"Aaliyah, get up the alarm went off" Maya shook my shoulders, groaning I sat up. "Can't we just skip class" she sighed playfully, "we are going to the stables
first."
Oh yeah I scrunched my nose at my stupidity "i'm not used to this" I trudged to my closet to pick out my outfit.
I looked over myself in the mirror, teal polo, black breeches, and black riding boots. My dark brown hair was in natural waves once I brushed it. "Ready" I called, putting my hair into a ponytail.
"Yep" Maya slipped her boots on and we grabbed our room keys. Once we made our way out of Winchester, birds chirped as if to announce our arrival. One of the barn cats layed out in the entrance of the stables, lazy I smiled and reached down to pet the tabby. "I'll see you in the ring" Maya stopped at the first stall where a sleepy palomino stuck his head out. I wandered farther down the aisle to see Aztec munching on his breakfast.
"Good morning, boy" I opened his stall then slipped his halter over his head. I clipped on the lead, led him to a close pair of crossties and clipped those on. "I'll be back" I went into the tack room to hear girls chatting.
"I so hope I make the advanced team"
"Don't worry about it, Lauryn you so will"
"Yea you're like the best rider evs!"
I rolled my eyes at the last girls comment and walked into grab my tack box. On the other side of the door were 3 girls whose eyes were all on me. I cleared my throat awkwardly, "uh, hi" turning to get my tack box I heard one giggle.
"Hon, never wear black breeches" at her comment I looked down, little white hairs were all over my breeches. Thanks Aztec I thought to myself then headed back to him, "sorry I took so long." I got to work on him, scrubbing and scraping every inch of dirt off of him. I kissed his blaze before throwing his yellow saddle pad and saddle on his back. I removed his halter and replaced it with a bridle.
"Please be good today" I mumbled to him before entering the indoor arena. About 12 horses and riders rode in circles around the arena, I joined in behind a girl and her blood bay.
Mr. Conner walked in and smiled "glad to see you are warming up, please spread out." I rode over to Maya, keeping distance between us still. We shared small smiles before Mr. Conner spoke again, "reach down, grab your horses tail and circle them." Easy I mentally grinned before grabbing Aztec's tail, I applied pressure with my inside leg, he understood what to do.
"Very good, everyone" Mr. Conner praised "now turn the opposite direction." I let go of his tail and grabbed it with the other hand, switching with my legs as well.
"Keep a good grip on his tail Vivian" Mr Conner corrected. I quickly glanced over to see a ginger girl struggling to keep ahold of her hyper chestnut's tail. "Alright ride them once around the ring at a posting trot then you are free to go." Mr. Conner checked his watch "remember advanced tryouts are at 6 p.m."
I kept my post in sync with Aztec's stride, riding him out of the ring, a couple grooms waiting outside the ring. A groom that looked like an 8th grader grabbed Aztec's reins while I hopped off.
"Thanks" I took off my helmet and let my hair down, aware of my horrible helmet hair. He looked down at me, a smirk on his lips "its my job" his storm gray eyes twinkled under his blonde hair as he lead Aztec away.
Maya pushed Fire's reins into the grooms hands, then stormed off frustrated. I caught up to her and grabbed her arm "Maya what's wrong" her normally bubbly eyes teared up.
"He won't even do circles, Aaliyah, imagine what he'll do at a show" she jerked her arm away and jogged back to Winchester. I ran after her trying to catch up, but she was to fast. I slowed down when I got inside, to see Maya going to the elevators. "Maya wait" I finally caught up to her, she obviously didn't want to talk.She let the elevator doors close before she spoke.
"I won't make the advanced team, Fire is to much for me" she wiped rebel tears away. "Aw, Maya stop, you're a great team he's just old" I gave her a quick hug before the doors opened.
Once we got in the dorm we changed into school outfits, me in a gray tanktop that said 'Wild,' light blue denim shorts and black vans. I grabbed my phone and put it in a case with a panda on it. Maya was wearing a white shirt, red shorts, and white converse.
We walked to our first class which was Math instead of desks, we had tables, 2 chairs on each side. I plopped down in the chair next to Maya. The class started to fill up, 2 other girls sat across from us, one had black hair while the other has dyed her hair pink.
"Hi, I'm Maya and this is Aaliyah" Maya gestured over to me and I waved. "I'm Brielle and this is Paige" Brielle, the one with black hair doodled in her notebook.
"Good morning class, I'm Mrs. Fields" She fixed her skinny pencil skirt "to start off today we will say our names and what we like to do."
After everyone else went it was our turn, "I'm Brille Vespa and I like to draw.
"I'm Maya Simpson and I ride horses."
"I'm Paige Jenkins and I play softball."
"I'm Aaliyah Simons and I also ride horses."
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"Maya, calm down you'll do amazing" we had gone back to the dorm after school to get ready for tryouts. I lint rolled my black breeches from this morning and pulled my hair up. "What if Fire acts up again" Maya chewed in her already short nails. I grabbed her wrists making her look at me, "you're a great rider, and he's a great horse." She nodded trying to calm down "lets go" we linked arms and headed to the stables.
Riders groomed their horses, yammering on about tryouts and who wouldn't make it. Aztec perked his ears at the gossip, "don't get into that boy." I continued to talk to him in a soothing manner when I felt something wet.
I looked down to see my boot was filled with water, anger filled every part of my body. My blue eyes flew up to meet hazel ones I recognized the girl who had done this to me.
Lauryn I held back a scream when she giggled, "omigod I am so sorry" she plopped the bucket down causing water to splash again. "What did I ever do to you" I yanked my boot off then poured the water out. She smirked, her eyes darkening "just making sure you know your place" Lauryn struted away, swinging the bucket by her side.
I groaned and put my soggy boot back on, I tacked Aztec up, yanking the girth to hard. He stomped his foot at me, "sorry boy" I led him into the arena. Everyone lined up in front of Mr. Conner, "before we start, only 5 people can make the advanced team." I sucked in a breath, there were 12 of us, "now, everyone besides Vivian, out." I followed everyone out of the ring, and sympathized for the girl with her hyper chestnut.
More riders came out after Vivian, each wig different expression's than the last. Finally it was down to me, once I entered the ring, I thought my heart stopped. "Alright, Aaliyah do the course whenever you're ready" Mr. Conner tapped on his clipboard. The course consisted of a small blue tarp, representing water, two oxers and a hedge jump.
I switched Aztec into a canter and neared the tarp, one of his ears were forward and one was back, I had his attention. 3,2,1 jump! On jump Aztec tucked his legs under him, barely making it over. We made it over the oxers with ease, but the hedge was a different story. Horses would get distracted and try to eat it, I did a half-halt to get his attention. I counted in my head again, we soared over the hedge and landed with plenty of room.
Mr. Conner nodded approvingly, writing results on his paper, I dismounted and led Aztec out, Mr. Conner followed.
I patted Aztec's sweaty neck "good boy" I whispered, Mr. Conner stuck the results on the wall with a push pin. Once her walked off we swarmed it, Intermediate team: Tessa, Josh, Bella, Rose, Cassidy, Blake, and Giana.
My heart fluttered, Advanced team: Vivian, Maya, Lauryn, Kylee, and Aaliyah. I squealed and quickly untacked, and groomed Aztec then put him in his stall, going to find Maya. When I found her, she ran up and hugged me, "Fire did it" she cheered, I giggled and wrapped my arm around her. We walked back to Winchester and took showers, i changed into pink shorts and a white tank top. Its safe to say that Maya and I were asleep before lights out.
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Wow that was long! The person in the media is Aaliyah. Sorry it took so long and it might not be good ! You love me anyways right?.... Right?
