You’re a natural sharpshooter.”
“Didn’t discover that until I enlisted, but photography…” I turned away and
stared at the ceiling before continuing. “I got my first camera right before I started high school, right after Kelsey and I moved in with the Ardens.” At the
mention of my family, grief intruded. I kept my attention on the conversation.
“Your foster parents?”
“My parents,” I corrected softly. “Becca and Carl Arden were the only
parents I’ve ever had.”
My past rose and it took a second before I could continue. “Carl had a friend,
Eric, who would stop by and visit. Every time he came, he had a camera. He would traipse through Oak Canyon, taking picture after picture. I’d sneak out and follow, trying not to be seen.” I smiled at the memory of stalking Eric through the high-desert terrain. “After a couple of weeks, he started handing me
the camera, giving me pointers. I was hooked.”
“Your parents didn’t mind you tagging after their friend?”
My grin sharpened at the suspicion in his question. “Eric served under Carl
when he first joined the marines. Kept in him one piece, Carl used to say before
giving a huff and changing the subject. When I enlisted, Eric said it was his turn
to keep Carl’s daughter in one piece.”
Understanding dawned. “Flash?”
I nodded, grateful to Kayden for reminding me of better times. “Yeah, he was
a good soldier, but he was an even better artist with his camera. I learned a lot
from him.”
“So, you joined the marines because of Carl and Flash?”
I opened my mouth, and then closed it, really thinking about his question.
Had I?
Yeah, probably.
The Ardens saved me, taking me in when no one else would, and I wanted to
repay their belief in me. Before they came into the picture, I learned early on just how fucked the world could be. Seeing the world through my eyes left me on the
brink of insanity. In an effort not to get committed, I kept my mouth shut. Most
times. Only once had I broken my silence. Although when I did, it eventually led
me to Kelsey, then the Ardens, the road there was a massive bitch.
My time in school didn’t fare much better, my grades were meh, and friends
were non-existent. Through photography, I found a way to watch the world from
behind the safety of a lens. The camera allowed me to be part of the crowd and
yet still keep my distance. The only time I set the camera down was with Kelsey,
Becca, and Carl.
Even with the achingly familiar rapport rising between Kayden and I, old
habits die hard. I couldn’t share that with Kayden, not now. Too many broken promises stood between us, so instead, I went with a different answer. “Maybe, a
little, but honestly, it was because of the GI Bill. With my grades, scholarships
weren’t an option. Serve four years with the marines and get a free education. At
the time, it sounded good.” Needing the spotlight off of me, I turned it around.
“How about you? How’d you get into the Corps?”
“Did it on a dare.”
