Breaking Free

Chapter 21

"Taylor, are you okay? Taylor! Earth to Taylor," Joy snaps, shaking my arm.

"What," I quietly reply, only half in the conversation. My mind is elsewhere- and when I say elsewhere, I mean on the impending date that keeps getting closer and closer.

"I said are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," I mumble, combing my hand through my hair.

"Whatever you say- so, do you want to go dress shopping with Sky and I?" she asks.

"I would, but I have to work with Flame. Plus, I've had my dress picked out since July," I honestly say. What I fail to mention is that I want to spend every moment I have left with the horses and Carter.

"You do?"

"Yeah- it's gorgeous, I'll send you a picture," I assure. And it is a gorgeous dress. It's royal blue in color. The dress clings to my body till it reaches about mid thigh, where it starts to flow outward. Near the knees, the fabric splits, leaving white lace where the blue should be. To say it's gorgeous actually seems to be an understatement.

"Taylor, you could wear a burlap sack and it would be gorgeous," she laughs as we walk out to the parking lot where Carter surely waits for me. Joy brought her car today, and is driving herself home.

"Don't flatter me like that," I say, blushing.

"You deserve it. I think you might be the only one who doesn't see how beautiful you are," she sighs, brushing her hair behind her ear.

"Stop it," I awkwardly giggle, playfully hitting her arm.

"I'm serious! Why else do you think Carter dumped Amelia for you?" she points out, before realizing what she said and falling silent.

"What?" I gasp.

"Nothing," she squeaks.

"Are you saying that Carter was dating Amelia when he met me?" I question, my blood beginning to boil.

"No," Joy denies, though her expression says differently.

"That's- disgusting," I sigh. I would start an argument with him if it weren't for the fact that I might have to leave him forever soon. But if all works out in my favor- Carter and I will be having a discussion about this.

"You're not mad?"

"No- life is short," I reply. Life is short, but more than that, it's complicated. Life seems to be more complicated for me, as it throws me through constant obstacles. I'm so tired of jumping over the hurdles life keeps setting in front of me. I fear that one day, I won't be able to jump high enough, and I'll fail to get back up again.

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Flame lopes gracefully around the round ring, tossing her head to the side. I chuckle, lightly cracking the whip to turn her around.

"You almost done?" Carter asks, leaning on the fence.

"Not really- I still need to ride her a little. Why, what did you need?"

"Nothing important. I was just going to ask if you wanted to try to drive again."

"After I work Flame, that will be fun," I thoughtfully agree, laying down the whip.

"Okay, well I'll be in the house when you're ready," he states, before heading to the house.

Flame stops, and walks up to me so I can clip her lead rope on. Once I do so, I lead her to the cross ties and clip her in. I quickly go over her with a curry comb and a soft brush, before fully tacking up with English gear. Usually, I'd use western, but I want her to get used to both saddles. Plus, I have hopes for her as a jumper. Hopefully I'll get to see it through.

Oh my god- if I have to give this all up, I won't be around horses. Riding is my therapy, my life- I can't just give that up.

"Stop being so negative," I murmur to myself, leading Flame out to the riding ring. And I'm right- he said it might not even come to that. Hopefully it won't.

Flame stands still while I mount up, and behaves fairly well when I urge her to walk. I get a few laps out of her before I start to trot her.

She doesn't act up too much, although she does buck once. It was a tiny buck though, and had almost no effect on me.

"You ready to lope girl," I ask, getting I high pitched whinny in response.

I nudge her left side and pull the left reign slightly to the right to get hit into her right lead. She easily obliges, pulling into a gentle, comfortable lope.

She's acting so much better- I've been working her everyday since the first ride we had, and now she is almost perfect. I knew she had it in her- it just needed to be brought out.

Feeling fairly confident, I turn her to a jump.

"Here goes nothing," I quietly say to myself, loping towards then fairly small oxer.

Flame pick up speed until the moment she reaches the jump- where she conveniently grinds to a halt before jumping.

Let me tell you a little something about physics- an object will stay in motion until an opposing force stops it. Unfortunately for me, that force was the floor.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, I flew over that jump- completely horseless I might add- and landed on the ground rather violently.

Luckily I didn't get too hurt- just a few bruises. But it's enough for me to decide that it's time to take Flame back to her stall for the day.

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"Jesus Taylor, do you want to kill us?" Carter curses, reaching over the grab the wheel from me. I put my foot on the breaks, leaning my head down on the steering wheel.

"This shouldn't be so damn hard," I whine, looking up at Carter.

"I don't see how you can ride the wildest of horses, yet you can't figure out a car. Taylor, if a fifteen year old can do it, you can to," he chuckles.

I groan, before starting up the car again. I take a few deep, cleansing breaths before lightly pressing my foot on the gas.

Surprisingly, I handle myself fairly well along the little winding dirt road Carter and I are driving on. The turns don't seem all that difficult- at least, they seem much simpler than they were a minute ago. I must be learning or something.

When we get home after a slightly relaxing hour of driving, I feel like I've mastered driving the car. Which is a good thing.

I have a feeling if I start a new life, I'm going to have to learn to drive.

And there I go again with the negativity. Way to go Taylor.

A/N

Dress on the side

Hey guys! Two apologies: one, I'm sorry that I took so long to update. And two, I'm sorry that when I did update it was a fairly boring, filler chapter.

Also, my birthday is this friday!!! (January 17). I'm turning 15!!!! So excited. learners permit, here I come. Be very afraid when I learn to drive!!! Hopefully I don't suck as bad as Taylor does, lol

Love you guys, and thanks for being so patient.

Also, I have a surprise to do with the runaway horse series but I'm not telling you just yet!

Thanks for being fantastic my lovelies!