Once at the Rivercourt, Kristine met up with Sean, so he would start tutoring her. She only hoped that she would have the time to continue with the tutoring sessions, work at Tric and go to cheerleading practice. She thought about last school year, when she had been doing nothing at all, and she knew that she'd rather have the full schedule, especially since she got to spend time with Sean, than have it be the way it had been for the past two years. She knew now she wouldn't be going back to New York, so she was going to have to make the best out of what life had given her.
The two of them hadn't been hanging out that long before Audrey called Sean, and he told her that he was busy and that caused a fight between the two of them. He went to his car, and came back with a basketball, immediately starting to shoot baskets. Kristine hung back for a minute, but then she stepped forward, grabbing the ball and catching his attention. "Hey, what's wrong? Do you need to go? I mean, I understand, you know, she is your girlfriend, and we've covered enough for today," she said.
Shaking his head, he held his hands out for the ball, and she tossed it to him. He moved further away, and started working on a shot he had been screwing up a lot lately. She stayed under the hoop, catching it as he kept missing, and tossing it back to him every time. "No, I don't have to go. She is my girlfriend, but lately she's been different. I know she doesn't like you all that much, but she doesn't have to be a total bitch to you all the time. It's just made me realize, that maybe we're just not meant to be," he said, shrugging as he continued shooting and she continued passing it back.
After a while, she couldn't take it anymore. She could see what he was doing it wrong, and the longer this went on, the more she just wanted to help him. She grabbed the ball as it missed yet again, and she walked over to him. "Here, you've got your stance wrong. If you move like this, instead of like that, you'll get it in every time," she corrected his movements, and this time when he threw the ball, it went into the hoop. He looked at her and smiled and she smiled back. "Good job," she said.
They continued like that, with him shooting, and her correcting when he started getting it wrong again. He was surprised that she could help him with basketball, and after a while, he didn't shoot when she tossed him the ball. "I didn't know you could play basketball, Kris. I guess you're just full of surprises, aren't you," he smirked at her, and she couldn't help but smile back. "Maybe there will be time for me to figure out all your dirty little secrets," he stepped closer to her.
Freezing up, she knew she had already told him more than any one of her friends in New York had known about her, but she wasn't sure she could tell him all her secrets. She didn't know if he was just coming on to her because he had gotten into a fight with Audrey, of it he genuinely liked her. She knew that she did like him, but she wasn't sure if it would work. "I don't know, Sean. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens," she walked back to the bench where their stuff was, sitting down.
Following her over there, he sat next to her, knowing he had hit a nerve, and set the basketball down on the ground next to his feet. She was staring at the ground, and he put his arm around her, silently letting her know that she could tell him anything. "I haven't always been this girl, Sean. My mom didn't just move us to Tree Hill because she got tired of living in New York. That was part of it, but mostly, she wanted to get me away from that life. She didn't like who I was becoming, and looking back, I don't like who I was either," she paused and looked up, trying to stop the flood of memories, but partially just letting this come.
Looking at him, she smiled a half smile. "I was most definitely a party girl. The reason my mom didn't immediately enroll me in school was because I needed to be detoxed. I had to go throw rehab, and I went through withdrawals. For a long time, I just needed to be alone, because I didn't want to be fixed. I didn't think there was anything wrong with me. I was deeply immersed in the New York life, partying, and doing drugs. I didn't drink, because I saw what it had done to my mom, but there wasn't much else I didn't try. I was a wreck when I moved here, and I wasn't so much of a wreck last year, but I was scared to start going to school here, because I was scared of relapsing," she cut herself off, wiping at tears.
Rubbing her back, he pulled her closer, letting her rest her head on his shoulder. He knew she needed to go on, so he just waited. "Part of me still hears the call. I still want to go back to New York, and back to the life that I could so easily have had. I know that's not the right thing, though. That's part of the reason why I want to stay away from my mom. It was largely her influence, and the way she lived that made me want to be that way. That's why I have to stay away from her. My dad, Haley, James, they all keep me grounded, keep my mind firmly set on the life I want to live, the person I want to be. My mom, she's just not a good influence on me," she finished.
Still rubbing her back, he let her cry on his shoulder. "It's alright, Kristine. You managed to get out of that lifestyle, and you are a good person. If you ever feel the need to go back to that, and you don't think you can control the urge, I want you to call me. I'll help you get through it. I'll help you take your mind off it, and I can talk you through it. You are a good person, and you've chosen the right path. I don't recommend completely cutting your mom out, because I think you'll regret that later, but I will support you, whatever you do," he said, lifting her chin so he could look into her eyes as he said that.
