Chapter 67: Tree Hill High School
Tuesday, January 3rd, Morning
It was cold. Since it was January, expect cold weather. Her sisters would often tell her never to complain about how cold it got in North Carolina. It was always colder where they lived. Sawyer Scott would smile at them, watch the weather where they lived, and send them messages with the better weather in Tree Hill. Keith, the always forgiving older brother, would look at her and remind her of karma and how much of a bitch it could be.
At this moment, Sawyer wondered if a little bit of karma had come due as she felt the cold wind blow up her cheerleading uniform skirt.
"This is crazy," Kendall "Keni" Stafford, her best friend, and practically her sister said from her position next to her.
"What's crazy?" Sawyer asked, looking down at her fingernails. The blue seemed to be holding up, but the accent finger's black polish needed a touch-up.
"Wearing these skirts in this weather," Keni said.
"Those are the rules," Sawyer said as she shrugged, not interested in debating rules.
"Written by some guy with a cheerleader fetish," Keni said.
"Fetish: a sexual compulsion, where to achieve sexual gratification, you must do the said act. Common ones are role-playing, BDSM, and erotic affixation. Others get increasingly more bizarre as you read them," Lydia "LK" Scott, Sawyer's Cousin, said.
"Thanks, LK. I know what a fetish is," Keni said.
"I believe there could be several fetishes that you refer to. Lolita is one that comes to mind," LK said.
Sawyer turned to LK and gently grabbed her shoulders, "LK," Sawyer said.
"Am I doing it again, Sassy?" LK asked, using Sawyer's childhood nickname.
Sawyer nodded. "Yes," she said.
"I'm sorry. I don't want to embarrass you or Keni," LK Said.
"You're not," Sawyer said. "But if you can't control it, you might end up in that special school."
"No. I want to stay in school with you and Keni," LK said.
"We want that, too, LK. Grumpy over there will say the same thing, too," Sawyer said.
Keni nodded. "I like having you in school with us, LK," she said.
LK smiled. "Thank You," she said. Sawyer looked at her cousin and knew that it wouldn't be the last time they remind her. LK hardly made eye contact. Sawyer knew that LK never really engaged in the conversations. She had on occasion, but she was talking past who is in the conversation. Disconnected; that is how Sawyer would describe LK.
They turned back to their slow trudge to the school. Sawyer paused mentally for a moment and took in two of her closest friends. Keni was dressed in her cheerleading uniform and wore her cheerleading jacket. She also hugged her body to brace herself against the cold. Keni's raven dark brunette hair was held back with a blue headband, and, surprisingly, she carried just an everyday black backpack. Keni was, well, just Keni, Sawyer noted. Keni was the youngest of the three of them. All of them were fifteen years old. Sawyer often took note of how the two girls she was closest to were also family. Keni wasn't just her best friend, but she was also her sister-in-law. Keni's older sister is married to Sawyer's brother. To them, it was more a matter of fact than anything else. It was something that they always knew and was just there.
As far as LK, well, Sawyer had to focus on her. Lydia is a genius, especially in math, but seemed to have a lot of quirks. Yeah, Sawyer thought, quirk was a good word. LK dressed for the weather better then Sawyer and Keni did, wearing long pants, a battered pair of boots, (LK always seemed to be wearing boots, for some reason) a good warm jacket, and a watch cap. LK's shoulder-length honey blonde hair poked out from around the edges of the blue watch cap. Unlike Keni or Sawyer, LK wore glasses. The other thing Sawyer kept trying to break for LK's own good, which ultimately Sawyer failed every time she tried LK to stop, was that LK stilled carried a Hello Kitty Backpack.
Sawyer sighed as they reached the school. In all fairness, LK was a good friend and cousin. Sawyer stopped and looked in the window to evaluate herself. Her mind started to rattle off her essential facts. Sawyer Brooke Scott, the youngest child and daughter of Lucas and Peyton Scott. Sister to Candace, Keith, Kay, and Ellie Scott. She was a fifteen-year-old sophomore cheerleader at Tree Hill High School, and commander of the Felix Legions, Husband to a Murdered Wife, and I will have my revenge. Sawyer laughed at her internal monologue, that would often become mixed with Russel Crowe's from Gladiator, damn it, Tucker.
