Chapter 437: Seaview Manor

Monday, February 13th, Afternoon

After the girls basketball team and the cheer squad finished practice, she slipped into the girl's locker room. The two assistant coaches were watching over the basketball team, which meant the coach was only in one place. She knocked on his office door.

"Who is it?" The Coach asked.

"Sawyer," Sawyer Scott said.

"Enter," he said.

Sawyer entered the office, closing the door behind her. She looked across the desk to see her dad. Lucas Scott looked back at Sawyer.

"Why didn't you go back with Mina and Keni?" Lucas asked.

"I need a ride, and I don't want to get Mina and Keni involved," Sawyer said.

"So, you decided to get me involved?" Lucas asked.

"Isn't that what daddies are for?" Sawyer asked.

"Yeah, I guess, but we're far more than free rides," Lucas said.

"Allowances?" Sawyer asked.

"Don't push your luck, Sawyer," Lucas said.

Sawyer chuckled, "Right," she said.

"What do you want?" Lucas asked.

"I need a ride to Gar's place," Sawyer said.

"To the Reuter's place?" Lucas asked.

"Yes, I need to let my best friend have it," Sawyer said.

"I thought Keni is your best friend?" Lucas asked.

"Keni is my BGFF, where Gar is my BBFF," Sawyer said.

"I didn't understand any of that, Sawyer," Lucas said.

"It's simple, Keni is my Best Girl Friend Forever, and Gar is my Best Boy Friend Forever," Sawyer said.

"So, what does that make LK?" Lucas asked quizzically.

"Best Cousin Friend Forever?" Sawyer asked thoughtfully.

"Okay, so anyway, you want me to take you to Seaview Manor," Lucas said.

"Yes," Sawyer said.

"Well, head out to my car; I'll be there when I'm done," Lucas said.

Sawyer nodded and left the office via the hallway entrance. She found her way to the staff parking lot and her dad's veteran SUV. Sawyer noted that her dad probably had the most money but drove the oldest and most beat-up car in the parking lot.

Looking up, Sawyer saw a tall female teacher walking out of the school. The light wind blew the ends of her light sandy brown hair. She stopped and looked at Sawyer.

"Waiting for your dad, Sawyer?" the teacher asked.

"Yes, he's finishing up with the team," Sawyer said.

The teacher nodded, "That means Flannery should be done soon," she said.

"Giving her a ride home?" Sawyer asked.

"As I always do during basketball season," the teacher said, "Did you miss your ride with Keni?"

"No, I was heading over to see Gareth," Sawyer said.

"I see," the teacher said.

"Well, I'll see you in class," Sawyer said.

"See you in class, Sawyer," the teacher said and walked over to meet the basketball player Flannery O'Brien.

Sawyer looked at her dad as he walked up to his SUV. Silently they got into the car and drove to Seaview Manor. Sawyer looked out the window as they passed the front entrance of Leighton. Sawyer smiled, missing the time she spent in Leighton.

They finally pulled into Seaview Manor and went to the front door. Lucas knocked on the door; a few moments later, the door opened, and Dr. Meggy Reuter stood in the doorway.

"Lucas, Sawyer, what a nice surprise," Meggy said.

"Doctor Reuter, is Gar home?" Sawyer asked.

"Yes, Gareth is home; he better be for getting suspended," Meggy said.

"Can I see him?" Sawyer asked.

"Yes, please come in," Meggy said, letting Lucas and Sawyer in.

Sawyer didn't pause and was upstairs in a flash. She had spent a lot of time in Seaview Manor, so Sawyer knew this house as well as any house she lived in. Sawyer came to rest outside Gareth's bedroom door.

Sawyer took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

"Go away, Mom," Gareth Reuter yelled from the other side.

"It's Sawyer," she yelled back.

"Oh, Sawyer, one minute," Gareth said.

A few moments later, the bedroom door opened, and Gareth stood in the doorway. His hair was hastily matted down and the t-shirt he wore looked thrown on.

"Sawyer," Gareth said, "What do I owe the pleasure?"

"Save it, Gar," Sawyer said.

"Save what?" Gareth asked.

"The pleasantries," Sawyer said.

"What do you mean?" Gareth asked.

"What the hell were you thinking, fighting Jackin?" Sawyer asked.

"He wouldn't leave you alone," Gareth said.

"So, you run in like some wrestler or worse, some knight in shining armor?" Sawyer asked.

"I thought I was helping," Gareth said.

"You embarrassed yourself and me," Sawyer said and shook her head, "You freaked out LK."

"I'm sorry, Sawyer," Gareth said.

"What were you thinking?" Sawyer asked.

"I was…." Gareth started to say.

"Exactly, what I thought, you weren't thinking," Sawyer said.

"I was trying to get him to leave you alone," Gareth said.

"Gar, I've been dealing with his shit all year; I can handle Jackin," Sawyer said.

"You looked like you needed help," Gareth said.

"So, you didn't think," Sawyer stated.

"Sawyer," Gareth said.

"You've been rereading my dad's books, haven't you?" Sawyer said.

"Na, na, na, no," Gareth said.

"I will not be reduced to a mere damsel in distress. I have a brain and can make choices; I don't always need to be rescued," Sawyer said.

"Sawyer," Gareth said and saw the blonde clinch her firsts, turning red and starting to shake.

"I'm not her. I'm not weak. I'm not going to leave," Sawyer said.

"No, you're not going to leave," Gareth said, confused.

"I'm not going to give up," Sawyer said.

"Sawyer, are you okay?" Gareth asked.

Sawyer shook her head, then collapsed into Gareth's arms. She wrapped her arms around Gareth. Not sure what to do, Gareth wrapped his arms around her.

"People always leave," Sawyer said, in an anger tinged but weak voice. Gareth was about to say something but was stopped. Sawyer buried her face into his chest. Sawyer started to cry. All Gareth could do was rub her back.

After a long moment, Sawyer stopped crying. She lifted her head off Gareth's chest and looked at him. She pushed him away and dried her eyes.

"Sawyer," Gareth said, then recoiled as Sawyer punched him in the shoulder.

"Don't try and pull that Alpha Male Bullshit again," Sawyer said.

Gareth rubbed his shoulder. "I won't," he said.

"You better," Sawyer said and turned away, walking to a nearby bathroom.