Chapter 304: Miami Game
Monday, January 30th, Evening
Ashlyn looked at the picture of the Tree Hill High School Girls' Varsity Basketball Team backcourt for the second championship team. This took place two years after the team she co-captained won the school's first. Three of the girls in the picture had been on both teams. "Yeah, I heard of that group. That was the backcourt players for the second championship. Kay, Willa Taylor, Candi, Monica Burton, Anna Barclay, and I don't know the other two girls," Ashlyn said.
"What's so special about them?" Ivy asked.
"They were like gazelles and ran the opponents into the ground," Ashlyn said, remembering the game tapes.
Ivy nodded, "Cool!" she said.
"Are you worried about Kay and the Scotts?" Ashlyn asked.
"Wondering what I got myself into," Ivy said.
"The Scotts are good people, but they are people and flawed. I can say from experience there are only two I would consider bad people, Dan and Brian Scott," Ashlyn said.
"Dan?" Ivy asked.
"Kay's grandpa, a major piece of work, but don't worry about him," Ashlyn said.
"Why?" Ivy asked, a bit confused.
"In the old days, they said he would have ridden the lightning, but what the state did was put him down like the mad dog he was," Ashlyn said.
"What?" Ivy asked, shocked.
"They executed him for murder; Angela even came home to witness it," Ashlyn said.
"Why?" Ivy asked in shock.
"To see the man that murdered her dad punished," Ashlyn said.
"That's harsh," Ivy said in horror.
Ashlyn nodded, "That can be Angela, hard as nails with a soft gushy inside," she said.
"Why tell me this?" Ivy asked, confused.
"Well, Trin, bless her heart, means well, but she didn't take well to how things with my brother-in-law went," Ashlyn said.
"Why's that?" Ivy asked.
"Brian was unique," Ashlyn said.
"How come?" Ivy asked.
"Well, Brian was a rock star, and some seem to think he wanted to be the next Jim Morrison," Ashlyn said.
"Oh, Boy! I thought I heard of Brian Scott," Ivy said.
Ashlyn shrugged, "A lot of people say that," Ashlyn said.
Ivy nodded.
"Hey, Ashlyn!" Trin yelled.
"What?" Ashlyn replied.
"Rerun changed the channel to the Miami game," Trin said.
"Okay," Ashlyn said and looked at Ivy, "Do you want to watch the game?"
Ivy shrugged, "I guess so," she said.
Ashlyn and Ivy returned to the table. Ashlyn looked at the TV.
"Who's playing tonight?" Trin asked.
"It's Brooklyn in Miami," Ashlyn said.
Ivy nodded and watched the screen. Trin looked at the screen and turned to Ashlyn.
"I took Wyatt to the Barclay's Center to see James play last week," Trin said.
Ashlyn nodded, "James had a great game that night," she said, smiled, and nodded. Ashlyn sighed and watched the TV.
"James has been the bright spot of the team this year," Trin said.
Ashlyn nodded, "Yeah, he's been having a good season," she said.
"What's Miami's record anyway?" Izzy asked.
"18 and 30 as of the beginning of the game," Ashlyn said.
"That's a shitty season," Trin said.
"They've been pulling it together recently," Ashlyn said.
"That must make James happy," Ivy said.
Ashlyn shrugged, "In some ways, yes, in others, I think he doesn't want to play in the summer," she said.
"Why not?" Ivy asked, "It would be another run into the playoffs."
"He's got a few rings already, but I think he misses the kids," Ashlyn said.
"What about you? Does he miss you?" Trin asked.
"Yeah, but sometimes I can get down there and see him. I usually bring the kids since his apartment has bedrooms for them. Just haven't been able to do that this year," Ashlyn said.
"Why doesn't he just retire?" Ivy asked.
"Because the fire still burns inside. A competitor wants to walk out on their own feet, do one more battle to prove to themselves no matter their age, they can still do it. Sometimes it ends too early, and the gladiator still feels the pull; other times, they carry you off from staying too long," Ashlyn said.
"So, are we going to stay for the whole game?" Trin asked.
"I don't know," Izzy said.
"I do have young kids at home," Ashlyn stated.
Ivy nodded, "Kay was off with the wonder freshmen tonight? Whoever they are?" Ivy asked.
"The three girls that came up through the team with her," Izzy said.
"Kay, Anna, Monica, and Jaslyn, played all four years together and won two championships," Ashlyn said.
Ivy nodded, "Old school friends?" she asked.
"Teammates, friends could be a strong term," Ashlyn said.
"Kay's not that difficult," Ivy said.
"Now," Izzy said.
"Putting it lightly," Trin said.
"The way she treated Candi is a good example," Izzy said.
"Was she really that much of a shit?" Ivy asked.
"Diva, more like it, possibly a spoiled brat," Izzy said, "Also, for the record, I like Kay."
"Some of it was her struggling with her sexuality," Trin said.
"I can see that," Ivy said.
"I got it," Ashlyn said.
"Got what?" Trin asked.
"We'll leave at half time," Ashlyn said, "Well?"
"I'm good with that," Izzy said.
"No complaints here," Trin said.
"You guys are my ride," Ivy said.
Ashlyn smiled, "Good, now I'm going to watch the game," she said.
"I'm going to use the ladies," Trin said, got up, and left for the restroom.
Izzy pulled out her smartphone and started texting; when she finished, she looked at Ivy.
"We need a selfie," Izzy said.
"Why?" Ivy asked.
"To remember this night," Izzy said.
"Okay," Ivy said, "I guess." Ivy and Izzy headed off to one side of the room to take a selfie.
Ashlyn pulled out her smartphone to check on her kids. As she texted Keni and Sawyer, Trin came back to the table and took her seat.
