Girls in trouble

Opening the front passenger car door Amanda bent down to look at the two green eyed occupants. “Hello girls, thank you for picking me up.” She watched as Bailey slid out of the front seat to make room for her, but instead of getting into the back she found Bailey giving her a hug. It was a quick thing and she had little time to react before Bailey let go and climbed into the backseat. Sliding into the seat Amanda smiled back at Bailey and then Candi before putting on her seat belt. “Well that was a pleasant surprise, did you girls have fun today?” She said eyeing the both still wearing their bathing suits with their cover up tops. “Some of us more than others, but I have to say I love that we can go there whenever we like. A life guard from when we were there before totally recognized us and waved. He is so cute and I could see him just fitting right in surfing back home.” The brief description of how they spent their day reminded Amanda of her youth spending time by the water, checking out cute boys sounds an awful lot like how she spent some of her summers, but back then it was the community pool. “What about you Bailey, did you have fun checking out the boys?” She asked teasingly as she glanced back into the backseat at Bailey, who was typing on her phone. “Like yeah, I had fun and Jeremy bought us ice cream.”

“No, he bought you ice cream, I just took the big sister's share.” Amanda watched Bailey look up from her phone and give a small shake of her head. “You ate like most of it.” Candi shrugged at the accusation. “My fair share.” Amanda looked between them amused at the exchange. “Did the two of you really spend the day checking out boys when you had Jeremy with you?” That was about the third time checking out boys had been mentioned, and Bailey wasn’t done with letting that go on. “No, we like looked for girls for Jeremy.” Candi tilted her head towards Amanda. “We promised we would help him find a girlfriend, but we did see a lot of cute boys. Once I caught Bailey taking a photo of one.” Bailey’s cheeks blushed a deep crimson and shook his head vigorously. “I told you I was taking a selfie and the sun was like in the way that is why I had to move!” Candi glanced into the rearview mirror then back to Amanda. “And moving the camera just so happened to stay in the bath of a cute boy. Bailey, what would August think if I told him you were taking photos of other men?” This was a lot of information to digest, Bailey did like taking her selfies and she was probably trying to mirror Candi’s behavior. “He can like think whatever he likes, I don’t care.” Bailey crossed his arms over his chest and looked out the window before an idea struck him a second too late for a real comeback. “Yeah well what would Ryan think of you looking at others?” Candi smirked and did her best to be a defensive driver and hold the conversation. “Don’t give me that, you care what he thinks. I bet you are texting him right now aren’t you? And Ry knows who I am, my kisses are for him, but I’m still going to look. I don’t have a ring on my finger.” Candi giggled flicking her left hand to show how she wasn’t currently wearing any rings.

Clicking the power button on his phone to turn off the screen felt a little embarrassed, he was indeed texting August. She was right, but it wasn’t like he wanted to talk to the boy. “So it is okay if Ryan looks at other girls?” Instead of looking in the rearview mirror Candi turned around in her seat to look at her friend. “He better not be, just like I know you would be upset if August did.” Amanda couldn’t help herself but reach over and grab the wheel. “Eyes front young lady!” Turning back around Candi regripped the wheel and while she didn’t look at Amanda she looked sheepish for not thinking about what she was doing. “Sorry, sorry.” Letting go of the wheel Amanda patted the girl's shoulder. “It is okay, you are still new. Try to stay focused.” Bailey clicked his phone’s power button to bring the device back to life and looked at the string of messages from August, gushing about the selfies that were taken. Having a man oggle him was still odd, let alone him being the one sending photos of himself in a green Hawaian cheeky bikini.

August: I do think green is a great color on you.

August: You know with me getting a full time position here I will be actually making money. With my first check I could take you out shopping, you try on a few outfits and I give you my opinion. We get to spend time together, I get to see how beautiful you are in different outfits and you get a new dress. How does that sound for an afternoon?

Bailey: I might be doing my hair that day.

August: Oh you are going to try a new hairstyle! We don’t have to do it right when I get paid, we can just do it whenever.

Bailey: You should just save your money or like idk give me an amazon gift card.

August: I don’t mind at all, I like the idea of buying you an outfit and you wearing it and yeah that's cool if you want to buy something on your own and do a private show later.

Bailey: Wait like really? You would get me a gift card?

August: I would rather you make a wishlist so I could pick from things I know you like, but yeah I would absolutely do that.

Bailey: OMG that would be like great!

