Best Enemies (Canterwood Crest) by Jessica Burkhart Read Free Book Online Page B

help thinking how weeks ago, a sleepover with Callie had seemed as if it would never happen again. But our friendship kept getting better and I knew we’d get back to being super BFFs before we left for summer vacay.
    On my way out of the stable I passed the indoor arena and stopped when I saw a horse and rider flash by the window. Heather moved Aristocrat along the wall, sitting quietly to his canter. She was
still
practicing?
    I walked into the arena and when Heather turned Aristocrat back, she saw me. She focused her gaze forward again, ignoring me and slowing Aristocrat to a trot. She trotted him past me and through the arena’s center. Shesat for a beat as Aristocrat crossed through the diagonal and she got back on the right lead. She worked for ten minutes before she asked him for a walk. Aristocrat took sharp breaths and sweat had darkened his chest.
    “He looks happy to quit,” I called out.
    Heather stopped him in front of me and pushed her helmet back. “We’re not done.”
    “We just had a lesson and you’ve been in here for at least an hour by yourself,” I said. “Aristocrat’s tired.”
    Heather rubbed his neck. “I’m giving him a break, Silver. Chill.”
    I looked closer at Heather. She had a smudge on her chin and faint circles under her eyes. Her cheeks looked a little hollowed.
    “Plus, you probably have something else you want to do tonight,” I said. “It’s Friday, right?”
    Heather glared at me. “Go bother someone else, okay? I need to finish up here.”
    I walked out of the arena, shaking my head. When I turned the corner, I almost ran right into Alison. She looked out of place in the stable with her skinny jeans, paddock boots, and sparkly purple T-shirt.
    “Have you seen Heather?” she asked.
    “Indoor arena,” I said. “Still practicing.”
    “Oh.” Alison frowned. “Okay.”
    She started to walk away, but I called after her. “Is something wrong with Heather?”
    Alison turned back to me. She stuck her hands in her pockets. “Like what?”
    “She just seems superstressed. And she has to be tired, but she’s still riding.” I shrugged. “Just asking.”
    Alison looked as if she was going to blow me off. But then she stepped closer to me. “She’s just stressed, like you said. There’s a lot of pressure.”
    “Her dad?” I guessed.
    Alison’s eyes widened slightly. “Yeah. It’s always her dad. But whatever, I don’t know why I’m telling
you
this. Not like you care.”
    “Heather’s my teammate,” I said, brushing a Charm hair off my jacket sleeve. “Believe it or not, I want her to do well. And I’m not going to tell anyone that we talked— I swear.”
    Alison looked at her boots, then back at me. “I can’t believe I’m about to continue this conversation, but I do feel bad for Heather. Her dad told her if she didn’t make the YENT, he was going to sell Aristocrat and make her transfer to another boarding school.”
    “He’s threatening her with
that
again?” Mr. Fox hadmade the same threats last fall if Heather didn’t make the advanced team.
    “Yeah. And she’s worried. I mean, last time she knew she’d likely make the advanced team. But making the YENT is so much harder.”
    I leaned against the wall, trying to think of a way to help. “Anything we can do?”
    Alison gave me a half smile. “I haven’t thought of anything yet. Maybe I’ll go offer to coach her tomorrow if she agrees to stop for today.”
    I nodded. “Good idea.”
    As I walked to Winchester, I tried to imagine my parents taking Charm away from me. I couldn’t even go there. Heather and I had our problems, but I didn’t want to see her lose Aristocrat.

12
THAT RINGTONE
    FILM CLASS WAS STARTING IN TWO MINUTES and Jacob still hadn’t shown. I shifted in my cushy red seat and tapped my fingers on the armrest.
    Mr. Ramirez stood in front of the class and smiled at us. He always started film class with a quote and it was like a class competition to see who could get