Fly

Chapter 10

Two days later, Melanie was back in the saddle. Melanie was nervous to run the barrels again, not like she wanted to anyway. "Come on honey, just once." Agetha said from the fence. Agetha decided to watch their lesson that day. "Mom, I really don't want to." Melanie replied. "Just once." Agetha snapped. Melanie sighed deeply and squeezed Maggie. Melanie and Maggie ran around all three barrels in a flash. "Great job, Melanie. Just work on your balance." Donna said. Melanie nodded then went back in the line. "See, it wasn't that bad." Agetha said with a smile. Melanie didn't reply and sighed again. Melanie gave Maggie a pat then watched the other girls go around the barrels. Josie and Smokey were getting so much better. After the lesson, Melanie and Josie walked back to the barn together. "You and Smokey did great today." Melanie said to Josie. "Thanks, but you and Maggie were better." Josie replied with a smile. Melanie put on a fake smile then put Maggie on the cross ties. Melanie quickly untacked Maggie and put her back in her stall. "Goodbye girly, I love you." Melanie whispered then ran out to her mom.  "Well, how did it feel to be back in the saddle again?" Agetha asked as she started the car. "It would have been better if I was jumping." Melanie snapped. "You are not jumping and that's final!" Agetha yelled. Melanie was getting angrier and angrier at her mother. Melanie didn't reply and was quiet the whole way home. Once they arrived home, Melanie ran into her room and slammed the door shut. Melanie started to cry. "What was that all about?" Brandon asked from the kitchen. Today, Brandon came home earlier. "She wants to jump and I continue to tell her no then she gets mad about it." Agetha explained. "Why don't you let her jump?" Brandon asked. "I don't want my daughter to jump. She is supposed to be a barrel racer." Agetha replied. "She isn't supposed to be anything. If anything, she is supposed to be herself." Brandon snapped. "She wanted to barrel race." Agetha said. "No she didn't! You forced her to barrel race! She didn't have a choice!" Brandon yelled. Melanie's parents continued to argue the rest of the night. Melanie put her pillow over her ears and cried herself to sleep. The next morning, Melanie woke up and went downstairs. Everything was quiet. Agetha made breakfast and was humming her favorite song. "Good morning." Agetha said. "Morning." Melanie replied. Melanie sat down at the table and started eating her breakfast. After Melanie finished her breakfast, she got ready then went out the door. She was quiet all the way to the barn. "Alright, have fun honey." Agetha said. Melanie nodded then went to the barn. "Hey girly." Melanie said softly to her beautiful mare. Maggie whinnied and went up to Melanie. Melanie grabbed Maggie's halter then led her to the cross ties. She quickly groomed and tacked up Maggie then headed out to the field. Melanie mounted Maggie and was ready to start the lesson. At least physically. "Alright girls, are you ready for another day of barrel racing?" Donna asked enthusiastically.  "Yes!" The girls replied in excitement. Except for Melanie. "Alright, how about..Melanie. You go first." Donna said with a smile. Melanie sighed when she heard her name. She squeezed Maggie and off they went. "Good girl." Melanie whispered as Maggie galloped around the barrels. They came around the final barrel with a flawless round. Melanie slowed Maggie down and gave her a big pat. "Very good, Melanie." Donna said. Donna smiled at Melanie. Donna continued with the class. "Hey Mel, are you alright? You seem down?" Josie asked Melanie. "I am fine. I am just tired." Melanie lied. "Oh, alright." Josie replied. Melanie felt awful for lying to Josie but she didn't want to make someone else upset about her not wanting to barrel race anymore. "Alright, Sabrina. You wanna go next?" Donna asked. Sabrina nodded then kicked Cowboy and off they went. Sabrina doesn't kick like an average rider. When she kicks, she kicks hard. They came around the final barrel and they knocked it down. "Ugh, you dumb horse." Sabrina snapped as she slowed him down. "Sabrina, enough! If you can't handle making mistakes then don't do this." Donna snapped. Sabrina smirked then went back to the line. She gave Melanie a rude look. Melanie ignored it and continued listening to Donna. Finally, after a long lesson it was time to get off. Melanie sighed then gave Maggie another pat after she slid off. "Good girl." Melanie whispered. Melanie led Maggie back to the cross ties and started untacking her. Sabrina led Cowboy in right after Melanie. "Melanie, I see you are...improving..a little." Sabrina said with a smirk. "Sabrina, go untack your horse and leave me alone." Melanie replied. "Well listen Melanie, in the following competition. I will win and I will have the victory! You and your ugly horse don't belong here! You will never beat me and my wonderful horse! Go back to where you belong!" Sabrina snapped. Melanie's temper was rising and she was getting even more angrier. "Sabrina, shut up! Leave me alone! I don't care about victory! I don't even want to barrel race!" Melanie yelled. Melanie didn't realize that Josie was standing next to her. She accidentally blurted out that she didn't want to barrel race anymore with Josie right beside her. "What? You don't want to barrel race anymore?" Josie asked in a concerned tone. Sabrina smirked as she thought they were going to fight. "Uh oh. What a shame that you didn't tell your so-called best friend about your little secret." Sabrina said. "It wasn't really...a secret. I just.." Melanie tried to explain. "If it wasn't a secret then why didn't you tell me?" Josie asked. "Because Josie, think about it. If she was your best friend she would have told you." Sabrina replied with a smirk. "Ugh, Sabrina can me and Josie talk alone?!" Melanie snapped at Sabrina. "Fine. It's boring anyway." Sabrina replied then went to go untack her horse. "Josie, listen. That is exactly why I didn't want to tell you. Because you are my best friend." Melanie explained. Josie was confused, she didn't understand. "What do you mean? You can tell me anything Mel." Josie comforted her. Melanie thought back to the fight with Mya. That is almost exactly what Mya said then turned out to be very upset. "Basically, Josie. I had a best friend named Mya and me and her would always barrel race together. But, my mom is the one who forced me to barrel race when I was younger because she wants me to be like her. So, through that time I never grew a passion for it. I told Mya that I didn't want to barrel race anymore and she has been angry at me ever since. She treats me like dirt now. I just didn't want to lose another best friend. You're my best friend, Josie and I was scared to tell you." Melanie explained. Josie carefully listened to Melanie. "I understand Mel. That is alright. No one likes the same things." Josie replied. Melanie smiled when she realized Josie wasn't mad. "So..you aren't mad?" Melanie asked. "Of coarse not. You're my best friend, Mel. I will support you in whatever you do." Josie replied with a smile. Melanie smiled back. "Thanks Josie." Melanie said. "No problem, Mel. What other discipline are thinking of doing?" Josie asked. "I am wanting to jump but my mom won't let me. She is forcing me to stick to barrel racing." Melanie replied. "Well, it is cool that you want to jump. That sounds fun but it is sad that your mother is forcing you to do something that you don't like." Josie said. Melanie started to cry. She finally had someone who understood her. It felt good to have someone who actually supported her. Josie smiled then gave Melanie a hug. "I love you Josie." Melanie said. "Love you too." Josie replied. Melanie realized that Josie was her real best friend because she accepted the way Melanie was and supported her. Josie didn't get mad at Melanie for not wanting to barrel race. Josie understands Melanie.