Comeback (16 page)

“I CANNOT BELIEVE IT'S SUNDAY NIGHT,” I
said. “I slept almost all weekend!” I adjusted the pillow behind me.

“As you should have,” Khloe said. “You have the flu, Laur. You needed the rest.”

“
Had
the flu,” I said. “Had. I'm not throwing up or nauseous anymore. Plus, my fever's gone.”

Khloe, sitting on her bed, gave me a Mom-like look. “I'm so, so glad all that's gone. But you haven't kept down any food until the chicken soup you had for lunch today. You're still going to need rest and time to recoup.”

I nodded. “Oh, I'll get plenty of rest tonight. Going to bed early will help. Then I'll take it easy through classes tomorrow so I don't wear myself out before I get to my lesson.”

Khloe got up and sat at the end of my bed. She was in her fave pair of zebra print pjs—a cami and shorts. “Laur, Christina's not going to let you go to class tomorrow. She came in a little while ago when you were asleep and said she'd let all your teachers know you'd be out tomorrow.”

“What?” I shook my head. “No, I'm fine to go to class. Christina doesn't know how much better I feel. Once I tell her, she'll let me go.”

Khloe looked at her lap, then at me. “I know you. You want to get back to everything. But if you push it, you'll get really sick all over again. Christina's mind is set—trust me.”

“But Khloe, if I don't go to class, then I won't be allowed to ride! We have lessons tomorrow!”

“Ugh. I
hate
telling you this. I'm sorry, Lauren, but Christina told Mr. Conner how sick you were, and they decided you couldn't ride tomorrow.”

Anger replaced the hot feeling of the fever I'd felt in my body all weekend. “That's not fair. I didn't get to ride at
all
this weekend. I missed two entire days of riding! Now Mr. Conner won't let me ride tomorrow? We have a show on Saturday.”

I folded my arms, throwing myself back into my pillows.

“I'd be mad too. Maybe try to think of the positive? You get to skip school tomorrow and sleep, watch TV, or do whatever you want. You'll get rested up, and you'll come back to the stable in perf shape.”

“Missing three days of riding because of being sick and then forced to rest isn't going to help me
or
Whisper at all,” I said. “She's used to being exercised almost every day.”

“I know Mike and Doug took turns exercising her this weekend,” Khloe said, her tone soft. “If it would make you feel better, I could work her tomorrow. Only if you want, obviously.”

I knew I was acting like a brat, but I didn't care. It felt like no one understood how important practicing was for the schooling show. But Khloe wasn't the bad guy. She'd taken care of me all weekend. She'd skipped her date with Zack and had texted Drew, too, to let him know I was sick. Drew had written a sweet BBM that he was sorry I was sick and to let him know if I needed anything. Now Khloe was only trying to help.

“I'd love for you to ride Whisper if you have time,” I said. “That would mean a lot. Thank you.”

“Of course,” she said. “I get why you're mad and frustrated. I really do. I'm sorry you got sick and that it cut into your practice time. But just think—when you
do
get
in the arena, you'll be feeling great and you'll make triple sure every second counts.”

I half smiled. “Yeah. I guess so.”

Khloe took a breath. “Try not to get down. I know that's easy to say, but you're ready for the show. If you didn't have a chance to practice again before riding in your classes, you'd do great.”

I opened my mouth.

“I'm not saying any of that just because we're friends,” Khloe said, stopping me before I could argue. “I'm saying it because it's true. You're ready for your trail and dressage class. Zero doubt in my mind.”

“Thanks, Khloe. I don't feel that way, honestly, but your support means so much. Everything you did for me this weekend—I'll never be able to thank you enough. I wouldn't be as well as I am if you hadn't taken care of me.”

Smiling, Khloe went back to her own bed. I stared at the TV, not even hearing the words. Even though Khloe believed in me, I didn't. I needed to be in the arena. I was jealous of Khloe and everyone else who rode this weekend and would get to practice tomorrow.

Christina had insisted that Khloe get some air on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, so she had worked out with Ever. I hated that I felt envious that Khloe had been
able to ride and I hadn't. It was so immature! She deserved to do whatever she wanted in the whole two hours she'd spent out of our room this weekend. Plus, I'd put her at major flu risk. Thankfully, she showed no signs of being sick.

I still couldn't stop the anxiety about all the lost riding time. Whisper and I needed the practice as much as anyone, and we'd missed two days and were on schedule to miss a third. I'd had my stable time for the entire weekend and week planned. Now the only place the schedule belonged was in the trash.

THE WEEK PASSED IN A BLUR. I'D SLEPT ALL
day Monday, proving the point that I
did
need the rest. When Khloe had gotten back from riding, I'd woken up feeling better.

Really,
really
better.

Khloe had filled me in about her exercise with Whisper, and the mare had behaved like a pro. Even though I'd still felt upset about not riding, I was grateful that Whisper got a workout with my friend.

I'd felt strong enough to go to the dining hall that night and have dinner. The walk to the caf, though, had exhausted me, and I'd fallen asleep moments after we came back to our room.

