Best Enemies (Canterwood Crest) (4 page)

I leaned back in the saddle as we started down the incline. I tightened my knees on the saddle and focused on not tipping forward over Charm’s neck. Charm’s ears flicked back and forth as we approached the creek. Clear
water rushed over the creek bed and a few pebbles sparkled as sunlight peeked through the canopy of trees.

“C’mon,” I said. “You’ve got it, boy.”

But Charm’s stride slowed with every step. He leaned back, digging his heels into the soft dirt before the creek. I gritted my teeth, urging him forward with my hands and seat, but he sidestepped instead of going forward.

I pressed my boot heels against his sides and sat deep in the saddle. Beneath me, Charm fought my hands and legs—intent on not getting in the water. I turned him away from the creek and, snorting with relief, he started to scramble back up the bank. But I pulled hard on the left rein, turning him back toward the water.

“Charm, come on,” I said, squeezing my legs tighter against his sides. He sidestepped again, his front hooves just inches from the water. For a second, I thought he was going to rock back on his haunches and try to jump, but the creek was too wide. Charm stood, trembling, and I did the worst thing possible: I gave up.

I sat back in the saddle and relaxed my exhausted arms and legs. I moved Charm to the side of the creek and off the course.

“You can’t keep doing this,” I said. “You
have
to go in the water. I know you hate it all of the sudden, and I’m
sorry, but we’ll be disqualified if you pull this in competition. You used to
love
water.”

Charm flicked an ear back at my voice and lowered his head. I looked up when I heard hoofbeats in the woods. Jack trotted down the path and Callie’s eyes flickered in my direction.

“What happened?” she asked, urging Jack over to Charm and me.

I shook my head. “Charm won’t go through the creek. Can we follow you across?”

“Sure thing,” Callie said. “Let’s start from back there.” She pointed a gloved hand toward the top of the gentle slope.

We guided Charm and Jack away from the creek. Charm seemed calmed by Jack’s presence.

“I wish he hadn’t suddenly developed this weird water problem
now,
” I said. “Not so close to the YENT.”

Callie looked over and locked eyes with me. “Don’t worry. We’ll fix it,” she promised. “I’ll help.”

“Thanks, Callie.” We turned the horses to face the creek.

“I’ll go first,” Callie said. “Keep Charm behind us. He’ll follow Jack right over.”

I nodded, gripping the reins tighter.

Callie trotted Jack forward and I started Charm behind him. Charm, eager to stay with Jack, followed him down the bank without hesitation.

“Keep him moving,” Callie called over her shoulder.

“Got it!” I said.

Jack stepped into the creek, water splashing over his royal blue leg wraps. He trotted quickly through the creek. Charm, hesitating, looked at Jack and started to weave at the creek’s edge.

“No, go, ” I said, keeping my voice firm and low.

Charm shuddered, then leaped into the water. He took bounding strides forward and I almost lost my stirrups—his long stride caught me off guard. He followed Jack out of the creek and the horses climbed the bank, stepping in hoof prints that had to be Aristocrat’s.

“He did it!” Callie cheered. We pulled the horses side by side.

I shook my head. “But did you see
how
he did it? And I wouldn’t have even gotten him over if you hadn’t been here with Jack.”

“Sash, it happens. You have time to work with him before the YENT. I’ll come out here with you whenever you want to practice and I know Eric will too.”

I gave her a small smile. “You’re right. I know you’re right.”

“Let’s finish this,” Callie said. “We should just stick together now. Mr. Conner will understand.”

I waved my hand in a you-go-ahead gesture. “We’ll follow you.”

Callie urged Jack into a canter and Charm and I shot off after them. We finished the rest of the course within minutes.

Back at the stable Callie and I cooled Jack and Charm and crosstied them next to each other. I’d missed hanging out with her at the stable. Callie was my fave person to share horsey gossip with.

“And you told them
what
?” Callie asked, giggling.

“Just that Eric had a girlfriend and they were happy together,” I said.

Callie’s shoulders shook with laughter. “They had no clue
you
were the girlfriend?”

“Nope,” I said. “None.”

I’d just told Callie about the beginner and intermediate riders I’d heard a few weeks ago talking about the gorgeous new guy on their riding team. A guy they all wanted, especially one girl—Rachel. I’d thought the conversation was cute and funny until they said
Eric’s
name. I wanted to burst into the
room and tell them he was taken, but our relationship had been a secret then.

“When they see you with him,” Callie said, “it’ll be awesome.”

“Totally.”

We laughed and both looked up when we heard hoofbeats. Eric stopped Luna in front of us.

“Getting ready for a lesson?” I asked.

“I hope you wore Mr. Conner down a little before I go in.”

“No way,” Callie said. “He’ll be turning up the pressure on your group—especially since you and Jas are testing.”

“I’m kind of jealous that you get to test in a week,” I said. “Callie and I have to wait forever.”

Eric nodded. “But you’ll have more time to practice.” Eric looked as if he wanted to say something else, but stopped short. His warm gaze changed to a stony glare.

I turned and saw Jacob walking down the aisle toward us, careful not to get too close to any of the horses.

