Chapter 317: Tree Hill High School
Tuesday, January 31st, Afternoon
The parking lot had emptied from the day with most of the teacher's and student's cars gone. The spectator's vehicles for the game have yet to arrive. Kay and Ivy left the loaner car and headed towards the front door of the high school.
Ivy looked over the building before turning to Kay. "This is where you went to high school?" Ivy asked.
"Yes, where my sisters went, and brother went. Also, where my parents went," Kay said.
Ivy nodded, "When I left high school, I never wanted to go back," she said.
"Small town, this is everything; also, my dad teaches here," Kay said with a shrug.
"So, why are we here so early?" Ivy asked.
"I have to be here early, and well, I thought I could show you around," Kay said.
"Why?" Ivy asked.
"To be open to you and let you know more about me and my past," Kay said.
Ivy stopped. Kay stopped, turned, and looked at her. "What?" she asked.
"Who are you, and what have you done with Kay?" Ivy asked.
"It's me," Kay said, "I figured if we're going to keep being us, I can't hide or close off things," Kay said.
"What do you mean?" Ivy asked.
"Well, I think, well, I've been, I don't know, a bitch," Kay said.
"Kay, you weren't a bitch. Trin, now she's a bitch. The jury is still out on Izzy," Ivy said.
Kay shrugged, "Well, Trin and Ellie are old friends, and we sort of grew up together," she said.
"Not everyone you grew up with is a nice person," Ivy said.
"I know that," Kay said.
"Do you?" Ivy asked.
Kay nodded, "Yes, I was one of them," she said.
"I don't believe that," Ivy said.
Kay shrugged, "It's true," she said.
"If it is, what made you change?" Ivy asked.
Kay held up her right arm.
"Say no more," Ivy said.
"It's getting cold; let's head inside," Kay said.
"Lead the way," Ivy said.
They headed off to the high school building proper. Kay pulled open the front door, allowing Ivy to step in first. Kay followed behind, allowing the door to close behind her. Once inside, she opened her coat and looked around The Commons.
"What is this place?" Ivy asked.
"The Commons, it's where we had lunch, mostly," Kay said.
"We just had a cafeteria," Ivy said.
"I guess everywhere is a little bit different," Kay said.
Ivy nodded, "You're probably right," she said.
"Thanks," Kay said, "I guess a broken clock is at least right twice a day."
Ivy sighed, "Don't put yourself down," she said.
Kay nodded and looked around The Commons.
"What's behind these doors?" Ivy asked and pointed to several sets of double doors.
"That's the field house," Kay said.
"The field house?" Ivy asked.
"The gym," Kay said.
"So, that's where this is all going down?" Ivy asked.
"The ceremony, the games, yeah, that's where it's happening," Kay said.
"One would assume," Ivy said.
Kay shrugged and looked at the door. "Yeah, one would assume," she said.
"Why are you suddenly down?" Ivy asked.
"Part of me doesn't want to walk through those doors," Kay said.
"So, why don't we leave?" Ivy asked.
"The other part of me knows I have to go in there," Kay said.
"What scares you so much about going in there?" Ivy asked.
"The past," Kay said.
"Well, Karen, it's time to nut up or shut up," Ivy said.
"I don't have nuts," Kay said, "And don't call me Karen."
"How do you know that this is what Kay is really like?" Kay asked.
"Well, for one, don't refer to yourself in the third person, and two, the Kay I met and is totally into, never acted like this," Ivy said.
"So, you're totally into me," Kay said.
"Duh! Do you think I'd be here if I wasn't?" Ivy asked.
Kay smiled, cracking her stone-faced façade. She grabbed Ivy's hand and pulled her into the field house; The Whitey Durham Memorial Field House opened up before them. Kay walked over to the corner of the sideline and baseline. Ivy took her place next to Kay and looked over the gym.
"You're right," Ivy said.
Kay looked at Ivy. "What was I right about?" she asked.
"This gym does look like MJ's gym," Ivy said.
Kay shrugged, "As I said, they all sort of look alike," she said.
"Maybe," Ivy said and looked up the walls, and her eyes settled on the all-state banners. "There are quite a few Scotts up there," she said.
Kay nodded, "Two more than listed," she said.
"Would that be Ashlyn and Candace?" Ivy asked.
"Yes, how did you know?" Kay asked.
"I was smartened up to the fact they had different last names when they played here," Ivy said.
Kay laughed, "Yeah," she said.
"Is that James Burke, Huck?" Ivy asked.
Kay nodded, "Yeah," she said.
"He must've been some athlete; he's on three banners," Ivy said.
"Yeah," Kay said.
A tall black man walked into the gym, and he looked at Kay and Ivy standing on the sideline. He sighed, shook his head, and walked over to them.
"Kay," he said.
Kay turned and looked at him. "Kole?" she asked.
"Yes, my god, you look good," Kole Brown said.
"So, do you," Kay said, and they hugged. Once they broke apart. "Kole, this is my girlfriend, Ivy Kowalski. Ivy, this is Kole Brown; he played ball with my brother, and his sister was my teammate."
"A pleasure, Ivy, is it?" Kole said.
"Yes, and it's all mine," Ivy said, "Kay said you cut some great promos."
Kole laughed, "Yeah, back in the day," he said, "Not much anymore."
"Darn, I was hoping to hear one," Ivy said and laughed.
"Maybe, letter if I can muster one up," Kole said.
"Kole," Kay said, "Are you representing Faith?"
Kole shook his head, "No, my mom, brother, and I decided to let Faith's son do it," he said.
"You've been raising him?" Kay asked.
Kole nodded, "Yeah, I have," he said.
Kay looked at Kole, "I can't wait to meet him," she said.
Kole nodded, "Later," he said.
Kay nodded, "Yeah, I have to see the ladies," she said.
"Yeah, and I have to find my nephew," Kole said.
"We need to get together later, the whole team, including you, Kole," Kay said.
"I hope it happens," Kole said.
"Me too," Kay said.
"It's nice meeting you, Kole," Ivy said.
"All mine, Ivy," Kole said.
Kay and Ivy headed to the other side of the gym to meet up with the other women. Kole wandered off looking for his nephew.
