Unfriendly Competition

by Jessica Burkhart

  Brit was off her bed in a second. She and I put on flip-flops and hurried to the Trio’s suite. I’d only knocked once when Heather yanked open the door. She locked it behind us and, without saying a word, motioned for us to follow her into Julia’s bedroom.

  Sitting on Julia’s bed was a teary-eyed Alison.

  “What happened?” I asked. “Where’s Julia?

  Heather stared out the window, then looked back at me. “She’s at her book club. She won’t be back for a while.”

  I was so confused. “Why are we in her room? And Alison, what’s wrong?”

  I sat beside her, putting a hand on her back.

  Heather walked over to Julia’s desk and picked up her laptop. She put it on the bed, motioning for Brit to sit by us.

  Heather opened the laptop lid and woke it up out of sleep mode. The Canterwood gossip blog was pulled up.

  I stared at it, frowning. “This is an old entry. I’ve already read it. I thought you guys had too.”

  Heather shook her head. “That’s not why I pulled up this page.” She clicked on Julia’s Internet browser history and went to the last date a post had gone live. I didn’t want to see what I was reading.

  There were visits to Google, TMZ, a few gossip magazines and then, below those, were links to the Canterwood gossip blog.

  Not the main page.

  The administration page. Log in. Log out.

  “No,” the word came out like a moan from my throat. “There’s no way that Julia did that. This has to be a mistake. Someone else used her computer. Something. This can’t be true.”

  Brit’s hand was on her forehead. “I can’t believe this,” she whispered.

  “What can’t you believe?”

  Heather, Brit, Alison, and I jumped as Julia appeared in the doorway. We hadn’t even heard her come in.

  “What can’t you believe?” Julia repeated, looking at us with an amused smile. Her eyes landed on the laptop. “Did you read something awesome online?”

  Heather stood, walked over to Julia and stopped when the two were almost nose to nose.

  “I did read something online,” Heather said.

  I’d never heard her voice like this. It sounded like she was choking back tears of sadness, disbelief, and a dozen other emotions. Julia looked at her, still not seeming to realize what had happened minutes before she’d arrived.

  “I read,” Heather continued, “your Internet history. I wish I’d known that the infamous Canterwood blogger was living in my suite.”

  Julia’s face turned white. For a second, I thought she was going to crumble to the ground.

  “Heather, listen, I was angry about the YENT. I started the blog and—” Julia started, but Heather cut her off with a wave of her hand.

  “I don’t care why you started it. What you did, what you wrote—especially about your ‘friends’ was disgusting. Get out.”

  Julia shook her head. “What?”

  Heather stared her down. “I said get out. Go straight to the headmistress’s office and tell her everything.”

  Julia’s eyes locked with Heather’s. “No way. I’ll be expelled for a stupid blog. I’ll stop. I’ll never write another word—I promise. Please just—”

  This time, Julia stopped herself at the look on Heather’s face.

  “You go tell her now, or I’m giving her your laptop,” Heather said. Her tone was deadly calm. “I will never be your friend again, and I don’t want you living in this suite. You will get expelled. And you deserve it.”

  Heather stepped away from Julia, sitting in her desk chair. “I’m done talking. Go.”

  Julia’s face turned a deep purple. Without a word, she turned walked out of the bedroom and slammed the door shut on her way out.

  The four of us sat in silence.

  For a long time.

  * * *

  That night, Brit and I were in our beds, reading. Kind of. It had been hours since the Julia incident, and we hadn’t heard anything. We’d done our homework, but I hadn’t been able to concentrate. I couldn’t believe Julia had done this. Julia, part of the most powerful clique on campus, had lowered herself to a level I hadn’t even known she was capable of. It felt as though I’d never known her at all.

  My phone buzzed on my bedside table. I opened BBM and there was a single message.

  Heather Fox:

  Julia got expelled. She’s already gone.

  “Omigod,” I said.

  Brit sat up in bed. “Julia?”

  I nodded as I typed back.

  Sasha Silver:

  Are you and Alison okay?