Smirking, Bailey clutched the flower cased phone between his fingers at the idea of August being so gullible to basically send him cash. “Honey, honey, hello?” The waving hand caught Bailey’s attention, he was lost in thought of the idea of what he could buy with his own money. Jeans and tennis shoes topped the list. “You are a little spacy today pumpkin.” Candi started to pull the car into the apartment complex when she glanced at the others in the vehicle. “Please she is always like that, you should have seen how she totally zoned out looking at that math workbook. Gross by the way, glad I don’t have to do that.” Amanda actually liked math growing up, but even so having to do homework over summer break would not have been something she wanted to do, but Megan was right about Bailey needing to know what would be covered in school. “I was saying I have to do some work tonight and was going to order some takeout. I was telling Candi how neither of you need to lose more weight, so no side salads for you two or some such nonsense.” Bailey’s eyes lit up at the idea of a real meal, his mouth watering at the idea of a hamburger. “Mmmmm Backyard Burger?!” He said as they came to a stop. “You always have red meat on the mind, how about a super amazing bowl of Pan Mee?” Bailey looked at her perplexed, not knowing what that was. “Like is that food?” Clapping her hands together, Candi bounced in her seat a little, looking between the two others that looked equally as confused. “You have never had it? Oh god you both are going to just want to die it is so good. They have these like flat noodles, I know carbs, but like it is so good. We get lots of greens, mushrooms in this amazing broth oh and like an egg. Daddy likes it with pork, but I know the tofu option is so much better, but also like no egg. Who needs to make a perfect dish worse for you, ya know?”

“You sound rather excited about that, I do not know if you can get something like around here. Tell you what if you can find a place that has it you can order one for each of us. If not then Bailey gets her burger tonight.” Candi nodded with a massive smile, pulling out her phone to search for a local place that served the dish. “Totally fair.” Amanda moved her hand in front of the screen to get her attention. “You can do that inside sweetie. I bet you both want to get out of your swim suits.” That was something Bailey could one hundred percent totally get behind and he also considered hiding Candi’s phone so that he could sink his teeth into a burger tonight. As they walked up the steps to their apartment, Bailey noted for the first time how Mommy hadn’t talked to him about her day at the office in a while. He mostly tuned her out as she went on about a problem from this account or that, or about one of her employees. It was a nice change of pace, he was sure she wasn’t keeping it all bottled up with how frustrated she used to get, but that sounded like a problem for Miss April or Aunt Megan to deal with now he guessed. “Did you enjoy your first day of freedom out driving on your own?” Clapping her hands together once Candi brought the tips of her fingers to just below her lips as she gave a massive smile. “Oh yes, like yes, yes, a bazillion times yes. Thank sooooo soooo much for letting me drive your car. You are like the best Miss Best.”

Amanda opened the door and let the girls go in ahead of her, loving the clean smell and look of the apartment. “Miss Best now? Have you not made up your mind with what you would like to call me?” Spinning around Candi stepped into the apartment looking the older woman in the eye. “Oh I know what I want to call you, but you seem like **** and you really do have a fantastic last name. Do you think you could convince Daddy to take your last name?” Taking off her purse Amanda hung it from a chair at the kitchen table and rolled her eyes while facing away from the teen. “I doubt it, but thank you for the compliment. But… speaking of compliments, I have to say Bailey you did a wonderful job with your chores today.” Candi took a few steps to the side to scoot up next to Bailey so that she was in her field of view. “Thank you, we were happy to do it!” Tilting her head slightly, Amanda made eye contact with Bailey. “Well we both appreciate you helping clean up a little, but you are a guest in our home and Bailey should know better than to get others to do her chores.” Sensing the change in tone and atmosphere Candi took a few steps away from her friend, not wanting to incur any wraith. “Yeah, totally. I’m going to go change and order food, be right back.” Candi said rushing off to Bailey’s bedroom and closing the door behind her.

“Bailey, you know those chores were for you. What do you have to say for yourself?” Bailey glanced around the room like a sign would be seen with the right answer. She was obviously upset, but he really didn’t understand like why. The stupid chores got done and she even said she liked how the place looked, what did it matter if Candi helped. “Umm like we did everything on the list, she is here so like what's the big deal?” Putting her hands on her hips Amanda took a wider stance “The big deal, as you put it is that Candance Ann Connors is a guest in our home, she should not have to clean up after you or do the things I told you to do.” She glanced at the closed bedroom door, then back at Bailey remembering Derrick talking about her having a rough time with the ID and he was right. She could have just as easily looked at the ID to make sure things were right without blaming Bailey. Being a parent was difficult, and while she never had a child like she wanted, it sure felt like she was dealing with a moody teen girl right now. “Maybe I wasn’t clear before.” She said in a softer tone then she was using a moment ago, also considering how she might be taking out her anxiety about her job on Bailey. “The chores list is for you to do, if your friend really wants to help I can give her a list of her own.” Putting both of her hands on Bailey’s shoulders she tried to give a reassuring smile. “I know today was difficult for you, we will get everything straightened out. Tonight I have to do a little work, but then maybe I can join you two for a movie and we can paint our toenails or something. How does that sound?” Bailey smiled and nodded, A good girl is always obedient, a good girl always smiles, a good girl is seen and not hear, a good girl never argues or complains. Part of the mantra went through Bailey’s mind as he thought how he much rather paint his nails than having her angry and where that could lead. “Great, I am going to go get changed out of my work clothes. You should hurry along and go get changed too.” Amanda looked back at the closed door, thinking about the naked girl inside. “Maybe wait till your big sister is done getting dressed.”

