AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter is rated M, and deals with some pretty heavy subject matter.

Chapter 7

SEVENTEEN

Zed poured himself another shot. "Yeah...her Dad couldn't talk her mom down. So, Addison continued with the play. She had the lead role, of course, with Pierce, of course," he practically growled out. "But, we were fucking inseparable from that day forward. My mom loved her to pieces, and her dad and I...well, her dad was awesome. I'm pretty sure I learned more from him than from any instructor I had at Seabrook.

Anyway... Addie was always alone at one of her parent's houses and my mom was in Seattle every few weeks. It was amazing for two kids who were constantly going at it," he laughed humorlessly. "Don't get me wrong, we definitely hit a few bumps, like that spring when I finally met her mom and when she finally met my dad…" He knocked back another shot. "That asshole...Adds decided to throw me a party for my birthday. She figured it would be a great chance for our parents to all meet. So she reserved the beach front patio at NOBU in Malibu."

"You had a birthday party at NOBU?" Bonzo asked skeptically.

"Yup...18th."

Bonzo shook his head. "Sorry, continue..."

Zed sighed. "But, the weekend before my birthday was when I met her mom. It started out great. My mom was in Seattle so Addie was spending the weekend at my apartment. She was super stressed out, which usually meant she either smoked, fucked or shopped...I knew it was bad when all three happened..." He took a drag from his cigarette. "I should have listened to her then. I should have realized just how ruthless her mom could be..."

"Addie...I'm not letting you buy me clothes. I have a job, I have some money...not Donnelly money...but still..." Zed protested as she dragged him along Rodeo Drive after school.

Addison stopped and turned to face him. "I know. But….this is probably less of an engagement party and more of a publicity grab for their new movie. There's a very real possibility that my mother is going to tip off the paparazzi. And if I'm going to have my picture splashed all across magazines wearing pastel, it's going to be Gucci."

Zed rolled his eyes. "But why do I have to get new clothes?"

She pulled him into a kiss. "Because it's going on my mother's credit card, and retail therapy makes me happier than real therapy… and… I really want tomorrow night to go well..." she added in a whisper.

"I'm not talking you out of this? Am I?"

"Nope! Besides, think of it as an investment. A Gucci suit is timeless. You can wear it when you take me to prom, too," she smiled pulling him into the store.

The second they walked in, a sales associate walked up to them. "Miss Donnelly, always a pleasure what can we do for you today?"

Addison exchanged air kisses with him. "Mother's engagement party tomorrow night. We need head to toe for both of us."

"The usual color palette?"

"For me? Unfortunately yes. For my boyfriend, no…." she looked over to Zed and smirked. "There's no way I'm forcing her stupid dress code on you."

"Thank you."

The sales associate eyed Zed up and down. "Oh, he was born to wear Gucci...his tall frame … Mmm… This one's a keeper," he whispered to Addison before walking off to gather a few selections for them.

Addison just smiled over to Zed and pulled him further into the store. Before he knew it, he was completely outfitted in a dark suit with a double G belt around his waist.

"That's the one..." she said eyeing him from head to toe. "You should go get out of that like now..."

He turned to look at her, giving her a questioning look. "I thought you just said..."

She walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him. "I really like this store and don't want to be thrown out for molesting my boyfriend...so…go change," she whispered into his ear. She took a step back, "I'm going to go try on some shoes…."

Zed shook his head and laughed. "Of course you are. I'll meet you over there."

She giggled and blew him a kiss as she walked off.

When he met her on the other side of the store a few minutes later he let out a soft laugh. "I can already feel the cuts those are going to leave on my back," he said as he looked down to the light pink stilettos with silver metal spikes lining the heel.

Addison smiled and shrugged. "They're really cute though! Oh! And I found these for you!" she exclaimed, holding up a pair of black loafers.

He shook his head and sat down next to her, slipping the shoes on to placate her.

Addison bit her lip and smiled. "You should live in Gucci shoes."

Zed looked down to his feet. "They are pretty bad-ass looking."

