Paige kept packing her shoes into her suitcase. “But guess what? You don’t have to watch a phone to make it ring. You should do something to distract yourself.”
I nodded and got up off my bed, tossing my phone on the comforter and looking at its dark screen one last time. “You’re right. I really do need to check to be sure I’ve got everything. Mom and Dad will be here—”
Riiinngg!
“Omigodomigod!” I dashed across the carpet and grabbed my phone, almost dropping it.
“Hello?” I answered, barely able to get out the word.
“Hi, Sasha. It’s Mr. Conner. Mr. Nicholson has informed me of his decision. I need to see you in my office now, all right?”
“Okay. Yes. Okay. Thank you.”
I closed the phone and clutched it, staring at Paige. “This is it. I’m either on the YENT or I’m not.”
I started to sit down, but Paige reached over and pulled me up. “Go. Right now. You’ve been waiting for this answer for months. Sasha, either way, you did your best and you know it. Go get your answer.”
I nodded, taking a deep breath. “You’re right. Okay. I need to know. Going now.”
I walked out of Winchester, forcing myself not to take the long way. But I wished the walk took longer than five minutes. Being in limbo—did I make it or not? —was almost easier than this walk to his office. In minutes, I’d have an answer. No gray area. A yes or a no.
Heather and Callie were standing outside Mr. Conner’s closed door, just staring at it.
“I can’t go in,” Callie whispered. “I’m too scared.”
Heather nodded, not even trying to fake nonchalance.
“I almost don’t want to know,” I said.
The three of us stood there, waiting for someone to make a move.
“Oh, go in already, losers,” said a voice behind us. Jasmine pushed her way between Callie and me and knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Mr. Conner called.
Jasmine opened his door and walked into the office, taking a seat.
Barely breathing, I sat next to Callie.
“Thanks for coming,” Mr. Conner said. “I called you in as soon as I spoke with Mr. Nicholson. He knew you were all eager to hear his decision.”
No one spoke. We couldn’t.
Mr. Conner looked at each of us. “I don’t want to drag this out, but I do want to tell you how proud I am. You’re each talented and hardworking riders and without those qualities, you never would have made it this far. The YENT can only take so many riders, but no matter what, you all should be proud of yourselves.”
Five minutes ago, I hadn’t wanted to hear the decision. Now I was dying. Spill it already!
“I want to remind you that any rider who is chosen must attend summer training camp,” Mr. Conner said. “It will be intense and demanding—much more than our midwinter break clinic.”
Say. It. Now.
“I’m going to announce Mr. Nicholson’s decision,” Mr. Conner said. “Starting with Heather.”
She swallowed when he said her name. I crossed my fingers for her—something I never would have done last fall. But I didn’t want to see her lose Aristocrat.
“Heather,” Mr. Conner said. “You’ve made the team.”
Heather covered her mouth with her hand. “Omigod—um. Omigod! Wow.”
“Congrats!” Callie said.
“That’s awesome,” I said. “Congratulations.”
Heather nodded at us. Jasmine didn’t even look in Heather’s direction. Color came back to Heather’s face and I knew the relief wasn’t just about making the team. She’d secured her future at Canterwood and she’d kept Aristocrat.
“Jasmine,” Mr. Conner said. “You’ll also be joining Heather on the team.”
Jas just smiled and nodded as if she’d known all along.
Callie and I looked at each other. We’d both known she’d make it.
Mr. Conner’s eyes settled on me. Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry, I repeated to myself.
“Sasha,” Mr. Conner said. “Congratulations. You’re a member of the YENT.”
“I knew it!” Callie squealed. She hugged me and I started laughing, trying not to cry.
“I made it!” I said. “I really made the YENT. No. Way.”
I flopped back into my chair. Everything Charm and I had worked for had happened. We were both members of the Youth Equestrian National Team. I wanted to tell Eric, Paige, Mom, and Dad right now!
