Just Friends

15

Meghan's POV:
"Going to meet your new friend again?" Jack asked me as I headed for the garage door.

Last weekend I went up to Kettleman City to meet Calum's friend or girlfriend Madi, neither were specific on it. She and I got subway and talked for bit and have been texting a bit since. Calum thinks we could be great friends due to similar interests but I wasn't sure yet.

I trust Calum's judgement much I wanted to be one hundred percent sure of her.

Unfortunately that's not where I was going this afternoon. Since my first date with Connor when I smoked with Sammy, it's become somewhat of a regular thing especially since Jack found out that I'm still in love with Luke.

"No, I'm going for a walk. Be back soon." I lied. I hurried out the door and jogged out to Sammy's. As usual his door was unlocked and I walked right in.

He was already on his couch lighting up.

I pulled one out of the box and lit up before joining him on the couch.

"Meghan I still don't think you should be doing this. I think you're starting to get addicted." Sammy said." Jack and jack are okay with me being the way I am but you are their pride and joy. They will actually murder me if they found out."

"Sammy I'm not getting addicted. I smoke with you like once every week or couple days. It's not an everyday thing." I told him.

"After this I'm cutting you off and I'm telling jack. He's in charge of you and I don't like keeping shit from him." Sammy stated.

I rolled my eyes and drew the cigarette from my mouth and blew out the smoke.

"If you're cutting me off you have to as well." I told him.

"I'm an adult." Sammy replied." And I already bought the patches."

"Use them."

Before either of us could say anything the door swung open and jack walked in.

"Hey Sam have you noticed anything with Meg- What the fuck!" He screamed when he saw me.

I put it out and rose to my feet.

Jack picked my half finished cigarette up from the ashtray and held it up in front of my face." What the hell are you doing?! Meghan what the actual fuck!"

"Jack I-"

"And Sammy what were you thinking! I outa kill you! You let her smoke!" Jack yelled at Sammy before lunging at him. I held him back and yelled at him to stop.

"I forced him to let me smoke!" I said to jack, pushing him off.

"What the hell were you thinking! Are you out of your mind?!" Jack yelled at me." What could possibly possess you to take up smoking?"

"For the same reason that Sammy tatted smoking; I was heartbroken about Luke. I needed to fill this emptiness inside me and it fucking worked. So what I smoke every now and then when I get upset over Luke? Who cares?!" I yelled.

"I care! You are my responsibility and I'm not going to let smoke! You know the consequences this has on your body and I wouldn't be surprised if both of yours were rotting away as we speak." Jack exclaimed." Your brother, mother, father and anyone else who cares about you would have a stroke if they knew what was going on."

"First of all, don't bring my family into this and secondly you don't get it. I have been trying so fucking hard to keep myself sane for the past couple months despite me seeming so okay. This is the hardest shit I've ever had to go through and I haven't had that hard of a life and I'm only seventeen. There's this huge hole in my heart that nothing besides Luke could fill and the only thing that has come close is smoking. I wish it was something else, I really do but I can't fucking help it. I don't need it because I need the cigarette, I need it so I don't feel empty."

"I don't care what the reason is." Jack stated." I feel for you, I really do and you know I will always love you like a sister but I will not ever accept this for you. We need to find you something else that will help because I'm not letting you get addicted at seventeen. I'm not all that okay with Sammy doing it either but at least he's trying. I know he bought the patches and I know he hasn't started using them but he's taking baby steps."

"Maybe therapy would help. You have a lot blocked up and maybe talking to a professional about it would be helpful." Sammy suggested.

"I'll pay for it if that means you stop smoking." Jack said.

I thought about it for a moment." Fine."

"Good," jack said." Now let's go home. You're grounded; no internet for two weeks and no phone, tv, or hanging with Bridget or Izzy for a month. You'll come home, give me your phone, and stay in your room until then."

We walked back over to the house and I handed over my stuff. As I went upstairs jack went outside to talk to Jackjack, most likely to tell him about what happened.

I used the house phone to call Bridget, Connor, and Ashton to let them know that if they needed to reach me, call the house phone. I wouldn't tell them why but I wanted them to know that I was okay.