Silverstone: Perfection is Not Enough

Chapter 27

Shakily, I do up the last few buttons on my polo shirt, letting out a loud yawn at the lack of sleep I got last night due to the nerves fluttering around in the pit of my stomach. 

The day of the tests. 

For weeks I've been marking it off on my calender, crossing out each day in black marker, right up until the seemingly harmless-looking little square marked with a 'Saturday'. 

All the preparation, all the work, the stress, tears and frustration of the last few months comes down to this. If I pass today, it will all be worth it. I'll get Arrow, my dream horse, I'll have proved myself to Kennedy, I'll be able to concerntration fully on my lessons. 

If I don't, it will all have been a waste of time. 

I'm trying not to think about what I'll do if that happens. 

Sighing, I glance at the clock, and decide that it's probably time to get going. Everyone else is already down there; they said they'd tack up Arrow for me. Well, more precisely, Tabitha and Bertie said they would. Rose kind of just followed them without joining in on any promises involving work. 

The journey to the barn is filled with thoughts of the tests. I'll have to pass the dressage routine, getting every move correct and fitting it all together in the right order, while making it look seamless and easy. And on top of that, there's the jumping course, which Lucy's setting up herself. 

And I know there won't be a jump below a metre, because she told me. That may not sound like a lot, but on Arrow, who I only started riding, let alone jumping, a few months ago. Plus, it's Arrow. But, jumping is one of his strengths, so I'm counting on that going well. 

The barn is relatively quiet, as its midday, and most people are either in the village, out hacking, or sleeping. Right now, any of those options seem nicer than what I'm heading towards. 

"Jess!" I look up from my twisting fingers to see Bertie, walking briskly towards me. I start to smile nervously, but her worried expression sends a flicker of doubt into my mind, anxiety blooming in my stomach. What's wrong now? Please no more arsenic poisoning. Please no more poisoning. 

"What is it?" The words almost catch in my throat. "Is it Arrow?"

Quickly, she shakes her head, and the swarm of butterflies in my stomach calms down a little. "No. But it's not good." She bites her lip anxiously. "You should probably come and see."

I follow her through the barn, past Arrow, who I quickly stroke, right to the end, until we reach the tack room. 

"Oh, you're here," Tabitha breathes, almost in relief. Her and Rose are standing awkwardly by the wall. Their ruffled expressions don't do much for the butterflies. 

"What is it?" I ask, exasperated. Without speaking, Rpse steps aside, displaying my tack peg to me. And I gasp. 

Because the beautiful, gleaming leather that I've spent hours cleaning over the past few months is completely wrecked. The stirrup leathers have been slashed to pieces, the girth strap cut up into shreds, and the seat itself is a complete mess, stuffing hanging out everywhere. 

A hot rage starts to boil in the pit of my stomach. I know who did this. And, like always, it seems like she's going to get away with it. Because there's no trace of anyone in the tack room, and the only person in the barn was Leah, and she was mucking out some random pony. 

"Kennedy," I clench my fists. "Why? Why can't she just leave me alone?"

"You know why, Jess," Bertie sighs. It's Kennedy. She just can't accept the fact that you're here, you're not paying, and you're better than her."