Chapter Fourteen:
"There is a tide in the affairs of men. Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. But omitted, and the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat, and we must take the current when it serves – or lose the ventures before us".
Lucas POV
When I get called into Principal Thomas office before the school day ended, I'm worried. Megan is a good kid. She doesn't get in trouble and is an honor roll student. So I knew it couldn't be about her.
"Good afternoon Coach come on in", Principal Thomas announces when I'm standing outside his door. There's a tall teenaged boy sitting down in front of his desk. He stands as I walk in and seems to be nervous.
"Hello", I mumble reaching over to shake hands with Mr. Thomas. He's a nice older man who fully supports the basketball team. He's always making sure that the team has a place to practice, good equipment, and the occasional new uniforms every four years, he also loves it when we go to the finals. I've lead them to four state championships out of the twelve years I've coached here.
"I want you to meet Ryder Lynn. He's a transfer student from New York City. He's a hell of a ball player".
I turn to the boy and reach my hand out to him.
"Good to meet you Coach. I'm a huge fan of your books as well", he answers which makes me smile.
"Thank you. What position do you play"?
"I'm a point guard. But can play shooting guard as well. I didn't know basketball tryouts were in October or I would have contacted the school".
"We start practice early to get a head start. The season just started last Friday".
"If you can make an exception and let me at least try out I'd love to play for you. I'm a fast learner and I'd do anything to play. I live and breathe basketball. All I'm asking is for one shot to show you I am fit to play". He's pleading at me to believe him and I can tell if I don't it will crush him. I'm transported back in time now when Whitey came to me to ask me to play.
"I've got an opening in my lineup. Varsity. Chance of a lifetime. What do you say?"
It's when everything changed. And it's the reason why I wanted to be the basketball coach, to give others a chance just like I got.
"You be at practice today and show me what you can do. If I like what I see we'll talk about making a spot on my team".
"Thank you so much sir", Ryder smiles and leaves the room quickly.
"You say he's good", I question sitting down in the seat Ryder occupied.
"That's what I was told from his old basketball coach who called begging me to ask you to give him a chance. You'll see for yourself. I'm hoping for the state championship this year. You'll have your bonus if you make it there at least".
"I told you money doesn't mean much to me, I'll make sure we win it, regardless".
"That's the enthusiasm I needed to hear". The bell rings disrupting our conversation. I nod at him signaling a good bye and start my way to the gym. On the way I spot my daughter with the new boy Ryder. They're laughing together but if I'd known better it's more like flirting.
"Meg", I yell and she stops mid walk turning around slowly. Ryder stops with her and seems to have a nervous smile on his face.
"Hey Coach", she smiles when I make my way up to her.
"I'm guessing you've met the new guy in town" I question raising my eyebrow. Sure I also heard a couple of freshmen girls in the hallway earlier talking about Megan walking in school holding hands with the new kid. I just didn't add together that this was the boy she was with.
"Yeah we've met", she blushes but seems to be freaking out.
"Well don't corrupt Ryder he needs to be in the gym soon for a tryout. I'll see you later". Megan grins from ear to ear and looks to Ryder. I try my best to not look back at the teenagers as I open the doors to the gym. There's something about the way she looked at him that makes me feel uneasy. I could have sworn I saw that same look sixteen years ago, just on her mother.
Megan POV
After two hours of practice I send the squad home since I'm still waiting for the boys to be finished. Dad's drilling them hard today since he immediately told Ryder he had a spot on the team, as a starter. He's really good and I can already tell Dad likes him. Ryder and Jamie are hitting it off even more too. They keep high fiving each other every time Ryder passes Jamie the ball and makes a good shot. I swear boys have the easiest time becoming friends with each other than girls.
When Dad finally tells them to go get cleaned up my eyes find Ryder who is grinning proudly as he runs towards the bleachers where I'm sitting.
"Like what you see Miss Scott"?
"Oh I liked what I saw when you beat me at the River Court. Watching you play now is just for fun".
He laughs loudly and takes a seat. "What's even better is that I have the school's hottest girl cheering for me".
Blushing immediately I turn away from his stare. He puts his hand on my face and makes me look back into his tender gaze. "Why do you always do that when I compliment you"?
