“Charm’s always wanted to go blond,” I said. “And the scouts will love it.”
After braiding manes and tails with Callie, I spent an hour cleaning Charm’s tack. I polished his saddle and bridle until they were supple and gleaming. When I got back to Winchester, Paige, aka the best roommate ever, distracted me with Tokyo Girl reruns and manicures. Paige painted my nails in OPI’s Princesses Rule and I did hers in Bubble Bath.
“Look at your sparkly nails if you get nervous,” Paige said. “And remember the name of the polish. You’re going to rock it tomorrow.”
I smiled at her. “Thanks, P.”
Paige, inspecting her nails, got up and went to the door. “I’m going to grab us chips and salsa. Then, start a movie?”
“Awesome. But don’t mess up your nails!”
Paige left and I flopped backward onto my bed. Paige had been working overtime all day to distract me from thinking about testing.
My phone buzzed and I opened it.
Don’t even worry abt 2mrw. You’ve got this. C u in the mrning!
I texted Eric back.
:)
I kept rereading his text until Paige came back.
You’ve got this.
I’ve got this.
28
LUCKY CHARMS
IT WAS STILL DARK OUTSIDE WHEN I WALKED into the stable. Horses blinked sleepily at me as I passed them on my way to check on Charm. I peered over the stall door to look at him and he was asleep, facing the back of his stall. He could sleep for a few more minutes while I walked the show jumping course.
I left the stable and crossed the yard to the outdoor arena. The sun was just peeking over the campus and I wrapped my sweatshirt-covered arms across my chest. It was still chilly in the early morning. Taking a deep breath, I started walking and counting strides between jumps. Four strides between the vertical and the double oxer, I thought.
I paused, looking at the entrance to the arena. I flashed back to my first day at Canterwood and how Charm had gotten loose and galloped past this arena. He’d spooked Aristocrat and Heather had fallen. What an awful start that had been! And now, I was about to try out for the YENT. That day last September seemed like years ago. I’d been the scared new girl, terrified to make even one mistake and be sent home. Now I knew I belonged at Canterwood.
I walked the rest of the course and went back to the stable for Charm’s tack box. I set the box in the aisle by a free pair of crossties and went to get Charm.
“Today’s it, boy,” I said, unlatching his stall door and sliding it open. “You okay?”
Charm lowered his head so I could hug his neck. I led him into the aisle and clipped the crossties to his halter. I was picking stray pieces of hay out of his braids when Callie walked down the aisle with Jack.
“Hey,” she said. “Ready?”
I nodded. “Hope so. Are you nervous?”
Callie crosstied Jack and turned to me. “Um, yeah! But grooming Jack always makes me feel better.”
I tried to take a deep breath. Fail.
“Hey, YENT girls,” someone called.
I looked up and saw Eric smiling at us. He patted Jack’s neck, then walked over to Charm and me.
“Hi,” Callie and I said.
“How’s it going?” Eric asked.
“Good so far,” I said. “I’ve got to groom Charm, tack him up, and then change.”
“I’ll groom him for you if you need to do something else,” Eric said.
“Thanks. But grooming him is part of the ritual. If I didn’t, I’d feel like I’d missed a step. Bonding time.”
Eric nodded. “I understand. Anything else I can do?”
I gave him my sweetest smile. “Get dessert with me tonight after it’s all over?”
“Done,” Eric said.
Eric wished us luck one more time and headed off to help Mr. Conner.
I reached into my tack box and pulled out my Absorbine Supershine hoof polish to paint Charm’s hooves. When I finished, I stepped back and looked him over. Every hair on his chestnut coat gleamed like copper. His blaze was bright white and his shiny black hooves popped.
“After I tack him up, can you hold Charm while I change?” I asked Callie.
“Sure thing,” she said. “I’ll go after you.”
I went to the tack room and came back with Charm’s saddle, bridle, and white saddle pad. I smoothed the pad onto his back and lifted the English saddle onto it. Charm didn’t move as I tightened the girth. He lowered his head while I unclipped the crossties and slipped the reins over his head. He was being extra sweet—probably because he knew it was an important day. I finished bridling Charm and led him over to Callie.
