Unfriendly Competition

by Jessica Burkhart

  It was almost as if his finger had burned my skin where he’d touched me.

  “Heather deserves it,” I said. “And you’re right—we used to hate each other and we both made lots of mistakes. But it wasn’t worth it after a while. It took too much energy to keep attacking each other.”

  “You never stop impressing me,” Jacob said.

  His words repeated on a loop in my head for seconds before I was able to respond.

  “That means a lot,” I said. “I just hope Heather and I can keep our relationship civil like it has been. Things are crazy enough at school without having that drama.”

  I took a sip of hot chocolate and melted marshmallows.

  “What else is going on?” Jacob asked. “You looked a little rattled when you walked in.”

  I picked a marshmallow out of the bowl, tossing it into my mouth.

  “I don’t want to keep talking about me.”

  Jacob, following my lead, put a few marshmallows in his mouth. “You don’t have to talk about anything, but I want you to know you can.”

  “I know you’re there to listen,” I said. “And thank you. I always know I can talk to you.”

  “Anytime,” Jacob said. I wanted to hug him again—he looked so touchable in his black waffle-knit shirt.

  “I just saw Callie and Paige on the way out,” I said. “I know there’s zero chance Callie and I will ever be friends again, but I can’t stop hoping Paige and I will work things out.”

  “I know you miss Paige,” Jacob said. “She was your best friend. I’m sure she feels the same way. If you both want to fix your friendship, it’ll happen.”

  And, somehow, I believed him.

  “I hope so. I just know it’s going to take time.”

  Jacob, showing every bit of the guy I’d been drawn to, listened and offered his opinion about the Paige situation while we ordered and consumed slices of pumpkin pie with whipped cream.

  “It’s all going to work out,” Jacob said. “Promise.”

  He reached across the table with his spoon, gently tapping a bit of whipped cream onto the top of my nose.

  I laughed and dodged his second attempt. “Jacob!”

  Still giggling, I wiped off the cream. Jacob watched, a raised eyebrow paired with a half smile.

  I shook my head at him, pretending to be mad. “Sooo mature,” I teased.

  Jacob pretended to tip an imaginary hat. “Always.”

  I looked down at the crumbs on my plate, not wanting to leave Jacob yet.

  “Do you have to be back at Orchard yet?” Jacob asked, his own plate and mug empty.

  “Nope. What about you? Are you going to Blackwell now?” Jacob’s dorm was on the other side of campus.

  Jacob checked the time on his phone. “I don’t have to be back yet. If you want . . . we could do something else.”

  “I’d love that,” I said. “Video games at the media center?”

  That made Jacob smile. “Yeah, I wouldn’t enjoy that at all,” he teased. “Video games and you.”

  I smiled back. “C’mon then. We haven’t played in forever. But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to win.”

  Jacob stood, putting a tip on the table. “Oh, Sasha. I think the sugar messed with your brain.”

  “Excuse you?” I bantered back.

  “Just because I like you doesn’t mean I’m going to let you win,” Jacob said.

  “Let me win?” I pretend-rolled my eyes. “Maybe I’ve been practicing in the media center, like, all the time.”

  I could feel Jacob staring at me while I picked up my purse. We walked out of The Sweet Shoppe, laughing.

  We walked along the sidewalk, the streetlights providing just enough light so I could see Jacob’s features. He took my hand in his and we walked together—silent—as we took in the crisp Connecticut air and clear sky. Thousands of diamondlike stars lit up the dark, and I held Jacob’s hand tighter.

  “I missed you,” I said, my breath visible.

  “I missed you,” Jacob said. He glanced over at me. “I hate that things happened the way they did, but I wouldn’t change anything about us getting together—then or now.”

  “Me neither.”

  Jacob nodded. “I just . . . knew what it felt like to be so close to being your boyfriend. Then, to be with someone else and have to watch you with another guy . . . I’m just so glad to have this chance with you.”

  “I’m scared sometimes,” I admitted. “It’s so perfect; I’m afraid I’ll do something to mess it up.”

