The Canterwood Crest Stable of Books

by Jessica Burkhart

  I grabbed Charm’s green blanket off the counter and fastened the Velcro ties over his chest and girth. I unclipped him from the crossties and we walked into his stall.

  I checked his water bucket, refilled his hay net and took off his halter. “Night, boy,” I said. I stroked his mane and gave him a hug. “See you tomorrow.”

  Charm ignored me and headed straight for his hay. He began munching before I was even out of the stall. If only all boys were as easy to figure out as Charm.

  2 GU YS + 1 GIRL = TROUBLE

  “I’M SOOO SICK OF TUNA SURPRISE,” CALLIE said. “Every Wednesday!”

  “Agreed,” I said. “What’s the surprise, anyway? The fact there’s no tuna in it?”

  We laughed and headed for our lunch table.

  “Hey,” Paige said as we plunked down our trays.

  Callie jammed a couple of tater tots into her mouth. “So … hungry,” she said through a mouthful.

  “Can I sit with you guys?”

  We all looked up at Eric. Callie froze—her cheeks puffed up with tater tots. She swallowed hard, her face red, and squirmed in her seat.

  “Sure!” I said. “Have a seat.”

  Eric put his tray on the table and sat down across from me.

  Callie straightened her necklaces and ran a hand through her hair.

  “So, you’re a victim of tuna surprise, too,” I said.

  Eric grimaced at his tray. “Usually, I make my own sandwiches, but I didn’t have time today.”

  Paige put down her water glass. “You make your own sandwiches? What kind?”

  “Different ones—like pepper beef or chicken provolone.”

  “You’re gonna regret saying that,” I said in a teasing tone. “Paige is the master chef. Now she’ll be hitting you up for recipes.”

  Paige leaned closer to him. “How do you make your pepper beef?”

  Eric laughed with me, but turned to Paige to give her his recipe.

  Callie picked up her tray and stood. I looked over and saw that she’d barely touched any of her food.

  “Where are you going?” I asked.

  “To class,” she said. “I’m not up for watching two guys fight over you,” she added in an angry whisper.

  “What are you talking about?”

  I followed Callie’s glare behind me and saw Heather and Jacob enter the caf. Heather’s arms were loaded with books. She whispered something to Jacob and he took the books from her. I felt my face grow hot as their hands touched. Then, Jacob saw me and smiled. He gave Heather back her books and started to walk over to me. He paused momentarily when he saw Eric sitting across from me.

  Jacob slammed his books onto the table. “Hey, Sash.” He took a seat next to me. “Don’t you usually sit at a different table?” Jacob asked Eric.

  Eric took a long swig of Coke. “Sometimes. But I like this table. I might sit here more often.”

  I looked at Paige with help me eyes.

  “Uh, so, Jacob,” Paige started. “What class do you have next?”

  “English.”

  “I’ve got math,” Eric told me. “Too bad we’re not in the same class, but at least we can hang out at the stable.”

  Jacob set his jaw.

  I coughed as I found myself choking on—surprise—a bit of tuna.

  “Too bad Sasha’s going to have less time at the stable after break—we’ll be screening movies for film class,” Jacob told Eric. “Together.”

  “Um, I’ve got to get to class,” I said.

  “Me too!” Paige said.

  We got up and both Eric and Jacob stood at the same time.

  “Bye, guys,” I told them. “See you later.”

  Before either one of them could follow us, Paige and I darted across the cafeteria, tossed our trash, and hurried down the hallway.

  “That was insane,” Paige said.

  “I know! And I think Callie’s mad at me because she sort of likes Eric. But I never told him to like me! I like Jacob.”

  “Do you think that has anything to do with how weird she’s been acting?” Paige suggested.

  And even though I knew it was totally crazy, even though the thought had never even crossed my mind before now, and Jacob was still the only guy I had any interest in going out with—I knew Paige was right.

  Callie was mad because she thought I liked Eric.

  GET THE PARTY STARTED

  THE SWEETHEART SOIRéE WAS JUST UNDER two hours away.

