Those Little Things
1.) As a child, he was adored by his parents. Even when his powers began to surface and he started to shy away from human contact, his mother was always understanding and supportive and his father always proud of him.
It grew to mean everything to him, his parents' love. The fact that he had two people that loved him so unconditionally was what gave Bridge courage whenever things got too complicated and stressful.
2.) He started eating toast on a daily basis at the age of six. His grandma was staying with him while his mom and dad were away, and every morning there were two slices of heavily buttered toast next to his cereal bowl.
He had had toast before, of course, but there was just something special about the way his grandma made it.
He hadn't stopped eating toast since.
3.) When he was fifteen, he met a girl. Her name was Bailey, and she was his first love.
Bailey had long red hair that usually hung down her back in a thick braid. Her eyes were green and her skin was milky white. She had the most dazzling smile.
She approached him first, telling him that she thought he was cute. He had smiled back shyly, admitting that he had been interested in her for awhile.
Things were great. Bailey was smart and took interest in his inventions. She made him laugh, and didn't mind his toast obsession or that he rambled. Bailey did wonder about the gloves that he constantly wore, but he always managed to push the topic aside.
After six months, he told her his secret.
She never spoke to him again.
4.) It was his mother who suggested he try SPD. He had spent the summer between sophomore and junior years heartbroken over Bailey.
She brought him an information pamphlet, kindly telling him it was good to try new things.
5.) He wanted a change, and after a special meeting with the commander himself, Bridge made his life–altering decision.
He was at SPD training as a C–Squad cadet within the month.
6.) He had two teammates, Syd and Sky, and he didn't have to be psychic to tell they cared deeply for one another.
What he liked best about his teammates, though, was that they were different, just like he was.
He needed that because after Bailey, he was reluctant to trust anyone with the secret he harbored.
7.) The team dynamic was stressed. He often got a headache from the girls' petty bickering, and Sky's sulkiness and Jack's self doubts, the ones that he tried so, so hard to keep hidden.
But underneath all the yells and screams, between the make–ups and the next fight, Bridge knew they were family. Syd and Z were sisters, and if anyone were to ask Sky or Jack if he had a brother, the answer would have been yes.
That was how he knew that somehow, they would pull together and stand their ground. That was how he knew there was hope for the world.
8.) Z was so, so interesting to him. She didn't take any nonsense from anyone and always spoke her mind.
Bridge was sure that this was what attracted him to her in the first place. Later he noticed how pretty she was, but at first it was her spunk.
He admired that trait.
9.) He took Z home to meet his mother and father when they'd been dating for three months. At first, he worried about what his mom's reaction would be.
Amy Carson took to Z immediately, and that was important to both he and Z.
10.) Before he proposed, he asked Z's Uncle Max for permission. When Z said yes and hugged him, he admitted he participated in the old tradition.
It was the only time he had ever seen Z cry.