Scandals, Rumors, Lies

by Jessica Burkhart

  “Hello, everyone,” Mr. Conner said.

  “Hi, Mr. Conner,” we said back.

  “Mr. Nicholson is waiting in my office,” Mr. Conner said. “Unlike last time, he’s going to have the three of you come in at the same time. He wants to make this as fast and painless as possible.”

  They were sooo lucky. Last time, Mr. Nicholson had called us in one by one. The wait had been excruciating.

  “You may come with me into my office,” Mr. Conner said. “But before you go, I want to tell each of you who tested that I’m extremely proud to have you riding for my stable. No matter what the outcome, Julia, Alison, and Callie, you all tried your best during testing. There was not one moment when I was disappointed with your performances.”

  “Thank you,” Callie said. Julia and Alison added their thanks. Mr. Conner didn’t offer up praise like that too often and when he did, it meant so much. I hoped that it would mean something to the girls who didn’t make the team.

  Mr. Conner gestured for the three girls to stand and follow him.

  “Good luck, guys,” Heather said.

  “You’ve got this,” Brit added.

  “Good luck,” I said. “You all worked really hard.”

  The three girls gave us all tight smiles and turned, following Mr. Conner a few steps down the hallway to his office. He let them walk inside first, then shut the door behind him.

  Heather, Brit, and I simultaneously leaned back, resting against the wooden wall.

  We were quiet for several minutes. Even though I wasn’t waiting to find out my YENT fate, the waiting seemed to drag on just as long.

  “Whoever makes it will be a good addition to the team,” Heather said. Her tone, though soft, seemed to echo through the hallway.

  “Definitely,” Brit said. “Each of them worked so hard to get here. I’m so nervous, it feels like I’m the one waiting for my decision.”

  “Me too,” I said.

  We lapsed into silence.

  When Mr. Conner’s door finally opened, we all jumped. I stood and so did Brit and Heather.

  The three girls walked out of the office and my eyes flicked to each of their faces. I saw Callie first and I knew.

  Callie was on the YENT.

  She wasn’t grinning or gloating, but there was a look of relief and quiet happiness.

  “Congratulations, Callie,” I said. All along, I knew she’d make it. Callie deserved it. She should have made it the first time she’d tried out. But she was on the team now and that meant we’d have to find a way to coexist.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  Alison looked as if she was going to burst into tears at any second, but she walked over and managed a wavery smile. Everyone else chimed in with their congratulations to Callie. Everyone except for Julia.

  Callie, ever the professional, turned to Julia and Alison. “I’m sorry you didn’t make it,” she said. “It could have been any one of us.”

  Callie walked down the hallway, leaving the Trio, Brit, and me in the hallway.

  “This is ridiculous!” Julia whispered, not so quietly. “I worked every single day to make that team. How could Mr. Nicholson pick CALLIE?”

  “Julia, shh,” I said. “Mr. Conner and Mr. Nicholson will hear you.”

  “I don’t care!” she half-yelled. “Does that even matter now? I didn’t make it. I did everything and I didn’t make it. After everything, after Jasmine and not being able to test the first time—it’s so wrong. I—”

  “Let’s go before you get in trouble,” Alison said, still calm. Her brown eyes were sad, but she was holding it together even when Julia was acting like an insensitive brat.

  “Aren’t you even a little bit mad?” Julia asked, whipping her head around to glare at Alison. “You didn’t make it either. Callie did.”

  “Julia,” Heather’s voice had a warning tone to it.

  But Alison straightened and kept her composure. “I know I didn’t make it. And I’m sad and frustrated that I didn’t. But no, I’m not mad at myself or Callie or anyone. I tried and I didn’t make it.”

  I just stared at Alison, never feeling more proud of her. She was hurting and dealing with her friend who was completely freaking out.

  “Fine,” Julia said. “Just be all Alison about it—like everything else. I’m over this.”

  She stomped away and Heather, Alison, and I looked at each other.

  “You okay?” I asked Alison. “I’m sorry that happened after getting news like that.”

