Crave

05

Valentina's POV

I sit back down at the table, leaning back and glancing to Roman, trying to think of something to say. My mind just stopped working around him sometimes.
" so.. this shows a big deal, hm?" He asks and I glance to his lips then back to him, hesitating before nodding lightly " mhm.. especially since it's circes first show. If I somehow manage to get top three, I qualify for shows at WEC, which can lead to the Grand Prix if I place high enough in all my rounds." I pause, realizing I was rambling a bit, looking to him and seeing him smiling " not if. you will. I know you will." He replies and I feel my face grow hot. Shaking my head lightly as I look away from him for a moment.

- 2 days later-

It was around 9 am and I was warming Circe up in the ring as I waited for my first class, which was in 15 minutes, I was so nervous for the show I barely slept last night. It also didn't help that all I could think about was Roman.
Nothing really happened that night at the diner, we talked about nothing in particular. It was nice. But the more time I spent with him, the more my feelings grew if possible.
I had 4 different classes today, i really needed to get my mind focused on the show.
After a bit I walk over to the gate, knowing that my class was going to start any minute.
I glance up to the bleachers and smile lightly as I see my parents, the girls, atlas.. and Roman? He'd come to a decent amount of my shows, but I was still surprised to see him here.
I force myself to look away as they call my class, taking a deep breath I slowly walk Circe into the ring as they call my name and number.

I start her in a trot down the rail, making sure to keep my composure as I go over my course in my head one more time before turning her toward the first jump.

She goes over the course perfectly and once I finish I slow her down to a trot, patting her neck and letting her walk as I make my way out of the ring as they go over the speakers " and that was Valentina Nyx riding Golden Temptress. With a top time of 1.12, and a clear round" they announce and I smile lightly as I walk her out of the ring.

It was almost 3 now and I had my final, and hardest round of the day, in 15 minutes.
I had given Circe time to drink and relax a bit in her stall before our last class since I had an hour break between.
As I walk to her stall I furrow my eyebrows as I see her holding her front leg up. I open the door and walk into her stall, cursing under my breath as I see her shoe on the ground. How the hell did that happen?? I take the shoe out and try to keep myself calm as I check her over, making sure she was okay and quickly wrapping her hoof.
I walk out of her stall and take a deep breath, how was I supposed to do this round now? Morpheus didn't show much anymore, at least not show jumping. He didn't enjoy it even though he was great at it.
I walk over toward Ares's stall, he was my youngest at only 4, but certainly didn't look that way, he was almost taller than both Circe and Morpheus. I'd never showed him before, he had a shit ton of talent but he's never stepped foot in a show ring.
He looks up to me and nickers lightly, I smile a bit and take a deep breath, if I didn't do this final class, I wouldn't be able to qualify for WEC. All the training I did would've been for nothing.
I hesitate for a moment before grabbing his halter off his stall and opening the door, taking him out and putting him in the crossties before walking to the tack room and gathering his tack. Hoping that I wouldn't regret this.

-
I finish tacking him up and bring him outside, getting on and adjusting the reins slightly as I try to keep myself calm, rubbing his neck gently as I walk over toward the ring. Watching his behavior closely, if at any point he seemed stressed I'd tap out. I didn't want to stress him out or make this a bad experience for him. I was just praying that he'd be fine.

As I wait by the gate for my class to begin, I look over toward the stands, seeing Delphine and the others looking at me confused, knowing that he's never shown before. He also had a tendency to blow up sometimes, we were working on it but I knew it was a risk, attempting to do this major show with him. But it was my only option if I wanted a shot at qualifying.