“Be right back,” I said. I grabbed my clothes from the hanging rack in the tack room and changed in the bathroom. I’d picked my new fawn-colored breeches, high black boots, new white dress shirt, and navy blue show jacket. I pulled my hair into a low bun and applied clear gloss.
I emerged from the bathroom and Callie had Jack tacked up. I held both horses while she put on her show clothes. When Callie came back, she was staring at her phone screen and frowning.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I just thought Jacob would be here by now,” Callie said. “And…”
“And?” I prompted. “You can tell me.”
Callie’s eyes filled with tears. “He canceled our date last night without any reason. He’d been so excited about taking me out, then he texted me at the last minute and said he couldn’t make it.”
“Oh, Callie. I’m so sorry.” I reached over to touch her arm. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“Because it’s a big day. I didn’t want to bring it up before we started riding.”
I shook my head. “Puh-leeze. You’re my BFF—this is what we do! Did you ask him why?”
“He just said he had last minute ‘things’ to do before he went home. He said he was sorry, but he just couldn’t make it.”
“I’m so sorry. I know finals are over, but maybe there’s something up with his parents or his roommate. Whatever it is, you can’t stress about it right now.”
Callie wiped her eyes and nodded. “Right. I can talk to Jacob after the tryouts.”
“You totally can. Plus, you’ll be so much less stressed.”
“Thanks, Sash.”
“Anytime.”
Callie and I led Jack and Charm down the aisle and toward the big window that overlooked the outdoor arena. Callie’s parents were in the front row, whispering to each other. They looked more nervous than Callie.
In the next row, a tall man sat next to a woman who had Jasmine’s wavy dark hair, but wore a shirt patterned with giant purple and pink flowers paired with white capris. Yikes—Jas’s sense of fashion definitely didn’t come naturally. Mom and Dad sat by Callie’s parents.
“This is really happening,” Callie whispered. “This is our shot at the YENT.”
“Don’t remind me!” I said, bumping my shoulder against Callie’s. “Are you trying to freak me out?”
Callie laughed. “Sorry, sorry. But we’ll be out there in a few minutes! Did we forget anything?”
“Um,” I looked at our clothes. Then I glanced at the horses. “Bridles, saddles, saddle pads, hoof polish… oh! Fly spray.” I handed Charm’s reins to Callie. “I’ll go get it.”
I jogged down the aisle and stopped when muffled voices came through the door.
“Heather, I did not skip my meeting in Los Angeles to watch you fail.”
I cringed. Mr. Fox.
“You will not embarrass me. Mr. Nicholson will be calling your name as part of that team tomorrow,” Mr. Fox continued, his voice low. “I mean it, Heather. If you don’t, I—”
I couldn’t take another second! I pushed open the door, hurrying into the room. Heather was almost up against the wall, Mr. Fox towering over her. Her face was as white as Charm’s new saddle pad. Mr. Fox glared at me, but I ignored him and walked over to Heather.
“Oh, my God, what’s your problem?” I asked Heather, folding my arms. She turned to look at me, her eyes asking me not to leave.
“What?” she whispered, her voice wavering a little.
“How could you blow me off last night?” I made sure not to look at Mr. Fox. “That’s the third time this week! You keep saying you’ll come to the movies with me, but you never do. Are you, like, obsessed with practicing or something?”
Heather’s eyes locked on mine. Relief flashed across her face for a brief second before turning to fake annoyance.
“Calm down, Sasha. I had more important things to do than see a stupid movie. The YENT is all I’ve been thinking about for months.”
“But you’re always here.” I pretend-pouted.
“Maybe that’s because I came to Canterwood to ride, not goof off and have fun.”
Mr. Fox’s gaze shifted between us. He stepped forward and looked as if he was about to say something when his BlackBerry rang.
“Fox,” he said into the phone. He stomped away from us and slammed the tack room door behind him.
