Mike's pov

After suffering through a two hour meeting with Neil and some medical supply liaisons, I'm actually looking forward to hearing how things went between Julie and Shane. When I enter Shane's room I see him sitting at his desk with his head in his hands, looking like he was just flattened by a steamroller. Poor bastard looks wiped.

"Hey, how did it go?" I ask, feeling oddly optimistic.

Shane sighs loudly, exhaling forcefully.

"It was intense, draining, and a long time in the making but ultimately ground-breaking. Julie was able to get some things off her chest that I know have been weighing her down for awhile now and I think we were able to rebuild a good portion of the crumbling foundation supporting our relationship."

Shane sounds like a passage out of a psych 301 textbook written by Dr. Seuss but I know his words are sincere, even if they're largely brought about from sheer exhaustion. He and Julie have an extremely close, yet volatile bond that only the two of them can truly comprehend. I've never admitted it to anyone but I've always been a little jealous of the connection they share.

"Sounds like a successful mission, Admiral," I say smirking, as I flop down on Shane's bed. After landing, I hear an object I must have accidentally bounced off his mattress clatter on the floor. Reaching down to retrieve it, I groan upon identifying it. Holding the cellphone up to Shane, I ask, "The reason the school called?" even though I'm almost positive I already know the answer.

"Yep, Lisa's. She cut class Friday, took an attitude with me, and denied it ever happened," Shane replies, confirming my suspicions.

"Just great," I mutter. "What class and why?"

Shane replies tiredly, "Last period and I don't know why, she didn't say. I grounded her for one week, took her phone, and sent her to her room." Rubbing his eyes and forehead, he sighs. "Plus, I administered some correction with my hand to address her disrespect."

"Why don't you relax and get some rest. I'll go talk to her and find out what's goin' on." Setting Lisa's phone on his desk, I reluctantly head over to the girls' room for some answers.

"Alright, thanks, mate." Shane slowly gets up and starts to change out of his suit, thinking it's been a helluva long day.

The girls' room

"Hi, sweetheart. Where's Lisa?" I ask, when Julie lets me in and I don't see anyone else in their room. Before she has a chance to respond, I clarify, "I thought Shane sent her here after grounding her for skipping last period on Friday?"

Looking confused, Julie answers, "She's not here and she didn't skip last period on Friday."

"How do you know?" I ask. Since Julie responded so quickly and assertively, I'm inclined to believe her.

"Because I have last period with her. BSCS? Mr. Dick?" Seeing my displeasure in how she referenced their teacher, Julie quickly modifies her words. "I mean, Mr. Kemp of course. Please excuse my faux pas."

Biting my lip, I muster the restraint to let her impudence slide.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure," she responds cockily. "We had a sub that day. Dick wasn't even there so the class was actually tolerable. I sat next to Lisa while we watched Condescending Patronization of Highschool Freshmen: Intro to Photosynthesis. Don't quote me on the title though, that may not be the exact name of the video."

Now it's my turn to roll my eyes I thought, as I once again ignored Julie's facetiousness, choosing instead to focus on the heart of her message.

"Why would Lisa have been marked absent then?"

"Despite what our illustrious public school system may want you to believe, Mike, substitute teachers don't always have a master's degree in education." Julie's words drip heavily with sarcasm.

"Look, I'm fast losing my tolerance for your insolent remarks. A simple yes sir would have proved not only to be a sufficient answer but a preferable one to my question: Are you sure? Understand?" I'd like to keep my focus on Lisa's supposed truancy but Julie's dangerously close to capturing some unwanted attention of a punitive nature.

"I'm just trying to help you out, Mike. If you didn't want me to answer your questions, why did you even ask in the first place?"

Julie continues to goad me with her sarcasm but I'm trying desperately not to take the bait. Every button, I swear.

"You can thank your lucky stars I'm going to leave now and look for your sister but not before you surrender your phone." I hold my hand out and glare at Julie.

"Seriously?" she halfheartedly questions, as she hands over her phone, knowing full well she's getting off easy.

"You may have it back in twenty-four hours IF, AND ONLY IF, I hear a respectful request and sincere apology at that time." My tone and demeanor indicate there's only one proper response and thankfully Julie delivers it without hesitation.

"Yes sir."

After leaving the girls' room, I check the nearest common room and rec room looking for

Lisa. Once I've searched some other areas of the NJC unsuccessfully for almost twenty minutes, I decide to head back to Shane's room and give him Julie's intel.

"Bollocks!" Shane's pissed he didn't believe Lisa and punished her unnecessarily.

"What did I tell you about swearing in British?" I admonish him.