  Jacob stopped on the sidewalk, turning to me. “You never have to be afraid when you’re with me, okay?” He brushed my cheek with his thumb.

  “Okay.” The word came out so quiet, I almost wasn’t sure if he heard me.

  But Jacob smiled and started toward the media canter, tugging my hand. “C’mon, player. You’ve talked a big game.”

  “You’re so on.”

  We reached the media center and walked inside. The massive center housed a giant movie theater, multiple gaming and screening rooms, dozens of flat-screen TVs, and DVD and video game collections in the thousands.

  “Let’s go find an empty room,” Jacob said.

  Hand in hand, we passed the theater entrance.

  “We spent a lot of time in there,” I said.

  “Mr. Ramirez’s film class last year was the best. I never would have watched half the movies he got us to see if they hadn’t been part of the class.”

  “Me too. But I’m glad I did.”

  We headed for a room in the back and turned down a long hallway.

  “Hey!”

  Jacob and I looked up to see Andy.

  “Hi!” We both said.

  “Are you guys on a daaate?” Andy asked.

  I pretended to glare at him. “Yes. But now we’re here to chill and play video games.”

  A look passed between Jacob and me. I knew him well enough to know it was cool to invite Andy to play.

  “Want to join?” I asked Andy. “Jacob and I have been trash talking each other about who’s going down. Jacob, because he’s scaaared, wants a partner. He’s too nervous to take me on.” I looked pointedly at Jacob.

  Jacob gave me the same look back. “Don’t listen to her,” he said to Andy. “She’s the one who needs backup.” He folded his arms and looked at me. “Got anyone in mind?”

  It clicked in my brain.

  Andy.

  Brit.

  “I’ll be right back,” I told the boys.

  I walked away from them and pulled my BlackBerry out of my pocket.

  Sasha Silver:

  OMG, u have 2 get 2 the media cntr right now!!

  It took Brit only half a minute to start typing back.

  Brit Chan:

  Ummm . . . why?

  Sasha Silver:

  Because ANDY’s here. Jacob and I finished r date and r playing video games w/him.

  Brit Chan:

  Noooo way am I just showing up like some lame person you set up for Andy!

  Sasha Silver:

  It’s not like that at all—swear. It’s boys vs. girls. I need a partner, so it only makes sense that I asked u.

  Brit Chan:

  Ohhh . . .

  Sasha Silver:

  It’s only a *bonus* that you get to hang w/Andy and c if u rlly rlly like him. :D

  Brit Chan:

  LOL. K. BRT.

  I exited out of BBM, grinning.

  I walked back to the guys who were already in a debate about what we were going to play.

  “Brit’s on her way,” I said. “Together, we’re going to make you both cry.”

  Andy and Jacob laughed, but not in a mean way.

  “Sorry, but no way,” Andy said. “But, uh, Brit’s coming?” He ran a hand over his dark hair.

  “Yeah,” I said, trying to sound casual. “You guys know each other from the stable, so I thought it would be cool.”

  Andy nodded so hard, I thought his head would fly off. “Yeah, um, defin
itely. It’s cool. Very cool. I’m glad you asked her. That’s cool.”

  I hid my smile at how many times he’d just said “cool.” He so like-liked Brit—it was obvious.

  We talked about what room we wanted while we waited for Brit. And, ten minutes later, Brit walked over to us.

  She’d changed into black skinny jeans, ankle boots with tiny silver buckles, and a teal v-neck sweater. Casual, but I knew she’d agonized over what to wear. But the boys would never know that Brit had likely sweated over every piece of clothing.

  “Hi,” Brit said. She smiled and Andy was the last person she looked at. Her eyelashes fluttered a little when she looked at him before her gaze darted to me.

  “Hey,” I said, walking over to her side. “I’m happy you weren’t busy. Let’s go find an empty room.”

  Andy, Brit, Jacob, and I walked through the center of the large room and took a left down one of the hallways. Brit and Andy, ahead of Jacob and me, were walking a little far apart. We passed a few rooms that already had students either watching movies or playing PlayStation.

  “Found one,” Jacob said.

