that school is just two more months, but I don’t know if her grades will improve. She feels guilty about that even if it is nonsense.” Scott tattled away. He was always surprised that he spilled his guts to her father the way he did.
“You had a talk with her and nothing else?” Mr. Banks asked carefully.
“My hands are tied.” Scott answered. “I have to follow the rules here. She would have to get a ‘C’ on something before I was allowed to spank her.