I am Done
Chapter 13
Addison’s POV
Back to the Present at the Pool Party
Only Sam and her boyfriend Gage were the only ones not laughing at what Tripp and Alden were doing as they posed for me. How could they stand there and think it was funny? What happened today was terrifying and shameful. I tensed up at remembering how helpless I felt to have Tripp’s hand groping my breast and not being able to do anything about it. My stomach rolled in revulsion at the thought of it. I was infuriated that Alden had raised my shirt to look at my breasts as if he had the right to be able to do so.
All the hope I had been holding on to that Garrett would do what he said he would, was totally gone. He hadn’t meant any of it. It was just a ploy to sleep with me. I know now that it was all
an act, and that was what hurt me the most. I loved him, that is why I did it, but he never loved me. I felt sick at how I had been tricked. Seeing Garrett standing there, allowing Tammy to touch him so freely, made me cry even harder. The hot tears rolled down my face and gave no
sign of stopping.
I was terrified that Tripp or Alden would try to come over to my house after the pool party since they knew that I was utterly alone. I didn’t care if they saw me through the window now
or not. I was almost paralyzed with fear. I needed to be able to protect myself. So, the first
thing I did was set the alarm on the house using my phone. I was praying that Garrett and his
parents wouldn’t give their security code out. Surely they would do that to me, right?
I made a mental note to ensure I shoved the security bar under the front door handle. I just
don’t have the strength to go downstairs at the moment. I am sure I am weak because I have
not eaten today. I just wanted to get the tests over with first. I didn’t know how my day was
going to play out, or I wouldn’t have gone to school in the first place. I certainly hadn’t
expected this to happen. Not hot on the heels of just having lost my mother.
I knew I would be safe once the front door was secured. My mother bought two of them for
our safety–one for the back door and one for the front door to keep intruders from getting in.
The one for the back door was already in place. Since it was just me and Mom, she put a lot of
thought into keeping us both safe. They were easy to use, with the top part of the security bar
slid under the door handle and the bottom part had a rubber piece on the base that you kicked
forward into place.
It helped hold the door in place in case of an attempted break–in. My mother was not paranoid,
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I am Done
but she was meticulous about our safety. Cautious, if you will. It was only us here, and anyone scoping out the neighborhood would figure that out. She had once told me that after having lost my father, she refused to allow anything that could have been prevented to happen to me. After the alarm was set, I tore my eyes away from my phone and continued to watch them.
Bile rose in my throat at what they were both now doing. Tripp had gone down and looked like he was about to do a push–up before he changed it to act as if he were having s*x. He was now suggestively thrusting downward to simulate having s*x, all while he kept his eyes on my window. Not to be outdone, Alden was now doing the same thing. They were not being subtle
about it at all.
I heard Gage yell at Tripp to stop, but he just laughed and continued making his disgusting
movements. Did the rest of them now know what they had done to me this morning? How could any of them think that what they were doing was OK?
They kept on, but Tripp stopped his suggestive movements once Garrett’s parents went
outside to see what was going on. Both he and Alden did a couple of actual push–ups before
getting up from the ground. I could see Tandy looking from Tripp to Alden before she looked
up at my window. I could see her frowning as she tried to figure out what was happening. She
spoke, but no one answered her. Tripp and Alden just settled down and jumped in the pool.
They were still laughing as if what they had done was funny.
I know now that fear is a powerful emotion. Today, I learned that it can take over and make
you literally freeze in place. I know it can, as that is my current condition. I am still unable to
move or walk away. It is like I am not in control of my own body anymore. I have never had this happen to me, and I hope it never happens again. I wish I were bolder. I wish I could walk
over there and slap those two jerks right in the face. But I knew that I was too scared to do it
in the first place, and I also knew that it would not end well for me. I knew that Mr. and Mrs.
Pearson would protect me, but the aftermath, if I slapped the guys, would not be pleasant.
