Story: I Like eBay

Misc Story.  Continuation to I Like Cheese.  Jodi's friend has gotten into selling drugs, and Jodi wants to help.  Ufff... Derrick's gonna be pissed.

I Like eBay
by Breanna Carter

"Jodi, can I borrow a hundred dollars?"

I nearly choked on the Dr. Pepper I was drinking. "Excuse me?"

My friend looked around to make sure no one was listening. "I've got this awesome investment plan. It's a way that I can spend a hundred dollars and at least double it... and even as much as triple it."

I bit my lower lip. "What kind of investment plan?"

She leaned back against the wall, pushing her long black hair behind her ears. We'd been friends for at least ten years, went through all of our schools together, and we'd been there for each other through all the bad times, even adopted the same style, though Derrick would never let me die my hair black like hers. "Selling stuff," she answered.

"Juliana.. I don't have a hundred dollars."

"But Derrick does. I know he's got a shitload in savings so you guys can take that trip after your senior year. And he never looks at it... never touches it. He'd never know if you got any out. Please Jodi.. please help me."

I digested that, leaning against the wall, too, and looking out at the crowd of people who were sitting outside for lunch. There weren't very many of us, because it was the middle of October and a little chilly out, so most people were crowded in the cafeteria or hallways. If Juliana wanted me to take money from Derrick it must be important.

She must have noticed my thought process. "Listen -- I have to pay off that huge fine for the marijuana charges. My dad already told me he wouldn't help me... and I can't find a job anywhere. No one wants to give a job to a sixteen year old with black hair and a tongue ring." She paused so I'd consider it even more. "And I'll give you a third of the profits."

"What would you be selling?" I whispered, having bootlegged movies or cds in mind. Then I started thinking about anti-depressants or pain relievers. Something illegal, of course. I knew Juliana well enough to know that she wasn't going to be doing any clean selling... not to mention she couldn't start with anything less than $100.

"Ecstasy," she whispered back, waiting for my reaction.

My heart thumped crazily inside me. Some weird random part of me wanted to help her out, just because it's illegal and dangerous. I'm always the type that's scared to do dangerous stuff... scared to be daring. Anything like that. "I want in with you. I want to sell it, too. Do you have clients? I can just be your partner? I can drive you and stuff?"

She flashed me a grin. "Of course. Then we'll split the profits half and half. Then we'll both have $100 to buy and sell more. How does that sound?"

Sounds like a plan.

So like the smart girl I am, that evening while Derrick was in the shower, I grabbed his debit card out of his wallet (because it's for his checking and savings account) and announced that I was going to get a notebook for school and would be back soon. He told me that he'd cook dinner while I was gone. I was so nervous holding his card in my hand as I drove towards the former Bank One (now called Chase), I almost got in about three accidents and even managed to run a stop sign. I did, however, make it to the bank okay and punched in his pin number, withdrawing a hundred dollars and shoving it in my pocket. I went ahead and got a notebook anyway so as not to feel suspicious.

By the time I got back home, Derrick had dinner ready and I somehow managed to slip the card back in his wallet while he was in the kitchen. I was nervous as hell and shaking so madly you probably can't imagine it. I rambled on and on about my day at school while we ate dinner, then almost kicked myself because I was being too obvious. Derrick didn't seem to notice though.

After dinner, I hurried to my room and dialed Juliana's number. "I got it," I told her.

"Good. See you tomorrow. We'll make our first run then."

So that's how the whole ordeal started. We spoke with Juliana's former Marijuana dealer, who went by the name Coby, who hooked us up with an ecstasy guy who went by Jared, who would sell us ten ecstasy pills for $100. He said that they could in turn, be sold for at least $20, maybe $30, depending on the people we were working with. He said that he'd help us out at first and give us the names of some of his clients who already knew the deal and wouldn't want to pay the full amount, but at least it was business, and they'd have friends or know people who'd want it, too. He also said that Coby would probably give recommendations to us.

We got our first call that night from a man who wanted to buy for only $15 or said that he'd go somewhere else to someone who'd sell for that. We decided that it'd be fine and sold to him anyway, in the parking lot of the cingular store. The two of us were so excited to have the money that we went and spent it right off the bat without even thinking about saving it to pay back Derrick.

Speaking of Derrick, he ruined our fun when he called about nine demanding for me to come home. So I dropped Juliana off at home and she begged me to take the bag of ecstasy home with me because she was in enough shit with the law already. I absent-mindedly agreed to take it, if we alternated the nights that we kept it. She didn't like the idea but agreed anyway.

The next night was Friday and we somehow mustered up a lie to where it'd be okay to stay out all night. Jared had told us that Friday nights would be busy so we'd probably get it all sold by then. By midnight, we'd gone through half of the pills, some that we'd sold for $20 and some for $30, depending on if the people had done ecstasy before or not. It was about that time that Juliana said, "Have you ever done X before?"

I shook my head. "No."

"Well, you should try it. I mean, one of us should... so we can know how good the stuff we're selling is. We could both try it?"

"I don't want to drive after trying it. You can try."

"Aw come on, Jodi... I've tried X before... if you haven't, then you should. I'll drive for you."

I considered that. "Well... that could work.. But if Derrick found out, he'd kick my ass."

"Derrick won't find out," she assured me.

I gave in to her peer pressure. After all, like she said, it was part of the business. We needed to know what we were selling to everyone, and she already had an idea, so might as well take one. And damn, after the shit kicked in (which took a while) I knew why they named it "ecstasy." If you've ever been so excited and happy that you can define yourself as "ecstatic," then you know half of what it's like to be on X. The only bad part was drinking a lot of water and having to pee every ten minutes.

It started to wear off the next morning. We'd been driving around selling the stuff all night, so our night of work was finished. Juliana was high on life (and loads of Mountain Dew), and I was coming down, ready to go to sleep. I think I'd actually somewhat fallen asleep in the passenger's seat when Juliana exclaimed, "SHIT!"

"What?" I mumbled.

"We only made a $40 profit. How the fuck did that happen?"

I lifted my head. "Forty dollars? That's not enough to buy another bag to sell."

She groaned. "Just put off paying Derrick back," she commanded and I nodded. It would all be fine, I concluded.

The next few days were a lot like the movie Requiem for a Dream. Not the profitable part of the movie. We were selling to a lot of people for cheap because we liked them and every so often we'd take a pill. Then Jared came up with a deal for us, since we were getting so popular. "I'll sell you thirty pills for two hundred dollars." We were running low on cash anyway, only having about a hundred and twenty, not to mention that we hadn't paid back Derrick the hundred back yet. But how could we turn down a deal like that? With thirty pills we could easily make six hundred dollars. At least that's the way we saw it.

So that night I took Derrick's card again and withdrew another hundred dollars. And the more days that passed by, the better deals Jared was giving us, and the more I was taking Derrick's debit card and withdrawing money, because it was just so much easier to do that then to spend the money that we'd made through our sales. Did I mention we were buying everything that we saw that caught our fancy? One night we went to Wal-mart in the middle of the night and bought a shitload of cds and movies for us to watch at Juliana's house while her dad was out of town.

"Juliana.." I said a couple of weekends later, "what's happening to all of our money? I owe Derrick like $500. I thought we were going to save up so you could pay off your fines and I could pay him back?"

She blinked. "Oh, well, I guess we've gotten out of hand with spending. But we'll have the money soon enough. Just borrow another $200 and then Jared said we could have fifty pills with that and the one hundred we already have... then we could make about a thousand and we'd save it to where we could pay Derrick back what we owe him, and we'll only invest our own money from now on. How many more movies could we possibly buy?"

I nodded. "No more taking pills, okay? We already know how good they are. We have to save our money."

"Sure deal. See you tonight."

I sighed and snuck to Derrick's wallet to get his debit card again. I was becoming an expert. I knew where his wallet was at all times, knew how to sneak in and get it, know the excuses to make when he thought he misplaced it.

"Derrick! I'm gone to work, then to hang out with Juliana!" I called. "We're going to stay at her house again tonight."

He came out of the bathroom, rubbing his wet hair with a towel, dressed in only his pair of jeans. "Again? How many nights are you going to stay over there?"

"Every weekend, forever."

"You girls aren't doing anything you're not supposed to, are you?"

"Of course not, why would you think that?" I said, batting my eyelashes.

"Well, as long as you're not doing anything stupid -- like drinking and driving -- I suppose it's okay. Give me a call when you're in for the night."

