He picked it up and answered.

"Hello?"

I waited patiently, but trying to figure out who it was and what the conversation was about.

"Slow down Mom, I can't understand you," Adam said in a concerned voice.

I was starting to get worried when Adam sat up in bed.

"Wait, what? He's in the hospital?"

Adam's face fell.

"Ok Mom, I'll catch a flight tonight and come over as soon as I can."

Oh my god. Something terrible had happened.

"I don't care if it's late. I'm coming. By."

Adam got out of bed in a rush.

I was almost too worried to ask, but i finally founds the words.

"What's going on?"

He looked up at me with pain in his eyes.

"Sean was in a car accident and is hurt badly. He's in the hospital," he said.

"Are you leaving tonight?"

He looked at me apologetically.

"Yeah. They need me. I'm sorry Livi."

I was just as worried about Sean as he was.

"Then I'll come with you," I said stubbornly.

"Livi, don't. I'll be gone for the next two days and I think you need to stay and get ready for the show in Chicago since we're leaving Thursday."

"There will be other shows Adam. I care about you and I care about your brother. Why won't you let me come along?"

He dropped his eyes from mine, trying to find an answer that wouldn't hurt my feelings.

"Because my mom is pretty shaken right now. And. . . you dad told my dad that you and I were going out and when my mom heard, she wasn't very happy. I don't think now is a good time."

I felt like I'd been slapped in the face.

"Oh," I said quietly.

Adam was hurting and it was written all over his face. He didn't want to tell me this. Especially not now.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked hurt.

"I don't know," he said painfully.

That wasn't a good enough answer for me at the time. I hurried out of his room and closed the door behind me. I crawled in bed, hurt and miserable.

I could hear him packing on the other side of the wall. But not for long, because I soon fell asleep, with tears rolling down my eyes.

I woke up the next morning, feeling absolutely miserable. We'd had a fight and I wouldn't see him again for another two days to say sorry.

I started to crawl out of bed when I saw a note on the table beside me.

Sorry about last night.

I came to your room last night

to apologize but you were asleep

So I gave you a kiss and headed out.

I'll be back Wednesday night in time for the show.

I'll call you tonight.

Love, Adam

His note made me feel a little better but I was still mad at myself at how I reacted.

I got out of bed quickly and went to take care of the horses.

I was definitely going to be late for school today.

When I was finally on the way to school, I was over forty-five minutes late. My first period teacher already hated me and this wasn't going to help.

I pulled in the parking lot and hurried inside.

When I got to class and sat down, I gave a lame excuse to my teacher, and got my book out.

Angela was sitting beside me and wrote a note to me.

Where's Adam? And why are you late?

I answered her and passed it back.

His older brother was in a car accident last night

and he flew down there. But don't tell anyone

because I don't want it to get around school

without him knowing.

When she read it, her eyes grew wide and then she nodded.

Ok. Where were ya'll yesterday?

I just smiled.

Playing hooky. We went to the lake for the day.

She laughed when she read this.

Nice. How is Dawson?

When I read this, my face fell. Of course she didn't know and I couldn't blame her for asking. She was just cared for me and wanted to know. They would find out sooner or later so I decided to tell her.

We took him to surgery but he didn't

Make it out. Dawson is dead.

I watched her read it and her face fell as well. She felt horrible for asking.

I'm sorry Livi. I didn't mean upset you.

It's okay. Don't worry about it.

She decided to throw away the note after that.

I went through my morning classes, bored without Adam. I went ahead and got Adam and my make-up work and the work we'd miss when we leave for the show. One thing was for sure, we were going to be behind in school and would have lots of work to do.

I finally got to lunch when everyone asked where Adam was. I just told them that he had a family emergency and had to go home for a few days.

Even Jessica asked me about Adam but that was because she still liked him.

I finally made it through my last classes of the day and headed out to my car.

I was driving towards the barn when my phone rang. I knew it was Adam from the ID and I picked it up quickly.

"Hey," I said worried.

"Hey," he said quietly.

"How is he?"

There was a pause.

"Not good. They say he has a few broken ribs, and his right arm and right leg are broken from where he got hit."

It took me a moment to breath.

"Oh my god Adam. Is he going to be okay?"

I was worried now.

"Yeah. They think so. He's just really banged up. His face looks horrible. I'm glad you didn't come because Sean doesn't look good right now." He paused for a moment. "And Livi, I'm sorry about the other night. Really, I am. I should have told you sooner about what happened."

I took a deep breath.

"No. It's okay. I understand."