Why didn’t Garrett try to stop them? Say something? Hell, why didn’t he even try to do anything? Even if he lied about loving me, he shouldn’t have just stood there like he agreed with them. Allowing them to continue disrespecting me like they did. That was the turning
point for me. That was the exact moment when I could pinpoint my heart freezing over. It was now as cold as ice. I wasn’t angry with Garrett anymore, as that would include passion. I was just done. I had finally allowed the hurt and pain to fill me to where no one could hurt me again. I would never again allow a man to have enough control over me to be able to hurt me this way again. I would never allow this to happen again.
I felt drained, completely wiped out, like I had just run a marathon. I didn’t care about anything anymore. The only thing I had been excited about was getting to see Garrett this morning. I
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I am Done
couldn’t wait for him to tell everyone I was his, but I couldn’t find him. I bet that had been his plan all along. I had been set up. I lost to Garrett and Tammy. I was done with this whole.
thing. I needed to contact Principal Carson. He needed to be given a heads–up, as our
graduation was next week. I needed to let him know that I was not going to go to it.
I had wanted to finish strong, despite what I was going through. I have done the best I could to
make my parents proud of me. Mom always said that my father was my guardian angel. So,
despite his not physically being there, I tried to do what my parents instilled in me. I am not
going back to school. If I had known what was going to happen to me today, I wouldn’t have
gone back in the first place. I would have gladly taken the zero’s to avoid this crap show.
Suddenly, my being the valedictorian was not as important as it had been just a few days ago.
The speech I wrote for graduation was not one I wanted to deliver anymore. I was
disappointed at having to step down, but I was not going to be mocked and shamed at my
graduation. My mother would not be there beaming with happiness and pride for me, so what
was the point?
I completed my first step of what I had promised her I would do. I will just step aside to let the
Salutatorian make the commencement speech. I decided to text him, as I was upset. I knew I
would break down in tears if I had to say the words out loud. I am sure he would understand,
as he was well aware of what happened to me this morning. I am sure this scandal will not be
a positive at graduation. They would want to keep it contained as best they could.
Me: “Principal Carson, thank you for all the help you have given me over the years. You have helped me through something I never wanted to face. I wanted you to know how much I
appreciate you. I also wanted to inform you that I will not be attending graduation. I don’t think
it would be a good idea. I believe it is best if you let Allison Henry speak instead. I believe
skipping graduation is the best choice for me at the moment.
P.C.: You worked hard to be the Valedictorian. Are you sure of this? I can have security to stay
with you. This is an important day for you, too. I will respect your wishes, Addison, if that is
what you truly want. I just don’t want you to miss out on the experience.
Me: I am sure. Thank you for always wanting what is best for me. I know that if not for you
and the excellent teachers I have had over the years, I would not be as successful as I have
been. Please just mail my diploma to me. I won’t be returning to school. I am sure that you
understand my reasoning behind it. I think that it would be best for all concerned for me just
to stay home.
P.C.: I will mail you your diploma. My wife and I will help if you need anything at all. Don’t
hesitate to let us know.
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Me: I will, and thank you.
I cast one more glance outside. Tammy had her arm laced possessively through Garrett’s as
they privately talked to each other on the other side of the pool. I saw Holden come out of the
house, head towards the cooler to grab a drink, and then head around the yard barn, where
they store the outdoor furniture and pool items in the winter months. I don’t want to know
what he is trying to do. Eavesdrop on their conversation? I hope he isn’t trying to do that for
- me. It doesn’t matter anymore. Nothing matters to me anymore.
I climbed down from my dresser but was in no hurry to go downstairs. No one was paying attention to my window anymore, so it was an excellent time to climb down. I shut my blinds
with a snap. I had seen enough. I didn’t need to see any of them anymore. As the doorbell rang, I rolled my eyes. That had better not be Tripp or Alden. I pulled up the front door camera and saw a woman standing with her back to the camera and a man in his early thirties
standing close to the door. They were driving a nice new Escalade. I don’t recognize either of them, but I don’t want any visitors. I am done with today.
The doorbell suddenly grabbed my attention again. What? Are they still here? It has been over three minutes. They should have taken a hint. I slowly headed downstairs and turned the alarm off. I opened the door and received the shock of my life. My mother was standing there staring back at me. I couldn’t stop my gasp of surprise. The last thing I remembered was hearing a cry for help as I blacked out.
