MR. DAVIS' POV:

I adjusted my monitor so it was directly in my attention, I have a great deal on my mind and my ability to focus was diminishing by the minute. For God's sake, I've been on the same column for the last twenty minutes. Jim needs the budget finished by the end of the day so we can give it to the financial advisor and yet I have only the first two columns finished. I sat back in my chair, pinching between my eyes I sighed at the useless hope of completing it before our breakfast session. Glancing at the clock, the apprehension in my stomach was growing as I realized that Naomi would be here soon.

I spent a significant amount of time last night after dismissing her trying to figure out what it was I'm going to do. She definitely deserves a good spanking for her attitude and actions, but I have to make sure this is sufficient enough to where we will never revisit it again. It's not so much the missing curfew that alarmed me, I understand that mistakes happen but she hid from me, ran from me. I don't know what I would do if I lost her and the other night I felt a giant blow to my chest when I couldn't find her. Apart of me just wants to tell her the truth...but that may only bring mistrust and, God forbid, more insubordination. I haven't felt this conflicted since the day I signed the custody papers.

"Is this going to help her? I can't just punish her and send her off like any other student." I leaned back against the windowsill and loosened my tie, feeling as though the walls were caving in on me.

"Yes this will help her, you know as well as I do that this method works with out students. Hence why we are the number one disciplinary school in the district." Jim came forward.

"Will you stop being so managerial right now? Yes, of course we're the number one disciplinary school in the district! But that's because we rule with a heavy fist but Naomi...she needs more than what we give our usual students and I don't know what that is ...I've never had to care for a child let alone a fourteen-year-old girl."

"That's not true! Besides, she deserves to be punished for what she did."

"I know, but I'm not entirely sure a spanking will resolve this." I ran my fingers through my hair, pacing through an agonizing struggle. "I need Audrey here, she'd know how to handle this...she always knew what to do."

I could see the lapse of empathy in his face, he was much too stubborn to understand this right now. He was much like his father, when it came to discipline no one could tell him otherwise.

"You need to do something, it's your responsibility. When we made the arrangement with her parents you were positive that..."

"I don't regret the life I chose for me, I'm just saying that maybe a spanking isn't the right choice to help her learn her lesson."

He shook his head, "If you don't do this then you will be taking a big step back in your relationship with Naomi, not to mention that you will be setting a precedent for others to follow. Consistency is key, repetition is good for a developing brain."

"So because she's always had a spanking from me then she'll be expecting one? Doesn't that take away the primal feeling of being punished?" I snidely asked.

"Well I can see we're not going to agree here."

"I'm just analyzing my options Jim, don't take this so personally."

" I guess I will give you time to consider this but just so you know...you're going to decide this alone, I won't do it for you."

I have to remain strict. I can't let her see that I think there is even a shred of doubt in my methods otherwise she may grow to resent me. I took a deep breath. ___________________________________________________________________

NAOMI'S POV:

When I woke up this morning, it took me a few minutes to remember the disheartened conversation with Mr. Davis last night and his instruction to return to his office at 8 a.m. I didn't bother getting changed, today is Monday and chores are usually assigned after breakfast so no one is ever as prompt and prepared as they usually are. But I think this can be said about Mondays for everyone in the world.

I slowly treaded downstairs to his office in my sweatpants and my extra large T-shirt wrapped up inside of my red robe. I was even wearing slippers. Hopefully the representative comfort of my clothes will offer some relief after this meeting. When I reach the first door to the hallway, I couldn't see anything in front of me but his door. Staring it down, slowly feeling the intensity with every step, I had felt nauseous the entire way. I know what awaits me behind that door, it was nothing new or abnormal for me, but somehow I can't seem to prepare myself for it. The situation is something that you can't prepare for no matter how much experience you have with it. I tossed and turned so much last night at the thought of it but my eyes were bloodshot. Hearing the disappointment in his voice last night was enough to make me ache for my punishment. I want him to just dish it out. To hurt me so he can start to forgive me.

"Come in Naomi." He stated quickly before I even knocked on his closed door.

"How did you know I was there?" I tightened my rope belt around my waist, hoping he'd let me keep everything on during the punishment.

"I could see your feet at the bottom of the door." He motioned down before signing a paper. "In any case, good morning."

He looked very murky this morning; navy blouse with dark grey pants and matching blazer. Even his tie was a shadowy gray. I turned my attention to the bookshelf in the corner, studying it as if I hadn't seen it over a hundred times, with the main objective of finding a distraction.

