“This is perfect,” I said, my voice soft. The second I said it, I hoped he wouldn’t think I was being cheesy.
“It’s more than perfect,” Jacob said. His tone was gentle. “Everything always feels like that when I’m with you.”
I had no words to respond. I wished I was smarter—that I had the right thing to say. Something as meaningful as what he’d just said.
“I don’t know what to say,” I said, deciding to be honest. “Except that I feel that way too, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now.”
Jacob pulled me closer to him, and I smiled into his shoulder when another slow song started to play.
This may have been a party that Heather never wanted, but I couldn’t help it—I was glad to be here. With Jacob.
13
SPEECHLESS
AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS, PEOPLE WERE starting to leave, and I began to look around for Heather to make sure she didn’t go back to her room yet. Troy was in on our surprise, and he was supposed to give us a fifteen minute head start so Brit, Julia, Alison, and I could get the suite ready before Heather got back.
Almost as if he sensed I was thinking about Heather’s surprise party, Troy walked up to Jacob and me. We were seated in a quiet corner, talking and eating nongross food like brie and crackers.
“Heather’s ready to go soon,” he said. “I’ll keep her here long enough for you guys to decorate.”
“Thanks,” I said, smiling at him.
Troy went back to Heather, and I turned to Jacob. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I have to go. If I don’t get the decorations up in the Trio’s suite, the surprise will be ruined.”
Jacob rubbed his thumb over the top of my hand. “That’s why you’re my girlfriend. You’re doing something nice for someone else.” He helped me stand, and I wrapped my arms around his shoulders.
“I had a wonderful time,” I said. “I’m so glad you came.”
“Me too,” Jacob said. He brushed his hand over my cheek. “I’m a lucky guy.”
I smiled. “Yeah, you definitely are,” I teased.
We kissed, longer this time, and I wished I could freeze this moment and stay here forever.
“Have fun with Heather’s real party,” he said. “I know you’re going to make it a great night for her.”
“Hope so.” I smiled at him again, then let go of his hand as I walked away. I rounded up Brit and Alison, who were waiting near the door already alerted by Troy.
“Did you guys find Julia?” I asked.
Alison shook her head, her gold chandelier earrings bouncing off her neck. “Troy said he saw her with Ben, but we haven’t seen her. I hope she didn’t get sick or something or—”
“You guys ready?”
Julia, in a beautiful blue bandage dress, appeared in front of us, her arms folded across her chest.
“Ready, but where were you?” Alison asked. “I haven’t seen you at all.”
Julia glared at her. “I was with Ben. Alone, so we could talk. Okay? Geez. Any more questions?”
Alison looked as if she wanted to fire off another question, but she kept her mouth shut. “No. Let’s go. Troy can only keep Heather busy for so long.”
We sneaked out of the ballroom, hoping we wouldn’t hear our phones start to go off if Heather realized we were all missing.
Racing across campus—well, as fast as we could in heels—we went back to Orchard. I went to my room to get the decorations and the present Brit and I had gone in on together for Heather. Once I got to the suite, Julia, Alison, Brit, and I raced to get everything the way we wanted it.
Brit put up streamers and the sign, I arranged the DVDs and snacks on the table, Alison poured giant cups of Coke, and Julia put the movie candy in bowls before sitting on the chair. Guess she was done.
“How’s this look?” Brit asked.
“Perfect,” I said. “I love how you spaced all the spirals—they look perfect.”
Brit had grabbed a step ladder and taped the fun swirls to the living room ceiling. She’d also put the pink HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! sign across Heather’s bedroom door.
“Presents!” Alison said. “Julia, grab yours and we’ll put them on the table.”
The girls went to their room and brought back two wrapped boxes. “I guess we got lucky that Heather’s mom invited so many people,” I said. “Heather had so many presents that she didn’t even get to open—she didn’t notice ours were missing.”
My phone vibrated on the table. I opened a text from Troy.
H is on the way!
