Chapter 680: CLUB TRIC – Basketball
Monday, March 13th, Afternoon
The big screen changed images to the field house at Tree Hill High School. It moved from an empty gym to one during a basketball game. The screen settled on an empty gym, and the camera panned up to the banner and focused on the championship banner that was won Brian's first year. He was on the team that won that championship.
Nathan Scott adjusted himself in his chair. He wondered where she was going with this. Was Felicia going to blame how Brian turned out on the basketball game? Nathan squeezed Haley's hang tighter.
"Tree Hill, North Carolina, is a coastal city in New Hanover County, and even though it has many houses of worship, the collective religion is basketball. In the land of Michael Jordan, I believe Spike Lee put it best in his movie He Got Game; The Father, the Son, and the holy game. Brian Scott moved from Los Angeles to Tree Hill and found himself where his father and grandfather's name hung in the gym. In his first year, he attended Tree Hill High School; no less than four other family members played basketball on the boys' and girls' teams. His uncle coached the girl's team. This was the world a fourteen-year-old Brian Scott walked into," Felicia's voice-over said.
James appeared on the screen. Nathan noted that his oldest was looking nervous. The question must have been uncomfortable. "When we got to Tree Hill, I knew Brian was having trouble fitting in. I had already met Ashlyn by this time, so I talked Brian into going out for basketball," James said.
The screen showed several images of Brian playing basketball. There were several of him on the bench and even one on the River Court with Kay, Ellie, Trin, and Gabi. Brian was the only boy in that group; it must have been his junior year, as Ellie was there. Nathan knew it was Ellie because of her buzz-cut hair, which was starting to grow back.
Trin appeared on the screen.
"What was this boy draft?" Felicia asked.
"Some custom where the cheerleaders picked which boy was theirs for the year," Trin said.
"You picked Brian," Felicia said.
"Yes, I was asked to," Trin said.
The screen changed to Ashlyn sitting in her office. She looked at the camera.
"I only got to watch Brian play one year. He was good from what I remember," Ashlyn said.
More images of Brian in high school appeared. Nathan could remember some of them, others he couldn't. There were several of Brian with various basketball teams.
One image caught Nathan's attention; it must have been Brian's junior year. It was Brian and Gabi standing next to each other. Brian wore his practice gear; Gabi wore her typical skater punk style. Gabi had Brian's letterman jacket over her shoulders, and Brian had his arm over Gabi's shoulders.
"During this time, Brian would meet two young women, both cheerleaders, who would play a big part in his life. A strong-willed brunette named Trinity Adams, and a fiery redhead named Gabrielle Vincent. They would be a big part of his life in and after high school," Felicia's voice-over said.
Nathan noticed the screen changed and showed the waters of the Pacific and the beach. To Nathan, it looked like the beach cities. His belief was confirmed when Doctor Candace "Candi" Scott, MD, FAAP.
"Brian seemed to grow into himself," Candi said, "As he gained more confidence in himself, be it basketball, or music, you could just tell."
The screen changed again as Nathan watched it. It was a short video of Brian on the river Court. He was spinning the ball on the tip of his finger. Brian smiled and looked at the camera.
"What are you doing, Gabi?" Brian asked.
"Recording a video," Gabi said off-screen.
"With your phone?" Brian asked.
"Yeah, it's a new thing," Gabi said.
Nathan was holding back tears from seeing the video. He had never seen that video before; it must have come from Rachel. From the look of it, Brian must have been a senior; that was when Gabi mostly went to community college and worked several retail jobs. Nathan remembered that year.
Another home video was posted at the outdoor pool at Beaulieu Manor. Brian was sitting poolside with Trin on his side. Brian looked at Trin and smiled.
"How's my cheerleader?" Brian asked.
"I'm good; how's my baller?" Trin asked.
"I'm awesome," Brian said.
"I thought he was my baller," Gabi said from behind the camera.
"Not this year," Trin said.
Ellie came into view behind them. Nathan noticed it was when Ellie returned to school full-time. Ellie's hair was long enough to be styled in a pageboy haircut.
"I think you need to cool," Ellie said, pushing Trin into the pool. Trin went in the water without much of a splash. Brian turned to Ellie.
"What was that all about?" Brian asked.
"You need to cool down too," Ellie said and pushed Brian in, which caused a bigger splash.
"Way to go, Ellie!" Gabi called from behind the camera.
Nathan smiled and shook his head. It was nice to see the kids so innocent. They were now jaded and almost thirty years old. Amazing before Brian went on tour after he graduated high school. Gabi would go with him and Mental Lapse.
Was that video when Brian started to lose his innocence? Nathan wondered how much of Brian's life was lived in the open and in front of the camera. What was Brian like at home with Gabi? Was Brian a good dad to Lennon, Lacy, and Darren? Did Brian even have a relationship with his oldest son, Wyatt?
Nathan couldn't answer these questions and had to wait as the screen changed. This time Nathan appeared on the screen. Nathan wondered what part of his interview would appear on the screen.
"After James went to college, Brian started not to pay attention to the game. By the end of his time in high school, he was in a new band and was disengaged from basketball," Nathan said.