  I waited for the message to deliver, but a red X appeared over the Heather’s smiley face symbol. She’d turned off her phone.

  I put mine down and turned to Brit, who was waiting.

  I struggled to form the sentence. The words sounded weird in my head.

  “Julia’s gone.”

  17

  REALLY GONE

  FRIDAY FLEW BY IN A FLURRY. NEWS ABOUT Julia’s abrupt departure spread all over campus. No one would stop talking about it. The only people who weren’t, were Heather, Alison, Brit, and me. It was too soon—too raw. We’d all been betrayed by someone we’d considered a friend. I wasn’t in a place to deal with it yet.

  During the morning’s riding lesson, Mr. Conner brought up Julia’s absence. He talked about how he regretted that she felt it necessary to create the blog and do such harm to other people. He said that he hoped she sought help, so she could return to the student she had been and would one day fulfill her potential as an excellent rider. All of us had been quiet through Mr. Conner’s speech and the lesson that followed.

  I used it to distract myself from thinking about Julia. More than anything, I needed to focus on Huntington.

  I moved through my classes in a daze, not hearing half of what the teachers said. None of them talked about Julia, but her absence felt ever present. I kept expecting to see her in the hallway or in one of the classrooms.

  But she was really gone.

  I walked across campus, back toward my dorm after my final lesson before Huntington. I’d managed to stay focused, and Charm and I had worked hard—with barely a misstep.

  Jacob had BBMed me just as I’d finished grooming Charm.

  Jacob Schwartz:

  Are you hanging in there with the Julia situation? I’m so sorry, Sasha.

  Sasha Silver:

  I’m not great, but I’m trying 2 stay focused on 2mrw. I just don’t understand how she could do this 2 us tho. Maybe 2 me since we were never superclose, but what abt Heather and Alison?

  Jacob Schwartz:

  People just snap sometimes. They lose perspective and do things you’d never think they’re capable of. I think she needs some srs counseling, but I’m also not sorry she got expelled after what she did.

  Sasha Silver:

  U know what’s sad? I’m not sorry abt that either—just that ppl got hurt.

  Jacob Schwartz:

  I know ur at the stable, but call me or BBM if u need 2 talk. I’m here.

  Sasha Silver:

  I know u r. Thank u.

  I put away my phone and let Charm loose in his stall.

  “Get some sleep, boy,” I said. “I’ll be here early tomorrow to get you ready to leave for Huntington.”

  I took my time walking back, almost unable to believe that the show was tomorrow. So many things had happened between when I’d started prepping for the show and now. Paige and I were on our way to being friends again, Callie and I were talking, Julia was gone, and Lauren was a new student.

  Taking the long route, I passed through the courtyard and saw a girl with her back to me, sitting on a stone bench. It only took another step for me to realize who she was and what I had to do.

  My boot heels clicked on the cobblestones, and I walked up to Lauren, careful not to startle her.

  I stopped in front of the bench, staring down and then looking at her.

  “Hi,” I said.


  Lauren looked back at me with big blue eyes. She’d pulled her long hair into a side ponytail, and she was dressed in a pea coat, lilac sweater, and boots with jeans tucked into them.

  “I’m Sasha Silver,” I continued.

  “I know,” Lauren’s voice was soft. “You’re the Sasha Silver from Union. From Briar Creek. It’s so nice to meet you.”

  Lauren stood, stretching out her hand.

  Formal, but with a smile.

  I shook her hand and sat at the end of the bench. “And I know you too. I came to visit Briar Creek a long time ago, and I saw you jumping in a field. Kim told me about you and how great you were.”

  Lauren’s fair skin blushed. “Not even close to you. Kim never stops talking about you. She uses your story as a way to encourage all of the riders at Briar Creek to look ahead and go for what we want.”

  “And you wanted to come to Canterwood?”

  Lauren nodded, playing with her phone. “More than anything.” She gave me a shy smile. “It’s terrifying, but I have to try.”

