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

"Why are you here?"

The dark fields and dark roads were lit by the moon, the sun was beginning to come up. Making the sky glow over the hills. I missed the country side, I missed the island.
I spotted the big sign and pulled into the driveway.
After pulling into the parking lot and stepping out of the car the familiar sent of Holloway filled my nose.
I walked through the halls to find horses missing and the stables empty. I walked towards the arena to see a small crowd of familiar horses and the back of riders mounted. James's tall figure stood in the middle of the arena and he stopped talking when he spotted me coming his way.
"Is she seriously here!" Mia rolled her eyes.
"If you're here for a spot on the Nationals team" Mia started.
"I'm not" I shook my head, I dug my hands into my back pockets and leaned back.
"Why are you here?" James asked.
"Because I owe you all an apology, I have my reasons as to why I left, but just leaving without a goodbye, a reason was stupid and I'm sorry" I started.
"Why'd you leave?" Zoe asked.
"At first it wasn't a choice, but then I didn't want to come back, all I pictured here was the drama, the friendships, the relationships all the reasons that made it hard to walk away but at Branwhick I can push everyone away, I couldn't push you guys away, you're my family" I shrugged.
"I wanted to hate that speech but it was pretty horesome" Becky giggled.
"Are you coming back?" Pin asked. I could feel the tension between Zoe and Pin as soon as the words fell out of his mouth.
"After Nationals I don't know what I'm doing" I shrugged.
"There will always be a place for you here" Gabby added.
"I better go, I have a long drive" I sighed stepping back.
"Bye!" The team called as I started my walk back to the car. Callum, Ryder and Pin sat in silence.

As I started the engine of my SUV a knock on the window made me jump. There stood James with something behind his back. I rolled down the window and raised an eyebrow.
"If you're about to kill me.." I started. He chuckled. He pulled out a photo frame from behind him. I looked at the photo, it was the regionals team, alongside our horses and James. I smiled at the way I had my arms wrapped around Krieger after our big win.
"So you know who your family is when you need them" he stated. I jumped out the car and wrapped James into a hug.
"Go, you have a long drive" he chuckled.
"Thank you" I whispered trying to hold back the sobs.

After a long drive, I couldn't help but glance back at the photo every now and then. That was my team, my family. Branwhick was just one stop on the map. But Holloway was my home. I didn't feel as alone as I had over the last few weeks, I just felt relief.

As I stepped on to the porch, the door flew open and Maria pulled me into a tight hug.
"How is she?" She asked worriedly.
"She's going to be okay, she just needs rest" I explained as she ushered me into the kitchen. As I looked around the kitchen there were small pastry desserts covering the counter tops. From eclairs to brownies to custard tarts.
"What happened in here?" I asked popping a brownie into my mouth.
"I cook when I'm stressed" she shrugged.
I smiled at Maria and giggled.
"Are they good?" She asked.
I rolled my eyes.
"The best" I nodded.
"Brooklyn!" Blair called from the bottom of the stairs, her high heels clipped their way towards Maria and I.
"How's your mom?" She asked.
"She's okay" I nodded.
"I'm glad" she smiled.
"Now about the bridesmaid dress, how do you like it?" She asked.
"Well I haven't tried it on, I've been busy" I defended.
"Oh of course, I understand, well if you could do that soon" she called racing out of the room. I sighed and Maria raised her eyebrow at me.
"Do you not want to be a bridesmaid?" She asked.
"I just have enough to deal with already" I sighed heading towards the stairs.