Chapter 582: Tree Hill High School
Friday, March 3rd, Morning
(Song lyrics in italics)
She stormed into the school, the commons, and the field house. She passed by the group known as the Isle of Misfit Toys and found her two best friends. The two friends turned and looked at her with curious stares.
If I was just a lie to you
Well, you were less than that to me
Never loved you a little
"We need to talk outside," Brett said.
"Sure," Avril said quizzically.
"Alright," Baylee said.
The three friends went out in the nearby deserted hallway. Brett looked at her two friends and growled. Baylee was the one that stepped forward.
"What's wrong, B?" Baylee asked.
"I was thinking last night, and something was bothering me," Brett said.
"Yes, what's that?" Baylee asked.
"How Garvan was carrying on with Felicia, so out in the open, the whole school has to know," Brett said.
"No one said Garvan was bright," Baylee said, "Ow!" Baylee recoiled from Avril's punching her shoulder. "Av!"
"Let her finish," Avril said.
"So, if the school knows, do y'all know?" Brett asked.
"I heard nothing, B," Baylee said.
"Me either," Avril said.
"Not even from…." Brett said, her voice trailing off as she started to choke up.
"Nothing from me; Parker goes to another school," Baylee said.
"Yeah, Danny is in military school; they're very encapsulated," Avril said.
Bit by bit, you built this all in your head
And you knew goddamn well
Lays like these, they lean miss more than swing
And what made you think that what we had was love not meaningless?
And if I'm the fool, what's that make you?
Brett was about to punch the locker, but Avril grabbed her arm and stopped her.
"Why did you stop me, Av?" Brett asked.
"No one is worth a broken hand," Avril said.
"I've been fucken humiliated in front of the whole school by my boyfriend," Brett said.
"But hurting yourself isn't the answer," Avril said.
Don't tell me why (Don't tell me)
You can't sleep at night (You can't sleep)
I know now I won't ever do this again (I know now I)
(Won't ever do this again)
Brett shook her head violently. Fighting back the tears, she finally stepped over to Baylee, and Baylee greeted her with open arms. The two friends hugged, and Brett buried her face into Baylee's shoulder.
"This too shall pass," Baylee said.
"Maybe, I don't know," Brett said.
"What, B?" Baylee asked.
"You and Parker have the best relationship, the best of both worlds," Brett said.
"B, Parker and I aren't perfect, we have our challenges, and it's tough," Baylee said.
"But you make it look so easy," Brett said.
"There's a lot of conversations and comprises. Plus, we have extra factors that get in our way," Baylee said.
"Danny and I have challenges too," Avril said, "B, you and Garvan had it easy for a time, but while you tried, he didn't."
"But how long has he played me?" Brett asked.
"I don't know," Baylee said.
"Does it matter how long? He played you," Avril said.
If I was just a lie to you
Well, you were less than that to me
Never loved you a little
Loved you a little
Tell me who you were falling for
When we were lying on the floor
Never loved you a little
There were echoes in the hallway. Avril watched as a boy about their age walked up. "From what I heard, it's been since New Year's Eve," he said.
"Who are you? Also, how would you know? You don't know us!" Brett snapped as she broke free from Baylee.
"If I'm not mistaken, you're Brett Pierce-Burke, the star of the girls' basketball team, and her two best friends, Baylee Miller and Avril Popova," he said.
"Who are you?" Avril asked.
"Kyler," he said.
"Who are you? I don't remember a Kyler in this school," Brett said.
"It's a small school," Avril said.
"This my first week," Kyler said.
"So, how do you know this?" Brett asked.
"It's an advantage of being new and quiet; people ignore you," Kyler said.
"So, who knows?" Brett demanded.
"Most of the students, except that group known as the Isle of Misfit Toys, have their own drama going on, and most of your group," Kyler said.
"Who is our group knows," Baylee asked.
Avril snapped her fingers, "Forrest! He's Garvan's best friend," she said.
"That makes sense," Baylee said.
"I'd say, Alexis," Brett said.
"Why would you say, Alexis?" Avril asked.
"Just a feeling," Brett said.
"All I'm going to say is make sure," Avril said.
"She's a cheerleader; they thrive on drama," Brett said.
"So, what are you going to do?" Baylee asked.
Brett smiled, "I'm going to talk to my aunt," she said.
"You already said you were going to talk to Aunt Bobbi," Baylee said.
"Not Aunt Bobbi; she's not on the cheer squad," Brett said.
"Keni?" Baylee asked.
"Yes, Keni," Brett said.
Try not to think of me at all
When you're lonely and exposed
All I really know is
Tales like these tragically end badly
Blame me, either way
I was too far gone to say
I'm tired, it's a little too late
"You're going to talk to Keni? That tiny brunette on the cheer team?" Kyler asked, "And she's your aunt?"
"Confusing, isn't it?" Avril asked.
"My head hurts," Kyler said.
"Just accept it, and you avoid headaches," Baylee said.
"Listen to her; it works for her; she's not thought about anything in years," Avril said.
"Hey!" Baylee said and shoved Avril. It was more an attempt of a shove as Avril shrugged it off.
"I'm still trying to wrap my head around this," Kyler said.
"Think in three dimensions, Kyle," Brett said.
"Kyler," he said.
"Whatever, Kevin," Brett said, her blood up, and the bear started to come out.
"Kyler," he said.
"Let it be," Avril said.
If I'm the fool, then what are you?
Don't tell me why (Don't tell me)
You can't sleep at night (You can't sleep)
I know now I won't ever do this again (I know now I)
(I won't ever do this again)
Brett turned and stormed off. Baylee and Avril quickly followed her. Kyler stood in the hallway, shaking his head.
