Unknown Beginning

Part 22

On the bus ride home Saturday night after another win, Kenny tapped Riley's shoulder, prompting Riley to slide her headphones off. "Did you still want me to come home with you for Thanksgiving this week?" Kenny asked.

"Yeah of course. I already told my parents. Plus my brother, Ben, wll be home from school too so you can properly meet him" Riley enthused.

"Ok just checking because Tyler said I could go home with him if your plans changed" Kenny explained.

"My plans haven't changed," Riley replied, working to hold back her annoyance. " I want you to come home with me and get to know my family".

"Hey" Kenny said, grabbing Riley's hand to give it a squeeze, "I said I will. I was just checking. Don't worry."

Grumpily, Riley put her headphones on as she gave an "uh huh" and turned her music back on.

Riley did not like where things were headed. Last she heard, Kenny and Tyler weren't official but it sure seemed to be heading that way despite Kenny's proclamations to stay single for the year. Not only that, but Riley was hurt that Kenny would potentially choose Tyler over her. Nothing about this situation was reassuring Riley.

Money and Tuesday dragged by as everyone was anticipating not having classes Wednesday through Friday for Thanksgiving. Riley assumed everyone would be going home or to someone else's home for Thanksgiving until James caught up with her after class Tuesday. James had asked if Riley wanted to meet up to work on their group project Wednesday or Friday and when Riley explained she would be going home, she saw James try to hide her disappointment. When Riley asked if James was going home at all James explained that her older sister, Ashley, wouldn't be home and she didn't want to be there alone with her Dad so she decided to stay on campus. Riley was feeling bad that she wouldn't be around but James told her that Kristen had invited her to her own family's big Thanksgiving so James could go there for the day. Unsure of how to respond since she was uncertain of where she stood with James, Riley had told James she and Kenny would be back Saturday morning before their 4 pm game that day and walked away feeling even more confused.

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When the girls arrived at Riley's house late Tuesday night, they found that Riley's mom had waited up to say hi but went to bed shortly after due to the late hour. Explaining to Kenny that she'd get a tour and better introductions tomorrow, they went to sleep, both in Riley's bed. The next morning Kenny awoke first to the smell of cinnamon buns filling the house. Checking her phone to make sure it was a reasonable hour first, Kenny reached over to gently wake Riley.

"Riles" Kenny whispered, "I think your mom made cinnamon buns".

"Mhmmmmm" Riley groaned sleepily.

"You gotta wake up so we can eat them" Kenny prompted.

"Nu uh" Riley hummed without opening her mouth or eyes.

"C'mon sleepyhead" Kenny tried again.

"Can eat cinbuns while sleep" came Riley's response, still not opening her eyes.

Kenny laughed "I doubt that but even if you can, I can't. And I don't know your family and I'm scared to go out there alone."

Groaning again, Riley mumbled "None of them bite. Promise."

"Rileyyy" Kenny whined.

Riley rolled over, smushing her face into the pillow so her voice came out muffled "Finneeee. I GUESS I can get up at the crack of dawn for you just so you can eat cinnamon buns."

"It's 9:30 am" Kenny said, exasperated. "Now let's go" as she pulled Riley into a sitting position and then standing as she led her out the bedroom door.

Still half asleep, Riley plopped into a chair and rested her head on her folded arms on the table. Kenny sat across from her as Riley's mom brought them each a cinnamon bun and said "Morning! How did you girls sleep?".

Riley only half listened as Kenny and her mom chatted before interjecting "You people do realize we could all still be sleeping, right?". Riley's mom, Michelle, and Kenny just laughed before continuing on with their conversation.

Twenty minutes later a six-foot boy with a lean athletic build, dark brown hair, and hazel eyes sauntered into the kitchen. Spotting Riley still resting her head on the kitchen table he said "Still not a morning person, I see" as he grabbed a plate of food.

"Well some of us were woken up hours ago" Riley replied moodily.

"Pretty sure I heard you guys get up less than thirty minutes ago but good to see your sense of time hasn't improved either" he laughed, taking a seat next to Riley.

From the kitchen where Kenny and Michelle were still chatting, Michelle said "Ben, this is Kenny. Or Kelsey. Which do you prefer hun?"

Kenny smiled "Either is fine. Riley is the only one who calls me Kenny but you all only know me through Riley so I don't mind either way."

Michelle returned the smile and continued "And this is my son, Ben."

Ben nodded at Kenny in acknowledgement between bites of food. Before any silence could fill the room, Kenny and Michelle resumed their work and talk in the kitchen.

Riley had finally sat up and was eating her own food now so Ben inquired "What's the deal with Kenny being here for Thanksgiving? You never gave me the full story." Ben knew about Kenny. He knew most everything about Riley and therefore about her friends. Ben and Riley were only eleven months apart and had grown up as best friends and practically twins. In fact, Ben was part of the reason Riley had started playing on boys teams and between the two of them, they were nearly unstoppable when they played together. Their bond permeated every aspect of their lives and also meant their lives were deeply entwined. Their connection was one of the reasons Riley had tried to go to school in Boston despite hating cities. Ben was currently a junior at Boston University for engineering and if Riley hadn't been encouraged so heavily to go to Harvard, she would most likely have followed Ben and lived with him. It had taken a herculean effort from almost everyone in Riley's life to get her to pass up following Ben. Little did they know at the time that she might have stayed in Boston if she had been with Ben instead of calling it quits on Boston and Division 1 athletics completely.

"Her parents are divorced and her older sister, Jessica, and their mom are living in California right now" Riley explained.

"And Kenny didn't want to visit them in California? Too expensive? What about her Dad?" Ben questioned.

"Her Dad still lives in Massachusetts, not far from where she grew up, but he has a new girlfriend that Kenny doesn't want to deal with right now. And it's not that she couldn't afford to go to California, her family has money, but it's complicated. Her sister is five years older but was always a source of drama in the family. And even though Kenny looked up to her growing up and they were pretty close, Kenny has started to realize the stress and damage Jessica caused and also some other shitty stuff she did" Riley told Ben.

"Like what?"

"Well basically as soon as Kenny went through puberty, Jessica would compare and analyze their bodies. Stuff like saying Kenny had a bigger nose or that her hair color was ugly or pointing out stomach fat. Stuff like that. Plus Jessica would fight with their Dad and Kenny would be the one to comfort her and would be told how bad and mean their Dad was. It tainted Kenny's relationship with her Dad to always see him as the bad guy. Then there was other indirect stuff like Jessica lying repeatedly or stealing or more regular stuff like drinking and smoking weed and cigarettes. But it all caused issues in the family and their Mom would cry and their Dad would get angry so Kenny learned to just be the good girl, you know? Not rock the boat. And then when their parents got divorced last year, Jessica and their Mom moved to California and Kenny doesn't know if it will be a permanent move or if they are coming back" Riley finished.

"Dang that's a lot." Ben agreed. "I can see why she'd want to just avoid all that".

"Yeah" Riley nodded" I figured some time with our family would be a good escape for her".

Ben agreed as they both turned to smile at their Dad, Brian, who had just entered the room saying "Morning, merry sunshine!"