Horseland Chapter 10:Last Dance
"Were fools whether we dance or not,so we might as well dance."-Japanese Proverb
Note:On the advice of several reviewers I have gone away with the bold font. Is it better this way,or do you not care either way?
We had an idea. A good idea. A great idea. It would work. Easily. There was nothing that could go wrong. Not one piece was missing,not one thing unaccounted for,not one outcome we didn't see. The
plan would go through with smooth efficiency. It didn't. Sarah had thought of the plan and it was a good one. She asks Baileys parents to consider hosting a dance at Horseland. Invite some neighbor
kids. Have lights and tables and everything. Collaborate it with the public school system. Help get publicity for the stables. Help the budget-strapped schools,host an event for there students. An a
thank-you to there clients for a great summer. They liked it. They talked about it with the schools who agreed. The dance,became a fair and the adults made it a annual fair. They thanked us for the
idea. The idea blossomed a lot more then we had thought,but that was fine. Next step. Go to dance. Talk to Bailey. Get back together and boom,everything fixed. The whole talking and reconciliation
with Bailey thing would probably be harder then it sounded. But that was my problem. Chloe and Sarah couldn't help me with that. They had become excited for the dance and they were elated when
asked out by Will and Chase. I was happy for them. Yet every time I saw Will talking to Sarah at Horseland or Chloe and Chase doing something at our house. It hurt. A lot. I tried to brush it off,but it stuck. Hard.
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This was a great idea,my parents had. Well not really my parents idea. They said they got the idea from Sarah and Chloe and...Zoey. It was almost 2 months after...after Zoey and I had broke up. It
still hurt everyday. Zoey had been banned until this whole situation with the vandalism was sorted out. And guess who my father had chosen as arbiter? Me,of course. Yeah great idea. He thought that
since I knew Zoey so well I could easily decide. So he gave me until Saturday to decide. That was last Saturday. It was Friday. Do I trust Zoey? I still had feelings for her,that I admit but is it good?
Molly made things worse. In her mind her and I were already a couple. In her mind,being the key words there. I tried to avoid her,but we went to the same school and she came over everyday "to just
say hello" as she put it. She really was just trying to get me to kiss her,or hug her,or something for an hour. I could stop her,but she saw it as a big game. I hated her for it. Molly wouldn't listen and
reconciling myself with Zoey was something I was afraid to do. I have a great life,don't I?And guess what else was going to happen after the fair? A dance,for my school,and Zoey,Chloe and Sarah who
had supported Zoey all the time would be there. Hopefully Sarah and Chloe would forget about me with there dates,Will and Chase. Does everyone have a better love-life then me Probably. Zoey
wouldn't forget though. Will had given me some advice. Do what you think is best,nothing else. He had to get all mentor-like on me didn't he?Well what about the advice of my friends?I had three best
friends at school. Jake,Harold,and Nate. They had all given me widely differently advice. Jake said I should dump Zoey,because she wasn't hot enough. Jake=NO. Harold was smarter so he gave more
reasonable advice. Give Molly a chance and if not Zoey. Better yet forget about romance and stupid girls all together. Harold wasn't the most socially adept person in the world. Harold=Iffy. Then Nate
the guidance counselor,tutor,and football captain said this. Do what feels right not to them,pointing to the other kids,or this touching my head,but here pointing to my heart. I went with Nate's
=Great. So what feels right?Well I guess I could talk to Zoey about our issues. At the dance,this evening. That would be easy. No it wouldn't.
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The dance was held in a large old barn,on Horseland property. The barn was cleaned,spruced up with lights,chairs,tables,everything. Even a DJ. My parents had really gone all out. I was in my bedroom
changing out of the clothes I had worn for the fair,into more fitting clothes for a formal school dance. However I wasn't a fancy dresser so "formal" was a polo shirt and khakis. Good enough for me. Not
for Molly however. She had not arrived for the fair coming later at 5:00. She came up to my room,and without knocking,burst into my room. She looked me up and down,with a clear look of
agitation."That's what your wearing for the dance?Cheap." I ground my teeth together. She thought we were going as a couple. We were not. She thought she could tell me what to do with my life.
