Dark Harmony: A Vivienne Taylor Horse Lover's Mystery (Fairmont Riding Academy Book 2)

by Michele Scott

  As we continue with our ride and our conversation turns a bit lighter, I realize that Joel is pretty cool. I like him. Trauma does change people. It just does. It did me, and although I am not happy that Joel has gone through the things he has, it’s good that he is choosing to be a better person because of them, rather than a bitter, mean one.

  After the ride with Joel, I get back to the room and Martina is there, curling her hair. “Hi,” I say.

  “Oh hey. I’m glad you’re back. Raul has two extra tickets to the Black Eyed Peas tonight. I just talked to Tristan, and he said that you guys are totally in. Get dressed, girlfriend.”

  “Uh. Oh. Okay.”

  “You do want to go, don’t you?”

  I nod. “Of course. I just am surprised. I’ll take a shower.” I turn the shower on, and okay, I am excited to go to the concert, but I still have my reservations about this Raul dude. Whatever. I guess if anything, I might get a better read on him and find out if he is the real deal or the schmuck I have been thinking he might be. I’ll soon find out.

  CHAPTER twenty

  I’m a big enough person to admit when I am wrong, which turns out to be a good thing. After spending more time with Raul, it’s obvious that I have been completely off base about him.

  He is totally nice and funny, and his cuteness factor can’t be ignored. He isn’t Tristan, of course, but he’s definitely pretty great and clearly 100 percent into Martina. After the concert, which was amazing, our energy is pumping. Even though we know we should go back to school, we stop in at the Malibu Café and order some dessert. We did get permission from Kayla to come in an hour after curfew, after all. Tristan and I share a brownie à la mode.

  Chocolate syrup is stuck on the side of his lip and I laugh as I wipe it off. “Messy.”

  He whispers in my ear, “You were supposed to lick it off.”

  I shake my head and whisper back, “Stop it. You are really bad.”

  “I know,” he replies.

  I smile at Martina and Raul, who are in their own world, sharing a brownie à la mode of their own. It’s almost too perfect.

  “You guys met over my horse, I hear,” I say to Raul.

  “Yeah. I saw her—your horse, then I saw her. . . .” He leans his head on Martina’s shoulder for a second and smiles. “And that was all it took.”

  “Stop,” Martina giggles.

  “It’s true,” Raul says. “It might sound stupid, but when I saw you it was really like I had been smacked upside the head. It was like I knew you from somewhere else. I can’t explain it. Thing is, I was afraid, because let’s be honest, we do come from different worlds. And, we can’t get around it that I am four years older.”

  Tristan takes my hand. I wait with bated breath to hear what Raul might say next. “But, I kept seeing her, and we kept talking, and finally I had to ask her out.”

  When he smiles as he says this, I realize it’s impossible not to like the guy. Tristan and Raul get into a football conversation and find serious common ground. Before we realize it, it’s almost past the time when we told Kayla we would be back. Finally, once we get back to our room, I bring up the subject of Raul with Martina.

  “Seems like the real deal,” I say.

  “You surprised?”

  “Don’t get mad at me, but yes. He is older.”

  “I know, but he is respectful, and he’s actually taken an oath not to have sex before marriage.”

  “What?”

  She nods. “Yeah. It’s just something he feels is the right thing to do, and it’s made it easier for me in some ways because, despite his age, there’s no pressure. But, in other ways, it’s harder because I am curious. I kind of, well, I just . . .”

  “I know,” I agree. “I’m curious, too, but waiting is not a bad thing. I don’t think so, anyway.” I don’t know whether now is the time to tell her about the condom I saw in her purse, but then I finally decide that honesty is the best way to go here. “I have to tell you something.”

  “Yeah?”

  I tell her about dropping her purse and what came out of it, and how totally stunned I was to see the condom because I thought we shared everything.

  She laughs. “Oh, that.”

  “Yeah. That.”

