REECE
BN848
Disclaimer: The publicly recognized characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plots are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Be warned: It's a love story. It's bound to get cheesy. So smile and enjoy.
CHAPTER 1
He was most definitely the Clark Kent to Jake's Superman, but Reece Castle enjoyed the role. Six feet four, thin and all muscle, he did not fit the stereotype of a science nerd. Even in his chosen field, he at times was underestimated. But people seldom made that mistake twice.
The oldest of the twins, Reece was the calmer of the two. After a particular touchy prank their senior year of high school their father had commented he was the only reason they weren't in jail. Reece always had a way of bringing potential danger down a notch, and his parents knew it. It had also allowed him to get away with more than Jake.
He was finishing his Master's, had already been a contributor to published research and was teaching undergraduate classes. The sciences were once again in vogue, and Reece Castle was a rising star. He was lucky, he really didn't have to choose between advancing academically, and a job. His parents had been clear, advanced degrees were a noble pursuit and one they could afford to give their children. If they had the smarts and drive to pursue them, they could count on financial support and assistance. Nonetheless, a Ph.D. in his field would take years.
He had considered his choice of careers an expansion of his parent's inquisitive genes. He'd always enjoyed the unknown equations of space and science, but it wasn't until high school it had really peaked his interest. It had truly been an explosive revelation.
It was Presidents Day weekend. Their father was in San Francisco on a book tour and their mother had joined him. They would only be gone four days. Their grandmother would be staying over to watch them. They were to be on their best behavior. They were almost fourteen and expected to act accordingly. Reece and Jake had been warned to stay out of trouble.
Friday had been uneventful. They had gone to school, returning to find Grams relaxing. Lily was off to a friend's and Reece and Jake made a night of it playing video games. They had ordered pizza and stayed up until two. Grams had woken them at eleven the next morning. His parents had already called twice, seeking assurances they were still alive. By one o'clock they had grown bored and as the saying goes, "idle hands are the devil's workshop." Reece could not remember when he'd gotten the idea, but soon they had convinced their grandmother they needed to finish a school project in the garage. Martha had watched the twins walk across the yard and gone about her day of relaxation.
Last Christmas they had begged their father for a chemistry set. Santa had fulfilled their wish with an impressive, beginners set and a top of the line microscope. After they'd filled the house with smoke, their mother had relegated the set, and any future experiments, to the garage. Their aunt Lanie had provided some harmless compounds and lab slides for the microscope which had amused them for a while. Jake had soon grown tired of the new toy, but Reece remained fascinated. They had just started learning about the chemistry of matter and Reece was spellbound. Ninth grade science had captivated young Reece Castle. Between his love of space and a new fascination with chemistry, his fate was sealed. He would explore alien life matter… in space!