Chapter 551: Raleigh

Saturday, February 25th, Evening

As the crowd started to disperse after the game ended, she walked down the stairs of the bleachers. Slowly, she walked toward the gym's wood floor as she walked toward the door. About halfway to the door, she saw someone standing to the side. She noted the young man was looking at her, more than likely waiting for her.

Shay nodded, took a deep breath, and kept walking. When she came to him, he was about to say something. Shay held up a hand.

"Save it until we're outside," Shay said.

He nodded and followed her outside the school. Shay kept walking outside until they were alone. Finally, Shay stopped and looked at the young man. He nodded and looked at her.

"We can talk here," Shay said.

"What's with all the secrecy?" he asked.

"We might be cousins, but I have to remain neutral," Shay said.

"Why?" he asked.

"I am friends with several of them," Shay said.

"Yet they don't know about your connections," he said.

"Don't try to be a smart ass; I'm better at it than you," Shay said.

"So, you say," he said.

"Why are you here?" Shay asked.

"To watch a basketball game and watch the local team win," he said.

"Bullshit, you're here to see if they show up," Shay said.

He nodded, "Yeah, you're right," he said.

"They don't always show up, and what you're doing is called stalking," Shay said.

"What are you trying to say?" he asked.

"You're breaking the law," Shay said.

"Oh!" he said.

"Yeah, oh, haven't thought about it, have you?" Shay asked.

"No, I haven't," he said.

"Maybe, just maybe, you should think about your actions," Shay said.

"Maybe, I should," he said.

"I heard you approached one of the younger members of the family," Shay said.,

He nodded, "I did," he said.

"Why drag it that far out of the way?" Shay asked.

"It felt like the only way to make the connection," he said.

"Or scare them off," Shay said.

"Oh, I didn't think of that," he said.

Shay shook her head, "Maybe, you should start thinking about what you're doing," Shay said.

"I guess so," he said.

Shay shook her head, "How are you getting home?" she asked.

"My Mom is picking me up. Why do you ask?" he asked.

"I was going to offer you a ride home," Shay said.

"Oh, yeah, no problem, my mom was nearby shopping or something," he said.

"Or something?" Shay asked.

"Yeah, I don't know what she's doing with her free time," he said.

"Okay, so, what is with this need to connect?" Shay asked.

He sighed, "Well, have you ever felt like you're missing a connection with family?" he asked.

"No, I have no siblings, so, you know," Shay said.

"So, you don't understand," he said.

"I get it, I do get it, but you're forgetting something," Shay said.

"What's that?" he asked.

"They chose not to associate with you and your family," Shay said.

"Why?" he asked.

"That I don't have an answer for," Shay said.

A car pulled up to the nearby curb. The window of the driver's side rolled down. The driver peeked out the window, and the car was put into park. The driver got out and looked at Shay and her companion.

Shay looked at the driver. The woman was not quite as tall as Shay but had the same light sandy brown hair. She wore ripped jeans and a worn X-Games t-shirt. There were several ear piercings per ear and her nose and eyebrow. Her shoes were Vans.

"Cassidy," The Driver said.

Shay winced at the sound of her seldom-used first name. Very few people called her by it, mainly family. Shay's first name came from her godmother, he mom's best friend. She preferred Shay, from her middle name Shayla, because she hated being called Cassie.

"Aunt Kris," Shay said.

"I didn't expect to see you here," Aunt Kris said.

"Wanted to root on my students, and well, guess who cornered me to talk. Sort of an ad-hoc family reunion," Shay said.

Aunt Kris smiled, "It's good to see cousins connecting. I'm surprised Flannery isn't out here," she said.

"She's taking the team bus home," Shay said.

"Speaking of my little niece, did she play much tonight?" Aunt Kris asked.

"No, they played more of Eva Lopez tonight," Shay said.

"Was JF here? How about Jack?" Aunt Kris asked.

"No, Uncle JF nor my dad made the trip," Shay said.

"Well, give your Auntie a hug," Aunt Kris said.

Shay sighed, "Okay," she said, and they hugged.

Once they separated, Aunt Kris looked at Shay. "Well, Cassidy, please tell your dad I said hi," Aunt Kris said.

"I will," Shay said.

Aunt Kris turned to Shay's companion. "Come on, Noah, we have a long drive," Aunt Kris said.

"Yes, Mom," Noah said and followed behind Aunt Kris.

Shay watched as her Aunt, the youngest of her grandparent's three kids and only daughter, drove off. Shaking her head, it was that often she got to see Kristen Adams, nee O'Brien. Shay turned to walk to her car; she knew some family members didn't like Kristen, ever since she left college to follow the X-Game Tour, or how she met her husband, Chase Adams, on tour, or how he was married and older than her; but Shay had to admit Kristen was always interesting.