“Canter,” Khloe called.
I was ready. Whisper yanked her head up, trying to get more rein, but I didn’t give up an inch. My legs stayed loose around her sides and I pushed myself deeper into the saddle. Whisper snorted, tossing her head in frustration. I held firm, not giving her what she wanted. Khloe and Ever lapped us and I kept Whisper to a trot. It took a few more laps before Whisper settled and I let her canter.
Khloe and I slowed the horses to a walk when the floodlights came on.
“Let’s call it a night,” Khloe said.
I smiled, patting Whisper’s neck. “Good place to stop. Thanks again, Khlo.”
“It was fun.” Khloe swung her leg over Ever’s saddle and lowered herself to the ground. “Whisper’s such a beautiful mover.”
I dismounted. “I think so, too. And you’re so lucky with Ever—the bond you two have is rare.”
Smiling, we led our horses out of the arena. My session with Khloe had gone better than I’d imagined and I couldn’t wait for my next lesson.
STEP AWAY FROM THE COFFEE
I KNELT NEXT TO A LIGHTLY SNORING KHLOE.
I’d been up for hours already, doing homework. I’d managed to finish everything and, determined not to be sleepy, I’d switched to coffee. The bitter liquid had tasted disgusting even with heaps of Splenda, but it had kept me awake. Wide awake.
“Khloooeee,” I whispered. “Khlo. Khloe.”
Khloe cracked open an eye. “Lauren. What are you doing?”
She buried deeper under her covers.
“It’s Friday. Sleepover day! Last day of school before the weekend. I’ve been up forever. It’s sunny outside and the perfect day for a lesson and—”
Khloe sat up, her blond hair static-y from her pillow. “Lauren. How many cups of tea did you have this morning?”
“Tea? No tea! I had coffee! I never drink coffee. Ev-er.”
Khloe rubbed her eyes, laughing. “Um, no more for you. Ev-er.”
I sat still for a minute, realizing it was the first time I’d been this stationary all morning. “Oops,” I said, giggling. “I guess I had a little too much caffeine. I’m so sorry I woke you up!”
Khloe looked at the clock and pressed a button. “My alarm was going to go off in five minutes, anyway. I’m glad it’s Friday, too. Hey, you survived your first week!”
“Almost,” I said. “One more day. I’m really looking forward to tonight.”
“I will be,” Khloe said, rubbing her forehead. “After I audition.”
“You’ve been working on your lines every free second. You know everything about Beauty and the Beast. There’s nothing you can do to be more prepared.”
“Yeah, well, Riley wants it, too. She’s a good actress and she’s been in my face about every chance she gets.”
“I’m sorry. You don’t deserve that. It’s just like riding with her. But you know how talented you are. Don’t let her psych you out.”
“You’re right,” Khloe said. She took a big breath. “Let’s get ready, get through classes and make it to the fun stuff.”
Getting through classes was exactly what I did. I went from class to class, engrossed in the material. It kept me from fixating on tonight’s sleepover. Except for in between classes. It was my first social event at Canterwood. I didn’t even care anymore about Riley—I just wanted to hang out with the girls. I’d gotten a lot of homework done in last period—study hall—so tonight was all about having fun. It felt good to be caught up with homework and knowing I wouldn’t spend the night at my desk.
Between my classes, I updated my Chatter status. LaurBell: Sleepover 2nite! So xcited! J
I got a response, minutes later, from Taylor. TFrost: Have fun! Skype me this wkend.
His reply made me smile. I couldn’t wait to “see” him over Skype. I adjusted my backpack and left the English building, typing a response.
LaurBell: I will! Can’t wait 2 talk.
I changed clothes in record time and hurried to the stable. I couldn’t wait to get in the arena and see if my practice session with Khloe would help during today’s lesson.
“Lauren!”
I stopped and Cole waved at me.
“Hey,” I said. “What’s up?”
Cole grinned. “I heard you made glee club. Congratulations!”
“Thanks! I can’t wait for next week’s first practice.”
“Me either.”