Sawyer took a hard look at herself and noted she was a Hodgepodge. She wore the same uniform as Keni, right down to the jacket, but also had a black jean jacket over it. Her backpack styled like Doctor Who's TARDIS, and she had mixed and match patches and pins on her bag and jacket.
"Sawyer," Keni said. But Sawyer was lost in her thoughts.
"Sawyer," Keni repeated, a bit louder, but again got no response.
Sawyer studied herself in the reflection of the window. She studied her dirty blonde hair, which she wore down her back; there was a slight curl in her hair. It was a loose curl. Not like when she was younger, and the curls were tighter. She wore a blue headband style earmuff to protect her ears from the cold. The reflection of her green eyes looked back at her. People often tell Sawyer that she and her sister Ellie looked the most like their Mom. Except Ellie had blue eyes like their Dad. Sawyer would sometimes stand in front of the mirror and study her face, and every so often, she would see her Mom in her face.
"Sawyer!" Keni finally yelled.
"What!?" Sawyer responded, finally.
"Earth to Sawyer, I've been calling you for a minute or two, where did you check out to this time?" Keni asked.
Sawyer shrugged, "Just thinking about the costumes I'm going to make next," she said, sort of lying.
"Ugh! I can't wait till I turn sixteen. That way I have less parental guidance in how we do my costume, and what I can wear," Keni said.
"Would that be shorts and a tank top?" LK asked.
Keni looked at LK. "Why would you ask that?" she asked.
"It's what you wear at home," LK stated.
Keni shook her head, "I like being comfortable," she said.
"There's nothing wrong with being comfortable," another female voice said. The three young ladies turned to see a redheaded young woman walk up. Sawyer noted she was wearing a plaid skirt and a black moto jacket. Very vintage, Sawyer noted, especially when paired with knee-high boots. Sawyer smiled. She wouldn't take her friend Wendy Kilpatrick any other way.
"Comfortable. I'm not against comfortable; I was just pointing out what Keni always wears at home," LK said.
"LK, do you have to share everything?" Wendy asked while looking at LK. LK was staring off into space.
"No, I don't share everything. Sassy tells me I don't have to share everything," LK said.
Wendy laughed and turned towards Sawyer. "I still can't get over the fact that you were nicknamed Sassy growing up," she said.
"Yeah. Supposedly, I had a lot of sass when I was little," Sawyer said.
"Yeah, I can't see it in you," Wendy said.
Sawyer looked at LK. "Quiet," she said and turned back to Wendy. "Well, that's what I was told."
Wendy smiled at Sawyer, "Can we go inside? It's fucking freezing," she said.
"Yeah, let's get out of the cold before parts of me start falling off," Keni said.
"Let's do this," Sawyer said and opened the door to the school.
Wendy nodded and grabbed the door and opened it. Each one of them walked into the school. Sawyer heard Keni sigh as she felt the warmth of the air in the school.
"Why can't it be warm all year long?" Keni asked, then turned towards Sawyer. "My sisters also live up north, too. So, no 'It's colder up north' bullshit."
Wendy shook her head, "When are you two going to hook up and get it over with?" she asked.
"Really, Wendy?" Sawyer asked. "We grew up together. We're practically sisters." Sawyer removed her headband and tried to straighten out her hair with her fingers.
"Sister on sister is a fetish," Wendy said.
Keni turned to LK, "Quiet," she said. LK nodded.
"And it's not for me," Sawyer said.
"The way Y'all act, you might as well be a married couple," Wendy said.
Keni looked at Sawyer and then at Wendy. "She's not my type," she said.
The door burst open behind them, which was followed by a burst of cold wind. Sawyer heard Keni grunt under the cold wind.
"Damn it! Close the door," Keni called out.
The door closed, and Sawyer finally saw who came in. It was another one of her childhood friends, Gareth Reuter. He removed his watch cap, showing a messy mop of hair, he unzipped his jacket and blew on his hands to warm them.
"Damn, it's cold, the third straight day below thirty-five degrees. It might actually reach freezing," Gareth said.
"The average low temperature in the Cape Fear Region in January is thirty-six degrees," LK said, randomly.
