Something to Prove

Chapter 7: Tryout Time

I sat in the mostly-empty classroom, jiggling my foot nervously. It was finally the end of the week, and I'd somehow managed to survive. So far, my favourite classes were art, science, and English, which I was waiting for right now. I felt my phone vibrate from the pocket of my jeans and pulled it out, peering at the screen. A text from Carly.

So, have you found the nerve to talk to Jason yet?

I texted back: No, and I'm prob not going to!

Carly had been bugging me all week about getting to know Jason better. I never said so out loud, but I knew that a guy like him would never in a million years be interested in me. I had accepted that, but I figured it couldn't hurt to try to become friends with him. And now Carly had taken it upon herself to "get us together", as she put it.

Dude, just start by asking a casual question!

I sighed. The girl meant well, but she had no idea how hard it was for me to talk to boys. And people in general, actually. I was about to text something back when Jason walked into the room and came to sit in his usual spot beside me.

"Hey," he said with a sweet smile. I just blushed and smiled back. Tugging self-consciously on my grey hoodie, I wracked my brain for something to say. Just as I was turning towards him, my elbow caught the edge of my binder and knocked it off the desk. Smoothe, I thought. I bent over to pick up the scattered papers, but Luke had beat me to it. "Here," he said with that easy smile of his. My insides melted.

"Thanks," was the only reply that came to mind.

"Did you draw this?" I looked over and saw Jason holding one of my sketches from art class, and had to resist the urge to snatch it back. I wasn't terribly confident about my artwork, and I was scared that he would think it was awful.

"Oh, yeah. I drew that yesterday in art class. It's not my best work, though"

"Well, then I'd love to see what your best is, because this is fantastic!"

"Really? Wow, thanks!" I took the picture back and tried to suppress the giant grin I could feel creeping onto my face. He liked it! The drawing in question was of Fallon, just a simple pencil sketch. Nothing fancy, but still, he actually liked it!

My day felt much lighter after that, a welcome relief from such a stressful first week. Classes flew by until I found myself back in my room, getting changed to go ride.

This was it, too. My testing day. I'd been practicing non-stop on the flat and over jumps for this, and I was determined to impress Mr. Connor.

I pulled on a pair of black breeches and a grey and purple polo shirt, stepped into my boots, and made my way down to the stable.

All too soon I found myself mounted and staring down at Mr. Connor, awaiting instruction.

"Alright, if you're all warmed up, then let's get started." Mr. Connor ran us through some basic flat-work, and Fallon moved easily beneath me. I almost let myself feel confident, like we maybe had a chance of impressing the Canterwood coach. "Now pick up the left lead canter, canter down the diagonal, and do a flying lead change." My blood froze in my veins. Flying lead changes were fairly low on my practice priority list; we hadn't spent much time on them. But from the little wok I'd done with Era doing lead changes, I knew they were not pretty. I gathered up the leather reins and took a deep breathe. Don't blow this. I asked Fallon for the canter. Don't mess this up. We cantered in a circle, settling into a collected rythme. She's doing well, dont ruin it. We turned down the diagonal of the arena. Gotta get this. As we crossed the imaginary "x", I shifted my weight and adjusted my hands, signaling for Fallon to change her canter lead. Come on, come on come on...

The moment she felt me move, Fallon tensed up. Her stride became choppy and uneven. I put on a tiny bit more pressure with my legs, and Era exploded. She did her signature leap in the air, almost tossing me from the saddle. Upon landing, she ducked her head and charged forwads. But yet she had changed her lead. Why, mare? Why the fireworks display? I thought. I glanced over at Mr. Connor and saw him scribbling something on his clipboard. He looked up and said, "That's enough on the flat, I think. Walk for a minute while I get the jumps set."

I slowed Fallon to a leisurely walk and loosened the reins. Eyeing the course that was being set up, I tried to relax. The jumps were fairly low, only about two-foot-nine. There was one combination, but it was a simple two stride to a one stride to a three stride, and all verticals. There were some scary flowerboxes and a fake wall jump, but so long as I had Fallon's trust, they wouldn't be too hard.

"Ready to go?" Mr. Connor asked. I nodded. "Whenever you're ready, then."

After getting Fallon's canter settled, I pointed her towards the first jump. It was a plain blue and white vertical, and Fallon soared over it. The next was a skinny brown jump with bright yellow flowers tucked in and arround it. Fallon's ears swivelled back, and I squeezed my legs against her sides gently. She took the jump without hesitation. After that it was a quick five strides to a green and gold oxer. Three, two, one, up! I counted to myself. Next was the combo. I half-halted strongly, knowing Fallon needed my support. We got over the first element without difficulty, but had too much momentum towards the second jump, making the one stride too tight. I winced as Fallon's legs knocked the top rail, but didn't dwell on it. The next jump came up just as fast, but I was more prepared and Fallon was more careful. We continued smoothly through the rest of the course. We were heading for the last jump, the fake wall, when I felt Fallon's stride change. She stared at the wall and tried to duck to the side. No, not now. We've done so well so far, we can't ruin it now. I urged her forward, but we arrived at the jump at an awkward distance. Fallon gave a huge effort and just barely managed to clear the wall, while I got jumped out of the tack and almost fell. My face was burning, I knew that we looked horrible over that jump, and it was my fault for not getting to a better take-off point. But I was proud of Fallon. I gave her neck a rub, "Good girl, you were great!" I said under my breathe.

"Thank you, Aspen, that was a lovely ride. I will let you know which team you will be placed on by Sunday evening." With that, Mr. Connor left the arena. I felt my stomach flip over as I realized how big this was, being placed on one of the riding teams. A million thoughts raced through my head as I cooled Fallon out, and I knew that I wouldn't be able to have a moment of peace until I heard Mr. Connor's decision.