"Understatement. We'll definitely be getting those." She sat on his lap and whispered into his ear, "Want to help me pick out something to wear under my dress for tomorrow? La Perla is right down the street….And your little habit of ripping things off of me has severely depleted my selection at home..."

"I apologize for nothing," he smirked. "You know you love it."

"I do," she giggled. "I really do."

"What do you say we skip it and just go back to the apartment instead..."

"But we're supposed to meet Bree and Mase at In & Out and then go down to the lanes."

He pulled her down to him and kissed her. "Horror & chill?" He ran his nose along her ear. "We could watch House of a Thousand Corpses...Just the two of us…." he bit down hard, soothing the bite with his tongue. "And I'm thinking this..." he gently pulled on the edge of the gray skull print Alexander McQueen scarf wrapped around her neck, "would look great tied around your wrists..."

Without taking her eyes off of him she flagged down the sales associate that had been helping them. "We'll take it all...Just put it on my mother's account."

"Yes, ma'am...I'll have everything brought out to your car."

"You sure do know the way to my heart, Jacobs," she giggled as she stood up and pulled him out of the store.

"I fucking hate this play! It's ruining my life!" Addison said angrily the next morning as she got out of bed and pulled her pants back on. "I swear the only thing keeping me from going full Carrie on this production is Bree being there painting the scenery!"

"Wanna talk about it, Gorgeous?" Zed asked as he exhaled and held out the blunt he had just lit.

"No...I'll get over it. I just need to be a little dramatic first," she said with a heavy sigh before taking it from his hand. She inhaled deeply and held it for a moment before exhaling. "I still can't believe I have to do this stupid play instead of the Music Revue…"

"Did you ask about performing last?"

Addison shook her head. "Yeah, but they start at the exact same time. The play is going to run longer…Where's my bra?"

"Um..." He sat up and looked around his room. "I think that came off in the car last night...Why are you even doing the play? You hate it."

"Fuck it… I don't need it anyway, just remind me to look for the cash that fell out of it," she pulled her shirt over her head."And we've gone over this, I'm doing the play because of my mother."

"Adds, you're running yourself ragged trying to keep up with everything... Not that I'm complaining about your stress management techniques."

Addison smiled, climbing back onto the bed and straddling him. "Didn't think you would," she whispered as she leaned down and captured his lips in a searing kiss.

His hands went to her hair as he looked into her eyes. "God, do I adore you."

"I...I... have to get to rehearsals." She reached above him and untied her scarf from the headboard, wrapping it back around her neck. "Are you sure you don't want to back out tonight? I mean, I would if I could."

"And miss your mom's engagement party? Are you kidding me? How many times does an opportunity like that happen," he teased.

Addison let out a soft giggle as she leaned down and placed a kiss on his neck. "You know what they say...seventh time is the charm."

"I'll meet you at your Dads after rehearsals."

Addison cringed. "No...my step-brother is still in town. He's still pissed off that he walked in on us the other day."

"I am so glad you were on top," he said with a laugh, burying his face in her chest.

"Yeah...probably a good thing he didn't see your face. We don't need you ending up on a hit-list."

Zed swallowed loudly. "Want to just get ready here after practice? All the clothes you bought are still in the car," he said pulling on the metal bar of her piercing with his teeth before sitting back up and kissing her. "I don't have a fancy vanity area or anything...but I'll let you have the bathroom first."

"That could work..." she bit her lip and looked at him through her lashes. "Wanna give me a ride to campus then? I can just leave my car here."

He grabbed onto her ass. "Are you trying to get me worked up again. You know I can't handle how sexy you look on my bike."

"Screw rehearsals..." she pulled his face to hers and kissed him as he rolled them back over.

"Girl you look delicious...oh I mean, gorgeous," Zed sang as he wrapped his arms around her waist and gently bit her neck.

Addison giggled and pulled his face up to hers for a kiss. "Delicious, huh?"

He nodded his head. "Seriously, Adds. You look hot," he whispered into her ear as he ran his hand down her hips, feeling the soft lace of her baby blue dress hugging her curves.

