Chapter 98: Boy's Game from the Bleachers
Tuesday, January 3rd, Evening
The team came back to the locker room, the players went to their lockers, and the Coaches went to the office. Brett opened her locker and pulled off her jersey and threw it into her locker. Next, she slid off her compression sleeve and straightened it out.
"How's the arm?" Baylee asked as she walked over to her locker.
Brett flexed her arm, "It's healing," she said.
Baylee smiled, "So, what are we doing tonight?" she asked.
"Me, I'm going to shower, watch Garvan's game, and go home," Brett said.
Baylee shook her head, "All work and no play…" she said.
Brett shrugged and finished slipping out of her gear. Grabbing her towel and shower gear, she went to the showers.
Avril walked up to Baylee and opened her locker. "Are we watching the guys tonight?" she asked.
"Don't we always?" Baylee asked.
Avril nodded, "I'm supposed to meet my Aunt tonight," she said.
"That sounds so boring," Baylee said.
"Hey! My aunt's cool," Avril said.
Brett returned from the shower, wrapped in a towel. She opened her locker and started to dig out her street clothes.
"Avril's meeting her aunt after the games, and I thought you were going to have a lame night," Baylee said.
"Avril, which aunt?" Brett asked.
"The One that lives in Europe," Avril said.
Brett laughed, "She's cool," she said, and started getting dressed.
Baylee looked first at Avril, then to Brett, "I know why Avril says she's cool, she's partial, but why you Brett?" she asked.
Brett chuckled, "Wait until you meet her," she said, finished dressing and packed her gym bag. She grabbed her hairbrush and bag and went to the bathroom to use the mirror.
In the office, Coach Scott collected the notes and sheets from everyone and put them in a file folder. He'll sort that stuff out tomorrow. Sitting behind the desk, he looked up at his assistant coaches.
"Well we've escaped with most of our skin intact," Coach Scott said.
"We played down to them," Coach Pierce-Scott said.
"There's rust on some of them, even after the Christmas tournament," Coach Sinclair said.
"I agree," Coach Scott said, and nodded.
"With who?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.
"That's not the point," Coach Scott said, "I do have one thing to say about something though."
"What would that be?" Coach Sinclair asked.
"Ashlyn, what started that argument with Brett?" Coach Scott asked.
"I was trying to correct something she was doing wrong," Coach Pierce-Scott said.
Coach Scott nodded.
"How did you approach her?" Coach Sinclair asked.
"What do you mean by that, Kiera?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.
"Brett is extremely coachable, something I can trace to who taught her early on, she doesn't start arguments with coaches," Coach Sinclair said.
"What are you implying?" Coach Pierce-Scott asked.
"That this is your third argument with her, this season," Coach Sinclair pointed out.
Before Coach Pierce-Scott could reply, Coach Scott reached out with an open hand. "Enough," he said, "Kiera you raise a good point, but let's not expand the war," he sighed, "Ashlyn, you're not only my niece, but you were also a great player, and you've been a good coach. The issue is I can't have you arguing with the players."
"I don't argue with the players," Coach Pierce-Scott said.
"Except the one that's your daughter," Coach Scott said.
"Well…" Coach Pierce-Scott began to say.
"This is what we're going to do," Coach Scott said, "Kiera will handle Brett, that's it and final," he finished, sighed, "I have to go and see my daughter." Coach Scott got up and grabbed his blazer. He left the office.
Brett walked out of the locker room and along the basketball baseline. The boy's game hasn't started yet, but things were moving about. Slowly, she walked by the cheerleaders but was stopped by a blonde cheerleader.
"Hey grumpy," Sawyer said.
"Sawyer," Brett said.
"What's wrong?" Sawyer asked.
"What makes you think something's wrong?" Brett replied.
"We've grown up together, I think I would know by now," Sawyer said.
Brett nodded, "Well, let's just say I'm not ready to talk about it, I have to say hi to the fams before the game starts," she said.
"Okay," Sawyer said.
Brett started to walk away, "Hi Keni," she said.
"Hey Brett," Keni said.
Brett finally made it to the stands and climbed up them to where her extended family sat.
"Nana Haley," Brett said and kissed Haley's cheek.
"Brett," Haley said.
"Papa Nathan," Brett said and kissed him on the cheek.
"You looked good out there," Nathan said.
