149 - The chapter in which Addison loses control

Camille

I sat on my bed, feeling the world spin. I couldn't believe everything that had happened that day. I was exhausted and I wasn't even directly part of the story. But even though I wasn't the one being attacked, it was impossible not to be affected by witnessing the state Rose was in, or Christian's despair at seeing her.

The whole thing was such a mess and it was hard to imagine a solution. I mean, as much as everyone guaranteed that they would find out who did it, how would they do that? The video didn't show any of their faces, and the voice wasn't clear enough either.

" 'There you are,” Theo approached the bed, smiling when he saw me, “How are you?”

He sat down next to me, putting his arm around me. I tilted my face towards him, offering him a weak smile.

" I don't know, it's all a mess, Rose is asleep, Chris is gone, Sky and Liam are still arguing and Rose's mom is acting really weird " I watched the woman leave Rose's room, going back to Christian's room, where Rose was still sleeping.

" 'I know this is all a load of shit, but we'll sort it out together " he tried to reassure me " but for now, we'll do what we can to support Rose and Chris. They're both going to need it.”

I laid my head on his chest, sighing as I enjoyed that small gesture of affection from my boyfriend. What would I do if this had happened to me? I would surely be in a similar situation, possibly even worse than Rose.

" I was thinking, do you mind if I sleep in your room tonight? " Theo surprised me with that request.

Usually Theo slept in my room only on weekends and it was never for us to just sleep.

Ahhh my God, does he expect to get anything tonight? Because I'm definitely not in the mood for a kiss!

" Cam? " Theo caught my attention, making me look into his face.

"What?”

" You didn't answer me," he gave a weak smile.

I widened my eyes, noticing that I had been so lost in my thoughts that I forgot to answer the question.

" 'I'm sorry, I got distracted!”

" "It's okay, I know you have a lot on your mind right now," he smiled in response, stroking my cheek.

" "Thank you," I sighed, snuggling back into him.

Theo was the perfect boyfriend, he understood me so well, and always respected me in everything. I doubt any other guy would be as patient as him.

" Cam? “

I glanced back in his direction.

" 'Yes? “

" 'You still haven't answered me,” he pointed out with an amused expression.

"Oh my God, I'm sorry. 'Yes, you can,” I felt my face heat up at that slip.

"Rose's parents are going to need somewhere to sleep, and I don't think Sky and Liam will be sharing a bed tonight," he explained, making me understand the reason for that request.

Both Skyller and Liam had been locked in their own rooms, refusing to speak to each other since they'd come downstairs to give Rose some space and had argued for some reason, a reason I hadn't quite understood, but it had something to do with Audrey.

" I can't wait for everything to go back to normal," I admitted.

"I know, but…”

Before he could finish his sentence, a knock on the open door made us look in that direction, finding Addison standing there.

" Hey, am I in the way?”

" No, do you need something, Mrs. Miller? " I turned away from my boyfriend.

"Addison," she corrected me immediately, "I decided to make some chamomile tea for Rose, but you don't seem to have any…”

" Have you looked in Davis' cupboard? He's crazy about teas, he always buys several flavors," Theo suggested.

"I looked, he doesn't have any. I was wondering if you could get some for me, I don't want to leave her side " the woman asked, making me frown.

'I'm sure Christian bought chamomile tea last week.

" 'Sure, I can do that,” Theo assured her.

" 'Thank you, Peterson. I don't know how long it will take Jack to get back from campus with Davis and I'm afraid Rose will wake up before then," she sighed.

“'We'll take care of it,” I reassured her.

" 'Yes, if you want us to buy anything else…”

" No, that's all, thank you. 'Tell me something, are the class hours over yet? " She probed me.

" Ahhh yes, with Spring Break coming up and knowing that there are some parties today, everyone must have already gone home, at least Chris won't have to face so many people on campus " I explained.

" Thank you, beautiful. You helped me a lot," she smiled, turning away and heading back to Christian's room.

Theo and I exchanged a quick glance, not quite understanding that interaction.

" 'Is it just me, or is she going to do something? " I commented to Theo.

" 'I'll get the tea, you stay here and keep an eye on her,' my boyfriend instructed, looking suspiciously at the door.

I nodded, giving him a quick kiss before he left, hurrying down the stairs. I stood there in the same position, listening to the front door close and Theo's car drive off.

What a mess! I thought through a sigh.

But it wasn't long before something caught my attention. Addison came out of Christian's room, leaning on the banister of the staircase to check if we had really left, and soon after, she ran into Rose's room. I frowned, getting up and going to the door, watching the open door to Rose's room. What is she doing?

