Chapter 9
AN - Hi, firstly I would like to apologize for the very late update, I've been very busy with college (damn those Sociology essays) I'm coming up to half term next week so hopefully I can get back on top of my work and updates will become more regular. Anyway that you all for the reviews, favourites and subscriptions for the last chapter, it means the world to me. I hope you enjoy the next chapter. Thanks.
janereid - Thank you for the review. Scott does seem to have a bit of a vibe doesn't he? This chapter will be exploring that a bit more and Meghan's reaction to it. I really hope you enjoy and thanks again for the review.
tannerose5 - Thanks for the review, yeah she does seem to be putting herself in line for a big fall. But she is a only a teenager and teenagers do some dumb stuff, especially for guys haha. I really hope Meghan will get some sense soon, but you'll just have to see. Thanks again for the review.
Lexis4MorganPrentiss - Thanks for the review. I'm really glad you are enjoying the story so far. Meghan does seem to be getting deeper and deeper into trouble, she's smart so maybe she'll find a way out of it. Thanks again for the review.
CriminalMindsLover08 - Thanks for the review. I think Emily knows Meghan is still quite volatile with her and I think she still wants to be Meghan's friend, which means not telling Spencer about things. I can't remember how much I put in about the other team, other than some stuff towards the end. Thanks again for the reviews and I really hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
Meghan put her phone back in her pocket and walked into the crowded room looking for Scott. He had taken her to some kind of gathering with all these different people and was collecting money off them. Meghan couldn't work out what for. The people seemed to vary in age, some people looking around hers and Scott's age to people around Rossi's age. At one point Meghan had pulled Scott aside to ask what he was doing here. He had simply replied he was doing business and collecting favours; leaving Meghan in an even darker picture.
Scott's eyes met hers. His silhouette moved slowly towards her. The low lighting cast a shadow over half his body making his movements seem almost sinister. Finally he met her in the corner of the room.
"Who was that?" Scott asked.
"Emily. She was phoning to see where I was." Meghan replied.
Scott's face flashed with panic. "What did you tell her?"
Meghan smiled, "Relax, I told her I was at school."
"Did she buy it?"
Meghan nodded. "She didn't question it."
Scott's expression eased. "So I'm nearly done here."
Meghan looked around the room: stale smoke lingering from all the tobacco mixed in with the smell of alcohol. The size of the room they were in told her it was a warehouse of some kind, there was dull lighting making the whole place darker; although the smoke probably didn't help. "Why are you here again?" Meghan asked.
Scott smiled. "I told you business."
"What kind?"
"Has any one ever told you, you ask way too many questions." Scott teased.
"Yeah, so do you mind answering my question?"
Scott kissed her forehead. "I do collections for these guys and they owed me money."
"What kind of collections?"
"The kind that don't require this many questions." Scott replied signalling the end of the discussion. He pulled a cigarette from his pocket. "Do you have a light?"
"I don't smoke." Meghan replied.
"Oh yeah," Scott picked up a lighter from off a table and sauntered back to Meghan. He held out a cigarette to her. "Want one?"
Meghan looked from Scott to the cigarette and then back to Scott. "Umm I don't…"
"Okay. Suit yourself." Scott shrugged. He put the cigarette back in his pocket.
"Scott," A voice chimed to him.
"James." Scott smiled, "This is my girlfriend Meghan."
Meghan gave James an awkward wave.
James gave an approving nod. "She's pretty."
"Yeah she is." Scott agreed.
"I have a little something for you." James began. "I know you said you were looking for some extra cash." James slipped something into Scott's pocket. "We can go sixty, forty on it. And keep a little extra for yourself." James slipped more into Scott's hand.
"Fifty, fifty." Scott replied.
"This is dangerous for me. Sixty, forty." James argued.
"I'm the one that has to sell it, fifty five, forty five." Scott bargained.
James thought for a moment. "You drive a hard bargain…"
"But it's a good thing I'm good." Scott interjected.
James smiled, "It is. You have a deal; phone me when you're rid of it all."
"Will do," Scott nodded.
