Chapter 631: In the Stands

Saturday, March 11th, Afternoon

She watched the players leave the court for their respective benches. Next, she looked at the scoreboard and saw both sides had seven points. She turned to her mom, who was distracted watching her baby sister with the cheerleaders. Finally, she turned to her husband, who just shrugged.

"That was unremarkable," Chase said.

"It's like neither side hardly tried," Brooke chimed in.

"It's not like Uncle Lucas to play so conservatively this early," Chase said, having watched many of Lucas's coached games over the years.

"Yeah, you're right," Brooke said and looked at Lucas. He was talking with his players. Brooke knew something was missing but was that taking away from how he was coaching the game?

"What are you thinking about, Mom?" Chase asked.

"I'm not sure, just wondering if something missing was affecting Lucas," Brooke said.

"Are you sure, Mom?" Chase asked.

"I don't know," Brooke said.

Huck nodded as he listened to his wife and mother-in-law talking. He turned back to the court as the teams rested, going over the first quarter and hydrating. Shaking his head, he looked at the two women.

"I wonder why Lucas pulled Jade so soon for Flannery?" Brooke asked.

"Why are you asking?" Chase asked.

"Jade is a better shooter than Flannery, but he pulled Jade for Flannery, which reduces their scoring potential," Brooke said.

"Who are you, and what have you done with my mom?" Chase asked.

"When did you become a follower of basketball?" Huck asked.

"With being friends with Nathan and Lucas, you pick up a few things," Brooke said.

"Well, I know why, or at least I think I know why he pulled Jade for Flannery," Chase said.

"Why?" Brooke asked.

"Jade hurt her hand in the last game," Chase said.

"She did?" Brooke asked.

"Yeah, it accidentally got stepped on, it's okay, but I think Lucas is just trying to limit her time," Chase said.

"How do you know this?" Brooke asked.

Chase shrugged, "I ran into Jasmin Loyal and started talking," she said.

"About what?" Brooke asked.

"The usual, and it came up that Jade hurt her hand," Chase said.

"I see, but I think Jewell is a better shooter than Flannery," Brooke said.

"It's a matter of depth, and Flannery is usually the first off the bench," Huck said.

"Okay," Brooke said.

"It doesn't look like there is tape or a bandage on her hand," Chase said.

"It might not be that bad," Huck said.

"The way Jasmin was talking, she's glad this is the last game so Jade could rest her hand and let it heal," Chase said.

"I was the same way when you skated," Brooke said.

"I only got hurt once when I twisted my ankle," Chase said.

"Yeah, I died a little inside, and of course, we fought all the time to keep you off those skateboards," Brooke said.

"We didn't argue that much," Chase said.

"Chase, you were so stubborn and kept re-injuring your ankle I had to lock up your skateboard," Brooke said.

"I remember you taking my skateboards away," Chase said.

Huck chuckled.

"What are you laughing at, Steve-O?" Brooke asked.

"At least I didn't get hurt doing it," Huck said.

"I heard a little frostbit," Chase said.

"Didn't get suspended either, if I heard correctly," Brooke said.

"It was prank day, and there were no more classes or finals for me," Huck said.

"Your dad wasn't happy," Brooke said.

"No, he wasn't Kelly, and I got in trouble for it," Huck said.

"Why Kelly?" Chase asked.

"Who do you think my partner in crime was?" Huck asked.

"I would figure it was Keith or Angela," Chase said.

Huck shook his head, "Angela and I were on the outs and only just starting making amends then," he said.

"That's my wife's fault," Buck said.

Huck sighed, "Buck, please let us know when they come out on the court," he said.

"Okay," Buck said.

"I didn't know that; I just assumed, well," Chase said.

"We don't like to talk about it too much," Huck said, glancing over to Buck and then back to Chase, "It wasn't the best of times."

"We all went through that when we met; you know what I went through," Chase said.

"That I do," Huck said.

Chase sighed and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her legs. "It's moments like this, sitting here, watching a high school basketball game, it's a sense of normalcy," she said.

"What are you going to do next year?" Huck asked.

"Watch Keni cheer," Chase said, "And wait for our daughters to play."

"Are you so sure about that?" Huck asked.

"Oh yeah, you know PJ wants to play, and anything PJ does, Key does," Chase said.

"That's true," Huck said.

"We need to talk to Nathan," Chase said.

"Are you sure they're old enough?" Huck asked.

"He started with Brett when she was six," Chase said.

"Brett was living with him," Huck said.

"So, are you going to tell our daughters they can't learn from the same person that taught their older sister?" Chase asked.

Huck nodded, "No, you're right," he said.

"Good," Chase said, "I'll talk to Nathan."

"Alright," Huck said.

"They're coming out onto the court," Buck said.

"Thanks," Huck said.