  “My cousins came down over Christmas and the oldest one was getting married. She passed those out as a gag at the bridal shower my mom hosted. My little cousin who is thirteen freaked out and shoved it in my purse. I totally forgot that it was there. I found it, of course, and you know what . . . I didn’t throw it away because . . . because I have thought about it with Raul. But he’s pretty certain that he wants to wait. Are you and Tristan waiting?”

  “I don’t know. We haven’t talked about it.”

  “You haven’t?”

  “No. It’s not like we’ve been together forever yet.”

  “Yet!” She laughs. “Guess what?”

  “What?”

  “My parents met Raul and they approve.” She claps her hands together like a little girl.

  “Really? That’s great.” I mean it. I like the guy, and he apparently isn’t into Martina just to get into her pants, and her parents approve . . . so, well, I made an early judgment call that was off base. I can admit when I’m wrong. Thing is, after hanging out with him tonight, I really can’t imagine him doing anything to harm Martina and her family.

  Martina and I haven’t gotten any closer to figuring out who put the note in her locker, but it hasn’t happened again, and fortunately for Martina and her family, the tabloids have laid off, and her parents have been able to work out their differences. Things appear as normal as they possibly could be, considering that Martina is from one of the biggest celeb families around and that a huge scandal was on the horizon.

  We say good night because it is really late, and I have one last thought and feeling as I fall asleep. It is relief.

  Not only have I made a friend in Joel today, and also discovered I was wrong about Raul, but Lydia Gallagher has not given me any sort of grief whatsoever in the past two weeks. In fact, she seems to not even notice Tristan or me. I still think she is a sneaky little bitch, but she has put all of her focus on a new love interest.

  Yep! I am happy as I can be. Lydia has found a new victim to pounce on, and he appears to be loving it—Harrison Gregory. They are always canoodling and playing grab ass with each other. To tell you that I am not a little relieved would be a bold-faced lie. In fact, saying a little relieved is a lie. It’s a massively huge load off to know her attention is diverted from me.

  I guess I was wrong when I came back from break and thought that second semester might rival first semester at Fairmont.

  I have no complaints, and the drama appears to be officially dead around here.

  I think.

  I hope.

  PART II

  the missing

  CHAPTER twenty-one

  Time actually does go by quickly, and as unbelievable as it may sound, months pass by without any drama around campus. Then April arrives, and I know the drama will pick up—because the big day is right around the corner when all the students will know who has been chosen to go to the championships in Lexington and score a spot at the Liberty Farms summer program in Virginia, with all expenses paid.

  But for all that I can’t wait to find out if I’ll make the list, I still have one very deep internal conflict going on from January, and it is finding the answer to this question: is my boyfriend safe when he goes home to see his family? The thing is, if Tristan were to tell me that he isn’t safe, what would I do with that? Tell my mom? Tell Holden and Kayla? Try to help him on my own?

  Things are really great between us, and I want to just ask him about it, but at the same time I have begun to question whether or not the information I receive from the horses is entirely accurate. The last few months of co
mmunication between my equine friends and me feels off in some way that I can’t put my finger on. I’ve even wondered if maybe the horses have imaginations like people do, and that what I’d perceived was the equivalent of anxious daydreams. They obviously feel things, they know things, they understand things. Could they also imagine things that aren’t accurate, but are instead a projection of their own insecurities? I don’t have those answers.

  However, finally the day comes when I know I will be receiving an answer—to the big question I’ve been waiting for.

  I know that I have a good chance. I’ve qualified well in the events that Harmony and I have been in over the past couple of months. Of the five events we competed in, we always placed in the top five, and we won two of them. If heading to Lexington was only based on event scores, then I know I’d be in. However, the school has other criteria as well—they want the qualification to be about more than just riding. Grades count, as does a vote by all of the instructors. I am hopeful that I am “in.” If so, it means that in two weeks I will be heading to Lexington with Harmony. My grades are good, and I think my attitude is always pretty positive—at least around my teachers, anyway. But, my mom is really practical and has always taught me not to “count my chickens,” so I’ve been tempering my hopes. There are quite a few students on campus who could qualify for the championships.