"I'm always hot," she said with a wink. "But you sir..." she turned around in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck, "are absolutely mouthwatering in that suit."

"I adore you," he whispered, nipping at her nose.

"I..." she closed her eyes and exhaled. "We should probably get going..."

He lifted her chin, "Hey...you okay?"

"I'm fine. Just..." she looked up into his eyes and sighed heavily. "Z...promise me something."

"Anything."

"No matter what happens at this party.

You'll still look at me like this...like I'm the only thing you see."

"Adds...You ARE the only thing I see. Nothing is going to change that." He leaned in and kissed her softly. "Besides...It can't be that bad. She's your mom."

"Don't say I didn't warn you..."

As they pulled up to the house, Addison put out the backwood that they had been smoking and popped a piece of juicy fruit gum into her mouth, handing one to Zed as well.

"Thank you, Baby," he whispered leaning over to steal a kiss. He looked up into her eyes and smiled. "I adore you."

Addison smiled and kissed him. "You sure you want to do this? Last chance to back out…"

"We've been together for five months...Don't you think it's time I met her?"

"Alright...don't say I didn't warn you..."

"You keep saying that," Zed laughed.

"And you keep not listening," she whispered as she opened the car door. The moment she stepped out of the car, she was blinded by camera flashes. "Ugh..." she rolled her eyes and grabbed Zed's hand. "I knew this was going to happen. Fucking paparazzi…Just smile and walk." she mumbled under her breath as they made their way towards the back of the house.

"Well, that was fun..." Zed laughed as they finally walked into the back yard. He let out a low whistle. "And I thought the yard was impressive when you threw a party," he whispered placing a soft kiss under her ear.

"Addison, darling," her mother called waving to get her attention.

"Ready or not...you're about to meet the Wicked Witch of the West." Addison plastered a fake smile across her face and grabbed Zed's hand as they made their way over towards the temporarily floored over pool.

"Mother," she said overly sweetly. "Congratulations!"

"Oh, thank you, darling. I know you are just going to love Paul!"

"Oh, I'm sure..." Addison looked around. "Where is he? I can't wait to meet him."

Missy looked around them and frowned before quickly catching herself and smiling again. "He's just over there."

Addison turned to look. "You mean the guy flirting with the very attractive male caterer?"

"He's not flirting...he's just...very expressive when he talks."

"Right….So, um...this is Zed...my boyfriend."

Missy looked over and noticed him for the first time. "What happened to Pierce? He was such a lovely young man."

Addison rolled her eyes. "Mom, I told you that we broke up before school started. I've been with Zed since right after my birthday...remember...we talked about this..."

Missy waved off her comment. "Of course I remember, darling. Zed...yes...you're in the music program, correct?"

"Yes ma'am," he said politely. "Thank you for inviting me this evening. Congratulations."

"Thank you...and I didn't." She clapped her hands together and smiled. "But, that's neither here nor there. So, Zed...tell me. What is it your family does?"

"Um...my mom is a nurse and my dad is a CFO for an up-start back in Seattle."

"Ah...I see." She looked past them and waved to someone. "If you'll excuse me, I need to go greet a few actual guests that just arrived. Addison, darling...I'd skip the dessert this evening. You're looking a little poochy." With that, she brushed past them to the other end of the yard.

"Well...that went better than I expected..." Addison shrugged from next to him.

"Seriously?"

She nodded her head.

"She's kind of terrible...How are you related to her?"

"You know, I ask myself that same question with some regularity..." she shook her head and smiled. "Come on...at least I know the dessert is going to be good."

Zed let out a soft laugh and smiled as she took his hand and pulled him along.

The party was dull but they made the best of it, silently laughing and making fun of the snooty guests that roamed around the yard as the night wore on.

"Okay, I'm so over this. I'm going to go say goodbye to my mother and then we can bounce the f out," she smiled as she pulled him in for a quick kiss.

"Sounds good...I'm going to stay right here… away from your mother."

"Probably for the best!" she giggled before walking across the yard to find her mom. She spotted her next to the bar finishing off a glass of champagne.