Christina decided I could try a half day of classes on
Tuesday if I truly wanted to go. I'd gone and turned in my makeup work. It had felt great to see my friends—especially Lexa and Clare, who'd been BBMing me the entire time I was sick. I e-mailed Mr. Conner to tell him how I was feeling, and he wrote back that I could groom Whisper, but no riding until Wednesday. For a second, I'd started to compose an e-mail begging him to let me ride. Then I deleted the words I'd written and instead thanked him and said I couldn't wait to be back in the stable. My anger at not being allowed to ride melted away at that moment. Mr. Conner had gotten Whisper and me this far. It was only fair that I trust him in return.

Wednesday was when I'd
really
lost track of time. I rushed through school on Wednesday and Thursday to get to the stable. Both lessons had been tough, but Whisper hadn't given me any problems. She acted as if she'd encountered the trail-class obstacles a dozen times before when I'd ridden her through the course. I'd been too tired to even pay attention to Riley.

Dressage had been nearly as flawless. Thanks to workouts from Mike, Doug, and Khloe, Whisper acted as if no time had been lost. When I'd finally come up for air, it was Friday afternoon. The day before our schooling show.

“YOU'RE PROBABLY WONDERING WHY
I'VE
gathered the intermediate and advanced teams,” Mr. Conner
said. “I e-mailed each of you requesting that you come without your horse, because
this afternoon will be a bit different.”

Standing together, Khloe, Clare, Riley, Drew, Lexa, and I looked at one
another.

“There will be no intermediate or advanced lessons today,” Mr.
Conner continued. “I want your horses to rest. We, on the other hand, have guests
coming. The stable reflects our team. Therefore, I want it to be in perfect
condition.”

“Ugh, cleaning,” Khloe whispered.

“You'll each be assigned a few stable chores. Everyone
must clean his or her tack in addition to whatever else
you're given to do.” Mr. Conner smiled at us. “When the stable passes
inspection, you can leave. I want this to be an early night for you, so please come to
me for your assignments and get started.”

Riders started lining up. Clare, Khloe, Lexa, and I got into line, and I
spotted Drew way ahead of us. He waved, and I smiled back.

“Riles, come on,” Clare said, waving at her friend.

Her roommate hadn't moved. Instead there was a weird look on her
face, and her feet seemed cemented to the ground.

“Riley?” Clare said. “Come on. We have to do these
chores so we can get out of here.”

Riley waved her hand. “
You
guys have to do
chores. I'm leaving now.”

“You can't get out of helping,” I said.

“Yeah, we
all
have to stay,” Khloe
said, anger in her voice.

Riley stepped over to us, looking into Khloe's eyes. She paused,
putting her hand on her hip. “I got the job in New York.”

Wait.
What?!

“Ha-ha. Very funny,” Lexa said.

Clare stared at Riley. One look at Riley's face and I knew it was
true.

“When did you find out? You didn't even
tell me,” Clare said. Her voice shook.

“And why would I tell you, Clare? You've made new friends. You
tried to force
me
to be friends with them. I knew when I got
back to Canterwood that I had the part.”

Silence. No one had a response. I was too shocked to think of anything to
say.

“The whole ‘of course I'll try to get along with your
loser friends?' It's called
acting
,” Riley
said. “I had to keep practicing somehow.”

“You are a horrible person,” Khloe said, her face red.
“I don't care that you got a job. I don't care that you played all of
us. I
do
care that you hurt Clare. She's supposed to be
your best friend!”

Riley shrugged. “Was my best friend. Now she's all yours. And
so is the part of Belle. You got everything you wanted, Khloe!
Congratulations.”

I held myself back from getting in Riley's face. She wasn't
worth it.

“My stuff is being moved out of our room now,” Riley said to
Clare. “I'll be gone by the time you finish your chore fest. I only came to
this meeting to see all of you at once. Watch for me on TV!”

She turned, her black hair swishing around her
shoulders, and disappeared.

Not one of us moved except to shuffle forward in line. No one said her
name. It was done. Riley Edwards was no longer a student at Canterwood Crest
Academy.

•  •  •

Back in our room, Khloe and I took turns showering and getting ready
for bed. On our walk back to Hawthorne, we'd made a pact not to talk about Riley
until after the show. We knew we'd talk about it
forever
,
and it would take away too much of our
focus. We had, however, made sure Clare was okay. She'd promised she was and that
she'd text if she needed us. I couldn't imagine what she was going
through—losing a best friend. And the night before a show. But something told me
that Clare wasn't too down. That Riley's departure had set her free
somehow.

It was going to be an early night, but I felt wired. Images of my last
show—of Red Oak—kept threatening to explode in front of me. I tried to keep
busy, doing anything to occupy my mind.

My phone buzzed, and I opened BBM.

Taylor:

Wanted to say GOOD LUCK, Laur. Even tho u so
don't need it.

Lauren:

Thank you! I'm nervous, but I trust
Whisper.

Taylor:

Not worried abt u 2 @ all. Wisp is UR horse. R u
excited 2 show her off?

Lauren:

Definitely!! Cross ur fingers 4 me that I do CC
proud.

Taylor:

I will, but u don't need luck.

Lauren:

What r u doing?