Chapter 114: Coach Scott's Office

Thursday, January 5th, Evening

After practice, the coaching staff of the Tree Hill High School Girls' Varsity Basketball Team collected together in Coach Scott's office. Coach Scott took a seat behind his desk and his two assistants took a seat in the two chairs in front of his desk. They each had a notebook out and looked at each other. Finally, Coach Scott sighed.

"So, now that we've established all this is going to happen, and we know where everyone is, how are we on contacting everyone?" Lucas asked, reluctantly.

"I talked to Angela yesterday, and she's in," Ashlyn Pierce-Scott said.

"Mackenzie came to our last game to watch her niece play," Kiera Sinclair said, "I spoke to her and casually mentioned it, she's game."

Lucas smiled, "I've not had a doubt about Angela or Big Mack. I spoke to Ashton, and she's usually here anyways, and I know about you Ashlyn," Lucas Scott said.

"That's a good start," Kiera said.

"Kelly?" Ashlyn asked.

"We should firm up with her, but she's local and comes to watch Brett play," Lucas said.

"Who have we not gotten in contact with?" Ashlyn mused.

"Monica and Faith's family," Kiera said.

"So, we have only four possibly five solid yes responses?" Lucas asked.

"Pretty much," Kiera said.

Lucas clapped his hands together and rubbed them back and forth. "Okay, we need firm yeses, and noes from Kay, Monica, Jas, Anna, Faith's family, Cara, Devyn, Eva, and Kelly. So, I guess we need to get cracking," he said.

Kiera nodded, "I'll head over to the boy's side and use the phone there," she said.

"Okay, just remember we have to make ourselves available to the AV Department for this retrospective they're putting together," Lucas said.

"The horror," Ashlyn said.

"Let me know when," Kiera said.

"I will as soon as I know," Lucas said, "And Ashlyn go easy on yours. Remember, they're interviewing you as a past player and not a coach."

"I know that," Ashlyn said, as Kiera left the room.

Lucas nodded, "I was just asked to inform you," he said.

"Why are we reaching out to the girls? We're in season trying to reach the playoffs. Should the AD be doing this?" Ashlyn asked.

"The AD will be doing all the arrangements, but they want us to make the first contact," Lucas said.

"Again, why us?" Ashlyn asked.

"We have the relationship with the players," Lucas said, "That was their reasoning."

Ashlyn nodded, "Well knowing Angela, she won't need the AD to make arrangements to travel and stay here," she said.

Lucas nodded, "Knowing my sister and my mom, there will be a whole entourage because my mom will come down to also see Nomi and Ellis, Andy will probably join her, and so will Jessi," he said.

Ashlyn smiled, "I can see that; and it's Jess now," she said.

"What?" Lucas asked, confused.

"It's Jess now," Ashlyn said, "Jessi wants to be known as Jess now."

Lucas made a face, "Well, she should be old enough to start forming her own identity," he said.

"She and Nomi are about the same age, right?" Ashlyn asked.

"Jess, Nomi, and Key Burke were born with-in months of each other, it was a busy year," he said, with a laugh.

"Yeah, thank god, I didn't get pregnant with Maeghan than," Ashlyn said.

"Why do you say that?" Lucas asked.

"People would think we'd have a pregnancy pact," Ashlyn said, with a laugh.

Lucas nodded, "I see," he said.

"Are you excited about seeing your youngest niece again?" Ashlyn asked.

Lucas nodded, "Yeah, I miss seeing her, and with no books, in the works, I have little excuse to get up there as often as I like," he said.

"Still blocked?" Ashlyn asked.

"Blocked, unmotivated, uninspired, and I'm not sure if I have a story left to tell," Lucas said.

Ashlyn nodded, "I believe you told me once everyone has one story to tell," she said.

"Yeah, the story of their life, and I've been stretching mine into books since high school," Lucas said.

"Weren't the first ones issued on stone tablets?" Ashlyn asked, smiling proudly.

"No, papyrus," Lucas said, "Don't know if I'm ready to write about the last few years, anyways."

"You've always told me to complete the journey," Ashlyn said.

Lucas nodded, "That I have," he said, "Maybe it's not my journey to tell anymore."

"Then who's is it?" Ashlyn asked.

"Maybe no ones," Lucas said.

"I've never pegged you for a nihilist, Luke," Ashlyn said.

"Neither did I," Lucas said, "Until several years ago."

Ashlyn sighed, "Have you thought about talking to somebody about it?" she asked.

"Yes, but not seriously," Lucas said, and then checked his watch, "We need to do those follow-up calls, I'd like that wrapped up no later than tomorrow."

Ashlyn nodded, knowing the subject was changed, for now. "That I can do," she said and returned to her phone list.