They heard a car drive by, but by the time they looked, the car was too far away to tell who was in it, or even what kind of car it was. It had gotten dark in the time they were at the Rivercourt, between the studying and the basketball. She looked at her phone and realized it had gotten late. "I've got to get home. Thanks for talking to me, Sean, and please, don't say anything to anyone," she said as she got up, grabbing her stuff as she got ready to call James for a ride.
Forgetting the basketball, he started walking toward his car, and then realized that she was going to call her brother. "I won't say anything to anyone, of course. Do you want a ride? I can take you home, no problem at all," he said, and she hesitated for a moment, shaking her head. She was feeling skittish because someone had just seen her with Sean, and she knew that for the brief moment that they saw, it didn't look like anything good. She only hoped it didn't get back to the wrong ears.
After he left, she realized that he had left his basketball there and she began shooting hoops, deciding she could call James in a little bit. She needed time to get her mind off the past, and think about the present. Her current feelings for Sean were really starting to confuse her, and she knew that Audrey was being way more of a bitch than she had any right to be. She had been just sitting back and taking it, so far, but she was tired of getting pushed around. She was not going to take anymore crap from the blonde.
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Brooke was at home when she got a phone call. She talked for a few minutes, and then hung up. She couldn't believe this was happening. She thought about him every day, but she had thought it would be years before she saw him again. She had had a plan. She would wait until he turned 18 and then get in contact with him, and see if he wanted anything to do with her. She wished she could tell her daughter, talk to her about this, but she knew that Kristine wanted nothing to do with her.
There was someone she could talk to, though. She picked up her phone again, making another call, and a few minutes later, she once again hung up, this time feeling better. She made a pot of coffee as she waited, and when there was a knock on the door, she called out to the blonde to come in. Peyton entered the kitchen moments later, looking slightly worried. "What's up, Brooke? You called and said you need to talk and that's it. You don't say anything else. What's the matter?" she asked, taking a seat on one of the barstools.
The coffee was finished, and Brooke poured two cups, after asking Peyton if she wanted one. "You know that I was pregnant when I left Tree Hill, and I started raising Kristine on my own, at least until I got married a couple years later," she started, and Peyton nodded, wondering where this was going. "Well, that's not entirely true. I mean, that's not exactly all there is to the story," she said, taking a drink of the coffee after blowing on it.
Just waiting, Peyton blew on her coffee and also took a sip. She knew that nothing was immediately wrong, so she began to relax just a little bit. "Well, in between me moving to New York, and my first husband, I met someone else. I had a one night stand, and I got pregnant, not long after Kristine was born. I knew it wasn't going to work, the father knew it wasn't going to work, and I knew I couldn't handle two children on my own. He didn't want to put it up for adoption, so he kept the baby boy, both of us agreeing to go our own separate ways, and I've hadn't heard from him since," she paused, sipping on her coffee some more.
Running a hand through her hair, Brooke still couldn't believe this. "I just got a call tonight. My son's father and his wife got into a car accident, and they did some investigating, found out about me, and they wanted to know if I would agree to let my son move in with me. I said yes, so I've got to fly up there tomorrow and pick him up. Peyton, I still have a child that might not hate me yet. I have a second chance. I can do right this time, hopefully, and maybe I can manage not to screw my son up like I screwed up with my daughter," she said, smiling.
Reaching out, Peyton placed her hand on Brookes. "That's great, Brooke. I'm really happy for you. This is," she paused, unable to find the words, "something else. I can't believe it, but I'm glad you're happy, and this is amazing," she paused again, and Brooke could tell she had something to say. "Well, um, Haley stopped by today. She wanted Kristine to get a job, and since Audrey quit her job at Tric, I had an opening. I hope you're not upset that Kristine will be working with me," she said.
Taking a moment to think about it, Brooke shook her head. "No, Peyton, it's okay. If you can manage to get close to my daughter, you can keep me updated about her life. I mean, I don't want you to spy on her or anything, but, you know, if she talks to you, or you hear something you think I should know, as her mother, maybe you can keep me updated. I hate that my own daughter doesn't even want to talk to me, you know," she asked.
