Filed To Story: Pretty Poisoned Novel by Elle Mitchell
And there it ishis first highlight.
It is of my professional opinion that Teagan is not suicidal but reacted rashly to a specific incident and is not at risk for a second attempt.
I suck in a breath and go back to scrolling.
Teagan seems to be incapable of forming meaningful relationships with her peers. While this is a major concern for her family, it does not appear to concern Teagan.
Teagan’s emotional response to both her kidnapping and the threat to her life seems insignificant. She claims she did not experience any violence or assault, nor was she aware of the murders until after the incident. It is unclear whether or not her recount contains omissions or if she’s altered or repressed memories surrounding the event.
Teagan returned to public school last month. She reports that her peers have not been welcoming but seems to find this amusing rather than upsetting. My concern for Teagan to harm herself again remains low. I am more worried about her fascination with violence and violent acts and that this fascination may evolve into something more, and she will become a danger to those around her.
Teagan stopped attending her college courses. Though she recognizes her family’s concerns for her, she shows little concern for a career and, overall, seems to have no interest in participating in or contributing to society in any meaningful way.
It was around three in the morning when I started reading, and it’s around five now when I close the laptop.
“I’m done,” I say, setting the laptop aside.
“Okay,” he says.
“It was an accident,” I tell him. “I wasn’t suicidal, I was just freaking out. And so, I got into the medicine cabinet, and I took those pills and I was relieved when I woke up. I knew I’d never do it again.”
“I know that,” he says. “I have known that. That’s not why I wanted you, Teagan. Do you get that now?”
“I don’t know,” I say honestly. “Maybe you thought you could change my mind.”
He scoffs. “Teagan, I”
“Can I tell you something else?”
“Sure,” he says.
“There was nothing,” I say. “There is nothing. There was no white light, no gentle creature or ancestors waiting to hold my hand and help me move on to something better. And maybe you don’t believe that, and that’s okay, but if this is all there is and this is all I get, then why the fuck should I have to spend my life feeding into an economic system that does nothing for mespending my life sleeping or sitting in an office, a prisoner to other people’s expectations of what’s normal? Why can’t I just do what I want? I wasn’t hurting anyone. I wasn’t worried about ending up alone.”
“That’s why I wanted you, TeaganI agree with you. And you don’t have to do any of those things; you don’t have to worry about being alone because you won’t be.”
“So, you watched me?”
He nods. “I did. I saw you first. I watched you; I wanted to know more.”
“So, you’re a fan of me.”
“I don’t know if I’d” I cock my head to the side. “Fine. A fanI’m your fan.”
“I want to go back now,” I say. “I’m tired. I lost a lot of blood today.”
“Technically, that was yesterday. You can stay if you want. Luca gets up early; we can sleep in.”
I shake my head. “He can’t sleep alone, and he’ll worry about me. He’ll be scared he loves me.”
My heart is in my throat while I wait for his response.
“Okay,” he says. “I’ll walk you back.”
I turn away from him in an attempt to mask my disappointment. “Thanks.”
We walk together out the door and down the hallway in silence.
“Good night,” I tell him before quickly ducking into the room.
He stops me, grabbing me by my arm, and I gasp. “What?” I ask, the fear easily decipherable in my tone. “What do you want?”
“My favorite color is black,” he says. “I’ve never had a pet. My first concert was Muse, and I went home and told Luca we were starting a band. I think he was like eight or nine or some shit. And I turned twenty-six last Monday. Now, you know some things about me, too.”
“What? Your birthday was last Monday, and you didn’t tell anyone?”
He shrugs. “Luca knew. He knows not to tell anyone, though. I haven’t enjoyed celebrating them in a long time. I’d rather it just be last Monday.”
“Well, I think I’d like to make a big deal out of mine.”
“Tell River, then.”
“I will.”
“How does it look?” he asks.
“How does what”
He inclines his head, indicating the bandage on my chest.
“Oh I don’t know. I haven’t looked at it. I don’t want to look at it,” I tell him, taking a step backward. “Riv says it’s going to look angry, which I guess matches the intention.”
He reaches for me, placing a hand on my cheek, and I flinch. “That wasn’t my intention. I’m sorry, Teagan. I don’t say things I don’t mean.”
“I’m going to go to bed now,” I tell him. “Good night.”
“It’s morning,” he says.
“Well, I’ll see you later, then.”
“Bye, kitten,” he says.
I turn and make my way over to the bed, relieved when I hear the door click shut softly. I curl up next to Luca and go back to sleep.
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“Hey.”
River’s icy blue eyes stare back at me when I open my own. “Hey.”
“Your color looks good,” she says quietly. “How are you feeling?”
“I feel normal,” I tell her. “Just tired. I didn’t sleep much.”
She reaches for the bandage on my chest and pulls it back.
“Don’t,” I tell her. “Don’t take it off. I don’t want to look at it.”
“I just want to check on it. I’ll lift it enough to see it, and then I’ll put it back. You don’t have to look.”
“Okay.”
I look somewhere just over her head while she peels back the corner of the bandage, examining the area for a minute before replacing it.
“How bad is it?”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.