"I don't know. I'm not used to boys thinking of me that way", I answer honestly.
"Well I do. And I can't wait to see what happens from here", Ryder smiles lacing our fingers together. "Your Dad's giving me evil eyes though so I'm going to go get a shower and head home. I'll call you later". I look up and see Dad match my eye contact and look down blushing. He was totally just spying.
"Bye Ryder", I manage to say before he lets go of my hand and runs off to the boy's locker room. I stand up from the bleachers and follow Dad to his office. I sit down at the couch and wait patiently for him to gather his belongings. He doesn't seem like he's in a talking mood today and I don't know if I should be worried or not. He's definitely doing that face that Mom calls brooding a lot more than usual. Maybe that's because she's moving back or he's just stressed.
"What do you want for dinner tonight", he questions with a small smile on his face. It's like he can read my mind sometimes.
"I'm going to dinner with Aunt Peyton. She's picking me up in a half hour".
"Oh okay. Hey I've been meaning to ask you about that. Did you know your Mom didn't know about how close you are with Aunt Peyton"?
It felt like I was stunned then. How didn't she know? She's the one who put Aunt Peyton into my life. Sure, the last five years is when we've become even closer but I have always loved my Aunt Peyton. But that was because I thought Mom would be okay with it. Now suddenly she doesn't know about Aunt Peyton being a motherly figure in my life. When did things get so weird and complicated? Even though they lived in two different states weren't they still best friends?
"No I didn't. But then again I knew Aunt Peyton mentioned she hadn't talked to Mom in a while a couple month ago. I just didn't think she figured we'd lose touch with her. You and Aunt Peyton have always been best friends as well, right"?
He doesn't answer my question. "You ready to go"?
It's not like my father to avoid a question like that. Is he keeping something from me too?
"Sure", I mumble shaking my head. Creating any type of drama with Dad is the last thing I want to do. He's my rock right now. And I know I'm his too.
We don't speak again until we get back to the house. Just a pleasant have fun and that he'd see me later. He's escaping to his study to write and still seems so deep in thought.
I change into jeans, my favorite UNC Tar Heels hoodie, and put my black and white converses on. Throwing my hair in a louse bun I just add a little mascara to my eyes. This was going to be a well needed dinner with Aunt Peyton.
The sound of a car beeping its horn outside puts a huge grin on my face.
"See you later Dad", I yell racing out the front door.
"If it isn't my beautiful niece", Aunt Peyton yells out her car window. I feel like my dimples are about to burst from my face then. This is just what I needed.
30 minutes later…
We've been eating pizza at the local pizza shop. I don't think I have laughed this much in a long time. That's the best thing about Aunt Peyton, besides that she makes me feel special, she clears my mind.
She makes me get not put my focus on all the troubles I have going on like my HCM, school, cheerleading, Dad, Mom, and all the other things. It's so easy to talk to someone when you know they care about you. I can tell her everything and know she won't judge. She loves me and it's nice to have someone that isn't in my everyday life I can spend one on one time with.
"So I didn't see Lindsey this weekend. Are they still dating"? She has a small smirk on her face which only makes me know that she wants all of the juicy dirt.
"They're still dating. But I don't think it's going to last any longer", I shrug not thinking much of it. I know everything is going to change again.
"Why not", she laughs with a questioning gaze.
"Mom's moving back on Wednesday".
And just like that Aunt Peyton's entire demeanor changed.
"Oh wow. How come"?
"I told her about my HCM and even though she swears it's not the only reason, she says she misses home. I just think she wants to make sure I'm okay".
She can barely look at me and looks like a million things are running threw her mind. Actually she seems like she's pretty much freaking out. Why?
"Which reminds me, how come my Mom doesn't know we are close"?
I have never seen my Aunt Peyton be so distracted before. She finally looks at me and I can see it in her eyes that there is something she's hiding.
"Because were not friends".
And just like that everything I thought I knew becomes just a lie.
"What", I gasp barely audibly.
"I've never told you this but I am really upset with her. They are my own reasons that I can't express with you. But then she randomly calls me three months ago crying and I was just so angry at her. It's not a story I should share with you but the end result was her telling me to stay away from you".
Ouch. That one hurt.
This wasn't something I was expecting to hear. How could Mom do that? And what did Mom do that would make Aunt Peyton be so mad at her?