  As she spoke, all of the jealousy of feeling as if she’d replaced me at Briar Creek and the anger I’d felt that she was here melted. Canterwood wasn’t my territory. If I bullied Lauren or ignored her, I’d be no better than the Heather who’d tortured me for a long time when I first got here. I wouldn’t trade even one experience away for another, and everything I’d gone through at Canterwood had made me the person I was today. A person I was proud to be. But that didn’t mean that Lauren deserved to be threatened the way I’d been when I first got to Canterwood. And I wasn’t going to be that person.

  “Here,” I said. “Put your number in my phone. Text me if you need anything, get lost, overwhelmed—whatever. You can talk to me anytime.”

  Lauren’s entire face broke into a smile. “Really? That’s so nice of you. You have no idea how much less nervous that makes me feel.”

  I got up. “Good. And seriously. Anytime.”

  I smiled at her and walked back to Orchard, ready to get a good night’s sleep and prepare for tomorrow—Huntington.

  18

  IT’S SHOWTIME!

  NO MATTER HOW MANY SHOWS I’D ATTENDED, they were all the same level of panicked frenzy. Brit and I had woken at four, dressed in sweats and made our way to the stable to groom our horses and prep them for the two-hour trailer ride.

  At the stable, I followed my usual strategy of keeping Charm away from the craziness and in his stall until it was time to load.

  I checked his leg wraps a final time, then let Mike lead him into the trailer next to Apollo.

  “Everyone ready?” Mr. Conner asked. He was getting around faster every day on crutches, and I almost didn’t even notice them anymore.

  Callie, Brit, Heather, and I stood in front of him, nodding. We’d already stored our show clothes in the truck’s cab, and all of our tack was cleaned and loaded.

  “Then let’s go!” Mr. Conner smiled, and we followed him into the truck. He sat up front with Mike, who was driving. I sat next to Brit in the back row, and Heather and Callie sat together in the row in front of us.

  We weren’t even down the driveway before my head was resting on Brit’s shoulder. In what felt like seconds later, Mr. Conner was calling back to us.

  “Girls, we’re here,” he said.

  Blinking, I lifted my head and looked out the window. The grounds were huge. We drove under a large sign above the driveway that said HUNTINGTON CLASSIC.

  Dozens of horse and riders roamed the campus and there were giant horse trailers parked everywhere. For a second, I wondered if we’d even find a spot. But Mike, calm as ever, drove down until he found a wide spot for us unload our horses, tack them up, and not be sandwiched between trailers.

  My phone buzzed, and I opened a text from Mom.

  Hey hon!

  Hope you all had a safe drive. Dad and I will be there soon. We don’t want to distract you before your first class, but we’ll be in the stands cheering you on. Love you! Mom & Dad

  I was glad they were coming. Mr. and Mrs. Fox weren’t, and Brit had said her parents were upset that they were both out of town on business trips that they couldn’t cancel. But Callie’s parents would both be here.

  We unloaded the horses, who’d all been perfect passengers, and I tied Charm to the trailer.

  Mr. Conner gathered us together once we’d secured our horses.

  “Today, you’re not getting the normal pep talk that you’ve heard a zillion times and probably makes you zone out the second I started talking,” Mr. Conner said. “I want this to be brief so you can get in the warm-up ring and do what you do best—ride. I do want to remind you of one thing: you got to Huntington because of the quality of your riding, your dedication to the sport, and the level of commitment you’ve each displayed. You’re all on the YENT because Mr. Nicholson and the other scouts saw potential in you just as I do. Think of today as a warm-up—a way to kick off the show season. Ride here the way you would at your home arena.” Mr. Conner smiled at us. “And remember, that I’m here for you and am proud to have you representing Canterwood.”

  We smiled back, and I blinked, screaming to myself not to cry.

  “Now, go get tacked up and warm up,” Mr. Conner said. “Pick up your schedules from Mike and count on me to be there when your class begins. Good luck.”

  Mr. Conner walked away toward the sign-up tent, and Callie, Heather, Brit, and I stayed in line. Without a word or hesitation from anyone, we took the hand of the person next to us. We were a team.

  Simultaneously, all of our phones buzzed, and we let go of each other and pulled them out of our pockets.