“You’re in glee, too?”
“Yep,” Cole said. “I auditioned at the last minute. I have bad stage fright, but I’ve always wanted to do something like glee club.”
“Auditioning was definitely scary. What convinced you to do it?”
We reached the stable entrance and stood off to the side so we could keep talking.
“More like who convinced me,” Cole said. “Lexa told me I had to try if it was something I really wanted. I tried to talk myself out of it by saying I hadn’t practiced a song. When I made that argument to Lexa, she said it was better to get up there without having too much time to think about it.”
“So you did.”
“I did not sound even remotely prepared, but Mr. Harrison said if I worked hard he’d accept me. I promised I would. Now I’ll be seeing you every Wednesday.”
“That’s so cool, Cole,” I said. “I’m not the best singer either, trust me. We’ll get better together.”
We went into the stable and gathered our tack to ready Whisper and Valentino for our lesson. I tacked up Whisper, put on my helmet, and walked her to the indoor arena. I reached the entrance at the same time as Clare and Riley. Clare’s red curls were back in a low ponytail under her helmet and she wore an off-the-shoulder T-shirt with a light pink tank top underneath. Riley hadn’t put on her helmet yet. She looked ready for a show in tall boots, white breeches, and a button-down shirt.
Say something nice, I told myself. Something to set the mood for a good night.
“I’m glad you both were free to sleep over tonight,” I said. “Khloe and I are really excited.”
Clare smiled. “I can’t wait. Movies. Junk food. Talking about boys. We need this after the first crazy week of school.”
Riley surprised me by nodding. “Of course we’d be there,” Riley said. “I’d be worried about Khloe if I wasn’t there.”
“Why would you be worried about Khloe?” I asked.
Riley made a sympathetic-slash-matter-of-fact face. “She’s going to be crushed after auditions. We’ll get the cast list by tomorrow via e-mail and Khloe’s going to need all the support she can get.”
I clenched my jaw. I wasn’t going to let Riley talk like that about Khloe. It was bad enough that she was doing it to Khloe’s face, but she wasn’t going to talk behind her back.
“Hey, let’s go get warmed up,” Clare said. Her voice was high and cheery. She looked back and forth between Riley and me.
“You’re a wonderful actress,” I said to Riley. She smiled as if I’d finally realized her talent.
“Thank y—”
I cut her off midword. “To pull it off that you’re not worried about Khloe in auditions. I’m totally buying it, even though I know you’re way smarter than to count Khloe out of snagging the lead.”
I smiled sweetly and led Whisper away from Riley, Clare, Fuego, and Adonis.
I mounted, ignoring the dagger stares I felt Riley shooting at me. Lexa, who’d been walking Honor, rode up next to me.
“Why’s Riley so mad at you?” Lexa whispered. “She looks like she’s ready to knock you off Whisper!”
“She was trash-talking Khloe and I stood up to her,” I said. “I tried to be nice because of the sleepover tonight, but Riley went after Khloe’s acting and I couldn’t keep my mouth closed.”
Lex sighed. “She always has to start something. I’m glad you said whatever you did. Riley ran into us in the hallway today and told Khloe she was setting herself up for disappointment by even trying out for the lead. Riley said she didn’t want Khloe getting hurt and to r
eally consider trying out for a role she could realistically obtain.”
I groaned. “That’s the problem with Riley. She rarely ever says anything outright mean—it’s always covered by this fake sugary sweetness.”
“Lexa and Lauren,” Mr. Conner’s voice boomed across the arena, and I jumped in the saddle.
I looked over and Cole, Clare, Riley, and Drew were lined up in front of Mr. Conner. Lexa and I were walking our horses along the wall. I hadn’t heard him come in!
Lex and I trotted Whisper and Honor to the end of the line. My cheeks blushed and I could barely look at Mr. Conner.
“Whatever conversation you two were having must have been extremely important,” Mr. Conner said, crossing his arms.
“I’m sorry,” Lexa and I said at the same time.