"Not to do it 'cause everyone will know I'm a limey," Shane replies sheepishly.

"That's right," I say. "Next time it happens, you're going to drink a pitcher of ice tea and watch an entire NFL game. Am I clear?" I scold the Admiral in jest.

"Yes sir." I manage to elicit a smile from Shane as he plays along.

"Come on, Admiral, let's go find our daughter." I laugh and put my arm around Shane, giving him a bro hug before slapping him on the back and ushering him out the door. Stopping outside my room, I halt Shane. "Hold on, I want to grab my keys, I think I left my Yeti in the car and I'm gonna need that tomorrow."

When I open my door, I'm startled seeing Lisa sitting on my bed.

After clutching my chest and catching my breath, I say, "Lisa, you scared me. Shane and I were just coming to look for you."

"Julie told me you were looking for me." Seeing Shane walk into my room behind me, Lisa stands and defiantly states, "I don't want to talk to him."

Shane puts his hands up in surrender.

"That's fair. I deserve that but I hope you'll hear me out, Lisa, and let me apologize."

"I'll leave you two to talk." I close my door and head out to my car, giving them some privacy.

Lisa's pov

"I have nothing to say." I cross my arms over my chest and look away, feeling quite smug and self righteous right about now.

"Well, I have something to say and I hope you'll grant me the courtesy of listening." Shane sounds sad but I'm still low key mad.

"Like you did for me?" If I wasn't afraid Shane wouldn't hesitate to beat my ass, I'd snap and do the head bob to accessorize my attitude.

"Ouch. I know I had that coming but easy, Rocky." Shane holds his hands up, "I come in peace."

"Who's Rocky?" I ask, not recognizing Shane's most likely ancient pop culture reference.

And here I was kind of proud of myself for knowing that American cinematic icon, Shane thinks to himself.

"Nevermind, it's not important." Shane closes the gap and gently directs my chin to garner my focus.

"What's important is that I tell you I'm sorry for not believing you and for punishing you for something you didn't do. I wish I could take back what I did but obviously I can't un-spank you so I'll un-ground you and give your phone back instead."

I know Shane's apology is sincere but I'm not ready to give in just yet.

"No, you can't take it back, Shane. You're two for two in unfairly hurting your daughters today. Congrats you're battin' a thousand." I feel a pang of remorse seeing the hurt look on Shane's face, but just a pang. "That's a baseball reference, in case you didn't get that, gov'nor."

Shane takes a deep breath and narrows his gaze, indicating I've gone a little too far.

"I have four daughters, so technically I'd be battin' five hundred but that's immaterial, Lisa."

I should've known the perfectionist wouldn't let that slide. I certainly wouldn't if the tables were turned.

"Whatever, Shane, you hurt me and I'm not talking about the ass whoop... " Shane gives me 'the look' so I instinctively correct myself, "...spanking. I'm talking about the fact you didn't believe me, even though I told you several times I didn't cut class." I decide to twist the knife a bit before removing it and letting him off the hook.

"Again, I'm sorry, Lisa. What can I do to make it up to you?" Shane looks so sad and haggard, I don't think I can give him a hard time much longer.

"How about the next time I'm in trouble for real, I'll lie and you'll believe me and let me off the hook?" My first time at bat, I might as well swing for the fences.

Shane just shakes his head no.

"Okay, how about I skip last period tomorrow and you let it go since you already punished me for it?" Second time up, I go for a double and try to hit one up the middle.

Shane shakes his head no again.

"Alright, what if I take your phone and spank and ground you?" Third time up, bases are loaded and I'm going for the grand slam.

"Hmmmm," Shane pretends to consider my offer before wholeheartedly rejecting it. "Not in a million years, luv, but nice try."

"What if Dr. Curtis paddles you and I get to watch?" Bottom of the ninth, two outs, there's a man on second, it's a full count and we're down by one.

"Would that make you feel better, Lisa?" Shane asks.

"Yes!" I respond quickly, and perhaps too enthusiastically. No way! Could I possibly have hit a homerun and won the game for my team? I think excitedly.

"You're not even in the ballpark anymore, darlin'." Shane throws a curveball that catches the corner of the plate and I strike out swinging.

We both laugh.

"Hey, sometimes lightning strikes twice," I say, referring to the time Neil did in fact paddle Mike and Shane in his office, right in front of us.

"True, but the odds aren't in your favor, sweetheart." Shane hugs me and kisses the top of my head. "I really am sorry I didn't believe you, Lisa. I should have listened and given you the benefit of the doubt."

It feels so good being held securely in his strong embrace. I pull myself in closer, squeezing him tighter, no longer even the least bit interested in getting revenge.