The Hollywood Effect by Marin Harlock Read Free Book Online

movies, and get out of here. I’m getting kinda restless when I know I’m stuck here. If you were’t here, I’d probably spend all day in my PJ’s and not even brush my hair and binge watch some TV show and not even think about going outside... but now that I can’t, I want to leave.”  
    “Yeah, I know the feeling,” Liam said with a little huff.  
    We were silent for a few moments, watching the cartoons on the TV.  
    "Oh, fuck it,” Liam said suddenly.
    I looked over at him as he stood up. “What?”
    “Let’s go. Screw them. They know I’m here now, there’s no helping that. They can follow us if they want to. Let’s go up to the cemetery and say hi to Grant, and your mum. I’ll go to Mum and Dad’s after to give you some peace.”
    “You don’t have to...”  
    “Nah, it’s okay. I should go see them anyway. Charlie’s coming down today as well. Mini family reunion.”  
    “Oh, cool. All right, let me get ready. I want to look nice if my photo’s going to be splashed around.” I groaned. “Damn it. I don’t want to go to school on Monday. My students are gonna have a field day. I was already being quizzed about you on Friday. Now there’s bloody pictures of us together and unspeakable insinuations! Ugh.” I threw my hands up in the air in only half-mocked despair.  
    “Sorry about that...”
    “Not your fault, I suppose. Really. It’s that damn Matt Rivers. Slimy bastard. What was he even DOING there anyway?! Despicable man.” I shook myself and headed into my room. I found a nice pair of jeans that I knew made my butt look nice, and sorted through a pile of shirts. After deliberating for a few minutes I settled on a fitted pale blue shirt. I spent a bit more time than usual on my make-up - I wiped off the first attempt after Liam came in, laughed, and said I looked more like I was going to Vegas than a cemetery. “I normally just put some mascara on! I have no idea what I’m doing!” I protested.  
    “Well then, just put your mascara on. I like you with not much make up on. You look real,” he said. I felt myself start to blush.  
    “How do I look?” I asked as I stepped out of the bathroom for the second time.  
    “Lovely,” he said. “How about me?”  
    I looked him up and down. Jeans and a casual T-shirt, yet he still looked like a million dollars.  
    “You’ll do,” I said with a slight smirk that I tried to hide.  
    “Shall we go? Does that shop on the main street still sell flowers?” Liam asked.  
    “Yeah, I think so.”
    “Okay. Let’s run the gauntlet.”
    I checked myself in the hallway mirror one last time and tucked a stray curl into place. I looked okay. Maybe even nice. Nothing on Holly Monroe though, I couldn’t help but think, and as that nasty online blog couldn’t help but point out. I should really stay away from them.  
    “Ready?” Liam turned back and asked me.  
    “As ready as I’ll ever be,” I said. He opened the door and we stepped out into the sunlight. I looked out over the sea of photographers in bewilderment. I’d always thought Tarang was a safe place. Usually when Liam came home it was an escape for him. Not this time.  
    We both headed for my little car, parked in the driveway. Liam surprised me by grabbing my hand. I looked at him questioningly, but he just smirked.  
    “What was that?” I asked as we got into the car. He just shrugged.  
    “Something for them to write about,” he laughed humourlessly.  
    “Liam Alexander Burns, are you trying to use me to make Holly jealous?” I demanded as I put my seatbelt on and started the car.  
    “No! I...”
    I turned to him and gave him my ‘look’ that I usually reserved for students who were trying to tell me they forgot their USB at home but they swore they’d done the assignment. At least they’d moved on from ‘the dog ate my homework’ excuse…
    “Well... maybe. Sorry.”
    “So you should be.” I reversed slowly out the driveway, paranoid that