Horace and the Horse

Chapter 8

Tears streamed down her face as she hiccuped (adorably), and she ran as fast as she could. She had finally reached the stables, and she hurriedly knocked on the door. A deep panic was rising inside her chest, and she knew the only one who could calm her was Alejandro. She was afraid of what he'd say when she admitted to being kissed by Fernando, but her emotions were uncontrollable without the trusty steed by her side, so she decided to tell him anyway.

The door opened and she was faced with a tired-looking Alejandro, although he wasn't any less beautiful than normal, whose face quickly contorted into one of confusion at the sight of Horace.

"What are you doing here so late, I thought you went home-" He inspected her face more, only to become worried by what he found. "Are... Are you crying? You're... Come inside, okay? It's cold."

She nods obediently, her head down as she follows Alejandro inside the stables. He led her to a warm spot filled with hay, and motioned for her to sit down with him.

"What happened?"

Horace shook her head, not wanting to make Alejandro worried about her even more than he already was... Maybe she could just pass this off as some bad insomnia, calm down, and be on her way without Alejandro ever suspecting a thing.

"Please, Horace, talk to me. You can trust me."

She breathes deeply, trying to calm herself down and stop her crying before she spills what happened to her. She speaks quickly, without stopping to breathe.

"I was going home and Fernando bumped into me and he led me to a place by the lake and told me that you were a bad influence on me and to stop hanging out with you and then he told me not to tell you and I was going to ask about what but then he kissed me and I tried to stop him but he did it anyway and I'm sorry and I should've never-"

She feels a warm hoof touch her face, making her stop talking. She looks up, her breathing shallow, expecting to find a disappointed or mad face, but instead finding a gentle and caring Alejandro.

"Shh, I'm not mad at you. ...Did you say he kissed you?"

She felt the urge to go on another tangent and explain and defend herself, but she just swallowed and nodded, sniffing as she avoided his gaze.

"Okay... Did you want him to?"

She immediately shook her head. "No, no I didn't, he just..." Alejandro smiled understandingly, speaking softly to her in a gentle tone.

"Then it wasn't your fault, and you shouldn't apologize. I... I'll talk to him, okay?"

Horace smiled weakly, nodding at his efforts in thankfulness. She couldn't believe how nice he was being to her, especially after she just kissed his arch-enemy/half-brother.

"You're... not mad?"

"Of course not, why would I be mad? He came onto you and you clearly tried to stop him. It's not your fault."

She smiles gratefully, happy that he didn't blame her for Fernando's reckless decision. He really was the perfect guy-... horse. He was the perfect horse. Yeah.

"You really should go to sleep, okay?"

Horace nodded, laying down on the hay, too tired to venture back home and a little scared she might run into Fernando again if she decided to go back outside.

As she slowly drifted off to sleep, Alejandro sat close by, drifting into his own train of thoughts.