"Super deal," I told him, grabbing my jacket and the bag of pills... it was my day to hold them. I'd numbed myself to the whole situation -- it didn't even seem illegal anymore. I stopped by the bank first, getting the $200 out and noting that he was down to only $1300, instead of the $2000 that he'd started out with. Damn, Derrick would kill me for sure if he knew what I was doing. I sped to work and hid the pills under the seat with the money. My phone rang at least six times through work and on my break I called Juliana who said that she'd already made twelve deals for the night and we'd start our runs after I got off. She stopped by my work and picked up the money so she could buy the fifty pills for $300. We were so in business. It was exhilarating.

The night went almost as good as planned, though we didn't pull through with a thousand dollars like hoped. We did, however, sell enough pills to pay back half of the money we owed to Derrick. Saturday morning I even got up early enough to go put the money in the bank myself, before we spent it again. I was off work on Saturday, so we spent most of the afternoon chatting with people about times and places for them to get their fix I was so excited that we were finally getting out of our debt that I almost considered taking another pill myself. Then I remembered that it'd be a ten dollar loss. Actually, I didn't think about the loss til my cell phone rang and it was Derrick who was calling and I realized how much I owed him.

"Hey Derrick, what's up?" I answered.

"Hey, have you seen my debit card? I seemed to have misplaced it... again."

"No, don't think so... just a sec." I was thinking on impulse and my hands were shaking because something in Derrick's tone made me suspect that he knew what was going on. "Oh! I must've picked it up by accident..."

"Would you mind dropping it by the house?"

"Sure, Juliana and I will be over there in a few.."

"I'd prefer if you came by yourself, Jodi. I need to speak with you about something."

"No problem," I said and hung up. "Shit," I muttered. Juliana raised her eyebrows. "Derrick knows."

"He does?" she shrieked. "How?"

"I don't know. He wants me to come by the house... he must've known I've been using his debit card. Juliana... I'm in soooo much shit!"

"He probably doesn't know. Just bring him the card... tell him you picked it up by accident, that he left it lying on the table or something."

"Okay... well, if he found out, I won't tell him what we spent it on, okay? But you've got to sell all the shit tonight and get the money so I can pay him back. I'll tell him that I wanted to help you with the fine you had to pay and you were going to pay me back after you sold some stuff on eBay... okay?"

She nodded, biting her lower lip. "But be sure you don't give away any evidence that you did it before he shows you proof that he knows you took the money.."

"Okay. I'll call you later," I told her, having the feeling that I'd be so nervous I'd probably end up telling him about my theft before he even knew about it. I nervously drove home, subconsciously chewing on my fingernail and so preoccupied that I didn't even listen to the music playing on my cd player. I pulled into the driveway and turned my car off, taking a deep breath in and closing my eyes. Here goes nothing.

I cracked the door open and Derrick was sitting on the couch, a sheet of paper spread out in front of him on the coffee table.

"Hey, Derrick... what's up?" I said nonchalantly, as if nothing wrong was going on.

"Oh nothing much..." he answered standing up. "Just got this crazy bank statement in the mail today..." I gulped.

"Oh? Why was it crazy?"

"Because it shows that I've withdrawn a lot of money that I haven't. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"

"No idea."

"Funny, because you're the only one who knows my passcode and the only one who's been around my card.. not to mention it comes up mysteriously missing for days on end, and then I somehow find it back where it was, after I knew that I'd already looked there."

I kept telling myself not to break, but I was so close to it, and my stomach was twisted and swirling around inside of me. I was so nervous... so scared.

"So, Jodi," he said, walking closer to me and looking me in the eyes. "Tell me what's going on."

"Maybe somebody stole it and hacked into your account."

"That's probably the case, I'm just worried that that somebody is my sister. Did I mention that you're the world's worst liar?"

I guess I was the worst liar ever. I was twitching and shifting from foot to foot, and I couldn't even look him in the eyes. "Okay, so I've borrowed some money."

"For what?"

"Juliana needed some help paying back for her charges," I mumbled, which was true... "And she said she'd pay me back, right after she got the money back from the things she was selling on eBay." I said the last part in a rush and my eyes averted from his gaze again.

I could tell by the look on his face and the way that he shook his head that he didn't buy it. "Go to your room," he ordered.

I was biting my lower lip profusely and just scampered past him to my room, knowing what was going to happen. I guess that's when the truth of it all hit me. Stealing money from my brother to help a friend sell drugs? What kind of idiot am I?

There wasn't much time to think because Derrick was in my room before I knew it. He was holding his belt, folded over. A chill went up my spine.

"Noooo... Derrick... please," I began.

"Don't start, I don't want to hear it."

"I'm soooo sorry. I was just helping out Juliana."

"This, I realize. But I have this strange feeling that it's something more. One, because if it was just helping Juliana, you would have probably asked me to help her, or she would have asked. Secondly, it wasn't all taken out at the same time. So, I suggest that you tell me what's going on or it's just going to be worse on you."

"But that's all it is," I said, tears forming in my eyes.

"Get your pants and panties down," he ordered.

"Derrick... please!"

"Get them down right now, Jodi Marie, and I am not asking you again."

I whined as I stood up and tugged them down nervously. He sat on my bed and pulled me over his lap.

"So you say that Juliana was just selling stuff on eBay, huh?" he asked, slapping my bottom a hard one and causing my hand to fly back to protect.

"Yes!!" I wailed. "That hurts!"

"Move your hand," he ordered and I did as told, mostly because I knew it was in my best interest. "And I don't believe you, Jodi," he answered giving me a couple of more smacks. A friend once told me that brothers aren't psychic, but I was suddenly sure that they were, though Derrick did have some good points of why he knew that I was lying. "Even so, I don't appreciate you stealing from me, Young Lady." He kept on spanking me, I gripping the sheets for dear life and begging for him to stop. He didn't even much less let up on the spanking.

I guess he spanked me like that for a minute or two, then lifted me up. I wasn't up for long, because before I knew it he was lying me back on the bed.

"Why did you and Juliana want the money?"

"To help pay off her charges," I wailed.

He lifted the belt up high in the air and crashed it down on my bottom. "Then why didn't you ask me for it?"

"Ooowwwwwwww because I thought you'd say no."

He crashed it again. "Are you lying to me?"

"Noooooooooooo," I howled.

I felt the leather on my bottom two more times and cried in pain, moving my hands back to cover where he'd lashed me.

"Pleaseee, Derrick..."

"Move your hands or you're going to get it twice as hard."

I quickly moved my hands, but they threatened to move back when I saw him over my shoulder lifting the belt again and then felt the pain. By this time, I was crying full out and I felt terrible and I was still lying and Derrick knew it. Why couldn't I just tell him the truth? Then I'd get it worse?

"In case you haven't noticed, Jodi, I'm not stopping the spanking until I hear the truth from you."

"I'm telling the truth," I swore, thinking that there'd be no possible way he'd stay there all night spanking me. Then he stopped talking for a while and just hit me with the belt, going in little spurts... sometimes giving me five smacks and breaking, other times about two or three really hard ones in a row. It felt like I'd been there for twenty minutes and my backside was burning like crazy. I then realized that my brother was *serious* when he said that he'd spank the truth out of me!

I wasn't about to break, though... and besides, I was crying too hard to say anything anyway. He finally had to restrain my hands behind my back as he spanked because I kept trying to block. I was aching so badly... I don't even know what came over me.

"Okay.." I muttered.

"Okay, what?" he answered.

"She," I began, stammering and sniffling through my words, "needed one *sniff* hundred dollars."

"For what?"

"So she could do business."

"What kind of business?"

"Selling stuff."

He slapped the belt down again. "What *kind* of stuff?" he asked, getting agitated.

"Ecstasy," I whispered.

"Mmmhmmm. I thought so," he said, then sat down on the bed next to me, holding his head in his hands. I cried silently for a little while, face buried into the covers.

"I'm sorry," I told him.

He shook his head at me.

"I really am. She just wanted help to get some money for her fines. She was only going to borrow $100... then we kept getting more and more money to buy more drugs and sell more so we could make more money and I didn't realize what I was doing."

He shook his head again, then lifted his head up and I could tell that he'd been crying, too. "Jodi... why would you even do something like that? Don't you realize how dangerous it is and how stupid and irresponsible? It's one thing to steal from me... but on top of it, you have to break the law?"

"I know, I'm sorry, we just.."

"Where's the rest of your ecstasy?"

"We don't have anymore," I lied, another obvious one.

"Jodi Marie, where is the rest of the ecstasy? You're in enough trouble as it is, if you keep lying to me, you honestly will not be able to sit for a week, and I'll make sure of that."

My stomach churned. "Juliana has it... but Derrick... she's just going to sell it and get your money back."

"Like hell she's going to sell it. She's going to get it back from whatever asshole she bought it from and she's going to get a job and pay me back respectably. And YOU, Young Lady, are going to do the same..."

