Author's Note: The following chapter has scenes depicting an attempted sexual assault. This could be potentially triggering for those who have experienced trauma. Reader discretion is advised.

She could last 90 more minutes; Addison reminded herself as she stood in the corner and watched Sophie, Joss, Sarah, and others she knew enjoying the party. She tried to fake it, smile at a few people, all the while watching the clock tick ever so slowly towards ten. Someone passed her a drink. She held it, pretended. After what happened she needed to stay clear headed. Morgan walked into the room and she made eye contact with him and then averted her gaze. She didn't want to send any mixed signals. She wasn't interested in him. Had never been interested in him and she had no idea why he thought otherwise. She scanned the room, searching for any group of kids she could insert herself into. It would be awkward, but it might be effective. Do whatever it takes to stay safe. She repeated to herself, trying to quell the anxiety she was feeling building inside of her.

Morgan continued to stare and occasionally a few of his friends would stare as well. One winked at her and they all laughed. They were drunk and out of control and she needed to get out of there. She pushed past some kids and made her way to the hall. She needed her coat. She needed to call Krissy. How could she have been so stupid as to leave it in her coat pocket. Why did she put herself into this situation? There were rules for a reason. Rules protect you, she told herself. Rules kept you from getting hurt. Why did she let herself be tempted to break them? Why did she let herself spiral about Cam to the point she wanted to be here?

Suddenly Morgan appeared behind her and grabbed her arm, backing her against the wall as he stood there, his hand pressed against the wall, his body close to hers, she felt trapped and tried to take a deep breath. "Excuse me," she tried to escape underneath his arm, but he stopped her.

"Stop with the games. I've seen you looking at me all night." Morgan said. "Why didn't you come out with us?"

"I'm not playing games, Morgan. Let me–" He cut her off and kissed her again. She pushed him away and tried to walk towards the room where she left her stuff. "You're such a tease." He said as he followed her and grabbed her arm. "I knew there was more to you."

"You're delusional." She said as she broke her arm free, but he grabbed both her wrists and pinned her back against the wall and kissed her again. "Stop." She said as he tried to kiss her neck. She shoved him and moved quickly into the closest room. She went to shut the door but he was stronger than she was and he followed her inside. She backed up and tripped, he caught her and pulled her toward him as they both fell to the floor. "Get off of me!" She struggled to break free. Where was everyone? Why didn't people see what was happening? Kids were everywhere, why wasn't anyone noticing? Why didn't anyone hear her?

"You owe me. Noone would even know who you are if you weren't on that list." He said quietly as he continued to pursue her and she fought back and tried to get up.

"I owe you nothing," She insisted as he moved a hand to the button on her jeans. "No. Stop. Just stop." She struggled and screamed. The music was loud, she had to be louder.

"Please, I know you want this. You've wanted me since the day you sat down at our lunch table."

"You're crazy if you think that. Let me go." He kissed her neck and she continued to struggle. To scream for help. Do whatever it takes, she reminded herself and reached behind her and grabbed what she didn't know and hit him in the head. It stunned him long enough for her to get up, but he grabbed her again. He was strong and pushed her onto the chair in the corner and as he tried to slide his hand up her shirt she continued to struggle to get away. Someone must have finally heard her screaming because suddenly the lights went on and he froze.

"Morgan! Get off of her! She said no, I heard her."

He was taken off guard, let go, and turned at the sound of the voice and so she ran. She didn't stop to think she just stood and ran as fast as she could.

"What are you talking about? She's been coming on to me all night." A drunk Morgan insisted. As he stood up and turned towards the door, watching Addison bolt out of the room.

"No she hasn't. I saw it all. You need help, something is wrong. This isn't you. This isn't who you are."

"Joss. I'm fine." He insisted as his sister shut the door.

"No you aren't. You aren't acting like the brother I grew up with," she said, taking out her phone. There was definitely something wrong with her brother and it wasn't just the alcohol. His whole perception of what was happening was warped.