I waited a few minutes, and seeing that she didn't come out, I decided to check. I walked carefully to the entrance of Rose's room, frowning when I found it empty. That's when the sound of something falling came from the bathroom, the door was also open and I went there, almost bumping into Addison, who came out of the place.

I ran my eyes over the woman's body, surprised to find her wearing a pair of tight jeans, ankle boots and a silk blouse. She had also tied her hair in a high ponytail, highlighting the makeup she had done.

How had she managed to get ready in less than twenty minutes?

" 'Nice one, are you back yet? " she blinked dazedly.

" 'I haven't, what are you doing with Rose's clothes? " I stammered.

That question seems to have taken the woman by surprise, she looked around, looking for a good explanation for that situation, giving up afterwards.

" 'Ahh, what the hell, I'm going to the sorority,' she replied simply, walking past me and going to Rose's closet, grabbing a lined jacket.

I widened my eyes at that sentence. 'What does she intend to do at the sorority? Has she gone mad?

" You can't go there! What are you going to do?”

" 'Show that girl that it's best for her to keep her distance from my daughter from now on,' she replied without flinching.

" 'Rose wouldn't like that.”

"Rose doesn't need to know," she returned.

"Addison, I can't let her," I said emphatically, crossing my arms and trying to stay serious.

" 'And how are you going to stop me, pretty girl? "Jack will surely be back soon, Rose is sleeping and the other two are busy fighting "a defiant smile appeared on her wine-colored lips.

A shiver ran down my spine as I realized there was nothing I could do. How could I stand in that woman's way? Besides, it would be good for those girls to learn a lesson, but the big question was what kind of lesson Addison wanted to teach.

" 'I'll go with you then,' I decided.

Addison stopped, giving me a surprised look, crossing her arms as she stared at me, reminding me of Rose.

" Why?”

" "I want to see what you're going to do," I said back, unflustered.

"You're not going to stop me," she warned.

" 'I didn't say I want to stop you, I said I want to see.”

She stared at me for a few seconds before turning away.

" 'Put on a coat and let's get going before your boyfriend comes back,' she warned.

I hurried to comply with her order, and soon we were inside the Brigitte, heading to the sorority headquarters. Inside, I burned with curiosity to know what she would do, but something in the back of my mind screamed that things would get out of hand at any moment.

"You look worried," Addison commented, making me look at the woman.

Once again I found myself admiring the beauty of that woman, Addison in her daily life already appeared to be quite young, but with the makeup she had done and the clothes she wore that day, she in no way looked like the mother of someone Rose's age, maybe a sister a few years older.

" What do you intend to do when we get to the fellowship? They won't welcome us.”

" 'I don't intend to be welcomed, pretty girl, but to show those girls that Rose not only knows how to defend herself, but also has someone to defend her,' Addison practically growled.

I nodded, leaving that subject aside. It wasn't long before Addison parked in front of the sorority's headquarters. My cell phone vibrated in my pocket and I opened a message from Theo, asking where we were, and for a second, I wondered if I should tell him or not.

" Go ahead. You can tell him. Tell him to tell Davis too," Addison muttered.

"No, I…”

" 'It's the best thing to do, someone's going to have to get me out of here, and I doubt that someone is you,' she glared at me defiantly, then got out of the car and walked with determined steps to the door of the house.

I widened my eyes at that sentence, getting out of the car while recording an audio for Theo, telling him what was going on. We reached the door of the house, and we could hear music playing inside and the excited chatter and laughter of several girls, as if they were celebrating. I wasn't the only one thinking that way, Addison practically growled next to me before ringing the doorbell. It didn't take long for the door to be opened, showing a short, smiling girl with blonde hair.

"You're early, the party..." she frowned when she saw Addison, and her smile died when she noticed me next to her " "What are you doing here? None of you were invited!

" I don't need an invitation," Addison stared at her, not giving me a chance to answer.

" And who are you? Some veteran loser? Because I've never seen you before," she sneered before turning to me, "And you, did your little friend decide to show off and you decided to leave your pathetic little group?" I asked.

" Where's Audrey? " I muttered, trying hard to keep my voice steady.

In the past I wouldn't have had the courage to answer that girl, but my confidence had been growing every day I spent in the company of my friends, and now it was my turn to defend them.

Or at least try to.

"Too busy to talk to you," she rolled her eyes, deciding to end the conversation by closing the door.

But before she could do so, Addison stopped her, holding the door open, looking at the girl with a not"so"friendly expression.

" I'm not here to deal with some insignificant freshman, so...

" 'Who are you calling insignificant? " The girl seemed to take offense.

" Susan, who is it? " A familiar voice interrupted the situation.