Bailey watched the woman he loved walk away into the bedroom they used to share, just happy that the stupid chores wasn’t going to earn him a spanking. That was totally the worst thing he had asked her to do and oh my god it would be extra embarrassing to have that done in front of Candi. The memory of being bent over on the couch and being slapped caused Bailey to gingerly touch his behind, happy to avoid that. Pulling off the bathing suit cover Bailey was going to go into his room, ignoring that he was told to wait for Candi to be done. It was his room, if a hot green eyed blonde girl wanted to be naked in there, then all the better. His hand hesitated before touching the door knob “GIRLS COME IN HERE NOW!” His eyes going wide Bailey left his hand on his rear as a sense of dread came over him as Mommy’s voice yelled through the apartment loud enough for anyone downstairs to know he was in trouble. The bedroom door to his room opened slowly and out stepped Candi wearing a pair of short jean shorts and a tank top. Their eyes met, both wide eyed and, but nether took a step down the hallway to bedroom even though the command was clear. “GIRLS I SAID NOW!” With a hard swallow Bailey made his way to the master bedroom, with Candi following after. The bedroom door was wide open and inside was Amanda, who hadn’t even had a chance to take her heels off from work, standing in front of her bed by her dresser. In her hand was an open suitcase, and one of her dresser drawers open with a pile of folded boxer briefs and socks.

Seeing the two blonde girls come into her room Amanda tossed the empty suitcase behind her onto the bed and stared hard at them as she clenched her jaw. She knew Bailey went into the suitcase to get a shirt, that alone she disliked. This was much worse, it wasn’t just an invasion of Derrick’s privacy that he entrusted to her, but also an invasion into her own. Candi was a sweet girl, but did seem to have a problem with personal space and knowing when to drop a subject like how she constantly tried to push for marriage when she had hardly known her father. This was a difficult situation, she didn’t know how Derrick really disciplined his daughter or if he ever really did, and Bailey. She just let her do this, or was off doing her own thing while Candi interjected herself into her love life. “Girls, this is crossing a line and an invasion of privacy.” Her eyes shifted over to Candi, who seemed to shrink back trying to hide behind Bailey. “Tell me why you thought it was okay to do this.” Candi had no problem standing up to a bully or talking in front of a crowd, but she not do well with her Daddy being angry at her, or her Nana… and now Miss Best. Nanna had broken a wooden spoon on her rear end before or made her get a thin stick from outside to be punished with, but she rather have that then her Daddy telling her how he was disappointed in her. She wasn’t sure what Bailey’s Mom did, but she really didn’t want to find out. “It was all Bailey’s idea!” Candi cried out catching both the others by surprise. Bailey slowly turned to look at his friend who had just thrown him under the bus and then back to see those beautiful blue mascara covered eyes looking at him with an icy coldness. “Bailey Ann Best, is that true?”

“Fudge no, I like wouldn’t do that!” Bailey felt like a child trying to talk his way out of being in trouble. He wasn’t really a teenager or a girl and yet Candi was blaming something on him that was totally her idea. “You so did!” Turning away from the open dresser drawer Bailey glared at his supposed friend, didn’t she know what would happen if he got in trouble? “Nah ah! You are like the one who opened the drawer!” Candi shook her head, pointing toward the empty suitcase. “You like had Daddy’s suitcase open and was pulling out his clothes and said how you had a great idea.” Trying to ball his fists up only hurt with the long nails, Bailey stomped his foot not able to believe this was happening. “Girls stop bickering now.” Amanda’s words brought a silence to the room as both their eyes went to her. “Now I am going to ask this just once, I don’t want to hear a word from either of you for this answer, just nod or shake your head. Candi, was it your idea to put your fathers belongings in my dresser?” Amanda paused for a moment seeing the girl shake her head just a tiny bit looking like she might cry. “Candi, I honestly thought this was you, but it sounds like you helped Bailey do this right?” This time she watched her nod meekly to the question. “Do you think that was appropriate for you to do?” Again Candi shook her head slowly, avoiding eye contact. “I will talk to your father about this, but I cannot fault you for following Bailey’s lead if she said it was okay.” Amanda paused again, her eyes fixating on Bailey.

