The Elite

Ungrateful

I was eating lunch when the back door opened.

"That's right, Nathan," my dad was saying and I looked up. "Easy. Deep breaths."

I cringed. Nathaniel was sweating and his face was tinted green.

"Gonna puke again," he murmured and ran down the hall.

My dad sighed. "Well, he lasted longer than I thought he would." We both winced as he vomited into the toilet. "Hopefully he'll actually eat his food this time."

"Did you get to eat your lunches?" I asked, passing him some water.

"Nah, but they'll keep until tomorrow."

Nathaniel came back and slumped into a chair. I passed my dad a water for him.

"Drink up," he said. "You won't want to but it's important that you stay hydrated."

"Holy shit," he moaned. "Fuck. You were right."

"How many horses did you get done?" I asked, pulling out my cookbook to try and find something for dinner.

"Ten," my dad said.

"Do you want me to finish up?"

"That's all right. We'll get some more done tomorrow."

"There's more?" Nathaniel asked, his jaw dropping.

"Yep," my dad said cheerfully. "I'm going to take a shower. What are you making for dinner tonight, sweetie?"

"I don't know yet," I answered. "Probably hamburgers. You can't go wrong with hamburgers."

"Yes you can," Nathaniel snapped. I glared at him. "Do you know how fattening hamburgers are!?"

"Did you learn nothing?" I snapped, slamming the book shut as my dad disappeared upstairs. "You need carbs! You need these 'fattening' foods! If you don't, you'll get sick like this every time!"

He wrinkled his nose. "I changed my mind. Being homeless would be better than this."

I rolled my eyes. "Be my guest."

He frowned. "Do you really hate me that much?"

I rounded on him. "Look, I know this has all been shitty for you, but you're not the only one. Stop being an ungrateful ass and try to do something that isn't complaining."

He was staring at me. "I'm not ungrateful."

"Oh really? So you don't call complaining about everything I make for you ungrateful?"

"I'm not complaining," he snapped. "I'm not used to this, Willow! I didn't grow up in this world like you did!"

"I know. You had everything handed to you on a fucking silver spoon! But the real world isn't like that, Nathaniel! You don't wake up in the morning to poached eggs and rubies! You wake up to hard work. That's how you get back on your damn feet. So stop complaining. This is your life now. Get used to it."

His jaw dropped as he watched me storm up the stairs. Ignoring my father's questioning eyes, I slammed my bedroom door shut and screamed into my pillow. He drove me insane. He didn't know a day's worth of hard work in his life.

There's no way he'd survive here.

-

A couple hours later, I had calmed down and went back into the kitchen. Nathaniel was still at the dining room table but this time he had a book. He was staring at me but I ignored him and dug through the fridge. I sighed to myself.

"We need to go grocery shopping," I murmured. "Maybe Dad'll give me his card."

He was in the living room watching TV.

"Hey Dad," I said and he smiled at me. "Can I get the debit card from you? We are in desperate need of groceries."

He bit his lower lip. "I don't know about that, Willow. People are still freaking out about the love triangle thing."

"Come on," I begged. "I'll be fine. I'm a big girl."

"A big girl doesn't have to beg her dad to go grocery shopping," Nathaniel sneered and I glared at him.

"Shut up, Banker," I snapped. "What's that look for?" I added at my dad.

He dug his wallet out of his pocket and passed it to me.

"Nathan's going with you," he said and my jaw dropped.

"No way!" we said in unison.

"Grocery shopping is a woman's job," he grumbled and my eyes widened.

I leaped for him but my dad jumped up and caught me.

"Relax Willow," he said in a tired voice. "Come on. He's going with you so get over it."

I growled and pushed out of his arms. "Fine." I snatched the keys and led the way to the car. "Are you coming or not, Banker?"

"Not," he said stubbornly.

My dad grabbed his arm and pulled him into the hallway. "You're going, Nathan. Now get off your butt and get in the car."

Nathaniel rolled his eyes.

"Is there anything special you want while we're there?" I asked my dad as he picked up the remote and changed it to a football game.

"Some more beer would be nice."

"You've got it," I said, walking to the garage door again.

"And don't forget your tampons!" he called and I screeched to a halt.

"Aw, does Willow need her blood plugs?" Nathaniel teased.

"Oh, that's disgusting," I said. "Blood plugs? What are you, 12?"

He scoffed. "I have your purse by the way," he said. "You left it in my car."

"So that's where it disappeared to," I said. "Where is it?"

"I dunno," he shrugged.

My jaw dropped. "Dude! I need that! It has all my important information in it!"

He glared as I started the car. "Chill. I was joking. It's up in the guest room in that damn coat."

"Oh," I muttered and drove down the road to the closest grocery store.

"Dirty truck," I heard him sigh.

I gripped the steering wheel but ignored it. I was looking forward to grocery shopping. I had always enjoyed it. When we got to the parking lot, though, I got worried. What would people do when they saw us together?

I got out and stretched. Suddenly, a beanie was pushed onto my head.

"Hey," I whined. "That's mine!"

"Which is why you're the one wearing it, retard," he said with a roll of his eyes.

"Oh. Right."

We went inside and I got a cart. When we walked in, I got excited. Grocery shopping. A time to get out and look at fresh produce!

"So do you want me to get the meats?" he asked and I smirked.

"Oh no, Mr. Blood Plugs," I said and he frowned. I shoved him down the feminine hygiene aisle. "I'll be back."

"Wait!" he said. "Don't- Hey!"