"A sky full of stars and he was staring at her."

~Atticus~

without Falcon by her side was almost unnatural. All it took was two nights and she was hooked on the warmth and feel of his body cradling her as she fell asleep. She was done for.

A knock on her door alerted her to Kendra's presence and said lady walked through the door, breakfast tray in hand as her eyes scanned the room.

"That boy of yours left already, did he?" She asked, almost disappointed.

Freya felt her lips turn into a pout as she nodded. Was it possible to miss someone this quickly?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the smell of scrambled eggs and bacon and her expression lightened as she clumsily jumped out of bed. She skipped over to the small table as Kendra pulled out the chair for her.

Freya sat herself down, heartily digging into the meal in front of her. Kendra busied herself with Freya's hair, collecting the stray hairs above her ears and twisting them around her head before pinning them to the back of her head with a bobby pin. A gentle smile grew on her face as she ran her fingers through the length of Freya's hair; she reminded Kendra so much of her own daughter that it brought tears to her eyes.

With a kiss to the crown of Freya's head, Kendra picked up the empty plate and cup, loading them onto the tray.

"Have a good day at school, love," She murmured softly before making her way out of the room.

"Thank you, Kendra," Freya chirped as she sprung up from the chair.

She dressed quickly, pulling on a pair of short, ripped overalls over a thin, pink button up hoodie. She finished with a pair of full white chuck taylors and nodded to herself in the mirror. She looked cute, she decided. Hopefully, Falcon liked cute.

By the time Freya had made her way downstairs and into the back seat of the car, there were a good twenty minutes before classes began and she couldn't help but feel excited at the possibility of spending a little time with Falcon that wasn't spent sneaking around or surrounded by other people.

She knew she should have felt scared, or at least a little cautious after seeing him practically strangle her one friend - well, not the only one anymore - against her bedroom wall, but she knew he wouldn't have done it without reason. The wounded puppy eyes he gave her afterwards helped a little as well.

Jon pulled into the parking lot, dropping her off near the doors of the school before saying his goodbyes and driving back out. Freya was a little disappointed when she realised that Falcon wasn't waiting out the front as usual, but brushed it off as her being earlier than usual. She took out the phone that she rarely used, figuring a text was more useful than aimlessly searching for him in the halls.

Once a few minutes past without a reply, Freya frowned in confusion but didn't let her worry overcome her yet. There were many possible reasons he hadn't answered. His phone could have died, he might be driving, he might be busy. She didn't want to jump to conclusions straight away.

A few more minutes passed and Freya's concern grew. He would have told her if he wasn't going to come today. Wouldn't he?

She glanced at the time; only two minutes left until classes began. She sent another text before heading inside.

Hours passed and Falcon still hadn't shown. Freya had sat through every single class with her phone clutched in her hand, hoping for any kind of message that would tell her he was alright. When lunch finally rolled around, Freya made her way outside where it was quiet, before pressing the call button on his number.

The dial tone sounded and Freya subconsciously held her breath as she waited.

By the fourth ring, Freya began to lose hope, and by the time the phone rang out, her heart had made its way into her throat as nerves overcame her. What was going on?

A familiar voice called out behind her but she paid no attention as frustrated tears clouded her eyes. She felt like a blubbering baby, all because of the possibility that something had happened to Falcon.

"Freya," There was that voice again. She knew who it belonged to, but she didn't want him, she wanted Falcon. "Freya, hey, I've been looking everywhere for you."

Freya tried to sniffle as discreetly as possible as she blinked her eyes to rid them of her tears. She plastered a smile on her face and turned to look at the boy.

Penn stood there with a shit-eating grin and darkening bruise around his neck. The last bruise he had received from Falcon a few days before had yet to completely heal and with its new companion, Penn was quite the sight.

Freya peered up at him through doe eyes and he stared at her for a second too long.

"Did you need something?" She asked softly.

Penn cleared his throat and smirked, stuffing his hands in the front of his slacks in a way to appear shier than he was.

"Yeah," He bit his bottom lip in contemplation, staring down at the tiny girl. "I was just wondering if you would like to go out sometime?"

Freya's face morphed into an expression of innocent confusion.

"Like, to get ice cream?" She had to admit, the thought of ice cream made her slightly happier even in her current predicament. But he had never phrased that question this way before. She wondered what had changed.

Penn's smile dropped slightly as he took a hand out of his pocket and ran it through his hair.

"Uh, no," He said awkwardly. "Like, go out, together. Like on a date."

Freya's eyes widened with understanding and she stayed silent for a moment.

"Please, Freya?" He almost pouted. "It would make me really happy."

Freya's brow scrunched up as she thought. She didn't like the idea of going out with Penn as something other than friends all that much.

"It would make your dad happy," The thought hit her the same time Penn said it.

It would make him happy, and he hadn't been happy with her for the past few days. But still, Freya hesitated. Was her father's happiness really worth it?

She felt bad that she even had to question it.

"Okay," Freya mumbled reluctantly.

"Great," Penn grinned. "We'll go after school."

She nodded half-heartedly as Penn said goodbye and retreated back inside the main building. She could only pray that this afternoon went quickly.