  Paige and I were in full-blown panic mode. It was after six and we’d been prepping since school had let out at three thirty. We’d ordered dresses online a couple of weeks ago and had spent hours sifting through them before we’d found the ones. Sweetheart-spectacular dresses.

  “Ready?” I called from the bathroom.

  “Ready!” Paige said back from the bedroom.

  We’d made a pact not to see each other in the dresses until we’d both had them on. We’d seen them online, but it was different in person. We’d adhered to the dress code Paige had seen on a new flyer—pink or red for the girls and black and white for the guys.

  “One, two … three!” I said and pulled open the door.

  “Sasha! Wow!” Paige gasped.

  I twirled in my bright pink dress. It had skinny silvery spaghetti straps. The fabric swirled around my hips and skimmed the tops of my knees.

  My mouth flopped open. “You look amazing!” I told Paige.

  And she did. The strapless baby-pink dress had a gorgeous, pearly white sash that made Paige’s waist look enviably tiny. She looked totally Oscar-ready.

  “Thanks,” Paige said. “I love this dress. I’m keeping it forever!”

  We giggled. Paige pulled me over to her desk—the top wasn’t even visible. She’d turned the workspace into a beauty counter. Foundation, lip gloss, brushes, cotton balls, and mascara tubes were everywhere. Paige’s bed was covered with plastic containers full of accessories.

  “Makeup first and then jewelry,” Paige said. “I’ll do yours and you can do mine.”

  Paige put on a pair of glasses with purple plastic frames.

  “Since when did you start wearing glasses?” I asked.

  “They’re fake,” Paige said. “They make me feel like a makeup artist.”

  “Oooh. How very artsy of you.”

  “For this session, you may call me Jade,” Paige said.

  I laughed. “Deal.”

  “Tinted moisturizer first,” she said. She pumped a dime-sized dollop into my hands and I smoothed it on my face.

  Paige peered at me through her glasses and grabbed soft gray eyeliner and a tube of mascara from her Clinique zip-up bag. “Your skin is perfect so you don’t need foundation or powder. We’ll line your eyes, put on a bit of mascara, a dab of blush and lip gloss, and you’ll be good.”

  “Okay, Jade,” I said.

  “Close your eyes.”

  I obeyed and let her work her make-up magic.

  When she was done, I peered at my face in the mirror. I loved what I saw. Smoky gray eyeliner set off my green eyes and a dusting of soft pink blush made my skin look like it was glowing. Paige had coated my lips with a shiny clear gloss so that my eyes were the focus.

  “Wow,” I breathed. “Amazing. Okay, your turn.”

  I got out of the desk chair and waved a hand for Paige to sit.

  I looked into the makeup bag for shimmery eye shadow that would match Paige’s dress.

  “Wait,” she said. “What’s your name, makeup girl?”

  I tossed my hair and thought for a minute. “Kiki,” I said finally.

  Paige laughed and settled into the chair while I went to work.

  After I’d finished Paige’s makeup, it was accessory time.

  “Borrow whatever you want,” Paige said, sifting through the boxes of watches, rings, earrings and necklaces.

  “How did you get all of this stuff? Are you an eBay addict, Paige Parker?”

  Paige laughed. “Parties and friends of my parents. It’s
expected to give the daughter a gift whenever you come over to visit.”

  “Wow. My parents need new friends.”

  I pulled out a pair of delicate silver earrings and held them up to the light. Wisps of thin silver dangled down in swirls. “How about these for you?”

  Paige held them up to her ears and looked in the mirror. “Perfect.”

  She handed me a silver bracelet with a heart charm. “Wear that and you’re set,” she said.

  I clasped the bracelet around my wrist and Paige put a silver ring on her index finger.

  “Hair, shoes, and then we’re ready!” I said. My stomach swirled like Paige’s earrings. Jacob would be there. We’d hang out and finally have time to laugh and talk without the pressure of grades and the show. Maybe we’d even dance again—or hold hands.

  All I wanted from tonight was to have fun.

  Paige and I stood outside the Canterwood ballroom. Every window of the two-story building was lit up. The scent of cinnamon and vanilla wafted through the air. A boy our age walked in ahead of us wearing a suit. I couldn’t help staring. I’d never seen any Canterwood student wearing a suit before.

