Author's Note
Hi everybody!
I'm sorry about accidentally posting Chapter One twice, if you saw that; I don't fully know what I'm doing yet. I deleted the second posting of Chapter One, though.
I'll say things that have to do with horseback riding. If you don't know what it is, you could look it up on Google and see a picture or read what it is to help you understand. I hope that helps.
Thank you!
Disclaimer: I don't own the "Divergent" books. Veronica Roth does.
Jumping Through the Stars
Chapter Three
On my way to Art Class, I noticed a lot of girls glaring at me. It's been like this since lunchtime; I wonder why.
As soon as I step into Miss Wu's room, I collide with someone and fall to the floor. I look up and see the boy I'd met earlier, Peter. I gathered my sketchbook and pencil and stood up.
"Tris, I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going and-"
"It's fine, Peter. Don't worry about it," I cut him off.
"Okay," He said and stepped out of the room. I scanned the room, searching for any of my friends. I saw Four, Will, Christina, Lynn, Shauna, and Marlene at a table; I headed towards the single open chair at that table.
When I was just steps away from the seat, a girl slid into the chair. I stopped where I was standing; my friends at the table had gone silent the moment the unknown girl sat there.
"What do you want, Molly?" Lynn said dully as another girl pulled a seat up to the table and sat next to the girl, Molly. "Why are you two here?" Lynn made a face. I wonder why she doesn't really seem to like them.
Molly and the other girl both glanced at Four before replying, "It's not like the seat was taken. Plus, we have a friend here, don't we, Lauren?" The other girl, Lauren, nodded.
"Who?" Lynn demanded.
"Four," Lauren said. Lynn looked at Four.
"Uh, we aren't friends," Four said.
"I know; we're more than that," Lauren said. I frowned. I thought Four was single. I don't know why I care, though.
"No we aren't, Lauren," Four stated. "I've never met you before. I don't have a girlfriend." My frown disappeared; I guess Locker Boy is single.
"I was going to sit there," I added. "But then my seat was jumped." The two girls huffed and stood up from the table, and then walked away. I sat down.
"Hey, Tris," Will greeted me.
"Hi," I said.
Will turned to Four, as did the rest of us.
"What was that?" Shauna questioned.
"'That' was nothing. I don't know either of them," Four explained. We nodded, and began talking about after-school plans until the teacher walked in.
I turned to face Miss Wu and saw Peter looking at me. I hadn't noticed him come back in the room.
"Okay, everyone, welcome to Art! I'm Miss Wu. Let's go around and all say our names and one thing we like to do," Miss Wu said. "We'll start with you." She pointed to Peter.
"Hi. I'm Peter; I like to play football."
We moved our attention around the room. Molly and Lauren like to go shopping. Drew likes to play football.
When it was my turn, I stood and said, "Hi, I'm Tris. I enjoy horseback riding." I sat back down. Four likes baseball, Will likes to read, Marlene and Christina like to watch movies, Shauna likes to paint, and Lynn likes to race on her dirt-bike.
By the time everyone in the class had spoken, it was time to go. We grabbed our things and walked out the door to our lockers.
At my locker, I put my Take Home Folder into my bag and closed my locker. I walked outside with Christina, who rides my bus. Inside the bus, we were driving out of the school's parking lot; Christina and I were sitting together in the back of the bus.
"I can't believe you broke your nose today," Christina said.
"I didn't break my nose; Four's locker door broke my nose. It's been an eventful first day." I paused. "So, how was your first day as a freshman?"
"It was good. It was busy, and different, but good. How was yours?" She asked me. I smiled.
"My day was great." I'd met Four, I'd been to high school for the first time, and I liked all my teachers. I didn't really like Mrs. Matthews, but she wasn't too bad. My day was great! Plus, Four's coming over later to watch me ride, so Armor and I can show him our skills. That makes the day even better!
By now, it was my stop.
"Bye!" I said to Christina.
"See you tomorrow!" She said.
I climbed down the steps of the bus and walked to my front door. Caleb pulled into the driveway only seconds after the bus drove away. We had a short chat on the way into the house about my first day at Chicago High School.
Once inside, I set my backpack down and grabbed two apples from the kitchen. I then walked back outside and around the house to the barn. I walked over to Armor's stall and unlocked it. I grabbed the halter and lead-rope from the hook on the front of his stall, and then stepped into Armor's stall.
"Hi, buddy," I said softly, as my hand stroked the fur on his face. I quickly put the halter on Armor's head and clipped the lead-rope to his halter. I pushed his stall door open more, and then clucked my tongue to signal Armor to walk. I led him out of his stall, out of the barn, and through the gate into the outdoor ring.
I walked Armor around the ring once on foot so he could see everything outside. This way, when I was on his back, there was a low chance he'd spook at anything around us.
After I took Armor around the ring, I led him over to the rail so we were near the fence. I tied the lead-rope around the wooden fence piece, and then headed out of the outdoor ring and into the barn. Inside the barn, I took off my combat boots and slipped my feet into my tall riding boots. They go up to just below my knees. I grabbed Armor's bridle and my helmet, and then headed back out to the ring; I decided to ride bareback until Four came.
I untied Armor from the fence and slid off his halter and lead-rope, replacing it with his bridle. I reached over the fence and gently dropped the halter and lead-rope onto the grass outside of the ring. The inside of the ring isn't grass; it is a sand-like material. I clasped my riding helmet onto my head and climbed up onto the fence so I could reach Armor's back better. Because I am riding bareback, there is no stirrup to place my foot in to pull myself up onto Armor's back.
