Chapter Three: All Hope is Lost
Stevie clung to Belle's neck. Tears flew down her face and into her hair. She urged Belle faster, faster, until they arrived at Pine Hollow. Stevie slid down Belle's back and quickly led Belle into her stall. She didn't want to groom down Belle, all Stevie wanted was to lie down and cry. She took off Belle's tack anyways and groomed Belle down. She was about to refill her water when Veronica stepped into the stall doorway.
"How are you today Stevie? Bad lesson?" She smirked.
Stevie ignored her and walked by, her head hung low. Veronica gasped. She had never seen Stevie so upset before.
"Stevie, are you okay?" And she meant it. She had always loved it when the Saddle Club fought, but she didn't like seeing Stevie so down.
Stevie continued to ignore Veronica. Not on purpose, she was just too upset to speak. Veronica seemed to sense this, and frowned. She almost felt bad for Stevie.
"Here, let me help." She picked up a brush and stroked Belle's flanks. Veronica never imagined the day when she'd be doing stable chores, but she wanted to see Stevie happy again. Then Stevie would be mean to her and they'd go back to being enemies. That, Veronica realized, was what she really wanted.
"T-t-thanks." Stevie mumbled as she brushed Belle's mane. A few stray tears ran down her cheeks and she looked at the ground the entire time she groomed.
"No problem. There, now she looks almost as good as Garnet." Veronica said. She pat Stevie on the shoulder. "Hey, no one's in the lounge right now. Why don't you go and get a drink. There's soda in the fridge! My treat!" Veronica smiled a little. She was a little creeped out by Stevie's behavior. This all changed very quickly.
"Thank you Veronica." Stevie said quietly. She threw her arms around Veronica's waist and gave her a hug. Veronica gasped, surprised at the sudden change. Stevie never hugged ANYONE, except the Saddle Club, and occasionally Phil. To be honest, Veronica felt, quite honored.
After a minute, Stevie released her grip and ran out of the barn towards the lounge. Veronica leaned against the wall of the stall, stunned silent. Kirsti walked by.
"Hey Veronica, what's up." She smiled.
Veronica sat down in the straw, her mouth opened in a huge O. Kirsti shrugged, and walked off to find Red.
Stevie ran into the lounge. Veronica was right, no one was there. She didn't feel like eating or drinking, and ran to the couch. She collapsed onto the couch and drew her knees to her chest. Stevie lay there for what seemed like forever, crying. After at least three hours, Phil walked by the lounge. He was surprised to see most of the lights out. Usually there were lots of people in the lounge, it was everyone's favorite hangout. Phil shrugged to himself and cautiously opened the door.
It appeared to be empty, and Phil went to the fridge. He opened it letting its bright light flood the dark room. He pulled out a soda and popped it open. Pouring a mouthful, he walked over to the couch to watch a TV show or two.
As he approached the couch, a faint whimpering sound could be heard. Phil glanced around, but the farm dogs were nowhere to be seen. "Huh?"
Phil looked at the couch, and was deeply disturbed by what he saw. Stevie was lying, curled up in a ball, on the couch. Her chest rattled with every breath she took. Her hair was tangled and the tips of it were wet. The part of the couch by her head was also wet, from her tears. A faint sobbing sound could be heard from the mass on the couch.
"Oh Stevie…Oh Stevie…" Phil kneeled down next to her head. "What happened?" He gently placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned slowly, her usually bright blue eyes were watery. She ran her tongue over her dried lips gently before speaking. When she spoke, it was one word.
"Carole." She whispered harshly, before she broke into a sob. She buried her head into the already wet couch and pulled her knees closer. Phil gasped. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Carole did this? How?" He asked quietly. But Stevie was too far gone. She continued sobbing, her breath shaky. Phil ran to the kitchen and grabbed a towel.
"Stevie, Stevie, sit up. Come on, sit up." Phil grabbed her shoulder and attempted to lift her up, but she lay limply, and it was impossible to move her. "Stevie, come on!" Phil finally managed to get her to sit up, and he handed her the towel. She grabbed it and buried her face in it, like she had the couch. Phil sat down next to her and pulled her closer. She rested her head on his shoulder, her body shaking. Phil guessed she had been here for over an hour and was astounded. He was also confused. How could Carole, of all people, do something so horrible? Phil turned and stroked Stevie's hair gently. He'd never seen one person so upset.
"Shhh, it's okay, it's okay. Shhhhh…" He softly crooned to her until she finally stopped shaking. She was still sobbing, but not as bad. Phil's shoulder was now wet, but he didn't care.
"I'm sorry." Stevie said softly.
Phil almost jumped out of his skin. She hadn't spoken for a good forty-five minutes and her voice kind of scared him.
"Sorry for what? What's to be sorry about?" Phil asked.
