Chapter 664: 13:00
Sunday, March 12th, Afternoon
(Tree Hill Hall)
She leads her two friends up the stairs to the upper floor. Brett looked over her shoulder to see Baylee and Avril following close behind. Brett noticed that Tree Hill Hall was strangely quiet. They finally arrived at Brett's room and entered the room.
Brett threw her bags on the bed while Avril dropped onto the bed, looking up at the ceiling. Baylee took a seat at Brett's desk. Brett started going through her bags.
"So, what are we going to wear tonight?" Baylee asked.
"Clothes," Avril said, "I miss the stars on the ceiling."
"That was so long ago," Brett said.
"I know, but it was something to look at when I lay here," Avril said.
"Well, I think we should be dressed to impress," Baylee said.
"Who, Bay? My boyfriend is at military school. Garvan sees us every day, and you'll have Parker with you," Avril said.
Brett grunted and pushed her hair back. "You want to wear something nice, Bay?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'd like to look good for Parker," Baylee said.
"Most of my nice outfits are in the closet," Brett said.
"As in your Brooke Davis stuff?" Baylee asked.
Brett nodded, "Yeah," she said, "You want something to wear, AV, go ahead."
"Are you sure, B?" Avril asked.
"Yeah," Brett said.
"B, if we go dressed, so should you," Baylee said.
Brett snorted, "Whom do I have to impress?" she asked.
"Everyone, B, everyone," Baylee said.
Brett nodded, "Why?" she asked.
"Living well is the best revenge," Avril said.
"She's right," Baylee said.
Brett made a face, which changed to a smirk. "Sure, why not?" Brett said.
As Brett turned away from her friends, she heard a knock on her doorjamb. Brett turned to see Chase standing at the door. The redhead smiled at her brunette stepmother, walked over to her bag, pulled something out, and handed it to Chase.
"Happy Birthday, Momma Chase," Brett said.
"Oh, thanks, Brett, you didn't have to," Chase said.
"I wanted to, and I won't be home tonight if Daddy Huck had anything planned," Brett said.
"Oh, so what are you girls up to?" Chase asked.
Brett sighed and knew she couldn't lie to Chase again. "We're having a small get-together of friends at Nana Deb's beach house," Brett said.
Chase nodded, "A party, so how did you pull off the beach house?" she asked.
"I asked," Brett said.
Chase nodded, "Okay, be safe, and thank you," she said, holding up her small present.
"Mrs. Burke," Baylee said.
"Yes, Baylee?" Chase asked.
"Happy Birthday," Baylee said.
"Thanks, Baylee," Chase said.
"Happy Birthday, Mrs. Burke," Avril said.
"Thanks, Avril," Chase said, "Well, I'll let you do what y'all were doing."
Chase left the door, and Brett turned back to her friends.
"I know exactly what I want to wear, and it will drive Parker crazy," Baylee said and went to Brett's closet, which Brett smiled, and Avril just shrugged.
(Raven Hill)
He walked onto the basketball court, and a woman's basketball was tucked under his arm. He looked at the four kids with him, two ten-year-olds and two eleven years old; Nathan nodded and took in the four Lennon, Nomi, PJ, and Key.
"All right, are we ready?" Nathan asked.
"Yes," the four kids said.
"Okay, line up at the baseline," Nathan said.
"Why?" PJ asked.
"Quiet, PJ," Key said.
"PJ, am I going to have to club you?" Nomi asked.
"We're going to do dribbling drills," Nathan said.
"Again?" PJ asked.
"Yes, dribble right-handed to half court, without stopping, cross over to your left hand, to the opposite baseline, turn around, dribble to half court left-handed, switch to your right hand, and come to this baseline," Nathan said.
"How many times?" PJ asked.
"Until, I say," Nathan said.
"Cool," Lennon said.
"All right, let's get going," Nathan said, blowing his whistle. He watched as the four kids started working their way down the court. Lennon seemed to be handling it well, the girls were different, but Nathan had to remind himself that only some were ball handlers.
Nathan saw Cale Howard walk into the yard with a young girl.
"Mrs. James-Scott said we could come back," Cale said.
"No problem, Reverend," Nathan said, "How may I help y'all?"
"I was wondering if you want to take on another student," Cale said.
"This would be her?" Nathan asked.
"Yes," Cale said.
Nathan nodded, "Are you okay with my methods?" he asked.
Cale nodded, "Yes," he said.
"Do you want to do this, Miss?" Nathan asked.
"Amber, and yes," Amber said.
Nathan nodded and looked at Cale, "We'll give her a tryout, and if she likes it, she could stay," Nathan said.
Cale nodded, "That's all I ask," he said.
Nathan handed Amber the basketball from under his arm. "Dribble for me, please," he said, and Amber took the ball and dribbled it. Nathan nodded and watched.
(Beaulieu Manor)
After their return from Ironclad Records, Sawyer changed into comfortable clothes. She pulled her hair back into a messy bun and went to her streaming room. She started checking on her setup and looked at the clock.