"But Juliana can't find a real job because she has black hair and a tongue ring," I answered, thinking back to the first day that we'd talked about or investment.

"Oh, Juliana will find a real job, if I have to hire her myself. And the three of us are going over to this guy's house tonight and giving him back all of his shit..."

"What about the money we get back from that?"

"No, we're not getting money back from that. He can keep it, so he'll keep his mouth shut so you girls won't go to jail. You and her are going to pay me back the money yourselves."

I began crying again.

"And you're grounded until I get the money back.. And I'll be contacting Juliana's father."

"Nooooo Derrick! Don't get her in trouble.. please!"

He raised his eyebrows. "After all the shit she's put you in, you're still on her side?"

"Please, Derrick... just let her pay you back. That'll be enough punishment for her. She has to pay her fines still, too."

He digested that. "I'll think about it," he told me and stood up. "I'm very disappointed in you, Jodi. I never thought you'd stoop that low." And with that, he left and I suffered in my room, still in tears, until I cried myself to sleep... pants still at my ankles.

Story: Fighting is No Good, Part II

Part of the Carlos/Danielle Series.  Danielle fights with her mom, seeks out revenge, then gets caught in the act.  This time, her step-father will deal with her misbehavior.

Fighting is No Good
Part 2
by Breanna Carter

The next morning, Carlos and Alex were up at the crack of dawn watching Saturday morning cartoons like always. Carlos always woke up at the same time as Juan, and Juan had to be at work by six-thirty, so when I say the crack of dawn, I'm being serious. I'm usually sleeping so heavily that I don't even notice when they get up, but I think I was still in a little shock about the previous night's events, so the typical morning sounds of cartoons in the den woke me up. I wasn't awake for long, just long enough to hear Juan talking to Carlos and Alex in Spanish. I was so zoned out that I didn't have the energy to attempt to translate what they were saying.

It seemed as if right after I fell back asleep, Alex and Carlos were pouncing to me.

"Levantaté!" Alex chanted, bouncing up and down on my bed.

"Ahhhh go away," I groaned, checking the clock and noticing that it was before noon. "What are you doing waking me up, Alexander!"

My little brother just giggled and gave me a wet kiss on the cheek. I hugged him tightly, squeezing the mess out of him. Carlos was grinning next to me.

"We decided that you needta come have breakfast with us!" Alex told me.

"Oh really? You think breakfast is that much better than sleeping?"

He nodded, quite sure of himself.

"Well, I think that sleeping is better.."

"But Mama said that you needta get up!"

"Ooookay, then... if Mama said so," I told Alex, wincing as I sat up because my bottom was still sore from the night before. I held onto Alex with my left arm and tickled him a little until he begged me to stop, then the three of us went to the kitchen where my mom was preparing breakfast.

"What's so essential that I have to get up for?" I asked, normal cocky attitude.

"I told you last week that we're going Christmas shopping today," she snapped. "And Alex needs some new school clothes. Half of his jeans have holes in the knees."

I petted my dog who was standing beside me and glared at my mom. "Geeze, you don't have to be so bi..." I began, catching Carlos's warning glare before I went on to tell my mom she was bitchy. "I mean, you don't have to be all nagging and stuff. I was just wondering."

"Well, I'm sorry, but I'm stressed out and sick of cleaning up after you guys and I get no help around this house and I don't appreciate it when you come in here with your smart mouth."

It took all the strength in me not to pop off to her... Of course, Alex was sitting right there and I couldn't very well say the things I was thinking in front of Alex... what kind of influence would I be then?

"So are you going shopping with us, Carlos?" I asked, trying to keep the irritated sound out of my voice.

"I would love to... but unfortuantely, I must work."

"Bummer. Wish I was working.."

"ENOUGH!" Mom yelled, throwing the frying pan down and causing us three kids to jump a bit. "I do not want to hear another word about it, do you understand me, Danielle?"

Carlos must have noticed my blood pressure rising because he pulled me into the chair next to him, keeping a soothing hand on my knee so I wouldn't jump up and shout at her. I kept my cool, though, my mom glaring at me hard.

She finally broke the glance and finished the bacon, then threw the food on the table. We were silent for the first two minutes, then Alex started doing adorable things. It was only he and Carlos who talked for a while, then I figured, why let Mom ruin my day? and started goofing off with them. After breakfast, I got dressed and met up with Carlos in the bathroom while he was fixing his hair and I was brushing my teeth, expressing my playful anger towards him for not having to put up with my hormonal mother. He made fun of me for a little while and left with a grin on his face, wishing me luck. I then helped Alex get dressed and found his jacket because if Mom'd had to search for it, it'd turn into another screaming match over her stressing out. Juan tells us that her job does it, but I don't know. It's just really annoying to me.

Shopping wasn't as bad as I'd anticipated, mostly because I tried to make the best out of it. The stores were filled with holiday shoppers already... and Thanksgiving hadn't even passed yet. Mom let me help pick out some of Alex's clothes, and I helped him change while Mom picked out some other stuff. He's such an adorable little kid... my favorite! After buying him some cute clothes, we picked out Christmas presents for my grandma and grandpa, a couple for Carlos and a few for Juan. Mom loooooved Christmas shopping, which is where I got it from. She must have spent over $300 on Christmas... already! And we still had over a month left of shopping days!

We had a late lunch at Burger King and Alex got a Kid's Meal with a cute toy that I got more amusement out of than he did. When we got home, I think Mom was in a significantly better mood, so I decided to try my luck. I'd already decided that I was going to approach Julio again tonight, just because he'd pissed me off. Not to mention that Diego had told me he'd be at Miguel's house if I wanted to come. Since daylight savings time was over, and it was getting darker earlier, it'd be better if I could get out of the house before nightfall... and it was nearing five o'clock already...

Mom was watching tv when I came into the room, slipping my cell phone in my pocket. "I'm gone..." I began, thinking she'd be too engrossed into what she was watching to pay much attention to me.

"Gone where?"

"Out for a little while."

"You're not going anywhere, Young Lady."

Grr those words I hated. "Why not? That's no fair! I went shopping with you and Alex!"

"Have you already forgotten what happened last night? What would make you think that I'd let you go out tonight after all of that?"

"But Carlos already spanked me for it! Not FAIR, Mom! I was already punished! You can't punish me more!"

"I assure you that if Carlos were the one in charge, he wouldn't allow you to go out either."

I growled in anger as loudly as I could and stomped my foot down (like a two year old). "That isn't FAIR!" I shouted. "You've been bitchy all day and I've put up with it without a fight and the LEAST you could do is let me go somewhere tonight!"

"You better watch your language, Missy. You are not going ANYWHERE tonight and if you know what's good for you, you'll stop acting like a child."

I was fuming. You could have probably seen smoke coming out of my ears... like that face on Yahoo! Messenger. I stormed away, muttering to myself that I'd show her, then promptly slammed the door shut, knocking that damn picture off of the wall that I always knocked off. My mom didn't give me the chance to lock the door... she came storming after me, swinging it back open, yelling at me loud enough to where the neighbors could probably hear. I can't honestly tell you what she said -- something about disrespect and pouting and other stuff that I didn't care to hear. I just stood there and took it, not looking in her direction. She ended her yelling fit by saying that she wanted me to say in my room until dinner, and if I felt like acting my age at that time, I could join them. I was so tempted to say whatever, but didn't, and she just left, closing the door behind her, significantly less angry than she had been when she walked in. I locked the door behind her, cussing her under my breath, then opening the window and jumping out. I'd be damned if I was staying home -- and at this point, I was so pissed off that I was ready to take out my aggression on Julio, and I'd be the one to win!

The cool air hit my face as I ran towards Miguel's house. Yes, I was running. It was a good way to let off steam and who doesn't need the exercize? Miguel and his roommate was sitting outside on the steps with Diego and a couple of other Mexicans I didn't know too well.

"Hola, Daniela," Miguel said, hugging me tightly. "Que pasa?"

"Nothing... pissed off. Ready to kick Julio's ass."

The Mexicans around me seemed to find that rather amusing.

"Oh? Why?" Diego asked.

"Because my mom's being a bitch. So how about calling Julio over here? I'm ready to take him on."

"You didn't learn your lesson last night?" Miguel asked.

I shook my head. "Carlos kicked his ass.... now it's my turn."

Miguel shook his head. "No good," he told me.

"I know it's no good. So where is that little bitch?"

"No fighting tonight," Miguel said putting his arm around my shoulder. I plopped down on the steps and listened to the Mexicans all talk to each other for a while, waiting for Julio to show his face. As they chatted, this uneasy feeling began to grow in my stomach. I knew I was in for shit when I got home... even though my door was locked, my mom had the key, and when she found out that I was gone, she was going to blow a head gasket. Carlos was the only one who'd spanked me on the bare bottom with his belt, but I had the feeling that tonight I'd feel Juan's wrath...