James walked off towards the group of people. Scott turned around to face Meghan: meeting her confused look.
"What?" Scott asked.
Meghan looked at him in almost shock. "Did he just give you a bag full of drugs?"
"No, he gave me some weed."
"That's drugs."
"Hardly. So what's your problem?"
Meghan let her jaw drop slightly. "Are you going to use it?"
Scott smiled at her. "That's why he gave it to me."
Meghan bit her lip. "He gave you it to sell didn't he?"
Scott shook his head. "No I sell something else for him."
"What?" Meghan demanded.
Scott stroked her arm. "Nothing for you to worry about."
"Scott." Meghan warned.
Scott took her hand and sighed. "Maybe we should talk."
"Yeah, I think we should." Meghan replied harshly.
XXX
Scott and Meghan sat quietly in an empty park. The climbing frame seemed to be taking a breather from having kids climb over it all day. Meghan sat slowly swinging as she watched Scott pacing around in front of her: searching for a way to start explaining to her. A few times he seemed to stop and then he started pacing again: Running a frantic hand through his hair.
"Scott, just tell me."
Scott stopped and looked at her: His face conveying a thousand and one emotions. "You'll hate me."
Meghan raised an eyebrow. "Try me."
Scott gave her a small smile; he walked over to the swing next to her. "After my brother died, my dad walked out on me and my mom." Scott tried to breath through the memories. "My mom has suffered from bad depression and she hasn't been able to work and I've had to keep the house and look after her all by myself." He stopped when he felt Meghan giving his hand an affectionate squeeze, as if she was willing him to carry on. "I didn't want to call anyone for help because they'd take her away from me. So I started selling stuff around my school, to make extra cash. I found I was pretty good at it. I looked for bigger people to sell things too, I found that people would give me things and then I'd sell them on." He noted Meghan's sympathetic expression. "It started out as burnt music and copies of unreleased games and movies, but people started to let me deal out more and to run errands for them. My clients pay for me and my mom, the bigger the pay the more risky the job." Scott explained, letting out a shuddery breath.
Meghan looked at him cautiously for a moment before asking a question she half knew the answer to. "What kind of things do you sell now?"
"Umm, I sell… please don't hate me… I sell narcotics."
Meghan quickly pulled her hand away from him. "You sell narcotics."
"Meghan, this pays for my life. I'd be in care and my mom would be god knows where. I don't touch the stuff, I swear. Please don't hate me because of this." Scott pleaded.
Meghan knew exactly what she should do. She should run home as fast as she could and tell Emily and her dad exactly what Scott was doing, the position he was in… and then what he'd get arrested, get a record, and have the rest of his life ruined. Meghan looked at the desperate expression on his face. He'd have his life ruined for what? Trying to support his mother. "I-I don't hate you." Meghan replied.
"I get it you have to tell your dad. Don't worry about it. I can't expect you to keep this secret for me." Scott said in a deflated tone.
Meghan shook her head. "I won't tell."
Scott looked up at her in a shocked delight. "You won't?"
"No, I guess I understand to some extent. It sort of reminds me of my dad and his mom." Meghan replied.
"I bet he didn't sell drugs." Scott gave a bitter laugh.
"No, but he had to look after my grandmother on his own from a young age and I know he'd of done anything to keep her safe." Meghan reclaimed Scott's hand. "I guess what I'm saying is that you do what ever you have to do."
"I don't know what to say." Scott smiled.
Meghan got off her swing and walked over to Scott, she sat on his lap and gave him a quick on his lips. "You don't have to say anything."
Scott wrapped his arms around his waist. "You're amazing. I love you." He said without thinking.
Meghan looked at him shocked. Scott could visibly see her body sit up in attention.
"No, I didn't…" He was interrupted by a gentle and sweet kiss on his lips. He smiled at the contact closing his eyes. He moved his hand up her back so he was cradling her head.
Meghan slowly pulled away. She took a deep breath, knowing the last time she said those three words her heart got broke the same day. She knew Scott had a shady side, but he told her and to her surprise it didn't change how she felt. "I love you too."
Scott gave Meghan a shy smile. "You do?"