I wrote back.
We r ready. Thanks!
“She’ll be here any second,” I said. “Everyone ready?”
The other girls nodded. We got together around the couch, watching the door and waiting for Heather. She was probably furious—thinking we’d left her party without her.
Alison’s phone buzzed. She looked at it, then back at us. “Heather’s maaad,” she said. “She thinks we all left her there and she wants to know where we are.”
“Write her back that there was boy drama and we didn’t have time to explain, especially in front of Troy,” Julia said. “So we came back to the suite.”
“Good idea,” Alison said. She typed and the phone buzzed seconds later. “She’s on her way.”
We stood, shifting from nervous excitement, as we waited for Heather. Keys turned in the lock and she walked in, fumbling with her purse.
“Whatever happened, there was no excuse for you guys to ditch me and—” Heather stopped midrant as she realized what was around her.
“Surprise!” we all yelled.
And, for the first time, Heather Fox was speechless.
“You—you guys,” she finally said. “What is this?”
I reached behind the couch and handed her the admission ticket. “It’s your birthday party. Your real party. The one you wanted.”
Heather’s cheeks flushed and she blinked, unsuccessfully trying to hold back a few tears.
“I can’t believe you did this for me,” Heather said. She looked around at the snacks, drinks, and decorations. “I had fun with Troy, I really did, but this is exactly what I wanted.”
“Yay!” Alison said, hurrying over to hug her best friend. “We’ve got a ton of DVDs and Stephanie gave Sasha and Brit permission to sleep over tonight, and we’re allowed to stay up late.”
“That’s awesome,” Heather said. “Really, really awesome. You guys have no idea how much this means to me. We’re going to have the best night.”
“We so are,” I said. “The only thing that isn’t here yet is the cake, but Stephanie’s bringing that in a little while.”
Brit handed Heather a stack of DVDs. “Are you ready for your thirteenth birthday party?”
Heather grinned. “So ready.”
“Let’s get into PJs, make some popcorn, and party,” Julia said. She smiled at her friend and, for the first time in a while, her happiness looked genuine.
“Let’s party!” Heather cheered.
I smiled as Heather took her movie ticket into her bedroom with her.
When Heather’s door closed, Alison, Brit, Julia, and I high-fived. It looked like our party was going to trump Mrs. Fox’s fancy, Manhattan-inspired soirée.
14
BLAST FROM THE PAST
THE NEXT MORNING, I WOKE UP TO ALISON’S alarm clock. I’d slept in her room and Brit had stayed with Heather. I sat up, smiling as I thought about last night. Heather’s party had been exactly what she’d wanted from the first DVD to the last. We’d stuffed ourselves with Junior Mints, Skittles, Dots, and soda. Stephanie had brought us a pizza and a lilac-colored cake fit for five, that had HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HEATHER! written in a beautiful font.
“Morning,” Alison said, getting up and reaching for riding clothes in her closet. We had an early morning lesson to get to and, if she was anything like me, she was definitely still a little groggy from staying up late.
“Hey,” I said. “I’m going to run back to m
y room in my PJs, get dressed, and meet you, Julia, and Heather at the stable. Cool?”
“Definitely. I’ll see you there.”
I headed for the door.
“Sasha?”
I turned and Alison walked over and hugged me. “Thanks for helping give Heather such an awesome birthday.”
“Of course,” I said, hugging her back. “She’s my friend—plus thirteen is a major deal. I think she got what she wanted.”
Smiling, I left Alison’s room. At the same time, Brit came out of the bathroom.
“You ready?” I asked. “We better go back to our room, get dressed, and go to the stable.”
“Def.”
We slipped on our flip-flops, and Heather emerged from her room in pink shorts and a white v-neck T-shirt. She walked up to us and got so close to me that I was afraid she was going to do something to me! And she did.
