If we meet again

Chapter 11

Nick's POV

Brook has school today and tomorrow, but then she's on break. I think the school went over their amount of days to stay home because of the flu in December. Brook was supposed to be at school, but I went downstairs midday to find her lying on the couch, texting someone.

"Brook!" I said loudly, making her jump.

"N-Nicky!" she stammered, clearly scared.

"It's the middle of the day! Why are you alone?" Nick asked.

"Um...Kevin didn't take me with him to work?" she said.

"Mmhm." I folded my arms. She looked down at the floor, her eyes brimming with tears. Even though Brook is really sneaky and tough, ever since she moved back with us she starts crying when she lies, which I have to say is an awful lot these days.

"Brooklyn, what happened?" She seemed like she was going to start crying now. I really wanted to hug her, but I forced myself not to break. Finally, when she didn't respond I rushed to sit down next to her. Don't pick her up, don't pick her up. I thought to myself. "Did something happen at school?" Sometimes when Brook gets really upset we can get more information when we ask yes or no questions. She nodded. "Did someone hurt you?" She nodded. "Who?" I asked immediately, my protective instincts going into full gear. Brook shook her head, meaning she wouldn't tell me. "Baby, you need to tell me so I can report them to the school." I whispered. She shook her head again. "Why are you at home at one in the afternoon, Brookie?" Brook reached into her backpack, which was on the floor, and pulled a piece of pink paper out of it. I read it and my heart broke. "Brookie...." I said softly. She just started crying. Joe came downstairs just then.

"What happened? Brook, why are you crying?" he asked, confused. I handed him the note. "Oh, Brookie." he said, his voice as soft as mine was. "Why would you-"

"I don't know, Joey." she said, catching her breath. The door swung open. Kevin was there, with an unreadable expression. He seemed angry, heartbroken and understanding at the same time.

"I got a call from the school. Apparently Brook has something to show me?" Kevin said in a steady voice.

"Should I read it out loud?" asked Joe. Brook shook her head fiercely but did nothing but keep crying when Joe cleared his throat. "Ahem. Dear Mr. Jonas, blah-blah-blah, suspension, blah-blah-blah, first attack, blah-blah-blah, unkindly. The end."

"Give that to me, Joseph!" Kevin said, snatching the letter. "Dear Mr. Jonas, Brooklyn got into a fight with a boy at school today. We do not know why, or if there even was a reason, but Brooklyn will be suspended for her remaining time at school this year. Since Brooklyn had a completely clear record beforehand, if she writes an apology letter to the student whom she hit, this will not go on her permanent record. The boy may have spoken unkindly, we don't know, but we do know that Brooklyn did attack first. The boy is fine. Sincerely, George Brown, Principal." Kevin finished the letter with a sigh. "Brook, why?"

"I don't know!" she yelled.

"Brooklyn, you are not in a position to yell." Kevin said. "Now, why did you hit this boy?"

"I can't tell you." she finally sobbed.

"Brookie, you have to." Joe said softly.

"No, I just.." she broke off. She took deep, shuddering breaths, then finally sat up. "I don't know why. This boy comes up to me all the time and just starts being rude, and I always walk away. Today, I don't know why, I just got really angry and I looked at him probably really meanly, because he looked really scared, so I kicked him. Then he punched me, so I started fighting him. Then some teachers came and pulled me away from him, but he kicked my face just before they arrived so I punched him and that was all they saw. And then I blacked out." she started crying again. Kevin was silent, but Joe rushed onto the couch and pulled her onto his lap.

"Thank you for telling me, but under no circumstances may you hit anyone, ever." Kevin said. She nodded.

"For some reason, whenever I feel threatened, I just start acting like a psychopath." Brook said. Kevin nodded.

"Well, I think you know what you're going to get, so come here." Kevin said, sitting down in a chair. She shook her head and clung to Joe. "Brooklyn, let go." She shook her head again. Kevin pried her off of Joe, with great difficulty because she's really strong.

"Ready?" he asked when she finally stopped squirming and hung over his lap.

"No." she whimpered.

"Well get ready cause I'm starting." Kevin said. Kevin started spanking her, and she clenched the rug in her hands, obviously to keep from crying. It failed, though.

"Stop ruining the carpet." Kevin said softly, pulling her hands. Brook could have easily fought him, but she loosened her grip instead. Damn. Brook only lets go when she's in real pain. Finally, Kevin stopped. She went to hug him but he stopped her. Joe and I looked at him in shock.

"K-Kevy?" she asked in a small voice.

"We're not done, baby." he said tiredly. Her eyes went bigger and filled with another wave of tears.

"Kevy...please!" she cried. Kevin shook his head and laid her on the couch. He slid his belt from the loops and Joe and I left the room but we couldn't miss the loud WHACKs coming from the other room. When they stopped we went back in. Brook was lying on the couch crying a flood. Kevin carefully set her upright and moved her so that she was standing in front of him.

"A-all done?" she asked in a tiny voice, broken and wet with tears. Kevin seemed to be on the verge of crying himself but instead he pulled her into a hug.

"All done baby, it's all over." he said.

"I-I sorry. F-for.." she broke off again.

"It's forgiven now, it's all forgiven now." Kevin said, rocking her.

"I-I so sorry." she cried. Kevin nodded.

"I know you are baby girl, you've been punished and you're forgiven now." Kevin said over and over. "It's okay baby, you're forgiven, you're okay." She slowly began to calm down and Kevin transferred her to my lap, where she instantly started crying again, this time sobbing her apology to me.

"I know, it's okay." I said. I'm never the one who calms her down, and I always thought it was pretty cool how Kevin and Joe always seemed like fathers when things like this happened. But now I realize that it's not that hard because I love her. A few hours later I went back to check on her. She's asleep on her bed. She looks so innocent and small. I almost laugh at myself, because despite her size she is incredibly strong and is definitely not innocent.

Author's Note

Hey guys! I know this story took some unexpected turns but so did my life so that's why. If you could, send me some feedback! Also I'm not sure how to end this story so email me your ideas at stellamalone14120988agmail.com.  I can give you credit or not, whatever you want! 

-Stella