Chapter 1
"Just keep going, a little further!" Kady was on her three mile mark when she made a dramatic fall to soft grass.
"What did I tell you, there is no way I am going to be able to make track!" Kady rasped, trying to gain a normal breathing pattern.
"Oh whatever! You could try cross country, that wouldn't be to bad." Becca said, trying, but not succeeding in encouraging Kady. She could never quite understand why her friends would not give up on the stupid notion of getting her on some teem at school, their efforts were pointless.
"Becca why are you and Hailey trying so hard? You know I don't have time whatsoever to join any teem or clubs at school." She said as Becca helped her up. "Kady you need to try something different, you can't always have a horse as a team mate." Becca and Hailey had this argument with Kady ever since they started high school. Kady was always at the barn. It was her safe haven. She didn't mind that her friends were getting upset with her for not getting out more, she did find it quite amusing though.
"I like having two to a team, there isn't that much pressure involved. Besides it really isn't that big of a deal. You have your running, Hailey has her swimming, and I have my horseback riding. Don't worry about me. It wasn't that bad last year and you know it." Kady was starting to make her way to the parking lot. Even though she was a sophmore she was old for her grade. At sixteen she had her drivers license, but she couldn't drive with friends in the car. Becca was annoyed and ready to come up with a bunch of reasons, but couldn't quite get to it before she spotted her boyfriend in the parking lot.
"Hailey and I both think that you run away to the barn way to much, you need to get out and meet some athletic guys. We know how much you want to date. Don't get annoyed with us, we just care about your well being." Becca finished with a smile.
"I'll see you tomorrow Becca. You and Jeff have a good date tonight. You will have to tell me how it turns out." Kady smiled at Jeff through the open car window, gave Becca a hug, and jumped into her jeep.
Kady was on her way home, and the barn, which was situated behind her house, when she spotted vans pulling into her street. Her mom had told her there was a new family moving next door. Kady wasn't excited to have company close by. There was a reason behind living in the middle of nowhere. As she passed by, she spotted a guy staring at her. She was sure he couldn't see through her darkly tinted windows, but as she passed by he squinted in her opened window, gave a smile and a wave. He has no idea what he's in for. Kady thought when she smiled and waved back in return. He can't be seriously moving next door. He looks like he's from some far away city, country or whatever. What the heck is he doing in a small place like Tennessee? He is pretty cute though. Ugh whatever Kady! Stop kidding yourself he is totally out of your league. No way would he be interested in you. Just act cool and collected. Sarcasm is the key; keep yourself in check. Kady always had arguments with herself, sometimes she would zone out in school or even when she was talking to people. It was a natural thing. She came up with the idea, no one could hurt you as long as you stayed in your own head. She learned a lot of things last year during her bad break up with one of the guys who was on the football team, and who was naturally part of the in crowd. It hurt her, yes, but it wasn't as bad as she thought, it gave her a good outlook on herself. She was surprised when he waved her down so he could talk to her. Oh come on! Seriously why can't you just let me drive by, just because we live close to each other doesn't mean we have to be best buddies. Kady why are being such a jerk already? You haven't even met the freaking guy and your already starting to freak out!
"Hey! I just thought I should introduce myself because you know we live so close and I am new to Tennesse." Is he for real? Ugh please don't hold out your hand and say you name, I just want to get home to the barn.
"My name is Marcus Rain." He held out his hand through the window, which she took and smiled.
"My name is Kady Dale." She knew now why she wasn't looking forward to meeting him. He was charming. She didn't need charming right now, she didn't want to take another chance with it.
"Its nice to know I have a person close to my age near by, I thought I would be out hear home alone." Give me a break. He did sound pretty sincere though. NO! Kady don't fall for it stay strong, be cool.
" Yeah, it does get a little lonely out here sometimes. What do you mean by home alone? Don't you have parents?" She really wanted to know how old this guy was!
"My parents like to travel, so they think I am responsible enough to stay home alone all the time. I must admit it does get lonely though." Marcus looked down at his feet, his face concentrated like he was figuring out some hard math problem.
" Well you sound somewhat like me, my dad's a musician and my mom's a nurse. My older brothers and sister are all in college, so I'm usually home alone as well." Why did you just tell him that?
"Well then I guess we will be hanging out quite a bit." He said with a smile. Wow, guess who's all Mr. Confident. "Uhh yeah I guess we will. I'll talk to you later, I need to get home and start on homework." Or take a long trail ride.
"Oh yeah we will, definitely!" He said with a little too much enthusiasm, thought Kady. She put her car in drive and sped down the road toward home.
