Chapter 171: West Brunswick

Friday, January 13th, Evening

The game was over; Tree Hill won 73-39, not even a challenge. She spent most of the fourth quarter on the bench. Her shower finished, her uniform and gear packed away. Street clothes are currently on, so she headed towards the bleachers. Most of her family had made the trip out to West Brunswick for the game. She was going to sit on the bleachers and watch her boyfriend play his varsity basketball game; while waiting for the bus ride back to Tree Hill High School.

Yeah, she could wait for them to travel back on the bus, but that's boring. Plus, once she got back to the School, she would have to wait for her Mom to drive her home. Usually, she'd go out after, because she would have her car waiting for her. Not this week, or for god knows how long, she's grounded.

Brett took a seat among the Tree Hill people. Looking over towards the group, she saw her "Nana" Haley. The older woman shook her head and slid over to Brett.

"Nana Haley," Brett said.

"Brett, how are you holding up?" Haley asked.

"I'm doing well," Brett said.

"It's not easy being seventeen and grounded," Haley said.

"Yeah, are we going to talk about this?" Brett asked.

"Talk about what?" Haley asked.

"My grounding," Brett said.

"Well, I'll tell you that I was shocked that you were grounded and by who," Haley said.

"But not shocked at what I did to get grounded," Brett said.

Haley shook her head, "No, I know your parents, I'm not surprised you did it," she said.

"But not surprised, I got caught?" Brett asked.

Haley snickered, "No, I'd be more shocked if you didn't get kicked out," she said.

"Why's that?" Brett asked.

"I know Absolution and their security. Also, you're an easy mark," Haley said.

"How am I an easy mark?" Brett asked.

Haley laughed, "You're known; because of basketball, your Daddy James, your red hair, and simply a lot of people know your Dad," she said.

"Shit," Brett said.

"Didn't take that into account, did you?" Haley asked.

Brett shook her head, "No, I didn't," she said, "Why did Momma Chase come down so hard on me?"

"Your Momma Chase has gone to bat for you more than you know, as has your Daddy James. That's why she brought the hammer down on you. Your actions simply proved your Momma right and discredited everything Momma Chase did for you. Also, you did it on Momma Chase's watch," Haley said.

Brett nodded, "I see," she said, "But Daddy James?"

"He knows what you're going through," Haley said.

"How does he?" Brett asked.

"Try growing up in Los Angeles with both your parents famous and a known power couple," Haley said, "Your Daddy James used to say he couldn't fart without someone reporting on its scent."

Brett laughed, "Really?" she asked.

Haley nodded, "Yes, he did," she said.

"I take it, Uncle Brian didn't take it as well," Brett said.

"Not everyone takes things as well as others; based on their natural gifts," Haley said.

Brett nodded, "Where did Uncle Brian get it?" she asked.

"Sometimes, well, the wildness just gets passed down and lays dormant until fed," Haley said.

"So, he fed the wild wolf?" Brett asked.

"Yeah, that's one way to put it," Haley said.

"It still sucks being grounded," Brett said.

"Well, you deserved it," Haley said.

Brett shrugged, "I guess, but I had to try," she said.

"Everyone has to pull at the chain; it's how we grow," Haley said.

Brett shook her head, "I'm just at the end of my tether with my Momma," she said.

Haley chuckled.

"Why did you chuckle?" Brett asked.

"Tether, it's the same thing as I said," Haley said.

"How so?" Brett asked.

"How they use to train falcons, they would secure them to their perch and call them to the falconer, so they push it out, and well, you get it," Haley said.

"I guess," Brett said.

"Why is My Momma so strict with me?" Brett asked.

"I wish I could tell you, as I don't know the whole truth, Brett," Haley said.

"What do you know?" Brett asked.

"Not enough, Brett. I think though, a lot of why she is the way she is, well she got bullied, mainly because of her playing basketball, I don't know the rest," Haley said.

"Auntie Tall says a lot of it has to do with my Grandma," Brett said.

"I wasn't around for much of what is said to have gone on. But my understanding is your Momma and Grandma haven't talked since your Momma was your age," Haley said.

"What do you know about my Momma's family?" Brett asked.

"Well, growing up, she had an aunt, uncle, and cousin in Bear Creek," Haley said.

"I, I think, I remember them, and I think, occasionally, my Momma talks to them," Brett said.

"Well, I also know growing up, here in Tree Hill, she had her parents and an older sister," Haley said, "I know none of them attended your Momma's wedding to your Daddy James."

"I wonder why?" Brett asked.

"I don't know, and it's none of my business," Haley said.

"It's just not fair, she's so strict with me, and I hardly do anything," Brett said.

"The Absolution stunt proves that false," Haley said.

"Once, just once, I stepped out of line," Brett said.

"That you got caught doing," Haley said.

"What?" Brett asked.

"The one time you stepped out of line and got caught," Haley said.

"Yeah, well," Brett said, "Weren't you a teacher?"

Haley nodded, "Yeah, when I left music, I went on to teach in LA. In my spare time before teaching, I got my master's degree from Stamford. When I moved here, I taught for a while; then, I had the opportunity which turned into my current job," she said.

"Do you regret any of it?" Brett asked.

"No, I don't regret anything," Haley said, and sighed, "Even the bad, they're the things that make us."

Brett nodded as her Mom joined them on the bleachers. Ashlyn looked at Brett and Haley.

"Hey, what'cha Y'all chatting about?" Ashlyn asked.

"Just the songs of innocence and experience," Haley said.

"Not Blake, again," Ashlyn said and rolled her eyes.

"More the U2 Albums," Brett said.

"Blake influences the names of the albums," Ashlyn said.

"Oh," Brett said.

"Game's starting," Haley said, ending the brewing argument.