"Mother..." Addison said as she walked up next to her.

"Addison, darling,"

"...I was just coming to..."

"I was hoping to catch you before you ran off to do God knows what with that boy," Missy said cutting her off. "Why did you skip play rehearsals today?"

"Excuse me? How did you..."

"Play rehearsals. You weren't there and I want to know why."

"I had other commitments today. I'm allowed to miss a few rehearsals given my extracurricular involvement."

"Slutting it up isn't an extracurricular, dear."

"You would know..."

Missy rolled her eyes. "Please tell me you're at least using protection."

"What?"

"The two of you couldn't be more obvious. The longing glances, the stolen kisses. The last thing we need is you sullying up the family tree with some illegitimate child because you decided to go through a rebellious phase…" Missy grabbed another glass of champagne and lowered her voice. "At least with your new boyfriend in the picture I know you'll stay away from Paul."

Addison looked around in surprise. "Mother, I think you need to lay off the champagne," she whispered trying to keep their conversation from being overheard, knowing she would be blamed if Missy's behavior was somehow shared with the gossip magazines.

"And I think you need to get rid of your charity project," Missy snapped. "He's beneath you."

Addison suddenly didn't care who overheard. She was used to her mother attacking her, but Zed had never done anything to deserve her derision. "Which one is it? Are you happy I have a boyfriend or do you want me to get rid of him?!"

"Both!"

"Why?"

"Because you're a Donnelly and he's a nobody. He'll only ever use you," Missy spat out.

"You were a nobody before you met Daddy. Are you saying you used him?"

Missy glared at her and grabbed her arm. "I loved your father but I was young and stupid. You are not going to repeat my mistakes. You have no use for love this young. Do you hear me."

"Thank you for reminding me yet again that I was a mistake." Addison pulled away and raised her voice loud enough for others to hear. "Thanks for the pep-talk Miss Havisham."

Missy glanced nervously around, noticing the looks and whispers of her guests. She plastered a smile on her face and laughed. "Oh, please, darling…you know I played Estella."

"Yeah, I know...everyone knows...Now if you'll excuse me," she turned and walked over to her mother's new fiance who was having yet another expressive conversation with yet another very attractive male caterer. "I'd say it was nice meeting you, and I look forward to us becoming a family, but let's be honest here...you probably won't even make it to the alter...so…good luck." Without another word, she stormed off back across the yard to where she had left Zed.

Addison grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the driveway, swiping a glass of champagne from a waiter and downing it as she walked.

"Um...Adds..." Zed whispered taking in her murderous expression. "Is everything, okay?"

"Not now, Z...get in," she growled as she unlocked the car door. Zed had barely closed the door when Addison floored it, peeling out of the driveway. Zed grabbed onto the glove box, his knuckles turning white as she accelerated faster through the twists and turns of Beverly Hills.

"Baby...maybe you want to slow down a little?"

Addison didn't answer. She sped up further. The faster she went, the more her emotions caught up with her. By the time she merged onto the freeway, she was starting to cry.

"Addison, pull over."

She shook her head and accelerated faster, the speedometer now reading over 100.

"Addison, baby..." Zed whispered placing a hand on her leg. "I know you're an excellent driver, and I know an actual formula one racer taught you, but you need to pull over. You're upset and you had champagne. If we get pulled over, it's not going to be pretty."

She turned her head to glare at him but took her foot off the accelerator. "FINE!" She hit the brake and pulled over on the shoulder. She threw the car into park and undid her seat belt, climbing over the center console and straddling him as she crashed her lips into his.

"What is going on?" Zed asked between frantic kisses.

"Say you're with me for me and not because of my family."

"Addison..."

"Say it, Zed!"

He grabbed her face and kissed her roughly. "I am with YOU. I don't care who your parents are. I don't care what they do. You know I lov...I adore you."

"You and me, right?"

"Always."

She kissed him again, before sliding her hand straight down to his zipper, freeing him into the warm night air.

"Adds..."