"Sorry about earlier." Stevie gasped. "I didn't mean to snap at you." She started shaking again.
"Oh, don't worry about that." He said.
"I don't want you to stop liking me." Stevie rasped. Phil felt himself blush slightly.
"I couldn't do that anyways." He said. And it was true.
"I know." Stevie gave a small yawn and Phil couldn't help but chuckle. She'd been at the barn all day! Of course she was tired!
"I love you."
Phil froze. He felt his heart start beating faster, and his face got hot. "I-I-I-" He looked for something to say. "I-I love you too." He whispered in her ear, but she had fallen asleep.
Her breathing slowed, and her eyes were closed. Phil couldn't help but cry a little. She seemed so vulnerable, so frail. Phil leaned back on the couch, and closed his eyes. Even though Stevie was still upset, he couldn't block out her voice from his mind. I love you. He felt a tingling run through his body. She loved him. Within a few minutes, Phil was also sound asleep.
It was 7:00 when Veronica was leaving. Her mother was coming and would arrive at about 7:30. Veronica was still stunned by what had happened earlier, and couldn't shake it off, no matter how hard she tried. Sighing, Veronica got up and decided to take a stroll. She wasn't surprised to find herself at the doors to the lounge ten minutes later.
"Here goes." She took a deep breath and quietly opened the doors. Most of the lights were off, but the windows provided a little light. Veronica walked over to the fridge. The soda she had brought, and had offered to Stevie, was still there.
"She must not have wanted it." Veronica said aloud.
Phil snapped awake. By the sound of Stevie's slow and raspy breathing, Phil could tell she was still asleep. He heard someone in the kitchen. Phil glanced at his watch.
7:18 PM.
Phil sighed, and slowly, as not to disturb Stevie, reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He shot his mother, and Mrs. Lake, a text telling them they were spending the night at Pine Hollow.
"Phil?"
Veronica had approached the edge of the couch. "What are you still doing here?"
"Shhhh!" Phil scolded, and motioned to Stevie.
Veronica stared for a few minutes before she silently mouthed, "Oh."
She sat down on the chair across from the couch. "Is she okay?" Veronica whispered.
Phil shook his head. "No, I don't think so."
"Oh." Veronica was quiet for a moment. "What happened?" She asked.
"I don't know. When I asked Stevie, all she said was, Carole."
Veronica's eyes widened and she gasped. "Oh no! That's horrible!" She put her head in her hands. "Why would Carole do such a thing?"
"I don't know." Phil replied. "I'm not so sure myself. Hey, speaking of, have you seen them?"
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, Carole and Lisa came into the barn about ten minutes after Stevie did. They didn't talk, and as soon as they were done grooming, they left." Veronica explained. "Something must have happened." She glanced at Stevie. Stevie looked so peaceful when she slept, Veronica thought.
"Hmm, I don't know." Phil said with a yawn. He slowly got up and rested Stevie's head on pillow. Picking up the blanket off the floor, he draped it over her quietly. Then he motioned to Veronica to go into the kitchen. Once there, they continued talking.
"So are you spending the night here?" Veronica asked.
"Yeah, Stevie's mom said it was okay. She was a bit frustrated that Stevie hadn't texted her, but you know. Stevie could barely function properly." He said.
"Yeah." Veronica walked over to the bathroom. "I'll be one moment."
Inside she pulled out her phone. "Hey mom, yeah this is Veronica, would you mind bringing over my sleeping stuff? I'm going to spend the night. Yes, I know it's unsanitary-I know I-okay. Please? Really!? Thanks!" Veronica put her phone away and left the bathroom.
Phil turned around. "Can you?"
"Yeah, she's coming over with my stuff now." Veronica smiled. Never before had she been so happy. When her mom came by, Veronica set up her stuff on the floor next to the couch. Phil was already asleep in the chair by the time she finished setting up. At 8:48 PM, Veronica pulled her blanket closer to her, and fell asleep.
Phi was the first one up in the morning. He yawned and stretched his arms. Veronica stirred, but was still asleep. Stevie was out cold. She hadn't moved from the position she was in the other night.
Phil got up and went to the bathroom. He combed his hair, and then walked into the kitchen. Mrs. R had a toaster in the cabinet and a loaf of bread in the pantry. There was some butter and jam in the fridge that Phil pulled out as well. Phil also pulled open the curtains. Light flooded the kitchen area, making things bright again. There was a groan from the floor.
"Who turned on the lights?" Veronica sat up slowly. "Errrrrr, Phil!" She got up and went to the bathroom. When she came out, (thirty minutes later) she looked like the normal Veronica again.
"Oh. Toast." She scowled at the toaster Phil had set up on the counter. "My favorite."
Phil smiled. "It's all we got, take it or leave it!" He grabbed a plate and put the newly cooked toast on it. With two quick swipes he covered one side with butter, and the other with jam. Phil slid the plate over to the bar where Veronica was sitting.
