Unfriendly Competition (14 page)

Alison's phone buzzed. She looked at it, then back at us. “Heather's maaad,” she said. “She thinks we all left her there and she wants to know where we are.”

“Write her back that there was boy drama and we
didn't have time to explain, especially in front of Troy,” Julia said. “So we came back to the suite.”

“Good idea,” Alison said. She typed and the phone buzzed seconds later. “She's on her way.”

We stood, shifting from nervous excitement, as we waited for Heather. Keys turned in the lock and she walked in, fumbling with her purse.

“Whatever happened, there was no excuse for you guys to ditch me and—” Heather stopped midrant as she realized what was around her.

“Surprise!” we all yelled.

And, for the first time, Heather Fox was speechless.

“You—you guys,” she finally said. “What is this?”

I reached behind the couch and handed her the admission ticket. “It's your birthday party. Your
real
party. The one you wanted.”

Heather's cheeks flushed and she blinked, unsuccessfully trying to hold back a few tears.

“I can't believe you did this for me,” Heather said. She looked around at the snacks, drinks, and decorations. “I had fun with Troy, I really did, but
this
is exactly what I wanted.”

“Yay!” Alison said, hurrying over to hug her best friend. “We've got a ton of DVDs
and
Stephanie gave
Sasha and Brit permission to sleep over tonight, and we're allowed to stay up late.”

“That's awesome,” Heather said. “Really, really awesome. You guys have no idea how much this means to me. We're going to have the best night.”

“We so are,” I said. “The only thing that isn't here yet is the cake, but Stephanie's bringing that in a little while.”

Brit handed Heather a stack of DVDs. “Are you ready for your thirteenth birthday party?”

Heather grinned. “So ready.”

“Let's get into PJs, make some popcorn, and party,” Julia said. She smiled at her friend and, for the first time in a while, her happiness looked genuine.

“Let's party!” Heather cheered.

I smiled as Heather took her movie ticket into her bedroom with her.

When Heather's door closed, Alison, Brit, Julia, and I high-fived. It looked like our party was going to trump Mrs. Fox's fancy, Manhattan-inspired soirée.

14

BLAST FROM THE PAST

THE NEXT MORNING, I WOKE UP TO ALISON'S
alarm clock. I'd slept in her room and Brit had stayed with Heather. I sat up, smiling as I thought about last night. Heather's party had been exactly what she'd wanted from the first DVD to the last. We'd stuffed ourselves with Junior Mints, Skittles, Dots, and soda. Stephanie had brought us a pizza and a lilac-colored cake fit for five, that had
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HEATHER!
written in a beautiful font.

“Morning,” Alison said, getting up and reaching for riding clothes in her closet. We had an early morning lesson to get to and, if she was anything like me, she was definitely still a little groggy from staying up late.

“Hey,” I said. “I'm going to run back to my room in
my PJs, get dressed, and meet you, Julia, and Heather at the stable. Cool?”

“Definitely. I'll see you there.”

I headed for the door.

“Sasha?”

I turned and Alison walked over and hugged me. “Thanks for helping give Heather such an awesome birthday.”

“Of course,” I said, hugging her back. “She's my friend—plus thirteen is a major deal. I think she got what she wanted.”

Smiling, I left Alison's room. At the same time, Brit came out of the bathroom.

“You ready?” I asked. “We better go back to our room, get dressed, and go to the stable.”

“Def.”

We slipped on our flip-flops, and Heather emerged from her room in pink shorts and a white v-neck T-shirt. She walked up to us and got so close to me that I was afraid she was going to do something to me! And she did.

Heather reached out her arms and gave me a hug. It was the quickest hug in the history of hugs, but it was still bodily contact that wasn't, well, violent. She hugged
Brit, too, and smiled at both of us. She looked sleepy, with her normally straight hair a little tangled.

“Thank you both,” she said. “I got exactly the birthday I wanted, thanks to you guys. I had the best birthday ever.”

“You're welcome,” Brit said.

“I'm glad you had a good birthday,” I said. “Don't expect this kind of treatment every year.” I stuck out my tongue at her, teasing.

Heather rolled her eyes with a hint of a smile and opened the door. “See you at the stable.”

Brit and I left the suite and hurried to our room to get dressed and bundled up to go out in the cold morning air. That was my least favorite part of fall riding lessons—it took forever to throw on all the layers of clothes.

