Unknown (The Secret Life of Cassie Martin #1)(27)

“Okay, here goes.” Parker stalls as he considers what he wants to say. “I was never a very active kid. I liked to read, play around on my computer, but my favorite pastime was science. I loved anything related to science. When the science fair came around, my experiment took up three tables.

“My teachers and parents were always complimenting me on my plans. For Christmas, birthdays, or whatever, I wanted chemistry sets or dissecting tools. I had no idea none of this was normal. I didn’t have many friends because I didn’t really think about it. I was always ready to start my next project.

“As I got older, my parents encouraged me to join some clubs. They knew better than to ask me to join any sports teams. In eighth grade, I started going to a few after-school clubs. I was lucky enough to make some great friends.” He smiles softly.

“By the time I made it to high school, I was involved in multiple science clubs and a few reading clubs. Because I wasn’t the most active person, I had become overweight. I was also much shorter than I am now. I might have been about five feet seven inches or so. I didn’t think much about it. My science friends accepted me, so I was happy with that.”

He still smiles, but his voice becomes quiet, a sure sign the rough part comes next. “My lab partner was really cute. She’d dyed her hair black, but it had pink highlights in it. She reminded me of one of the manga characters I liked. She was always extra friendly with me. When it came time for the Homecoming Dance, I decided to ask her. She said yes, which thrilled me to no end.”

He sounds sad now, and I want to tell him he doesn’t have to finish. Before I can, though, he picks up the story once more. “I had purchased the tickets, got a tux, and bought her a flower. We agreed to meet at the dance since neither of us could drive. We were going to meet over by the flagpole, so I asked my dad to drop me off at the door. I had gotten there early so I would be waiting for her when she showed up. About ten minutes later, she got out of a car and walked over to me. At first, I didn’t notice the guy behind her. She walked up to me and laughed.” Parker stops talking and takes a deep breath. I reach over and lace my fingers through his to let him knows he’s not alone.

Smiling at me, he continues. “Through her laughter, she said, ‘I didn’t think you’d show up. You really believed I would go to a dance with you? I doubt you could get five dance moves in before you collapsed. I was only ever nice to you because you were basically doing the chemistry homework for me. Loser.’ With that, she walked away and left me standing there.

“I sat down on the stone surrounding the flag and just cried. No one had ever been openly mean to me before. The rest of the year it got worse. I considered suicide, but Fallon was there for me. I’m surprised she didn’t go kick half the school’s ass for me.” The sadness fades from his voice as he talks about her; I’ll have to give Fallon a hug later for being a good sister.

“That summer, I grew four inches. That was also my first year here. My team lead was supportive and helped show me how the chemistry in food could work to my benefit. He took what I loved and used it to help me. Between the extra inches I grew, and my activity level that summer, I lost all the extra weight. I’ve grown about two more inches since then and not gained any back.” He finishes with pride in his voice.

I lean over and give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for sharing that with m—us,” I stumble, remembering we’re not alone. He looked at me or his hands through the entire story. “That was emotional, and we have three more to go.”

“Four! You have to share as well,” Jay reminds me.

“I was just counting the special people,” I joke. “You’re next.”

“I don’t want to hear any shit about you not being special.” He glares at me.

I’m glad he sits next to me because if his story’s as sad as Parker’s, I’m going to lose it.

Jay takes a deep breath as he thinks about what he is going to say. The muscle in his jaw flexes as he clenches and unclenches his teeth, wrestling with his inner demons as he decides if he wants to tell his story. With a sigh, he starts, “My dad’s a Navy SEAL, so we’ve lived all over the world but mostly in warmer climates. When I was nine, we moved to Colorado, so my dad could do a joint class with some other Special Forces units at the Air Force Academy.

“We weren’t used to the weather in Colorado, but we managed to get by. I was enjoying that year in school. I was able to hang out on campus and learn with some of the college students. My dad had me working out and taking martial arts lessons since the time I could walk. He taught me how to use lethal weapons as well as everyday objects as a self-defense means.

“All my weekdays were the same. I would take the bus to school, my mom would pick me up after-school and drop me off at the campus, I would do my homework in my dad’s office, and then I would spend the rest of the day working out and learning with his students. On weekends, my dad and I would go hunting, fishing, or hiking.” He tells the story in a flat tone like he’s detached himself from the story.

“We didn’t see my mom much. She was pregnant and didn’t want to go out in the cold if she didn’t have to, but she was happy sitting at home in front of the fire, reading her books.” A wistful smile graces Jay’s face temporarily before his expression goes blank again.