Horses, Horses, and more.. Boys?

Chapter 17

My riding experience showed as I raced ahead of everyone else. Alli shouted for me to slow down and all I could do was give out a loud "Ye-haw!"

Needless to say, I won and got to an amazing lake hidden by a grove of apple trees. I slowed Whisper to a slow walk and stopped her just under a low branch. I decided to have some fun. 

Standing up, I pulled myself into the tree and put my helmet on a branch hidden by leaves.  Whisper trotted to the lake and began to graze while I climbed to the part of the low branch hidden in the leaves.

I heard the hoofbeats of the others and crouched low. Whisper trotted into the trees and looped back around behind everyone. Toby was the first into the clearing.

He looked around and rode slowly over to the lake. He followed Whisper's hoof prints and then in came Hailey and Ali with Whisper walking silently behind them.

They too looked around and walked into the trees where Toby had gone. Whisper on the other hand stopped right under my branch and I grabbed my helmet and dropped down onto her back.

I trotted her to the lake and dismounted, laying in the grass. I closed my eyes and Whisper began to graze near my feet. Toby came back into the clearing.

"Where were you? We came here but we didn't see you so we followed some hoof prints but they just led back here." He says.

"Me? I've been here the entire time. You must have been mistaking because I've been laying in the sun the whole time." I say, as surprised as I can manage.

"Hmm. Oh well." He mutters.

I laugh as he lays down beside me.  I close my eyes and let the sun warm me up. Not two minutes later, Hailey and Alli trot into the clearing.

"What the heck? Where where you two?" Hailey says, annoyed.

"Who? Us? We've been here the whole time. Duh. We where waiting for you to catch up." Toby answers.

Nice one, Walker. I thought to myself.

"Bu- but... How? We already rode through here!" Alli exclaimed.

"Must have been mistaking, Smith." He laughed back.

"Whatever." She groaned.

I laughed and in the midst of my laughter I snorted, causing everyone to look at me and my face to turn about 100 different shades of red. Toby laughed at my embarrassment and I joined him.

At about 2:30ish we decided to head back to my house. On the ride back, Toby and I brought up the rear while Hailey and Alli took the lead. As we walked in silence, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning to Toby, I saw his face all red.

"So I was uhm... Wondering if uhm... You wanted to uhm... Go to the homecoming dance with me? That is if you uhm.. Want to." He stutters.

Giggling I nod. "Sure. I'd love to."

He sends me a smile and we get back to our silent ride. 

You so like him. My mind speaks. But for once, my heart agrees.