I let my red converse sneakers scrape against the floor as I walked down the school hallways the next day. I felt horrible, almost falling asleep in my first class or almost bursting into tears in my second.
I trudged by the lunchroom, feeling too sick to eat or socialize. Instead I walked straight into the bathroom and locked myself in a stall, sitting on the toilet and pulling my knees to my chest. i bit my lip to keep myself from crying whenever my mind drifted to Big Stride.
I hadn't spoken to my parents this morning and had ignored all attempts of communication from both Stacy and Dubois. All I could think about was Big Stride.
I held my breath as I heard a group of giggling girls enter the bathroom.
" Did you see Isla Summer today? Who rained on her parade? " I heard one of the girls speak.
I narrowed my eyes and slowly peeked through the crack in the stall door when the next girl spoke in a head-endusing familiar voice.
" She's just upset that her precious moose of a horse will soon be mine... " I watched as Tracy reapplied her dark purple lipstick. " My dad offered her parents twice what he offered Dubois. They'd be insane not to sell "
Two girls stood on either side of her, one texting and the other fixing her leopard print miniskirt.
" Don't you have to wait for the owners to decide who to sell the thing to? " The texting girl asked.
Tracy flipped her glossy hair over her shoulder. " That doesn't matter. It's going to end the same way. With me having a new horse " she giggled as she turned back to the mirror.
The girl in the miniskirt started fixing her hair in the same mirror. " Why do you even want him? Didn't you say he was a nag? "
" Oh, he's still a nag, but I can...work that out of him... "
I shuddered at what Tracy meant by that.
The girls giggled as they left the bathroom and I hadn't even realized I started crying until i exited the stall and saw my reflection in the mirror. My mascara was running and my eyes were red and blotchy and my face pale.
I started to wash my face in the sink before pressing my phone to my ear and calling Henry to come pick me up. I couldn't stand to stay here at the moment and had to leave.
As I walked back to my locker, I saw Stacy standing there. She smiled slightly when she saw me, but I ignored her and quickly opened my locker, having to try the combo on the lock twice. I felt like I couldn't think straight.
" Where are you going? "
I slammed my locker shut and slung my pink Nike bag over my shoulder. " Home... "
Stacy didn't ask why I was leaving school so early, I had a feeling she already knew.
She followed me to the front entrance to the school, where I spotted Henry pulling up to the curve through the window.
Stacy grabbed my wrist before I could push open the doors. " Isla, please listen. I'm sorry if I made it sound like I was siding with Tracy. I'm only thinking logically. i'm trying to help you not be embarrassed at Kinswood! "
I pulled my hand back. " So you think Big Stride will embarrass me now!? After our lesson this weekend? Or are you just saying I'm not good enough to go to Kinswood? "
Stacy faltered. " That is not what I meant! I'm just saying- "
" You made your choice! You sided with Tracy! Now I'm going to be the only one to save Big Stride from being worked into his grave! " I pushed the door open and left Stacy in the dust.
I threw my bag to the side as I hopped in the car.
Henry, unlike some people, knew better than to test me when I felt like this. He only put on my favourite radio station and uttered one word.
" ...Home? "
I stared out the window at the sky, which was almost blocked by the tall New York buildings. My mind again drifted to Big Stride and I could swear I saw him galloping across the clouds.
Without tearing my gaze away from the sky, I replied to Henry.
" ...Actually...to the stable...please... "
I leaned back and popped in my earbuds for the rest of the ride.
I wasn't going down without a fight, but if Big Stride and my future together was on the rocks, I was going to spend every single minute I could with him.
YOU ARE READING
Kinswood Academy: Dressage Queen
Teen FictionIsla Summers has submitted her application to Kinswood Academy and has the rest of the school year to contemplate leaving her upscale New York penthouse and family horse farm to compete with the best Dressage riders from around the world. To join th...