Maybe it's Time (a Horse Story)

Chapter 6 - New Friends

"What? Why on earth would you do this Monica! Tui or Legacy could get badly hurt! Tui could get killed! What were you thinking?" Maddy yelled.

"I didn't do it, okay? Just because Rhiannon did it doesn't mean I did it too!" I yelled back.

"Well, I bet you didn't try to stop her! Or warn Tui!" Maddy fumed.

"I did try and warn her! But she didn't hear me. And I... I wanted to stop Rhiannon..." I trail off.

"Exactly." There was venom in Maddy's voice as she said that word. "You know Monica, you just can't think for yourself, can you. Always Rhiannon. What she says, goes. Even when it's sabotage!"

"Why do you think I would have told you if I wanted to protect Rhiannon!" I was crying now. Of anger, fear, sadness, I didn't know. All I knew was that everything I had ever known, Rhiannon, always by my side, me always by hers, had just been shattered by the one cut of that small pocket knife. All because of Tui. But maybe... it was for the better. Maybe I was tired of being the follower, the mean girl. Maybe it was time... to be one of them. One of the girls who always had each other's back, who would stand up for anyone in need. Maybe it was time... to accept that I had been wrong.

"Maddy I'm sorry." I sobbed. "I know I was mean and I'm sorry. I was a bad person. But, if you will let me, I'd like to be you and Tui's friend now..."

"What?! Are you kidding me? After bullying me for years, and hating and bullying Tui so much, you have a fallout with Rhiannon and come begging to be my friend? Honestly Monica. I thought even you were better than that."

That one really stung. I stood, shocked, for a second, trying to think up a reply. I actually couldn't think of anything. I had planned a great 'Maddy just back off!' sob and run away plan and was just about to execute it when Tui trotted up bareback on Legacy, her face flushed.

"What's going on?"

I burst into tears again and sprinted to the paddock. Vaulting over the gate and dashing to the dun gelding grazing by the tree. I was round the back of the clubroom. No-one would see me cry.

I buried my face in Buzzy's mane and tangled my fingers in the coarse strands. How had it gone so wrong? Was I right to tell Maddy that Rhiannon had cut the girth? Was I right to be friends with Rhiannon in the first place?

"Monica!"

I turned round, my eyes bleary with tears, to see Tui dashing towards me, and turned back to Buzzy.

"Monica! I'm sorry. You didn't do anything wrong! Well, you did, but you just made it right. Of course you can be my friend!" she said. She patted Buzzy.

"I told Maddy that what she did wasn't fair." she said hopefully.

I breathed out, and held back the sobs.

"Thanks, Tui."

She grinned broadly.

"Come on!"

I was confused. I didn't want to go back to the pony club. I was still crying, and there was no was I was going to face Rhiannon and Maddy.

"Why?"

"Monica, you placed third. It's prizegiving!"

I gasped.

"Who won?"

"Maddy. I came second and -"

"What? Rhiannon didn't place?"

I was shocked. This was unheard of. Maddy beating Rhiannon? It just didn't add up.

"Well, come on! It's not that bad. Rhiannon got fourth, which is not bad at all." Tui said. "And tack up Buzzy quick! We gotta get our ribbons!" She gave me a quick hug, and dashed off.

As I cinched up the girth and buckled up the bridle, I was still numb with shock. I leapt onto Buzzy and trotted to the arena. Maddy, Rhiannon, Tui and Millar were already in there, so I shifted Buzzy in between Tui and Rhiannon, not looking at Rhiannon.

The judge tied an orange fifth-place ribbon around Millar's pony Hermit's neck, while Millar smiled broadly and gave Hermit a slappy pat. Rhiannon did not look satisfied as an emerald green ribbon was knotted around her bay mare's neck. Then the yellow third place ribbon was tied around Buzzy's neck, and I sniffed, holding back the tears that still pricked at my eyes.

"Thank you." I told the judge. She smiled back.

Then a dark blue ribbon was tied around Legacy's neck.

"That was an excellent display of riding there, young lady. You and your horse are really a team. Great bareback jumping as well." the judge smiled at Tui.

"Thanks! When I broke in my pony I did it bareback, so we're used to cantering and jumping without a saddle." Tui responded brightly.

A red ribbon was tied around Copper's neck, while a huge grin stretched across Maddy's face.

"Congratulations, everyone!" said the judge. "Miss Jones, would you like to lead the victory lap?" she asked, nodding at Maddy. "Miss North, you'll be next, then Miss Lenners, Miss Jansenn you will follow, then Mr Macintyre."

Maddy set off cantering around the arena, and everyone else followed. Voices came over the loudspeaker.

"Well, these young show hunter gurus are Maddison Jones on Copper Shine coming first, Tui North on Legacy KH in second, Monica Lenners on Sweet Sandy Boy are third, Rhiannon Jansenn on... Dancing Wildflower of Paris... are coming fourth, with Millar Macintyre on The Crabmaster in fifth. Good job all of you guys!"

I loved victory laps. I loved Buzzy's soft bouncy canter, I loved the clapping and cheering, I loved the ribbons, well, I loved the fact that it was a victory lap. But when Buzzy slowed to a walk as the ponies headed out of the arena, all my bravado at getting a ribbon was gone. I searched the sea of people milling around. Where was she?

"Monica!" it was the voice I'd been dying to hear. My mum's voice. I threw myself off Buzzy, and lead him over to Mum. I promptly burst into tears. She hugged me.

"What's wrong, honey?"

I just sobbed even harder.

"Tell me while we're untacking Buzzy." she said.

We headed to the quietest corner of the pony club, and I unbuckled the clasps on Buzzy's bridle while Mum parked the float next to us. As I did up the halter, undid the girth, and groomed my pony, I told Mum everything. I was quiet, not crying, focusing always on the task at hand. I slipped Buzzy's floating rug on, did up the leg straps and chest straps, wound the floating boots round his legs, and looked up at Mum for the first time.

"Did I do the right thing?" I asked.

"Oh of course! Don't worry. It was really nice of Tui to say you could be her friend." Mum told me as I loaded Buzzy into the stall.

"Okay. Maybe now I can make some new friends?" I sniff.

"Maybe it was time to, honey. Maybe it was time."

A/N: Hey guys! How'dya like this new chapter? Tell me in the comments below, and keep reading because my goal is to get to 100 views by mid-April. Thanks! 

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