I walked around Heather and nabbed the fly spray from the top shelf. I wanted to say something, but didn’t want to embarrass her. I knew she had to be upset that I’d seen any of that. I started to the door.
“Sasha,” Heather said.
I turned and saw something different in her expression— almost as if she was seeing me as a friend for once.
“Don’t even—” I started.
“Thanks,” she mouthed.
I shut the door behind me and went back to Callie. I sprayed Charm with fly spray and did the same to Jack, not saying a word about what I’d seen.
“Look at all the people out there now,” Callie said, pointing to the stands.
Jacob sat alone at the end of the stands, near Mr. Fox who stood and paced with the phone pressed against his ear. At the bottom of the stands, Paige and Eric were sitting together—far away from Mom and Dad. I’d told Paige about how I’d wanted to keep them apart, just for now, and she’d promised to do her best.
Julia and Alison were there too.
“I can’t even imagine how they must feel watching this,” I said.
“Me neither,” Callie said. “They must be thinking about how different things would have been today if it hadn’t been for that test.”
Hoofbeats clattered down the aisle and stopped behind us. I turned and Jasmine stood there, shaking her head. Phoenix stood quietly beside her.
“What?” I asked.
“It’s just amusing to me that you and Callie even still bother.”
Callie and I didn’t respond. Heather appeared with Aristocrat, and soon, Mr. Conner and Mr. Nicholson, the head YENT scout, walked up to us. Mr. Nicholson looked like an older version of Mr. Conner—tan, but with a shock of silver hair.
“Good morning, girls,” Mr. Nicholson said. “I want to wish you all luck with your test. Try not to be too nervous. Just pretend it’s any other lesson.”
Heather, Callie, Jasmine, and I nodded, knowing we’d never be able to do that.
Mr. Nicholson nodded to us, turned, and walked out of the stable.
“Ready?” Mr. Conner asked.
All any of us could do was nod.
“We’ll start with dressage, then show jumping. After that, we’ll take a break before moving out to the cross-country course.”
I was glad to get dressage—my weakest area—over first.
“I’m proud of each of you,” Mr. Conner said. “I hope you realize how talented you are to even get to this point. Whether you make it or not, you are all dedicated riders. That’s more important to me than whether or not you make this team.”
Mr. Conner motioned for us to follow him outside to the arena. I let Callie, Heather, and Jasmine walk in front of me, needing one more minute with Charm. “We can do this, right, boy?” I asked Charm.
Charm blinked at me with a calming gaze. I looked at my wrist and rubbed the bracelet charms—I needed as much luck as I could get.
29
THE SPARKLE FACTOR
MR. CONNER WALKED INTO THE CENTER OF the arena and motioned for Heather, Jasmine, Callie, and me to walk our horses out to the rail.
This.
Was.
It.
I kept my eyes forward and didn’t look at anyone.
“Please take a few minutes to warm up your horses,” Mr. Conner said. “And I’ll explain to the audience about today’s testing.”
I angled Charm behind Aristocrat and we began our warm-up.
“Welcome, everyone,” Mr. Conner said. “I’m pleased that you chose to join us. First, the students will be working through dressage. Mr. Nicholson will be looking for several factors in each ride. He’ll be watching for ease and freedom of movement, lightness of the horse’s forehand, and a deep level of engagement between horse and rider.”
Callie was riding first, so Heather, Jasmine, and I trotted our horses out of the arena. I stopped Charm a few yards away—close, but not too close.
Mr. Conner didn’t need to call out the test to Callie— she knew every movement. Jack looked great and it was a near perfect ride until they made their first circle. It was a meter too big. Then, minutes later, Jack’s next circle looked a half meter too small. That wasn’t possible— maybe the circles just looked off from here?
Callie finished her test and rode out of the arena to applause. But I only needed to look at her face for a second to know that she was upset with her ride. I wanted to talk to her now, but I knew she needed a few minutes alone. Heather, Jasmine, and I approached the entrance— waiting to find out who was riding next.
“Sasha,” Mr. Conner said. “You’re up.”