“Candi, how about you go pick us up that dinner you were talking about and when you get back all of us will sit down to have a nice dinner together.” Candi looked at her friend, she had permission to leave, but she hesitated. Not wanting to leave Bailey alone to take all the punishment, it was her idea but she didn’t think Bailey would have done it without her. “Umm.. MIss Best, ma’am. If you are going to punish Bailey, I should get the same punishment.” She felt herself cringing, even as she took a step closer to stand beside Bailey instead of behind her. “I am sure Bailey appreciates the gesture.” Amanda looked hard at the demure teen girl that was looking at the floor with her hands folded in front of her. “But Bailey still gets spanked when she is bad and even with your permission I could not do that to you. You will call your father and tell him what happened, and what you did and he will decide what is best for you. Now I will be calling him later, so you better tell the truth.” Candi reached over and touched her hand on top Bailey’s, giving it a squeeze before whispering . “Sorry.” Before replying a little louder to Amanda. “Yes, ma’am, I will.” Amanda nodded her head once and motioned to the door. “You know where the keys are, go on now and take your time.” Candi gave one last glance to her friend before heading out.

Both Amanda and Bailey stood in silence waiting to hear the front door close. Bailey fuming that he was about to get spanked for something he didn’t want to do, something he hated doing. He was so mad at Candi for blaming him, but as he stood there in silence. Doing his best to be a good girl, he thought about it from Candi’s perspective. She had the idea assumed he had come up with it first. It wasn’t some master plan where she came up with the idea and thrust it on him, he had agreed. He wasn’t even sure why he didn’t argue more or just flat out say no and leave the room. “I am surprised at you young lady, I do not even have the words. Trespassing in Derrick’s things and going into my drawers.” Our drawers… Bailey thought to himself, they were their drawers. You have had a bad day, but that does not excuse your behavior. You have a guest help with your chores, you take Derrick’s shirt without permission and ruin it. Yes I know about that, and then you put his things in my dresser.” Amanda paused again looking at Bailey, trying to size her up and figure out the why behind it. Bailey had always been the type to talk or yell back, make snide comments when he had even felt attacked, but now she. This girl in front of her was demure and quiet, not arguing at all. “Well you know what this means, go ahead and grab the bed post and stick out your rear. When we are done, you will apologize to me and to Derrick later when he is on the phone.

Closing his eyes Bailey did as instructed, a good girl is always obedient, he hated the stupid mantra. No matter what it was not far from his thoughts. He hated standing in the bedroom that only recently equally belonged to him, and now he was presenting his ass to be spanked while wearing a bikini, while Mommy… Mandy was dressed from work about to discipline him like a naughty child. The first smack didn’t truly hurt, except emotionally, the sound of her palm landing on his behind sounding worse that it was, but by the fifth he knew his cheeks were red and the pain had increased from the repetition. Bailey squeezed his eyes tight, he had certainly been hit worse than this, but it felt like a trial to hold his composure. He wanted to be strong and not make a peep, but by the seventh swat on his behind he failed that minimal test of manhood too. “Ow!” The sound slipped free from his lips and soon it sounded more like a rhythm between the sounds. SMACK, “OW!”, SMACK, “OWWWW!” SMACK, Bailey let out a little whimper and a high pitched sound trying to contain his tears. At least that he was able to do, his vision was clouded with the things, but still he hadn’t cried like a baby. “Well?” Trying to get ahold of himself Bailey nodded, biting his lower lip for a second. “I’m sorry for going into your things Mommy.” Amanda put her hand on Bailey’s shoulder, making sure to look into her green eyes. “Now, would you like to go to bed right after dinner to be grounded or would you still like to spend the night with Candi and I?” He didn’t want to be sent to bed, this was already so much. Candi and him were going to play video games and he didn’t want to be alone in a dark room hearing a movie playing and the two laughing while he was in there. “Stay… I would want to stay out here.” Bailey said in a tiny voice without a hint of confidence as he averted his eyes to the ground.

“Look at me.” Amanda said tapping Bailey under the chin so she would look her in the eye. “Bailey Ann Best, you have been a blessing onto my heart. I appreciate you, and all you do and I need you to know that I know you are a good girl. We all make mistakes, I love you. You know that I do right?” Bailey wrapped his arms around her, his backside incredibly sore as the tears he held back started to come free. He wasn’t balling out of control like he had the previous day, but still they came. He didn’t want to be called a good girl and yet he couldn’t help thinking I am a good girl, happy and proud. He wanted his life back, but even if he had taken her up on the offer this week would have to finish and then to be himself again he would have to go into hiding till the private investigator did his job and he had nowhere to go, except here… as Bailey Ann. “I do, I love you too Mommy.” No one else was around he could have said her name, but after what she said that felt like the right way to answer.