Chapter 334: Senpai

Tuesday, January 31st, Evening

In the stands, Candi sat between her friends watching the third quarter. Shaking her head, she watched as Tree Hill first disarmed, then dismantled South Brunswick. It reminded her of her time on the Tree Hill team. Her dad knew how to build a powerhouse team. With a sigh, she turned to Fawn.

"This is boring," Candi said.

"From this side," Fawn said.

"From the player's side, too," Candi said, "Have to work hard to stay focused."

"With knowing you as well as I do, I find that hard to believe you can lose focus," Fawn said.

Candi made a face and nodded, "I understand, but it does happen," she said.

"Mhmm, maybe you are human," Fawn said, laughing.

"Never claimed to be anything different," Candi said.

"So, what's happening here?" Fawn asked.

"Breaking them," Candi said, "Basically, ending the game and letting other teams know what they could do."

"Okay? Why?" Fawn asked.

"Someone once said ninety percent of the game is half mental," Candi said.

Fawn held her temples, "Christ, would you stop giving me those brain teasers," she said.

Candi chuckled, "Don't like Yogi?" she asked.

"Not when you use those quotes," Fawn said.

"Senpai," a soft voice said over Candi's shoulder.

Candi looked over her shoulder, "Hi Lina, you don't have to call me that," she said to a Nordic-looking woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, held back with a headband.

"It's out of respect," Lina said.

Candi looked over to Madyson, "Mads, could you slide down a bit," she said.

"Sure, why?" Madyson asked.

"Someone wants to talk to me, and I don't want to strain my neck," Candi said.

Madyson held up her hand, "Fine, sorry," Madyson said, and slide over, Lina took a seat in the open spot.

"Madyson, this is Aveline; we call her Lina; we played ball together," Candi said.

"Madyson," Madyson said and offered her hand.

"Aveline," Aveline said, "I like your accent; where are you from?"

"Melbourne," Madyson said.

"Florida?" Aveline asked.

"No, Australia," Madyson said.

"Oh, I've never been, but I would like to go," Aveline said.

"I think you'd like it," Madyson said.

"Anyway, Lina, this is Fawn," Candi said, "Fawn, Aveline, but we call her Lina."

"A pleasure to meet you, Lina," Fawn said.

"All mine, Fawn, it is Fawn, right?" Aveline said.

"Yes, it is," Fawn said, "You played ball with Candi?"

Aveline nodded, "Yes, I played with her, and she's my senpai," she said.

"Lina, you don't have to call me senpai," Candi said.

"Senpai?" Fawn asked.

"It's a statement of senior and relationship; honestly, I don't totally understand it," Candi said.

"I call Candi that out of respect to her as she was my mentor and senior teammate," Aveline said.

"Lina, you're not Japanese," Candi said.

"It's better than calling you ma'am," Aveline said.

"Lina, you said Candi was your mentor?" Madyson asked.

"Yes, she was," Aveline said.

"What did she mentor you in?" Madyson asked.

"How to play point guard," Aveline said.

"Basketball, of course," Madyson said.

"I was a freshman when Candi joined the basketball team," Aveline said.

"When was this?" Madyson asked.

"The Season After the first championship," Aveline said.

"I see," Madyson said, "What did she teach you?"

"Everything I needed to be a good point guard," Aveline said and looked up at the all-state banner. Aveline's name sat on it, with the year being her senior year.

Madyson nodded and looked to Candi. Candi just shrugged and looked at Aveline.

"So, how have you been?" Candi asked.

"Busy, hard to believe Julian is keeping me busy on that new series of his," Aveline said.

"What series is that?" Candi asked.

"The working title is called Hoop Girls; it's one of those teen drama-comedy things. Centering around a girls' varsity basketball team," Aveline said.

"What do you do on the show?" Madyson asked.

"I'm the basketball choreographer, but I spend most of my time trying to make actors look like basketball players," Aveline said.

"What got you into that?" Madyson asked.

"Coach Scott suggested me to Julian Baker. I had to set up a company, and though I complain, it's been fun," Aveline said.

"Devyn helped you?" Candi asked.

"Who else?" Aveline asked with a chuckle.

"What's your impression of working with the actresses?" Madyson asked.

"Well, my biggest impression is that I tower over most of the actors. Have to call them actors; they don't like being called actresses," Aveline said.

Candi laughed, "So, you're local?" she asked.

Aveline nodded, "Yeah, I'm living with my parents and Zeph," Aveline said.

"Zeph?" Candi asked.

"My son, you didn't hear?" Aveline asked.

"No, I didn't; how old?" Candi asked.

"Eighteen months," Aveline said.

"You're welcome. Are you still with the dad?" Candi asked.

Aveline shook her head, "No, Zeph's dad isn't in the picture," she said.

"There seems to be a lot of that going around," Candi said.

"That's the modern world," Fawn said.

Candi nodded and, out of the corner of her eye, caught the light blonde-haired woman sitting next to Izzy looking at her. Candi tried to lower herself and hide her face. Aveline noticed this and looked down to see the person.

"She's still not over it?" Aveline asked.

"I don't think she ever will," Candi said.

"Forget her; she should've gotten over herself by now," Aveline said.

"Some people can't get out of their own way," Aveline said.

"What are we talking about?" Madyson asked.

"High school drama," Aveline said.

"I see," Madyson said, "Were you around when Candi went goth?"

Aveline nodded, "Yeah, but it was a short period of time," she said.

"A short time?" Madyson asked.

"Yeah," Candi said.

"Why did you go goth?" Madyson asked.

"It seemed like the only way to fit in," Candi said.

Madyson, Candi, and Aveline just nodded. They turned to watch the game.