"Joss, maybe I had too much to drink, but you're making this into a bigger deal than it is. Who are you calling?"

"Michael." She said as she waited for him to answer. She needed help. Handling Morgan in this state was going to take more than just her own pleas he needed to get some help.

When Addison's head finally realized she was safe she slowed to a walk. She looked around. She was near Charles Street. Cam lived close by. The last thing she wanted was for him to see her like this. All she wanted was to forget this night had even happened, but it was cold and she didn't have her phone to call for help and so she walked to the closest, safest place she knew. She knocked on the door and waited. She wasn't sure what would be worse, if he answered or if he didn't.

"Addison?" Elizabeth asked, opening the door, concerned and confused.

She wasn't expecting his mother to answer. "Is Cam home?"

"No, I'm sorry Addie, he's out with some friends. Where's your coat? It's freezing outside, come in." She stated, taking in the teenage girl's distressed and disheveled state.

"Thanks, Elizabeth." She said quietly and walked in, relieved to be someplace safe, someplace warm.

"Did something happen? How did you get here?" She saw signs of trauma in Addison's eyes. In her appearance.

"I walked." She'd give as few details as possible. She knew she was safe, but she didn't want to talk about it. She'd barely comprehended how sitting at that lunch table, going to that party led to this herself.

"You walked? From where?"

"That's not really important." She said as she looked around the room, averted Cam's mom's gaze.

"I think it is. Let me help you." She said as she motioned to the sofa and Addison went and sat down next to her.

She was insistent. She cared. She could tell she cared. "I was at a party and…" Her thought trailed. She was still processing it. It didn't make sense. How could she have let this happen? She knew some seniors had pressured a few girls at school, but no one had said they were raped. She was almost raped, she realized as she processed it all. She made eye contact with Elizabeth.

"And?" Liz encouraged her to continue, fearing for her son's friend.

"There were these seniors there… and one..he thought I…he wanted me to…" She got up and walked across the room. She stood there and shifted uncomfortably. She could barely admit what happened to herself. How could she say it out loud to her friend's mom? And not just her friend, but Cam. Elizabeth was Cam's mom. She'd give anything to go back in time and for her only problem to be what to say to Cam.

"Addison…what are you saying?" Addison turned and made eye contact. "Did someone do something that you didn't want?"

"I just had to get out of there." She was honest, but hesitated to say more.

"And you came here?" Liz questioned.

"I- I left my phone and I knew I'd be safe here. I hope that's ok."

"You are safe here. I'm going to make you some tea, while I call your parents." Liz stood and started to walk back towards her kitchen.

Addison walked to sit back down on the sofa as she processed. They had a plan. "Call my mom. Ask her if we're out of guacamole. Please, ask her that. You have to ask her that, Elizabeth." Addison begged. Her mom would know. She'd just know.

She looked at Addison questioningly, "I'll ask her. I promise. I'll be right back."

Meanwhile at the party, Joss made Morgan stay in the room she had found him in with Addison, closed the door and went to try and find Owen, while she waited for Michael. She knew he was there. She saw him earlier. Where did he go? She searched every room and then went out to the bonfire some kids had started. She found him laughing with a few other juniors.

"Owen, thank God." She said relieved.

"Joss?" He was surprised she'd be looking for him.

"I need to see you inside." She said seriously.

"Why?" He asked skeptically.

"It's about your sister."

"What about her?" He was confused. Joss seemed upset, like something happened, but she was the last person he'd think would want to actually help Addison.

"Just come with me." She insisted and he followed her inside. Joss brought him into the room with Morgan, and in hindsight she thought maybe that wasn't such a good idea.

"Why'd you go get Ashton? What the hell, Joss. This wasn't what you think it was."

"What did you do to my sister?" Owen said as he walked up and shoved a completely intoxicated Morgan, fearing the worst.

"Your sister is a total tease. We didn't do anything she didn't want." Morgan couldn't help but instigate the fight further as he shoved Owen back.