  I’m hugely relieved when the bell rings and I can escape my last class, which is math and not my favorite. I bolt out of the room and head over to where Tristan’s class is letting out. As I approach his classroom, I spot him walking out the door with Lydia at his side. They’re laughing and chatting it up. I feel myself freeze. I am so not good with seeing them act so cozy!

  I walk a little bit faster and catch right up to them. The look on Tristan’s face is one of surprise. The look on Lydia’s is one of amusement. The look on mine, I am sure, is not either of those emotions.

  “Hi, Vivienne,” she says.

  I put on my best fake smile and cough out, “Hello.”

  “Going to see the standings? See if you made the team?” she asks.

  “Actually, yes I am. Aren’t you?”

  Just then, Harrison shouts to Lydia, “Hey, babe, wait up!”

  A minute later she’s sliding in under his arm and gazing up at him with those blue eyes shrouded in lush eyelashes. “I’ll be there in a few,” Lydia says, snuggling even closer to Harrison. “I’m sure I’m on the team, though. Good luck.”

  Tristan then puts his arm around me. We start walking, heading toward the information bulletin board where the team list is supposed to be posted within minutes. “How was class?” Tristan asks.

  “Good. Fine. From the looks of it, not nearly as good as your class.”

  He gives me a funny look. “What do you mean?”

  “Nothing.” I shake my head and try to let it go.

  “No. What do you mean by that?” he insists, which he probably shouldn’t have.

  “What I mean is that I just saw you and Lydia laughing it up, your eyes all over each other as you walked out of class just now!”

  “C’mon, Vivvie. Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “I’m sorry. You’re right. Seeing you two laughing and, I don’t know . . . I don’t like it. It’s been nice the past couple of months that she’s been going out with Harrison. She’s backed off giving me a hard time, and she seems to have stopped trying to flirt with you. I was surprised to see you acting so chummy, that’s all. But you’re right. I have way more important things to be concerned about than Lydia.” I laugh a little nervously. I do have more important things than thinking about Lydia . . . like . . . whether or not I’ll make the team!

  Tristan removes his arm from my shoulder and grabs my hand. We are walking past the physics lab and he opens the door and drags me in. He takes hold of my shoulders and backs me against the wall. As I stare into his eyes, an electrical charge shoots through every part of me and then he starts to kiss me. It’s this long, luscious, very tempting kiss. I can feel his hand on the back of my head, his fingers intertwined in my hair, and there is this rush that travels through me that makes me feel almost as if I can’t breathe, but not in a panicky, bad way. It’s a floating, sinking, lovely feeling. The teacher’s desk is next to us, and Tristan picks me up and sets me down on it.

  “There,” he says, looking into my eyes. “Do you have any more concerns or questions about me and Lydia?”

  I shake my head and can barely hear my voice as I utter, “No.”

  He takes my face in his hands and tilts it up toward him where he now gently kisses my lips. “We’d better go before we get in trouble in more ways than one.”

  “Okay.”

  We walk out of the lab. I know I have a stupid grin on my face, but I can’t remove it. I don’t even want to try.

  He tightens his grip on my hand as we reach the bulletin board. There is a small gathering in the area. I spot Riley and Joel, along with Emily, and a few of the DZ. Lydia is not in attendance. And, I look around wondering where Martina is. She said that she’d be here.

  Riley is standing in front of the board, and when he turns around, he grins and points first at me and then at Tristan. He walks through the other students and over to us. “Looks almost like a dream team,” he says.

  “Who made it?” I squeal.

  “Obviously the three of us . . .”

  Joel comes over to us now and finishes detailing the list. “Me, Martina, and Lydia.” He frowns.

