Fall Down? Get Back Up!

Chapter 3: New Guy

Ashley's POV

I sighed and watched as Erica twirled her hair on her finger and using her exaggerated giggle repeatedly. I scoffed and saw as Lilly and I locked arms as we walked, my Justin gypsy boots made a soft clicking noise on the worn, scuffed up tile floor. My eyes trailed to the sight of a new guy. He was a jock, obviously, and wore our teams football jersey. Number 34. The last name on our teams jersey read 'Hines' the rest of the foot ball jocks smiled and punched the newbie on the shoulder. He walked up, a cocky smile on his face, "Well, howdy there sweetie. Names Dale Hines.. And.. What's y'all ladies names?" I smirked, "Names Ashley Phillip.." Lilly smiled shyly, "Lilly Parks.." I lightly smiled, feeling my phone buzz, pressing the button and seeing Caleb's text. Typing in the pass code and looked as Dale smirked, "Nice phone.. Be better if it had my name and number in it though.." I rolled my eyes. "Where'd you get that joke? 1970's?" Lilly tried to refrain from bursting into a sudden laughter. Dale smirked, "Hot and a sense of humor.. What else you gonna throw at me?" I looked at him, "I don't think I need to throw much at you." I walked off, subconsciously swaying my hips, hearing a distant whistle and hearing a even louder yell from Dale, "That ass though Ashley!" I rolled my eyes and continued to Geography, as the bell stopped ringing I saw as Dale sat down in mine and Lilly's group. Sighing, Caleb joined us. I only gave a evil death glance before Caleb stood up to join Erica in her little group. "Dale, are you done?" My phone rang and I checked it, answering, a frantic mans voice answered. I nearly dropped my phone as the man spoke. It was my daddy. He said that Apollo has collapsed and wouldn't get back up. A fatal case of colic. I abruptly stood up, grabbing Lilly to speak. "I gotta go. Apollo has colic! My dad and Scott both think it's a bad kind too! Keep Dale occupied!" I seethed through my teeth. Letting go and running, jumping into my F250 black diesel ford. Gripping the real tree pink camouflage steering wheel and staring up the engine that roared to life. I backed up and pressed the gas pedal lightly and sped off. Passing through traffic. The sound of horses neighing in my head replaying the birth of Apollo, when I first rode him, when I got my first saddle, when I first jumped him, when I fell off of him. I pushed the brake hard and nearly flung into the windshield as a little green punch buggy pulled out. I honked the horn. Rolling down the window and snarled, "Learn to drive! Gosh damn!" I pressed gas and barely skimmed by the little car. Pulling into the rocky gravel and nearly falling out of the truck. Sprinting into the barn, sliding to a stop and seeing my beloved Apollo breathing heavily, lying on his side and kicking at his stomach. I covered my mouth up and squeaked. Opening the stall door and slowly walked in, "My god.. Apollo..." I saw Scott walked in and had a horrified frown on his face. "I don't know if he'll make it Ashley... I think it's time.." Before Scott finished I saw as Apollo struggled to stand, slowly and shakily walking to me and snorting. Miserable and despair filled his eyes. "Scott. Can you do surgery on him? I can ride with him in the trailer.." Scott nodded and I lead the wobbling gelding out of the barn, coaxing him into the trailer for about 15 minutes. He neighed and whinnied in pain as we drove. I broke down in his trailer stall into sobs. And for the first in a very long time, I pulled myself together and prayed. Saying it out loud, "Dear Lord, please please please help my beloved Apollo.. I don't want to lose him.. I love him so much, please help me and him.. I don't want to lose my parter... Amen.." I said and broke into soft sobs. Hugging Apollo's neck and my whole body trembled as he neighed in pain even more and I immediately shot back, he kicked at and licked his stomach, I did my best to keep him on his feet. "Easy boy.." He attempted to rear and I calmed him down. I wish I was school sometimes.. Now was that time..

Dale's POV

I looked around in the whole lunch room. No one had seen Ashley since first period. Lilly had told me about Ashley's horse, Apollo, has colic and I didn't know what it was but, I knew it must of been bad if Ashley left school for it. I just prayed that her and her horse were safe and sound..

*3 Weeks Later*

Ashley's POV

I looked as Apollo happily munched on his feed, sitting in his stall to observe him. The surgery had succeeded and I was lucky he was still alive. I was terrified. Dale had came and seen me since I didn't go to school for a few days to watch over Apollo. And once I returned to school, it was a living nightmare.. I had so many questions and assingments it was like, I had left to Narnia and came back 3 centuries later..