Maybe it's Time (a Horse Story)

Chapter Two - New Girl Woes

"Right! Senior riders over to me please!" called our riding instructor Janelle. She was wearing cream jodhpurs, a white blouse, long leather boots and a black helmet. She beckoned us and our ponies into the sandy arena, and mounted her 16.2hh chestnut gelding Bobbi. Stephanie, Rhiannon, Isabel and I were all senior riders, but there were others in the group. Lara and her twin Erin, who we didn't like, Millar and his friend Josh, who we didn't like, and Maddy, Marcelle and Vinnie. Who we didn't like.

But this week there was another girl. She was strikingly pretty, privately I thought even more than Rhiannon. She had vivid green eyes, gorgeous auburn hair curling naturally into perfect ringlets, and she was tanned a bronze colour. She was sitting on a gorgeous dapple grey mare, with wonderful dark eyes, and perfect dapples.

"Welcome to the rally! But, boys and girls, we have a new rider within our midst. She has just come from Auckland, where she was a great rider, and has chosen this pony club. Well, we'll let her introduce herself?" Janelle says.

The girl smiled and began to talk.

"Well, I'm Tui, Tui North, and this is my bestie Legacy. She's four years old, and she's a Kaimanawa, mustered around seven months ago now, I broke her in myself, so we're really close. Also we're going to a Showtym Camp in the holidays and we've already won three classes at shows, so I'm really proud of how far she's come." she said.

Rhiannon spoke up.

"Uh, did you really break her in yourself? I'm sorry but I'm pretty sure that if your parents care about you, they wouldn't have let you do that. Also, do you know how much Showtym camps cost? I know. I've been to one. And if your tack is anything to go by, you're not as rich as I am."

"My parents do care about me, I did break Legacy in by myself, and I've done jobs for two years and now I have enough money to go to the camp. And you know what, I'm glad I'm not as rich as you. Why would I want to be a mean spoilt brat." Tui shot back at her.

Rhiannon reeled back in surprise. No - one had ever said anything like that to her. They just looked at their boots and muttered that they agreed. Not even the instructors did much about it. They knew that they would get it in the neck from Rhiannon's parents if they said a word against her.

"Alright girls, settle down. Into your pairs and threes." Janelle said uncomfortably.

The usual happened. Lara and Erin, Millar and Josh, Vinnie, Marcelle and Maddy, Stephanie and Isabel, Rhiannon and I, all moved closer together. Tui stayed where she was.

Janelle frowned.

"Let's change this up a bit. Maddy go with Rhiannon, -" she began, before Rhiannon started protesting.

"That's not fair! I'm with Monica! I don't want to be with Maddy! I don't want to!" she shrieked. Tui stifled a giggle.

"Rhiannon, do what I say." Janelle's stern face was on.

Rhiannon pouted, urged Julietta into a trot, and posted angrily over to Maddy.

"And Monica go with Tui." I felt myself sigh. I actually kinda liked Tui, but I had to look grumpy for Rhiannon.

Buzzy trotted over, and we began the warm up.

Tui was always posting on the right leg, Legacy performing perfectly, much to Rhiannon's displeasure. When we started jumping, Legacy soared over the little crosses, Tui's position absolutely perfect.

I was up next, and felt the same rush of adrenalin that Rhiannon said was vulgar, but that I loved.

Rhiannon was too busy glaring at Tui to pay attention to the jumps ahead of her, and nearly fell off when Julietta jumped. Rhiannon got mad at her beautiful horse, and started whipping her. Julietta didn't know what to do. Usually the whip means go faster, but when Julietta tried to obey her rider, Rhiannon shrieked and pulled on the mare's mouth hard.

"Hey stop! That's not fair! It's your fault what happened! You should have been paying more attention!" Tui yelled angrily.

"Hey you, watch what you say to me. I could make your life here really miserable!" Rhiannon spat.

"Girls girls girls! Break it up! Rhiannon, don't hit your horse like that! As for the threatening! Also Tui, I'm the teacher. I'll sort these things out. Now both of you, apologise."

"Sorry, Rhiannon." said Tui.

"I don't see what I have to apologise for." replied Rhiannon sullenly.

"Rhiannon!" barked Janelle.

"Alright, sorry! Can we get to flatwork now?!"

Janelle nodded, and started barking orders for us to practice in pairs.

Tui and I found a space, and it was clear from the look on her face that dressage was not her favourite sport.

"Alright Monica, you can sort what we're going to do. I hate hate hate dressage." she said.

"Um, ok. Well, why don't we do changing reins, uh, some flying changes and canters?" I asked tentatively.

Tui groaned.

"Fine, fine."

We began to trot, and from the moment Legacy sped up, I was very impressed by the skill of Tui and her mare. We stopped for a break and Tui asked me a question.

"Why do you hang out with Rhiannon?"

"Well -" I began to say, but then Tui interrupted me.

"I mean, you seem okish, but Rhiannon's totally mean, why are you friends with her?"

"It's not like that! She's so not mean, and just because you are a good for nothing poor tough kid who thinks she can ride, lies that she broke in her pony, and pretends that she's the good guy, you can't make accusations! Well I'm not gonna let you break up my friendship with Rhiannon! New girls here have to learn who's the boss. And newsflash, it's us! Rhiannon and me! Isabel and Stephanie can do work for us, but we're the queen bees! Oh, gonna cry now, are you? Because big Monica was mean? Get a life, girlfriend!" I was just yelling, just screaming at her. I don't even know what I was saying. Like I said, new girls needed to learn. I didn't like Tui anymore, and I wasn't afraid to let her know.

Rhiannon, Isabel and Stephanie gave me a nod of approval, but everyone else, including Janelle, stared in horror.

Tui blinked hard, but when she spoke her voice was hard and cold.

"Look, just because you and your precious Rhiannon don't like me, doesn't mean I'm a bad person. So I'm not gonna yell and scream. And I'm not gonna cry."

Janelle stepped in when the first tear dripped off Tui's eyelashes and down her cheek.

"Monica! You horrid, horrid girl! What will Tui think of us! None of that is true young lady! You will not be with us at the rally any longer! Go to the office, and call your parents!"

I smirked.

"But Miss, Mum and Dad are at a meeting. I can't go home 'til the end of the rally."

Janelle snorted.

"Fine then. I want all the stables mucked out, all the tack cleaned, and five ponies groomed!"

I stuck my tongue out, dismounted, and led Buzzy from the arena.   

A/N Hi guys! Sorry about the short chapter, and it gets exciting soon! When I get two votes and two comments I will post chapter three