“So important,” Mr. Conner said as if he hadn’t heard us. “That if it wasn’t the first week, I’d say you should continue it while you muck stalls after the lesson. This will be your first and last warning. Understood?”
“Yes, sir,” I said.
Lexa nodded.
Stall duty was the last thing I wanted to do today before our sleepover. Lex and I had lucked out that Mr. Conner had given us a break. I wouldn’t be caught not paying attention ever again.
“Please move your horses to the wall,” Mr. Conner said.
Whisper and I ended up behind Cole and Valentino. I couldn’t help but marvel at the lanky gelding’s black coat. Not a spot on him had been bleached from the sun— every hair was a stunning, shiny black except for one white sock on his hind leg.
“Trot,” Mr. Conner called.
All of my attention went to Whisper. This week’s lesson was going to end on a good note.
Whisper stayed at a walk until I signaled her to trot. I posted, lifting myself slightly out of the saddle with the movement of her leg. She kept pace with the other horses and there was an extra spring in her step. It was as if she knew it was Friday, too.
“Cross over the center, change direction, and sitting trot,” Mr. Conner called.
Drew, at the front of the line, was the first to move over the arena’s center. He’d put red bell boots on Polo and the blood bay trotted smoothly across the arena. The rest of us followed him.
We lapped the arena in the opposite direction and every muscle in Whisper’s body was engaged. That was one of the most important qualities in a dressage horse. She had an ear back in my direction, listening.
“Canter,” Mr. Conner called.
I deepened my seat, waiting for Whisper to react to the verbal cue. She didn’t. Whisper kept a steady trot until I signaled her to canter. I smiled to myself. I couldn’t wait to tell Khloe. She was going to be so happy.
Mr. Conner’s eyes shifted from one of us to the other. He took notes, scribbling fast.
“Slow to a walk and bring your horses to the center, please,” he said.
This time, Drew stopped Polo next to Whisper. He glanced over, smiling at me. I returned his smile, feeling my toes tingle. Drew was très cute. So cute. But I couldn’t start thinking about boys yet. Not right now. I had to learn how to juggle school, glee club, classes, friends, and everything else before I even thought about guys. But . . . that didn’t mean I couldn’t look at Drew.
I turned my gaze back to Mr. Conner.
“You all did well during your first week,” he said. “On Monday, we’ll begin more intensive work. I want you to rest up this weekend and prepare yourself. We’re going to end the week’s lessons with jumps.”
Riley and Clare high-fived. Drew whispered, “Yes!”
I froze. What if I stayed like this—immobile—when it was my turn? It wasn’t as if I could say no. I fidgeted with the reins. You jumped all summer without a problem, I reminded myself. And you jumped during testing. This felt different somehow. Maybe because I was riding in front of other people.
“ . . . and then you’ll be free to go,” Mr. Conner said.
I caught the last few words of whatever he’d said.
Mike and Doug walked into the arena, carrying poles. Within minutes, they’d assembled three simple verticals in a straight line that increased in height.
“Drew, you’ll go first,” Mr. Conner said. “Followed by Lexa, Clare, Riley, Cole, and Lauren.”
Being last was good and bad. It was good because I had a chance to watch everyone else and bad because I had to wait which gave me more time to get nervous.
Everyone but Drew moved along the wall. He cantered Polo in a large circle then straightened him, pointing the horse at the first vertical. Polo rose into the air at the right second. His form, and Drew’s, was near perfect. Drew eased Polo a notch and the two flew over the second vertical. They were magnetic—I couldn’t take my eyes off them. Polo and Drew made a great team. Drew had gentle hands and he rode with Polo, not against him. They completed the last jump and Drew patted Polo’s neck as he joined us.
“Nice work, Drew,” Mr. Conner said.
I chewed the inside of my cheek as the rest of my team went. No one knocked a rail or even came close to a fault. I visualized all of the jumps Whisper and I had taken—and cleared—this summer. We could do this. Three simple verticals.
“Lauren, you’re up,” Mr. Conner said.