  “You sure we’re ready for this?” I asked Paige.

  I looked down at my shoes—strappy black shoes with kitten heels—and ran a hand over my straightened hair.

  “It’s just a party,” Paige said. But she kept playing with her earrings like she always did when she was nervous.

  “So, we’ll go in and …”

  “… party,” Paige finished.

  “Right.” I laughed. “Party. Okay.”

  Tonight, the high school kids had their own party in a separate, secret location, so I wouldn’t feel too weird interacting with the older kids.

  Paige and I had walked from Winchester and the starry sky had been clear and the night air was cold. Behind us, gray clouds built in the distance. We had a fifty-fifty shot at rain tonight.

  Paige pulled open the doors and we stepped into the toasty lobby.

  “Coats?” A man in a black uniform (he had a hat) extended a white-gloved hand.

  “Omigod,” I whispered to Paige. “They went all-out for this!”

  “I know,” Paige whispered back as we handed off our coats. “And we’re not even inside yet.”

  Paige smoothed her wavy hair with her hand and we walked across the carpeted entrance to the double doors. Music and laughter trailed out of the room.

  “Let’s go,” Paige said. With that, she put a hand on the door and pulled it open.

  “Oh …” she started.

  “… my God,” I finished.

  We stopped, frozen in the doorway. Every inch of the ballroom had been transformed. White curtains flowed from the windows and the black-and-white marble floor glinted. There was crystal-like glitter on the floor that sparkled like a million diamonds. Ivory tablecloths covered round and square tables. This looked like a Hollywood party!

  Every guy was dressed in black, white or both. Most were in suits with white or black ties. Girls were in pink or red dresses.

  “Look up,” Paige whispered to me.

  My eyes went to the ceiling. Hundreds—no, thousands—of pink, black, and white balloons were against the ceiling, floating around the crystal chandelier. On the far wall, a banner read SWEETHEART SOIRéE in curly lettering.

  “There’s Callie!” Paige said.

  Callie looked, well, NOT like Callie. Her long hair was piled on top of her head in a sophisticated up-do. She had on a bright red minidress that poofed at the bottom like a ballerina tutu. Her shoes were red ballet flats and a silver horseshoe-shaped necklace draped around her slender neck glittered under the lights. She’d swiped on clear lip gloss too, and a coat of mascara. I barely recognized her!

  Callie looked away, almost like she was thinking about pretending she didn’t see us, before she ambled through the crowd.

  “Hi,” Paige said.

  “Hey.” Callie gave us a brief smile before shifting from one foot to the other.

  “Wow, we all look great!” Paige added.

  Callie and I just nodded. This was too weird—was she really still mad about the Eric thing?

  “So, we’re supposed to check in. Then, I think we can do whatever we want until the dance,” Callie said.

  I didn’t even know what to say to my best friend!

  Paige and I followed Callie over to a table where one of the eighth grade teachers sat. He was in a coat with tails and had on a black top hat.

  “Hi, girls,” he said. He smiled at us and picked up something off a big table next to him. “Take these,” he said. He handed Paige and me each a small red box.

  I opened mine. Inside, nestled on a white swatch of satin, was half of a silver heart with jagged edges—almost like a key.

  “When we make the announcement,” the teacher said. “Find the other half of your ‘broken heart’ so that you have your one dance together. Have fun!”

  I noticed Callie already clutched one of the broken hearts in her left hand.

  “These are so cool!” I said.

  “Wow, they must have cost a fortune,” Paige said.

  I scanned the room for Jacob.

  “I haven’t seen him yet,” Callie said. “But he’ll be here.”

  “Have you seen Eric?” I asked Callie.

  “Not yet.”

  I hoped Eric would be Callie’s match—maybe she would see that I didn’t like him and it would melt some of the awkwardness between us.

  “Let’s get drinks,” Paige suggested.

  We walked across the shimmery floor to the punch table. I noticed the Trio in a comfy nook of the room.

  They all wore shades of red, but Heather’s crimson dress was the darkest. The one-shoulder dress looked more dramatic than Julia and Alison’s cherry halter-top dresses. A thin gold choker glittered around Heather’s neck. Julia and Alison wore matching oversize red and black rings on their index fingers.

