The Bad Boy Effect

Chapter 3: Hey, It's Not Illegal To Miss My Best Friend

 I decide to go over to Meagan's house. I need girl time and I know that it'll definitely allow me to forget about my predicament for a while at least. I walk up to her porch and knock on her door. The door opens and I'm about to smile until I realize her older brother is the one who opened it.

Don't get me wrong, I don't really have a problem with Liam. I mean he's only about two years older, and it's hard to believe they're related since he looks nothing like Meagan. While Meagan has dark red hair and hazel eyes, he has sandy blonde hair and bright green eyes. He's definitely a babe magnet, but I don't really see him like that. Although I can't say the same thing for his view about me.

"Hey Emma," he says coolly with a wide grin. Most girls would swoon, but I've known him since I was young so it doesn't really have the same effect on me.

"Hey Liam," I smile. "Is Meagan here?"

"Yeah she's upstairs. Come on in."

"Thanks." I smile, trying to ignore the emotion in his eyes which I know is something more than friendly.

I walk in and head straight upstairs, getting away from Liam as fast as I can. Even though it's been a day, it feels like I haven't seen Meagan in years. I open her door and tackle her when I see her on the bed. She screams at first, but it quickly turns into a laugh when she realizes that it's me.

"Emma, get off!" she giggles, and I giggle with her.

"Hey, it's not illegal to miss my bestfriend, is it?" I grin.

"No, but maybe if I have a talk with my dad he can make it illegal." she says jokingly. Her dad, Deputy Collins, is the Sheriff for the smalltown that I call my home. Okay, well Santa Monica isn't small, but whatever. He's actually the head Sheriff in the SMPD.

"Whatever," I laugh at her. "You love it and you know it."

"Mhm, sure." she grins. "So what brings you by stranger?"

"I've just missed my best friend." I sigh.

She cocks her head at me, and I know I'm about to get the full investigation of Detective Collins.

"What's going on?" she asks.

"Nothing!" I say instantly, and I know I've given it away.

"You know, you're a really bad liar Emma." she chuckles, but then her serious face is back.

"Is it your parents again?" she asks softly. I sigh.

My parents aren't exactly in a happy marriage right now. Dad is staying at work a lot more often now, and mom... well, she isn't taking it easily. Between antidepressants and alcohol, she's a mess. She feels like dad's having an affair even though I know better and so does my older brother, Cole. If she isn't drunk or high off the medicine, she is burying herself in her work.

She is working every day for hours on end at the hospital. Since it's Santa Monica, there is always something there for her to do. Although it's better than her other habits, it's still so unhealthy for her to be working fifteen hour shifts every day. Once she gets home, she takes some antidepressants, drinks one full bottle of wine, and then she's out. It's turned into a vicious cycle that Cole and I don't know how to stop.

When Dad gets home, mom is either at work or is passed out in her room with the door locked, so he spends most of his time in his study. He's working hard to get promoted to CEO of Tradesy, a big business that has really blown up within the last couple of years. Although since he's been working so hard, he's been going out of town a lot because of all the meetings. I know it sounds fishy, but dad would never do that to mom. After almost twenty-five years of marriage, you don't just fall out of love and give up on a person that easily. It's impossible.