Read Online Scattered Colors by Jessica Prince - Free Book Online Page A

side as she said with curiosity, “You seem to be in a good mood. You haven’t been getting into any trouble, have you?”
    My head fell back with a loud laugh, and I pulled her into my side for a quick hug. “No trouble, Mom. I just had a good day.”
    “Well, I’m glad.” She stood on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on my cheek before going back to cooking. “Dinner’s almost ready, so go clean up.”
    I headed to my room with a newfound determination coursing through me. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I actually had a purpose.
    I was going to help bring Freya Linden back to life.

After watching the sunset with Parker, I spent the rest of the night filling out college applications before finally falling into a blissfully dreamless sleep, not waking until the next morning. I got ready for school feeling lighter than I had in months, and for the first time since moving to Sommerspoint, I didn’t carry dread at the thought of a new day the way I had before. My newfound friendship with Parker seemed to have lifted a little of the weight I’d been carrying on my chest for the past four months. As I stared out the back window at the early morning sun beaming down on the ocean, I felt a twinge of excitement. It was something I’d longed to feel since my mother passed but was afraid I’d never get back.
    It was strange, but agreeing to accept Parker’s friendship had been like opening a sealed window and breathing in fresh air for the first time in a long time. It was a relief. I couldn’t explain why he was able to evoke such strong feelings in me, but just like with every other emotion, the comfort I felt because of him was substantial. The decision I’d made to keep myself closed off was beginning to feel like a vise squeezing my chest until I couldn’t stand it. Since our move across the country, my life hadn’t gotten any better by keeping myself locked behind a thick wall. Maybe it was time to make some changes.
    “Well, someone’s looking chipper this morning,” Stella beamed as I walked up to my locker.
    I looked over at her with a smile that matched her typically cheerful one. “I had a good night.”
    She looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to expand on my statement. When I didn’t, she simply shrugged. “Well, I don’t know what happened to you before you got here, but I’m just glad you’re happy right now. You always look so…sad. Seeing you happy makes me happy.”
    I didn’t know if it was possible for Stella to get any more lovable than she already was, but she managed to push the envelope day after day. When she said things like that, I just wanted to squeeze her. We’d been friends for such a short amount of time, yet I couldn’t imagine not having her in my life. She was so genuine. I’d never met a girl with a bigger heart. Because her kindness was so sincere, I couldn’t help what I did next. I reached over and scooped her into a big hug and it felt terrific.
    “Well, this is a pleasant sight first thing in the morning.”
    Stella and I broke apart and looked up to see Parker coming toward us. His signature smirk was present on his pierced lips as he walked through the hall like he did everywhere else, like he was the ruler of everything. “Please, ladies, don’t stop on my account. I was enjoying that more than you know. Keep hugging. And if the mood strikes to throw a kiss in the mix, I’ll be more than happy to watch.”
    Stella giggled as I reached up and smacked Parker in the shoulder. “You seem awfully chipper,” I joked as he rubbed where I’d just hit.
    “What can I say? I had a good night,” he winked.
    “You, too?” Stella asked. “Freya came in all cheerful this morning saying she had a good night, also.”
    Parker’s grin got even wider as he looked at me, and I could feel my cheeks and the tips of my ears heating. Being fair-skinned and easy to blush was a curse. “Is that right, gorgeous?”
    I glared at him as soon as the