The Elite

First Day

Aaron Turner led me to the guest room. It was large and well decorated. For a moment, I had forgotten they were as rich as I am. Well... as I was. He brought down a cardboard box with some clothes and I gathered some to take a shower while Willow cooked dinner. Mr. Turner also brought me a razor and shaving cream; something I needed almost as much as I needed a shower.

I turned it on and sighed in relief. I hadn't had a proper shower in three days. It felt like heaven. I shut my eyes, letting the hot water roll down my sore back. That hotel had been awful. I couldn't sleep in the bed because it was stained and they refused to change it out for me so I slept on the floor.

While I washed my hair several times, I thought back to the day of that terrible news report.

I paced my living room, wishing that I could rewind the time and never go to that damn dinner. My parents walked in without bothering to knock. They looked furious and we sat at the dining room table.

"Just one chance," I begged before they said anything. "Just let me get on air and-"

"Absolutely not," my mother snapped. "You've done enough damage, Nathaniel."

She looked to my father. He was glaring at me. My mouth was dry. Please don't let this be happening.

My father dug something out of his coat pocket and tossed an envelope onto the table. I took it with shaking hands. Inside were five $100 bills.

"This is enough to get you somewhere," he said coldly. "You're still our son but we can no longer fund your reckless life style. You'll move out tonight."

My jaw dropped. "But- Please. This isn't-"

They stood up, both glaring at me.

After they left, I raged, throwing things around the kitchen and cursing Polly and Willow. I changed into that damn suit and was about to leave when I saw the purse. I wrinkled my nose. As much as I hated to admit it, I might need her help. I put it in my coat pocket and left.

I hadn't heard from anybody since then. The hotel had horrible rates but I didn't have a choice. When I realized just how desperate my situation was, I called Mr. Turner. My parents had forgotten about my phone and I had enough time to call him then call Polly before my parents turned it off.

I sighed and finished showering. When I was done, I shaved and changed into the clothes. I shuddered. I was wearing his old underwear. Gross. That would be the first thing I would buy with my paycheck.

I shaved carefully, blinking tiredly. When I got downstairs, Willow was still cooking dinner. She glared at me as I came down and I returned it.

Mr. Turner was sitting at the table with a can of Miller Light and a sports magazine.

"How was your shower?" he asked when I sat beside him.

"Good," I mumbled. "Thanks."

"Dinner smells great, sweetie," he said as Willow placed dishes in front of us.

"Spaghetti?" I scoffed and she glared daggers at me before going to get the garlic bread from the oven.

"Give it a try," Mr. Turner said. "She's actually a very good cook."

She sat down and I sighed, taking a bite. Holy crap. It was good. I was about to compliment her but I shut my mouth. No way.

"We'll start with something easy tomorrow," Mr. Turner said as we ate. "Nothing too difficult since it's your first time doing something like this."

"What will we do?" I asked wearily.

"Grooming," he answered and Willow snorted.

I glared at her. "And what's so funny?"

"You? Grooming?" She laughed. "I'd like to see that. Take a camera, Dad."

"That's enough, Willow," he said and she rolled her eyes, drinking her water. "It's not too difficult once you get the hang of it."

"What time do you need me to wake up?"

"Six," he answered and my jaw dropped.

I haven't woken up that early since high school. I sighed, though, and nodded. After I finished my dinner, I got up. Willow snatched my plate and stalked into the kitchen. I rolled my eyes. Her attitude would get old fast.

"I suppose I'll be making breakfast tomorrow, too?" Willow asked.

"Well, yes," Mr. Turner said. "I mean, you do every morning."

She scoffed. "That was before Nathaniel Banker moved in."

I rolled my eyes and went up to the room I was staying in. I climbed in and set the alarm on the night stand. I wasn't looking forward to it. Grooming horses? Being around their... their shit?

I shuddered but sighed. The bed was incredibly comfortable and I immediately fell asleep.

-

The alarm woke me up and I stretched. I changed and sighed at the boots at the end of my bed. Cowboy boots. Good Lord. This would be awful. Hopefully it would only be temporary. Once everyone saw I was making an effort....

When I got downstairs, Willow was in her pajamas again but she was cooking breakfast. She didn't even look at me as I came down. She did slam a glass of orange juice on the table, though. I wanted to say something but I was too tired. Mr. Turner was drinking his juice.

"Looks wonderful," he complimented Willow and she smiled tiredly at him.

She didn't say anything to me as she dropped a huge plate in front of me. It was piled with eggs, bacon, and pancakes. All I could see was a plate full of carbs.

"PB&J?" Willow asked from the kitchen.

"Yes ma'am," Mr. Turner said happily. "Put in an extra fruit for him."

"Okay. There's a rotten apple here that will be perfect."

Mr. Turner finished his juice and looked at my plate. I had only eaten half of it.

"You'll want to finish that," he said.

"No thanks," I muttered. "I'm on a diet and that's a shit load of carbs."

To my surprise, Willow was smirking at me instead of rising to my insult. Mr. Turner looked doubtful but sighed.

"If you're sure," he said slowly. "We'll be back up around four," he told Willow who did a mock salute.

"Thanks for taking me in, Mr. Turner," I mumbled as we walked down to the ranch, our paper sack lunches in our hands.

"Call me Aaron," he said. "And you're welcome. I know what it's like to be on rock bottom. When is Polly going to be here?"

I sighed. "I don't know. She never returned my phone call." I shook my head. "So, how many horses are we grooming today?"

"Fifty," he said cheerfully as he put our lunch sacks in the mini fridge.

I groaned.