"I said good morning." He looked up at me with his eyebrows cocked.

"Morning sir." I whispered.

"Too tired to get dressed?" He mocked.

"It didn't seem necessary." I said spitefully.

He stopped abruptly and looked up at me, giving me a very sour look.

I crossed my arms and turned my head. He stood up slowly and leaned forward. "I suggest you mind your attitude, I am in absolutely no mood to tolerate it today. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir." I said despite my conflicting opinion.

"Have a seat." He motioned to the chair behind me after stacking his papers neatly on his desk and leaning forward, giving me his full attention. "I've had some time to reflect on last night and I have some points to make clear to you, then we'll talk punishment."

I eased my way into the chair and nodded my head. My heartbeat was rapidly inclining with every second, I sit here wishing he would have given me my punishment last night because I would be healing right now. At least I could have went to bed afterwards, I have breakfast and chores to get through now.

"I want to impose the gravity of the situation, I was so worried about you last night. I have never felt so out of control and it ripped me apart..." He rubbed his tie against his chest. "A million horrible thoughts ambushed my brain because I was so concerned...you have to understand that when you run away from me, it implies there is mistrust and that you are harboring unpleasant emotions."

It took a lot of strength for me to look at him, for me to face that disappointment he was wearing so plainly on his face.

"Are you? Is there something you want to tell me?" He asked sincerely. "I need to know why because this isn't the first time it's happened."

"There's nothing to tell...I just didn't want to face the fact that I was in trouble."

He gave me a long, almost sympathetic look, but it soon transformed right back into disappointment.

"Naomi I never want to see you run away from your problems, that doesn't resolve anything. You actually, as you're about to realize when I administer your punishment, just find yourself in more trouble." He leaned forward with his fingers interlocked on his desk.

"S-So I can never escape it?" A tear fell from my face as I started to feel trapped.

"No, running away from a problem only gives you a temporary sense of comfort but you'll soon realize that all you received was a false sense of hope. You need to be responsible and face your problems head on, it's the only way to resolve them otherwise you'll end up forgetting that there is a part of you that is reliable and strong" He spoke steadily.

I put my head down and nodded.

"Running away from your problems will eventually turn into a habit and that is not a habit I can have you believing is acceptable because I don't want you to lose yourself."

"Okay." I said quietly.

"So," He stood up and pushed his chair in. "I'm going to give you such a punishment that'll help deter you from this path." He stared me down as he crossed his arms and leaned back against the window seal. "It will consist of two parts; first, you're confined to your room for the rest of the week. With the exclusion of meals, chores, and other basic normalities I do not want to see you out of your room."

A week alone in my room? I can manage that, when I first arrived at the Academy I was practically a ghost for the first month. Besides, I have my books so I won't have a problem entertaining myself.

"Second," he continued after he realized that I had nothing to say. "I am canceling our book club this week."

"Cancel? Mr. Davis that's not..." I objected.

"Fair?" He raised his eyebrows at me. "I do not think you should lecture me on what is fair since you yourself have a hard time practicing it."

"Whatever, but that doesn't mean that I have to like it." I sat back and rolled my eyes.

"Whatever? Rolling your eyes?" He spit at me. "Are you testing to see how much worse you can make this?"

"But this isn't necessary! I told you before that we lost track of time and now you're being...!

"Do not raise your voice to me!" He barked over me before walking in front of me and leaning down to my face. "If I have to correct your attitude again I swear you'll be over my knee every morning for the next week, is that clear?"

My fear had suddenly gone away and all I could feel was rage, I hated when the Administrators dished out power trips and threats.

"I don't like threats." I mumbled to myself.

"But you know well enough that my threats are always executed, now do you understand me?"

"Yeah." I turned my head but he violently grabbed it and forced me to look at him.

"'Yeah' is not a respectful affirmation." He corrected.

I instantly noticed a penetrating feeling inside of my stomach as I was trying to find the right way to respond. I had to cover my mouth to keep me from upchucking or from saying something incredibly stupid that would vex him further.

"Yes sir."

"Now, let's settle the punishment for last night." He breathed heavily through his nostrils after turning away and walking towards the cabinet.

He pulled out the paddle. I could feel the slow intensity of my throat falling into my stomach. He rotated it and slapped it down in his fist. Right now a million needles were sticking into my body all at once as goosebumps began emerging. Slapping it down once more, I had to slow my breathing to keep me from upchucking or from unleashing my word-vomit.