Then I remembered Callie. I grabbed her hand and looked expectantly at Mr. Conner, waiting for him to say her name. Mr. Conner looked down at his desk and then back up at Callie.
“Callie,” Mr. Conner said, pausing. “Your rides were excellent and Mr. Nicholson was impressed.”
I looked over at Callie, smiling at her.
Mr. Conner shook his head. “But I’m sorry. You did not make the team.”
What?!
Oh.
My.
God.
Callie just stared at Mr. Conner. She didn’t move— not even a blink. Her hand went limp in mine.
“I’m sorry, Callie,” Mr. Conner said. “Mr. Nicholson put a lot of thought into his decision and he ultimately decided that you just weren’t ready. He’ll be looking to add a rider or two in the fall and he wants to watch you test again.”
Callie finally nodded. “Okay. Thanks.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Mr. Conner looked at Callie—he knew she wasn’t okay.
“You may leave now,” Mr. Conner said. “Thank you for working hard this year and I hope you have a good summer. If any of you”—he looked at Callie—“need to talk about this, please call or e-mail me.”
We got up and shuffled out of his office. Jasmine walked away, not even bothering to manage a “sorry” to Callie.
Callie sat on the bench outside of Mr. Conner’s office. Heather and I sat on either side of her. Callie took a deep breath.
“Callie,” I said. “I’m so sorry. Mr. Nicholson made a huge mistake.”
Heather leaned forward so she could look at Callie and see me. “You did the best you could,” Heather said. “You practiced as hard as all of us.”
“But I didn’t,” Callie said, her voice calm. “That’s why I’m not losing it right now. I didn’t work hard—not even close.”
Heather’s eyes connected with mine for a second.
“What are you talking about?” Heather asked. “That’s so not true.”
I shook my head. “You worked hard.”
“I did practice, but not like I needed to,” Callie said. “I knew for months about tryouts and I let myself get distracted by other things.”
Heather, sighing, stood up. Her face was flushed and she paused before looking at Callie. “You’re allowed to have a life, you know,” she said. “Not everything has to be about riding. And take that from someone who’s just figuring it out.”
Heather walked away, leaving Callie and me alone. Callie and I sat in silence for a few minutes before Callie turned to me.
“I got too caught up in Jacob,” Callie said. “And I was afraid that would happen from the second I started to like him.”
I was quiet, knowing Callie needed to get it out.
“I didn’t work hard enough,” Callie said. “I just didn’t.”
I shifted on the wooden bench, turning sideways to look at her. “You don’t have be so calm. It’s okay to be upset.”
Callie shrugged. “But I did this. I chose to be late to practice and I made the decisions not to ride more on weekends. I can’t blame Mr. Nicholson for not picking me when I didn’t deserve a spot on the team.”
“I think you’re being too hard on yourself. Heather was right, which is kind of weird but true. We’re all learning how to juggle things. It doesn’t make you any less dedicated of a rider if you want to hang out with your boyfriend instead of riding every minute of every day.”
“But I used to be so focused,” Callie said. She ran her fingers th
rough her hair. “The old Callie would break up with Jacob right now, ride all summer, and ensure she got a spot on the YENT this fall. But I’m still crazy about Jacob and I don’t want to give him up.”
“You shouldn’t,” I said. “I love that you’re so happy with him. You deserve to be happy.”
Callie smiled. “Thanks. And I do want to figure out how to handle things so I can make the YENT, but riding isn’t the only thing in my life anymore.”
“You’ll make it,” I promised. “And you know I’m here for you in the meantime.”
“I know. We’ll probably see more of each other on iChat than we have in the past couple of weeks.”
We hugged and Callie checked the time on her phone. “I’ve got to go finish packing before my parents get here.”
“Yeah, me too.” I shook my head. “Our last day on campus as seventh graders. Wow.”
Callie laughed. “There were a few times this year that I didn’t think we’d see eighth grade.”
