Some People Change (Currently Editing)

Chapter Thirteen

In the morning, sadness lingered over me like a dark cloud. My mood matched the weather. It was overcast skies as far as the eye could see. 

I had woken up at seven, and I already heard everyone downstairs. So, I quickly got dressed, brushed my hair, and then hurried down the steps. 

Freddy was in the kitchen, and Emma and Amy were talking. And from what I could hear of their conversation, it didn’t sound like a pleasant one. I headed straight for the kitchen. Freddy was tending to something on the stove, but she stopped just for a second to greet me.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hi. What are you doing?”

“Just making us some scrambled eggs and toast. You don’t look too good, Kayla.”

“I’m not doing too well, either.”

“I’m sorry,” Freddy said, turning back around to finish cooking the eggs. 

“It’s okay. I’m just tired and…sad.”

Freddy served the eggs onto our plates, and then came over to embrace me. I sighed softly.

“I’ve been here for a long time, but the trauma of my life before I got here still hasn’t gone away. I don’t think it ever will. You’re not alone, Kayla. Remember that.”

“Thanks.”

Freddy smiled, and then went to get our toast out. She set them on our plates, and then I helped her carry them to the table.

“Breakfast’s ready!” Freddy shouted.

Emma came in with Amy following behind her. Then, we all sat down. There was an awkward silence between all four of us, and no one tried to break it. And soon, it became too much to bear for Emma, and she left. Then Amy left, but just before she did, she said, “Meet me in the car in ten.”

“What’s wrong with Emma?” I asked.

“I have no idea. She’s not normally like this. Something must’ve happened.”

Freddy and I cleaned up the dishes, and then went out into the garage. Amy was sitting in the car, but Emma was nowhere in sight. Freddy and I hopped in the backseat. 

We drove to the stables in silence. When we got there, we saw Ed outside, heading into the barn. Freddy and I hopped out of Amy’s truck, and then we, too, went into the barn.

Jason and Taylor were talking near Mayhem’s stall, but once Freddy and I entered, they turned their attention to us. Taylor gave me a smile, but I didn’t smile back. Instead, I just hung my head low and kept my eyes on the ground.

“So, Freddy, can you just start feeding all of the horses, and Kayla, I want you to go tack up Angel. I know it‘s kind of gray out there, but if it starts to rain, we can just stop the lesson.” Jason said. 

I nodded, and then headed to the tack room while Freddy went to the feed room. And to my dismay, Taylor followed me. I so wanted to be alone, but I didn’t know how to tell him that without hurting his feelings. 

“Are you okay, Kayla?” Taylor asked as I was getting Angel’s tack.

“No,” I replied simply. 

“You want to tell me what happened?”

I turned around to face Taylor. Then I shook my head.

I collected Angel’s things, and then set them near the crosstie. Next, I went to go get Angel. Taylor was waiting for me when I returned.

I brushed and tacked up Angel without saying a word, and Taylor just stood there, staring at me. And after awhile, his silence began to hurt me. I knew Taylor was just trying to be helpful and caring. And I knew Taylor was also curious because I hadn’t told him a single thing about me.