After the sun fell, the Mexicans were significantly more drunk, and Julio made his passing. See, Julio was good friends with Miguel's roommate, so it was a given that he'd come over everyday. They had some kind of business going... don't ask me what it was -- I don't know. Probably drugs or something.

Julio got out of his car and popped off some smartass comment to me. Ah well, I was prepared. "Ohh, lookie, it's my favorite person."

"Your brother's not here tonight to fight for you?" he asked in broken English.

"I don't need my brother, I can kick your ass myself."

"Danielle, stop," Miguel warned me. "No fighting tonight, please."

"Don't worry, Miguel... I'm fine." I stood up and walked towards Julio, Diego right behind me and ready to strike at a moments notice. However, I didn't have much time to talk because another car pulled up that looked strikingly familiar... in fact, it looked like a replica of my mother's car...... and then the door opened and guess who stepped out: my mom.

"Danielle Grace!" she bellowed.

Oh shit.. I said to myself.

Julio started laughing and I blushed like mad-crazy. My face must have been the brightest red possible! Talk about being embarrassed -- my mom stormed over towards me and grabbed my arm and began dragging me.

"Let GO!" I said, trying to free myself from her grip.

She got up really close to my ear and said, "I will not hesitate to spank you right here in front of all of your friends, Danielle, so you better do as I say."

I gulped and realized that a spanking would be the only thing more embarrassing than what had already happened.

She practically shoved me in the car and then dialed Juan's number on her cell phone, explaining to him that she'd found me and I was at Miguel's house, as she suspected. She also didn't fail to mention that it looked like I was on the verge of getting in another fight, to which I replied by yelling at her and she answered by pointing her finger in my face and telling me to shut my mouth. I complied... she was pretty pissed.

She finally hung up the phone and I feared for my life, riding with her in the car when she was so upset. It was almost like a repeat of last night, only I was a little more scared. She fussed at me the whole ride. "I don't know where you get this idea that you can sneak out of the house and do whatever you want, Young Lady, but I'm going to let you know that this behavior is going to stop. You are not going to be a smartass, you are not going to sneak out of the house, and you are not going to do whatever you want to do. Your step-father and I are very upset and you better thank your lucky stars that I'm working tonight because with the mood I'm in, if I were to spank you, you'd never be able to sit again."

I shivered, whether out of fear, anger, or cold, I'm not sure -- just shivered.

She pulled into the driveway and got out of the car, slamming her door and not waiting on me to head inside the house. Juan was sitting in the recliner, no doubt waiting on our arrival. Mom just angrily shuffled past him, towards her room the bathroom, turning on the water, then coming back in there.

I closed the front door. "Juan, deal with her, please?" Mom said, as if I wasn't there.

As much as I wanted to, I didn't make a noise. My mom left the room, rubbing her temples. I glanced at Juan.

"Go to your room, Danielle. We'll discuss this when your mother leaves."

I nodded and headed to my room, hand subconsciously rubbing my backside. It was past eight, so Alex was already in bed. Carlos wasn't home -- he probably had decided to go to a friend's house or something. It was so lonely in my room because no one was in the den making any noise. The only thing I could hear was the water running in the bathroom.

I sent Miguel a text message exclaiming that I was "desconcierte," the word I found in my English/Spanish dictionary meaning "embarrass." Miguel texted me back telling me that I was fine, mostly everyone was so drunk they'd already forgotten about it. At least that's what I think he said. I then texted my friend, Michelle, to explain the situation to her, and we sent messages back and forth for a while, until I heard Juan making his way towards my room. My last message was "I'ma bout to get it.."

My bedroom door swung open about the same time that Carlos got home. Great... he arrived just in time to see the show.

"I want you," Juan began, shutting the door, "to explain to me what happened today... in detail." He sat down next to me, looking me deep in the eyes.

I glanced away, unable to face him. It was one thing to deal with my screaming, yelling, psycho mom -- because I didn't feel guilty screaming, yelling, and being psycho back to her. We were just alike in that way. But Carlos and Juan were alike in the sense that they were calm and rational and wanted an explaination before taking it any further. My mom would have just wallopped me without any discussion. I don't know which I hated more...

"Danielle, look at me and give me the explaination."

I gazed into his eyes for a second -- the same eyes as my older brother: deep brown eyes that could see right through you, that knew the truth without asking. My heart skipped a beat. I cleared my throat and began my long elaborate story about the entire afternoon... how my mom had been bitchy (though I didn't use that word) and had been getting on my nerves, then she wouldn't let me go anywhere and it really bugged me, so I went anyway.

"Were you going to fight Julio?"

I shook my head.

"Then why go over there and pester him?"

"I wanted to see Miguel. Miguel is my friend."

"I know that. And I don't have a problem with Miguel... but that's not the point. I understand that your mom gets a little stressed sometimes, and like I've said before, her job is.."

"...Really hard and keeps her blood-pressure up. I know this... but it still bugs me that she can just yell at me about everything and I have to keep quiet."

"And can't you rationally approach her and tell her that?"

"No, she won't listen."

"How do you know? Have you ever tried?"

"Well, no... but I know she wouldn't!"

"I can almost guarantee you that she would and at least try to do better, Danielle. And while we're on it -- don't you get snappy when you're stressed, too?"

It'd be a lie if I said no... so I didn't answer.

"Uh huh.. that's what I thought. Listen: I know you and your mom have your differences, and your fights. Everyone does... Hell, Carlos and I got in a fight just last night about his fighting -- but he didn't go out and get in a fight because I told him not to, now did he?"

"I don't get your point."

"My point is that just because you're mad at your mother doesn't give you the right to defy her and sneak out of this house. She is your mother and what she says, goes. Do you understand?"

"I guess."

"Don't pull this 'I guess' stuff," Juan said, beginning to become slightly agitated. "Do you understand or not?"

"Yes, I understand."

"I am *very* disappointed in you, Danielle. I know that you know better than to do what you did today. I know you're smarter than that. Do you realize how much you worried us?"

I shook my head, "no."

"I thought your mom was going to have a heart attack when she couldn't get you to answer the door. At first she thought you were just mad, then she figured you were sleeping, and then dinner was ready and you wouldn't come out -- she wasn't sure if you were just being immature or if something happened to you. Then you were nowhere to be found... You scared the hell out of us."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm glad to hear that."

There was a pause.

"Carlos tells me that he spanked you with his belt on the bare bottom."

I cringed at that thought, but nodded slightly.

"He said he's done it three times... over mostly the same stuff. He wouldn't give me details, but I'm a good guesser. And, well, all I have to say is that if Carlos can't teach you a lesson about disobedience with his belt on your bare bottom, then I will. And if that doesn't work, next time we'll just have to take more extreme measures."

I digested that. "What? You mean... you're gonna...?"

He nodded.

I gulped -- there was this big lump in my throat... I was doomed! I think I was so in shock, it didn't give me the time to try and talk him out of it. I guess even if I had been in shock I wouldn't have tried to talk him out of it -- that's just how it was between Juan and me. Carlos I'd pester not to do it and beg until I was hoarse... with my mom I'd bitch and complain until she spanked me silly and I was crying too hard to be able to bitch and complain. With Juan I just took it... I don't know why. I guess because I wanted to act more mature around him. He always acted mature around me... and he expected more of me than the rest of them. And disappointing him was worse than disappointing anyone else. Because he was the father I never had... and I didn't want to screw it up.

"Stand up," he ordered, and I complied, hands behind my back blocking my bottom. Juan took two pillows and placed them in the center of my bed. "Pants down."

I nervously fidgeted with the button of my jeans, a red color coming across my face again. It was rare that Juan spanked me -- even rarer that he spanked my bare bottom. It's like a kid who goes to school where the teachers and coaches spank him all the time, but he knows he's in shit when he's sent to the principal's office. Because that's where the *really* bad kids get sent.. and the principal spanks *hard*. Even more so, usually the kid would get spanked by a teacher before going to the principal's office... so if the teacher was too pissed off to spank him, then that means the principal would be even tougher! That analogy just scared me more than I already was. His look was becoming exasperated, though, so I finally unbuttoned them and shivered when I broght them down to my knees. I wanted so badly to plead for him not to spank my bare bottom... even over my panties would be better than this!

He helped me over the pillows and I started crying. I was already shaking and upset and nervous as it was... and bending over those pillows just did it for me.

"Listen, Hija," he told me, pushing my hair out of my eyes. I covered my face so he wouldn't see me crying. "I love you very very much. You know that don't you?"

