Smirking he tilted his head. Standing a good six inches above me, his obsidian eyes looking into my brown ones. The look on his face said it all. He hadn't expected to see me here. And he was enjoying seeing me off guard. The usual snarky remark I gave him being obliterated by the look in his eyes.
"Well lookie who it is." He said walking toward me, hands in his pockets. Standing my ground I found my footing and stood as tall as I could. Narrowing my eyes, I looked up at him. Fucking Christ hes hot. I thought momentarily before kicking the thought out.
"What are you doing here?" I growled, crossing my arms. Rolling his eyes, he looked over his shoulder and nodded at someone. Turning back to me he dropped the smirk and actually smiled. Throwing me off guard.
"Same thing you're doing. Riding." His eyes shined and his voice came out smooth. Dropping my tough act I smiled back.
"Who do you want to ride for?"
"I'm going for Silver Bells, but Blue Skies wouldn't be bad either. I didn't know you ride." He stated looking past me and at Aladdin. A blush crept up my face. What was with me today? My friends dating him. Get a grip Lucy.
"Yea, I started a couple of years ago. His names Aladdin, he's my friends uncles." I stated grabbing his reins, the leather on my skin cooling my nerves a bit. When did my heart start racing? How long have I been breathing like this? What the hell?
"Cool. And good job at beating my time. I was gonna be mad if it was anybody with just luck, but it looks like you have talent." He stated smirking again. Relaxing my I smirked back.
"And what would you have done if it was just luck?" I asked sarcastically.
A spark ignited in his eyes. "To a guy maybe start a fight, to another girl, probably called her some names and made her cry. But to you…" He let his sentence drop. Oh no. What? My heartbeat picked up it pace.
"LUCY HEARTFILIA SHOW JUMPING." The intercom boomed above us, making me jump.
"I got to go. Talk to you later" I said rushing off.
A couple hours later 87 riders along with their horses stood in front of the ten judges. Names being called, being told who had liked them and wanted them to ride for them. I was the 35 rider in the long line and waiting patiently to be told whom I could be riding for, I looked down the long line. Looking for a pink haired boy. Not being able to see him I sat astride Aladdin. Three years ago I didn't think I'd have had the chance to be able to ride for a stable, or even ride at all. Memories of my 8th grade year flashed through my head. Bruises and screaming. Love and hate. Confusion. Mistakes. Who would have thought that a boy in 8th grade could be so aggressive?
"Lucy Heartfilia?" A feminine voice ripped me out of my nightmare of a past.
"Yes ma'am." I said sitting straighter.
"Silver Bells. Winter Green. And Riverside. Pick one." She said sweetly.
"Silver Bells." I said beaming. Aladdin sensing my mood picked up his head in glory and swished his tail. I was officially a Silver Bells riding student.
An hour later I was loading Aladdin into the trailer for the trip home. During my small celebration Silver Bells best riding instructor had confronted me saying "Congratulations Lucy I look forward to seeing you ride in my class. You'll be riding a recently new horse of ours if you don't mind. I think you'll get along perfectly." Beaming at him I agreed and he gave me a schedule and left to confront other riders.
"Hey!" A deep voice sounded off nearby making me jump. Turning I was greeted by pink hair and obsidian orbs. Holy Mavis. That smile, those eyes. You could tell there was a hell of a story to tell behind them. Full of adventure. That smile could say a million things. Tell me your story. I wanted to say but shook my head clear.
"Hi." I said breathlessly. What was with me? Why am I only this way around him?
"Silver Bells?" he asked. Beaming at him I nodded. A sparkle set in his eyes.
"Great I'll see you there Blondie." And with that I watched him walk back to his blue pickup truck hitched with a trailer and drive off.
Four days later I was walking down the isle of Silver Bells riding stable. The stable was clean and pristine. Horses' heads poked out of their stalls. I was looking for one a bit different from Max or Ace. Rain Storm. Something about the name set a fire in my belly and excited I like no other. Passing a black Arabian with a star on her forehead and a Chestnut with a white tipped ear I found myself standing in front of a stall door with a plaque with "Rain Storm" engraved onto it. Looking into the stall my jaw dropped. It wasn't a high breed horse. But it certainly stood out from them. The black and gray mustang looked back at me with blue eyes. His tail long almost touching the floor. Tangled though. His mane was just as tangled and draping over his neck like a curtain.
"Miss Heartfilia!" Mr. Lindors voice boomed down the aisle scaring me and some of the horses.
'Hello Mr. Lindor. Beautiful horse." I complimented. Nodding he set down a large chest with the American flag on it. "This is Rains caring chest. You'll be spending the day grooming him." He said smiling. Nodding I slid the chest over to his stall and opened it. Finding all that I needed in it.
"By the way Lucy, he's never been ridden so take caution." He said walking away. Great I thought. This horse's biggest fear right now was probably me.
Walking up to the stall door I stuck my hand in slowly, making sure I didn't spook the horse. Looking Closer I could see burs were stuck in it coat. Sighing to myself I knew this was going to be a long day.
"Let's get started shall we Storm?" I asked the horse, walking slowly into the stall with a halter and lead rope. I slid the lead rope over my shoulder and the halter onto my wrist. The horse being in the far back corner I sat in the middle of the stall with my eyes closed. Listening to the sounds of the stable around me. Being four in the morning there wasn't much activity.
An hour must have passed before I heard the soft movement in the back of the stall. Hooves rustling fresh star. One step, pause. Two step pause. Three, four. And soon enough I could feel hot breath on my face. First my forehead, then my eyes and cheeks. Ending at my collarbone I opened my eyes to closed blue ones. Slowly I placed my hand on his cheek and stroked it before gently placing the halter over his head and fastening it under his chin. As if not caring he rested his head on my shoulder. Clipping the lean rope to the halter I stroked his neck before standing slowly, letting my legs stretch before I gripped the lead rope tightly and slowly we walked into the hall and I tied him to a post and started grooming him. Ever so slowly getting the knots and burs out of his beautiful coat.
*NATSUS POINT OF VEIW*
Arabians had to be the most stubbornness breed of horses I had to know. It took me an hour to get Tempest out of her stall. And about five to fully groom her. And just when I was about to finish grooming her by picking her hooves and high pitched scream filled the stable. Tempest shying at every sound kicked out, hitting me in the chest. The pain shooting through me and knocking me back a couple of feet. Pissed, I stood and went to check her ties. Tight and secured. Good.
Walking down the aisle quietly I didn't stop till another scream split the air. Two stalls down was a buffy horse tall and raging. The post he was tied to wasn't going to hold much longer.
"Get the fuck off of me!" The voice screamed again. A loud smacking sound filled the air after. The horse, stopping his rampage looked at me, then turned his head to the stall and back. Nodding I rushed over to the entrance. And what I saw made my blood boil like nothing before ever had.