Brett smiled and slid down to greet her brothers, sisters, and cousins. She spent a few minutes with each other. Next, she took a seat between Chase and Brooke.
"Nana Brooke," Brett said and kissed her cheek.
"Brett," Brooke said.
"Mama Chase," Brett said and kissed her cheek.
Chase nodded, and smiled at her, "Brett," she said.
Huck leaned forward and rested a hand on his oldest daughter's shoulder. His lips were close to her ear. "Was it the game or your Mom?" he asked her.
Brett leaned back a bit. "I don't want to talk about it here, Dad," she said.
Huck nodded, "Very well," he said.
Chase rested a hand on Brett's knee, "We're always here to talk," she said.
"I know, and I'm not ready yet," Brett said, "I'm going to watch the game with the team."
"Go ahead," Chase said.
Brett nodded and left her family to sit with the girl's team.
Coach Lucas Scott walked out of the locker room and towards the stands to join his family. He looked haggard and physically beat. Today was a tough day, that was mild, a tough day in a week of tough days.
"Hey Dad, are you okay?" Sawyer asked, suddenly appearing before him.
Lucas took a step back, "Sawyer, don't scare me like that," he said.
"Sorry," Sawyer said.
Lucas smiled, a weak smile, "No problem," he said, "What makes you think I'm not okay?"
"Just a feeling," Sawyer said.
"A rough game that's all," Lucas said, "We'll talk later."
"You better," Sawyer said.
Lucas smiled and walked away. Keni came up to Sawyer. "Parents, right?" Keni asked.
"Yeah, why do they have to be so difficult?" Sawyer replied.
"Yeah, tell me about it," Keni said.
Sawyer nodded, "Let's get ready for the next game," she said.
Lucas climbed up into the stands and took a seat. He looked to his left and saw his brother's family, and just wasn't feeling the conversation, especially since Ashlyn was his brother's daughter-in-law. To his right was Brooke and her family. Again, he wasn't sure he wanted to stay and answer questions. Huck was Brooke's son-in-law and Brett's dad. Again, not a conversation he wanted to have.
"Are you okay, Luke?" Brooke asked.
Lucas nodded, "Just a bit tired, that's all," he said.
"Tough game, Luke?" Nathan asked.
Lucas smiled, weakly, "Yes, it was," he said.
"Is there a tension between Ashlyn and Brett?" Nathan asked.
"I don't know," Lucas said, he turned to Brooke, "I'm not feeling well, I'm going home."
"Luke, you always stay for the boy's game," Brooke said.
"I need to get home, make sure Sawyer gets home," Lucas said.
"Yeah, sure," Brooke said.
Lucas nodded, got up and left.
Coach Ashlyn Pierce-Scott crossed the floor and climbed up the bleachers. She took a seat near her father-in-law and mother-in-law. Haley looked at her and nodded before Haley could move over to let Ashlyn talk with her younger kids. Haley was fine with this, and let her spend time with her kids. Maeghan leaned against Ashlyn. The older woman rubbed her daughter's hair.
"Mom, can we leave?" Maeghan asked.
"The second game hasn't started yet," Ashlyn said.
"But we've watched Brett play already," Maeghan said.
"I know, but we always watch the boy's game," Ashlyn said.
"But I'm bored," Maeghan said.
"Do we have to go, Mom? I want to see the game," Landen said.
"Yeah, Mom, I want to watch the game," Logan said.
"Mom, the boys could stay with Papa Nathan and Nana Haley," Maeghan said.
"Yeah, we want to watch the game," Landen said.
"The game, the game, the game," Logan said.
"Enough," Ashlyn said, "We always stay for both games."
"Yay!" Landen said.
"Yes!" Logan said.
"Mom!" Maeghan said.
Ashlyn took a deep breath, held it, and finally let it out. "Please, no more, we're staying for the second game," she said.
"Are you sure, Ashlyn? Nathan and I could watch the boys," Haley said.
"No, it's fine, Maeghan will just have to deal," Ashlyn said, then stood up.
"Where are you off to?" Haley asked.
"The bathroom," Ashlyn said.
"Oh," Haley said.
Ashlyn walked down the bleachers and out of the field house. In the Commons, whereas a teenager she used to have lunch, she found a quiet spot and leaned against the wall. She lowered her chin to her chest and slowly slid down the wall. She ended up sitting on the floor. Hugging her knees, she fought back tears.
