Page 40 of Skye's Fall
“She’s not that bad,” Alexa retorts.
“I just watched Zack come from the barn where she went in. They are hooking up,” Victoria says.
“You don’t know that for sure,” Kara observes.
“Still doesn’t change her past,” Victoria replies.
“True. Leopards never change their spots,” Kara says.
“She’s such filth, you can smell her coming,” Victoria laughs and I hear them walk off.
I wipe a few tears away. I was a slut when I was with Memphis, but to hear it that way breaks my heart. I will always be reminded of my past.
I have fallen hard, now I need to pick myself back up. I have to work on myself, finally love myself before I can let anyone else love me.
“Don’t let them get to you,” Ever says, making me jump.
“I’m trying not to, but it’s hard.”
“We can’t change anything in the past. You aren’t defined by it either. You made some mistakes, we all do,” she says.
“You’re perfect,” I scatter chicken feed as she laughs.
“I’m not perfect. I was exactly what you told me I was when I was younger— a fat nobody. And I’m not saying this to hurt you or myself, but I was fat. I didn’t care about myself, and I didn’t think anyone else did either. And then my life changed. I might have lost the weight, but I wasn’t the same. I finally started to work on myself. I still look in the mirror and see myself as fat. But I promised I wouldn’t let anyone walk all over me again. I started to put myself first.”
“I did that and look what happened,” I sniffle.
“You let fame and fortune go to your head. That could happen to anyone. All of us at one time wanted to leave this one church town and make it big. I think once Memphis did, you forgot where you came from, even he did.”
“You would never have let it go to your head,” I tell her.
“I disagree. I probably would have lost myself for a little bit. I’m only human, like you. You need to remember where you came from. Never forget your roots,” she says. Kind of makes me feel better that she says she would have lost her way as well.
“I’m trying to remember,” I tell her as I grab the bucket to put it up.
“You will. And if you want to do it away from here, I know a place you can go,” she says.
“Where?”
“Home,” she says as she walks away.
Maybe being around my family for a little bit will help. I came on the show to get away from everyone, but maybe family is what I need. When did Ever get so wise?
I see people starting to gather under the big oak tree, so I make my way up, making sure I wipe my eyes. Can’t let those girls know I heard them or that they got under my skin. They did, but the way to survive is to not let them know that. It just gives them more ammunition to use against me.
“Where have you been?” Linc asks as I stand next to Snow.
“Feeding the chickens,” and he just nods.
“Alright, guys, get down to your swim trunks and head to the dock,” Carlton says.
I admire all the men in the group. They are built, Dayton being the biggest. These guys should be in a magazine or in a calendar. Oh wait, they are. Now I need to find the calendar the show did, because I could stare at some of these guys all day. I could stare at Linc all day, that’s for sure. I wouldn’t mind him being shirtless all the time.
“You’re blushing,” Snow whispers and I try to get myself under control. I can feel the heat on my cheeks now that she says that.
“Alright, two at a time, you paddle to the buoys in the water, dive down, collect the rings. Fastest time moves on,” Carlton says. “Dayton and Peter are up first.”
They climb into the canoes and wait for the signal.