Nodding, Peyton knew exactly what she meant. She wouldn't spy on Kristine, or invade her privacy, but she would tell Brooke anything she did find out about her, because she knew that if anyone knew things about Audrey that she didn't know, she would love to hear them. "Of course, Brooke. I'll keep you up-to-date on your daughters life, the best I can. I wish there was someone who could do the same for me," she said, and a few minutes later, Peyton had to get back to her own house.
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Hearing the sound of a car speeding down the street, Logan was surprised when it stopped in front of his house. He walked to the window, and spotted the Comet, just before he heard the front door slam. He walked towards the living room, noticing Audrey throwing her purse onto the couch, looking like she wanted to hit something, but at the same time he could tell she wanted to cry. He stepped closer to her. "What's wrong, Rey-Rey?" he asked, worried for her.
Looking up, she finally noticed him, and walked forward, letting him wrap his arms around her. "I was driving by the Rivercourt after work, because I had called Sean, and he had blown me off, and guess who I saw there?" she didn't wait for him to guess before answering. "Sean, with Kristine, and it looked like they were about to kiss. He's cheating on me, with her, and what's more, is he's tutoring her, and he's not going to tell me," she bit her lip to keep from crying, and then pulled away, rubbing the back of her neck.
Pulling her back into a hug, he rubbed her back. "It'll be alright, Audrey. He's a jackass anyway, especially if he's cheating on you. You deserve better than that. You've always deserved better than the way he's treated you, and I don't know why you just take his crap," he said, but when she pulled away a second time that was not what she wanted to hear right then. She just wanted someone to complain about Kristine with, and that wasn't him. He didn't like the way she was treating Kristine any more than he liked the way Sean treated her.
Picking up her purse, she knew what she was going to do. She was going to go get her friend Myra, and she was going to have a girls night. It had been too long since she had just hung out with her friends. She wanted to regroup, and figure out where to go from here. She was tired of Kristine, but she was tired of letting what the other girl was doing decide what she was feeling. If Sean wanted the brunette, then fine, she would let him have her.
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Kristine threw the ball, watching as it missed the hoop, then groaned as it bounced once, only to be picked up by another person. She didn't want to deal with this confrontation, but she knew it was going to happen whether she wanted it to or not. She noticed Myra standing on the edge of the court, obviously waiting for approval before doing anything, and she had to roll her eyes. It was so obvious the way Myra did nothing without the approval of Audrey. She was spineless, and she didn't even care.
Speaking of Audrey, Kristine kept her gaze forward, on the hoop, as Audrey approached, dribbling the ball as she did. She turned and threw the ball in a perfect arc into the basket. "That's how it's supposed to work, in case you didn't know," she said condescendingly elicting a laugh from Myra. Audrey cut her gaze to her minion, and shook her head slightly, and the laugh cut off immediately.
Remembering her earlier decision not to let Audrey push her around anymore, Kristine crossed her arms, shifting her weight onto one hip and cocking her eyebrow at the blonde. "What do you want, Audrey?" she asked, trying not to be intimidated by the two girls. She had stayed out here to think because, although she loved cheerleading, it didn't give her the freedom of thought that basketball did. With basketball, she didn't have to think about it; it just was.
After picking up the basketball again, Audrey tossed it at her. She wasn't really here for trouble. She had honestly just come here to shoot some hoops, but as soon as she had seen Kristine still here, on her court, she got upset. It just felt like Kristine was taking everything from her. "It's not about what I want, is it, Kristine? The question is, what do you want, besides my squad, and my boyfriend, and pretty much my life? Just so you know, I've been working for this life for two years, and I'm not about to let you take it from me," she said.
Instead of denying anything, Kristine stood her ground. "I know that everyone else pretty much adores your every move, but I am not everyone else. I think your boyfriend appreciates that fact," she couldn't help but add as she started to head off the court. She passed Myra, purposefully bumping into her as she did, and turned back to look at Audrey again. "I didn't want to take anything from you before. Now, it's on, beeyotch," she left Audrey standing on the court in surprise.
A/N: This last scene between Audrey and Kristine is pretty much the idea that started this whole fic. It took me this long to work it in, but I actually like it. Let me know what you think about it, and let me know what you think about the curveball I threw in there in the form of Brooke's son. That wasn't an idea I originally had, but I thought it was a good idea. Thanks for the reviews, and I thank you if you're still reading.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.