Chapter 706: Tree Hill High School
Thursday, March 16th, Morning
The weekend was close at hand but not near enough, but she could see the difference in the students as she walked through the hallways toward her office. She reflected that Fashion and music might change, but students didn't change. She remembered sitting in Honors English talking about As You Like It and how Shakespeare knew students, probably from his own experience at Grammar School. She could see it, so true, in the hallways at Tree Hill High School, The whining schoolboy, with his satchel and shining morning face, creeping like snail unwillingly to school.
Ashlyn Pierce-Scott paused to watch the students. Many of this mob were her charges in guidance. Her job was to counsel them on how to get to where they wanted to go. She sighed and wondered how many she had failed, but on the other side of the coin, how many had she helped?
In the crowd, Ashlyn could see bright ginger hair. On a tall young woman, that only meant it was her oldest daughter, Brett Pierce-Burke. Brett was at her dad's this week, so this was one of the few times she saw her. In mere months Brett would move to South Bend, Indiana, to attend the University of Notre Dame and play Division I basketball. Ashlyn, in some ways, already missed Brett.
Ashlyn noticed Gareth Rueter walking by, his ever-present beanie cap on. She should tell him to remove his hat, but she didn't. He's been through enough already, and he did kick Jackin Rothenburg's ass. Ashlyn knew that Jackin needed some sense knocked into him, but she would never say it out loud at school. She severely cheered on Gareth, but he seemed to keep to himself more now that he had returned from suspension.
Speaking of Jackin, one of his sidekicks had just walked by. Keir Hammels is probably the one she heard the most rumors about. Several girls have mentioned he has a silver forked tongue. It was just rumored, and no one complained so Ashlyn couldn't act on any of it. She took it upon herself to warn any new freshman and sophomore girls about him; hopefully, the rumor mill spread it enough through the existing student body.
Ashlyn noticed no Noah Adams. His cousin, Shay, asked if he had been attending school this week. He hadn't since Monday. Ashlyn felt for Noah, one of her best friend's half-brother. She knew what it was like to be the shunned sibling. Ashlyn also knew not to cross Chase Burke, her co-parenting partner for Brett. Chase had married Ashlyn's ex so was Brett's cool stepmom. Ashlyn knew in some convoluted way she was a closer relation to Izzy, Chase's sister, but she knew not to cross Chase.
A young blonde freshman girl walked by next; she was tall for a girl. Callista Ashe was a quiet freshman girl that seemed to want to avoid any attention. Callista wasn't a problem and got decent grades, so this being a public school, she was easily overlooked. That was a sad state but a truth nonetheless. Ashlyn wondered about the sadness in the girl's eyes.
Speaking of trouble, Ashlyn thought, the Kilpatrick sisters were walking down the halls. The state was moving slowly on them, but Marie seemed to have them squared away. Ashlyn remembered fighting with Connie Kilpatrick, she wanted to take auto shop, but she was not the right age or school year. In fact, her three older sisters had taken auto shop. Ashlyn heard that Wendy Kilpatrick was an excellent welder as well. Ashlyn was involved with Wendy whenever she got caught smoking on school property. Something about this group of girls and trouble was that they were never far apart.
Ashlyn next noticed Shannon Rothenburg, the cheer captain, walking down the hallway. As most days, Shannon was followed by Joce Allen-Travis. It's like a puppy dog following its owner; maybe Shannon could teach Joce to heel. It's like that old cartoon where the little dog annoyed the bigger dog.
High school was nothing but a pool of drama. A soap opera brought to life. Part of it is you lock a bunch of young people who are searching for who they are, have a chip on their shoulder, and hormones out of control together for eight-plus hours a day. Ashlyn wondered if whoever the idea was should have been shot. She remembered a line in a movie about public school; If I can keep the girls off the pole and the boys off the pipe, I get a bonus. Ashlyn just shook her head and wondered about her life and how she bonded with Karen Hargrove later in life over their similar high school experience. The principal didn't get a bonus from Ashlyn's account.
Ashlyn chuckled as she saw the tall blonde teacher, Dr. Cassidy Shayla "Shay" O'Brien. The history teacher was headed off to her room in the history wing. Ashlyn graduated with Shay O'Brien and came in second only to Huck Burke in class standings. Shay's teaching in the New Hanover County School District was sort of the family business, as her mom was also an administrator in the district, Hoggard High in Wilmington, Ashlyn believed. Shay's a good teacher, can't hold anything against her.
With a sigh, Ashlyn moved to The Commons and looked over the students. Ashlyn remembered sitting here with Angela and Ashton before school and during lunch. The rest of the basketball team would eventually join them. Those were the days, and Ashlyn wondered if the kids in The Commons understood they had the easiest time in their life; their parents looked after them.
From across The Commons, Ashlyn saw Lucas's youngest, Sawyer. Lucas was not only Ashlyn's best friend's older brother, her high school basketball coach, her husband's uncle, and her mentor. This made Ashlyn want to keep an eye on Sawyer. Sawyer was born around when Ashlyn graduated high school; ironically, they both returned here fifteen years later.
Ashlyn studied Sawyer from a distance, and something didn't seem right. Sawyer usually spent her time before school in the field house. As always, she dressed nicely, but her colors were muted. Also, Sawyer went for a dark eye instead of her usual subdue makeup. What didn't seem right was she had a regular backpack instead of her typical TARDIS backpack. Sawyer also seemed distracted.
"Mrs. Pierce-Scott," a soft voice said.
Ashlyn turned to see LK standing next to her. Lydia Karen "LK" Scott was Sawyer's age and cousin, also Ashlyn's sister-in-law. It took a long time to have LK call her the right name at the right place and time.
"Yes, LK," Ashlyn said.
"I think Sassy is broken," LK said, using Saywer's long-since abandoned childhood nickname. LK was the only one allowed to call Sawyer by it now.
"Why do you think she's broken?" Ashlyn asked.
LK never makes eye contact; that was just her quirky nature, and she was rather fidgety. "Well, Sassy isn't Sassy," LK said.
"What do you mean?" Ashlyn asked.
"Different makeup, clothes, and no TARDIS," LK said.
Ashlyn nodded, "I noticed that, too," she said.
"Sassy hadn't been Sassy since the party," LK said.
"What happened at the party?" Ashlyn asked.
"I don't know, I ate too much Jell-o, but Keni said Sassy went off with Keir," LK said.
"Keir Hammels?" Ashlyn asked.
LK nodded as the passing bell rang. "I have to go to class," she said.
"Thanks, LK," Ashlyn said.
LK nodded and walked away. Leaving Ashlyn wondering something about Sawyer.