I nodded my head.

"Your mother and I care about your well-being... and how are we going to know that you're safe if we don't know where you are?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

"And we don't want you fighting... When your mom told you to stay home tonight because of what happened last night, she was just reiterating the message that you don't need to find yourself in that kind of trouble. Do you understand?"

"Yes," I answered, still hiding my face.

He rubbed my back a little then tugged my panties down to my knees. My body quivered, tears still falling. They'd somewhat subsided while Juan was explaining everything to me, but carried on as normal with my panties down. I heard the clang of him taking his belt of.. listened to the leather slide through his belt loops. I could picture what was happening in my mind, as if it was a video that I was watching instead of something I was experiencing. Oh, how much I'd wished it was a video...

"Are you going to learn how to behave, Hija?" he asked me, crashing down the leather on my still-tender-from-the-previous-night's-events backside.

I yelped and jumped high in the air, bawling harder and hands flying to my bottom. "Yesssssssssss," I promised.

"Move your hands," he told me sternly.

I whined as I lay back down, still bawling, trying to hide my hands under my face so I wouldn't reach back. It didn't work, though, as the belt bit into my flesh another time. I couldn't help but reach again, still bawling. "Ooowwwwww, Juan it hurts it hurts it hurtssss.." I wailed.

"Move your hands," was his only reply, in the same calm voice he'd had the whole time.

Reluctantly, I moved my hands and lay back down, already wincing as I awaited the next blow. It came as sharp as the other lashes and I yelped in pain. I waited for him to tell me to move my hands again, but instead he grabbed my left wrist and slapped the belt on my left butt cheek before giving me the time to regain myself. That just made me yelp louder, and even louder when he delivered another blow, ignoring my right hand that was still trying to block the smacks. He let go of my wrists and I bawled into the sheets, praying that it was over... and of course, I was wrong. I got yet another smack, to which my hands flew back again, and he moved them out of the way to give me two more, one right after another. My bottom was aching more than I'd ever imagined before... he pinned my wrists down to my back and smacked me a few more times, this time without breaths inbetween, so by the time he'd giving me six or seven, I was squirming all over the place and trying to wiggle free from his grip.

"Ooohhhh Juannnn it hurrrtssssssss," I howled, kicking my legs.

"Are you learning your lesson?" he asked me.

"Yessssss," I cried.

"So there's not going to be a next time of this sneaking out stuff?"

"Nooo, I promise."

"Two more," he told me.

I nodded softly, gasping for air from all the crying I'd been doing. I braced myself for the final smacks to come... I kept my face buried into my hands so I wouldn't reach back, because even *I* knew that reaching back would cause much more than two smacks. I closed my eyes tightly and clenched my butt cheeks together. Then I heard the dreadful belt being raised high into the air and felt it's impact with my sore bottom, not once, but twice... two smacks, harder than all of the previous ones... and I bawled, and sobbed, and cried my heart out. And Juan put his belt back on then sat down next to me, just as Carlos had. He rubbed my back for a few minutes, then spoke.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

I nodded.

He kissed the top of my head then moved away... as if the boy had just been spanked by the principal, but he was okay, and now it was okay for him to go back to class. Juan departed and not five minutes later, Carlos pushed the door open slightly.

"Hermanita?" he whispered.

I was still crying and my ass was throbbing... so the only thing I managed to do was grunt to let him know I was okay.

He closed the door behind him and lay down next to me, throwing his arm over my shoulder. He pet my hair, not asking what'd happened, not caring... just wanting to comfort me. It was too adorable... And it's so great to have an older brother who cares about you.

After I'd gotten all of my crying out, I rolled over to look at my brother.

"Hey," I sniffled.

He smiled. "Hey, sis. Estas bien?"

I nodded. "Mi duele," I said, pointing to my aching posterior.

"I imagine so. Especially on top of what you'd already gotten last night."

"I did something really stupid," I told him.

"I guessed as such."

"Will you get some pj pants for me?" I asked, finally having gained enough strength pull my panties up. I could feel the warmth in my bottom. Wow... Juan sure hadn't held back on spanking me...

Carlos rolled off my bed and found some loose blue silky pj pants and threw em at me. We joked around for a little while, I sniffling every so often, and he finally ruffled my hair as to say he was going to sleep. I walked him to his room then shuffled towards the living room where Juan was blankly staring at the tv and smoking a cigarette.

"Hola," I said.

"Hola, mi Hija. Que pasa?"

"Just wanted to apologize my behavior."

Juan grinned and gave me a big hug. "Just don't do it again, okay?"

"I won't," I assured him. If there could be anything worse than the belting he'd just given me, I sure as hell didn't want to know how it felt!!

Story: Picture Yourself Here

Misc Story.  Jessica gets an attitude with her mom while out to lunch.  Don't worry... her mom didn't hesitate in spanking her right there in the restaurant.  And then another one in the bathroom.  Oh, and another one at home, by Jessica's "older brother figure."

Based off of this photo:

Picture Yourself Here
by Breanna Carter

"Mom, I don't want to go!" I pouted, pulling my hair back in a ponytail.

"I don't want to hear it, Jessica," Mom answered, running through the house trying to find her purse. "I told you weeks ago that we were to have dinner with your grandma and grandpa."

"But I don't want to see them. I want to hang out with Maria!"

"If you don't stop this complaining, I'm going to turn you over my knee and spank you, do you understand me?"

"Yes, ma'am," I muttered, defeated. I know it sounds weird that a 14 year old still gets spanked from her mom sometimes... trust me, it even sounds weird to me, and i'm that 14 year old. But she didn't seem to find it weird. Actually, she didn't spank me til she split up with my dad and had to have a babysitter. It was Maria's older brother, actually, who babysat me. I agree... it does sound like a fruity job for a guy... and we never actually called him my babysitter. It just happened that one day I was hanging out with Maria when my mom needed to go somewhere, so Diego offered to watch me. Then Maria and I got into some trouble -- I must've been nine or ten years old -- and Diego spanked us both... Pants and panties down, over his knee, whapping the shit out of my bottom. Then he told my mom... then she spanked me again. And since then, I've been getting it.

Not that I mind at all that Diego spanks me sometimes. He's actually a cutie. He's twenty years old and goes to a community college, watching Maria most of the time because her father has two jobs and really is only home to sleep. But anyway... Diego is cute. He's from Mexico so he has a cute Spanish accent, and he even talks to Maria in Spanish sometimes, though Maria knows English just as well as Spanish. Diego's a nice guy -- unless he's spanking you.. Though I'd MUCH rather him spank me than my mom.

I'm rambling now. I can't help but think about that everytime Mom offers to give me a spanking. How it's Diego's fault it all started... but I'm not sure I'd take it back if I had the chance.

"Are you ready?" Mom yelled from the living room.

I growed and pushed open my door, putting my cell phone in my pocket. "Yes, Mom... remember... you were the one who wasn't ready."

Mom rolled her eyes at me then walked outside, car keys in hands. I took it upon myself to punch the wall at having to go to this dinner with grandma and grandpa. Not that they bothered me that much, just hanging out with my friend seemed much more exciting, and they always mention my father. No, I haven't seen or heard from him, and I hate admitting it. And my mom hates admitting it, because she doesn't want her parents to know that she screwed up so much.

"Get rid of this attitude, Young Lady," Mom told me when I got in the car.

"It's such a beautiful day outside," I pouted.

"You'll get to go out when we get back home. We're not going to be gone that long."

I shook my head and stared out the window, engrossed in the trees and traffic passing by. Every so often I'd see other families with teenagers in the car. Why is it necessary that parents make our lives miserable?

We finally arrived at Applebee's and my grandparents were already there. My grandma made it known that I was her lovely granddaughter and kissed me on the cheek right there in front of everybody. I tried not to roll my eyes. Both grandparents were firing questions at me one after another, even when the waitress walked us to the table. They were the same old questions... how's school, how's your love life, do you have a boyfriend, are you still making good grades? I couldn't help but blush when we passed by this group of people from my school.

We sat at a table in the middle of the room, so everyone could see me suffering through lunch with my grandparents. I ordered a Dr. Pepper but secretly wished it were something alcoholic and almost whispered to my waiter to pleaseeeeee grace me with some whiskey. But I didn't. I hadn't even really drank before, just knew that my mom wanted whiskey in stressful situations.

I guess dinner was going fine until our food was brought out. I was still noticing the kids from my school staring at me and laughing every so often, so my face was feeling really hot. Then my grandma asked it.

"So, Jessie, tell me... have you heard from your father lately?"