  Alison pulled her long hair over one shoulder. “I’m sad, obviously. I really, really wanted to be on the YENT. But I will try again. I’m not giving up.”

  Heather gave her a one-armed hug and Alison leaned into her best friend.

  “I’m going to talk to Julia,” Heather said. She had the tone in her voice that scared me. “What she did was so beneath her and superimmature.”

  “She’s handling it her own way,” Alison said. “Don’t get into a fight with her over that. It’s not worth it. I can handle my own battles.”

  Heather stared at Alison for a second, then nodded. “I know you can. But she better apologize.”

  We headed out of the hallway and left the stable. There were no lessons today since Mr. Conner was driving Mr. Nicholson to the airport. I wanted to visit Charm, but Alison, and even Julia, needed moral support right now.

  “What do you want to do tonight?” Brit asked Alison. “We should do something fun, right guys?” She looked at Heather and me.

  “Definitely,” Heather said.

  “I’m in,” I said.

  We skipped the sidewalk, taking a shortcut through the grass to Orchard.

  “I’d like that,” Alison said, giving us a tiny smile. “I think we should have fun tonight. Maybe a movie and takeout in the common room?”

  “Done,” Heather said. She playfully elbowed Alison. “I’ll even let you pick out the food.”

  That made Alison laugh. “Wow. I shouldn’t make the YENT every day.”

  Together, we all walked back to the Trio’s suite, ready for a night of distraction. Secretly, I was looking forward to it. It had finally sunk in that I’d be practicing with Callie again. I had no idea how we’d work together in the arena at the same time. I didn’t have much time to think about it—the first YENT practice with Callie was tomorrow.

  HEARTS AND KISSES

  I WAS SITTING IN HISTORY CLASS WHEN MY BlackBerry vibrated on my leg.

  I looked down and saw a typing sign next to Brit’s name on BlackBerry Messenger.

  Brit Chan:

  U hear abt it yet?

  Sasha Silver:

  Hear about what?

  Brit Chan:

  A Canterwood gossip blog.

  Sasha Silver:

  ??

  Brit Chan:

  It’s anonymous. First post went up an hr ago.

  Sasha Silver:

  What’s it about?

  Brit Chan:

  Bashing the school & how u have 2 b popular 2 make it @ CC.

  Sasha Silver:

  Whoa. I want to read it before our lesson.

  Brit Chan:

  Me 2. Got 2 go, but TTYL.

  Sasha Silver:

  K. Bye.

  I put my phone down and hurried to scribble down the notes I’d missed. An anonymous gossip blogger? It could be anybody—a high schooler, someone in my grade—maybe even someone in my class.

  Through the rest of class, I tried to concentrate, but I couldn’t. I wanted to read the blog!

  After class, I raced back to my dorm. Brit and I reached the door at the same time, laughing. I’d almost gotten tangled in the cotton spider web Halloween decoration that was at the entrance of the hallway because I hadn’t been paying attention.

  “Good timing,” she said.

  “No kidding. I practically ran back here so I’d have enough time to read the post and get dressed before our lesson.”

  “Me too,” Brit said.

  We unlocked ou
r door and threw down our backpacks. They’d barely hit the floor when Brit opened her laptop and awakened it from sleep mode.

  We both hovered as she typed an address in Firefox—www.canterwoodcrestgossip.com.

  A bright purple page with a white text box pulled up. It was a simple blog that looked innocent, but the words were anything but that.

  Canterwood Crest

  If anyone’s paying attention to what’s going on at Canterwood Crest “Academy,” they might notice a problem. Not a little problem, but an issue that’s ridiculously rampant through campus.

  Figured it out?

  I didn’t think so.

  I’ll spell it out for you. There’s a hierarchy on campus. And that order of social status has started to slip.

  But that’s not going to happen.

  New students, recent and past, have shaken up the leaders of each grade, one in particular, and that’s something I won’t tolerate.

  Of course there’s no way I’d tell you where I am in the rankings of things. But just know that I’m watching everything and I’m going to get what I want.

  Hearts and kisses

  “Whoooa,” I said. “Who’s writing this? It’s crazy!”

