Chapter 6
Ali Kat
Morning comes too quickly, forcing me into the harsh realities of my new world.
The family farm does not care about my sleep number, leaving my body sore. Nor does it care about the specialized diet I must maintain if I’m to play the superhero role I signed on for, Purple Legion.
Mother plops another biscuit onto my plate.
“I think I’m good,” I say, managing a tight smile.
“If you’re gonna be working the fields all day, I’d say you need to eat more by half.”
“Ma, I’m not here to work the fields. I got myself into a tight spot, but it’ll blow over.”
“And until it does, you’re working the fields with Prim.”
I drop my fork to the table, jaw agape.
“It won’t be so bad,” Prim says. “Today’s actually a greenhouse day, but later in the afternoon, we’ll have to go out to the orchard.”
“But I still haven’t put away my luggage. Jake came in at the crack of dawn, throwing the rest of my bags into the loft, and now it’s freakin’ chaos.”
“You’ll have to do that on your own time,” Ma says sternly.
I roll my eyes but choose not to argue with the Carter matriarch as I’m well aware this is a losing battle.
“Count yourself lucky,” Ma continues. “The boys have been out since daybreak, tilling and moving the goats into a new pasture.”
“Sunday, Funday,” I grumble under my breath, but Mom’s swift glance tells me it didn’t go unnoticed.
I grit my teeth and try to remind myself that they’re doing me a favor by letting me stay here on the farm.
Some favor.
I reclaim my fork and spread sausage gravy atop the biscuit Mother forced upon me. As much as I hate to admit it, it tastes good.
No—great.
My dietician has me on a meal plan that cuts almost all carbs from my diet and focuses on building muscle. Even carrots have too much sugar, he says. It’s not like he has me starving, far from it. I’m eating nearly twice as many calories, but it’s a lot of calories with little enjoyment.
My farm-made breakfast breaks every rule he’s set out for me, but I can’t find the willpower to deny myself this small pleasure.
I’ll be better once I’m settled. I’ll only offend Ma if I refuse her cooking.
“So, is it true you were dating that guy from that vampire show? The big one?”
“Roland from The Blood Cove? God, I don’t know how that rumor got started. We stayed on the same floor of a hotel last fall, but he was hosting coke…um…parties for Coca Cola.”
Great save, dumb ass.
“All my friends think he’s hot and had all these questions about him.”
“Sorry, sis. Can’t help ya with that one.”
“What about that Fredrick guy. The one from the deodorant commercials.”
“Guilty,” I say, to which my mother casts me a scathing look. “We were…very good friends.”