"Ok. Well, I have to go but I promise to call you tomorrow."

"I miss you," I said sadly. That's all I could say at this point.

"I miss you too," he said.

"By."

"By Livi."

This was the first time Adam and I had been apart since he came and I was hurting every minute of it. I hadn't realized just how much I was attached to him. No, not attached. It was how much he was apart of me. When he left, he took a part of me with him. I missed him so much.

I made it to the barn and started my afternoon lessons.

I was helping a little girl saddle her pony when Jessica came up. I was almost knocked off my feet I was so surprised.

"Jessica, what are you doing here?" I asked wide-eyed.

"I'm here to ride Garnet. After all, I need to get a little practice in before the show in Chicago,"she said with a fake smile.

What in the world? Since when does Jessica come out here?

"Well, I don't know if Garnet is ready for that show. It's a pretty high level," I said trying to be nice.

"That's why I've been paying you to train her and keep her in shape," she said annoyed. "I'm going to need a lesson this afternoon."

I was getting irritated with her. Why does she have to be so demanding. Just because she has money, she thinks the entire world revolves around her.

"I'm sorry Jessica but I'm booked all this afternoon. And I have to ride my own horse tonight too to get ready for the show."

She was mad now.

"Can't you school your horse while your giving me a lesson?"

I was so mad by this point that I about exploded.

"No, I can't Jessica! If I want to get anything accomplished with Flint today I have to give my full attention to him. I'm sorry but you will just have to ride her by yourself in the outdoor ring."

With that I walked off and went out to teach my lesson. She obviously was angry with me but I didn't care. It was about time someone showed her that she doesn't get everything she wants.

Finally, I was done for the day, and Jessica had gone home. I decided to get on Flint and do some flatwork with him.

He was doing really well and I decided to finish early.

I took care of all the horses and then turned the radio on. I was going to be here all night. I had to clean my saddles and bridles for the show. And not to mention millions of other things. I wanted to get the hard stuff out of the way tonight.

After I was done cleaning, I started to load everything in the trailer. That way tomorrow I could just ride and then get Flint ready to go.

It was about ten o'clock when I finally pulled out of the barn.

When I got home, I grabbed something to eat and started to get some homework out of the way. I was up 'till about twelve working on schoolwork when I fell asleep.

And I couldn't blame myself. I was exhausted.

I ended up getting five hours of sleep. Not what I was wanting. But this is how it goes when you have horseshows.

The rest of my day came and went as a blur. I went to school, taught some lessons, and was exhausted!

I jumped Flint and raised the jumps higher than usual. This was our first show together, and this was the first time I had ever competed at a level this high in my lifetime.

I was amazed at how well he handled the jumps and I took him into the barn, feeling excited and not as worried anymore.

Jessica had came to the barn today and I turned her down again. The only reason she was coming out here and the only reason she was even going to this show was because of Adam. She wasn't giving up.

I still had lots of things to do tonight since we were leaving early in the morning.

I started to bathe Flint, and then trimmed him up and oiled his feet. I put tons of stuff over his coat and in his main and tail to make him presentable for the show.

Again, I was out at the barn late.

I was about to leave when I saw a car pull up. I was confused beyond belief. And then I saw Adam step out of the car.

I ran outside and gave him a big hug.

As soon as i had touched him again, i felt whole. I know that sounds weird but that's the only way I can describe the feeling. I was in his arms again and it felt so good.

We just stood there, holding on to each other for a while. Then I finally spoke.

"I missed you so much," I said with relief.

"I missed you too," he said with a smile.

He started to kiss me and I wrapped my arms around his neck. It had felt so long since we had seen each other and we didn't want to let go of one another.

Then taxi driver set his things aside and drove off. Obviously, Adam had already paid him and he was ready to get out of here.

We just stood there in the darkness, the light from the barn glowing. I had missed everything about him. His beautiful face, his voice, his smile, his smell. I was more that delighted to be in his arms again.

And Adam felt the same way because I could tell he didn't want to let me go either.

"Well, lets get to the house. We have a lot to do tonight if we're leaving in the morning," he said with a smile.

I drove home, the whole time holding his hand and glancing over at him, not wanting to have to look away.

We went upstairs and started packing a suitcase. I also had to pack my clothes for the show and a multiple of other stuff.

It was a little past twelve when we both went to sleep.

Even though I was tired, I was excited like I always was before a show. And a little nervous as well.

I drifted off into sleep, knowing that I better enjoy it because I wouldn't get much more of it.