Disguised In Lavender

Part 40

Growing up was a concept that wasn't really anything Lauren had thought about since she was a little girl. Back then she thought she'd drop out of highschool to help her father run the farm and earn money teaching lessons. "When you win this you'll have enough money to buy all of Winchester Manor. Even if you do buy out that lake, it's only maybe a half hour walk and as a Junior I'll have all the time to spare." Ann's voice was lifted with hope, the kind that made your throat close up and your shoes feel too heavy. "Then you'll visit me often, right?" Lauren asked, leaning her head on Ann's shoulder and looking up at Ducky as he swished his tail rhythmically. "Of course, but you better keep your assignments because I'm this close to failing Competitive Arts." Ducky bobbed his head in agreement, sending both girls into a fit of laughter, Ann rolling onto her back in Lauren's lap. "I'm not leaving you." The rider smiled, brushing the hair from Ann's face and trying to hold back her misgivings.

Winning the show meant a lot of money, $15,000 for third place, $20,000 for second, and $30,000 for first. Every rider knew how much that meant, most of them were from poor families or had nowhere to go after Winchester. Losing however, meant you'd leave the school instantly and have a place as their riding instructor. It was better than a scholarship but it meant leaving behind your student years for good, most of the oldest riders were younger than 22. Lauren blinked the thoughts away, stuffing her hand into her pockets on the way to the ring. Her mind was wandering past the competition to what her future really might be without Ann. Maybe the promise to her girlfriend was as confident as could be but Lauren knew she was facing the lights now. "Lots on your mind?" Mr. Terence ran to catch up to her, his heavy breath sending waves of fog across his unshaven face. "Sort of." Lauren answered vaguely, stepping around the gate he held open for her and pulling up her hood.

The horses in the ring were all on short leads, close enough to the trainer to command and far enough from each other. "I heard you talking to Ann. It's a lot to take on for someone your age." Mr. Terence continued, his eyes following a tall black mare with streaks of purple ribbon in her tail. "You could always take a year off, I'll be at the stable whenever you need me, Laur." Lauren looked up at her teacher, tears in her eyes at the thought of leaving not just Ann, Tanner, and JK behind, but him too. "I'm gonna win. If Dalla does then I'll never hear the end of it even if I do move away." The instructor broke into his hearty laugh, swinging an arm over Lauren's shoulders and shaking her with his strength. "That's my girl." Even if it wasn't her father, Mr. Terence was enough, she smiled gratefully as he waved goodbye. Ann dipped her head to him politely as he passed, bouncing towards Lauren with one hand in a fist. The rider turned so her elbows were propped higher than her shoulders on the smooth rail. "Darling." Ann greeted, popping onto her tiptoes to kiss Lauren swiftly and lean back beside her. There weren't any words that the rider needed to say when talking to Ann, it was just so easy. She nodded to the edge of paper sticking out from Ann's hand as she unfolded it.

Gold print in bold italic stood out at the top of the page, it read; Justin Kilmer wins the state nationals math olympiad. Lauren's jaw dropped, her eyes flew to Ann who was grinning from ear to ear in awed excitement. "Has Tanner seen this?" The rider asked, pulling the paper away and squinting to be sure she'd read it right. Ann was too excited to answer, she was practically buzzing as she shook her head at the little secret. Pulling the shorter girl into a hug, Lauren felt like she'd been lifted to cloud nine, the paper tight in her hand.

"So now I have to win just like him." Lauren clapped softly, looking around nervously at the judges in case they'd heard the celebration between the two. "Have you seen the news?" Tanner came running full speed at the railing, his voice shrill with astonishment. "Keep your voices down please or I'll have to ask you to exit the ring." Over the megaphone, a woman's scratchy disagreeable voice silenced Tanner joy but not before he could bear hug Lauren. Ann punched the air beside them, not too unhappy she wasn't being suffocated by the permed boy.

Tanner let Lauren out of his grasp, stimming as quietly as he could with his feet on the ground. "Come on, drinks are on me." Lauren grabbed Ann's arm, looping it around hers so the younger girl's head rested on her shoulder. "It's only like 12:30." She mused under her breath, not stopping her girlfriend from leading her back towards the hotel. "Oh please, you like me better when you're drunk." Lauren shot back playfully, earning a hip check from Tanner who made a face knowing exactly what she meant. Ann just rolled her eyes, deciding it was better to leave Lauren on a high than look like a whore to her friend. The hotel was only a fifteen minute walk from the ring, the trio lost in chatter with their voices raised. "Okay, okay." Ann shook her head with a smile, putting a finger to Lauren's lips as she pushed open the hotel doors.

There was no angry grandmother this time, thankfully for everyone, and the lobby was mostly cleared. "I'll grab drinks." Ann twirled around Lauren, shooting fingers guns as she backed towards the open bar. Tanner set a hand on his friend's shoulder and his chin beside it, squinting skeptically at the younger girl. "They won't check her ID, will they?" He asked tentatively, looking up at Lauren who scoffed and elbowed him off of her. "You've had a fake one since you were fifteen." Tanner covered his mouth in mock offense, ducking under another attack from the rider. "Come on, let's find The Office or something." Lauren waved to catch Ann's attention, motiing between her and Tanner then up to the elevator. The younger girl held up an 'okay' sign, grinning at the shout from her girlfriend as Tanner tried to leap onto her shoulders.