Chapter 328: Boredom
Tuesday, January 31st, Evening
From the stands Candi watched the basketball game. Out of habit, or boredom she kept score with the cheap program printed up in the high school print shop. Every so often she would look up to her friends. Fawn seemed to pay a bit of attention, but Madyson seemed lost.
"Candi," Madyson said, his Melbourne accent stood out to Candi's ear.
"Yes," Candi said.
"The MC was your Uncle Nathan, right?" Madyson asked.
"Yes," Candi said.
"That's James' father, right?" Madyson asked.
"Yeah, he's my only uncle, my mom was an only child," Candi said.
"Okay," Madyson said, "Why did the crowd go wild over him coming out?"
Candi shrugged, "Nathan is sort of a local hero, and the first player from Tree Hill to make it all the way to the NBA," she said.
"Oh, did he have a successful career," Madyson said.
"Nathan Scott?" Fawn asked.
"That's his name," Madyson said.
"You don't remember all those Scott jerseys when we went to the Lakers Game?" Fawn asked.
"Vaguely, but I didn't pay much attention that much," Madyson said.
"He's considered a possible basketball hall of fame," Fawn said.
"Oh, why didn't you tell me, Candi?" Madyson asked.
"Didn't think about it," Candi said.
"Okay? What are you doing?" Madyson asked.
"Keeping score," Candi said.
"Why?" Madyson asked.
"Just something to do," Candi said.
"Is that Brett?" Fawn asked.
"Who?" Candi asked.
"The redhead basketball player," Fawn said.
Candi nodded, "Oh, yes," she said.
"She's grown up a lot," Fawn said.
"It's been four years," Candi said.
Fawn nodded, "Yes, it has been," she said.
"She plays like a strong…I don't know what to say," Madyson said.
"She plays like her dad, but with her mom's attitude," Candi said.
"Who are her parents?" Madyson asked.
"Her dad is well hard to explain, but her mom is one of the assistant coaches," Candi said.
"That's an understatement," Fawn said.
"What is, Fawn?" Madyson asked.
"Explaining Brett's parents," Fawn said.
"So, how much longer do we have?" Madyson asked.
"About three quarters of the game," Fawn said.
"Joy," Madyson said.
Candi leaned forward slightly. Her eye dialed in on the Tree Hill Bench. Candi watched as Ashlyn talked with Brett and another player on the bench. Once they finished talking Brett and the other player went to the scoring table, checked in, and waited for the next whistle.
Once the game spotted, Brett and the other girl went in. Candi took note of the number and listened to the PA Announcer reported the change in line up. Brett Pierce-Burke and Baylee Miller. Candi made note of this, and looked down to the bench.
Ashlyn was speaking to five girls on the bench. Candi focused in on what was happening on the bench. Ashlyn talked to each girl, and made a few gestures.
"What are you up to?" Candi asked.
"What? I'm not up to anything, thinking about getting a snack," Madyson said.
"Not you," Candi said.
"You're watching the bench," Fawn said.
"Yes," Candi said.
"What's going on?" Fawn asked.
"Ashlyn's talking to five of the bench players," Candi said.
"So?" Madyson asked.
"My dad is at heart a mad scientist with the attitude of a riverboat gambler," Candi said.
"Weird," Madyson said.
"What do you think he's doing?" Fawn asked.
"I don't know, but he has Ashlyn up speaking to the bench," Candi said.
"What do you think it is?" Fawn asked.
"I don't know," Candi said.
"Are you sure?" Madyson asked.
"Not a hundred percent, but that's why my dad is so good, he keeps them guessing," Candi said.
"I see, so what got your suspicions up?" Madyson asked.
"As I suggested my dad's a gambler and the way Ashlyn is talking to the bench players," Candi said.
"Is all that it?" Fawn asked.
"That and the fact Tree Hill has outscored the other team by three teams," Candi said.
"Good point," Madyson said.
Fawn nodded, "Yeah, I think you're right," she said, as Ashlyn finished talking to the bench.
"So, we have only four days left here," Madyson said.
"Okay, and your point?" Candi said.
"Well, it's cool hanging around Beaulieu, but I'd like to see more of where you grew up," Madyson said.
"It's winter, not a lot is opened," Candi said.
"Candi," Madyson said.
"Candi, we have the time and it will make her happy," Fawn said.
"You know you're describing Mads as if she's a child," Candi said.
"Sometimes she acts that way," Fawn said.
"Hey!" Madyson said.
"You do raise a compelling point," Candi said.
"Really Candi?" Madyson asked.
"Well, there are a few places I could take you," Candi said.
"Yeah, like where?" Madyson asked.
"Well, there's the grounds of Leighton," Candi said.
"What's Leighton?" Madyson asked.
"Didn't I tell you that already?" Candi asked.
"You might have," Madyson said.
"Leighton is the house I grew up in," Candi said.
"Okay," Madyson said.
"There's also the River Court," Fawn said.
"The River Court?" Madyson asked.
"A public basketball court in a park," Candi said.
"So?" Madyson asked.
"It's where Nathan Scott used to play pick-up basketball," Fawn said.
"Oh," Madyson said.
Candi shrugged, "It's not much, but it's something we could do," she said.
"Why?" Madyson asked.
"The second quarter is about to begin," Candi said.
"Okay," Madyson said.
Candi nodded, and took up the score card to start keeping score. That was when Candi noticed the five Tree Hill players that headed out onto the court were the girls Ashlyn talked to. This should be interesting Candi thought and made note of their jersey numbers.
