KhanRose Riding Academy

Chapter 24: Oh no..

The next day, I awoke with a smile on my face.

Luke. Just his name put me in a good mood.

I pulled the covers up, and the the Saturday sun hit me through my window. I climbed down from my top bunk and looked at the time, my lesson was at 12, and I was up at 9. I decided to pull on some yoga pants, and a tank top before brushing my hair and applying makeup. Scarlett was already up and coming in the door.

"Hey! I'm about to go grab breakfast, wanna come?" I asked.

She nodded a yes, and we made our way to the cafeteria. The morning was cool again. The leaves were turning, and people were outside and enjoying the weather. Once we got to the food line, I grabbed a pancake, bacon, and a green tea.

"Hey." I said as Scarlett and I sat down with Kat, Luke, Cam, and Chase. Luke and I sat beside of each other, and I felt shivers as he brushed my arm.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't miss pathetic." Jax said. She walked up to our table and looked me in the eye.

"Jax- oh your talking to her again? Haven't you learned that she's too stupid to try reason with? I'm not even sure why she's here I mean- " Logan walked up, before he could finish Luke interrupted "Could you stop?" He wasn't loud, but deathly quiet, and scary.

"Oh if it isn't Mr. Luke trying to save the day!" Logan quipped.

"Really. Just stop." He once again said very darkly. He was scaring me, I had never heard him like that, so I got up in a flash and left.

After finding some cool air outside, my appetite had gone away. I walked to the courtyard, and found no one. As I walked to a bench, a cool breeze took over me. It was always so nice out here, and I loved how the bushes were so high that you couldn't see in here. Foot steps approached me, and I saw Luke. His face was softer and kinder, and he found a seat next to me.

"I'm sorry Luke. You didn't have to step in like that." I apologized.

"It's ok, really. I'm sorry you had to see me so mad." He stopped before asking really quietly and softly, "Did- did I scare you?"

I thought before saying "Yes."

He automatically put his head into his hands and said something I couldn't hear.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so stupid." He said to me.

"Hey, hey no your not. You did the right thing." I spoke gently. I grabbed his hand in mine, as he picked up his head.

"Really?" He asked while looking at me.

"Yup"

I could see the concern in his face, and once I said that, he felt a little bit better about himself.

"I need to go get dressed and go to the barn. See you later?" I asked.

"Yea, let's go."

---

The fresh scent of hay, horses, and leather over took me as I walked into the barn. I started to walk when Mr. Odell stopped me.

"Today you will be using your Dressage saddle."

With a quick nod, I went to go and grab my tack. Today I decided to use my grey saddle pad with a navy blue trim to match my fawn colored breeches, and grey polo shirt. My long hair was tied back into a low bun. After putting all my stuff on the rack of my groom stall, I went to get my horse. He greeted me at the door with a nudge, and his warm brown eyes made me feel good all over.

"Hey buddy. Guess what? Today we are doing dressage! Your favorite thing!" I told him as I attached his leather lead to his halter. I used to hate dressage, and would struggle at it. Ever since I got Sterling, I had been loving it and was waiting for the day I could show off.

I lead him into the cross ties and began to groom his blood red body into perfection. His black was like ebony when I was done, and his white looked like snow. Noticing that people were coming in, I decided to tack up so I could have time to warm up. I threw on my tack, and pulled my gloves and helmet on.

"Oh look." Jax said as I walked in and mounted. She was sitting to Masters trot perfectly, as he collected himself under her. As much as I hate to say it, she is an outstanding rider.

"Give it a break." I shot her down.

"You are going down. I will have you kicked out soon." Her threat seemed empty to me as I started to trot. I heard other people slowly file in.

"Hello" my blood ran cold as I heard Logan's voice for the second time today.

I kept trotting and ignored him. After a while he stopped following me and let it have a rest.

"Good afternoon riders" Mr. Odell boomed across the arena.

We all lined up in front of him, and I was between Luke and Logan. Oh great.

"Today we will be working in pairs, twice. The first pair will work on something together, then the next pair will work on something different. Our first pairs will be Luke and Ella, Logan and Scarlett, Jax and Abigale, and Katherine and Annie. Please find a space in the ring, there should be plenty of space, and find something to work on. Go." Mr. Odell commanded. I was more than happy to work with Luke, I just hoped things would work out for the second pair.

"Let's find a corner." Luke said with a warm smile.

We walked over to a space, and started working on collected gaits to extended gaits.

"Good! Now, ask him to extend and engage his hind quarters. Great!" I praised Luke. His horse pushed off and cantered around.

"Now don't drop your hands so much. There you go." I said once again. He looked perfect now.

Once he came in to the circle I started.

"Collect." He said.

I asked Sterling to shorten his trot stride, and he did so with ease.

"Woah." I heard him say under his breath. "Now do a extended canter, then drop back into a collected canter after one circle."

I had never tried this, so I asked him to canter, then pushed him to a extended canter. His frame was perfect, and I felt in sync. After one circle, I dropped him down into an extremely collected canter, and he swished his tail in pleasure. He loved dressage so much, and now I was starting to.

"Come in." He said in awe.

I walked in and stood in front of him waiting for criticism.

"I really can't say anything about that. That was stunning." Luke said.

"Awe, thank you!" I said before I was cut off by Mr. Odell.

"Ok! Great job! Second group, Luke and Katherine, Jax and Annie, Scarlett and Abigale,-"

No! That only meant..

"- Logan and Ella"

This was about to get bad.