Chapter 751: Tree Hill High School
Friday, March 24th, Morning
He rolled up to the front steps of the high school. He powerslided to a stop then demounted and kicked his skateboard up into his hands. Taking a deep breath of the chilly early spring air, he nodded and headed towards the school.
Noah sighed as he opened the door, entering the Commons. Looking around the Commons, he noted people going about their business. Noah walked down one of the halls towards his locker. About down the hall towards his locker. About halfway to his locker, Noah was stopped by Dr. O'Brien.
"Noah," Dr. O'Brien said.
"Yes, Dr. O'Brien," Noah said.
"Are you going to put that skateboard in your locker?" Dr. O'Brien asked.
"That is where I'm heading," Noah said.
"Very well," Dr. O'Brien said.
Noah sighed and walked all the way to his locker. After a few moments, Noah unlocked his locker and put his skateboard in it. He sorted through his backpack and started to exchange books between the two. Closing his locker, he turned and saw Shannon standing there.
"Morning, Noah," Shannon said.
"Shannon," Noah said.
"How's your day going?" Shannon asked.
"Don't know, just started," Noah said.
"Well, I saw Dr. O'Brien hassling you," Shannon said.
Noah shrugged, "Just being protective," he said.
"Why do you say that?" Shannon asked.
"You do remember Dr. O'Brien is my cousin," Noah said.
"Oh, I thought you were also related to Keni Stafford," Shannon said.
Noah shook his head, "No, not Keni, Sawyer, yes, but not Keni," he said.
"How's that?" Shannon asked.
"Same way I'm related to Brett Pierce-Burke, it's based on who my sisters married," Noah said.
"Oh," Shannon said, "I think I do remember now."
"Yeah, think that little of me?" Noah asked.
"No, you have a complex family," Shannon said.
Noah shrugged, "You used to be able to keep it straight," he said.
"That was a long time ago," Shannon said.
"Less than three years ago," Noah said.
"It was a lifetime ago, at least, it feels that way," Shannon said.
"What happened to you?" Noah asked.
"What do you mean?" Shannon asked.
"I remember you talking about space camp, and I came back to school, our first day of high school, and well, look at you now," Noah said.
"My mom and aunt happened," Shannon said.
"Which aunt?" Noah asked.
"Aunt Lexy," Shannon said.
Noah sighed, "Of course it was Lexy," he said.
"Well, she did this whole thing with my mom, and well, here we are," Shannon said.
"Why?" Noah asked.
"Why what?" Shannon asked.
"Why the change? Why cheerleading? Why did you give in?" Noah asked.
Shannon shrugged, "My mom and aunts were all cheerleaders, and it felt like it was easier to go along than fight," she said.
"Why not fight?" Noah asked.
"Because, Noah, I was no longer invisible. People took notice of me, and sorry, not sorry, I like it," Shannon said.
"What? Why?" Noah asked.
Shannon sighed, "I was no longer this shadow, and I enjoyed the athletic challenge of cheerleading," she said.
"But you left me with no one," Noah said.
"The tide swept me away," Shannon said.
Noah shook his head, "Do you still want to do what we used to talk about?" he asked.
Shannon nodded, "Yes, I want to fly F-35s and also go to the moon," Shannon said.
"But cheerleading?" Noah asked.
"It looks good on college applications," Shannon said.
Noah nodded and saw Shannon's usual shadow, Joce Allen-Travis, walking down the hall. The shorter black-haired girl, dressed preppy under her winter jacket, had just a handbag and stopped beside Shannon. The doe-eyed girl looked at Noah with a steely stare.
"Shan, oh my god, you're in the hallway with an unpopular person," Joce said and laughed.
"Hi, Joce," Noah said, rolling his eyes.
"What do you want, Joce?" Shannon asked.
"The girls were wondering where you are," Joce said.
"That basically amounts to just you, as I am sure Alesha, Sawyer, and Keni are in the field house with the rest of the Isle," Shannon said.
"So, why are you talking to him? He's them. Do you need one of them to do your homework?" Joce asked.
"You just can't help with the running of your mouth, can you?" Shannon asked.
"What are you getting at, Shan?" Joce asked.
"Never mind, if you don't know now, you'll never," Shannon said, walking away.
Joce watched Shannon walk away. With a shrug, Joce looked at Noah. He shook his head at Joce.
"What did you do to piss her off?" Joce asked.
"Whatever, Joce," Noah said and walked away.
Joce snorted, "I wonder what got them all bent out of shape?" she asked, turned, and walked down the hall.