"I need you, Zed...Please, fuck me." Her words were almost desperate as she reached for her purse and pulled out a condom. "Please..." she leaned down and bit his neck hard, making him moan loudly.

He grabbed the condom from her and ripped it open. He had barely finished rolling it down his length when she lowered herself down onto him. The cries that escaped them both did not sound human.

Zed knew he was lost as he brought his hands to her hips and arched hard up into her. Her inner muscles clamping down on him with a strength he wasn't even aware she had as she rode him frantically. Needing more, he ripped the buttons on the front of her dress open and yanked her bra down, capturing a breast in his mouth. He loved the small scream she made as he bit down harder and ran his tongue along her piercing. He was fast nearing the point of no return when her thrusts sped up.

Addison let herself go, getting lost in the feelings, arching against him over and over again, feeling his hands pull her hard to him, arching up to meet her. He felt so hot and hard, thrusting over and over into

her heated center. She sped up her movements, uncaring that the hard thrusts pushed her back into the glove box. She was unable to feel anything but Zed's body thrusting into hers, his teeth against her breast, his growls and moans turning her on even more.

She managed to pry open her eyes and smiled at the strain on his face she could see as he fought to hold back his release until she gained hers. She smiled and reached down to bite his neck again.

"Come for me, Zed...fuck me," she whispered, hearing him groan as his hands tightened on her waist, slamming her hard against him, going even deeper into her body.

She screamed as her release broke over her like a tidal wave. She cried out his name, over and over again as she felt the desire nearly knock her senseless, her body clamping down around him, shuddering with every wave that swept over her.

Zed knew he was going to lose it, and her whispered words sent him over the edge. With a growl of her name, he felt himself explode into her body, the waves of release pounding over him. He released himself into over and over as she shuddered against him. He couldn't seem to stop the tremors that wracked his body, feeling ecstasy like he'd never known course through him.

Finally, he felt her coming back down. He gently pulled her head until it rested against his neck. He sighed as he felt her body go limp against his. As the lethargy swept over his body, his mind suddenly cleared becoming aware of exactly where they were and what they'd just done.

Addison too seemed to come to the realization of where they were as she pulled back to look into his eyes, her own beautifully sated and shining.

"We're still on the side of the fucking freeway..." she managed before breaking into a giggle.

"We should probably move..." he said with a contented smile on his face and amusement in his eyes. He ran a hand through her long blonde hair. "You okay?"

She shook her head. "Not really, but...this certainly helped."

He wrapped her up in a tight hug. "Wanna talk about it?"

"Not here..."

"Hollywood sign?"

She nodded her head against his neck and placed a soft kiss on his jaw. "I think you should drive...I'm spent in every way possible."

Zed smiled and kissed her cheek. "You got it, beautiful." They both straightened their clothes before he got out of the car and walked around to the driver's side to drive them to what had become their spot.

"So..." he asked once they were parked and walking down the familiar path down towards the lookout point. "What happened?"

"My mother."

Zed looked over to her waiting for her to explain further.

With a heavy sigh, she continued. "She doesn't approve of our relationship...thinks I'm sleeping with you as a rebellion thing and that you're using me for my name...Thinks I'm going to get knocked up and further damage her reputation..."

"Oh...Well, that's certainly a lot to take in..."

"Yeah..."

"Addison, you know I'm not with you because of that...right?"

She turned to look at him, pulling him in for a kiss. "I know that. And...I don't care what she thinks about us."

"And if she's so concerned about you getting pregnant, why won't she let you take birth control? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for condom usage and safe sex, but a backup would be nice."

Addison cracked a grin and kissed him again. "She did my freshman year but it made me gain five pounds. So, she pulled me off of it."

"That doesn't even make sense..."

"That's my mother for you," she sighed as they walked further down the trail.

"Why is she so…."

Addison let out a humorless laugh. "Controlling, terrible, mean..."

"Yeah...all that."

"There's a rather long list of reasons she's given me over the years as to why I've made her this way."

"Seriously?" he asked, gripping her hand tighter and stopping.