She would not. I walked out without answering. She didn't deserve it. The dance helped ease my anger though. It was going good and my parents,with blatant commercialization had everything
embellished with the stables logo. HORSELAND STABLES LLC,was printed on everything. LLC? Limited Liability Company? What liability did they have? Oh yeah,riding accidents. As I was bemusing the
marketing strategies of my parents and there company,guess who came in?Zoey,Chloe,and Sarah, justperfect. That's just great. I'll just go over here where no one can see me. Get some...punch?
Why's it green? What fruit is green? Kiwis. They have kiwi punch? Anyway just drink it. Hey,not that bad. Sour yet a tinge of sweetness. Why am I talking about kiwis and marketing strategies? Don't
know. There's probably a reason. A stupid reason. Anyway don't look around don't have them notice me. Okay there's no one here,but Zoey. Zoey! Where did she come from? She's only 4 feet away.
She can't see me right? Oh,oh no. She sees me. Shes coming over. Closer,closer,closer. Don't look at her, look the other way. Act mature,calm,cool,collected. "Hey,Bailey." Damn it,she saw me! "Oh,hey
Zoey. Hows it going?" Act nonchalant. "Fine. It's nice to see you again after...after...well,you know." Yah,I know. You know,she knows,they know,everyone knows. "Well...nice to see you again. You
too." She walked away. Wow,she looks great...hey stop it! Stupid brain.
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I was having a great time. Everyone else was too. Except for Bailey. And Zoey. Well I guess,good ole,Will is going to have to fix this. Because I knew. I knew Molly's dirty little secret. How? I was
suspicious of Molly. After Zoey and Bailey got together, Molly became increasingly hostile to not just Zoey,but everyone else. She started to act just like...well just like Zoey used to act. And Zoey began
to act just like Molly did. Weird. It's like everyone in our group has to fit a certain predetermined niche. Like a child's cartoon or something. Ha, child's cartoon! Like that's anything like our life. Well how
do I do this?Wait,that's it! I had an idea. It was something that seemed like it was from a movie,but it was an idea an it could work. First I had to find Sarah. She was over by the entrance talking. I
called her over. "Hey Will. How's it going? Fine,sweetie(that's for my first reviewer,Selena). Can I ask for your help with something? What?Do you know the DJ?" Sarah stopped for a second. "The DJ?"
She frowned. "Nope. But Chloe doe's. Why?" I didn't have time to explain,so I said thanks,kissed her on the cheek,and left. Chloe wasn't as easy to find,but find her I did. "Hey Will! How's it going?"
Chase called happily over to me. "Hey Will. Hi Chase,hi Chloe. I need to ask you a favor,Chloe. Sure what? You know the DJ right? Um...yeah! He's in my art class. Rick. Why?" Good. "Is he your friend? I
guess so?Sure,why? Can you ask him to play this" I handed her a disc "later on tonight?" Chloe looked at the disc then back at me. "Will. What's your idea?" What?She thinks it's stupid? Probably.
"Well I was thinking that we...kind of... put a slow song on...and have him...sort of dedicate it to Zoey and Bailey. Then they have to dance with each other...they can't say no in front of everyone. They
dance and well I hoped they'd reconcile and that be it." Chloe looked down at the disc,then at Chase,me,then back at the disc. "It's not horrible. Fine I'll do it. I just hope it works." I smiled. "Don't
worry. Have any of our ideas not worked before?" They looked at me. "Well not horribly." They stared at me. " damaging." They glared at me. "Well we fixed it okay. Just trust me. Kay?"
...
I hoped Will was right. The plan was well...something I could see happening in a movie or on T.V. But in real life? I didn't know. Why am I worried? I pull off schemes and plans with Zoey all the time.
Well that was before Molly did what everyone knows she did. Yet still denies it. Sarah had mentioned how it had reminded her of how Zoey and I had once acted. Where we really so bad? I guess so.
Yet I always was somewhat more caring than Zoey. Always a little nicer,a little more mature,a little more careful. I watched out for Zoey,even though we were the same age. I guess that I have to
watch out for her again. And who knows,maybe this plan will go through with ease and smooth predictability. What could go wrong? What could?
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(This is long isn't it?) "Hey Rick." Rick turned to his right. "Oh,hey Chloe. You need something?" She put a disc in his hand "play this" and a piece of paper "after saying this." Rick looked at the CD,then
the paper. He turned to me. "Is this one of your crazy schemes Chloe?" Technically yes. "Please Rick it's for my sister,Zoey. You know how much I care about Zoey." Rick frowned and leaned back. "Well
you do love and take care of your sister Chloe. And since I'm your friend I'll do it." I was overjoyed and hugged him. "Oh,thank you,thank you,thank you. Your the best Rick." Rick blushed and said "I try
my hardest."