“No kidding. For a while, I wasn’t sure if we’d survive Heather, Jas, or the Belles.”
We laughed and Callie stood up. “You have to update me every day from YENT camp,” Callie said. “Or we won’t be friends anymore.”
I crossed my heart with a Princesses Rule–tipped finger. “Promise. You’ll be sick of my updates.”
We hugged again and Callie walked away. When she was gone, I stood in the aisle, processing everything that had happened. Callie was going to be okay—she had Jacob. And me. She’d make the team in the fall.
And I’d already made it. I was going to YENT camp!
I hurried down the aisle, almost running into Julia and Alison.
“We heard from Heather,” Alison said. “Congratulations.”
Julia nodded slowly. “Yeah. I’m glad you made it.”
“Thanks,” I said. “And I hope things work out for you this summer so you’ll be riding in the fall.”
The girls nodded.
“We will be,” Alison said. “You’ll see.”
I had no idea what that meant, but I didn’t doubt it for a second.
They walked away and I left the stable, barely able to stand not being able to tell someone right now. Paige had been there for me since the first day of school and she deserved to hear the news first. Then, I’d go find Eric. This time, the distance between the stable and Winchester never felt so long.
33
CONFESSION
“PAAAAIIGGE!” I CALLED, PUSHING OPEN OUR dorm room door. “Guess what?”
“You made it!” Paige squealed, throwing a handful of confetti in the air. Pink, purple, and silver bits of paper rained down on me and fell at my feet.
“Did someone already tell you?” I asked.
Paige grinned. “I just knew. You don’t ride like Sasha Silver and not make the YENT.”
I mock-rolled my eyes. “Puh-lease.”
“You won’t roll your eyes after you see this,” Paige said. She reached behind a big box on her desk and presented a cupcake with a candle stuck in the middle. The cupcake’s pink frosting was swirled into a tip. Clear, diamondlike sprinkles made the icing glitter.
“Paige! It’s gorgeous. You so didn’t have to do that.”
Paige handed me the cupcake and took one for herself. “I wanted to. I’m just mad that Livvie wouldn’t let me light the candle in here.”
I licked at the frosting. “Tell the truth.”
“What?” Paige blinked innocently.
“Livvie wouldn’t let you give a lighted cupcake to me. She thought I’d start a fire somehow.”
Paige shrugged. “That might have been true.”
We giggled and ate our delicious victory cupcakes.
“YENT camp is going to be tough, huh?” Paige asked.
I tossed my cupcake paper in the trash. “For sure. Mr. Conner said it would be harder than the clinic.”
“You’re going to need a break after that,” Paige said. “Sooo… I was thinking that you could come stay with me for a couple of weeks this summer after YENT camp. We could hang out in the city and you could come to the Teen Cuisine set.”
“Really?! I’d love that! We’d have so much fun!”
Paige smiled. “I know. I’m already planning lots of stuff for us to do.”
“This is going to be the best summer ever,” I said.
“For sure!” Paige said. She looked at the wall clock and her eyes widened. “My parents will be here in fifteen minutes.”
While she finished packing, I grabbed my phone and texted Eric. Meet me @ crtyrd now?
BRT.
“Be back in a few minutes,” I told Paige.
I walked to the courtyard, unable to stop smiling. The campus had never looked so gorgeous—the grass surrounding the courtyard was green and lush, the sunlight bounced off the water fountains, and the pink, red, yellow, and purple tulips that had been closed for weeks had opened, splashing color everywhere.
But the best sight was Eric waiting by the fountain. He turned, and when he saw me, he knew. I ran up to him and threw my arms around him.
“I knew you’d make it,” he said, lifting me off my feet and swinging me around. “I’m so happy for you!”
“I’m pretty happy too,” I said, catching my breath as he lowered me to the ground. “I really made it.”
“I never doubted it,” Eric said. “This is the best reason ever for you to leave the advanced team. I’m so proud of you, Sash.”