  I followed him into the room, and Andy stepped back to let Brit walk inside before him. They both eyed the big tan couch. Brit sat near the left arm and, with a quick wink to her, I left a space between us when I sat down. The boys set up the Nintendo system and we all agreed to play Super Smash Bros. Melee. I knew it was Jacob’s fave.

  Andy turned, pausing for a second, when he saw the open seats. He could either sit next to Brit or me. Jacob, hanging back and untangling a controller cord, let Andy make the decision.

  And he made the right one.

  Andy walked over and sat next to Brit. The two smiled at each other, and Brit couldn’t stop smiling as Jacob handed all of us controllers.

  “We’ve got to beat them,” I said, leaning over Andy to talk to Brit.

  “Given,” she said. She giggled when she looked at Andy. “Sorry. But you’re going down.”

  “Not a chance,” Jacob said, teasingly.

  We all chose our characters and started to battle. Unfortunately for Brit and me, “battle” wasn’t exactly what we were doing. Jacob had taught me how to play and Brit had played before, but we couldn’t hold up against Jacob and Andy.

  It got to the level of . . . embarrassing.

  “Did you guys rig this?” Brit asked.

  “Sorry,” Andy laughed. “Want to play something else?”

  “No way!” Brit and I said in unison.

  We started a new round and, somehow, Brit and I started scoring points.

  “Ha!” Brit teased. “Andy, my grandmother could have done better than that.”

  Andy faked trash talking right back. The two of them kept going at each other, laughing harder and harder at who came up with the more creative insult.

  I glanced at Jacob a few times and we shared a look—both of us sensed the obvious chemistry between Brit and Andy.

  All too soon, the media center started to close down and it was time for us to head back to our dorms.

  We walked outside together, everyone happy from having fun.

  “I still think Sasha and I won the most rounds,” Brit said. “Andy, your mental scorecard must have malfunctioned.”

  Andy mock-rolled his eyes. “Fiiine. Next time, you keep score.”

  The four of us stopped a few steps away from the media center, standing under one of the streetlamps.

  “See you later,” I said to Jacob. He squeezed my hand, and I could see his beautiful green eyes even in the dim light.

  “Bye, Sash.”

  “Brit,” Andy started. “I really had fun with you tonight. Maybe we could go to The Sweet Shoppe or something soon? If you want.”

  Brit’s smile said it all. “That would be great. Do you have your phone?”

  Andy pulled out a sleek black phone and handed it to her. Brit punched in her number and gave it to him.

  “Text me whenever,” she said.

  I cheered in my head. This couldn’t have gone better! I’d had an amazing time with Jacob, and Brit and Andy were definitely going on a date soon. Andy was the perfect guy, for Brit and I could barely stop myself from hugging her with excitement.

  “See you guys later,” I said.

  “Bye,” Jacob and Andy said.

  Brit and I started down the sidewalk toward Orchard and the guys headed for Blackwell.

  “Omigod!” Brit said. She grabbed my arm so tight she almost cut off my circulation.

  “I know!” I said. “You’re going on a date with Andy. He definitely like-likes you! And now you know for sure. But, I’ve got to say, I told you that he liked you.”

  Brit almost skipped. “He does! I mean, we had fun this one time, but things felt so good. I’m more excited than nervous to go on a date with him to The Sweet Shoppe.”

  “You definitely have no reason to be nervous,” I said. “You know him a lot better after tonight.”

  Brit and I linked arms and for the rest of the walk back, analyzing every second of the night.

  5

  CALLIE VS BRIT

  I WAS UP BEFORE SIX SUNDAY MORNING. Mr. Conner had scheduled a special practice because of the upcoming Huntington Classic. Bleary-eyed, Brit and I were in our horses’ stalls by six-thirty.

  Charm snoozed on and off as I groomed him. He’d been in his warm stall all night and not in the pasture, so he just needed a light brushing. I swept the body brush over him, picked his hooves, combed his mane and tail, and he was ready to be tacked up.

  In the tack room, I almost bumped into Heather. Unlike me, her hair was perfectly straight, she looked wide awake and had even done her makeup.

