J.O.P. Stable: The Twin Saga (Book 1: The Summer Finale)

Chapter 7:

Jewel's POV:

" Well that was intense... " I told Sky as we walked Shadow and Onyx side by side down the barn aisle.

Our first jumping class had been more difficult than I thought, and out of all of us, Sky had ridden the best. Shadow and I had knocked a piece of the brick wall, but that was it, and I added brick wall jumping to the list of things to work on with him. Payton had a total of 8 faults and Blaire had just 4 like me.

Sky laughed. " That was the best, did you see their faces when I told them they better learn to keep up? Ha! Priceless! "

I shrugged. " Ya, I saw... "

I knew we had made a pact to beat the new girls and show off, but after I had talked with Blaire yesterday, I thought she was really nice, not at all like Payton or Caitlyn, and I wanted to be friends with her, in fact we had arranged to ride in one of the shaded outdoor Dressage arena's after our jumping lesson, but if Sky found out I was actually becoming friend's with one of our new teammates, she wouldn't be happy.

Sky looked at me funny before looking forward again. " You okay? Your reaction wasn't what I thought it would be... "

" I'm fine, just...tired "

Oops, she would really be suspicious now

" Okay, now I know something's off, your never ' tired ' after a jumping round like that, come on, don't let the new girl's get to you, you showed them just as much as I did who's really going to carry the ' team ' at the Finale " She replied.

I shrugged again. " ...Right... "

Sky sighed. " Come one Jewels...Hey! Here's an idea! Let's go on a Cross-Country run! That'll get your blood pumping! "

I laughed slightly. " Right, I think your confusing me with you, I mean, I know we're twins, but come on, if you can't tell us apart, I give up on life " I joked, making us both laugh.

" Alright fine, maybe I was looking for any excuse to go out on the course. So? You coming with? " She asked.

" Maybe next time, I think I'm just going to cool Shadow down and give him a bath, plus I have tack to organize and a few show item's I told mom and dad I'd find for them "

That was a total lie, but it's not like I wanted to lie to her, she'd flip if she knew why I was really ditching her.

Sky shrugged. " Alright, suit yourself, but if you change your mind, you know where I'll be "

" Begging Andréa to watch you on the course? " I knew my twin too well, it scared me sometimes.

" Bingo, see ya! " Sky replied before leading Onyx out the barn door.

I breathed out the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding as I led Shadow out the other side of the barn, watching as Sky walked over to Andréa. They talked for a few second's as Sky mounted Onyx before they started to walk to the advanced cross course. I made sure they were deep in the woods before I walked Shadow towards one of the two open, but covered and shaded indoor arena's.

I stopped for a second beside the first arena, watching as Payton took Jazz through a few half passes at a canter. The liver chestnut mare was good at jumping, but it was obvious that her real talent laid with Dressage-as Payton had bragged about, constantly, but now I could see why. Jazzs' movement was delicate and elastic, yet bold and stood out when it needed to be and not once did she try to come off the bit. Once they were done the last half pass, they moved across the arena and into a series of one time flying changes. I couldn't help but stare in awe. Shadow and I seriously needed work on our flying changes. He tended to get frustrated when we tried less than 3 time changes. Dressage wasn't my favourite of the eventing phases, but as I watched Payton and Jazz do some of the upper level movement's, it reminded me of why I stuck with it. When done right, Dressage looked so elegant, so perfect, and the connection that horse and rider had was amazing, making the movement's look easy, even though Dressage was considered the hardest equestrian discipline to learn. Payton and Jazz definitely had that connection. They were both one hundred percent focused on each other, so much that they didn't even notice Shadow or I as they past by in an extended trot, or maybe they did and just didn't care. It was too bad Payton's personality was anything but elegant...we could have become friend's, instead of just people who were forced to be on the same team for a show.