Chapter 353: Tree Hill High School
Thursday, February 2nd, Morning (Eastern Standard Time)
In the mid-afternoon, Nathan walked into The Commons of Tree Hill High School. Slowly, he moved past the active student life and headed down one of the hallways. Looking into the window of one of the offices, Nathan saw his older brother Lucas sitting behind his desk.
Nathan knocked on the office door. After a moment, Nathan was allowed in; he walked in and looked at Lucas sitting behind the desk.
"Nathan, what do I owe this honor?" Lucas asked.
"Do you have time?" Nathan asked.
Lucas looked at Nathan in a contemplative manner. He nodded and directed Nathan to sit in one of the office's chairs. Nathan took a seat in one of the chairs. "Yeah, I have some time," Lucas said, "Coffee?"
"No, how does it feel to have a plaque honoring you?" Nathan asked.
"That was a nice surprise, but I'm just glad that the girls were honored; they did all the hard work," Lucas said.
"Four professional basketball players came out of that team; that says a lot for the talent," Nathan said.
"Even with Ashlyn only playing one year, that does say a lot," Lucas said.
"You had a talented team and were very underestimated as well," Nathan said.
"That was my biggest advantage at the beginning of the season," Lucas said.
"That is sometimes all you need," Nathan said.
"That and players that refused to lose," Lucas said.
"That's the MJ Factor; refuse to lose and win at all costs," Nathan said.
"That's my sister for you in a nutshell," Lucas said.
"Also, your oldest," Nathan said.
"Candi wasn't part of that team; she played for me the season after," Lucas said.
"Doesn't matter; she's much like her aunt," Nathan said.
"Well, Candi is and always will be my one true mamba; she approaches everything with the same intensity," Lucas said.
"That's what makes her successful," Nathan said.
Lucas nodded, put down the coffee cup, and looked Nathan over. "Nate, you didn't come here for idle chatter about my honor or basketball history. So, let's cut through the bullshit and get to the point before I have to go to class," he said.
"Funny how you mention BS," Nathan said.
"How is that funny?" Lucas asked.
"Because what I'm about to tell you involves Brian," Nathan said.
"Does it ever end with him?" Lucas asked.
"I thought it did, but well, I'm wrong," Nathan said.
"That's one thing I can say about my nephew; he never stops surprising me," Lucas said.
"You and me both," Nathan said.
"So, what did Brian do this time?" Lucas asked.
"A young woman showed up on my doorstep last night," Nathan said.
"Just that? That isn't the first time," Lucas said, "Hell, they show up at the label too."
"It's been a few years since one showed up at the house," Nathan said.
"Other than the timing, what's so special about this young woman?" Lucas asked.
"She's from Budapest," Nathan said with a shrug.
Lucas shrugged, "So she's Hungarian, but what else stands out about her?" he asked.
"Why do you think something stands out about her?" Nathan asked.
"You wouldn't be here," Lucas said.
"She has these dazzling cat green eyes," Nathan said.
Lucas shrugged, "So, we know why Brian liked her, but why are you here?" he asked.
"Well, she claims her nine-year-old son is Brian's son as well," Nathan said, and by a fluke of timing, Ashlyn opened Lucas's office door.
"Luke, do you have the film from the last game," Ashlyn said, half-heard what Nathan said, and snap replied, "What?"
"What?" Lucas asked, his mind jammed by the two comments.
"You go first, Nathan," Ashlyn said, still standing half in the door.
"No, Ash, you first," Ashlyn said.
"No, Nathan, you first," Ashlyn said.
"Somebody, go first," Lucas said, "and Ashlyn in or out."
Ashlyn stepped into the office and closed the door behind her. She kept her mouth shut, signaling to Nathan she concedes the floor to her father-in-law.
"Well, one of you, go ahead," Lucas said.
"As I was saying, she claims her nine-year-old son is also Brian's son," Nathan said.
Ashlyn chuckled, "Is that the big news?" she asked.
"Ash," Nathan said.
"It's not the first time this has happened," Ashlyn said.
"That's a known fact," Lucas said.
"So, what does she want?" Ashlyn asked.
"What does that mean?" Nathan asked.
"Ashlyn," Lucas said.
"Don't they usually want money?" Ashlyn asked, "The ones I deal with are usually gold-diggers."
"I don't believe she said," Nathan said.
"The question is, why did she wait that long," Ashlyn said.
"I don't know; it is a bit strange," Nathan said.
"Nine-year-old, you said, right?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah, he's nine," Nathan said.
Lucas pulled out his smartphone and did a quick search. He nodded and put his phone down on the desk. "That's right after he left RBR," he said.
"She said it was during the recording of his second album and the tour," Nathan said.
"That would be the album The Black Count and the tour with Symmetry Icon," Lucas said.
"That was when they changed management and bass players," Ashlyn said.
"Do you remember any of the band members?" Nathan asked.
"What did this 'lady' do?" Ashlyn asked, air quoting the word lady.
"Based on how she described how they met and some of the pictures she showed us is that she's an exotic dancer," Nathan said.
"A stripper, why am I not surprised?" Ashlyn asked.
"Doesn't mean anything," Lucas said.
"Well, what are you going to do?" Ashlyn asked.
"What we always do, confirm the story and request a paternity test," Nathan said.
"That sounds like a solid plan; what is the boy's name?" Ashlyn asked.
"Krisztofer," Nathan said.
"What's her name?" Ashlyn asked.
"Miléna Venczel," Nathan said.
"So, how are you going to confirm the relationship?" Ashlyn asked.
"I don't know, other than the paternity test?" Nathan asked.
Ashlyn shrugged, "I don't know, maybe one of his bandmates?" she said.
"But who is local here?" Nathan asked.
Lucas shrugged, picked up his smartphone again, and looked something up. Nodding, Lucas put his smartphone down and looked at Nathan.
"The drummer on that tour for Mental Lapse was Lucan Adenauer," Lucas said.
"So?" Nathan asked.
"He left the band after that tour and came back here," Lucas said.
"How do you know that?" Ashlyn asked.
"He does session work at Punk'd and Disorderly, so I'd check with Mags there," Lucas said.
Nathan nodded, "Interesting," he said.
"It is," Lucas said and turned to Ashlyn, "The footage is on the cloud, Ash."
"Oh! Okay," Ashlyn said.
Lucas nodded and looked at Nathan sympathetically.
