Author's Note

I hope you guys like the chapter! I'm so sorry it took so long.

Jumping Through the Stars

Chapter Four

As I exited the barn, Armor was brushed, his hooves were clean and hoof-oiled, and he was wearing a bridle, saddle pad, bump pad, and saddle. He had leg wraps on the bottoms of his legs, and he had bell-boots on his hooves. We were ready.

As I entered the outdoor ring, I saw Locker Boy standing outside the fence, with my brother, the one who doesn't support riding. What is he doing out here?

"Uh, Caleb?" I asked.

"Hmm?" He responded.

"What're you doing out here?"

"Watching you ride. Duh."

"Okay then." I walked through the gate and into the ring. I again walked Armor around the ring once on foot, making sure he sees everything around him. After that, I set my stirrups to the right length for myself, and then stuck my foot into the stirrup on Armor's left side. I pulled myself up and swung my right leg over Armor's back, and then settled myself into the saddle. I slid my right foot into the stirrup. "Thanks for setting up the ring, Caleb," I said.

"No problem. But you better be careful; if you aren't I will personally drag you out of that saddle and never let you back onto a horse ever again. Ever."

"Um, alright," I said. "I'm always careful." Caleb just scoffed.

"Oh yeah? Then why are you putting all your trust into Armor to keep you safe? You could easily just fall off. He could buck you off whenever he wanted to. He jumps over stuff and you just stay there on his back while he does so! He runs around this ring and you just sit around on his back like it isn't dangerous at all!"

There's the Caleb I know.

"Caleb, I'm careful. I trust Armor; he's a very good boy; I love him. I don't 'just sit around on his back like it isn't dangerous at all'. I know it isn't the safest, but I am careful, and I don't just sit around up here on his back. I do things to make Armor listen to me. Okay?"

"Fine. But I'll still drag you away if you aren't careful," Caleb reminded me.

"Whatever; just don't spook him again," I smiled, half joking but serious.

"I won't; that was an accident," Caleb whined. "I'm sorry." Four laughed at my brother's whining; I laughed, too.

"It's fine, Caleb," I said.

"Honestly though, Tris, be careful," Locker Boy said to me, serious now.

"As always," I responded. I then clucked my tongue and pressed my heels to Armor's sides; he walked. We'd already warmed up a short time earlier, before Four came, but then Armor spooked, so I wanted to walk him around again to make sure he was calm. I walked him around the ring once both ways, and then picked up a posting-trot, making sure my eyes were up and my heels were down. I posted while trotting for a while, and then sported a sitting-trot. I smiled as I passed my brother and friend. Then, I clucked some more and pressed my heels to Armor's sides again, speeding up his trot for an extended-trot, meaning he trotted with longer strides, making him move quicker. I changed directions, still doing an extended-trot. A couple moments later, I slowed back to an average trot. I slowed to a walk.

I walked Armor around the ring a few times, giving him a bit of a break before we cantered and jumped.

Then, I shot a devious smile to Four and Caleb, because Caleb doesn't like me riding, but he especially doesn't like anything faster than a trot.

I pat Armor's neck. "Alright, buddy, here we go." I looked straight ahead and checked my posture quickly, making sure I was sitting up straight, my heels were down, and my reins weren't too long in my hands. I moved my leg that was closest to the outside of the ring back. I pressed my heel to Armor's belly and made a kissing sound. Armor immediately picked up his canter on the correct lead. As we cantered around the ring, I couldn't help but laugh. I just felt so free, so free of everything. I was sliding back and forth in the saddle as Armor cantered around the ring again and again. It's like a smile was planted on my face, the roots too strong to turn to a frown. I kept circling the ring, laughing lightly every once in a while, especially when I saw the looks on Four's and Caleb's faces. Caleb looked horrified, like I'd fall off any second, and Locker Boy looked amazed. I turned my gaze straight ahead and turned my head to see where I was going. I cantered around the ring a few more times before sitting back and pulling gently on the reins, slowing Armor to a walk. I walked around the ring twice, giving Armor a short break before picking the canter back up. I cantered around the ring twice, and then turned so I was facing the jump; I steered Armor toward it. I got up into two-point position, and when I was about two steps away from the jump, I went down into jump position. Armor leaped over the jump and I continued cantering around the ring. I brought Armor around to the other jump and went into two-point. Just before we jumped over the tall cross-rails, I went into jump position. We gracefully completed the jump. I slowed Armor to a walk to cool him out.

"Nice job, Tris!" Locker Boy said.

"Yeah," Caleb sighed. "Good job."

"Thanks, guys!" I slid my feet out of the stirrups and rode around the ring with my stirrups dropped, cooling Armor out.

"So, Four," I said as I walked Armor around. I dropped the reins onto Armor's neck and leaned forward in the saddle, so I was lying down on Armor's neck, hugging him. I stayed in this position as I asked, "If you're a junior, why is your locker in the Freshmen Wing?"

"There weren't enough lockers in the Junior Wing," Four explained. "That's okay, though. If there had been enough lockers, I would've never hit you in the face with my locker and we never would've become friends." He smiled and so did I.

"You broke my nose. Who says we're friends?" I joked playfully. He placed his hand over his heart in mock hurt.

"Well, I did, obviously."

"Well, I don't," Caleb said. I don't need my friend flirting with my little sister. Ew."

"Ugh, Caleb, we're friends. We're just friends. We've only known each other for one day!" I exclaimed.

"Whatever," Caleb said. "Anyway, do you want to stay for dinner?" Caleb turned to Four. I did, too. I was hoping he would say 'yes'. I want to get to know him better.

"Sure!"

Author's Note

Again, I'm sorry it took me so long to post this chapter. I hope to have Chapter Five up today to make up for the long wait. Please review and tell me what you thought about the chapter! I'm open to ideas, too. I know where I want this story to go, but ideas are still welcome to make the story more interesting.

~MoMaster