  I opened a text.

  So, I lied. Did you really think I was coming to some laaame schooling show? Puh-lease. You’ll see enough of me @ shows that actually count. Be ready. xoxo ~Jas

  “We all got the same message, right?” Heather asked.

  Everyone nodded. We deleted the message, then started laughing. Even if Jasmine had showed, she couldn’t have touched us. We’d become more than a team and that was something she didn’t have.

  * * *

  An hour later, it was time for my first class—show jumping. I had an intermediate jumping class, basic dressage, lunch break, and finally, intermediate cross-country. We were all taking three classes, racking up points as individuals and for our school, but Mr. Conner had made us stick to beginner or intermediate level. He didn’t want any of us to be overwhelmed at our first show of the season. Heather had a dressage class at the same time as me, and Mr. Conner was with her. I had no doubt that she would do well. Mike would be watching me, then Brit’s show jumping round was next, while Mr. Conner stayed with me for dressage. But one thing at a time—I had to focus on my first class.

  I’d taken Charm over several practice rails in the warm-up ring and he was on. He hadn’t missed a step. We waited for the starting bell, and I kept my gaze in front of me and not on the people in the stands. I knew Mom and Dad were up there—I could feel them.

  I settled myself into the saddle, ready to go the second the bell rang. Diiing! The bell chimed and I let Charm into the arena at a trot, then a steady canter. I’d been memorizing the jumping order since I’d gotten it, and I knew every jump we had to cover.

  Charm’s ears flicked back and forth as we approached the first of three verticals of increasing height. I wanted a clean ride, but I also wanted to watch our time. If we rode clean, I wanted to prevent a jump off.

  Charm soared over the first red and white vertical.

  And the second.

  And the third.

  We approached a faux stone wall, and I let him speed up to get enough momentum to clear it. He didn’t hesitate for a second. He snapped his legs under him, clearing the stone with ease. Every bit of practice, the hours we’d spent in the arena, was paying off. We made a long curve around the arena, leaped a tall double oxer that Charm came thisclose to nicking. But he made it over. I let him speed up a hair more, and I stayed as still
as possible in the saddle, letting him do his job.

  Once afraid of creeks, Charm didn’t slow over the liverpool. We made it over another vertical with vibrant tulips on both sides. I didn’t let myself think about the fact that we were almost done. I had to stay focused.

  We made another turn, and I checked the clock. Charm wasn’t rushing, so I felt safe letting him speed up a tiny bit more. He didn’t get greedy with the extra rein and kept his canter at a steady pace.

  He wasn’t sweating at all as we moved toward the final jumps. I rose out of the saddle before a blue-railed vertical, and Charm landed easily on the other side.

  Two jumps left.

  Charm was ready. I could feel it in his body. He jumped an oxer, meant to look like aged wood, without pause. We approached the final and tallest jump, a triple combination.

  Charm cleared the first jump, took two strides, launched over the second, and I held my breath as we soared into the air over the third. It all happened so fast.

  Cheers erupted from the crowd, and I patted his neck so hard, my hand stung.

  “You were amazing!” I said. “I love you so much, boy.”

  Charm knew he’d done well. His trot had spring to it, and he moved toward the exit with his tail swishing with pride. There were fourteen riders after us, but I didn’t care. Charm and I couldn’t have done a better job.

  We headed for the sidelines to wait for results.

  “Beautiful, Sasha,” Mike said, coming up to us. He helped me loosen Charm’s girth and patted his shoulder. “That was one of your best, if not the best, ride you’ve ever given.”

  “Thank you,” I said.

  I decided not to watch the other riders, it would only make me more nervous.

  “I’m going to take Charm for a walk,” I told Mike. “But we’ll be back before the results.”

  “Enjoy,” he said. “You both deserve it.”

  I led Charm out of the arena and back to a quiet pasture. The rest of the riders were in class or warming up. It felt good to have time to ourselves. We stayed outside for what felt like half an hour before I decided it was time to go back so we didn’t chance missing the ribbon ceremony.