It was official. Alice. Was. Going. Crazy! And not that good kind of crazy that was actually a mixture of confidence and happiness. No this was that kind of crazy where sedated and locked-up. That kind of crazy where you want to pull your hair out and cry… "OK so maybe not crazy but panicked," Alice thought, "But, yes defiantly panic."

Her try-outs for a position on any one of the Canterwood teams were coming up in about ten minutes.

And what was she doing, Alice was sitting on Fearless in the middle of the warm up arena, and trying to stop myself from hyperventilating.

Fabulous. Just Fabulous!

It was 4:21 and on the first day of Canterwood and Alice was about to have a breakdown... in an empty arena.

So as a last resort Alice slipped both of her feet out of the stirrup irons slid out of her saddle, pulled the reins over his head, and lead Fearless toward the hallway. Stopping outside the tack room Alice dropped her reins and ground tied Fearless, while she went in side and grabbed a pair of head phones she kept around with her tack. Walking back out she grabbed Fearless's reins and walked back into the warm-up arena.

Standing in the middle of the arena, Alice grabbed her iPhone out of her pocket she turned on some music and went to mount. After she had settled in the saddle Alice glanced around and

Looking at the clock Alice noted that it was 4:23.

Which left her with seven minutes.

Panic once more crept up on Alice and she felt a little faint, but with a deep breath she kept riding and felt Fearless start to relax under her.

4:24.

But Alice wasn't looking at the clock anymore, no she was slipping one ear bud into her right ear and pulled the other one loosely around her neck and let it hang. After she pressed play on her phone and the song We Are Young by 3OH!3 started playing. It was her normal warm up song but due to the low level Alice was keeping it at the base couldn't be felt as easily. Which was fine with Alice, because she had to focus on the trot Fearless had started picking up.

The base started up as the song into and Alice collected Fearless a little more before asking for a working trot. It took a minute before the two of them was relaxed enough to move forward into a faster gait, which lead to Fearless picking up a strong collected canter.

4:25.

Their transition down form the canter after a few rounds down to an extended trot was solid and near flawless. But the transition down to a collected walk was choppy and needed work. Deciding that she wasn't going to push her luck and force Fearless into a restless frame of mind Alice checked the time and took a deep breath.

4:28.

Taking her one earbud out and rapping it around her iPhone, Alice put both in her pocket and zipped it shut.

'Don't disappoint. Keep Mistakes to a minimum. ' Alice chanted to myself in her head. Unknowingly tightening her grip on the reins. Swiveling his left ear in my direction he let out a snort, making Alice glance down at him and smile. Slipping out of the saddle, she pulled to reins over Fearless's head and started walking for the doors.

It took them a minute, but then they were at the main arena and waiting for their turn. Minutes later Tanner stepped out and flashed Alice a smile before disappearing from view.

Standing in the center of the arena was Mr. Conner. Letting out a breath Alice forgot she was holding, she slapped on a smiled as he greeted Alice with a nod he started talked, " Hello Alice, nice to finally meet you in person."

"Its a pleasure to meet you as well Mr. Conner." Alice replied happily. Due of the fact that Alice had enrolled into the school from Washington was a challenge mainly because she had gotten there only a day before school started, and had gotten her tryout time for any team, over e-mail.

"Today I just want you and Fearless to go through a few exercises and jumps. I want you to try your hardest but know that this is not a show." his voice firm as he spoke. Nodding her head Alice mounted again and gathered the rains to sorta collect Fearless.

"First I want you go to the rail and track right at a trot." Mr. Conner instructed.

Nodding her head Alice gently put pressed her calves onto Fearless and they started walking on the right track. Picking up the trot seemed easy for the two as they rounded a corner. Alice being able to post in on the correct diagonal to Fearless's two beat gait. Flatwork was one of their stronger aspects and they seemed dead set on proving just that.

"Reveres at the trot and then pick up the canter."

Half a circle and silent canter signal later they were asked for a flying lead change, then a sitting trot and walk.

"Now come into the center and rest for a second so Mike and I can set up some jumps and dressage markings." Mr. Conner called over from the edge of the arena.

At the thought of jumps Alice's heart started racing. A giddy feeling settling in her stomach at the thought of jumping. Over the years, Alice had found a strong love for jumping, alongside dressage, but jumping always made her feel free.

Of course Alive wasn't the only on between the two that loved jumping, mainly because Fearless was breed for it. Also due to the fact that whenever the two were in a competition, the anxiety from showing, turned into exhilaration when the entered a jumping class.

Turning her attention back to Mr. Conner, Alice watched him walk back over to her and instructed, "First we will do a few simple dressage maneuvers, then I will have you go over a few jump's. There will be a few jumps in here and a few in an outdoor arena, so please walk over to the entrance and we will start. " Alice nodded and he spoke, "You already have the pattern I want you perform memorized, so I will not bother going over it again, but remember, this is not a show. Now please walk over to X so we may start."

Nodding her head in understanding Alice walked to the middle of the arena, where X was and started her pattern. It was relatively simple, consisting of about four flying lead changes, a serpentine pattern and other basics. As a whole the pattern took Fearless and Alice a few to complete and didn't even begin to make Fearless work up a sweat.

At the end the only thing running through Alice's mind was, "Time for jumping!"

This chapter has been edited! Thank you everyone who previously reviewed this chapter, you guys are great! Thank you everyone in general that has read this story again to this point, I hope you all like my new writing style!

Love you all, and hope everyone is doing well! 3 3

~WLUF