"Morgan, stop! Just stop!" Joss yelled attempting to get in between them.

"Where is she? Where's Addison?" Owen yelled, grabbing Morgan by the shirt.

"Who the hell knows. She took off. Couldn't finish what she started and freaked out." Morgan replied.

"Owen, let him go. I stopped it. OK! I heard her screaming and I stopped anything from happening before it got worse." Joss explained.

"What's that supposed to mean Joss?" He turned and asked, letting go of Morgan.

"It means I stopped him from…" She couldn't say it. She still couldn't believe her brother wouldn't take no for an answer.

"That's not what was happening!" Morgan yelled. He'd never force himself on someone.

"It was, Morgan. It absolutely was." Joss insisted, trying to break through to her brother.

"I wouldn't do that." He saw how scared his sister was, and softened.

"You almost did. You're not yourself. Let me help you, ok?" Joss said and Morgan sat down, placing his head in his hands.

"Where did she go, Joss? Is she ok? I need to make sure my sister is ok." Owen started to panic.

"I'm not sure. She took off. Left her coat and everything. But I'd have done the same if…anyway, just find her."

"Are you going to be ok here with him?" He didn't want anyone else to get hurt that night.

"He's my brother, he won't hurt me. I called Michael."

"Good. Thanks. I've got to go…but I drove Will and he's pretty wasted…"

"I'll make sure he finds a ride back." Owen nodded and started to take off.

"I don't need Michael to clean this up. I'm fine." Morgan said, looking at his sister as Owen left the room.

Owen went out to the street. He called his sister's name repeatedly, but there was no response. It was dark. It was cold and starting to snow. He had no choice. He took out his phone and called Kristen. He'd start with Krissy, hoping she could help. Hoping they could avoid getting their parents involved before they found out they were at this party.

"Owen?" Kristen answered, surprised her brother was calling.

"Krissy, thank god. It's Addie. I need your help."

"What's going on?" She heard the panic in his voice.

"There was this party. She was here–"

"I know. I dropped her off. I'm supposed to come and get her in about hour from now."

"Well she's gone. Something happened and it's bad. Just get here." He said as he stood on the sidewalk and watched Morgan peel out of the driveway and take off as Joss stood there stunned, at a loss at what to do.

"I'm on my way." Kristen said as she hung up.

Owen walked quickly back over towards the house, "Joss? What happened? Where's he going? He's too drunk to be behind the wheel."

"I know. I tried. I tried to stop him, but he completely lost it when I tried to tell him again what happened. I think he's going to hurt himself, Owen."

"Stay here. You called Michael?" She nodded. "Krissy should be here soon, too. Give my sister's stuff to Sophie and just tell her I went to try and help." Owen said as he hurried to his own car and left to try and find Addison.

Elizabeth walked back into her living room and passed Addison the mug of hot tea she had made. She watched as Addison pulled at the sleeves of her sweater and balled them in her hands before she took the mug, taking note of the marks around her wrists.

"What did she say?" Addison asked quietly as she tried to hide the red hand prints starting to appear. She was afraid her appearance gave away what happened.

"She's on her way and she said to tell you she got the guacamole. It will be ok, Addison."

"Good." Addison said, taking a sip of tea. "Wait, is my Dad coming with her? He doesn't know. They were out. They were together."

"I'm not sure, Addie. What's going on?"

"I'd rather not talk about it. I'm ok."

"You have a scratch on your neck…let me at least clean that up for you." Addison nodded and Liz went to get the first aid kit.

"You're sure Cam won't be home until later, because I really don't want to see him right now and I know it seems weird me showing up here and all. It's like I said. I just knew your house was safe."

"I am and it's ok. Are you sure you're alright?" Liz said as she dabbed a cotton ball with antiseptic.

"No."

"If someone hurt you Addie–"

"Please don't. I know you want to help me. But I can't talk about it. I can't."

"I understand. Can you show me your wrists? Are you in any pain?"

