The New Girl with History **Free Rein Fanfic**

"fight or flight"

I tightened my jacket around me and tried to get closer to the fire.
"Here" Ryder said pulling his jacket off of his shoulders and handing it to me.
"I'm fine" I muttered refusing his help.
"Just take the stupid jacket Brooklyn!" He yelled pulling the jacket around me.
"Thanks" I mumbled.
The storm was getting harder the longer we sat there. The winds screamed around us. A strike of lightning caught my attention. I jumped from my spot on the ground and began to untack King, I dumped his tack in the corner of the cave.
"What are you doing?" Ryder asked.
"We're going to be here for a while" I shrugged.
A cry of thunder made King spook. He began to back his way out of the cave slowly.
"Easy" I whispered to him. I rubbed his nose bringing his attention back to me.
"It's not gonna hurt you" I said softly. King's breathing softened and he sent a soft nicker my way.
"Good boy" I smiled at him leaning against his neck.
"You're good with him" Ryder commented.
"He's just scared" I shrugged.
"Horses are a lot like us, fight or flight" I started.
"He just needs reassurance" I added.

After a half an hour of silence I finally broke it.
"Just because your dad left, it doesn't mean everyone else will" I stated.
"Stop talking Brooklyn" He grumbled.
"I just want to understand" I defended.
"Why don't you try to understand why your boyfriend had me kiss you?" He asked which turned into more of a yell.
"What?" I asked.
"He told me to hit on you, kiss you" he shrugged. I sat shocked.
"He was testing me?" I asked.
"I didn't ask questions I just did it" he shrugged.
"You're an asshole!" I yelled.
"The only person who's wanted to be your friend and you've just pushed me away!" I yelled louder.
Ryder jumped from his spot and pushed me into the wall, my right side still screaming in pain from my fall.
"Ever thought about this princess? Maybe I don't want any friends" Ryder snapped. We stood there for a moment silence filling the room, we were still so close but yet we felt a million miles apart.
"Hear that?" He asked.
"What?" I asked looking around.
"Exactly" he smiled an evil smirk. The rain had softened to a soft sprinkle, the clouds were beginning to roll away and the thunder had disappeared. I quickly tacked King up and followed after Ryder. I gave King a quick tap with my boot and we followed close after Ryder and his horse who galloped through the beach.
King took the lead ahead of Ryder and we galloped down the beach, it was the safest place to ride until the mud in the woods hardened. King took charge and he continued to gallop the hardest he could, his breathing getting deeper and deeper. I looked over my shoulder to see Ryder. He was gone. I pulled King up and turned around.
"Ryder!" I called out.
"Come on King" I told him. He broke out into a trot and we followed our tracks back. I spotted the second set of hoof tracks head off into the woods.
"Ryder!" I called out to the big dark woods.
"Ryder!" I yelled out.
King continued to walk the woods as I called out for Ryder. A snort and a horses rear was all that was heard. I followed the noise to find Ryder's horse standing quietly among the trees.
"Easy!" I said softly quickly dismounting from King and taking his reins. After leading King and Ryder's horse further into the woods, I could tell they knew something was wrong. The way they reluctantly followed me, taking every step very slowly.
"Ryder!" I yelled dropping the horses reins and running towards his body that laid in the mud. He was barely conscious.
"Brooklyn" he mumbled trying to sit up.
"Stop you could be hurt" I said worriedly.
"Why would you care" he mumbled.
"Because as scary as it is for you, I don't completely hate you and I'm not leaving like your dad" I mumbled. His eyes widened at what I said and a small smile edged at the corner of his lips.
"Can you stand?" I asked as he began to sit up.
"I'm fine" he said shrugging me off. I let go of his arm and he slowly stood up.
"What the hell were you thinking!" I exclaimed.
A loud yell came from the distance before I could finish yelling at Ryder.

"Brooklyn!" The voice called again. I recognised that deep voice, that voice was Callum.
"Callum!" I called back leaving Ryder to go find our rescuer.
"Stay here!" I ordered him with a glare. He rolled his eyes but did as he was told. I ran through the trees in the direction of his voice and in no time I spotted Zues's once white coat now brown and covered in mud.
"Callum!" I called towards him.
"What happened to you?" He asked engulfing me in a big hug.
"It's a long story" I laughed lightly.
"Where's Ryder?" Callum asked his thumb trailing over the material of Ryder's jacket.
"Here" Ryder called from behind me making me jump leading both horses close behind him.
"What happened to your face?" Callum asked looking at the graze on the side of his head.
"The horses spooked from the storm and we both fell" I said quickly cutting him off. Saving us both from embarrassment.
"You fell off King!" Callum exclaimed shocked.
"Yeah but we're both fine" I shrugged.

The sky began to darken as we rode back in silence. A loud rush of water overtook my hearing. The creek had turned into a river, the river was harsh and fast.
"We won't be able to get through!" I yelled over the noise.
"It's getting late, lets head towards the beach" Ryder told us.
"No! We keep going!" Callum argued.
"You'll get us killed if we go through there!" Ryder yelled.
I watched Callum begin to push Zeus towards the water. The grey horse began to refuse, swaying his body in a million directions.
"Callum stop!" I demanded.
"Ryder's right, the beach is the only safer option!" I stated.
"The boathouse isn't that far from here" I added.
My stomach grumbled as we closed in on the boathouse. The loud waves and winds prevented the boys from hearing it but it didn't stop me from feeling my stomach grumble. I watched the wooden structure stand in the harsh winds. The beach was covered in debree making it a longer trip then intended. As we dismounted and lead the horses the few metres left towards the boat house. I placed King's tack on the small porch. We tied the horses to the small fence that was placed by the police tape.
"What the hell happened here?" Ryder asked.
I looked to Callum and we remained quiet.
"No idea" I mumbled trying to push the door open, the door was sealed shut.
"Great" Callum rolled his eyes.
"Wait" I told them. I stepped back pushing the two of them further behind me.
"What are you doing?" Ryder asked. I examined the door spotting a soft and moulded over piece of wood. I lifted my leg aiming it towards the broken piece of wood, hearing a scoff from Ryder. As I smashed my foot into the door, King and Zeus snorted at the loud crash and stepped back as the squeaky door flew open banging onto the wall on the other side.
"How did you do that?" Callum asked.
"Black belt in karate" I shrugged as if it was nothing, but it was definitely something I loved showing off, it took a lot of blood sweat and tears and I was proud of my accomplishment.
"You never told me that!" He gasped.
"You never asked" I shrugged.
"Now take back that scoff" I giggled at Ryder, he shook his head and smirked holding his arms up in defence.
"Okay I take it back" he chuckled.
"I'm starving" Callum whined stepping into the boat house and shuffling through the small shelves and cupboards.

"What are you looking for a roast?" Ryder rolled his eyes.
"More like a protein bar or crisps" Callum corrected him. I pulled open a draw in the desk to find a bottle of whiskey that still hadn't been cracked open. I held it in my hands for a minute staring at the liquid for a moment before placing it back in the draw and slamming it shut.
"You okay?" Callum asked making Ryder's eyes fall on me.
"Yeah the draws are just old" I nodded shuffling through the rest of the draws. After coming to find nothing in the boat house we all took a seat against the wall, trying to get some shut eye. I took a seat next to Callum, his arm naturally making its way over my shoulder and my head rolled on to his. I could feel a pair of eyes on me as I snuggled closer into Callum trying to share his body heat. When I looked up I found Ryder staring at me, it wasn't a glare it was something else, I had never seen what I saw in Ryder's eyes in anybody else's.