Timber Creek Academy

~16~

After a week full of talking to my parents about the clinic and studying my brains out for civics, all I wanted to do was take Leo for a walk. As I made way down to the barn, I checked my phone. No new messages. I slid it in my pocket, then got Leo ready for his walk.

I held on to Leo's lead line, and we took a stroll down a new trail that we hadn't taken before. I was quiet for a while, then spilled my guts to Leo.

"I'm so stressed right now boy," I said, and he just walked quietly next to me. "I have a HUGE civics test coming up, and it's my worst subject. Also, I really want us to do the clinic during winter break, but I'm not sure if Mom and Dad will let us. They just keep saying "We'll think about it", but I feel like they aren't," I said. Leo flicked an ear towards me, as if he were annoyed about the situation too.

"But, on the bright side, I get to ride you on Sunday," I said. "Just 2 more days."

We walked on, and suddenly Leo stopped and flicked his ears straight ahead. He nickered.

"What is it boy?" I cooed, and rubbed his neck. I listened, and I heard the quiet chattering and giggling of girl's voices. "Oh, it's just some riders on the trail," I said, relieved it wasn't an animal, and patted Leo's neck.

Leo neighed again, and this time one of the horses called back. The girls' voices stopped, and all the sudden Leo started walking forward. "Whoah boy," I said, and jerked on the rope a little. He stopped, and then 3 horses walked around the corner.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to get in your wa-" my voice trailed off as I saw who it was.

Carly, Brooke, and Macy.

"Hey guys..." I said. This was really awkward. Why hadn't they asked me to come with them? I could've ridden Wesley...

"What are you doing here?" Macy asked, a hint of confusion and slight anger in her voice.

"I was just walking Leo around," I said defensively. "I didn't know you guys were trail riding today," I added.

"What? We asked you to come!" Carly said. Huh?

"When? I never got any messages from anyone," I said, then checked my phone again. Still no messages.

"We texted you in the group chat and you said you were busy studying, but maybe next time," Brooke explained. "We would never exclude you, you know that."

"Apparently you aren't studying," Macy said, with a little sass.

"Sorry, but I never got any messages from you guys, or I would've definitely come, and I swear I never said I had to study - it's Friday!" I explained, then went through the group chat messages. My phone didn't have any of the messages. The last one was from our night out in Downtown. I held the screen up to my friends to show them. Their eyes scanned the screen, and Carly frowned.

"That's weird, cause in our's it says you messaged us," and she pulled up the messages on her screen, and there was the message's that I had supposedly sent.

"Weird," I said, then shook my head. "Sorry if I made this weird, but I would never lie to you guys, especially about riding. I honestly have no memory of sending that though," I said, and Brooke shook her head.

"Look, it's fine. Just some miscommunication, that's all," she said, then the three of them walked away, and I stood there, trying to recall any messages I had sent them. I knew I hadn't.

Had someone hacked on to my phone? Why would someone do that though? It could be the Clique, but I don't see why they would try to pull something stupid like this. Usually our fights are over riding, but this had nothing to do with it. Well, it kinda did. But when would someone have gotten onto my phone? No one knows the password.