Chapter 397: Tree Hill High School
Wednesday, February 8th, Morning
In the field house, Sawyer looked over to Keni and leaned back on the bleachers. Finally, Sawyer sighed. This sigh caused Keni to look at her.
"What's up, Sawyer?" Keni asked.
"I got a text last night from Gar," Sawyer said.
"Yeah, and so you bring this up now?" Keni said.
"Yeah, I only read it this morning," Sawyer said.
"So, what did Gareth say?" Keni asked.
"He's sorry for getting into a fight with Jackin," Sawyer said.
"I bet he felt really sorry when his mom found out he's suspended," Keni said.
"No doubt, Doctor Rueter is tough," Sawyer said.
"On the other hand, he didn't seem sorry when he was doing it," Keni said.
"Yeah, it's weird; I've never seen Gar like that," Sawyer said.
"What jealous?" Keni asked.
"What?" Sawyer said.
"Passion brings it out in people," Keni said.
Sawyer nodded, "I've seen it in Kay," she said.
"Yeah, that fits, too," Keni said.
Sawyer yawned and stretched. "That's my sister for yay," she said.
"What else did Gareth say?" Keni asked.
"He and Jackin won't be back until next week, and he's grounded until he doesn't know," Sawyer said.
"Yet, he could text you," Keni said.
"He said that his mom allowed him one text, and he chose me. I wonder why?" Sawyer said.
"Are you that blind?" Keni asked.
"What do you mean?" Sawyer asked.
"Gareth has a crush on you," Keni said.
"He does not," Sawyer said.
Keni laughed, "You are blind," she said.
"What? Why?" Sawyer asked.
"Gar has been pining for you almost since we first met him," Keni said.
"What? Why me?" Sawyer asked.
"Well, maybe, because you were nice to him when he first hung out with him. Also, look at you; you're every teenage boy's dream," Keni said.
"No, I'm not," Sawyer said.
"You're tall, athletic, blonde, hell even a cheerleader," Keni said.
"I'm broken, Keni, nobody wants that, you know that," Sawyer said.
"People love you, Sawyer," Keni said.
"I'm broken, physically and emotionally. Hell, I'm not even the best-looking sister," Sawyer said.
"You're going to let some of the baggage get in your way? You couldn't help half of it," Keni said.
"I can't even play basketball," Sawyer bawled out.
"If I remember, you agreed to that promise; you could've said no," Keni reminded Sawyer.
"I wasn't even twelve; what did I know I was promising?" Sawyer said.
"You also did what you thought was right, based on the circumstances," Keni said.
"I've not done art…." Sawyer started to say something and trailed off.
"I know," Keni said, "But, why bring that up?"
"When I went to the Frist Gallery, my last painting was hanging there," Sawyer said.
Keni looked at Sawyer, "The one your mom started and you finished?" she asked.
Sawyer nodded, "Yeah, that one," Sawyer said, "They called it Untitled portrait of a young woman."
"How did it end up in the Frost Gallery?" Keni asked.
"It was kept with most of my mom's old canvases; my dad just sent a bunch over," Sawyer said.
"That's great, Sawyer," Keni said.
"Well, not so great," Sawyer said.
"How so?" Keni asked.
"One, they thought it was my mom's, and two, that was something personal I did; it was never meant to see the light of day," Sawyer said.
"Well, too late now," Keni said.
Sawyer shook her head, "So, you're telling me Gar has a crush on me?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Whoa! Subject change out of the blue," Keni said.
"Well, you said it," Sawyer said.
"Yes, he does," Keni said.
Sawyer shook her head, "I don't get it, I'm just plain me. I'm not the tall, dark, mysterious genius of Candi. Nor am I the sexy free spirit of Ellie. Hell, I'm not even the androgynous icon that Kay is," she said.
"Sawyer, don't you see how all the boys look at you?" Keni asked.
I know I get asked out a lot," Sawyer said.
"Duh! You can't put two and two together?" Keni said.
Sawyer shrugged, "I don't know, I'm just poor little lost, Sawyer," she said.
Keni sighed, "My turn to change the subject," she said.
"What would it be?" Sawyer asked.
"Awkward," Keni said.
"I try," Sawyer said.
"Six days to the day that won't be named," Keni said.
Sawyer pulled out her phone and looked at it. "You're right," she said.
"So, are we going to do our usual thing?" Keni asked.
"Of course, the question is what shall the theme be?" Sawyer asked.
"We're not going with Dex's suggestion; I can tell you that right now," Keni said.
"What's wrong with porn and chicken?" Sawyer asked.
"No," Keni said and shook her head, "just no."
"Well, we could do the stand-by, horror," Sawyer said.
Keni shrugged, "I don't know, how about something like Sharpe's Rifles?" she asked.
"Is that the show with Sean Bean?" Sawyer asked.
Keni nodded, "Yeah, Tucker introduced it to me," she said, "And Sean Bean doesn't die in it."
"But not me?" Sawyer asked, jealous.
"I don't know," Keni said and shrugged.
"Okay," Sawyer said and shrugged, hiding some dejection.
"Just us?" Keni asked.
"Alesha, maybe," Sawyer said.
"Alesha?" Keni asked.
"Yeah, her dad just died, and her older sister is being a big itch," Sawyer said.
"I guess," Keni said.
"Alright," Sawyer said and nodded.
Keni looked at her lifelong friend. "Sawyer," Keni said.
"Yes," Sawyer said.
"Don't get down on yourself; you're a beautiful, fierce goddess, and you matter," Keni said.
"Thanks," Sawyer said.
"You're welcome," Keni said.
"Keni," Sawyer said.
"What?" Keni asked.
"How did you become the force that you are?" Sawyer asked.
"Speak English much?" Keni asked.
"Funny," Sawyer said.
"I try," Keni said.
"Seriously, how could you be so confident?" Sawyer asked.
"Simply, it's called fake it until you make it," Keni said.
"You can't be serious," Sawyer said.
Keni sighed, "I'm a Davis; I can't be anything but," she said, and just let that hang in the air.
