Free Scattered Colors by Jessica Prince Page A

look. “I think that’s supposed to be Salisbury steak, but I can’t tell with all that goopy stuff on it.”
    “Really?” It was my turn to scrunch my nose as I pushed the tray away. She lifted her hands to take a bite of her sandwich. A turkey sandwich had never looked so good. I was starving, and there was no way I was eating that glob of meat-like substance in front of me.
    “Yeah,” Stella started when she caught me staring. “I’ve been telling you, you need to start bringing your lunch. When are you gonna listen to me?” Luckily, she took pity on me and tore her sandwich apart, offering me a half.
    “Thank you,” I said around a mouthful.
    “You’re welcome,” Stella said with a little giggle. We ate in silence for a few minutes before she placed her half of the sandwich down and leaned closer to me, whispering, “Everyone’s still staring at you.”
    “I noticed,” I responded dryly. “They stare every damn day. Seriously, this town needs to get some better entertainment. Having a new girl can’t possibly be that interesting.”
    I noticed her eyes widen slightly as her eyes cut up and over my shoulder. “I don’t think that’s why.”
    Just as I took another bite of my proffered meal, a tray dropped down onto the table right next to me, ringing loudly through the cafeteria and startling a jump from me. My head shot sideways just as Parker pulled out the chair at my side and plopped down.
    “Hey there, gorgeous,” he said with a devilish grin, that lip ring of his shining from the florescent lights above us.
    “What are you doing?” I asked in a hushed voice as I glanced around to notice our little table had garnered even more attention.
    “Eating lunch. What’s it look like? Hey, Stella, how’s it going?”
    “Uh…” was all she could come up with.
    Parker began digging into his meal, not the slightest bit uncomfortable with everyone staring and whispering or the fact that he was ingesting something that might actually sprout and grow in his stomach.
    “You don’t like the enchiladas?” he asked me around a mouthful of food.
    “That’s what that is?!” Stella squeaked.
    Parker shrugged casually as he shoveled another bite into his mouth. He seemed oblivious to the intense anxiety slowly starting to creep up in my chest, threatening to suffocate me. I needed everyone to stop staring.
    “Parker,” I hissed. “You can’t sit here.”
    He paused momentarily in his chewing, looking at me with wide eyes. “You going Mean Girls on me, sweetheart?”
    “No,” I huffed with a roll of my eyes. He grinned again and took another bite. “I just don’t like all the attention.” I twisted to face him head-on and spoke quietly. “Every single person in here is staring. Can you just go back to the table you usually sit at so everyone will mind their own damn business?”
    “Who cares what people think?”
    I grumbled angrily. “I don’t care what they think . I just don’t like them all whispering about me. It’s…unnerving. Like they’re just waiting to pounce or something.”
    He scoffed. “A little melodramatic, don’t you think?”
    “I don’t know about that,” Stella stated, twisting her little fingers together nervously. “Cassidy looks like her head’s about to pop.”
    Fantastic . “Just great. Are you trying to get my butt kicked, Parker?”
    “Cassidy’s an idiot,” he mumbled between bites. “You don’t need to worry about her.”
    “Well, that idiot’s walking over here right now with her minions in tow,” Stella told us. My back shot straight as the little hairs on my arms stood on end. I’d never been in a fight in my life. I felt confident enough that I could at least hold my own against one girl, but add in her posse and all bets were off. I wiped my sweaty palms on the legs of my jeans as they approached. I couldn’t bring myself to turn around as the sound of shuffling feet came to a stop right behind me.
    “Hey, Parker,” a high-pitched