The New Kid

Chapter 13 Home

12/13/15     Day A
As soon as I got home Luna and Blackjack jumped up all over me. I filled up their food and water before heading out to the field with Blackjack following behind me.

"Hey, girl." I cooed, walking up to Panther and rubbing her forehead. Paintball walked up next to me and I started rubbing her forehead too. Once they started losing interest of me I headed into the barn.

I looked into Paintball's stall and saw that Jake hadn't cleaned out her stall yet so I whistled for Panther and easily slid on her back. I squeezed my legs against her back and she sat off at a trot towards the house (because I'm lazy) with Blackjack running alongside us. I let Panther stand in the front yard and nibble on some of the grass with Blackjack guarding her while I went inside to get Jake.

"Jake!" I called out impatiently from the bottom of the steps. He didn't answer so I went upstairs and knocked on his door.

"Go away." He called out, his voice muffled.

I knocked again before I walked into his room and saw him on his bed making out with Cole! Cole is Jake's "best friend", he's a guy, which means.... my brother is gay! I knew it! Awwwww, they're so cute together.

"Really, you ditch Paintball for him." I said teasingly, not making a big deal about it.

"Oh!" He called out, blushing, jumping up from his bed. "Uhmm, uhhh." He says rubbing the back of his neck. Cole just kinda sits on the bed awkwardly avoiding looking at me.

"You need to clean out Paintball's stall." I say, walking out.

"Wait, you're not gonna say anything?" Jake questions making me turn back around.

"About what?" I ask.

"Uhhhm, Cole?"

"What would I say."

"Uhhhhh, I don't know?"

"Exactly." I say continuing on my way.

I put Blackjack inside before going back to the barn, leaving Panther out in the field while I muck out her stall and put new hay in. I fill up her oats and get her fresh water, too. Then I brought her in and tied her lead to a post while I groomed her. First, getting all the dirt and rocks out of her hooves, then combing her body till it shone, next untangling all the knots in her mane and tail, and finally wiping down her body. I put her in the stall and took off her halter before rubbing her face and giving her a carrot.

I walked to the storage room where Blue's stuff was and I filled up her food and water and put some new hay in a pile for her to dig in.

Then I walked back through the barn to find that Jake already cleaned out Paintball's stall and was washing her down.

Mom texted me saying dinner was ready.

I told Jake before running back to the house and found tacos on the table with Mom, Dad, and Luke sitting down. I was about to sit down when Mom said, "Go wash your hands, young lady!"

I groaned before doing as she said. As I sat down Jake walked in. He washed his hands before sitting down. "So did Cole leave?" I ask.

"Yeah." Jake says looking at me, somewhat afraid as if thinking that I would tell his parents. I just stared back at him, urging him to tell. I gave up and we started talking about Christmas.