“Hey,” Callie said when she saw him. “What are you doing here?”

Jacob, keeping a safe distance from Charm, Luna, and Jack, shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
“Thought I’d pick you up and see if you were up for a trip to the Sweet Shoppe.”

“Sounds good,” Callie said. “I’m done here. Let me just put Jack back in his stall.”

Callie unclipped the crossties and led Jack down the aisle. Jacob looked after her, but stayed where he was. A couple of students had the aisle blocked with horses and Jacob would have to get within inches of one to follow Callie. I wished horses didn’t scare him so much.

“So,” I said, trying to fill the awkward silence.

“So,” Jacob said.

“I hear they have really yummy new lemon poppyseed cake at the Sweet Shoppe,” I said lamely.

“Yeah?” Jacob smiled.

Eric let Luna stretch her neck toward Jacob. Jacob swallowed but didn’t move.

“So,” Jacob said. “What are you up to this weekend?”

“Well,” I started, trying to suppress my giddy expression. “Eric and I are going to the movies tomorrow.”

“On our first official date,” Eric finished for me.

Jacob’s green eyes flickered to me before settling on Eric. “Yeah? What a coincidence. I’m taking Callie too. We’ll probably see
two
movies.”

Eric shrugged. “Wow, two movies. That keeps you
from having to, I don’t know, talk at all, right?”

“Guys… ,” I started.

“Whatever, man. I hope you at least pay for Sasha’s ticket. I
always
pay for Callie.”

Before Eric could respond, Callie walked over and stood by Jacob.

“Ready?” she asked, her eyes darting between Jacob and me.

Jacob nodded. “Let’s go.”

“See you at film class,” I said to Jacob, thinking that maybe if I stayed calm and friendly, it would make things less weird.

But he just gave me a quick nod.

“Text you later,” Callie said.

When Jacob and Callie disappeared down the aisle, I stepped closer to Eric. “You don’t have to be mad at Jacob,” I said. “You know I don’t like him anymore.”

“I know, but I’ll never be friends with that guy,” Eric said. “Not after the way he treated you.”

I reached out and squeezed Eric’s hand. It was strong and warm, enveloping my own. Even though I hated when Eric and Jacob fought, I had to admit—it felt nice to have someone feeling protective of me.

6
OH YEAH, NOT WEIRD AT ALL

I HURRIED DOWN THE RED-CARPETED AISLE
in the theater and placed my paper on Mr. Ramirez’s desk. Then I sat in my assigned seat next to Jacob. Film was one of my favorite classes, but it was weird now that Jacob and I weren’t together. At least the semester was almost over.

Jacob sat next to me. He leaned forward in his seat and rifled through his backpack, then sat back up and looked straight ahead. But the next thing I knew, he was back in the bag and shuffling through papers.

“Everything… okay?” I asked.

“Fine.” Jacob looked at me, his shaggy, sandy brown hair falling over one eye. “Why?”

“Just wondering.”

He shifted in his seat and kicked over his book bag.
A black notebook slid out of the bag toward my feet. I leaned down and picked it up, holding it out to him.

“Thanks,” he muttered, not looking at me.

Okaaay.

“Jacob, are you
mad
at me?” I asked.

He turned, looking me in the eyes for the first time since the stable. “No,” he said. “Sorry. Just… something going on with a friend.”

I played with the cap on my pen. “Oh. Okay. ’Cause things don’t have to be weird between us. Callie and I are friends again. If you and Eric could just not do…
that
, then things would be easier.”

Jacob just sat there. That was one thing he and Eric would agree on—they’d never be friends. I knew why Eric held a grudge against Jacob. But what was Jacob’s deal?

Not knowing what else to do, I shuffled through my lip gloss bag and finally settled on a bubblegum-flavored gloss with a high shine-factor. Mr. Ramirez, frowning, was still pressing buttons on the projector.

“So… ,” Jacob said a couple of minutes later. “Doing anything tonight?”

“Just watching
Teen Cuisine
with Paige. A new episode airs tonight.”

Jacob nodded—his shoulders relaxing a little. We
started talking about
Teen Cuisine
and soon, Jacob was laughing at a story Paige had told me about the director’s hideous pink and green polka dotted tie. I crossed my fingers that things would keep getting better between us.

When I got back to my room, my phone rang.

“Guess what I overheard?” Callie asked the second I answered.

“Tell me!” I dropped my bag on the floor and sat at the edge of my bed.

“I forgot my notebook in the tack room, so I went back to get it a few minutes ago,” Callie said. “When I was leaving I saw Heather go into Mr. Conner’s office.”

“And?”

“She was pretty upset. She told Mr. Conner that Julia and Alison hadn’t cheated and she didn’t know what happened, but she knew they’d never do that.”

I flopped backward. “What did he say?”

“That Heather was a good friend to defend them, but that Headmistress Drake
did
have proof—cheat sheets. He said he was sorry, but he wasn’t going to let them back on the team.”

“Heather’s not going to give up,” I said. “They’re her friends and she believes them. It’s what friends do.”

7
DATE NIGHT