Eric took my hand and we sat at the edge of the fountain. “What about everyone else?” he asked. “Who made it?”
I sighed, still feeling sad for Callie. “Heather and Jasmine made it. Callie didn’t.”
Eric slumped a little. “Oh, wow. Poor Callie. That’s awful. I know how much she wanted it.”
“She was upset, but she knows what she has to do to make it this fall. We’re going to chat and text all summer and I think she’ll want it even more after she hears about YENT camp.”
“That’s right,” Eric said. “YENT camp. You’ll become even more of a superstar rider this summer.”
I smiled. “And my boyfriend’s going to become a famous horse trainer.”
“We’re both going to have great summers,” he said. “And we’ll have to iChat a lot—I want to see you.”
“Me too.”
Eric’s phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket. “Hey, Mom. Okay. Sure. See you in a minute.”
Eric closed his phone and turned to me. “They’re here to pick me up.”
We stood. “Have an amazing summer,” I said in Eric’s ear as he wrapped me in a hug.
“You too, Sash.”
Eric leaned in to give me one last kiss and squeezed my hand. “Text you later.”
I watched him walk away, feeling a million emotions about Eric and YENT camp. I’d miss Eric, but I knew we’d talk every day. YENT camp would be intense and I was nervous that I wouldn’t be ready for it. But being scared about going to YENT camp was better than being comfortable at Briar Creek all summer.
I reached for my phone to see if Mom and Dad were almost here. I was dying to tell them.
“Sasha,” someone called.
I looked up and saw Jacob walking toward me. One of his black Chucks was untied and his T-shirt was wrinkled. His green eyes looked worried.
“You heard about Callie,” I said. “I’m so sorry. She’s going to be okay though.”
Jacob stopped in front of me. “I know. I feel awful that she didn’t make it.”
“We’ll be there for her,” I said. “And she’s so happy to have you—”
“Sasha, stop.” Jacob shook his head. “This isn’t about Callie.”
“What?”
Jacob’s eyes locked on mine.
“What?” I looked at him, confused. “Just tell me.”
He took a deep breath. “Sasha, I got the e-mail you wrote me. I got it a few weeks ago. I tried to forget about it, I really did.”
The e-mail.
&nbs
p; The e-mail I’d sent to Jacob before my kiss with Eric, where I’d confessed that I still liked him and wondered if we could try again. He’d never responded, so I thought it had been lost in cyberspace until Violet taunted me that she had a copy. She’d sent Jacob the intercepted e-mail.
I was not hearing this. “Don’t—” I started to say, but Jacob stepped closer.
“I like Callie,” he said, his eyes searching my face. “But—”
“But what?” I asked, barely able to get enough breath to ask.
The scared look on Jacob’s face vanished. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”
All I could do was stare at him. This had to be a dream. Jacob was not saying this. Not now. The rainbow of tulips swirled around us.
“Callie’s a great girl,” Jacob said. “And I care about her. But I don’t think about her the way I think about you. I messed up, Sasha. I didn’t see it before… but now I do.”
After everything that had happened—Jacob breaking up with me, liking Eric, losing Callie, almost messing things up with Eric and getting Callie back—now Jacob was confessing that he wanted me back? After the worst couple of months ever, everything had finally fallen into place. Things between Eric and me were perfect . Callie—I mean, it had taken forever for us to become friends again. If she found out—
“Sasha?” Jacob asked. He reached out to me, but I shook my head. Tears made Jacob blurry.
“I can’t deal with this right now,” I choked out. I backed away a couple of steps and then turned and did the only thing I could think to do: I spun around and ran out of the courtyard, leaving Jacob staring after me.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Twenty-two-year-old Jessica Burkhart is a writer from New York City. Like Sasha, she’s crazy about horses, lip gloss, and all things pink and sparkly. Before she started writing, Jess was an equestrian and had a horse like Charm. To watch Jess’s vlogs and read her blog, visit www.jessicaburkhart.com.
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