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So that's there plan? Pretty stupid. Yet it could work. And I couldn't allow them to carry through with it. Not at all. So I just work some charm on Rick. He'll bend,then break. Easily. "So Rick,what was
Chloe talking about with you earlier?" Rick looked at me uncomfortably. Probably because I was in his space. I didn't care. "Oh,it was nothing. She just wanted me to play a song for her." I knew there
was more. A lot more. "Oh,Rick I'm sure there was more to it than that. A lot more. You can show me. Beside,I'm your friend right?" Rick seemed uncomfortable,yet willing. He showed me the paper and
told me Chloe and Will's plan. So that's there plan? Stupid. Just. Like. Them. "Oh,Rick I'm so sorry my friends dragged you into this." Rick was confused. Good. "What do you mean?" Now for the truth.
Or my version of it. "Rick you now I'm dating Bailey right? " He doesn't. "No. I thought he wasn't dating anyone since his break-up with Zoey a month ago." Right,yet let's say it's wrong. "Well he is.
He's dating me. And Zoey can't control her jealousy. So give me the paper,let me put my name instead of Zoey's,and you say Bailey told you to do it. Okay,friend?" Rick looked at the disc,then me,then
back at the disc. And he gave it to me.
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"Zoey,just come out to the dance floor please." Zoey looked up at Sarah and Chloe then back at the ground. "I don't feel like it." Sarah frowned. Way to chicken out Zoe. Well I don't blame her. "Please
Zoe,Chloe set everything up. Bailey will have to dance with you." Zoey rubbed her hands nervously,then sat up. "Well,why keep him waiting? That's the Zoey I know." Oh,if only we knew.
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Molly was watching me. Get out of here. No I can't say that. Get lost? No. Well maybe...oh dear God,is that Zoey? Damn. Well maybe...why'd the music stop? "Sorry for the interruption folks,but we
have a special request for a slow song. Bailey Handler dedicates this next song to his girl,Molly Washington." I did what,now! Molly wasn't slow to approach me and pull me close for a slow song.
Hmm,Lennie Niehaus Doe Eyes,good choice. Wait no,what the heck did Molly or Zoey or Chloe or Sarah or Will or Chase do? I didn't know. I did know however is that Zoey heard what Rick said. And
she saw me being grabbed by Molly. She began to cry...again. I hate it when anyone,especially a girl cries. And Zoey was. And then she ran.
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Will turned to Sarah. "What happened with the plan? It just blew up in our face. Why does that always happen? Why does something always go wrong?" Sarah looked at Will. "I don't know okay. Well
look there goes Bailey to talk to Zoey. I hope that he fixes this. Because I can't do anything more." Will looked at Sarah then at Molly. "She's following Bailey. Well go stop her and...and I'll have to talk
to her. We all have to talk to her." Will nodded and went to stop Molly. Good luck Bailey. Your gonna need it.
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Well that is great. What am I going to say to Zoey? What indeed. Well here we go. She was sitting on a fence outside and crying. Can I do what I did a month ago here? I hoped I could. "Zoey. Zoey
it's me Bailey. Why are you crying Zoey?" Why'd I ask her? Zoey laughed. "Really Bailey? Why? My God,what did I ever see in you?" She continued laughing as I sat down beside her on the fence. She
turned away from me and let her hair cover her face."Why'd you kiss Molly?" Why,indeed? "I didn't. Molly grabbed me and sort of forced herself on me. I didn't want to kiss her." Zoey looked at me
hopefully. "You didn't? Of course not. Because I have you." I leaned into to Zoey,but she turned away and looked at the lake. "Bailey if we let one little incident,one accident like this one with Molly
break us up...well how are we supposed to stay together when things get tough?" Zoey looked at me with a cold seriousness. What do I do? One thing. " I don't care about later or the others or
what might happen. I care about here and now. I don't care what happened. I care about you Zoey." Zoey turned to me with her sweet smile and obviously trying not to cry. Girls dig the emotional
stuff. I put my arm around her and leaned in. Best. Dance. Ever.