Forbidden Fruit •Timothee Chalamet (Stepbrother)

65. The Regretful Night

(Full flashback chapter in Timothée's point of view)

(Warning, drinking, mental health, sexual content.)

"I had just left rehab." I start, watching Amelia listen and feeling my body feel weak like it's going to give out at any moment. Because doing this hard..I don't want this to hurt her."My father had me on constant watch. I hadn't touched drugs in months. I hadn't had a single drink either. I was staying clean from everything..and all I could think about all day was you. I'd just been put on my medication, but the dosage was way too high. It made feel numb all the time, but not the type of numbness that drugs brought me. This was different. It wasn't pleasant. There was no climax. No peak. All I felt was numb...all of the fucking time."

▹ Flashback ▹

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My doorbell rings, and I wince at the sound. I groan, lifting a pillow and placing it on my head to drown out the noise..hoping whoever is at the door will go away.I feel the effects of Lithium, it's strong and taking a toll on me. I'm in a constant state of barely feeling any emotions at all. All I feel is detachment. The doorbell ringing persists, and I grumble, forcing myself to get out of bed. "Coming!" I say with annoyance. It must be my father sending someone to pick me up for some more training. I feel trapped and lost...like an animal in a cage..alone without my mate. My mate was you.

I open the door and find myself looking into familiar light blue eyes. Elle. I blink with eyes half open, still half asleep.

"Hi." She says too cheerfully for my liking, before looking up and down my slouched over form. "It's 2 pm..and you're still sleeping..?" She comments, giving away some judgment.

"What's your point?" I say sourly. "What do you need? It's been months since I've seen you." I blink a few more times, trying to fully wake up.

"I wanted to see you." Elle replies simply. "...and check out your new place. Mom told me you're living in a penthouse now because you finally agreed to take over.." She brushes past me, stepping inside without invitation. "It's beautiful."

"I guess." I mutter, closing the door behind me, and turning back to face Elle. "I feel like I'm in a beautiful prison."

Elle looks me up and down again, this time with even more judgement. "No offense, but you look like a sickly Victorian child." She continues, her concern evident. "When's the last time you've seen the sun, other than for training?" She pauses before adding, "Actually when's the last time you've even left the house in general if it wasn't for training?"

"My father is watching my every move." I explain with anger. "I can't go party or see my old friends. I don't do drugs anymore..so what's the point of even leaving the house?" I let out a bitter scoff. "People suck." I say as I walk over to a pack of cigarettes on my dining room table.

Elle chuckles dryly, "That was the most emo thing I ever heard." She says with a sarcastic smile.

"I'm just being honest." I mumble, placing the cigarette between my lips as I open the balcony door and light it, taking a deep inhale. "So why are you here?" I turn to Elle, exhaling a cloud of smoke, my eyes glued on her now.

"The truth?" Elle asks, her voice turning somber as I nod for her to continue. "You and Mia are like my only sense of family normalcy.." She continues captiously, her eyes meeting mine."After you guys left.. I felt so alone."