I entered the arena and rode to the X. I stopped and saluted. I couldn’t give up one second of focus. When I’d imagined this moment, I thought I’d be freaking out. But instead, I was calm. I’d done everything I could to prepare. Now, it was up to Charm and me to prove it.
“Working trot to C,” Mr. Conner called. “Track right and ten-meter circle at B.”
Charm trotted forward with even steps. We made our circle and Mr. Conner directed us to do a collected canter. That wasn’t easy for Charm—or me. But I asked him to raise his neck and he arched it. Charm felt light under my hands and his stride was as short as it needed to be.
Mr. Conner asked us for a free walk, working canter on the left lead, and a twenty-meter circle. Charm’s canter was heavier than I wanted, but I shook it off and focused on the rest of the exercises. I concentrated on the turns since Charm often tried to drift. I only had to correct him through one turn. This felt like it was one of our best tests ever!
“Medium walk to X and halt,” Mr. Conner said. I stopped Charm in the center of the arena and saluted again. Charm, knowing he had to stand still, didn’t even blink until I relaxed the reins and let him walk out of the arena. Cheering erupted from the stands and I looked over my shoulder at my parents, Eric, and Paige. They were standing and clapping.
I stopped Charm a few yards out of the arena and dismounted. I hugged him, not caring that he’d cover my show coat with hair. I looked over and saw Callie walking Jack in slow circles. Still, I knew Callie around shows— she’d talk to me when she was ready.
“You were so great,” I told Charm. “I love you, boy.”
Charm blew a gentle breath into my hand. “Phase one is over. Now, we get to do all of the fun stuff. Our stuff,” I told him. “Cross-country.” Charm’s ears went forward.
“That was dressage?” Jasmine asked, riding by. “Wow.” She laughed and trotted Phoenix into the arena when Mr. Conner called her name. I just rolled my eyes and walked Charm closer to the arena. Now that my test was over, I could enjoy watching Jasmine and Heather ride.
Even though Jas had lost her rough style, her movements were too sharp. Phoenix didn’t seem to be in synch with her—he moved because he was afraid of her. Five minutes into the test, the gelding started sweating and his chest turned a s
teely gray. But Jas, always a pro, finished without any major mistakes and she exited the arena with a smile.
Heather’s dressage test was one of the best I’d ever seen her complete. Her signals were invisible. Aristocrat moved through the test as if he’d memorized it, but was still spontaneous and he flowed through every turn and circle. I looked up at the stands to watch Mr. Fox. He leaned forward in his seat, studying Heather’s test. The way he watched her made me squirm. He wasn’t appreciating her ride—he was judging her every move.
Heather finished her test and saluted. People started clapping and Heather looked into the stands. Everyone— especially Julia and Alison—was applauding.
Except for Mr. Fox.
In the seconds since Heather had finished her test, he’d managed to make a phone call. He had a hand over one ear and his phone against the other. Julia and Alison, glancing over and seeing Mr. Fox, started cheering louder and waving, trying to distract Heather from looking at her dad. But Heather had already seen Mr. Fox.
Worst dad ever much? And I didn’t even want to think about how Heather must have felt not to have her mom here. Callie had said she’d overheard Julia and Alison talking about how Mrs. Fox had decided to attend a country club party instead of Heather’s testing. Niiice.
Heather straightened in the saddle and walked Aristocrat out of the exit.
“Great ride,” I said when she passed me.
“Thanks.” Heather half smiled. “You weren’t horrible either.”
Mr. Conner stepped into the center of the arena and turned to the stands. “That concludes our dressage round. If you’ll follow me over to the larger arena, we’ll begin jumping in a few minutes.”
Jasmine and Heather trotted their horses forward and I let Charm hang back so we could walk over with Callie and Jack.
“I know you’re upset,” I said. “But every other part of your test was perfect.”
Callie shook her head. “That doesn’t matter. The circles were so off—Mr. Nicholson probably isn’t even considering me after that.”
“Yes, he is. We still have two rounds left,” I said. “Plus, Mr. Nicholson has seen you ride dressage before and he knows you can have an almost perfect round.”
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