I glared at my mom. I knew what she wanted me to say -- I talked to him not too long ago. But I was so aggravated and pissed at her, I didn't care if they knew. "No, Grandma... haven't talked to him in years, no matter what Mom wants you to think."

"That is not true, Jessie, you just talked to him a few days ago."

"Well, if I did, you must have drugged me because I don't remember talking to him, nor do I remember talking to him all the other times I've told them that I have."

"You wait a minute right there, Missy.." she began, but I retaliated.

"Don't even start with me, Mom. I told you I didn't want to come eat stupid dinner with you guys, that I had already made plans and you didn't even respect my wishes, so why should I respect yours."

"I am your mother, Young Lady."

"I don't give a shit," I answered, which was a mistake. Instead of slapping me across the face like I deserved, prayed for, she grabbed my left arm and pulled me over her knee. "No! Mom! Stop!" I squealed.

She didn't say anything. If I thought my face was red before, it was REALLY red now. I put my hands back to block her from spanking me, but she grabbed them tightly, restraining me.

"Mom! Please," I said in a whisper, knowing that the whole restuarant was probably watching. She slapped me over my pants about ten or twelve times, all the while I'm biting my lip and my face is strawberry red and I want to cry from being so embarrassed. She didn't keep me there long, obviously realizing that this was more embarrassing than either of us wanted.

She lifted me up and whispered sternly in my ear, "You go to the restroom right now, Jessica, and wait for me. I'll be in there in a minute to give you the rest."

I wanted to cry upon hearing that, but didn't argue for fear of being spanked in public again. Most of the people had resumed to eating by this time, so I just shuffled out while my mom muttered apologies to my grandparents.

My stomach growled. I'd been so hungry and only was able to eat half of my meal. I pushed open the door to the bathroom and noticed there were two stalls. It'd be my luck that someone else would come in there while I was being spanked. Oh how I much preferred to be spanked by Diego. In fact... if it could get met out of being spanked by my mom, I'd BEG him to spank me... even with his belt, or the yardstick... anything but my mom! Not to mention Diego spanks MUCH harder... and he's a guy, so it's embarrassing. But I hate it so much more when my mom spanks me.

My mom came in the restroom after letting me suffer for only a minute or two. She rolled up her sleeve and dragged me to the handicapped stall.

"Mom, please... I'm sorry. I've learned my lesson."

"Oh no you haven't," she said, locking the door and putting the seat down on the toilet, then sitting down.

"Please don't spank me here! Anyone could walk in!"

"I don't care. Pull down your pants and panties and get over here, Jessica."

"Mom! Please! Can't we compromise? Diego can even spank me when I get home!"

"I'm already contemplating that. Now... do as I say or I'll spank you again when we get home, right before Diego does."

I pouted. "Can't we do that without this spanking?"

"I"m going to give you to the count of three," she told me.

With that, I cried and pulled down my jeans, then my panties. She roughly grabbed my arm and pulled me over her lap. She didn't wait, though. She started the spanking... smacking my bottom as hard as she possibly could, which was harder than I'd imagined.

"Ohhh, Mommy, please!" I begged, feeling like I was three or four.

She didn't listen, just kept on spanking, even when we heard the door open to the bathroom. I kicked my legs furiously, holding my hand over my mouth so they couldn't hear me wailing. Someone went into the stall next to mine and I couldn't help but squeal a little, even with my hand over my mouth. I was grunting the whole time, then the bathroom door opened again and I knew that now two people were listening to my spanking. My mom STILL didn't stop, however, only spanked harder.

Then, as if it wasn't bad enough she was spanking and two people were inside, she began spanking my sit spots as hard as possible, and then smacked my thighs for about a minute straight. The two people were still in the bathroom, undoubtably just for the show, THEN my mom stopped and I thought it was over so I rolled off of her lap.

"Get back over my knee right now, Young Lady. I am NOT finished with you!" my mom yelled.

I blushed profusely and groaned back over her lap, wanting to beg, but my pride not allowing it, since people were listening. She reached down in her purse and grabbed her plastic hairbrush that she'd brought with her. She crashed it down on my backside and I let out a howl, listening to the snickers of the people inside the restroom.

"You will not use that type of language, Jessica, do you understand me?"

"Yes, ma'am! Yes, ma'am!" I wailed.

She crashed the damn hairbrush down on my bottom a dozen or so more times, then lifted me up. I was a sobbing mess and hurriedly pulled up my pants and panties. She replaced the brush in her purse and I heard the two people leave the restroom.

"Get cleaned up and come back to the table to finish your dinner. We'll talk to Diego when we get home."

I nodded and mom left the restroom. I hung out in there for a long time, hoping someone else would come in and I could hide behind them when I went back outside. But no one did. I washed my face and tried to hide the fact that I'd been crying. That didn't work too well either.

I finally mustered up the courage to go back and sit down at my table. Of course it hurt to sit, but I tried not to wince so badly when I did. I apologized to my grandparents and finished my meal, not looking anyone in the eyes. I was so damn embarrassed.

Finally, after what felt like hours, my mom announced that we should get going, because she needed to take care of somethings. My grandma gave me a hug and apologized for getting me into trouble, but I whispered back that it was my fault. She told me that she loved me, then my grandpa gave me a hug, too.

The ride back home was just as quiet as the ride there. My mom just smoked cigarettes and kept the radio off, clearly gathering her thoughts. Instead of pulling into my driveway like I'd expected, though, she pulled into Diego's driveway. I began crying once again, though I was thankful it was him spanking me for the final time instead of my mom.

"Get out," she told me and I followed her up the front steps to Diego and Maria's house. She knocked on the door and my friend answered. She noted that I was crying before my mom said anything. "May I please see your brother," my mom said.

Maria said sure then then left the doorway, calling to her brother in Spanish. He came to the door seconds later. "What's up?" he asked.

"Diego, my daughter has been really disrespectful today, and I know that no spanking can make an impression on her like yours can."

He looked at me and I hung my head, not having it in me to face his eyes.

"If you don't mind, would you teach her a lesson about disrespect and foul language."

He nodded.

"Just send her home when you finish," she told him, because we only lived a few houses down.

"Okay," he answered, then put a hand on my back, pushing me inside. "Go to my room," he told me and it reminded me of this keychain I saw once that said "You've been naughty, go to my room." If only *that* was the kind of naughty he was talking about.

I shuffled to his room, sniffling and tears escaping every so often. I heard Maria ask him what happened and he just brushed her off. He closed the front door after my mom started her car and sped off, then followed me to his room.

I plopped down on the bed. He had such a cool room... it sucked that I had to see it in such a light. Especially sucked that I'd be looking at his carpet more than him. He didn't give me much time to look around, though, because before I knew it, he came inside carrying the yardstick.

"Diegoooo," I wailed. "Noooooo!"

"I haven't even started the spanking yet and you're already begging!" he teased, leaning the yardstick against his computer desk. "What in the world happened? Your mom only gets me to spank you when you've done something really really bad," he said.

He sat down next to me on the bed and I lay my head on his shoulder, still sobbing. I went into a long spill about how mom had spanked me in front of everyone and I didn't feel like I deserved it, even though she had warned me about foul language before. He rubbed my back and listened to me, waiting for my conclusion before he spoke.

"She spanked you right there, in the restuarant, and everything?"

I nodded.

"And then again, in the bathroom? Where people were listening?"

I nodded again.

He shook his head. "And she still wants me to spank you?"

A final time, I nodded.

"She's right that you shouldn't use that type of language, though," he said, though he was on my side. "So I guess you deserve it."

"Please not too hard, Diego."

"I intend to make quite an impression," he told me, which didn't mean much. He always made quite an impression.

He stood up then stood me up, undoing my jeans and slipping them to the floor, then leaning me over his bed, tugging down my panties as well.

"I don't expect to hear that type of language from you again?" he asked.

"Nooo," I cried.

I felt the breeze on my already aching bottom when I heard him taking the yardstick.

"I'm glad to hear that," he told me, then pressed down on my back to keep me leaning over the bed. He lifted the yardstick high in the air and cracked it against my backside, causing me to yelp. He only did that a couple of times, enough to make a few clear stripes on my bottom so Mom would be pleased. Then he yanked up my panties and hugged me. "Now, pull up your pants, run home, and give your mom the most horrible story about how severely you were spanked, okay?"

I nodded, not wanting to let go of his hug. I wanted to get home before the tears dried up, so she'd think it was a lot worse than it was, so I just waved to my friend, promising to call her later, then ran home to show my mom the damage.

Story: Fighting Is No Good, Part I

Part of the Carlos/Danielle Series.  Danielle is at the wrong place at the right time and almost gets in a fight.  But here's to Carlos who saves the day, like always, and protects his little step-sister before she gets herself seriously hurt.

