Chapter 358: Tree Hill Hall

Thursday, February 2nd, Afternoon (Eastern Standard Time)

Today his mom was busy, so Wyatt went to his aunt's place at Tree Hill Hall. Wyatt found Tree Hill Hall very different from Beaulieu Manor. His grandma's property was sprawling and open, but his Aunt Chase's house, while big, it was smaller than Beaulieu and located in the woods.

Wyatt wasn't alone today, Jess came with him, but her mom had picked her for something at the high school. Once primary school finished, Wyatt's Burke cousins came home, ending the loneliness that Wyatt felt after Jess left. Aunt Chase gave them a snack and sent them to the playroom. Wyatt had been starting to distract her from her work.

In the playroom, Wyatt found himself in a corner with PJ. Wyatt was just about a month older than PJ, and in some strange way, they became close, no matter how little they saw of each other. Wyatt felt closer to PJ than Lennon, his brother.

"So, how are you enjoying your visit?" PJ asked.

Wyatt shrugged, "I guess it's been okay," he said.

"You miss your home?" PJ asked.

Wyatt nodded, "Yeah, I do," he said.

"Is it something or someone?" PJ asked.

"I don't know," Wyatt said, with a shrug, "Maybe both."

PJ smiled, "It's okay, Wyatt," she said.

"Thanks," Wyatt said.

"You're welcome," PJ said, "Momma has been getting on me to say you're welcome. Anyway, Is your mom still trying to get you to do other things?"

Wyatt nodded, "She's been hinting for me to take up a sport," he said.

"You're a Scott, so she probably means basketball," PJ said.

"Yeah, well…" Wyatt said.

"I don't think you're the basketball type," PJ said.

Wyatt nodded, "Yeah, I'm not a big fan of playing basketball," he said, "I don't even know the positions in basketball."

"You should take up tennis or soccer for a team sport," PJ said.

Wyatt nodded, "Yeah," he said and looked over two where the others were playing.

"Why are you so down?" PJ asked.

"I just don't feel; too much like a part of the family," Wyatt said.

"You're part of the family," PJ said.

"But I', not into basketball," Wyatt said.

"So, BB doesn't like basketball; she's part of the family," PJ said.

"I don't know, PJ," Wyatt said.

PJ shrugged, "So, you're no into basketball, so what? You have other things your good at," she said.

"Such as?" Wyatt asked.

"Well, you helped me with my outfit for Christmas," PJ said.

"I do that all the time for Auntie Fallon," Wyatt said.

"Yeah, but Wyatt, you helped me understand things that Momma told me," PJ said.

"Well, Auntie Chase doesn't seem to be fashionable," Wyatt said.

"You would think that, but when she dresses up, she's fashionable," PJ said.

Wyatt shrugged his shoulders and made a minor sound.

"Don't believe me?" PJ asked.

"Just haven't seen it," Wyatt said.

"You know my mom and Auntie Izzy were models for Grammy Brooke," PJ said.

Wyatt looked at his cousin, "I heard that," he said.

"What are you talking about?" a young voice asked and plopped down between them. PJ and Wyatt looked at a raven-haired eight-year-old, PJ's baby sister, Bridget Brooke "BB" Burke.

"Talking about Momma and basketball," PJ said.

"Momma doesn't play basketball," BB said.

"That's what we were talking about," Wyatt said.

"Well, you know," BB said.

"What do we know, BB?" PJ asked.

"Well, I don't know; it just sounded smart," BB said.

"Don't try to sound smart," PJ said.

"Peej, that's not fair to BB," Keelan "Key" Burke, PJ's middle sister, said and came over.

"I meant…" PJ started to say.

"So, what is everyone talking about," Colin "Col" Burke, the baby and only boy of the Burke kids, asked as he came over to join the rest of the kids instead of being left alone.

"PJ being PJ," Key said.

"Oh," Col said and sat down, leaving just Key standing. "Did you put your foot in your mouth again, PJ?" he asked.

"No," PJ said.

"Yes," Key said.

"Aunt Bobbi says I'm just the outspoken young lady that I am," PJ said.

"Right," Key said.

"Whatever, Key," PJ said.

"You're just mad that we're in the same grade," Key said.

"Well, I should be in the same grade as Lennon," PJ said.

"Well, you're not," Key said.

"Cut off date," PJ said and shook her head.

Wyatt shook his head, "Well, we all do things," he said.

"Things, such as what, Wye?" Key asked.

"Putting one's foot into their mouth," Wyatt said.

Key shrugged, "I guess you're right," she said.

PJ nodded, "Thanks for standing up for me," she said.

"Sure," Wyatt said.

"So, Wye, you were telling PJ about what?" Key asked.

"Auntie Trin wants Wyatt to take up a sport," PJ said.

"Wyatt, you're taking up basketball?" Key asked.

PJ laughed, "Right," she said.

"What's so funny, PJ?" Key asked.

"Wyatt doesn't know the positions in basketball," PJ said.

"So? I don't know the positions in basketball," BB said.

"You don't play basketball or show interest in the game," Key said, "But, Wyatt, you don't know the game?"

"No, I don't, just not interested in the game," Wyatt said.

"But you said you go to basketball games," Key said.

"I do," Wyatt said.

"Why?" Key asked.

"Because I get to see my Uncle James," Wyatt said.

Key nodded. Wyatt looked to PJ. "Maybe I should take up tennis," Wyatt said.

PJ nodded, "Maybe," she said.

All the kids nodded.