Chapter 432: Tree Hill Guidance Office

Monday, February 13th, Morning

Walking into the guidance office, she checked her inbox. Looking at the notes, she nodded and headed to her office door. Unlocking the door, she stepped in and put her bag on the corner of her desk. Next, she turned on her laptop and started a cup of coffee on her Keurig.

Ashlyn Pierce-Scott took a seat behind her desk and logged onto her computer. After a sigh, she picked up the messages again and took an in-depth read of each one. Finally, he put the pile down and opened her email.

Most of them were routine but needed to be read. Once that was finished, Ashlyn reached into her bag and pulled out a file folder, and started going through it.

Her smartphone buzzed; Ashlyn reached over for it and looked at the number. She shrugged and put it down. Ashlyn shook her head and retrieved her cup of coffee.

After taking a sip, she started to review her appointments for the day. There was also a meeting with the department and one with parents. Overall, an average day today.

Ashlyn noticed her phone buzz, and the screen lit up again. Spinning around in her chair, she picked up her smartphone and looked at the screen. It was the same unknown number as before, and Ashlyn put the phone down. Taking another sip of her coffee, she turned back to her computer.

For a minute, she looked it over and sighed. Reaching over to her smartphone, she opened her call list. Looking at the number that just called twice, she raised an eyebrow. Shrugging, she put the phone number into Google. The results came back rather quickly, primarily ads for reverse phone number search services. Impatiently Ashlyn scrolled through the list until one stood out to her, New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

This name caused Ashlyn to cock an eyebrow. The first thing she did was press a speed dial button.

"What's up, Ashlyn?" Chase asked from the other end.

"Is Brett okay?" Ashlyn asked.

"She was fine when she left for school," Chase said.

"Okay, thanks," Ashlyn said.

"You're welcome; what's this about?" Chase asked.

"I got a couple of calls from the medical center," Ashlyn said.

"It wasn't me," Chase said.

"Thanks," Ashlyn said and disconnected; she found another speed dial. After a minute, the phone connected.

"Hi, Mom," Brett said.

"Where are you?" Ashlyn asked.

"The weight room," Brett said.

"Who are you there with?" Ashlyn asked.

"Say hi to Coach!" Brett said.

"Hi, Coach," Baylee said.

"Hi, Coach," Avril said.

"Okay," Ashlyn said.

"What's this about?" Brett asked.

"Don't worry about it," Ashlyn said and disconnected.

Ashlyn called another number, after a minute, it connected.

"Hello, Ashlyn," the voice on the other said.

"Are my kids in class?" Ashlyn asked.

"Yeah, they are here, or we would have called," the voice said.

"Thanks," Ashlyn said.

"Is everything okay, Ashlyn?" the voice asked.

"Yeah, thanks," Ashlyn said and disconnected.

After that, she fired off some texts and waited to get responses. None of them called her from the medical center. Ashlyn put her phone down. She sighed and turned back to the computer; there were a few more minutes before the guidance office would open. All she wanted to do was finish her coffee and get about with her day. It was a bit odd for the medical center to call her since everyone she knew, or at least important to her, was accounted for.

Finishing her coffee, she put down her mug, leaned back, and waited for her first appointment. Ashlyn's mind kept wandering as to why the medical center would call her; maybe she should answer the next call.

Right before her first appointment arrived, her smartphone buzzed again. Ashlyn looked down at the phone and saw the number on the face. Ashlyn picked up the phone and answered it.

"Hello, Ashlyn Pierce-Scott's phone; how may I help you," Ashlyn said.

"Ashlyn, is that you," the voice on the other end said.

"Dad?" Ashlyn asked.

"Yes," Ashley "Buck" Pierce said, on the other end.

"Why are you calling Ωßßßme from the medical center?" Ashlyn asked.

"Because you blocked me after Savannah's funeral," Buck said.

"That's because Savannah stopped playing peacemaker, and mom started her shit again," Ashlyn said, looking to see her appointment in the door. Ashlyn held up her hand to tell the student to give her a few minutes. The student nodded.

"But why my phone?" Buck asked.

"Because mom caught on that, I blocked her and started using your phone to harass my family and me," Ashlyn said.

"Well, I'm sorry about that, Ashlyn," Buck said.

"You could've stood up for yourself," Ashlyn said.

"You know how your mom is and what would happen if you crossed her," Buck said.

"That's no excuse," Ashlyn said.

"I don't want to, nor do I have the desire to rehash these old arguments," Buck said.

Ashlyn sighed, "I'm at work; why did you call me, several times, from the medical center?" she asked.

Buck sighed at the other end, "Your mom was rushed to the medical center today, she was in cardiac arrest at the time the fire department came, and they sent her to the medical center," Buck said.

"How is she doing?" Ashlyn said.

"She's alive, in a coma, and it is wait-and-see," Buck said.

"Thank you, please keep me informed," Ashlyn said.

"I will, and just so you know, it was Huck's company from the fire department," Buck said.

"Was Huck there?" Ashlyn asked.

"Yes, he was," Buck said.

"Thanks, Dad; well, I'm at work and have an appointment waiting," Ashlyn said and disconnected the call. She put down her phone, stood up, and straightened herself out.

"Taylor, you can come in now," Ashlyn said.

Ashlyn's appointment came in, and The student looked at her. The student took a seat across from Ashlyn.

"Good morning, Mrs. Pierce-Scott. Is everything okay?" Taylor asked.

"Everything is fine," Ashlyn said.

"Thank you for seeing me this early," Taylor said.

"No problem, what do you want to see me about?" Ashlyn asked.

"Well, I was thinking about trying to get into AP English," Taylor said.

Ashlyn turned to her computer and looked up Taylor's grades. She nodded and turned to look at Taylor.

"Why do you want to take AP English?" Ashlyn asked.

"I think it would be a good opportunity to study under Mister Scott," Taylor said.

Ashlyn nodded, "Well, Taylor, your English grades are a little weak," she said.

"But Mrs. Pierce-Scott…" Taylor said.

Ashlyn sighed, "I'll tell you what, Taylor, improve your grades in English, and we'll revisit this," she said.

"I can do that, Mrs. Pierce-Scott," Taylor said.

"If your grades improve, we'll review it again with Mister Scott," Ashlyn said.

Taylor nodded.

"Would there be anything else you need help with?" Ashlyn asked.

"No," Taylor said.

"Thank you, Taylor, don't be late to class," Ashlyn said.

"I won't be," Taylor said and left.