Then again whatever happened three months ago was when we visited last. It's when she and Dad hooked up. There are too many details missing from this, especially the main reason why Mom told her to stay away from me. She wouldn't have said that for something stupid.
"Then why didn't you listen to her", I whisper barely even noticing my own voice.
"What? I couldn't ever stop talking to you. You're my god daughter", she lets out reaching over to hold my hand.
I take my hand away from hers and place it upon my lap. "You should have told me this".
Standing up from the booth I grab my hoodie that was on the seat next to me and put it on.
"Meg please", Aunt Peyton whispers as her voice cracks. It makes me look at her but not feel any remorse.
"In life people are going to disappoint you, I get that. I kinda expect that. But you of all the people I love in my life weren't. And you just did". With that I walk out of the pizza shop, not once looking back.
Brooke POV
The next day…
I've packed most of my wardrobe in four large suitcases when I realize it's only twelve in the afternoon. I still haven't talked to Julian since he isn't returning my call. And surprisingly my Mother was actually okay with my decision. She even asked to visit when I had my own place; to say I was shocked is an understatement.
But I'm thrilled with the place we are at now in each other's lives. I can only hope that now since I'm moving back to Tree Hill near Megan she will try to make time to get along with my daughter. That's when I will be happy. When I know she sees that I did a good job with Meg, without her guidance.
I really don't have anything else holding me back to New York. Technically I could leave tonight. And that seems to be a really good idea. Taking my phone out of my back pocket I click on Lucas's cellphone number calling him.
"Hello", he answers after the second ring.
"Hey Luke, you working", I question thinking he's probably at the high school.
"I'm just going on my lunch break about to call you actually", Luke laughs which makes me only imagine him with that stupid grin on his face.
"Really what for"?
"Well you're going to laugh at me, but I was going to ask if you could come back tonight".
"And why is that", I mutter trying to not giggle.
"There's something wrong with Megan and I think it has to do with you".
Of course it does. What did I do this time?
"She went out to dinner with Peyton last night and then she came storming in not even an hour afterwards. I tried to ask her what was wrong but she's giving me the silent treatment. Then I get some message today from Peyton saying that they had a fight about you and she's not going to spend time with Megan anymore. This is not okay since Peyton has taken Megan one day a week for the last five years"
And this is where a lot of things are about to just blow right up in my face.
"So I'm guessing I should be on the first flight out of JFK huh", I mumble trying to make him laugh.
Instead Lucas sighs and that's not a good thing. "I just, I don't know Brooke. I've never had Megan not talk to me before. She locked her bedroom door all night long. I thought she wouldn't make it to school today but when I woke up she was already gone".
"Did she go", I respond trying to make myself talk in the conversation. Right now my head is spinning on what Peyton told Megan. I hope it wasn't everything. There are some things that she just doesn't need to know about our past.
"Yeah I went and saw Haley right before you called. She said Megan didn't even talk to her".
"Alright well I guess I better get off the phone and get my ticket".
"Wait before you go, can I ask you something"?
I don't respond since I'm afraid of his question but mumble a sure.
"Is it about us? Is that why Peyton and you aren't friends"?
Just like that my heart sinks in the pit of my stomach.
"Isn't it always about you and me", I laugh trying to slow down my heart beat.
"What is it this time Brooke, really? What could it be that made Meg so upset? What could she have possibly told her"?
"She told her the truth. And the truth is Peyton and I haven't talked since I left five years ago. She was so convinced that I was making the wrong choice but frankly I think she was just jealous. She was because I had you and we didn't last or because I wasn't being a good mother to Megan for choosing New York over raising her. I don't know what goes on in the mind of hers but however it works she told me she hated me. And it convinced me to hate her back".
"I'll pick you up from the airport in a few hours", he utters softly. I guess he knew just like I did, it was all about to blow up in his face as well.
"Thanks though, for giving me the heads up. Nice to know you still are there for me", I add missing the feeling of having it be the two of us be parents, together.
"That's the thing about you Brooke, I can't ever stop". And with that the phone goes dead as I try to take the idiot smile off of my face. Damn Lucas Scott.
I know I'm horrible for not updating quick I'M SORRY!
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