"That's been the high the last few days, LK," Gareth said.
Keni turned and punched Gareth in the shoulder. "Don't say that," she said.
"Ouch, Keni! That hurt," Gareth said.
"Well, you suck anyway," Keni said.
Sawyer shook her head. "C'mon. Let's get out of this place and somewhere warm," she said.
"I second that," Keni said.
"I'm not surprised," Wendy said.
The five friends piled out into the hallway. Sawyer smiled when she looked over the various people. She liked being around people for some reason. Sawyer looked at her classmates and schoolmates and always wondered what they were thinking. Did they refer to her and her two closest friends the way their family referred to them? As the "Terrible Three"?
"So, Sawyer," Gareth said.
"Yes, Gar?" Sawyer asked.
"Umm, ahh, duh," Gareth said.
"Gar just spit it out," Sawyer said.
"Well, um, are you going to New York this summer?" Gareth asked.
Sawyer smiled, stopped, and walked over to Gareth. She put her hands on his shoulders and gave him a genuine smile. "Gar, you know I always go up to New York to spend time with Ellie and visit Grandma Karen and Aunt Angela. You also know, of course, I talk Ellie into taking us to the Ren Fair and this year to check out Camp Hero," Sawyer said, glanced at Keni and rolled her eyes at the last bit. Gareth had changed his posture when she put her hands on him, she noted.
"Hey, don't make fun. The Montauk Project is real," Keni said.
"Montauk Project? What's that?" Wendy asked.
"A conspiracy theory that there is a Top-Secret Government Project that involves teleportation, time travel, and even mind control based out of Camp Hero, a decommissioned air defense base, in Montauk, New York," LK said.
"Thank You, Encyclopedia Brown," Wendy said.
"Hey, Wendy. One, don't make fun of LK. And two, that shit is real," Keni said.
Gareth looked at Sawyer. "I was thinking of asking my Mom if I could go," he said with a longing tone in his voice.
"That would be great, Gar. When we go to the Ren Fair, we can all dress up and eat turkey legs…" Sawyer was saying.
"And torture Ellie with all those dragons we could adopt," Keni said.
Wendy laughed. LK was following some dust particles as Keni leaned against the locker to check the bottom of her shoe.
Sawyer suddenly cried out in shock as she was lifted off the ground and spun around. Sawyer was taller than the other three young ladies, even in sneakers, so this was by no means a small fete. Finally, Sawyer returned to her feet. She turned around and slapped the shoulder of the guy who picked her up.
"Dex! You fucken scared the shit out of me," Sawyer said and flipped him off.
"Is that an offer, Sawyer?" Dexter "Dex" Matthews, a powerfully built guy of slightly above average height, asked.
"Oh, hell no, Dex. Not fucken likely," Sawyer said.
Dex laughed and walked over to Wendy. He wrapped an arm around her waist and leaned against her. "Miss me, Wendy Kill?" Dex asked.
Wendy turned to Dex and placed a hand on his cheek. "What do you think?" she asked.
"With every shot," Dex said.
Wendy laughed. "I'll aim better," she said and leaned forward to kiss him.
They broke apart, and Dex looked at Wendy.
"Switched brands?" Dex asked.
"I bummed one," Wendy said.
"I see. So, what are you working on now?" Dex asked.
"Ran out of gas, been down at the auto body shop on the TIG Machine trying to earn cash to get more," Wendy said.
"I see," Dex replied and turned to the rest of his friends. "What'd I miss?" he asked.
"Gareth wants to go to New York with us," Sawyer said, referring to her annual trip with Keni and LK to New York City.
"The infamous trip," Dex said. "Going ghost hunting, Keni?"
"No," Keni said, defensively.
"Keni wants to check out the Montauk Project Site, which many people believe is at Camp Hero New York, in Montauk on Long Island," LK said.
"Thanks, LK," Dex said. "I also bet there's some costume event."
"Probably," Sawyer said as they entered the gym. Slowly, they all took a seat on the bleachers. Wendy laid down and rested her head in Dex's lap. Keni sat along a bleacher bench and leaned her back against the guardrail. Gareth was up a few rows back, facing forward. LK sat off to one side and was looking at her homework. Sawyer sat down on the bottom row, facing up at the rest of them.