Penn wasn't the worst person on earth, Freya had to admit. He made decent jokes and, even though he once again made her order for herself, was nice enough that she didn't feel totally uncomfortable. Nothing beat the way she felt around Falcon, though.

Freya frowned in thought. He still hadn't answered any of her messages and she had sent several after the last time she attempted to call. No matter what the boy across from her said, nothing distracted her mind from the man who always seemed to occupy it.

"Freya?" Penn called to her as her mind, once again, wandered off somewhere far from the quaint little diner they were seated in.

She flushed in embarrassment and Penn nodded in acknowledgement of her unsaid apology before resuming his story.

"As I was saying," Penn said as Freya tried to concentrate on his words. "I had-"

No sooner had Freya's phone rang, than she had almost flung herself towards her bag on the seat next to her. She rifled through her belongings, grabbing the said object and impatiently pressing on the accept button.

"Sorry," She whispered to Penn unapologetically.

She got up from the table, making her way to the bathrooms as she spoke.

"Fa-Falcon?" She questioned quietly. "Falcon, whe-where are you? Are you okay?"

She heard a deep intake of breath, the sound shaky as if he was barely holding himself together.

"I'm okay, sweetheart," He cleared his throat, breathing deeply again. "I'm fine, I just-sorry, I didn't get your messages and it's just been a messed up day and-"

His voice broke at the end of his sentence, the sound sending a dagger straight through Freya's chest. He took another calming breath, letting out a pained groan.

"Falcon?" Freya almost whimpered as tears began to sting her eyes.

"I'm sorry, baby," He croaked, clearing his throat again before letting out a sniffle. "I'm fine, I promise, I just-do you think you could come to the hospital? You're the only person I can call right now, and I just-I really need someone."

Panic gripped Freya's heart as she took in his words.

"Hos-Hospital?" Her voice rose an octave. "Why are you there? Wha-what? I don't-"

"Angel," His voice sounded calmer now as he spoke to her. "I'm alright. It's not me that needed to be brought here. So, can you come?"

"Y-yeah," Freya rushed back out of the bathroom, grabbing her bag and running out of the diner without so much as a goodbye in Penn's direction. She could feel guilty about that later. "I'm coming."

She debated for a millisecond whether or not to call Jon, but she knew that would take far too long. Falcon needed her.

Her hands shook with nerves as she hailed a taxi. She hated doing things like this by herself, but she had to suck it up just this once. A cab stopped in front of her quicker than she had expected, but she wasted no time diving into the back seat.

"Th-the hospital on Cl-Clydesdale street, please," Her voice shook with uncertainty but she powered through, eager to get to Falcon as soon as possible.

Her knee bounced the entire ride as she fiddled with the straps of her overalls, her heart pounding a million miles an hour. The hospital. Why was he at the hospital?

Freya couldn't help but worry that he was only saying he was alright to calm her, which only set her mind off in a whole new direction of all the possible things that could have happened to him. She shook her head to rid herself of her new train of thought. He was alright; he had to be.

The taxi cab soon pulled into the front parking lot of the hospital and Freya all but threw the needed money in the middle aged man's face before racing into the building. She stopped short as soon as she entered the front doors, suddenly realising she had no clue where to go.

She dialed up Falcon's phone with shaky hands, placing the mobile to her ear as she looked around the sterile waiting room. The dialing stopped as Falcon answered and Freya was the first to speak.

"I'm here," She said in a small voice. "But I don't know where to go."

"I'll come get you," Was his only answer before he hung up.

Freya waited semi-patiently; the knowledge that he was at least able to come get her put her mind at ease slightly. She heard him before she saw him; the sound of his footsteps had somehow ingrained itself into her mind. She turned to face him but was met with his chest as his arms wrapped themselves around her small waist, crushing her further into his body.

His tense body seemed to relax as he instinctively curled himself around her, reveling in the heat she provided to his shockingly cold one. He let out a breath, nuzzling his face into her hair as she rubbed his back - at least, what she could reach.

"It's my dad," He said suddenly.

Freya didn't know how to respond, so she stayed quiet, squeezing him a little tighter with encouragement. He took in a breath before speaking again.

"I went back to the house this morning," He said, his voice holding a sliver of pain. "He hadn't moved. He was still on the floor and-"

He took in a shuddering breath.

"He wouldn't wake up," He held her closer as he continued with a softer voice. "I know I shouldn't care. I mean, he's always been an asshole, but after what he said to you-I shouldn't care whether he lives or dies, but I do. I really fucking do. He's all I got."

Falcon choked on the last few words, close to tears. He pulled back slightly to rest his forehead against Freya's.

"I'm sorry," He whispered. "I'm sorry I called you here. I just needed someone."

Freya moved her hands to his chest, playing with the collar of his shirt as she looked up at him with sad eyes.

"I know," She whispered back. "It's okay."

Falcon let out a breath, closing his eyes. They were silent for a moment as Freya mulled over his words.

"You're wrong," She said softly, causing Falcon's eyes to open in confusion. "He's not all you have. You have me too."

At her words, Falcon's bloodshot eyes began to fill with unshed tears and he held her face in his hands, pressing his lips together in an effort to control his urges.

They didn't disappear like they usually did after a moment, so, with a stomach full of nerves, Falcon whispered out a hurried, "fuck it," and crushed his lips against hers.