Fighting is No Good
Part 1
by Breanna Carter

"Did you hear that Julio and Diego got into a fight?" I asked Carlos while he was on the computer. I sat down next to him and began putting on my shoes and socks.

"Yeah, and?"

"Isn't that f-in' funny? Diego kicked some ass!"

"I didn't think it was too amusing," Carlos said, clicking away on the computer.

"Well I think it's hilarious. I can't wait to rub it in to Julio. Miguel said that he might stop by his house tonight."

At that point, Carlos turned around and looked at me. "If the only reason you're going over to Miguel's house is to point fingers at Julio, then I'd advise you not to. It's none of your business, you should stay out of it."

"Chill, Carlitos. Nothing's going to happen."

He gave me an admonishing look. "If I find out that you're putting your nose in someone else's business, it's your ass. Do you understand me?"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," I said, tying my shoe. "I'm out of here before I get anymore lectures."

He shook his head at me, but I skipped off, being serious when I said I wanted to skip the lectures! What did Carlos know anyway? It's not like I'd bug Julio much, and besides, he knew as much English as Miguel, so it's not as if he could understand me anyway! And even if he did, who could get mad at an adorable little girl like me? Definitely not him.

I zipped up my jacket as I walked down the street. The sun wasn't quite down yet, so it was still light enough outside for Carlos not to get bothered that I was walking around by myself. Despite the fact that it was still daytime, it was still a bit chilly outside. That wasn't such a bad thing, though... I love cold weather.

I walked up to Miguel's apartment and he was standing outside with his roommate, smoking cigarettes.

"Hola, mamasita."

I rolled my eyes and giggled, walking up the stairs. "I think it's the funniest thing in the world that Julio got his ass kicked. Is he coming over tonight?"

Now, while Miguel didn't speak much English, he mostly understood what I said. "No good, Danielle," he told me, then added something in Spanish that sounded like Julio's business was none of my business.

"Ah well, it's not important. Diego is hott. I'm glad he beat the shit out of Julio. I'd have paid money to see that shit."

Miguel ruffed my hair and said, "Oye, Danielle," then invited me inside his apartment. His roommate followed and the three of us watched tv for a little while, in Spanish, of course. I was mostly used to Spanish tv because that's what Carlos and Juan enjoyed watching. I got really interested in this Spanish soap opera when someone honked the horn outside. I was halfway lying on Miguel, so his roommate decided he'd get up and see who it was. He came back in seconds later muttering something to Miguel and grabbing his jacket. I noticed that he'd said "Julio" and was curious.

"Julio is here?" I asked.

Miguel ignored me, watching tv.

"MIGUEL! Is he here?"

"Si," he answered softly, not adverting his gaze from the television.

"YAY!" I exclaimed and hopped up.

"Danielle, please... leave it alone."

"I'm just going to go out there for a minute.." I said and was out the door before Miguel's roommate. "Aye! It's Julio! Nice black eye!"

He was standing outside with a couple of friends, chattering in Spanish. He glanced up at me for a moment, then looked back at his amigos.

"Que pasa, amigo?" I asked, more in a sarcastic joking way than actually worried about what'd happened.

"No soy tu amigo."

"Oh? Porque?"

He went on to answer me in Spanish, saying that I was a liar and gossiper, but I shook my head and just told him to shut the fuck up. I don't know the exact translation for how he replied, but it wasn't very nice. So I couldn't help myself, I started ragging him.

"Oh, don't even pull that shit with me, Mr. I-can't-win-a-fight-because-I'm-a-pussy. *I* could beat the shit out of you."

"Take it easy, Danielle," Miguel shouted from the top of the stairs.

Julio looked to his friend for a translation, but the man just shrugged, then he cussed me out in Spanish.

"Oooooo I'm so scared. Tengo miedo! Pinche cabron." I know half of what I was saying, but the cuss words... well, I just knew they were bad and would piss him off... and they did...

By this time, Miguel was near us and steadily warning me to shut up and trying to get me away but it didn't work... especially when Julio proceeded to call me a "puta" along with another string of words... ahhh... I love me for being such a bitch.

Didn't Carlos warn me? "Chinga tu madre!" I shouted.

Julio was livid when I said this and didn't even think about it before he slapped me across the face, and hard! The two of us were shocked for a couple of seconds then I became livid and pushed him as hard as I could. He then mocked me, saying that I *should* be scared because I fight just like a girl and he could kick my ass anyday because I was just a worthless piece of trash or some degrading statement towards women. I didn't exactly understand what it was that he said, but my face turned bright red in anger and I charged at him again, pushing him even harder this time and he slapped me again, causing me to fall to the ground. I quickly stood and tackled him, not having enough time to fight because I was all of a sudden being pried away.

It was Carlos who'd pried me away from the man, and threw me aside into Miguel's arms. I watched as Julio stood back up and started bitching at Carlos about me, and Carlos shouted back, getting all up in his face and telling him off. Miguel was holding onto me and caressing my face where I'd been slapped twice, repetitively asking if I was okay. I don't remember if Julio or Carlos tackled the other first, but within no time they were lying on the ground wrestling, then Carlos was on top of him punching the shit out of his face.

I covered my eyes. "Make em stop, make em stop," I told Miguel.

He noticed my distress and said something in Spanish to the two fighting boys, but they didn't stop. I snuggled closer to him, still muttering.

"Carlos, please," I begged. "Please stop. I'm sorry."

He didn't stop, though, nor did Julio. It seemed like they were down there forever... at least until the lady across the street threatened to call the cops and Miguel's roommate started yelling, "la policia! La policia!"

The two guys broke up and Julio's nose was bleeding pretty badly. Carlos told him that he wouldn't hesitate to beat the shit out of him again... then Julio told him that if he'd keep me in line he wouldn't have to do it for him... and Carlos got back in his face and said that if I needed to be kept in line it was between he and I, not Julio. They almost started again, but I dragged Carlos away. He was so pissed off that his fists were clenched and when I pulled him away I could feel his muscles... and then realized that I would be next to feel his wrath. Dammit. How'd he find out what was going on anyway?

"Miguel called me," Carlos answered on our drive home. "Good damn thing, because if not, he would have beat the shit out of you. What the hell is your problem anyway? Are you trying to get yourself killed or arrested?"

"Shut up, Carlos, you fought him."

"He's not twice my size and I didn't start it. What did I tell you about staying out of other people's business?"

"Who cares," I muttered.

When we got inside the house, I took a good look at Carlos. His face was swollen and he had a small cut on his forehead, some minor bleeding, but nothing too major... especially compared to Julio.

"I'm going to take a shower. Go to your room and don't even think about leaving because you're already getting it badly enough as it is."

I glared at him. "Not fair."

"I don't give a shit if you think it's fair or not..."

I scowled and stomped towards my room, trying not to slam the door, then plopping on my bed. I rubbed my cheek where I'd been slapped those two times. It was hurting like crazy! Of course, I'm sure this pain was nothing compared to what I'd be feeling in a few minutes... but damn. This all just sucked. All of a sudden I was pissed at Miguel for calling Carlos... but what else could he do? I mean, he was just looking out for me... but couldn't he have thought of a better way to look out for me? What's the deal with people always fighting at Miguel's house anyway? Damn Mexicans.

I was silently cursing Mexicans and their fighting nature when Carlos came in my room, clean clothes, not looking nearly as rough as he had. He sat down on my bed next to me and studied me with his dark brown eyes.

"What is your deal, Danielle? Do you just go out looking for trouble?"

I shook my head.

"Could've fooled me. Didn't I warn you once about hanging out with Miguel? He's no good, dammit."

I shrugged. "He's my friend, Carlos. You can't stop me from hanging out with my friend."

"You're right, I can't stop you, but I'd figure you'd have a little more sense than that. And to think, you JUST got yourself in trouble like this, what, last month? Over the same exact thing... putting your nose where it needn't be."

I shivered, staring at the wall. He was right... it hadn't been much longer than a month since I'd gotten fucked up at Miguel's house and told some random drunk Mexican "chinga tu madre" and got chased around my neighborhood... Me and my big mouth. Dammit. "I know, Carlos... I know. My bad."

"Yeah, your bad. What am I going to do with you, hermana?"

I shrugged.

He caressed my cheek with the tips of his fingers. "He slapped you pretty good... Gah, Danielle... what possessed you to even think about pestering him... after what happened with that other weirdo..."

"I knew my big brother would come bail me out," I teased.

"Yeah, you were lucky. If Miguel hadn't called me, you might be beat up pretty badly right now."

"I could've taken him."

He chuckled slightly.

"What! I could have!"

"Okay, okay... but that still doesn't hide the fact that you disobeyed me. What'd I tell you before you left?"

