Twins (A One Direction/Kelli Berglund/Billy Unger Fan Fiction)

Chapter 12:

"Are you ready Rookie?" Tony asks, giving me a crooked smile. "I guess so. Wish me luck." I say seriously like I'm going off to war.

"In the ring now is number 318 Tin Man ridden by Katherine Payne." The woman announces. I ride the fat little pony into the ring and pick up my trot. Schooling ponies on a wednesday right before the welcome stake is always fun.

Okay I have no idea what I'm doing. SOS SOS SOS HALP MADAY OMFG ASDFGHJKL;

Ahem.

Jinxx canters up to the first jump and happily jumps it. One two three four five six seven jump. Perfect striding! The rest of the course is the perfect 8 strides on the angle and 7 on the outside.

I pat him and slow him to the walk, walking out of the ring.

3 rounds later, Jinxx and I are going in the Schooling Ponies flat class.

Amanda and Zoë told me that I should hack off the rail, then on the rail, then listen to the announcer. I hope I don't glitch.

When they tell us to walk, I can feel Jinxx start to freeze up. I baby kick him and he starts at a forward walk. "Trot riders please trot!" She commands. Jinxx snorts at the cameraman. "C'mon Spook." I snap. He starts trotting.

Cantering is actually the easy part. "In first place is Alexandra Parker and True Colors, second place is Tin Man and Katherine Payne..." It all becomes a blur as we walk out of the ring. "Good job Kat!" Zoe exclaims. "Thanks." I grin.

We go to watch Amanda in 3'6" performance horses. She's showing up against Jennifer Alfano!

"Look. There she is!" Zoe squeals, pointing to a chestnut horse. I gasp. Jennifer Alfano.

Did you mean fangirl?

Shut up Siri. Anyways we watch Amanda head in the ring at a trot, break to the canter and lope over the first fence. The whole course is seamless!

Then Ms. Alfano rides in and lays down the most flawless course I have ever seen. "Kat go ride Jinxx back down to the barn. The walk for the Welcome Stake is in about half an hour." Amanda tells me. I salute and start marching the pony on the dirt trail.

Then all of a sudden I hear it. "Champion Results for Small/Medium portion of the Schooling Ponies. Tin Man and Kat Payne with your champion, and True Colors with Alexandra Parker in reserve."

I let out a whoop and pat Jinxx repeatedly. "Good boy!" I grin.

When we get back to the barn, I dismount the pony, hand him to Alfredo, grab my black and white Equine Couture bag, and run to the port-o-john. Gross I know, but where else am I going to change?

I change into my white Animo full seat breeches and quickly jet out of there because it smells like a fishstick got sprayed by a skunk and died.

I collapse in the black and gold directors chair. "Lovely weather we're having!" Someone says. I jump and turn to see Billy. "Billy! You're here!" I exclaim. He chuckles and leans over to hug me. "But how?" I ask when he pulls away. He wasn't supposed to be here until Friday!

"I got a few days off. I figured I'd come settle in early, then come watch you. Congrats on the champion by the way." He grins. "I'm glad you're h-" "WE WILL BEGIN WALKING FOR THE WELCOME STAKE IN 10 MINUTES." The loudspeaker blares, interrupting me.

"Well that was rude." I snip and adjust my show shirt. "Now if you'll excuse me. Black or Pink?" I ask, holding up my show coats. "I kinda like the pink. Why not make a statement?" He asks. I smile and slip it over my shoulders.

"Kat are you ready?" Amanda asks, pulling up Belmy and dismounting. "Yep. You can ride up with us if you want." I tell Billy. Amanda nods in approval as the brunette gets on the back. "Okay so the stake. Don't be scared, just go for it. But make the right decisions. Don't take a crazy long spot unless I tell you to. In other words, don't pull a Beezie Madden, or get tossed over the jump. They're just too big." She tells me.