  Brit, with eyes still on the screen, shook her head. “I don’t know. It’s offensive to the students and the school. This is going to be pulled so fast—I know Canterwood’s tech team will figure it out.”

  “Whoever wrote this is going to be suspended, if not expelled,” I said. “If you have to blog about something like this, at least do it on a locked MyJournal or something just to vent.”

  “There are so many possibilities of people who could be doing it,” I added. “It could be anyone.”

  Brit shut her computer lid, looking at me. “And that’s exactly what the blogger wants—for us to wonder.”

  “PROFESSIONAL” DRAMA

  I CHECKED OUR PURPLE BEDSIDE CLOCK COVERED in glittery stars. “We better get ready, or we’re going to be late.”

  Brit looked at the clock, jumping off her bed. We pulled riding clothes out of our closet. I slid into my coziest pair of avocado green breeches with comfy suede knees with extra padding. A purple V-neck sweater complemented the green and, stepping back and forth out of each other’s way, Brit and I changed and freshened up from a day of classes.

  Even though Mr. Conner frowned on us wearing perfume or body spray in class, I spritzed a tiny bit of Burberry Brit perfume (hello, major sale online!) on my wrists. Oddly enough, Charm loved the scent. Maybe it reminded him of me when I was in class all day. When I’d been gone over break, I’d sprayed a tiny bit on his blanket to hopefully comfort him and remind him that I’d be back soon.

  I brushed my hair into low ponytail and applied a coat of clear lip gloss.

  Brit did her own hair in a beautiful French braid and looked sleek in black breeches, tall boots, and a crew-neck red shirt.

  “Ready?” she asked.

  “Def,” I said.

  But I wasn’t. I mean, I was dressed and ready to leave, but not so much for the part about spending a lesson with Callie.

  Both of us rushed out the door, hurrying for the stable. Since today was the first lesson with Callie, Mr. Conner was easing her into it by starting with only an afternoon lesson. After that, we’d add in morning lessons, too. It would be different to have a roommate who was on the same schedule—one who’d be getting up early with me to ride. That was going to be a huge change in my day-to-day routine.

  “Do you think things will be superawkward?” I asked Brit.

  “Because of Callie?” she asked.

  “Yeah. We haven’t ridden together in forever and now she’s on the YENT.”

  We broke into a faster walk, weaving around the other students who were also rushing to sports or extracurricular activities.

  “Callie seems like a very professional rider,” Brit said, brushing her bangs out of her eyes. “I don’t think she’s going to be weird or mean to you during lessons.”

  “I don’t think so either,” I said. “And Mr. Conner would never allow it. I’m just worried that things will be off and neither of us will be able to concentrate.”

  Brit and I reached the stable and gathered our horses’ tack. “If you stay cool, I’m sure Callie will too,” Brit said. “Just act like it’s any other lesson and it’ll be fine.”

  “Thanks, B,” I said. “See you at the warm up.”

  We split up and I went straight for the other being who could comfort me the most—Charm.

  I walked down the aisle, not seeing Callie, and sighed with relief when I reached Charm’s stall.

  I slid open the lock, slipping inside. He seemed to sense immediately that I needed him. He walked over from where he’d been standing in the corner and stopped in front of me so I could put my arms around his neck.

  “Hi, guy,” I said. “I’m sooo nervous about today.”

  Then I thought about Charm.

  “But you’re going to be happy. Guess why?”

  I let go of Charm and looked in his eyes. He gazed back, seeming to want to know the answer.

  “Jack and Callie made the YENT,” I told him. “That means you’ll get to see Jack every day again. I know you missed him.”

  Charm, seeming to recognize his old best friend’s name, bobbed his head. I rubbed his blaze and stood with him for a few minutes, feeling safe and enjoying the escape from the noise around us.

  “Let’s get you tacked up,” I said at last.

  I took Charm by the halter, leading him out of his sawdust-filled stall and into the aisle. There was a free pair of crossties in front of his stall and I clipped them to the side rings of his halter.

  “I think you need a supergrooming,” I told him.