Addison turned to face him. "Yeah. She's never hidden the fact that she feels I ruined her life… even when I was little."

"That's horrible."

She shrugged. "It's all I've ever known."

Zed shook his head in disbelief. "What could she possibly..."

Addison took a deep breath. "What could she possibly blame me for? Let's see...She got pregnant with me at 22. She couldn't celebrate winning her first Oscar because she had just found out she was pregnant with me. She lost out on her next big role because she was pregnant with me. I ruined her body, forcing her to get plastic surgery. A couple of years later she lost her second Golden Globe nomination because she said she was too distracted by me being sick while she was filming to give her best performance. She had to give up rolls because she couldn't have a child on set. She couldn't carry on an affair with one of her directors because I walked in on them and inadvertently told my dad, which led to the divorce, which she blames me for because it 'tarnished her image'...um, let's see what else...Husband number 2 left because he didn't want a kid around…But..." her voice dropped to barely a whisper. "Fiance' number 6, who happened to become husband number 4..." she wrapped her arms around herself. "He was the final nail in the coffin."

"What happened with him?"

Addison turned to look at him. "It's not a good story..."

He pushed her hair behind her ear and kissed her gently. "I want to know everything about you."

She smiled sadly. "The only people who know are my Mom, Dad, and step-brother..." she reached out and ran her hand through his hair as she looked into his eyes, searching for something. "I trust you, though...but you have to promise me something."

"Anything,"

"You won't pass judgment on me, or look at me any different once I tell you."

"Addison, I may not know every detail that's shaped you, but I know who you are, and I adore you."

"You also can't interrupt me."

"I make no promises."

She kissed him softly. "Try?"

He nodded his head and wrapped his arm around her.

"The summer between eighth grade and freshman year we were vacationing in Italy on Lake Como. My mom and her newest husband had been drinking all day with their friends while I was stuck in the villa studying for ninth grade algebra. Well, my mom stayed out while he came back to the villa to 'rest' before dinner." She took a shaky breath. "Did you know that I look just like my mother did when she made her first movie?… At least that's what he told me as he covered my mouth to keep me from screaming."

Zed tightened his grip on her.

"When he was finished, he threw my shorts back at me and told me to freshen up...we had dinner reservations and I was expected to be there... Then he left..."

"Addison, I..."

She placed her finger against his lips and shook her head. "If you start then I won't be able to finish..."

He nodded his head and kissed the top of her hair.

"I went upstairs and cried for a few hours... then I called my Dad..." she wiped a tear from her eye. "I didn't even tell him what happened. He answered the phone and I was crying. He showed up the next day. My mom was hungover and didn't understand why he was there...he just pushed past her and found me. I had barricaded myself in my room...I hadn't even slept…But when I heard his voice, I knew I was safe," she sadly smiled. "I told him everything….My mom blew a gasket when he told her that he was bringing me to the hospital. She didn't believe any of it, even when he showed her my ripped clothes. Said I was making it up for attention...It didn't get much better after the doctor confirmed everything I said. She blamed me. Said I must have seduced him to try to ruin their marriage...because I mean, what thirteen year old isn't doing that," she scoffed. "But yeah...Daddy wanted to kill him but at the very least press charges, Mom just wanted it kept out the papers..."

"What ended up happening?... Oops, sorry..."

Addison shook her head and leaned into him. "Daddy asked my soon to be high school senior step-brother to call in a favor…Apparently, there are still members of his 'family' in Italy," she shrugged. "I don't really know what happened. But I heard that there was a horrible boating accident after I left to go back to the states with my Dad."

"If I wasn't already terrified your step-brother would have me offed, I definitely am now."

Addison softly laughed. "He knows I would take him out before I let him get close enough to you...Anyway, I kind of slipped into a pretty major depression once I was back state-side. I dyed my hair dark brown to try to change any similarity with my mom. That was a horrible look, and I will never make that mistake again," she said shaking her head.

Zed chuckled at the unexpected lightness in her tone.

