Chapter 624: The Locker Room

Saturday, March 11th, Afternoon

(Song Lyrics in italics)

Slipping out of the office, she walked through the locker room. She made sure to stop by Khloe's locker. The young freshman sat on her stool; her black number eight jersey was on. She noted that Khloe was drinking the Pedi-lite they gave her once they got off the bus, on which she threw up.

Coach Ashlyn Pierce-Scott looked at Khloe. "How're you feeling, Khloe?" she asked.

"Better, Coach," Khloe said.

"Stomach is untying itself?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.

"Yes, Coach," Khloe said.

Coach Pierce-Scott nodded and walked over to where the Big's lockers were. Coach Pierce-Scott handled the post players; she could see they were mostly dressed and relaxed.

"Hi, Coach," Jewell said, wearing her black number twenty jersey.

"Jewell, how are you?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.

"Doing good, Coach, can't wait to get out there," Jewell said.

"Good, good," Coach Pierce-Scott said and looked at the next girl, "How about you, Cammie?"

"I'm ready, Coach," the freshman forward, Cameron "Cammie," Garcia said as she adjusted her black number fifteen jersey.

"Good, keep that energy up," Coach Pierce-Scott said.

"Yes, Coach," Cameron said, "How is Khloe?"

"She seems to be doing okay; feel free to talk to her," Coach Pierce-Scott said.

"Yes, Coach," Cameron said.

Coach Pierce-Scott turns and looks at the next girl. One of the juniors on the team, Brett's backup, and the Sixth man, Sixth woman? Flannery O'Brien was straightening out her warmup shirt. The tall girl had muscles as well defined as Brett's. Putting the two girls on the court was a defensive lockdown because Flannery was quick for a big girl.

I'm a wood peckin' peckerwood

Take me out, ya never could

Act up in my neighborhood

You better not, my aim is good

The House Of Pain is not a gang

Just a funky Irish name

A Celtic savage makin' cabbage

With corn beef on the side

Irish pride is what I got

I got alot so don't dispute it

Constantly I'm suited

If ya got a gun then shoot it

Pick any beat I rock it

I'm always in the pocket

You try to ill, I grab my gat

And now you see my cock it

Next I pull the trigger

I don't care if you're bigger

You try to con yourself you're bulletproof

But how ya figure?

The caps that I'll be poppin'

They'll have your body droppin'

You thought you knew the deal

But now you feel your heartbeat stoppin'

I'm moppin' up the comp

That's short for compitition

I write my lyrics like

The Irish mob in Hell's Kitchen

"Ready, Flan?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.

"Yes, Coach," Flannery said as she pulled her warmup shirt over her number twenty-one jersey.

"Save your energy because we're probably going to use you heavily," Coach Pierce-Scott said.

"Always ready, Coach," Flannery said.

"That's what I like about you, Flan," Coach Pierce-Scott said, smiled, and turned to the backup center. The big girl with naturally tanned skin leaned back in her locker. Coach Pierce-Scott could see she had her earbuds in. "Eva, how are you doing?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.

"The junior Evalyn Lopez sat up and removed one of her earbuds. Coach Pierce-Scott could hear the faint strains of what sounded like someone reading. The girls wore the Jerry West number forty-four. The girl smiled at the coach. "All is good, Coach," Evalyn said.

"What are you listening to?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.

"The Being and Nothingness," Evalyn said.

"Sartre?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.

"Yes, Coach," Evalyn said.

"That's good to hear; just make sure you leave those earbuds in your locker," Coach Pierce-Scott said.

"Yes, Coach," Evalyn said.

Coach Pierce-Scott looked over to the next girl. Jade Loyal, Jewell's older sister, was taping up her knuckles. The girl had a focused intent in her eyes. Her famous or infamous number thirteen is proudly worn on her chest.

"Jade, how're the fingers?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked. Jade had her hand stepped on in the last game.

"They're good, Coach," Jade said.

"If they get messed up, I want to know," Coach Pierce-Scott said.

"Yes, Coach," Jade said.

Coach Pierce-Scott nodded and looked to the next big girl. With a nod, Coach Pierce-Scott looked at the big blonde girl wearing her black game jersey with the number sixty-one on it. "How are you doing, Avril?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.

The House Of Pain in effect, y'all

I say the House Of Pain is in effect

You know the House Of Pain is in effect y'all

And anyone that steps up in gettin' wrecked

(Come into…come into the house)

"Locked, cocked, and ready to rock," Avril said.

'Just don't overlook the opponent," Coach Pierce-Scott said.

"Never, Coach, just feeling my Gandalf," Avril said.

"Gandalf?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.

"You shall not pass," Brett Pierce-Scott said from her position next to Avril.

"I don't want selfish play, Avril," Coach Pierce-Scott said.

"No, I mean defensively, Coach," Avril said.

"Okay, Avril," Coach Pierce-Scott said and turned towards the final post player. Coach Pierce-Scott's oldest daughter, Brett Pierce-Burke. Brett was pulling on the hem of her number thirty jersey. The young redhead looked up and pulled her hair back to make it game ready.

I'm a beer drinkin' fighter

The bike in Easy Rider

I only roll my spliffs

With the extra easy whiters

Papers to vapors

Is what you'll all be catchin'

Meanwhile I'll be snatchin'

Up your hoes and all your dough

"How's it going, Brett?" Coach Perce-Scott asked.

"Same old, same old," Brett said.

"They're going to concentrate on you," Coach Pierce-Scott said.

"So, what's new? It's happened most of the last two seasons," Brett said.

"Are you sure?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.

"I'm going to be awesome for you, Coach," Brett said.

"I hope you are," Coach Pierce-Scott said and turned.

The room got quiet. Coach Pierce-Scott turned round to see Coach Scott and Coach Sinclair had left the office. Coach Scott stood looking them over in his dark suit, white shirt, and his black Tree Hill tie with blue and white diagonal strips.

The styles that I'll be kickin'

You know they're finger lickin'

Good, the peckerwood never could play the victim

Only the offender

I go out on a bender

Drink a case of brew

And then disgrace the crew

But only if it's mickeys

I never wear no dickeys

Only wear the Levi's

My whole family cries

Several of the older girls pulled on their warm-up shirts. Coach Scott looked over the girls, then at Coach Pierce-Scott. Coach Pierce-Scott nodded to Coach Scott and Coach Sinclair. Coach Scott turned to Coach Sinclair, who nodded to Coach Scott.

"Alright, let's go," Coach Scott said.

The last of the girls pulled on their warmup shirts. The girls stood up and headed toward the locker room doors. The bench players are at the front, the starters in the back and the coaches are standing behind them. The doors opened, and the girls started to walk out. The Coaches walked behind; Coach Scott stood in the middle, with Coach Sinclair on the right and Coach Pierce-Scott on the left.

"They walked down to the opening of the arena. After a few moments, Coach Scott nodded, and the girls started to run out for warmups. The three coaches walked out behind the girls. Once they reached the bench, Coach Sinclair went to talk to one of the guards with a nagging injury. Coach Pierce-Scott watched her post players and watched Coach Scott and the opposing coach exchange a few pleasantries.

Coach Pierce-Scott nodded, took a deep breath, and knew it began now.

(Come into…come into the house)

(Come into…come into the house)

(Come into…come into the house)

(Come into…come into the house)