"Umm..not really." She didn't realize Liz had even noticed. She pulled up her sleeves.

Liz made eye contact with Addison and worried that the trauma she saw in the young girl's eyes was too familiar. "You'll probably have some bruising, but I don't think anything is broken." She said as Addison pulled her sleeves back down and balled them into her hands again, nodding. Liz stood and went to put away the first aid kit as Addison sat there silently.

Her anxiety about facing her parents, her dad, started to get to her. "What if he starts asking questions? He doesn't know. My mom will tell him. She has to tell him." Addison blurted out, not realizing she was talking outloud.

"You're not making much sense, Addie. You talking about your dad?" Liz came back into the room and sat down.

"Yeah. My mom and I have a deal, a code word, if I use it she'll come get me no questions asked. I didn't think anything like this would actually ever happen to me."

Guacamole suddenly made sense. "And you don't think your dad knows not to ask any questions when they get here?"

"She'll tell him. She has to tell him. I can't talk to him about this. I can't."

"I'm not sure, Addie, but I know both of your parents and I'm certain they love you and will still love you no matter what happened tonight. I'm sure your dad will be supportive."

The doorbell rang before Addison could respond and Elizabeth looked at her, concerned before she got up to answer. Elizabeth opened the door and Alexis and Ned immediately entered.

Addison jumped up, running to Alexis, and threw her arms around her mother. "Mom!"

She hugged her daughter tight, "Are you ok? Are you hurt?" She asked taking note of the scratch, the tear in her sweater, and her disheveled hair half falling out of the ponytail she was wearing that day.

"I– I just. ..you're sure you got the guac, Mom?"

"I'm sure." She said as she hugged Addison again. "It's ok, we'll talk when we get home, when you're ready."

"Where's your coat, sweetheart? Why didn't you call us?" Ned asked, concerned.

"I left it at–" She caught herself. It was too easy to talk to them. She needed to figure out what to say. How not to let this become something they fought about.

"Where? Where were you?" Ned asked, concerned, but also wanting answers.

She looked at her dad, he was worried, but it was too overwhelming to admit, "I can't…"

"Ned, we can talk when we get home." She watched her daughter on the verge of tears. "Baby, why don't you wait in the car with your dad for a minute."

"Mom…," she pleaded.

"He won't ask you anything." She said making eye contact with him. "Just put on the radio and wait for me." Alexis said as Ned took off his coat and gave it to his baby girl.

"Let's just put this on you, it's pretty cold." He said picking up on the message Alexis was trying to send him.

"Elizabeth, please don't tell Cam I was here or that anything..."

"He won't hear it from me. Just talk to your parents. You're safe and it will be ok."

"Thanks."

"Thanks for calling, Elizabeth." Ned said and Elizabeth nodded as he walked out with Addison.

"What did she tell you?" Alexis asked.

"Not much. She was at a party. Something happened with some senior. She mentioned he wanted her to do something… but she wouldn't elaborate beyond she had to get herself out of whatever was happening, left and ended up here."

"You don't think…"

"She alluded to something, and there are physical injuries that indicate some sort of struggle, but I'm not her mom. She may open up more to you."

"Thanks again, Elizabeth. Really."

"You don't have to thank me. I'm glad she felt like she had a place to go."

"Me too."

"Hey, Alexis." She paused at the door, "Addison is a good kid and I don't know if she had permission to be at this party, but whatever happened, it's clear she's the victim. Try to remember that. Tell Ned to remember that."

Alexis nodded in understanding as she left and went to the car. When she got in Ned and Addison were sitting in silence. She looked at her daughter's tear stained eyes and then at her husband, both fearing the worst and not needing words to communicate. "We love you Addison, no matter what. Ok? No matter what."

Addison nodded and they drove home in silence. Addison worried her parents would never see her the same way again, while Ned and Alexis both worried that whatever happened to their little girl that night would take away any progress she had made in finding her voice and becoming the confident young woman they had started to see emerging.