Scattered Colors by Jessica Prince Page B

want that. I’ve missed you.”
    He was off his barstool and wrapping me in a tight embrace before I could take a solid breath. Without hesitation, my arms went around his strong waist as I allowed myself to soak up the comfort he was offering me. It was a comfort I feared I was never going to get back. I squeezed him tightly, never wanting to let go. The familiarity of being in my father’s arms was a balm I’d needed desperately for so long.
    “I’ve missed you, too, baby girl,” he choked out. At the sound of the tears in his voice, my own finally broke free. “I’m so sorry, Freya. I can’t promise I won’t screw up again, but I swear to God, I’ll try my very best. You have my word, honey.”
    Taking a deep breath, I pulled in my father’s familiar scent and let it surround me like a blanket before finally leaning back and smiling up at him. “Better late than never. We’ll figure it out as we go.”
    His hands came up to form around my cheeks as his gaze darted back and forth between my eyes. “How’d you get so smart?”
    “Good genes, I guess.”
    “Oh, honey. That was all your mom. I can’t take credit for that. You two always did run circles around me.”
    As I looked up into my father’s smiling face, I began to think that maybe things were finally starting to get better.

    By the time I got to school later that morning, excitement coursed through my veins at the thought of seeing Parker again. I needed a chance to tell him just how much I appreciated him being there for me a few nights before. And I couldn’t wait to tell him about the breakthrough I had with my father. Things weren’t completely fixed with that one conversation, but it was a starting point and I wanted to share that with Parker.
    “Morning, sunshine!” Stella exclaimed loudly as I walked up to my locker and began the process of turning the dial and beating on the door to get it to open.
    “God, you really are a sickeningly sweet morning person, aren’t you? I’m not sure if we’ll be able to stay friends.”
    “Whatever. You know you love me,” she joked.
    We turned to head toward our English class when I noticed Parker walking down the hall in our direction. His head was down, a black hoodie pulled up masking part of his face, but I could still tell it was him. It was the way he walked that made him recognizable, even as he tried to remain discreet.
    I smiled as he got closer, a sense of elation at seeing him rushing through me. “Hey.” I reached out to touch him. The moment my hand came in contact with his, he flinched like he hadn’t heard me calling him. His head shot up as he pulled earbuds from his ears, screeching metal music raging through them so loud I was able to hear it from where I was standing. But that wasn’t what held my concern.
    “Oh, my God, are you okay?” I gasped as I noticed the angry blue and black bruise spread across his left cheek. The swollen, puffy skin on his cheekbone had been ripped open and was currently being held closed with two flimsy butterfly bandages. It looked horribly painful. “What happened?” I asked as I reached up to touch his injured cheek.
    He jerked away from my touch, grumbling, “Nothing.” He wouldn’t meet my gaze as he tried to walk past Stella and me.
    I reached for the sleeve of his hoodie and held on, refusing to let go until he talked to me. By the massive bruise on his face and his somber demeanor, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that something major had happened from the time he left my house to now. I felt an insane need to help him with whatever he was going through just then. He’d been there for me a few nights ago and I wanted to return to favor. But I needed him to talk to me first.
    “Stella, we’ll meet you in class.” Thankfully, she seemed to get the silent message I was trying to get across and began backing away. I needed a few minutes alone with Parker, and I had a feeling he wouldn’t open up to me if there