Ride to survive

THE FIRST COMPETITION Part II

POV Amelia

The parcours looks impressive, but nothing me and Arrow can't handle. After inspecting it we have about half an hour before we start.

The first people are arriving and Mabel went to go look for her family. I decide to head back to my dorm to get my competition jacket and put on my shinny boots.

Isabella clearly had the same idea. To be honest i learned this from her: put your riding clothes on, wear a tracksuit over it and after the parcours you take of the protective layer and put on your shinny boots.

' So i guess we are both alone' she says while im sitting on my bed and putting on my boots.

' Yea'

' Some things never change'

' What were you doing with Jesse' i ask to change the subject. 'I saw you two whispering secretly behind that jump'

' You will see' Isabella says while putting on her jacket. She turns around. ' Do i look good?'

I get up from my bed and walk towards her. ' I don't know what you and Jesse are planning but better stay away from Arrow' i say.

She looks at me. Her eyes look right into mine.

' Amelia i know i was a terrible person last year that did terrible things. This year is different. I'm not like that anymore'.

Something about the way she says it, makes me believe it.

POV Mabel

The competition starts with Jesse. I'm starting as number 8 so i got a lot of time to kill. My friends Amelia and Sabrina are both part of the first 5. I don't really know any of the people in my group. Only Isabella.

Sometimes it feels like i know her because i have heard so much about her. But really i don't know anything about her.

Something about her makes me scared and wanting to keep my distance from her but at the same time intrigues me. I can't figure her out. Her way of thinking.

I decide to watch the first 5. After that there is a small break for the new group to get their horses warmed up.

I walk to the big tribune to find my parents. It is not very hard: my family is just like me. Outsiders. I can easily spot them.They are the ones in the jeans and hoodies.

Most of the other parents are dressed nicely: suits and summer dresses with big hats to protect their perfect light skin from the sun.

But my parents don't seem to be bothered by it. They are laughing and looking happy. They are just being themself. And i love that.

POV Amelia

Jesse is good. His round is clear but his time is beatable. He comes trotting out of the arena.' Good look' he says. I can't tell if its really something he ment but i will take it.

I can hear my name in the speakers

'Our next contestant is Amelia Scott riding on Moorlands Firing Arrow'

I click with my tongue and give Arrow the sign that its our time. We trot into the arena. I can feel Arrow getting excited. He is made to ride on shows. He loves the attention.

The crowd is quiet. I take a deep breath and give Arrow the sign to start cantering. I focus on the first jump: a simple vertical.

I can feel the adrenaline running through my body as we take our first jump.

The clock starts ticking.

POV Isabella

Amelia is good. I can tell she has gotten better since i left.

I'm walking with Blue in the warming up arena. I should be focussing on getting him ready, but in stead i keep my eyes on the tv.

The camera follows Amelia and Arrow through the parcours.

I know she will never be the fan favorite and judging on her improved riding she knows it too.

She rides with everything she got. She puts everything in every turn every jump they make. She leads Arrow through the parcours with speed but also carefulness.

She is definitely going to beat Jesses time.

It is funny to me that she feels like she has to give her everything. This parcours is challenging but easy for me, Amelia and Jesse.

We have ridden much more difficult parcours in our lives so far.

We can all ride this parcours with our eyes close. But thats Amelia. Always underastemating her talent.

POV Amelia

We fly over the last jump. The crowd starts clapping and yelling when we land. Arrow throws his head in the air and gives a kick from the excitement.

I give him a few taps on his sweaty neck as we trot to the exit.

Sabrina is already waiting there on Amber. When i pass her, i can tell something isn't right.

In the split second we pass each other i notice her hair looks messy and she has some dirty stripes on her face.

But before i can say anything her name gets called and she and Amber are trotting into the arena.

What has she done?