*   *   *

We walked down the sidewalk to the stables, and I noticed a silver horse trailer in the parking lot.

“They're not bringing trailers on campus yet for Huntington, are they?” I asked Brit.

She looked at the trailer, frowning. “I don't think so. It's kind of early.”

A man got out of the truck cab and walked around to
the back of the trailer. Brit and I slowed, watching. He unlatched the door and stepped into the trailer. After a few seconds, a horse started to back out of the trailer. A gray mare stepped calmly out of the trailer, backing down the ramp and stepping onto the driveway. She was covered in a dark pink blanket with a matching halter and leg wraps.

“She's
gorgeous
,” Brit said. “Wow. Almost perfect conformation.”

“Yeah,” I said slowly. “She's beautiful.”

She looked familiar. But why? I had no idea where I'd seen her. Maybe a video or at another show.

“I bet she's a horse that Mr. Conner's going to work with once his leg is healed,” I said.

“Ahhh,” Brit said, nodding. “You're probably right.”

The truck door with its tinted window opened and two black boots dangled above the pavement for a second before stepping onto the pavement. A willowy girl with long, wavy brown hair stepped around the truck door, closing it behind her and heading to the back of the trailer. She wore a hound's-tooth blazer, white breeches, and leather gloves. I squinted. She looked
so
familiar. But
no
, there was no way . . .

She took the lead line from the man and turned the
horse in the direction of the stable. I saw her face and I felt as if my heart fell to my boots.

“Sasha, c'mon,” Brit said.

But I stood there. Watching.

The girl?

Lauren Towers.

15

THE ONLY ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS

I TORE OFF TOWARD THE STABLE, FORCING
Brit to run after me.

“Sasha,” Brit called. “What's wrong? What happened?”

I grabbed her arm, pulling her into Charm's stall and locking us inside. I crouched down by his hay net so no one would see us, and Brit mimicked me.

Charm, obviously trying to give us away, ambled over, and started nuzzling us.

I put my head in my hands, feeling like I couldn't even comprehend what I was seeing.

“Talk to me,” Brit said. “You've got some sort of history with that girl. Is she someone you met a show or something? Is she like Jasmine?”

I lifted my head slowly. “I have no idea if she's like
Jasmine and we've never officially met, but I saw her ride once.”

“Who is she?” Brit asked.

I almost couldn't believe I was saying it out loud. “Her name is Lauren Towers. She's from Briar Creek.”

“What?”

I nodded. “She's a year younger than us. I saw her ride when I went to visit Kim at my old stable—Briar Creek. She's a nationally ranked dressage star who started there after I left. Back then, it felt like she'd replaced me there.” I paused, still trying to process. “And now, she's here.”

“Try not to let her rattle you,” Brit said. “She might become a great friend. You both have a history with Kim and Briar Creek. You could be the one to welcome her and really help her feel like she fits in.”

“
I
just started to fit in,” I said. “There's no way she'll want my help. Plus, it's just too weird. I'm not going to be mean or anything to her, I'm just going to stay out of her way.”

Brit looked at me for a second, then stood. “Your call, obviously. I'm going to tack up Apollo, and I'll meet you in the arena.”

“Okay, see you there.”

I took out my phone and instinct took over. I typed a BBM.

Sasha Silver:

I had to talk to someone who would understand. Hope that's ok. Do u have a sec?

It only took her half a minute to respond.

Paige Parker:

Of course it's ok! What's going on?

Sasha Silver:

I was on the way to my riding lesson and I saw this horse and girl get out of a trailer and truck.

Paige Parker:

OMG. Pls, PLS don't tell me it was Jasmine.

Sasha Silver:

Def not Jasmine. P, *Lauren Towers* is here.

This time, it took Paige a minute to respond.

Paige Parker:

Lauren Towers. As in the younger rider from Briar Creek?

Sasha Silver:

Exactly.

Paige Parker:

Oh, Sasha. Whoa. What r u going 2 do?

Sasha Silver:

Stay away from her for now. I'm not in a place to be the
welcoming committee. And IDK, it kind of feels like she was my replacement at Briar Creek, even though I wanted to come here.

Paige Parker:

Def do whatever makes you comfortable. You don't know her though—she might turn out to be nice.