  I shook my head. “How?”

  “What?” she asked, turning with Aristocrat’s saddle over her arm.

  “It’s not even seven and you look like you’ve been up for hours.”

  “Some people don’t sleep all day,” Heather said, tossing a grin over her shoulder. “See you in the arena.”

  She left me alone to gather Charm’s tack. I slung his bridle over my shoulder and put his pad and saddle over my right arm.

  It didn’t take long to tack him up, and we headed for the heated indoor arena. I was glad Mr. Conner wasn’t making us practice outside in the cold morning air. Charm wouldn’t have minded, though. His coat was getting wooly.

  I walked Charm down the aisle and stopped him just inside the indoor arena. I stuck my foot into the stirrup and swung myself into the saddle. When I saw the dressage markers along the wall, my stomach tightened a little. Charm and I needed more work on dressage, and I was glad Mr. Conner was making us practice, but I wished I’d worked more on my own first. Brit and Callie were the best dressage riders on our team. It made me feel a little insecure to do dressage in front of them.

  Just remember the trick Kim taught you, I told myself, thinking back to early dressage sessions at Briar Creek, my first stable. I looked at the dressage markers—A, K, E, H, C, M, B, F. All King Edward’s horses can make big fences. I repeated that twice to myself. If I was ever going to be a good rider and have a shot at making the United States Equestrian team, I had to get better at dressage.

  Brit, Callie, and Heather were already warming up their horses. Charm and I joined the others trotting along the wall. Charm, frisky this morning, bobbed his head and tried to stretch his neck. I gave him more rein, letting him move a little more freely as we started at a walk. I moved Charm along the wall, letting him fall into line behind Callie and Black Jack.

  I tried to focus on Charm, but couldn’t help but watch Callie and Jack. Callie had never stopped practicing hard, but she had stepped up her game even more since she’d made the YENT. She sat to Jack’s trot which was smoother than I’d ever seen. I yanked my gaze away from her when Mr. Conner stepped into the arena.

  He stopped in the center of the arena, his ever-present clipboard under his arm. Mr. Conner held up a hand, signaling for us to stop.

  Callie, Brit, Heat
her, and I slowed our horses in front of him. Charm and I went between Brit and Heather. Charm eyed Aristocrat and the beautiful darker chestnut gelding stared straight ahead. On our other side, Apollo didn’t look nervous at all. He stood relaxed—one ear forward and one back.

  “Morning, everyone,” Mr. Conner said, tapping a boot against the dirt floor. “As you can see by the markers, we’ll be working on dressage this morning. It was necessary to hold a Sunday practice since we want to be at our best for Huntington. We will not, however, over-practice.”

  That was always something Mr. Conner drilled into us. Even though we were YENT riders and he wanted us to do well, he never allowed us to push our horses or ourselves too hard. That’s something Jasmine had tried to pull during her short time at Canterwood, and it hadn’t gone over well with Mr. Conner.

  At. All.

  “We’re going to do a few exercises and then we’ll run though the dressage test I e-mailed all of you last week,” Mr. Conner said. “You’ve had ample time to memorize it, so I will not be calling out any instructions unless you get lost during your test.”

  I’d done dressage tests without a caller before, but not with Callie, Brit, and Heather watching. I tried to push away the nerves—determined not to allow them to affect Charm. He was in tune with my body and he’d know if I was scared.

  Mr. Conner gave us a reassuring smile. “Let’s all spread out in the arena, and we’ll get started.”

  The four of us turned our horses and headed for separate corners of the arena. Again, I glanced at Callie. Her black breeches, boots, and crisp white shirt were spotless. She looked dressed for Huntington.

  “We’re going to start with spirals,” Mr. Conner called out. “Pay attention to how loose or tight your horses’ muscles feel as they move through the exercise. Do two spirals in both directions at a walk, then try it at a trot.”

  I squeezed my boots against Charm’s sides and let him walk a few strides in a straight line before pulling on the right rein to ease him into a circle. I kept my eyes between Charm’s ears and sank my weight into the saddle. Charm responded by starting to circle and I kept my attention on him.