Mounting up

Chapter 12

This is it. I felt the plane touch down on the concrete as we taxied down the runway, slowing our speed as we went. The plane was directed into it's unloading space and after hooking it up to the building, the passengers filed off, one by one. A red and white flag fluttered in the distance. The loud speaker crackled to life again. "Thank you for flying with Air Canada. Have a wonderful time in Ottawa."

We filed off and Mr.Rossi smiles "Welcome to Canada Eh?" We burst into laughter and grinned as we waited for our bags at the baggage claim. Kayden put an arm around me. "How was the flight?" He asked, excitement gleaming in his eyes. "It was good. I slept mostly." I confessed. He smiled. "I was sat between Ms.Jenkins and Mr.Rossi." He groaned. "And why is that so horrible?" I grabbed my suitcase of the rolling claim. "Because Ms.Jenkins gave me the "talk"" He said.

My smile frowned in disgust. "Uh, sounds horrible." I reply. He nodded and grabbed his bags. Mr.Rossi raises his voice over the loud chattering of teenagers. "Alright! Senior Varsity, we have two taxis waiting for us to take us to our hotel, the westmin. Once we arrive at the hotel, please pick roommates and collect room keys from Ms.Jenkins or I. Then please get settled in your room. At 3 pm please come down to the lobby, dressed in practice gear as we will be practicing at the show grounds."

I nod. I hope Elle had a good trip over here. It took the stable hands 7 days to drive here. We piled into two taxis and drove to the hotel. Once we arrived, I smiled. The hotel was beautiful. Fresh white flowers were planted neatly in pots, a gleaming red maple stood tall nearby.

We got out of the cars. I searched for Paige. "Roommates?" I asked. "You know it!" I smiled. Kayden and Taylor looked happy as they decided to be roommates. Alyssa looked overjoyed to be having a room by herself. Mr.Rossi and Ms.Jenkins shared a suite together.

Overall, I was quite happy with the pairings. We stepped into the elevator with Kayden and Taylor. "What floor are we all on?" I asked, uncertainly. "Well I know Taylor and I are in room 619 on the sixth floor, Alyssa grabbed the room key for room 825 on the eighth floor and Mr.Rossi and Ms.Jenkins are staying in the penthouse suit up on the tenth floor." Kayden explained. Paige added "and we are room 702 on the seventh floor."

Kayden and Taylor waved goodbye as they steeped off the elevator onto the sixth floor. "See you at 3!" Taylor smiled. "See you then!" Paige and I replied. Alyssa stepped into the elevator along with Mr.Rossi and Ms.Jenkins just before the doors closed. "Floor 8 please-- "and floor ten." Mr.Rossi cut in. I nodded and pressed those numbers on the keypad.

Not long after, the elevator dinged and opened it doors at the seventh floor. Paige and I stepped off. "Bye!" We said as we turned away and walked towards our room. "Hmm, 700, 701, 702! Here's our room!" Paige said as she stuck the room key into the slot. The door clicked open and we stepped inside. To say the hotel room was gorgeous, was putting it midily. The room donned dark wood hard floors, two queen beds, and Gray walls with a nice view.

Paige flopped onto the bed furthest from the window. I grabbed the bed closest to the window. I read the clock. "Paige, it's 2:30. Do you want to unpack quickly the get dressed in breeches and head down to the lobby?" I asked. "Sure." She began unpacking her clothes leaving out a pair of breeches, and a national-worthy lime green riding polo. I unpacked quickly, and left out a pair of hunter green breeches, and a yellow polo.

Paige smiled at our riding ensemble. "These are so national-worthy!" She exclaimed as we walked down to the elevators. "Definitely" I giggled as we boarded the elevator. Only a short time later, the elevator dinged and opened its doors at lobby. We entered the fancy lobby and sat down beside Alyssa who had paired black breeches that had a white knee patch with a hot pink riding polo. She smiled as we sat down. Paige tugged on her riding boots and did up the laces. Kayden and Taylor walked in, followed by Mr.Rossi and Ms.Jenkins.

"Good afternoon senior varsity. Are we ready to practice?" He smiled us. "Yes we are!" We all replied in unison. They lead us to the waiting taxis and the taxis drove us to the show grounds. We all got out at the show grounds and breathed in a view of gorgeousness. Finely cut grass stood out in the seeming endless mass of white stables and white cafeterias. Soft, sand arenas covered the 3 acres and in the distance; if you squinted, you could see the cross-country course.

We ran towards the stable and almost ran into the stable hands when we reached stable block W. "Alright! I'm Doug, and I'll be reading our your horses' stall placement." Doug said brightly. "Alyssa: Max is in stall #248, Paige: Whisper is in stall #249, Eleanor: Elle is in stall #250, Taylor: Sunny is in stall #251 and finally Kayden: Fast is in stall #252." He read off a list.

I nodded and started searching for #250. Across from Paige's stall, I found it. Inside it was my beauitful chestnut mare. "Hey beauty, long time no see." I murmured as I began grooming her. After putting her tack on and I velcroed on some hot pink polos, Elle was finished. I lead her out of the stable, I snapped on my helmet.

As I exited the stable, two people locking lips caught my eye. I stared at the firey red-hair person I knew all too well. "Paige!" I yell. She turns away and stares at me. "Oh um, Hey Eleanor." She whispers shyly. The boy ducks his head shyly. "Paige. What are you doing with this boy? You know that dating other boys from other academies is against the rules!" Disapproval clear in my voice. "Yes, yes of course I realize that Eleanor." She sighs. The boy shares a small smile. "I'm Jonathan." He offers his hand to me to shake. "And I'm Eleanor." I said, my lips pursed together tightly. "I'm from Westview Academy for boys." He said. I smile coldly. "You better hope Mr.Rossi doesn't find out-- anybody for that matter." I said sharply, my voice raised a little.

With that; I turned away; leading Elle beside me. I mounted her inside the practice arena and stared straight ahead as Paige rode Whsiper into the arena.