Chosen by Jessica Burkhart Read Free Book Online Page B

“Please cool out your horses and make sure they’re fed and watered and have clean stalls before you leave. I’ll see you at the next lesson.”
    We dismounted and followed Kim back to the stable.
    â€œWhoa,” Ana said, leading Breeze next to me. The mare, working off a slight hay belly, was sweating around her saddle pad. “You really went for it—that was awesome!”
    â€œTotally,” Brielle said, reaching my other side. “I didn’t think you were going to do it, but you did. That was great.”
    â€œGuys, stop,” I said, waving my free hand. “It was one good round. Your rides were clean, too.”
    Ana and Brielle both raised their eyebrows at the same time.
    â€œFine, fine,” Brielle said in a singsong voice. “Whatever you say. Just don’t do that every time. I’m the jumping queen.”
    â€œGot it,” I said, laughing.
    Walking our horses close together, the three of us talked and laughed the entire way back to the stable. And just like that, glee didn’t feel like enough anymore.

WHAT IF . . . ?
    I HEADED OUTSIDE TO THE STABLE PARKING lot and waited for Dad. Brielle and Ana left with Ana’s mom. The two of them lived in the same neighborhood on the opposite side of town from me and my family.
    While I waited for Dad, I played on my phone. I updated my Chatter status, an addiction of mine that Mom called the biggest waste of time ever, but I loved it. It was like a public diary.
    A few months ago, I’d gone back and read a bunch of Chatter updates I’d posted over a year ago and realized something: they’d all been about riding. I thought back to some of the status updates as I leaned against the stable.
    Swept the 3 day event! #1! 6:08 p.m .
    Bad lesson. Fell off twice. Practicing 3x as long 2mrw. 11:14 p.m .
    Starting @ new stable. Hope I like it. 2:09 a.m .
    That had been my last round of riding-only related Chats. After I’d started at Briar Creek and enrolled at Yates, my Chats had changed. I scrolled through my last three Chats.
    @AnaArtiste U have the English hmwk? 3:40 p.m .
    Ahhh! @BrielleisaBeauty & @AnaArtiste I wish you guys were here right now! Just dropped ice cream on new black ballerina skirt—fashion fail! 12:15 p.m .
    Waiting 4 news on something. Something kinda big. Rlly big, I guess. 9:07 p.m .
    Now I had real-life friends following me, reading my thoughts, and my life didn’t revolve solely around the stable.
    My priorities had shifted, but it didn’t mean I loved horses any less. Instead I found out I actually loved a bunch of things all at once.
    And I was still as in love with riding as ever.
    My phone buzzed and the symbol for a BBM appeared.
    Taylor:
    How was ur lesson?
    I knew he would BBM me. Tay, an athlete like me, understood how important lessons and practice sessions were. We always BBM’d or spoke to each other after oneof us had swim practice (him) or a riding lesson (me). He understood me in a way that no other guy did.
    I typed back.
    Lauren:
    U know what? Awesome! My horse jumped rlly well—I’m happy.
    Taylor:
    Your horse wasn’t the only one who did well, LT. V cool!
    Lauren:
    Oh, pls. ;) Still @ BC I’m waiting 4 my dad. U?
    Taylor:
    Hmwk. Then backyard kickball w Sam. Mom asked me 2 so she could study .
    Taylor’s mom was going back to school to get her master’s degree in psychology. She’d been at home with Taylor and his little brother, Sam, since they’d been born, but Mrs. Frost had decided to go back to school last fall.
    Lauren:
    Don’t beat him 2 bad. ;)
    Taylor
    Ha. Plan = kick the ball into the Pearsons’ yard and hope it lands in their garden—aka “the jungle.” It’ll take him hrs 2 find it .
    Lauren:
    Tay!
    I laughed. Taylor talked a big game, but I knew he’d never play dirty with Sam. He loved his little brother—they’d probably have so much fun that they’d play until