"Saw a therapist in the Hamptons and I continued seeing one when we got back to LA...and then one day something was said to me that finally sunk in. Everyone deals with trauma differently. I can choose to let it define me or I can define myself. I decided right then and there that I would not let what happened to me impact the rest of my life. I chose to reclaim my sexuality and own it. He may have taken my first time from me, but I damn sure wasn't going to let him take the enjoyment out of it for the rest of my life." She turned to look at him. "So...there it all is."

"Addison..." he turned her face to look at him. "I'm so sorry."

"Please don't feel sorry for me. I'm fine. It happened, it sucked, but I've moved on with my life. I may have a few unhealthy coping mechanisms, but..." she shrugged and smiled.

"Why are you still living with your mom after all that? Why are you following any of her 'rules'? The clothes, the acting, the insane schedule she has you on?"

Addison let out a laugh. "I don't know if you are aware of this...but my mom...she's a REALLY good actress, I mean she's a horrible person, but her acting...it's spot on." She sighed heavily. "My dad filed for full custody after everything happened that summer. But...mom put on

quite the Oscar-worthy performance. By the end of the hearing, the judge was granting her full custody and I was being shipped off to Switzerland for high school."

"What?"

She nodded her head. "My Dad lost it. They were going to hold him in contempt. But, his lawyers calmed him down. They ended up coming to an agreement behind closed doors. I got to stay with my dad half the time, but my mother somehow became the executrix of my trust."

"So it's about money?"

Addison shook her head. "I told you I don't care about the money. But I do care about my Dad who happens to care about Bamm!, and she knows that. She got a seat on the board in the divorce, and after the hearing, she then got my seat as well until I'm 25. It was a complete power move to keep me in line. She constantly threatens to use her two votes to sell it off...I can't let that happen. It would crush my Dad. My grandfather built that label from nothing. It's my families legacy. And I'm the only child of the only child of the founder...FUCK!" she screamed out as her hands went to her hair in frustration. "I've learned to never underestimate just how low my mother will go."

"That's terrible..."

"That's my mother..." she wiped a tear from her eye. "I just wish I could be a normal seventeen-year-old...What am I going to do?"

Zed pulled her back into his arms. "I've got a crazy idea…" he kissed her softly and looked into her eyes. "Let's be normal, see bad movies...Sneak a beer and watch TV..."

"I hate beer."

"Fine, tequila…We'll bake brownies or go bowling...Don't you want a life with me?" he sang kissing her softly.

Addison smiled and joined in. "Can't we be seventeen? That's all I want to do..."

"If you could let me in
I could be good with you"

"People hurt us..."

"Or they vanish
And you're right, that really blows
But we let go
Take a deep breath
Then go buy some summer clothes."

"I do like to shop..." she smiled.

"We'll go camping"

"You mean, glamping."

"Play some poker...And we'll eat some chili fries"

"Yeah, those will go straight to my thighs," she giggled, as she grabbed his hands and spun them around. "Maybe prom night, maybe dancing...Don't stop looking in my eyes"

"Your eyes"

"Can't we be seventeen
Is that so hard to do?

"If you could let me in
I could be good with you"

"Let us be seventeen
If we still got the right"

"So what's it gonna be?"

"I wanna be with you"

"I wanna be with you
Wanna be with you tonight"

"Hold me tighter, even closer...Can't we be seventeen...Your love's too good to lose..."

"I lov...I adore..." he took a deep breath and looked into her eyes. "Fuck it...I love you, Addison."

"I adore you," she smiled leaning in and kissing him.

Zed pulled back and laughed. "Progress! I can live with that."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for the lack of updating! With the end of the school year and the beginning of summer, things have been a bit busy. Credit where credit is due… The chapter title, song used, singing in the Hollywood Hills...none of it would have happened without WildFlowerChildGrace insisting (that's putting it lightly) that I use Seventeen from the Riverdale Episode, Big Fun (Heathers the Musical).

Music Used:

Seventeen- Riverdale Cast (Lili Reinhart, Cole Sprouse, Madelaine Petsch, Vanessa Morgan)