I eased Whisper forward the second he said my name. If I waited, I’d think too much. I didn’t circle Whisper as some of my teammates had with their horses—I pointed her at the first vertical. All of the jumps were the same— white poles and black jump stands.
Whisper’s canter was even as we approached the first vertical. I moved into the two-point position and gave Whisper rein. The gray mare stretched her neck, tucking her forelegs under her, and jumped into the air. We landed on the other side and I smiled.
I had to let Whisper be Whisper. I had to trust her. Sometimes, she responded to Mr. Conner’s verbal cues. A few times, she’d balked at jumps over the summer, causing me more than a bruised ego. We didn’t know each other well enough for me to let her wander like Khloe had with Ever. But Whisper trusted me. I owed her the same. It didn’t mean I wasn’t going to be nervous about jumping, but it did mean that I had to give Whisper room to try.
We cleared the second vertical and I gave her an extra inch of rein for the last jump. Whisper’s body lifted into the air and she pushed off the ground with her hind legs, thrusting into the air. She landed and cantered away from the course. I rubbed her neck and she tossed her head, shaking her gray mane. Whisper knew she’d done well. There were lots of apple slices in her future.
I slowed her to a trot then a walk.
Mr. Conner nodded at me, giving me a quick smile. “Good ride, Lauren.”
I couldn’t stop a giant grin from spreading across my face.
“Thank you all, and I’ll see you on Monday,” Mr. Conner said.
I hopped off Whisper’s back. “You were amazing, girl! I’m so proud of you. I couldn’t have made it without you.”
I looked over at Lexa as she dismounted. I wanted to share my excitement with her, but I couldn’t. There wasn’t anyone here that I could tell. Lexa and Khloe would wonder why I was so excited to have cleared three simple verticals.
I wanted to BBM Khloe before her lesson, so I led Whisper back to her stall to grab my phone.
Whisper didn’t respond 2 any voice commands from Mr. C! Thank u so much!
Khloe is writing a message appeared.
I waited, glad I’d caught her before her class.
YAY! That’s awesome, L! So happy 4 u! J Going 2 my lesson, but c u in r room.
I put my phone back on my tack trunk and turned to Whisper.
“Okay, Princess Whisper, you’re getting the royal treatment,” I said. “Let’s go to the wash stall.”
Whisper loved water. She loved being pampered and often fell asleep when I bathed her.
I untacked her, leaving her gear on her stall door, and took her sky blue wash bucket, Mane ‘n Tail shampoo and conditioner, a wide-toothed comb, and a sponge.
I led Whisper inside and she turned around fast, standing ready for crossties. “Someone really wants a bath,” I said, laughing.
I clipped the ties to her nylon halter and took off the lead rope. I hugged Whisper’s neck and stared ahead of us. I squinted, looking at the cross-country field toward the woods at the back of the campus.
Mr. Conner stood near five mounted equestrians. A horse and rider I recognized soared over a tall brush jump and cantered to a double combination. The gorgeous bay took long strides and the rider’s blond hair blew back. The separation between horse and rider was invisible.
Khloe and Ever.
Khloe slowed Ever, easing her just before they reached the first half of the combination. The plastic poles, meant to look like logs, were probably about three and a half feet off the ground. I was too far away to be sure, but I’d had enough practice at eyeballing heights of obstacles.
Ever arched gracefully over the first jump, took one stride and lifted into the air for the second part of the combo. I didn’t need to be close to see Khloe’s excellent form. They circled and rode back to the waiting riders. I couldn’t hear what Mr. Conner said to her, but it had to be good.
I smiled, squirting shampoo into the bucket and turning on the hose.
“We’ll get there one day, girl,” I told Whisper. “For now, we’ve got friends to cheer on.”
I filled the bucket with warm water and suds threatened to overflow. I turned the hose to a gentle pressure and pointed it at Whisper’s hooves. I worked my way up her legs, shoulder, neck, and by the time I reached her withers with the hose, her eyes closed.
The water ran over her hindquarters and down her tail, rinsing away a week of lessons, dust, and sweat.
Initiation Page 16
