“Don’t listen to them,” I said to her forcefully as I looked at her, but what I really wanted to say was don’t get hurt by their meaningless words.
“Evans, just leave the poor girl alone. Look at her? You’ve scared the shit out of her.” Rafe came from behind me with Darren.
“It looks like it, doesn’t it?” I said as I pulled her in tighter as she tried to fight me off.
“Okay, everyone get to class,” Mr. White called out. The second bell rang and everyone was still out watching Addie and me.
“Darren, let’s go. I think Daimon wants to teach Addie a lesson,” Rafe said to Darren, pulling him toward the English Lit classroom.
“Just leave her alone,” Darren interfered. It wasn’t the first time he involved himself. I guess he thought I was being too much for Addie. Too fucking bad.
“You and me, we need to talk,” Addie said bitterly as she pulled my arm off her shoulder and opened the door to the pool area. She was always a fighter.
“Oh, Daimon’s in trouble,” Rafe teased.
I followed Addie inside our huge Olympic sized pool. It was eerily quiet as Addie stood by the large windows at the other end. I let out a sigh as I walked over to her. The smell of chorine hit my nose hard.
“So what does little Add—”
“What is your problem? I get it you’re teasing me because I’m poor, or is it because I'm a good student and my grades actually pass yours? I don't understand why the hell you think I should be at your beck and call all the time. You even pick me up from home? How the hell did you even find out where I live?” She was angry, her little hazel eyes glaring at me. “What do you want from me?” she shouted out of frustration.
Couldn’t she see why I wanted to be around her? Didn’t she understand?
“You’re the one who invited me in,” I bit out as I smirked.
“What? No! No I didn’t and if I did, if by some small chance I did, then it was a mistake.” She spoke with such disdain that my blood began to boil.
“A mistake my ass. You wanted this and I am giving it to you. You love my attention.” I lowered myself to her level and peered into her eyes.
“I don’t!” she said defiantly.
“You do, Addie. Say it!” I ordered.
“I don’t,” she shouted as she reached up and hit me on my chest with her small fist. I reached for her hand and pulled her in as I hugged her tightly. “Get off me,” she begged.
No, I can’t, I thought.
“Daimon, fuck, I don’t get you?” She pulled away but I held on.
I searched her face. “It’s me who doesn’t get you,” I barked.
I didn’t want to tell her about the letter, because I knew that she didn’t want to truly give it to me. I knew it was stupid. I knew it was cowardly, but the more I bugged her, the more I bullied her, the more I was able to see an Addie that only I could have. Had I told her about the letter, what we had would have changed, and she would have control, power over me. This way, I could control our time. My time with my Addie.
I slowly found things out about her, only because if I asked, I knew she would answer them, and there would be one less thing we would talk about. One less thing that could tie me to her.
She kept pushing until she tripped. I was able to catch her before she fell into the pool. I held onto her hovering at the edge. Her face wondering why I held her there and wasn’t pulling her back. She was at the brink. That was when my asshole self did something I shouldn’t have. I let go of my Addie. I let her go and she fell into the pool. She cried out as she fell in, her hand frantically splashing around. I watched her intently until she rose up and stood in the shallow end.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to let you go.” I smiled. Addie was wet from head to toe. Her clothes clung to her.
“Why? Why the fuck do you have to go this far?” she berated me.
“This is a lesson. The world won’t protect you. You have to protect yourself. Don’t depend on anyone because no one gives a shit,” I said as I knelt down at the edge.
“So you’re telling me to protect myself from you?” she replied angrily.
“Yes, but it won’t do much. I will take what I want and you will play,” I warned her. Pissed that I had to go this far, I was hurting and I lashed out.
“Thank you, thank you for teaching me a lesson I already know,” she said with hatred. “Now, here’s your warning, Daimon. I'm going to make you pay. I don’t know how but I will,” Addie threatened.
Just what I wanted. I wanted her tied to me. Affection and liking, even love I didn’t understand, but hate, threats, those were my most valued attributes.