"P-Please don't..." I said with my teeth chattering in fear.

"Don't object, come here." He pulled out the chair in the middle of the office and stood impatiently near it.

I rubbed my hands against my thighs to try to stop the shaking but it did no good. Once he started tapping his foot, I knew it would only be seconds before he came over to get me so I went willingly.

He stared me down through my entire walk over there. I started to imagine some positions he'll force me into, I hope it's not the fours like Mr. Patry likes to dish out.

"Up."

"U-up?"

"Yes." He put his left foot on the seat of the chair and grabbed the underneath of my arm.

"What're...?" I took a step back but his grip held me in place, with one quick motion he lifted me up over his knee.

He used his free hand to pull down my pants while the other held me still. The pressure from being held up so high combined against his knee was starting to dig into my stomach, making this even more uncomfortable. He laid the paddle against my rear and fixed us both so we'd both remain perfectly still.

"Hold still." He scolded me when I started shifting.

SMACK! The first one came down, the impact shifted me forward. I didn't even have time to process the pain before he laid down a series, SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! With every swat it felt like I was about to fall off his knee and flat on my face. SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! I could feel my skin start to redden as my backside was lit on fire.

"Mr. Davis please stop!" I started to whine as he increased his speed.

SMACK! SMACK! I tried reaching back but, because of how bent over I was, I couldn't reach. Nor would I even be able to get pass him. SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

"Please!" SMACK! SMACK! "I...I can't breathe." I started choking on my breath.

He stopped instantly and let me down. My knees started to cave as I fell to the floor but he gripped my hands and helped me stand up. I snatched one away to wipe my tears and cover my mouth but he snatched it right back.

"Don't do that, just take some deep breaths." He kneeled down so he'd be directly in my face, but he mimicked deep breaths for me until I followed along. "Calm down."

I nodded my head, my breaths had returned to normal but I couldn't stop the tears from streaming down my face.

"Come, let's finish this."

I started to whine more at this, he acted with such sincerity that I'm sure he would have let me go.

"Please..." I buried my head in his shoulder and hugged him, trying to work out my sympathetic look.

"No, no, I can't go back on a punishment Naomi." He cuffed the back of my neck and patted my back. "Let's finish this."

With his hand gently on my shoulder, he guided me over to the chair and took a seat. He bent me over his knee and picked up the paddle next to his feet. SMACK! He hit my hamstrings, and the piercing sting made my toes curl inside of my shoes. SMACK! I gripped the legs of the chair and began twisting, trying to transmit some pain. SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

I started to throw my feet up in defense but he restrained them under his leg, there was no escaping this. SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

"Okay, now it's all over."

I felt him turn back as he put the paddle on his desk. I did nothing but dangle off his knee as my tears drenched his clean carpet. ______________________________________________________________

MR.DAVIS' POV:

I helped her up, she was quickly shaking and could barely open her eyes. I took my thumbs and wiped her cheeks but they were drenched almost instantly. Realizing that she needed some space, I helped her over to the couch in the right side of the room and watched as she gently sat down and wrapped her arms together. Trying to comfort herself. I took my seat at my desk, we both continued to sit there in silence. Well, in almost silence.

Her eyes were red and filled with tears, her hands were intensely shaking and she couldn't keep a straight face. Hers kept pinching in pain. She tried to sneak away from me, she scared the life out of, put me through hell and yet...all I wanted to do was wrap my arms around her and tell her it didn't have to be this way. I was hoping the fear would set in and she would comply, I hate having to do this to her. There was nothing I wanted more than to give her some comfort, be the shoulder for her to cry on and wipe those tedious tears away.

"M-Mr. Davis," she stuttered. "C-can I have some water?" She asked gently.

There was no possible way I could tell her no when she looked so innocent just now.

"Here." I walked over to the mini fridge in the corner and opened a bottle of water for her. "We're going to skip breakfast this morning." She's in no state to being around people right now.

"A-Are you still mad at me?"

My heart instantly shattered at her concern for me even though she was the one suffering in physical pain. Her sweetness was making it incredibly hard to be strict right now, I wanted to cave in and tell her that nothing she could do could ever make me angry with her. Even though she does get on my nerves at time. But I don't think I'm ready to answer her right now, she deserves to reflect on it.