Disguised In Lavender

Part 11

Surely she was just imagining things, Ann could be friends with whoever she wanted whenever she wanted. Lauren simply shrugged and turned to the front of the class, pulling the sleeves of her sweatshirt lower self consciously. Making it through the day felt like hours, glancing up at the clock and willing it to strike seven so she could bolt to the stables. Ann would get out thirty minutes before her, it made her heart race at the thought of going riding with her. So lost in the thoughts of flying through underbrush in the light of the moon she nearly missed the shrill scream of the final bell.

"Send me the homework?" Lauren asked in a rush, shoving her books into her bag and double checking that she had her vest tucked in. Tanner nodded without answering, sensing that she was in a rush and shooting her finger guns as she bolted out of the classroom. Her feet glided over the vinyl floors, swerving between students and shoving her shoulder against the door, bright light forcing her to squint. "Hey, hey, don't leave me!" The squeak of surprise made Lauren skip to a stop and turn back, smiling when she recognized its owner.

Ann jogged forward, Lauren's sweatshirt hood pulled over her blond hair that curled down around her neck. "It fits nice." The trainer twirled the hood strings around her finger when she noticed Lauren looking, laughing to herself. It really did, tight enough to show off Ann's figure but it looked comfortable, giving off a vibe of warmth.

Maybe this wasn't a good idea, Lauren thought to herself though she forced a smile onto her face for Ann. Being afraid of big animals wasn't necessarily safe when riding one, let alone leaping fallen trees down by the lake. "Hey, you wouldn't hurt me, it'll be fun." Ann reassured as if she'd read Lauren's mind, shuffling her pinky out of the sweater paws and holding it towards the rider. Scoffing at the gesture she hadn't used since grade school, Lauren curved her pinky with Ann's nodding surely. "There's a helmet in my cubby, we can start heading out once the lights turn on, it's prettier around then. We'll ride down to this lake where you can't even see campus, the moon is huge out there, and all the stars."

An image she'd seen so many times was painted in her mind's eye, begging to be given to Ann for forever. "It sounds magical." Ann breathed, her boots clicking once they set foot in the shadowed barn. Lauren nodded, busying herself with the chores she knew by heart, pull out the brushes, hide her sneakers in the tack room under her jacket. Buttoning up the vest she noticed the misgiving in Ann's eyes as she peered at the bay gelding she'd first seen Lauren riding.

Walking over to her, Lauren took Ann's hand carefully and lifted it to spread the fingers along the gelding's forelock. His sigh of content sent a blast of hot air over Ann, making her giggle and sweep the loose locks of golden hair back in place. "See, he's not so dangerous at all, I won't let him hurt you even if he was." It was an odd feeling not wanting to let go of Ann's hand, wanting to share the feeling of closeness as she drew figure eights on the gelding's muzzle longer. The sun was sinking in the sky though, Lauren pulled away and began setting up her tack in an inconspicuous way. "You do this often, then." Ann observed slowly, dropping her hand and turning back to Lauren, with her lip clenched between her teeth.

"So often that you won't have to worry about a thing." She promised, holding up her pinky as a reminder of their promise as she moved past Ann to unlock the gelding's stall. A small smile broke the anxiety in the blonde's face as she backed out of the way of the huge horse. Lauren worked in easy silence, the feeling of Ann's hand reaching out for her whenever she moved ever present. To some it could have been annoying, like a child clinging to their side as they avoided tripping over them. To Lauren, when she put her hands on Ann's shoulders after turning too fast and bumping into her, there was nothing but glee. A game of patience was one she played constantly and having Ann jump in surprise when Lauren spun carrying the heavy saddle it was easy.

Besides, what kind of a friend would she be if she were yelling in irritation at the person she was taking on a ride? Tightening the girth into place, Lauren swept her hair out of her face and squinted out onto the campus, now concealed in darkness. "Alright, put this on, you warm? It's going to be freezing." Ann spread her arms clad by Lauren's sweatshirt and took the neon tapped helmet she was handed, shaking her hair out of the hood. "Give me your right foot." Lauren crouched down, cupping her hands just below the stirrup and motioning for Ann to stand there, pushing herself into the saddle. "I won't hurt you, will I?" She asked curiously, lifting her foot and gazing cautiously at Lauren who rolled her eyes and shook her head. If she could ride for years then hardly anything could compare to the scars she'd collected, least of all anything Ann did to her.

The trainer gingerly put her foot in Lauren's hand and let the other dangle from the first stirrup, yelping in surprise when she was hoisted stiffly upwards. "Move back a bit." Lauren commanded, using her hand to shoo her back as she unclipped the gelding from the ring ties, flipping his reins around his neck. Ann did as she was told, squeezing her eyes shut tight as Lauren bounded onto the horses' back in front of her. She looked back at the girl behind her, giggling at her clenched fists and eyes shut tight like a child.

"Put your arms around me and don't you dare fall off." Lauren stretched out the reins, fishing for the second stirrup as she went long in her leg, the familiar feel of the saddle against her knees. Ann let her hands fall around Lauren's waist, leaving space as if she were more afraid of being scolded than dying. With a roll of her eyes, the forward rider used her elbows to wrap Ann's arms tightly around her waist. The feeling of her chin resting on her shoulder sent a feeling of fire along Lauren's whole body. "Hold tight." She forced herself to speak through her dry mouth and looked over at Ann, blinking as she quickly turned back, so close.