"Yeah I do."
Scott bit his lip thoughtfully. "Do you… Um do you wanna get out of here?"
Meghan met his eyes shyly. "Yeah,"
Scott met her lips in a gentle kiss, both giving each other a small hint of what was about to come.
XXX
Emily looked at the clock on the wall. Five forty five, Meghan had a really funny idea of timing. Emily was about to call when she heard the door open and close. Emily walked out of the living room to see Meghan leaning against the door looking extremely dazed.
"You're late home."
Meghan looked up at Emily. "Sorry. I was kept late."
"Right. Can I talk to you in the lounge?" Emily asked.
The sincerity in Emily's tone burst Meghan from her bubble. Quickly, Meghan lost her dazed happy expression as her face turned serious. "Sure, what's wrong?" Meghan asked following behind Emily.
Emily sat down on the sofa; Meghan took a seat on the chair opposite. "I got a call from your Principle today." Emily began.
"What did he want?" Meghan asked.
"To know where you were." Emily finished. She tried not to laugh at Meghan's fake look of surprise. "That may have worked on your dad, but not on me. So why were you skipping lessons?"
Meghan sighed. "I went out."
"Well I guessed that."
Meghan rolled her eyes. "It's not like I'm skipping subjects I want to do in the future."
"Meghan, your attendance goes on to your college application. If you seriously want to get into Yale then you need to work on that."
"I know that. I'm sorry." Meghan apologised.
"It's not me you need to apologise to. It's not my future I'm putting at risk." Emily replied.
"Okay, I'll stay in school." Meghan promised.
"I haven't told your dad about this, but if I get another call then I'm going to have to." Emily said to her.
Meghan sighed in relief. "Thank you."
Emily smiled. "So where were you?"
Meghan's smile widened. "With Scott."
Emily quickly thought of a way to delicately go about this subject. "You've skipped a lot of classes since you two got together."
Meghan rolled her eyes, "It's not just Scott I skip classes with. I go off with Stacey as well." Meghan defended Scott.
Emily ignored pointing out that bunking off was still bunking off no matter who she was with. "I know that some classes are boring to you."
"I don't just bunk off because I'm bored you know. I had a massive fight with Stacey today and Scott didn't want to skip school but I made him." Meghan half lied.
"You and Stacey had a fight?" Emily asked.
"Yeah, she was mad because I wanted to spend time with Scott."
"She doesn't seem like that kind of girl." Emily replied.
Meghan scoffed. "If I don't text her back she's like why didn't you text me back last night." Meghan shook her head. "She had a go at me and said I didn't give her enough attention and that I only had time for my drama." Meghan thought back to her argument with Stacey, those hurtful words about Emily. "She was yelling at me about you as well."
Emily looked surprised. "Why me?"
"Because she thinks I'm ungrateful and stuff. I don't care anyway; at least I know who my friends are now." Meghan answered.
Emily looked uncertain about Meghan's comment. According to Spencer, Stacey and Meghan were like sisters; joint at the hip. It seemed strange that Meghan would dismiss Stacey like that.
"Emily." Meghan said out of the silence.
Emily looked up to see a look of caution on Meghan's face. "Yeah?"
Meghan nervously twiddled her thumbs. "You know because you're like my mom and all… I can like tell you stuff, you know like between you and me."
Emily looked at Meghan in an almost amused way; she definitely had a touch of Spencer's awkwardness. "If you want to."
Meghan moved to the end of the sofa and faced Emily. "Scott and I… um me and Scott… we did it."
Emily couldn't stop her jaw from hitting the floor. For a minute she lost her voice. It was like being hit by a tidal wave of shock. She didn't seem to register Meghan's nervous face as she waited for Emily to say something… anything. She coughed to try and clear her throat. "Wh…what?" She said as calmly as possible.
Meghan rolled her eyes. "I had sex with Scott."
It sounded just as foreign to Emily as it had the first time. "Umm, When?" Emily asked still trying to wrap her head around the idea of her daughter having… she didn't even want to think about it. 'Come on Emily you're the adult here stop freaking out.' Emily said to herself.
