Page 1 of Pink Poison

Prologue

Stephanie

“Fuck.”

The buzz in my ear reaches a whole new octave as I take in my empty dorm room. Everything I have ever owned has been sold or is now packed in the tattered gym bag slung over my shoulder. Glancing at the white walls, I sigh. I know that I need to leave. It’s only a matter of time before the dean formally removes me from this room himself after my latest shitty excuse as to why my payment hasn’t gone through for the semester.

I thought I could do it, dothis.Go to college like all of my friends and build a future for myself.Fuck.Swallowing the lump in my throat, my heart breaks as I think about what Mom and Senior will say when they find out. I fought them and Max on this. I told them I was ready, that I could support myself. That was before I realized howfuckingimpossible it was to work enough to afford tuition and board—before I knew how hard it would be to be away from my friends and family.

I spiraled.Hard.And now, all I’m left with is this empty room and a check that can’t be cashed.

Turning on my heel, my worn-out sneakers scuff against the linoleum floor with each step I take until I reach the hallway outside of my room. Laughter echoes down the hall from my classmates, as if they don’t have a single care in the world. It’s embarrassing that no one else looks as miserable as I feel. The lump in my throat grows rapidly and with it, my eyes sting with unshed tears.

“Hey, Stephanie!” Dottie shouts. I glance at my roommate,ex-roommate, and watch her blonde hair swish against her scrubs as she jogs in my direction.

“Hey, Dot.” I sniffle, blinking away my shame.

She smiles, bright as fuckin’ always. “Are you going to the gym?”

I secure the bag closer to my body, giving mysortafriend a small nod. It’s better if she doesn’t know that my life is falling apart, not when she’s just getting hers started. Dottie is good people, I know she’ll become a great doctor someday. Mustering up enough sense to cover the thickness in my throat, I let out a tired laugh. “Yeah, I need to hit the track for a bit. Classes have me stressed the hell out.”

“Tell me about it.” She rolls her eyes dramatically before moving to walk past me. “Don’t stay on the track too long.”

“You got it, Doctor Smith.” I try to smile, but we both know it looks strained.

Walking away from my door, I move through the crowded hall, ignoring anyone who bothers to make eye contact with me. I round my way through the masses as I quicken my steps down the stairs, close enough to the exit to let down my mask. Nothing can stop the hot flood of tears trailing down my face, coupled with the excruciating weight of depression that accompanies failure.

I failed. I failed. I can’t believe I failed.

Blinded by the haze coating my eyes, I don’t realize that I’ve walked right into someone else until my legs give out from under me. “Ouch. Shit, are you okay, honey?” a feminine drawl chimes above me.

An embarrassing sob leaves my dry lips, echoing in the entryway of the residence hall. Not only have I failed, but I somehowkeepfailing. Today could not get any worse. Hiccupping, I pull myself back up from the ground, ready to bolt away from the sweet stranger. “I’m s-sorry,” I mumble.

“Ain’t nothing to be sorry for, sugar. What’s got you all in a tizzy?” she asks, blocking my path to leave.

Focusing on her face, I’m blown away at how gorgeous she is. Her hair is a remarkable shade of red, flowing down her sides as if she stepped outside, and it formed away from her face. I marvel at her makeup; it’s loud and dark, almost sensual like she was made to star in a porno or be a pole dancer—someone both men and women would grovel to have at their side. I’m envious, but not in a way that makes me irrationally upset. More in the sense of I want to be just like her. My dull, dark hair and plain face are…lackluster, to say the least. The best thing I have going for me is my tits, and even then, they don’t get me far when I don’t know how to dress myself up right. I’ve never been the kind of girl who could do much in terms of thegirly-girldepartment. Mostly because Max would have a shit fit to his dad about it, and my mom is nothing if not a man pleaser at the end of the day.

Besides, plain is pretty.

Sure, Stephanie. Keep telling yourself that.

“Huh?” I ask, forgetting what she said.

“I said, what has you all worked up, in a tizzy?” she repeats slowly before giving me a gentle smile.

I shrug. “I have to leave the university.”

Maybe if I can play this off, she won’t keep staring at me like she kicked a puppy.Or, maybe she’ll stare harder.Her eyes glisten at my words like they triggered something she kept buried, just as deep as I intend to bury this entire experience. “What can I do?”

“Uh, unless you know how I can get a hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the year in less than an hour, I don’t think you can do anything for me.” My face heats as regret immediately washes over me for the fact I just named my debt to a complete stranger.

Her eyes widen in horror, or at least I think it’s horror at my candidness. “Jesus H. Christ that’s a lotta money,” she wheezes. “Do you have somewhere to go? I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name…”

“Stephanie Waters.” I extend my hand out for her to shake.

Ignoring my hand, she wraps her arms around my body and gives me the firmest hug I think I’ve ever had in my whole life. It’s oddly nice—comforting, even. “My name is Teegan.” She squeezes me one last time before pulling away and giving me a once-over. “I know we just met, but I’d like you to come with me. I can’t help you much, but I can offer you a room to crash in and maybe a job?”

Is she serious?

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