The Color of Us (College Bound Book 2) by Laura Ward, Christine Manzari Page B

of his boot. He stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans and walked over to me, staring at the ground.
    I waited, but he remained silent. “Okay, what is it then? What changed?” I took a step closer to him, and he lifted his gaze to meet my eyes. The distant bad-boy look was gone. In its place was a mask of indifference that had been cracked. I could see sadness gathering at the edges of his eyes, his mouth.
    “I’m not good… for you,” he said. “Not good enough for you.”
    Liam’s words were jagged. They hurt my heart. I rubbed again at my chest. “That’s not true. I know we just met, but I’ve felt stronger around you than I’ve felt with anyone besides Sam. That’s good for me.” Liam shook his head, but I kept talking. “You listen to me like no one else does. You don’t hear the answers you expect, you listen to what I’m actually saying. I like being around you. I… need to be around you, Liam. I can’t explain why, but I do. I feel like I’m finally starting to heal.”
    He shook his head and moved around me. “Sorry. I can’t be what you need, Alexis. Forget you know me.” He spoke low and harsh as he passed me and walked back into the building. I stared after him, letting his message seep into every aching piece of my heart.
    Forget I know him? Impossible.
    ***
    Sunlight shined through the window onto my mirror in my bedroom, casting a rainbow streak across my wall. I lay on my bed looking at the colors, trying not to think of the boy in black.
    See the rainbow, Sam? It makes me think of you. I bet heaven is full of the beginnings of a million rainbows with you there. God, I miss you.
    I had taken my driver’s ed exam a few hours ago, easily passing the joke of a test. Liam had been the first one finished, and he had turned in his test without waiting to see if he passed. I, on the other hand, knew that my grade would be the first question out of my mom’s mouth when she picked me up. When I finally escaped, a tiny part of me thought he might be waiting outside. I hoped he’d at least say good-bye.
    But he was gone.
    “Alexis?” My father knocked as he opened my door and peered inside.
    “Hey, Dad.” I smiled and sat up, patting the bed next to me.
    Sam’s death had taken a physical toll on him. Her loss had affected each of us deeply but differently. My mom was withdrawn and angry. Losing her daughter pissed her off. It made sense. I was angry too. But she never wanted to talk about the accident or the way she felt.
    Dad, on the other hand, was an open book. He cried often and wanted to talk about Sam all the time. Physically, though, he scared me. He had lost weight, was always pale, and his eyes looked sunken. I understood his physical pain. I felt it too. Still, he worried me.
    Dad wrapped an arm around my shoulders and kissed the top of my head. “How are you, sweet girl?”
    “I’m okay. How are you?” I rested my head on his shoulder and relaxed into his hug and familiar scent. Dad had worn the same cologne since I could remember. It was spicy and woodsy and would always be the smell I associated with him.
    Dad looked down at me with a small smile. “Tired. Just tired. I heard you passed your driver’s ed test. Congratulations, honey.” He knew how badly I wanted to skip that class, but he also knew Mom was right. I had to learn to drive at some point. And going away to college without a driver’s license would have been embarrassing and unsafe.
    “Thanks, but don’t congratulate me yet. I still have to pass the road test.” I groaned as he chuckled at me.
    “Want me to take you out tomorrow to practice?” Dad asked.
    Liam. Warmth filled me at the memory of his patient instruction. I had been so nervous, and he calmed me right down. Empowered me.
    “No, I’m good, Dad. Thanks though.”
    Dad stood up and kissed my head again. “I’m proud of you. You’re pushing through. Sam would be proud of you too.” His voice cracked, and he rubbed at his eyes.