2.
Evie turned and looked at her friend Bridget in surprise and admiration.
"Looks like you've done more than a little riding." She said.
Bridget Smiled and shrugged.
"Okay you caught me," she chuckled, "Shimmer and I have won a few competitions."
"I'd say so," said Evie, "Why didn't you tell me?"
Bridget sighed.
"I was worried that if you knew it might affect our friendship." Bridget confessed
Evie smiled and placed a hand on her friend's shoulder.
"You worried about nothing," said Evie smiling, "You and I will always be friends, all this means is that I have one more reason to be proud of you."
"The Saddlebags have all the luck," grumbled Vanessa, "Friends with an international champion."
Evie rolled her eyes.
"Vanessa, Maxine is waiting!" she said.
The girls looked over and saw Maxine tapping her finger on her watch. Without another word they hurried off to their dressage lesson.
#############
The next day after school Matt, Evie, Risa, and Bridget were all over at Risa and Evie's place. they were all studying the same subject in school and had decided to study together.
According to Risa and Evie, Lisa's tests were murder.
Lisa just rolled her eyes and claimed they were exaggerating.
After an hour of studying, they all took a break with some of Lisa's homemade pizza.
"Hey, Evie," said Bridget, "Principal Martin told me that she Invited the kids from the clan to attend the Willow Creek High dance tomorrow night. Are you going to come."
Evie nodded,
"Risa and I already have our dresses picked out!" she replied then she turned to Matt.
"That reminds me, Matt, you're coming too, right?"
"Yeah," nodded Matt, "but I'll probably be there stag though."
"What?!" exclaimed Evie in surprise, "I thought for sure that you would be going with Nina Waller?"
"So did I," Replied Matt sighing sadly, "That is… until I caught her lip locking with Rob Taylor in the second-floor supply closet last week."
Evie and Risa cringed, groaned, and shook their heads.
"First girl I ever like liked and she turns out to be a two-timing rat." Matt half-muttered
"I am so sorry," Risa said, "you didn't deserve that."
"Yeah," said Evie, "It's Nina's loss."
"Thanks, guys," said Matt
"Hey," said Evie, suddenly getting an idea, "Why don't you go with Bridget?"
"What?!" both Matt and Bridget said in unison
"Well why not?" asked Evie, "Neither one of you have dates."
"Actually," said Bridget awkwardly, "Travis Howard asked me during homeroom."
At this news, Evie visibly deflated.
"Well, it was a nice idea while it lasted." She sighed.
"What was a nice idea?" asked Rafael coming in the door.
"Evie was trying to set me up with Bridget for the school dance tomorrow night." Replied Matt
Rafael groaned and rolled his eyes.
"So," he said folding his arms across his chest and looking at Lisa who was standing at the stove in the kitchen starting supper, "the Atwood matchmaking bug rears its ugly head again."
"Huh?" said Evie and Risa
"Your mother's a hopeless romantic who, since she was younger than you two, was always trying to set people up together, and it always backfired on her." replied their father.
"It wasn't that bad, Rafa dear." Insisted Lisa
"Not that bad," chuckled Rafael, "The last time the Atwood matchmaking bug reared up we all got suspended from Pine Hollow for a week!"
"Now that's a story I've got to hear!" said Risa
"Yeah," said Evie eagerly.
"Some other time," said Rafael, "You two have rehearsing to do."
"Well, that's my cue to make like a banana and split!" smiled Matt getting up.
"Yeah," said Bridget, "and I've got to go pick up my dress for tomorrow night!"
Matt and Bridget headed out, and Evie and Risa headed for the big top by way of Spirit's paddock.
Risa noticed, as they walked, that her sister was being uncharacteristically quiet.
"Something bothering you sis?" she asked
"I'm just a little worried about Bridget going with Travis Howard." Evie admitted
"Why?" asked Risa
"Because from what I've heard from the other members of the Saddle club, Travis is known for chasing every girl he comes across. I wouldn't want Bridget to get hurt." Evie replied
"I can understand that." Said Risa, "All you can do is try to warn her but ultimately going with him is her decision."
To Be Continued…Please leave a Review thanks in advance.