The Moonlit Bay Ball was coming up and I wasn't worried. Before my arrival, I had bought a brand new suit and tie, which I personally hated wearing, but would for the sake of my family's reputation. I would have much rather showed up in my black blazer, jodpurs, and knee-high riding boots, crop in hand. And why not? I looked good in them. Sort of distinguished. But no. Unfortunately, my mother had whined about it when I mentioned it in my first year, so there was no hope of ever swaying her. My Mom might have been a teenager at heart, but she also wanted to look out for the family, make sure nothing happened to leak out for the media, which might ultimately destroy the family. But it was just her and I now, so there wasn't too much of a problem. Less to look out for.
Relaxing in the pasture, I stared out at an elated chestnut mare and the small black pony at her side as they cantered back in forth, slowing to a stop to stare out into the distance before they picked up again, turned in the other direction. It was almost like performing a dance, as I had always thought, and they looked beautiful doing it. In perfect harmony, the best friends pranced, occassionally slipping from eachother's sides, but always returning. Eventually, Valentina's excitment grew too great and she gatherer up, breaking like a bullet across the field at a steady gallop, slowing only to kick up her heels and toss her head. At least she liked it here. A few of the other horses in the pasture, two that I recognized as Mystika and Zen â Jake and Ryan's mare and gelding â looked up at the whinny that tore through the silent atmosphere and echoed out onto the lake just beyond the fences.
"You had better keep that horse of yours in check, River Crosse," an irritatingly familiar voice came up behind me and I turned to look, even though I hadn't needed to. I sighed heavily, showing obvious distaste. It was no secret between the three of us â I hated them and they hated me.
Ryan nodded in response, adding on to his brother's statement. "If there's so much as a nic on Zen or Mystika's bodies, we'll know who did it. That animal is insane."
"You should shoot her. Put her out of her misery."
I stood from my seat on the opposite side of the fence and stared back at them with a certain amount of nonchalance that visibly angered them. "I suppose I should, shouldn't I? But why when an insane horse does so much better than two that don't even know the meaning of the word 'win'." Of course this wasn't just about winning. Not to me, anyway. I just knew it would get them all riled up. "Anyway, you're both just jealous because the only thing you two have in common with Ian Miller is the sound of your last name. It isn't even spelled the same."
It was where I drew the line, though. Hopping the fence, I headed back toward my room to escape their wrath, and they did nothing to stop me.
Relaxing in the pasture, I stared out at an elated chestnut mare and the small black pony at her side as they cantered back in forth, slowing to a stop to stare out into the distance before they picked up again, turned in the other direction. It was almost like performing a dance, as I had always thought, and they looked beautiful doing it. In perfect harmony, the best friends pranced, occassionally slipping from eachother's sides, but always returning. Eventually, Valentina's excitment grew too great and she gatherer up, breaking like a bullet across the field at a steady gallop, slowing only to kick up her heels and toss her head. At least she liked it here. A few of the other horses in the pasture, two that I recognized as Mystika and Zen â Jake and Ryan's mare and gelding â looked up at the whinny that tore through the silent atmosphere and echoed out onto the lake just beyond the fences.
"You had better keep that horse of yours in check, River Crosse," an irritatingly familiar voice came up behind me and I turned to look, even though I hadn't needed to. I sighed heavily, showing obvious distaste. It was no secret between the three of us â I hated them and they hated me.
Ryan nodded in response, adding on to his brother's statement. "If there's so much as a nic on Zen or Mystika's bodies, we'll know who did it. That animal is insane."
"You should shoot her. Put her out of her misery."
I stood from my seat on the opposite side of the fence and stared back at them with a certain amount of nonchalance that visibly angered them. "I suppose I should, shouldn't I? But why when an insane horse does so much better than two that don't even know the meaning of the word 'win'." Of course this wasn't just about winning. Not to me, anyway. I just knew it would get them all riled up. "Anyway, you're both just jealous because the only thing you two have in common with Ian Miller is the sound of your last name. It isn't even spelled the same."
It was where I drew the line, though. Hopping the fence, I headed back toward my room to escape their wrath, and they did nothing to stop me.