Don't Run Away

Chapter 4.

The rest of the week goes by in a blur. I surprisingly do most of my chores, and still manage to go on a few runs.

It's Thursday night, and I'm pretty sure they're drawing the Selection girls tomorrow. Not like I care. I bet the prince is boring, he probably has like NO personality. And like I don't even wanna look at that magazine anymore. He's like not even THAT cute... Yeah...

Ok, so I may or may not have skimmed through that magazine 4 times since I hid it behind my bookshelf. ONLY 4. JUST 4.

One of the times when I was skimming through it, I happened to find an interview between Elvin Fadaye, and Prince Stephan. Elvin was asking basic questions about his life in the palace and the Selection, and I noticed that Stephan spoke very formally. I mean obviously, he's had the training to talk like that, but he almost sounded too formal, too rigid.

And yeah, ever since then I've started a mental list of things that I don't like about Prince Stephan Normandy. The sooner I can overcome this little crush (if I can even call it that) the better. And also because it's super fun to hold grudges against people I've never met. Duh.

Surprisingly my mother has hardly brung up the Selection at all. It's almost as if she forgot about it. Which is great don't get me wrong, but I feel like she's been off for the last couple of days. I don't really know how to describe it. I'm actually pretty worried, but I'm too nervous about confronting her about it because I don't want to get told something I don't want to hear. I'm just planning on being on my best behavior so I can hopefully lift my mother's spirits.

Princes and mothers aside, I should go to bed. I went on an extra long run today (after finishing farm work I might add) and I'm exhausted. Thankfully, nothing is really going on tomorrow. I don't have to make any deliveries, and I can do all my chores earlier in the morning! Hallelujah!

~*~

I wake to the sound of birds chirping and the sun on my face. Hah, no I didn't. It is actually really cloudy today surprisingly. I wonder if it's gonna rain. I sure hope so, then I won't need to water the crops.

I get dressed, brush my teeth, comb my hair with my fingers, and then head down to the kitchen for breakfast.

No one is in the kitchen when I get down there. Weird, but I shrug it off and start heating up some leftover oatmeal. My oatmeal is impossibly bad today, but I choke it down and put on my boots. Even though my parents aren't awake, I decide to head out to start my chores anyways.

~*~

I decide to actually do all my farm work without any procrastination, and I end up finishing all of it by noon. My parents do end up coming outside to plant crops and take care of the animals, but just a little later than usual.

We all eat lunch together in comfortable silence. I love moments like these, spending quality time with my family, but my brain doesn't really need to be turned on.

However, the silence doesn't last for long.

"Frankie, as you know your mother hasn't been feeling the best, and she didn't get around to delivering products to the neighbors yet. If you are available, please deliver them sometime today."

I'm sorta shocked my dad would think that I have something going on this afternoon, he knows better than anyone that I do the same things every day. And of course, I will do the deliveries today if it means that my mom will get some time to rest.

"Yeah, no problem, I'll deliver them later today"

"Thank you" my dad answers rather solemnly.

Our lunch re-enters that calm silence.