"So, if you were to cosplay as one of the Doctors, which one would you go as?" Gareth asked.
"I'd go as Twelve," LK said, picking her head up from her books.
"Lecter," Dex said. Gareth was taken aback by Dex's response.
"I'd Rule 63 the hell out of Ten," Sawyer said, which Gareth nodded.
"Nine is all me," Keni said.
"I'd figure you'd be more Thirteen," Gareth said.
"Don't like the outfit," Keni said, and Gareth nodded.
"Four, love the scarf," Wendy said, "But I can do Eight, or even Doctor Quinn."
"What's Rule 63?" Dex asked.
"Given a male character, a female version exists," LK said.
"Thank You, LK," Dex said.
Gareth looked over to Dex, "So, Dex, what do you do when football season is over? When you're not in school?" he asked.
"Why does it matter, Gareth?" Dex asked as he gently stroked Wendy's hair.
"I never see you around town, and never heard of you having a job. So, I was wondering if you exist or are just a perception of my imagination?" Gareth asked.
"Perception is a reality, Gareth," Dex said, in a cool voice, and looked down into Wendy's eyes.
"What?" Gareth asked.
"Perception is reality; it was stated most famously by Lee Atwater, a Republican Political Strategist who ran Reagan and Bush 41's campaigns until he died from a brain tumor in 1991. He was referring in the political area what people perceive, strength, confidence, etc., will become their reality, and if set up right directs the masses how they will vote," LK said.
"Thanks, LK," Gareth said.
"So, Dex, what are your thoughts on Chem-trails?" Keni asked.
"I don't have any," Dex said.
"How can you have no opinion on the government trying to control the population by chemical means against our consent?" Keni asked.
Dex laughed a little, "How much time do you spend on Youtube, Keni?" Dex asked.
"That's not the point," Keni said.
"Maybe that's the point," Dex said, "I tend to enjoy the simple things." Dex looked down at Wendy and smiled.
"Such as?" Keni asked.
"The world my benevolent lizard man overlords let us have," Dex said.
"Hey!" Keni stated.
"You have to admit, he got you there, Keni," Sawyer said.
"Not fair," Keni said and pouted.
"My question Gareth, is, do you have the balls to talk to your secret crush?" Wendy asked.
"Gar, you're crushing on someone, that's great," Sawyer said.
Keni laughed, "Yeah, Gar, that's great," she replied.
Dex nodded.
"What? Me? I don't have a secret crush," Gareth said.
Wendy moved her head, in Dex's lap, "You can keep telling yourself that," she said.
Footsteps echoed in the gym, and they all looked over to see someone standing to look at them. The person was roughly in his mid-fifties, and his blonde hair showed a few areas where it was turning gray. He looked them over.
"Too cold to be hanging outside?" Lucas Scott asked.
The six teenagers nodded, "Yes, Mr. Scott," Gareth said.
"Well, make sure you're not late to class, and Gareth it's Coach Scott in the gym," Lucas said.
Gareth nodded, "Yes, Coach Scott."
Lucas nodded and started to walk off. Sawyer hopped up and walked over to him.
"Dad," Sawyer said.
Lucas stopped and turned to look at her, "We're at school, Sawyer. It's Mister Scott or Coach Scott," he said.
"School hasn't started yet. And I need to talk to you as my Dad," Sawyer stated, with a slightly forceful tone. Sawyer saw a wave of remembrance wash over her Dad's face and followed quickly by a wave of sorrow. He nodded.
"Okay, make it quick," Lucas said.
"Well you took off so quickly this morning, I didn't get a chance to ask you about what we talked about," Sawyer said.
"What would that be?" Lucas asked.
"Did you call Candi?" Sawyer asked.
Lucas said nothing.
"That tells me everything I need to know. Dad, you have to tell her and talk to her, of all of us. She'll understand and be able to help you the most," Sawyer said.
Lucas nodded, "I said I would, Sawyer. I'll call your sister as soon as I can, but I've been busy," he said.
"No excuses, Dad. It's too important for that," Sawyer said.
Lucas nodded. "I'll take care of it. Now, go spend time with your friends," he said.