Settling into her gaming chair, she pulled out her headset and hung them around her neck. Sawyer logged into the accounts she needed to and then looked over to the sofa. Keni looked back at her.
"What?" Sawyer asked.
"Kier Hammels?" Keni asked.
"He's best friends with a guy you rejected, got into a fight with Gareth, and freaked LK out," Keni said.
"That's Jackin and not Kier," Sawyer said.
"But if you get involved with Kier, Jackin is going to be around," Keni said.
"I'm not getting involved with Kier, I'm too young, and please, Keni, tell me you're not getting involved with that BS?" Sawyer asked.
"No, I just don't want you to get hurt, especially with someone like Kier Hammels," Keni said.
"Keir's not like that," Sawyer said.
"They're all like that," Keni said.
"Keni, don't be like this," Sawyer said.
Keni sighed, "I'm going to the kitchen; need anything?" she asked.
"No," Sawyer said.
Keni got up and left. Sawyer shook her head, started streaming, and pressed a button.
When the winger Hussars arrive.
"Good afternoon, and welcome to the stream. This is your girl RavenHussar here, and we're going to be playing tanks," Sawyer said to her viewers.
(Beaulieu Manor)
Keni walked out of Sawyer's media room and turned down the gallery. The LED lights in the gallery were set for daytime intensity. Shaking her head, Brooke and Fallon stopped Keni.
"Mom, Fallon," Keni said.
"What are you up to, Keni?" Fallon asked.
"I was going to the kitchen for a snack while Sawyer streams," Keni said.
"Is that all?" Fallon asked.
Keni shrugged, "Yeah, I guess that's it," she said.
"What about the party tonight?" Fallon asked.
"What about it?" Keni asked.
"Are you going?" Fallon asked.
Keni shrugged, "Sawyer wants to go, and I usually go with her," she said.
"You're fifteen, Keni," Fallon said.
"Duh! Fallon," Keni said.
"You need to be careful," Fallon said.
"Like you were in New York?" Keni asked.
"What? No! How do you know about that?" Fallon asked.
Keni shook her head, "We have sisters, and you partied with them," she said.
"Damnit!" Fallon said.
"Enough," Brooke said, "We've all done things, and it's a rite of passage."
"But, Brooke," Fallon said.
"No buts, let her be who she will be," Brooke said.
"Her safety?" Fallon asked, "How is she going to get there and back."
"I'm going to ask Mina to come in, drive the girls, and act like security," Brooke said.
"Mom, you don't have to," Keni said.
"How are you going to get there?" Brooke asked.
"Good point," Keni said.
"That will do," Fallon said.
Brooke nodded, "Keni, you can go," she said. Keni didn't hesitate and left.
(River Walk)
Noah found himself walking along the River Walk near downtown Tree Hill. The wind whistles up the river like it does every winter, but the colder air of this winter ripped at his clothing. He pulled his coat tighter and lowered his head into the wind. Occasionally, he would reach up and pull down his watch cap to cover his raw ears.
Somewhere along the way, Noah came upon a lone park bench that looked out over the river and the salt marshes on the other side. Sitting on the bench was a young woman, no more than fifteen or sixteen. He noticed her and her puffy, red-rimmed eyes; she seemed to be crying. Noah wasn't sure what he would do; he had his stuff that needed to be sorted out. Yet, in his heart and mind, he felt that this young woman needed something, just like he needed a friend.
Noah did something he would never have expected himself to do; he sat down. The young woman looked over at him. Noah changed his estimate and suspected this young woman was closer to being very young; he would estimate she was no older than a freshman.
"Is everything okay?" Noah asked.
"Why would you care?" she asked back.
"Because people should care about other people," Noah said.
"Why would you care? I'm a nobody," she said.
"You're not a nobody," Noah said, sighing, "Trust me."
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Noah, Noah Adams," Noah said.
She nodded, "Okay, Noah, Noah Adams," she said.
"You are?" Noah asked.
"Callista Ashe," she said weakly, "I like to be called Callie."
"Nice to meet you, Callie," Noah said, "So, what is bothering you?"
"Nothing you would care about," Callie said.
"Of course, I care, or I wouldn't have asked," Noah said.
Callie sighed, "Okay, I'll tell you," she said, "Are you sure?"
Noah asked, "Yes," he said, "I'm sure."
Callie nodded, "Well, you've been warned," she said.
"I can handle it," Noah said.
Callie nodded and looked down, "My girlfriend broke up with me," she said.
Noah nodded, "I'm sorry," he said.
"Thank you," Callie said.
"So, why are you here and not talking to your parents?" Noah asked.
"My parents don't know about her or me," Callie said.
Noah nodded, "Oh," he said, "Sorry."
"It's okay," Callie said.
Noah said, "Have you thought about telling them?" he asked.
Callie shook her head, "I can't, but I have thought about it," she said.
Noah nodded and wrapped his arm around her. "It's okay, Callie," he said.
"Why are you being nice to me?" Callie asked.
"Because everyone needs someone to be nice to them," Noah said.
Callie nodded and leaned against Noah's arm.