"Today," Meghan mumbled.
"Oh." Emily was speechless.
"Do you know what, don't worry." Meghan stuttered, going red.
"No don't, sorry. It's just a bit of a shock." Emily replied. She took a breath to compose herself. "Were you… I have no idea what to ask you." Emily laughed shakily.
Meghan joined in slightly. "You're the adult."
"Um, were you safe?"
Meghan nodded.
"He didn't pressure you into it?" Emily asked seriously.
"No, he was really sweet and gentle." Meghan assured.
"How do you feel?" Emily asked.
Meghan smiled. "I don't know. I'm still kind of processing it… I feel okay though." She giggled slightly, "Really good actually."
Emily smiled. "Your first time should always be special and with someone who's special."
"I know and I love him."
"Yeah?" Emily asked.
"Yeah, I do. Everything with him feels different compared to Henry." Meghan explained.
"As long as you're being careful," Emily said.
Meghan smirked slightly. "Most people say as long as I'm happy."
"I can see you're happy." Emily replied.
"You're not going to tell dad about it are you?"
Emily shook her head. "If you don't want me to."
Meghan leaned over and gave her a hug. "Thank you."
XXX
Emily rolled over in her bed at the sound of someone walking into her room. She reached over and turned on the light. Blinking against the sudden harsh light she made out Spencer's form by the door.
"Sorry, I didn't want to wake you." Spencer apologised.
Emily sat up. "Don't worry. You're late home."
"We stayed a bit later to go over the case a bit more." He explained as he walked over the bed and grabbed his pyjama bottoms.
Emily watched him walk into the bathroom to change. She wandered whether she should tell him that Meghan had slept with Scott. She knew she promised Meghan, but she couldn't help but feel that it was something Spencer should know.
"You look deep in thought." Spencer smiled, causing Emily to jump at his sudden reappearance.
She gave him a small smile. "Thinking about something Meghan had said to me."
Spencer looked concerned for a minute. "What did she say?"
"She said she had a fight with Stacey today." Emily answered.
Spencer climbed into their bed, pulling Emily close to him. "They had a fight?"
Emily gave him a quick kiss. "Yeah,"
Spencer moved a bit of Emily's hair away from her face. "What about?"
"Stacey was upset about Meghan spending time with Scott." Emily noted Spencer's confusion. "What?" She asked.
"Are you sure that's what they fell out about?"
"That's what Meghan said: why?"
"That's not like Stacey. I know her and Meghan text a lot but Stacey likes her own space as well. She wouldn't be upset at Meghan spending more time with Scott than her." Spencer explained.
Emily shrugged. "Maybe she's jealous."
"I know Stacey relies on Meghan a lot. Her and her aunt have epic fights, Stacey must feel Meghan's ignoring her or something." Spencer mused.
"You think she feels abandoned by Meghan?"
"I'm not saying she has abandonment issues but I know that Meghan is usually always there for Stacey." Spencer replied.
Emily watched Spencer try to suppress a yawn. "You should get some sleep."
He smiled at her. "I just worry about Meghan."
"I know," Emily agreed.
Spencer thought for a moment. "What do you think of this boyfriend she's got?"
"I don't really know that much about him, other than what she's said." Emily replied. "Why?"
"I don't know whether it's because we already knew Henry…"
"But you feel suspicious of Scott?" Emily finished.
Spencer gave her a sheepish smile. "It's stupid isn't it?"
Emily shook her head. "I don't think so; maybe you should talk to her."
"How are you so good at this?" Spencer asked.
"At what?" Emily raised an eyebrow.
"Being a mom." Spencer simply replied.
Emily smiled. "I'm making it up as I go along, but thank you."
Spencer kissed her soundly. He pulled away and rested his forehead against hers. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Spencer gave her one last kiss before moving his head away from hers so he could get some sleep. "Goodnight."
"Night," Emily whispered.
Thanks for reading. What do you think now? What about Meghan and Emily's chat? Did you like it, hate it? What about Scott now? Do you think Meghan is going to walk away soon? Please let me know what you think.