Hello! I'm posting an early chapter because this chapter is for HOA One-Shot Day 2013. Enjoy!

Chapter 8

We finally made our way to the dry stables and I introduced him to Cinnamon.

Nina: Alright, let's get you on. Put your foot there, give me one of your hands and hoist yourself up on the count of three. One- two-three!

When he was settled on the saddle, I walked behind Cinnamon.

Fabian: What-

I took a running start towards Cinnamon, did a handspring, and performed a spilt in the air as I landed right behind Fabian on Cinnamon's back.

Fabian: Woah, how-

Nina: My mom made me take gymnastics when I was little.

Fabian: Sounds like you lived a good life.

Nina: Ya, lived.

He turned his head to try to face me, but he couldn't.

Fabian: I'm sorry, I didn't-

Nina: Hey, no biggy. It's true. I did have a wonderful childhood. If only my mother were still around, things would be different.

Fabian: Ya, I guess.

I saw his face trying to figure something out.

Nina: Whatever. Take the reign.

Fabian: What?

My arm slide between his chest and his arm and I grabbed the reign.

Fabian: Oh- ok. I'll- um- ya.

He seemed super tense, so I wrapped my arms around his waist.

Fabian: Nina, what-

Nina: Relax. I'm not gonna let you fall. I'm right here. Just pull the reign slightly.

He did as I told him and Cinnamon began moving. He started to calm down and I felt him relax. We trotted to the forest and when I got bored, I placed my chin on his shoulder.

Nina: You're doing great. We should stop here and start heading back.

Fabian: Sure.

He stopped Cinnamon and turned to where my head rested on his shoulder and whispered in my ear.

Fabian: I'm kind of lost. Can you help me find my way?

Nina: Sure.

He jumped off the horse and I slid forward, making room for him. He climbed behind me, his body heat probably radiating for miles. I forced Cinnamon to turn around and Fabian and I got in to a conversation on our way back.

Fabian: You were in a mood earlier. Might I ask why?

Nina: Um… you really don't want to know.

Fabian: Try me.

Nina: Where have I heard that line before?

I heard him chuckle and lightly rest his head on my shoulder.

Fabian: You are a girl of many faces.

Nina: I prefer being called Mysterella.

Fabian: Mysterella?

Nina: Ya. Take mystery and Cinderella and smash the names together. It makes Mysterella.

Fabian: Well, my fair Mysterella, I would like to ask you about earlier.

Nina: Mysterella answers to no one.

Fabian: Maybe, but Nina does.

I stopped Cinnamon and looked at my left shoulder, seeing Fabian's adorable smirk on his face. I bit my lip.

Nina: Nina's not here right now. Please leave a message after the beep. Beep!

He rolled his eyes playfully and his arms slid around my waist to keep balance, or at least I told myself it was for balance.

Fabian: Come on, Neens. What's wrong?

I goofily smile.

Nina: Neens? Since when did we give each other nicknames, Fabes?

He smiled back and whispered in my ear.

Fabian: I don't know, but I like it.

I blushed slightly and accidently yanked the reign. Cinnamon went ballistic. My eyes widened and Fabian's arms tightened.

Nina: Cinnamon, easy boy. Cinnamon- Cinnamon- no!

I tried to calm him down, but he just panicked even more. He stood on his hind legs, dropping Fabian and I to the muddy ground. The horse ran off in to the forest, probably never to be seen again. As for Fabian and I, he fell on his back and I landed on him. He still had his arms around my waist, but I must have swirled in my fall because I was facing him. Our noses were touching and both of us were blushing like red roses. Being so close, I took notice of his features. His blue eyes are still so breathtaking like when I saw them last night. His eyes were also glossy. Either he's wearing contacts or he's in pain. Please be the first one.

Nina: Are you wearing contacts?

Fabian: Um… if I said no, would you believe me?

Nina: Not sure. I wouldn't mind if you did, though. In fact, I wear contacts too, Fabes.

Fabian: You do? I mean, it just doesn't-

Nina: Seem like something I would have?

Fabian: You know I don't mean that.

Nina: Fabian, it's ok. I work for money on the weekends. It's the only way I have contacts, clothes, even my old glasses. I'm trying to save up for college but Caroline has control of my account because I'm a minor.

Fabian: Is that why you stick around? I've seen how they treat you and it's not right.

Nina: No, it's because I can't leave Mara, KT, and Trudy. Caroline would make their lives even worse without me. I can't let that happen.

Did I just tell him all this? I pulled my head up a bit, giving us a bit more distance between one another.

Fabian: Why do you do that?

Nina: Do what?

Fabian: Hold everything on your back and muscle through it.

Nina: Well, I don't know. I just can't leave them here with Caroline and Joy. It doesn't seem fair.

Fabian: Life's not fair. I mean, look at you. You're a beautiful sixteen year old girl who's been forced to work as a servant of her step-mother and step-sister. You don't deserve to be an orphan and you don't deserve to live the life you live.

I caught every detail and smiled. Beautiful? Where did that come from?

Nina: Where did you get beautiful from?

He blushed and looked me straight in the eye. His eyes were filled with admiration and an emotion I've never seen in Caroline's eyes. It's never appeared in Joy's eyes or Patricia's or even Mara's, Amber's, Willow's, Alfie's, or KT's eyes. There were only three people in my life who showed me such emotion: my mom, Trudy, and my dad the night mom and I left. And even in all these instances, they've never bore as much of the emotion as Fabian was doing so. The emotion was love, genuine love. Mara and KT have shown me compassion on a sisterly level. Amber, Alfie, and Willow have shown me support on a friendly level. Fabian was different. It was more than just parently love, it was deeper and more serious than that.

Fabian: I can't lie to you, so I'm just going to say it. Nina, you are the prettiest girl I've ever met. That's where I got beautiful from.

I smiled wide and dipped down towards his face. I pressed my lips to his cheek and kissed it. I parted and hovered my face over his, our noses touching once more. He started leaning in. Why is he leaning in? Why- oh my gosh. Is he trying to- kiss me. Oh gosh. I cleared my mind and started to lean in myself when I heard hooves stomping through the mud and I moved away from Fabian. There, coming through the trees, was Mara, our rescue party.