White Island (Under Rewriting)

Jealous?

The drive back was tediously slow. But for the sake of Raven, it had to be. All this time I hadn't realized how ruined my Holloway uniform was and how much I didn't care. For the first time in who knows how long, I didn't care about keeping up appearances. I didn't care that I probably looked like I'd been rolling around in the beach. After everything that had happened, I have never felt so relaxed.

We pulled in behind the Raven and Zoe, who had managed to keep the horse calm for the journey home, but before I could make a grab for the door Marcus had already opened it offering me a hand out. I took it with a smile as the people hidden around the stables grew near. Marcus' hand left mine leaving an oddly cold sensation where it had been and shut the door behind me  "Thank you so much, Zoe. We've got it from here." Sam exclaimed as she took Raven from the girls grasp and lead him away. "Hang out here, Once we've put him away I'll take a look at that arm." Marcus instructed as he called another guy over to help before wondering off to put the troublesome horse away. "Okay, everyone, show's over. Let's get back to work." Sam announced. Although it did little do disperse the group.

I'd been getting a few odd looks most likely because of the dirty uniform before making the hasty decision to hide from them by acquainting myself with Zoe properly. Of which was talking to two other girls already. They were about to turn a corner when I caught up to them. "Hi, Zoe right?" She smiled in acknowledgment saying hi, "I'm Sophie. Nice work back there." she smiled as the four of us turned the for mentioned corner together. "Thanks. Nice tip about the petting thing though. It really helped." She responded "This is Becky and Jade." The two girls waved and said hello as we wandered further around. Brighfields may be kind of falling  apart but the area was still beautiful, even with the odd paint chips and lose stable doors but we were all quickly distracted by Zoe clambering up a mound of hay bails under a tall blue shelter. "What are you doing?" She asked knocking the headphones off presumably her sisters head. "Oh, Hey sis." Was the kids only response. "I was just texting Angela and she said they're having a really good time." Honestly it was like the girl had no clue. "We thought a wild horse had run off with you." the girl only smirked, "A wild horse? Get a grip, sis."

"There you are," The voice of Marcus filled my ears as he turned the corner. "You found her then?" he added turning to Zoe as she and her sister descended the haystacks. "Yes, and now we're leaving." She concluded. Although her little sister didn't want to go quietly. "Hi, I'm Rosie. But you can call me Rosie." She tried to flirt. "Or just call me." The nineteen-year-old couldn't help but laugh at her antics and neither could the rest of us. "Ignore her. Home. Now." Zoe reprimanded as the two headed off. "I'll uh, I'll see you around." Becky and Jade looked at him in shock as he turned his attention back to me. "Right let's have a look at this sprain." He suggested, brandishing a first aid kit like a proud golden retriever, that had taken me until now to notice he had.

Becky and Jade disappeared together in a fit of hushed excitement as the two of us had settled on to some of the lower hay bales as he unzipped the first aid pouch before holding out his hand with a flourish. "May I?" He asked dramatically. I placed my arm in the palm of his hand and he gently pushed up the sleeve. I let out a little hiss of pain as he caught the purple skin. "Does it hurt?" He asked softly. I couldn't help but look at him eyebrow raised in a obvious expression. "Sorry, stupid question." He gestured at me to turn my hand over the bruising was worse underneath. "Can you wiggle your fingers for me? Does it hurt worse when you do?" I nodded in response as he fished a beige roll of compression bandage from the green box my damaged arm still resting in his left hand. "This should help." He breathed gently wrapping the wound. He worked in a comfortable silence so much so It wasn't until I felt his breath on my cheek that I looked up and realized how close we were. "Your incredible." Truth be told I was day dreaming too deeply to realize what he said. "I-I mean, it's incredible. The trick with Raven." He said leaning away a little. "It's really nothing. Duchess has the same sweet spot and I figured it couldn't make the situation any worse." I explained bashfully. "Duchess," he thought out loud. "She's the Grey Andalusian you ride. Right?" We noticed how obscure the sentence was at the same time. "I'd thought I'd recognised you from some of the local competitions. Plus between what you've told me and the uniform is a bit of a giveaway." I couldn't help the smile forming on my lips at his sudden panic to explain his meaning. "I'm gonna stop talking now." He smiled evidently a little embarrassed. It wasn't until Marcus was finishing up he spoke again. "There." He said, tucking the bandage in on it's self. "You should still see the doctor in town, just to be safe, but that should tide you over until then." He finished, packing up the equipment as he spoke. "Funny you should mention that." Marcus looked at me confused, "The new practice in town, it's my dads." His face morphed into understanding. "I'll have him take a look tonight." I went to actually thank him when someone cut in.

"Sophie," an all too recognize able voice broke our interaction. "Callum," I mimicked standing and moving away from the hay, and by proxy Marcus. "What are you doing here?" I asked both surprised and curious. "I could ask you the same thing," he rebutted, "Anyway, Some women called the Holloway and said you were hurt?" I went to respond as he wrapped a possessive arm around me. "Honestly it's nothing, babe, just wrangling a wild horse." Callum went to respond when Marcus suddenly cut him off, "babe?" He asked in surprise. "She's my girlfriend." the blonde spoke stepping passed me to Marcus. Although it was more like a Jack Russel barking at a Great Dane. Marcus however seemed unbothered by Callum's behaviour and shrugged indifferently as he replaced everything in the first aid kit and zipped the green pouch back up. "Marcus meet Callum. Callum meet Marcus." I introduced before turning back to Callum. "Marcus was just wrapping my arm." I waved it at him gently. "No need to get jealous." He shrunk back a little at the explanation "I'm Not." He said definitively lifting his shoulders. "Nothing to be jealous of?" Callum snarked, sending a glare in Marcus's direction. Honestly Callum could be such a child. "Ok, that's enough of that." I quipped "We better get going. Freddie's probably chomping at the bit to get back." Frederik had always been an energetic horse. "Yeah, exactly." Callum responded, arm around my waist guiding me away. "Thanks again, Marcus." I smiled over my shoulder at him to barely catch him smile back as Callum practically dragged me round the building out of sight.

"You didn't have to be so rude." I smirked nudging Callum in the ribs. He looped a friendly arm over my shoulders. "I wasn't rude," He responded as we walked back to where he'd left Freddie tied, "I was stern." I couldn't help the snort of laughter "You're impossible," I remarked as he grind brightly back at me with a knowing look in his eye.

Two chapters in 24 hours! Look at me go!!!!