The Bad Boy Effect

Chapter 22: This Is Not The Lion King! I Am Not Simba!

*Heads up, somewhat sexual (if you consider making out sexual) content* 

I get home at about 7 p.m. Cole is sitting at the kitchen table when I walk in.

"Did you find your dress?" he asks. I nod my head.

"Yes sir! I'm in love with it." I grin.

"I'm glad." he smiles.

I set the dress on the back of the chair. I look at his face and I frown.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"Emma, why are you still dating this guy?" he asks. "How many times does he have to hurt you before you get the fact that he isn't good for you?"

I shake my head. "It wasn't his fault Cole. The girl was psychotic."

He chuckles. "Do you need anything before we leave?"

"I guess I do need to do a few things." I smile. I run up the stairs and into my bathroom. I touch up my makeup and then take my hair out of it's messy bun. It falls down into waves. I put a piece of mint gum in my mouth and then I walk back downstairs.

Cole slides his jacket on and grabs his keys.

"You ready, twerp?"

I grin. "Yes. Let's go."

Cole and I walk out and head towards his truck. It's his precious baby. He just got it about two months ago. It's a red 2016 Chevy Colorado, and it doesn't have a speck of dirt from what I can tell.

I have to literally climb my way in. I must have shrunk two inches or something or else the wheels are just super big. After a minute I finally climb all the way in. I close my door and buckle my seatbelt. Cole walks over and climbs in with easy grace. He chuckles a little at my annoyed look and then he buckles himself in and starts the truck. He pulls out of the driveway and we make our way towards the Santa Monica Airport.

I sit in the truck, staring at my phone. We got here at 7:30, and it's currently 8:45. I feel my heart quicken as the time gets closer and closer. I don't even realize that I'm absentmindedly tapping my fingers until Cole stops me.

"Calm down," he chuckles, but then he studies me.

"What?" I ask.

"You really like him, don't you?" Cole asks.

I slowly nod my head. "I do. A lot."

Cole sighs and runs his hand through his hair. "Even after the hell he put you through?"

"You mean what Kallie put me through." I correct him. Cole rolls his eyes and chuckles.

"You are so much like mom." he grins, but then it falters. Mom is a subject we sort of avoid, like how you try and avoid the flu, or that weird kid in science that has a jar for his toe nail clippings.

I look down at my phone and see it's 8:58.

"We should go. Arran is supposed to land any minute now."

Cole nods his head and we both get out of the truck. I walk towards the entrance of the airport and slowly head in. Cole is by my side soon and we walk over to the area for flight 278. I start to feel my heart flutter when I see all the people from the flight pouring out of the exit.

I stare and stare and stare. How many people were on this flight? I feel my heart start to slow down a little until I finally see him. In one piece. His brown hair still disheveled, his gray eyes still holding that spark of mischief in them. He's talking with his dad, a man in his mid forties or so who has the same color of hair as Arran. They have the same facial features; thin nose, square jaw, plump lips that are still somehow thin. He's almost the spitting image.