"Thanks." She said sarcastically as she sat down at the table. Although she complained about it, Veronica ate all the toast anyways, and was asking for seconds.
After breakfast Phil pulled out a board game and him and Veronica went a couple of rounds. It was around 8:30 AM when Stevie woke up.
Neither of them noticed she was up until she sat down at the table next to them. Everything went quiet.
"Hey Stevie, get a good night's sleep?" Phil asked cheerfully.
No response.
Stevie sat there as if in a trance, her eyes fixed on some spot across the room. She didn't even acknowledge he was there until he got up and placed a hand on her shoulder. She almost jumped out of her skin.
"Hey." Stevie said.
"Hey." Phil motioned to the kitchen. "I have toast!"
"No thank you." Stevie spoke. She didn't even glance at Phil.
"Oh. Are you sure? I'm sure you're hungry!" He pushed a plate towards her. She looked down at it for a while before finally grabbing one of the pieces. She took one bite and set it back down.
"Done." She said, pushing her plate towards Phil. "Thanks." Phil stood there stunned. Something horrible must have happened, he thought. She was a totally different person.
He got up to put the plate away when Lisa walked in the door. Carole wasn't with her. "Oh, hey Phil!" She said cheerfully. "Have you seen-"
She glanced at the table and saw Stevie. "Oh Stevie! I was so worried about you!" She ran over and pulled up a chair in front of Stevie.
Stevie just sat, frozen. She didn't even say hi.
"Stevie?" Lisa waved a hand in front of Stevie's face. No response. "Stevie, are you okay?"
Phil sighed and sat down next to Lisa.
"What's wrong with her?" Lisa asked. From the tone of her voice, he could tell she was scared.
"I don't know." He replied. "She's been like this all morning." He didn't mention last night for fear of freaking Lisa out.
"Yeah, we don't know what's wrong with her." Veronica piped up.
"Oh, hey Veronica. Hey, did you two spend the night here?" She questioned.
"Yeah, so?" Veronica scowled.
"Just curious." Lisa said. She returned her gaze to Stevie. "Stevie, are you okay?" She repeated.
Again, no response. As if Stevie wasn't there. "Oh."
Lisa looked at the ground. Phil had to do something to cheer her up again.
"So, Lisa, what exactly happened yesterday afternoon?" Phil asked hesitantly. He wasn't sure he wanted to know.
"Oh. That." Lisa took a deep breath before repeating what had happened.
When she was finished, Stevie started shaking. Veronica and Phil stood open mouthed. They were both equally stunned. Without warning, Stevie laid her head in her arms on the table and started sobbing again. Lisa got up quickly and rushed over to her.
"Stevie, oh Stevie," She stood there for the longest time before Stevie finally got up. Her face was red, and her eyes were puffy. She looked miserable.
"Hi Lisa." She said. Lisa grabbed Stevie and pulled her into her arms. Stevie broke into a sob again and Lisa guided her back towards the couch. There, Stevie laid across Lisa's lap, sobbing and gasping. Phil watched all of this, mortified.
That was when Carole walked in. "Hey guys, how are you-" She froze when she saw Stevie sprawled out on Lisa's lap. Lisa put a finger to her mouth so Carole knew to be quiet. Carole brought her hand to her mouth. She was horrified. Stevie looked terrible.
"Oh my gosh," She ran out the doors. Phil ran after Carole.
"Carole, wait up!" Phil caught up to her and grabbed her arm. "Carole, how could you?" He looked her in the eyes.
"I-I don't know. I didn't mean to say such horrible things, and now!" She glanced back at the lounge area. "Oh she looks terrible, and it's all my fault!" She yanked her arm out of Phil's grasp.
"Is she okay?" She asked hopefully. Phil winced, and shook his head.
"She doesn't respond to anything. Movement, sound, it's like she frozen." He explained what happened last night. Carole took all this in.
"It's even worse than I thought! Oh, what have I done!?" She started to run off, but Phil stopped her.
"Just apologize to her Carole!" He motioned to the lounge.
"I don't think it will help." Veronica had approached them from behind. "She's too far gone."
"Who?" Phil asked, confused.
"Stevie you idiot!" Veronica rolled her eyes. "You've seen her! Something is wrong with her! She has changed!" Veronica continued. "She doesn't respond, she isn't eating, and all she does is cry!" Veronica turned to Carole. "Whatever you did, Stevie is never going to be the same person ever again."
With that, Veronica turned and walked into the lounge. Carole sighed. "She's right." She said at last.
"I don't think Stevie will ever want to see me again. And I couldn't blame her. I wouldn't want to see myself." Carole hung her head and walked off.
Phil sighed. Things couldn't get any worse, he thought. But he was wrong.