"Yes, Coach Scott," Sawyer replied, as Lucas walked away. Sawyer returned to the bleachers and sat down.
"He still hasn't called Candi yet?" Keni asked.
Sawyer shook her head, "No, not yet. I wish Keith were around to help with this," she said downtrodden.
"When is Keith due back?" Dex asked.
"Around Saint Patrick's Day, but he can't tell us exactly when," Sawyer said.
"I can't wait for him or Izzy to come back. Nomi and Ellis are staying with us," Keni said.
"Are our niece and nephew really that bad?" Sawyer asked.
"No, but I would like a rest," Keni said.
"Nomi won't leave my side, so why should you complain?" Sawyer asked.
"I don't know," Keni said.
Sawyer sighed, "Yeah," she said.
"What's up with your Dad?" Gareth asked.
"Just some family stuff. Nothing to worry about, Gar," Sawyer said.
"How is it that all of your family is brooding, and you're so bright?" Wendy asked.
"I can brood," Sawyer said,
Keni laughed, "Right. And I'm about to be elected Pope," she said.
"To be elected Pope, the old Pope has to die. After the Papel Conclave is called, you must win a two-thirds majority of the voting members of the College of Cardinals. Also, only a Catholic male can be elected," LK said.
"See? Even LK agrees with me," Keni said.
"Gee, and I thought you were my friends," Sawyer said and tried brooding.
"1, 2, 3," Keni whispered.
"So, anyone excited about the game tonight?" Sawyer asked, in a bright and cheery voice.
"Right on time," Dex said and laughed.
That was when someone came out of the locker room. The person looked over at the group hanging out on the bleachers, and his mouth turned up into a grin as he walked over to them.
"Lookie here. It's the Scooby Gang," he said.
Wendy sat up and looked at him. Sawyer turned around and looked at him.
"What do you want, Jackin?" Sawyer asked.
"Just wondering why you are all hanging out here?" Jackin Rothenburg asked.
"It's warmer here than outside," Sawyer said.
Jackin nodded. "I see," he said.
"The truth," Sawyer said.
Jackin shook his head and looked down at Sawyer's backpack. "Sawyer, I don't get you," he said.
"How's that, Jackin?" Sawyer asked.
Jackin looked at Sawyer hard. "You're popular and a cheerleader, but you seem to be less interested in things the other girls are. And, you carry on with this geek stuff, but you don't wear it on your sleeve," he said.
"Is it fair to label me? Or even to label yourself?" Sawyer asked, standing up.
"What do you mean?" Jackin asked.
"Are you just a basketball player?" Sawyer asked. "I would say not. I'm more than a cheerleader, popular, blonde, or a girl. I know how to play basketball. And I'm better than some of the guys I know. But I can't play. 'Why?' You might be thinking. My Dad won't let me. 'Why?' Long story, but it's unimportant. But people will think I'm good with music, and I'm the worst.
"Also, why can't I like cheerleading, basketball, and Doctor Who? Why can't I do all three? I like costumes and making them, but I also like being fashionable. Why can't I do both? Can I be both Cesario and Viola?" Sawyer shrugged. "I know its high school, and I can't. I can't be an Übermensch. I must be part of the herd. But I like what I like, and that, Jackin, is all you need to know about me," Sawyer said.
"What in the hell did you just say?" Jackin asked.
"In short, I am none of your damn business, Jackin," Sawyer said.
"It's time to go to class. We will be late if we don't go now," LK said.
Sawyer smiled a bright smile. "Well, no thanks to you for wasting my time, Jackin, but I have to go," she said as she grabbed her backpack and walked away.
Keni stood up and looked at Jackin. "I guess she told you," she said as she walked by.
LK stood up, hugged her books to her chest, and walked by without making eye contact with Jackin. She didn't even make a sound.
Gareth got up and shrugged his shoulders. "That's Sawyer for you," he said and walked away.
Wendy walked by next. "My torch doesn't even burn that badly," she said and walked away.
Dex stopped before Jackin and looked at him. "Just remember who she's related to; then you would realize that you just entered a battle of wits unarmed," Dex said and walked away, leaving Jackin standing there confused.