Heather reached out her arms and gave me a hug. It was the quickest hug in the history of hugs, but it was still bodily contact that wasn’t, well, violent. She hugged Brit, too, and smiled at both of us. She looked sleepy, with her normally straight hair a little tangled.
“Thank you both,” she said. “I got exactly the birthday I wanted, thanks to you guys. I had the best birthday ever.”
“You’re welcome,” Brit said.
“I’m glad you had a good birthday,” I said. “Don’t expect this kind of treatment every year.” I stuck out my tongue at her, teasing.
Heather rolled her eyes with a hint of a smile and opened the door. “See you at the stable.”
Brit and I left the suite and hurried to our room to get dressed and bundled up to go out in the cold morning air. That was my least favorite part of fall riding lessons—it took forever to throw on all the layers of clothes.
* * *
We walked down the sidewalk to the stables, and I noticed a silver horse trailer in the parking lot.
“They’re not bringing trailers on campus yet for Huntington, are they?” I asked Brit.
She looked at the trailer, frowning. “I don’t think so. It’s kind of early.”
A man got out of the truck cab and walked around to the back of the trailer. Brit and I slowed, watching. He unlatched the door and stepped into the trailer. After a few seconds, a horse started to back out of the trailer. A gray mare stepped calmly out of the trailer, backing down the ramp and stepping onto the driveway. She was covered in a dark pink blanket with a matching halter and leg wraps.
“She’s gorgeous,” Brit said. “Wow. Almost perfect conformation.”
“Yeah,” I said slowly. “She’s beautiful.”
She looked familiar. But why? I had no idea where I’d seen her. Maybe a video or at another show.
“I bet she’s a horse that Mr. Conner’s going to work with once his leg is healed,” I said.
“Ahhh,” Brit said, nodding. “You’re probably right.”
The truck door with its tinted window opened and two black boots dangled above the pavement for a second before stepping onto the pavement. A willowy girl with long, wavy brown hair stepped around the truck door, closing it behind her and heading to the back of the trailer. She wore a hound’s-tooth blazer, white breeches, and leather gloves. I squinted. She looked so familiar. But no, there was no way . . .
She took the lead line from the man and turned the horse in the direction of the stable. I saw her face and I felt as if my heart fell to my boots.
“Sasha, c’mon,” Brit said.
But I stood there. Watching.
The girl?
Lauren Towers.
15
THE ONLY ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS
I TORE OFF TOWARD THE STABLE, FORCING Brit to run after me.
“Sasha,” Brit called. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
I grabbed her arm, pulling her into Charm’s stall and locking us inside. I crouched down by his hay net so no one would see us, and Brit mimicked me.
Charm, obviously trying to give us away, ambled over, and started nuzzling us.
I put my head in my hands, feeling like I couldn’t even comprehend what I was seeing.
“Talk to me,” Brit said. “You’ve got some sort of history with that girl. Is she someone you met a show or something? Is she like Jasmine?”
I lifted my head slowly. “I have no idea if she’s like Jasmine and we’ve never officially met, but I saw her ride once.”
“Who is she?” Brit asked.
I almost couldn’t believe I was saying it out loud. “Her name is Lauren Towers. She’s from Briar Creek.”
“What?”
I nodded. “She’s a year younger than us. I saw her ride when I went to visit Kim at my old stable—Briar Creek. She’s a nationally ranked dressage star who started there after I left. Back then, it felt like she’d replaced me there.” I paused, still trying to process. “And now, she’s here.”
“Try not to let her rattle you,” Brit said. “She might become a great friend. You both have a history with Kim and Briar Creek. You could be the one to welcome her and really help her feel like she fits in.”
“I just started to fit in,” I said. “There’s no way she’ll want my help. Plus, it’s just too weird. I’m not going to be mean or anything to her, I’m just going to stay out of her way.”
Brit looked at me for a second, then stood. “Your call, obviously. I’m going to tack up Apollo, and I’ll meet you in the arena.”
“Okay, see you there.”
I took out my phone and instinct took over. I typed a BBM.