  Julia and Ben had squeezed together into an oversize chair. He looked cute in a black tux and white tie. He held her hand and nodded at everything she said. Alison and Heather had their hands together and passed a folded piece of paper between them.

  Callie’s eyes followed my gaze. “Don’t they look cozy.”

  “Yeah,” I said. “A little too cozy.”

  At the drink table, different crystal bowls filled with pink and red liquid glimmered up at me. Instead of plastic cups, like the ones I’d used at the riding team’s winter party, there were long-stemmed glasses and white cloth napkins.

  Following Paige’s lead, I took the ice tongs and dropped a few heart-shaped ice cubes into my glass. I poured pink lemonade over the ice and watched the hearts bob to the top.

  “You’re going to be the party star,” I said to Paige.

  “Oh, I forgot about that!” Callie said. “You get a special announcement from Ms. Drake about Teen Cuisine, right?”

  Paige blushed and nodded. “At the end of the party.”

  I pushed away my annoyance—at least with Paige, Callie was acting normal. So I guessed it was just me. It felt like Callie and Paige were BFFs tonight!

  “I’ll scream and cheer for you,” I said. “Maybe ‘Paige Parker—the new TV diva’ or something like that.”

  Paige’s eyes widened. “You better not.”

  I gave her a wide-eyed Who me? look and took a sip of lemonade. Suddenly, someone touched my elbow. I turned … and there he was.

  “Wow,” Jacob said. “You look great.”

  “Thanks,” I said. “So do you.” And he did. He’d totally pulled off the dressy-cool Hollywood look: unbuttoned black suit jacket, long-sleeve white shirt, and a pair of black pants. He looked amazing.

  “Hey,” Jacob said to Paige and Callie.

  They smiled at him and then pretended the drink bowls were fascinating.

  “Have you ever been to a party like this?” I asked.

  Jacob shook his head. “Never.”

  “I bet even my parent
s haven’t been to a party like this,” I said.

  This felt so good. Just Jacob and me. Chatting, like last semester.

  “Hi, guys.”

  I sighed when I recognized the voice.

  “Hi, Heather,” I said as I turned to face her.

  “You guys ready to ditch this party until the dance?” Heather asked.

  “Depends,” Jacob said. “What did you have in mind?”

  What?! Why would he even think about doing something Heather suggested?

  Heather flashed a smile. “Julia, Alison, and a few other riders are in the back room. It was supposed to be locked, but one of the teachers must have left it open. Come hang out with us.”

  I looked at Paige. This reeked of trouble.

  “Look—” I started to say.

  “Okay,” Jacob said at the same time.

  Callie nodded and stood by Heather. “Let’s go.”

  Paige and I hadn’t moved. But what choice did I have now? I didn’t want Jacob to leave without me and he obviously wanted to go.

  “Fine,” I said.

  “But how do we sneak out of here?” Paige asked, eyeing the chaperones.

  “Follow me,” Heather said. She glanced around the room and pointed to the group of chaperones who had gathered by the snack table with their backs to us. Heather motioned us forward and we followed her to a black door that was almost hidden by a flowing white curtain from one of the big windows. Heather twisted the knob and pulled the door open just wide enough for us to squeeze through.

  “Hurry up!” Heather hissed.

  Jacob watched over our shoulders as Heather, Callie, Paige, and I slipped inside. Finally, he darted through the door and pulled it shut.

  Alison, Julia, Ben, and Eric were sitting on a red couch pushed against a wall. Troy and Andy sat on the edge of a big coffee table.

  “Hi, Sash,” Eric said.

  Callie frowned and twisted the bracelet on her arm as Eric walked over to me. His dark hair was pushed back off his forehead. He looked polished and—I’ll admit it—handsome in blank pants and a white dress shirt.

  “When did you get here?” I asked nervously.

  “Ten minutes ago,” Eric said. “Heather pulled me in here—she told me she was grabbing you guys.”

  “C’mon, Sasha,” Jacob said. He stepped up beside me. “I’ll get you a chair.”