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Sudden Rush
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The arena was buzzing, the excitement in the air, with a flurry of activity left, right and centre; and you were standing amongst it all, soaking it in, knowing that you would need it to get you through this. You could hear the commentator talking with the crowd, the sound of the heavy machinery moving the jumps out onto the arena floor, and with one deep breath, you were ready.
Puissance, meaning power, was the one event you craved for every year. Show jumping was great, but finding that one horse that had no fear, that would jump whatever you asked it to, and jump it well, that was something else altogether. You would ride as one, move as one, and make it over as one.
And if you didn't, if one of you made a mistake, you'd both clatter through the wooden wall, that had a starting height of five feet ten inches, and that was a lot of wooden bricks to land on, that was one hell of a noise, and then replay after replay would be played for all to see. It was messy when it went wrong, it was sore, and it was gutting to lose.
You needed the power to get there, to reach this level, to know your horse and work with it, and then you needed the power of each other to succeed; and knowing that you had that, you were ready to get going.
"Good luck," a familiar voice said, breaking you from your thoughts, and you turned to see that damn smirk that had gotten you into so much trouble already this competition.
Quinn Fabray was the apple of the show-jumping world's eye, every bit the perfect role-model for the rich little princesses growing up and wanting to ride, and from the very get go, your interactions had been cutting and unforgiving.
She was everything you couldn't stand, the poster girl for perfection, the one everyone loved, and despite you being a better rider, winning more and more titles and events, she still was the favourite.
"You too." You held your hand out, and she looked and it shook her head, smiling.
"I think we know each other a bit better than that by now, don't you?" she teased, and you could feel the heat on the back of your neck as she leant in to hug you.
You hated yourself for feeling so comfortable in those arms, for craving them, for craving her. You were her bit of fun on the side, and she was the unattainable, the one that would get away. She'd already ended it, she'd already called it quits, and you had accepted it willingly, but with your face pressed into her neck, your arms around her back, you so desperately wanted to retract those words that had agreed to her wishes.
You wished you had fought for her.
Pulling back, her smile still perfectly in place, she gave you another look before turning and walking away. That one look allowed you to see so much more than she probably ever wanted you to, but at least you knew you weren't the only one wondering what it would be like to continue what you two had.
You only had a moment to revel in the peace of the moment before the hustle and bustle of riders, trainers, family were being ushered out onto the arena to walk the course, and there was Finn waiting for you, and your trainer, Roz, leading you forward.
You didn't have time to think about Quinn now, you were there to win, and she certainly wasn't going to stop that. You'd need to clear her from your mind, you'd need to pretend you hadn't kissed those lips and held her while she came in your arms, and you'd need to act like none of it had ever happened.
She certainly wasn't going to be thinking about you as she rounded each corner and jumped, so you now needed to do the same. You were both there to win, and you couldn't let her stop you from doing that.
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