Sasha Silver:
I had to talk to someone who would understand. Hope that’s ok. Do u have a sec?
It only took her half a minute to respond.
Paige Parker:
Of course it’s ok! What’s going on?
Sasha Silver:
I was on the way to my riding lesson and I saw this horse and girl get out of a trailer and truck.
Paige Parker:
OMG. Pls, PLS don’t tell me it was Jasmine.
Sasha Silver:
Def not Jasmine. P, *Lauren Towers* is here.
This time, it took Paige a minute to respond.
Paige Parker:
Lauren Towers. As in the younger rider from Briar Creek?
Sasha Silver:
Exactly.
Paige Parker:
Oh, Sasha. Whoa. What r u going 2 do?
Sasha Silver:
Stay away from her for now. I’m not in a place to be the welcoming committee. And IDK, it kind of feels like she was my replacement at Briar Creek, even though I wanted to come here.
Paige Parker:
Def do whatever makes you comfortable. You don’t know her though—she might turn out to be nice.
Sasha Silver:
We’ll see. I’ll keep you posted. C u in English.
Paige Parker:
Try 2 have a good lesson. And we’ll talk more in class if u want.
I put my phone back in my pocket.
I looked both ways before I left Charm’s stall, then hurried to gather his tack. I rushed through grooming and tacking him up, desperate to get to our lesson without running into Lauren.
I felt like I didn’t breathe until I got into to the indoor arena and Mr. Conner hobbled inside, closing the door behind him and shutting Callie, Brit, Heather, and me inside.
He started to explain to us what we were going to do this morning, but I didn’t hear his voice. Instantly, on repeat, I heard five words: Lauren Towers is at Canterwood.
16
HISTORY LESSON
“SILVER, YOU WERE A DISASTER,” HEATHER said, shaking her head at me. We were cooling the horses in the arena after our lesson. Brit and Callie, who’d just finished, walked Apollo and Black Jack out of the arena.
“I think I’m allowed to be unfocused for one practice,” I said. “Someone from my old stable, my old life is here. I left all of that behind to come to Canterwood, and now some younger, better dressage star decided to enroll.�
��
“You’re being a little dramatic,” Heather said. “She’s a seventh grader. Who. Cares. We’re on the YENT. Who cares what Laura—”
“Lauren,” I corrected her.
Heather glared at me. “As I was saying, who cares what Lauren does when she’s here. Nothing’s changing for us, and no one’s forcing you to start inviting her to sleepovers just because she’s from Briar Creek.”
I led Charm in another cooling circle. “You’re right,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I don’t have to do anything. So what if she’s here? I don’t care.”
With that, I led Charm out of the arena with Heather and Aristocrat close behind us.
* * *
An hour later, I’d made it to English class. But despite what I’d said earlier, I was still on constant lookout for Lauren—watching for her as I moved from class to class throughout the day. But I never saw her.
Brit and I headed back to our room after our last class of the day. Mr. Conner had canceled the afternoon lesson for a doctor appointment, and I’d decided not to practice again today—Charm deserved a break.
Brit and I got to our room and opened our backpacks, pulling out our homework.
“I think we’re long overdue for a TV marathon, the second homework is done,” Brit said.
“Could not agree more,” I said.
We were twenty minutes into working when my phone rang. Heather’s FaceSpace photo appeared on my phone.
“Hey,” I said. “Don’t tell me. Did Lauren move into the room next to you?”
“Sasha, drop the Lauren thing for five seconds,” Heather snapped. Her voice was sharp and shaky at the same time.
“Are you okay?” I asked. “What’s wrong?”
“You and Brit need to get over here. Right now.”
“Okay, but why? What’s going on?”
Heather didn’t even answer my questions. The phone line went dead.
I shut my history book and got up.
“We’ve got to go to the Trio’s suite right now,” I said. “Something happened. I don’t know what it is, but it’s bad.”
Unfriendly Competition Page 9