"Stay there," I said to Armor. I swung my leg over his back and grabbed a bunch of his mane in my hand so I didn't fall. I adjusted myself so I was balanced and released his mane, wrapping my fingers around the reins of the bridle instead. I patted Armor's neck as a 'thank you' for not walking away while I was climbing onto the fence and for standing still while I balanced myself. I then gently, but firmly, pressed the heels of my riding boots onto Armor's belly and clucked my tongue, telling Armor to walk. He obeyed and we walked around the ring twice one way, and then changed directions and walked around the ring twice he other way.
I decided to begin trotting, so I pressed my heels to Armor's belly again and clucked until he began trotting. I did a sitting trot around the ring twice, and then changed directions, still trotting, and trotted twice around the ring that way.
I slowed Armor down to a walk and gave him a pat on his neck.
"Okay, buddy," I murmured. "Let's go see what time it is." I walked Armor over to the gate and stretched my arm out to unlock it. I opened it just wide enough for Armor and I to fit through the gap and walked Armor through the grass and up to the side of the house. There was a window there which was attached to the kitchen. I saw Caleb sitting at the table reading a book. I knocked on the window. Caleb jumped and spun around. I waved and signaled for him to open the window. He did.
"What do you need, Beatrice?" He reached over and pats Armor's neck. "Hi, Armor."
"Call me Tris," I corrected, smiling at Caleb showing affection for Armor; it rarely happens. "What time is it?" I asked. He glanced at his watch.
"It's 3:57. Why?" I gasped; the time had gone so quickly!
"I have a friend coming over and he's going to be here in thr-"
"'He'?" Caleb interrupted. I rolled my eyes.
"Yes! Now I have to get Armor ready and the ring set up. Can you set up two jumps please?" I begged.
"Fine," Caleb huffed. "But you owe me," He added. With that, he shut the window and walked out of sight. I assumed he was headed to the door to come outside to set up the jumps for me. I was just about to turn around and hurry back to the barn to get Armor ready, when I heard a car engine pulling into my driveway. I sighed, and walked Armor up to the front yard, stopping before the driveway.
"Hi, Locker Boy," I smiled as he got out of his car and walked over to Armor and I.
"Hey, Miss Nosy," He replied. "Who's this?" He asked, stroking Armor's nose.
"This is Armor; I told you about him at lunch."
"Hi, Armor."
Armor whinnied and we both laughed.
"Well," I said to Four. "Time got away from me and I hadn't tacked up Armor yet, or gotten dressed for riding. So, you might be here a little longer than you would've expected," I said, referring to the time it'd take to put Armor's tack on him and change into my britches for horseback riding.
"That's fine. I don't have anywhere to be," Locker Boy smiled.
"Alright, then I'm going to go change," I said. "Can you hold Armor for a couple of minutes?"
"Sure. Uh, I don't really know what to do, though."
"That's fine! He's a good boy; he won't give you any trouble." I smiled. I moved over and grabbed Locker Boy's forearm, dragging him over to where I'd been standing. I handed the reins to Four. "Do not let go," I instructed sternly.
"Okay; I won't," Four said. I nodded and headed inside; I slid my boots off. I climbed the stairs and entered my bedroom. I opened my drawer and pulled out a pair of tan britches. I slid off my leggings and replaced them with the britches. I glanced out my window to see my brother talking with Four.
"Hmm," I hummed to myself as I turned from the window and walked out of the house, after sliding my boots onto my feet. "I'm back!" I posed dramatically in front of all three boys. We laughed. "So, do you two know each other?" I asked Caleb and Four.
"Yeah; I tutor Four on math," Caleb explained. "We're both juniors, also." I nodded.
"Okay. Well, Locker Boy's here to see my skills. Bye, I'll see you later." I took the reins from Four's hands, our fingers brushing, and began to walk away with Armor.
"Wait!" Caleb yelled. At the sudden loud sound, Armor jumped slightly and immediately began cantering off, away from me. I stood, shocked, for a few seconds, before coming to my senses. I took off after Armor as quickly as I could.
"Whoa! Whoa, boy. Whoa," I said, trying to get Armor to stop running around the yard. I continued calling out the word 'whoa', using the word that signals horses to stand still. "Whoa!" I continued calling, hoping Armor wouldn't get his legs and hooves tangled in the reins and fall. "Whoa! Whoa, Armor! Whoa!" He slowed to a trot, which was an easier speed to catch up to by running, but still not very easy. I ran up to Armor. "Whoa! Whoa, boy." He finally slowed to a walk. I swiped the reins into my hands. "Whoa, boy," I said, and Armor stood still. I sighed; glad he was under control again. I stroked his neck and turned to face Caleb; I glared at him. He bit his lip.
"Sorry, Tris," Caleb said. I scowled.
"What did you want, Caleb?" I huffed, remembering the 'wait' he'd exclaimed, causing Armor to spook.
"What happened to your face?" Caleb asked hesitantly. I groaned.
"I broke my nose. Bye." With that, I walked away, leading Armor into the barn to prepare him for the ride.
Author's Note
I hope you guys liked the chapter! Please review to tell me what you think. You can also tell me any ways you think I could make my writing better.
See you guys later!
~MoMaster