  I took my time brushing his already clean coat, combing his tangle free mane and tail and picking his hooves. It was a stalling technique and I was dangerously close to running late, but I almost didn’t care. Part of me was less afraid to face Mr. Conner than to ride in the arena with Callie for the first time. I tacked up Charm, then kept him standing in the aisle while I pretended to adjust the girth.

  “Siiilver, let’s go,” Heather said as she walked past me and headed for the arena. “We’re riding in the outdoor arena. So stop stalling and move before we’re late.”

  I knew she was right. I had to just go and face Callie.

  “Coming,” I said.

  Charm and I lagged behind Heather and Aristocrat as we went down the aisle and toward the outdoor arena.

  When I reached the arena, Brit and Heather were warming up their horses. Brit halted Apollo, then worked on backing him in a straight line. Apollo, who always had beautiful lines, tucked his shin and moved straight back, not even hesitating. He was a well-trained horse and I loved watching him move. I wished, more and more, that Brit owned him. Instead, she had been leasing him for the past six months from a girl who was away at college. The lease was for a year and Brit could lose Apollo if the girl decided to take him back. They were a perfect pair—Brit deserved to have Apollo as her own. I didn’t even want to think about Brit losing him …

  Across the arena, Heather was taking Aristocrat through spirals that got tighter and tighter. The chestnut, a few shades darker than Aristocrat, curved his body without the slightest sign of strain. Heather had been working hard to keep him supple by doing lots of lunge work—something I wanted to do more of with Charm.

  I eased Charm into a free walk and let him walk along the rail. He was in a great mood today—he seemed to know I needed extra support from him.

  Brit turned Apollo around, heading in my direction.

  “How’re you doing?” she asked.

  I settled deep in Charm’s saddle, determined to keep his good mood going. He didn’t deserve to be stressed after such a great start to our warm-up.

  “I’m a little on edge,” I said. “I don’t know how Callie’s going to act toward me, but I’m sure she’s going to be professional. She’ll probably just ignore m
e.”

  Brit gave me a half smile. “I’m sorry you’re nervous. But remember—you’ve got Heather and me in the arena with you. You’re not alone.”

  “I know—and thanks.”

  “Want to trot?” Brit asked.

  “Definitely,” I said.

  We squeezed our legs against our horses’ sides and as they started to trot, Callie and Black Jack entered the arena. Callie had brushed the beautiful gelding to a shining black—his dark coat stark against the white English saddle pad.

  Callie, probably feeling as I had during my first YENT lesson, had put extra effort into dressing up. She wore maroon breeches that I hadn’t seen before and a black long sleeve shirt. Charm, seeing Jack, would have paused mid-trot if I didn’t encouraged him to keep going. But as we followed Brit and Apollo, leaving Jack and Callie behind, Charm tried to turn his head to see his friend and, for a reason I didn’t know, I let him stop.

  Jack, strained against the reins, stretching his neck toward Charm.

  And Callie let Jack walk over.

  Tension rippled through my muscles.. I was so over drama—all I wanted to do was focus on the lesson—and I had to hope that the Callie I used to know wanted the same. My fingers gripped the reins and my heart rate sped up, making me all the more happy to have Charm with me.

  Callie halted Jack in front of Charm and the two horses sniffed muzzles.

  “Hey,” I said, my tone cautious, but friendly.

  “Hey,” Callie echoed.

  We both looked down, then back at each other.

  “Callie—”

  “Sasha—”

  We spoke at the same time.

  “Go ahead,” I said, not wanting her to think I was interrupting and make her angry.

  “I just wanted to say that I don’t want things to be weird when we practice. Our personal drama has to be separate from this. And I know you know that.”

  “I do. The YENT is too important to both of us for our issues to follow us into the arena. Plus, it wouldn’t be fair to Heather and Brit. We’d be dragging down the team.”

  Callie reached down to adjust her left stirrup iron. She looked back at me, a calm resolve on her face. Maybe, just maybe, things were going to be okay with us on the same team. I certainly hadn’t expected Callie to talk to me on the first day of practice.