  Riley was right. Sounds like a dream team minus one. Oh well, I suppose I can deal with her for a few days. At least I will have my friends with me. I glance over at Emily, who appears distraught. I excuse myself from the guys and go over to her. “You okay?” I ask.

  “Just great. My mom is going to kill me.”

  I lower my voice so that only she can hear. I have seen Emily’s mom in action and she’s horrible. “First off, I think you should have made the team. You’ve had a great year, and we all know you’re an honor student.”

  “Right, well, I know what my mom will say. She’ll say that I didn’t get chosen because of my attitude. She’ll say that I didn’t want it badly enough, and you know what? She is probably right.” Her eyes water. “At least I’m an alternate. Maybe she’ll be somewhat pleased with that.” She shakes her head. “Sure. Who am I kidding?”

  “I am so sorry, Emily.”

  “It’s okay. It is. She’ll ground me for the summer and who knows what else. I really don’t even care anymore.”

  “Have you ever thought about telling her that it’s not your dream to be a top rider, it’s hers? That instead you want to be a vet someday? If I was your mom and found out that your goal in life is to become a veterinarian, I would be thrilled.”

  She laughs sadly. “No.” She sighs. “My mother wouldn’t find that remotely noble. As she would say, Not very challenging, Emily.”

  “Do you really care what she thinks?” I ask. “Does she know what it even takes to become a large animal vet? My mom did years of school, then an internship. It’s not easy at all.”

  Emily looks down and when she looks back at me, she says, “Yes. I actually do care what she thinks. Don’t take offense, but my mom would consider a job as a veterinarian beneath her daughter. She sees it as practically menial. It’s not high-class enough for her. She just doesn’t consider it on par with her social level.”

  Tristan calls after me. I tell him to hang on a sec. “That’s your mom, and not you. Eventually, Emily, you will have to lay it on the line for her, if you ever want to live life on your terms.”

  “Yeah. You’re probably right. Easier said than done.”

  “Viv?” Tristan calls out again.

  “Go, Vivienne,” Emily says. “You should celebrate. Congrats.”

  “Thank you. I wish I had an answer that would work for you. If there is anything that I
can do for you, please . . .”

  “I’m fine. I promise that I am fine.” She turns and walks away.

  And, that is the Emily that I have come to know. She can be sweet and caring, then sullen and surly, and from where I sit, it all revolves around her mother.

  As I walk back over to Tristan and Riley, I have this sinking feeling that Emily is far from fine. But I have no clue what to do about it.

  CHAPTER twenty-two

  I burst through the door of our room and yell out, “Martina! We made it!”

  I pause to catch my breath. I ran all the way here because I’m so excited to share the news with her that both of us were chosen to compete at the horse park in Lexington. I still can’t believe that in less than a month we will all be in Kentucky.

  It takes only a few seconds for me to realize she isn’t there.

  I walk into our bedroom and see that she has once again been obsessing over that stupid rag The Hollywood Scene. The latest copy is sitting on her bed. I pick it up. “Oh no,” I say out loud as I read the front page. More Secrets for the Martín and Lunes Family . . .

  I sit down at the edge of Martina’s bed and read the article with a sense of shock. This can’t be true. It just can’t be. I read it again:

  Lies, secrets, affairs and an adoption. Did Erika Martín and Rodrigo Lunes adopt their daughter, Martina, and never tell her the truth? A source close to the family has come forward and revealed that Martina Lunes is actually adopted. Her biological mother was paid a substantial amount of hush money. As further investigations ensue, questions arise as to whether or not Rodrigo Lunes is Martina’s biological father and had an affair with Martina’s biological mother. Or, as our sources suggest, did the family adopt a baby from a homeless teenager 17 years ago?

  Scandal has been an issue of late in the Lunes household as Erika Martín is rumored to be seen around town in intimate situations with Lee Ocean, the producer of the vampire hit series, “Family Bites”.