I sighed. "To stay out of Julio's business... but..."

"That's right, to stay out of his business. And did you listen?"

"No, but..."

"Right. That means you're getting a spanking, hermana."

"Dammit, Carlos... must we always solve things in this manner?"

"This time, yes. And don't worry, I'll be sure to tell your mom that you were already spanked, so it won't happen again."

"Hey wait! No fair! You can't spank me *and* tell Mom!"

"I can and I am."

"Carlos... noooo... please! Just one or the other."

"No. If you're not going to listen to me when I tell you to stop hanging out with Miguel, maybe you'll listen to your mom."

I pouted. "You're not being fair!"

"I think I'm being plenty fair. I didn't tell her about last time when you almost got yourself killed, so I'm going to tell her this time. You had your chances."

"And spank me, too?"

He nodded, then pushed himself off my bed. "Pants down, Hermana. You know the drill."

"This isn't fair, Carlos," I said, rolling over on my back so he couldn't spank me while I argued. "You can't do both. Please. Just spank me and get it over with and not tell her and I promise I'll be good."

He ignored my pleas. "Pants down, Danielle, and don't make me ask you again. You'll just make it harder on yourself."

"Carlos, will you listen to me?"

"I am listening, and I've already told you: I'm telling her and nothing you do or say will change that."

I folded my arms, to which he replied with folding his arms and an exasperated look. I didn't budge, though. It's not a good idea to resist your brother, especially when you just saw him beat the hell out of some guy on the street for you and felt his muscles... He was waay stronger than me. Why the hell was I resisting?

"I mean it, Danielle. Pants down. You're just making this harder on yourself."

"Can you give me a good reason as to why you're telling Mom?"

"Are you really going to make me take them down myself?"

"Dammit, Carlos!" I yelled then rolled over hesitantly as I pulled my pants down to my knees. "Sometimes you bug the hell out of me."

"The feelings are mutual, I assure you," he answered, pulling my panties down to meet my jeans. "If you'd just minded your business like I'd said, you wouldn't be getting spanked and my face wouldn't be swollen."

I looked over my shoulder and watched him unbuckle his belt and couldn't help but let out a loud groan. "Carlos! Pleasee!! Don't use that..."

"Aye, you'll think about this next time you go to Miguel's house?"

"I'll think about it even if you don't use it! Pleaseeeeeeeeee!"

He smirked. "Nice try, Hermana," he said, sliding it through the loops. "Really, nice try. But I'm using it anyway."

I watched him fold it over and watched him raise it high in the air and winced right before he slapped it down on my backside and I screamed bloody murder.

"Oooooooowwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!! Carlos!!! Please!!"

He crashed it against my bum again, in the exact same spot, causing me to squirm like mad crazy and try and block the next smack. Instead of actually blocking, though, he took my wrist in his hand and slapped me extra hard. "Do not try to block, Young Lady," he scolded, then delivered another.

"But... ahhoowww it hurrts!!!!!!"

"Good..." he said, then slapped it down more times. I could somewhat see him over my shoulder, crashing his black leather belt down on my bottom. I kicked my legs and bawled like a baby, more than I'd have ever cried in front of that asshole Julio. I could have taken him on! Dammit.. why'd Miguel have to go and get involved. Oh well... I'd get that asshole back, no matter what... Yes, I was thinking this as my ass was being beaten by my older brother who made me swear that I'd mind my own business. Guess I don't learn too easily...

"You're going to be good from now on?" Carlos asked, giving me a final slap on my sitspots.

"Oooowwwwwww, yessss!!"

"Good," he answered and slid the belt back through the loops of his pants and buckled it. I buried my face in my pillow and Carlos gently helped my pants and panties back up. I winced when they touched my tender bottom, then he sat down next to me, rubbing my back. "Aye, Hermana. Porque te gusta problemas?"

"I *don't* like problems," I muttered.

"Then why try and fight Julio?"

I shrugged.

"Dad is going to give me shit."

I sniffled, then turned my head to look at him. He was leaning against the wall, still rubbing my back, staring into space with a look of worry in his eyes. "He is?"

Carlos nodded.

"I didn't think about that."

"When we lived in Mexico, I used to get in fights at school all the time. Dad didn't mind much, til we moved here and I almost got kicked out of school. He tore my ass up good. Only fought once since then, besides today.."

I bit my lower lip. "I'm sorry," I told him. "Lo siento mucho?"

He nodded. "Don't fuck around, Hermana. You'll get yourself in a lot of trouble. Not only here, but with the cops, too. Okay?"

"Okay," I whispered and looked away. That guilt was finally forming in my stomach for what I'd done. I'd never meant to get Carlos in shit, too. In fact, that's the last thing I'd wanted to do... which just made me hate Julio more. Ohhh, that boy would pay...

Carlos stayed in my room until our parents got home. It was nearly midnight when they got in, and once Mom walked in my room she started freaking out.

"Oh my gosh, Carlos! Danielle! What happened!?" she screamed, hand over her mouth.

That was my cue to answer... or maybe Carlos's nudge was my cue to answer. Anyhow, I was the first to speak. "Mom, I got in a fight with this stupid guy at Miguel's house and Miguel called Carlos and Carlos tried to stop me but I wouldn't stop and the guy wouldn't stop and Carlos ended up beating the hell out of the guy."

My mom shook her head. "Who was it? Should we press charges?" She turned around to see Juan walking in the room behind her.

"Que paso?" he asked, noticing all the commotion.

Carlos decided to be the one to talk now. "No, there's no reason to press charges, right Danielle?" he said, glaring at me. "Why not try telling the WHOLE truth?"

I growled. "Gah, couldn't save me from being in anymore trouble?" I hissed, then looked back at my mom and stepdad who were standing in the doorway with a questioning look. "It was my fault because I instigated it and said some pretty mean things to him, so it's just as much my fault as his. But not Carlos's... he was just protecting me."

Juan looked at my mom then back at Carlos. "Quien?" he asked.

"Julio," I answered.

"Julio who?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. Some crazy Mexican."

"What did you tell him to make him so mad?"

I bit my lower lip and glanced at Carlos who gave me a slight nod as if telling me to go ahead and say it. "Something bad?" I answered.

Juan studied me. "What did you say?"

"Uhmmm..." I began.

"Today, Hija," he answered.

"Chinga tu madre," I said in a near whisper and hid my face so I wouldn't get slapped again.

"Si?" he asked Carlos.

"No se. Cuando yo llegué, ya estaban peleando."

"Porque, mi Hija?" Juan asked me and came towards me, touching my cheek that Julio had slapped. "Fighting is no good, Danielle."

"Pero yo la castigue."

"Como?"

"Un azote."

He looked at me. "Si?"

I nodded: yes, Carlos had already spanked me... which is what Juan was asking. After so many years of listening to Carlos and Juan randomly talk to each other in Spanish, you begin to realize what they're saying to one another. He then called Carlos to the hallway so they could talk about it. I could sort of hear what they were saying... like Juan thanked him but told him that next time there would be other ways to deal with things... my mom was still in my room with me, muttering things about being so worried, but I wasn't much paying attention to her. Carlos and Juan's discussion turned into a screaming match of Carlos wanting to help out his sister and Juan telling him that the parents should be the one to do that.

"Danielle, please stay out of fights, okay?" my mom said.

"Yeah, okay," I answered, still more interested in Carlos's screaming match with Juan and wishing I was fluent enough in Spanish to understand it. It ended with Carlos slamming his door in Juan's face and my stepdad breathing heavily. I bit my lower lip and gave my mom a pathetic look, and she patted me on my head then left my room, pulling my door shut and probably going to reassure Juan that everything would be okay.

I lay on my bed for a while, just staring at the ceiling. Out of boredom, I called Miguel to apologize for causing such a scene. Diego was over there when I called and asked to talk to me, which I thought was totally adorable. I'd always had a crush on Diego. He congratulated me for kicking some ass, ignoring the fact that it was actually Carlos who did the damage. After hanging up the phone with him, I dialed my brother's cell number.

"You're calling me when your room is only a few feet away?" he answered.

"Gee, nice talking to you, too," I teased.

I heard him smile. "Que pasa, hermanita?"

"Are you okay? What'd you and Juan fight about?"

"Oh? Being nosey again? Are you going to go beat him up for me?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "I can't help it that I'm nosey!" I said. "And anyway... what happened?"

"Don't worry about it, Danielle. But I'm fine. Go to sleep, okay?"

I pouted. "But I wanna know!!!!"

"One day I'll tell you. Goodnight....."

I sighed. "Fine, goodnight," I said, then hung up the phone, not as irritated with him as it seemed.