Chapter 451: Tree Hill High School
Tuesday, February 14th, Morning
The school weight room was located on the second floor of Tree Hill High School by the gym. The members of the Brett Pack were spread around the room; some were using the weight machines, others spotted or sat around. This activity had become their routine, especially since the conference tournament is within days of starting.
Brett Pierce-Burke leaned on the bar for the free weights. She looked down at her friend lying on the weight bench. Avril Popova looked back up, and she reached up with her hands and gripped the bar. Brett straightened up and took a firm grip on the bar.
"Are you going to spot me?" Avril asked.
"Are you going to lift the bar?" Brett asked.
"Enough playing around," Avril said. Brett lifted the bar, and Avril took a firm grip on the bar. The barbel went up and down as the girl's team center bench pressed the weight. Brett kept a close eye on Avril and counted out the repetitions. Finally, at ten, Avril racked the barbel.
"Don't overdo it, Av," Baylee Miller said from another machine, doing leg curls.
"What do you mean?" Avril asked.
"We do have Laney tomorrow night," Baylee said.
"Bay, be nice," Brett said.
"Are you saying that I'll be tired out before the game, Bay?" Avril asked.
"I need you two ready or tomorrow," Baylee said.
"Bay, you know I'll always be ready," Brett said.
"I only worry about you slightly, Avril I worry about," Baylee said.
"That's not fair, Bay," Nessa Coleman, a junior, Brett's friend and tutor, said from a bench against the wall.
"Ness, we got this," Baylee said.
"You sure?" Nessa asked.
Brett shrugged, "It is our third time facing Laney," she said.
"So, boring," Alexis Moura, a junior cheerleader and a friend, said.
"What's so boring, Alexis?" Baylee asked.
"Basketball, and especially Laney," Alexis said.
Brett chuckled.
"What's so funny, Brett?" Alexis asked.
"You don't think we're bored with Laney?" Brett asked.
"Are y'all going to bitch about playing Laney?" Garvan Muir, Brett's boyfriend, asked.
"No, we're not," Avril said.
"Oh yeah?" Forrest Nez, Garvan's friend, teammate, and Nessa's boyfriend, asked, from his position spotting Garvan.
"We're also working out," Avril said.
Brett chuckled, "That we are," she said.
"Today is Valentine's Day," Nessa said.
"Don't remind me," Alexis replied.
"What's wrong, Alex?" Brett asked.
"No, one asked me out," Alexis said.
"No one asked a hot cheerleader like you out?" Baylee asked.
"Are you asking me out, Bay?" Alexis asked.
"No," Baylee said.
'We're going out tonight, aren't we, Forrest?" Nessa asked.
"Yes, we are," Forrest said.
"Where are we going?" Nessa asked.
"That's a surprise," Forrest said.
"Where are we going?" Nessa asked.
"That's a surprise," Forrest said.
"Yeah," Nessa said.
"Yeah," Forrest said.
Baylee nodded, "Well, that's one of the couples in the room," she said.
"Yeah, that's a good point, Bay," Nessa said.
"So, B, what are you doing tonight?" Avril asked.
"I don't know; ask Garvan," Brett said.
"Well, Garvan?" Nessa asked.
"Well, what, Nessa?" Garvan asked.
"What are you doing with Brett tonight?" Nessa asked.
"Why is it so important?" Garvan asked.
"Enquiring minds want to know," Nessa said.
"Av, what are you and Danny doing tonight?" Garvan asked.
"He couldn't get a pass, so we're video calling as usual," Avril said.
"I can't believe his parents sent him to military school," Baylee said.
"It's something about getting into a better school, and it's a family tradition, yadda, yadda, yadda," Avril said.
"Maybe, they're just trying to keep you two apart," Alexis said.
"Who knows, I don't want to look into that drama," Avril said.
"How about you, Baylee?" Alexis asked.
"Parker and I are going out tonight, probably dinner and movie," Baylee said.
"That sounds like your normal dates," Alexis said.
"It's ice-cold, we're seventeen, and well, what else is there to do?" Baylee asked.
"That's a good point," Forrest said.
Brett nodded and rubbed her hands together, "Yeah, Valentine's Day," she said.
"I'm the only one without plans," Alexis said.
"Why are you whining?" Nessa asked.
"I just feel like a loser," Alexis said.
Avril and Brett traded places. Brett put her hands on the barbel and looked at Alexis. "Not everything had to be traditional," Brett said and started her set.
"Brett, maybe I want things traditional; not everyone wants to march to their own way," Alexis said.
Brett finished her set and racked the barbel. "Alexis, maybe most of us find comfort in those traditions," she said.
"Then why did you say that?" Alexis asked.
"Some misguided attempt to make you feel better," Brett said.
"Well, it didn't," Alexis said.
"Well, as Nessa said, you're a hot cheerleader, and this isn't a small school we'll beagle to find you a date," Brett said.
"How are we going to do that?" Alexis asked.
"Stand up on a table in the commons and yell that Alexis Moura needs a Valentine's Date," Forrest said.
"Forrest!" Nessa said.
"There's no way I'm doing that," Alexis said.
"It might work," Garvan said.
"Yeah, we'd have to beat them back with a stick," Forrest said.
"Also, I would have to screen them too," Baylee said.
"Y'all are just twisted," Nessa said.
"There's got to be a better way," Alexis said.
"Leave that up to me," Brett said.
"Okay," Alexis said.
"No, the weights are calling," Brett said and started her next set.
