Rival Revenge by Jessica Burkhart Read Free Book Online

missed hearing him speak.
    I opened my eyes and made myself listen to him talk about the food pyramid, which we’d all learned about in, like, second grade. I almost wished he was reading about something I’d never heard about before so I’d have to concentrate on the words and take notes instead of listening to his voice.
    I couldn’t do that —waver. I’d made my choice and I couldn’t go back and forth. Because if I started to think about Jacob, then my mind wandered to Eric. And I missed him so much even though I refused to think about it.
    After we finished going through the chapter and Utz assigned homework, she dismissed the class.
    â€œI have to go to riding,” I said to Jacob. I looked at my bag while I talked to him. “Do you want to take it first?”
    Jacob gathered his stuff and stood. “Sure. And we can text or something tomorrow and trade.”
    I handed the egg to him, careful that our fingers didn’t touch. “Here’s the notebook,” I said.
    Paige was still busy trading info with Aaron, so I waved at her and walked out of the classroom. She’d understand that I didn’t want to stay in here with Jacob.
    Later that afternoon, I went to my riding lesson. I walked into the tack room and Julia and Alison were inside.
    â€œHey,” I said. I put Charm’s saddle pad over my arm and reached to grab his saddle. I noticed that his tack was filthy—how embarrassing. I needed to clean it ASAP.
    â€œThis isn’t going to last much longer,” Julia said.
    â€œWhat?” I asked.
    Julia rolled her eyes. “Alison and I not riding. We’re going to be back in the saddle sooner than anyone thinks.”
    Alison glanced at Julia, then at me. “We can’t keep watching everyone else ride. It’s killing us.”
    I put Charm’s saddle over my arm and grabbed hisbridle. “I’m sorry it’s so hard. Maybe you guys should avoid the arenas when lessons are going on. Take Trix and Sunstruck for a walk on the trails. You know they want to get out too.”
    Alison nodded. “That’s a good idea. We’ve got to do something. They’re going crazy in their stalls, even though Mike rides them whenever he has time.”
    â€œBut Mike’s not you guys,” I said. “I get it.”
    I left them in the tack room and groomed and tacked up Charm. I couldn’t imagine being in Julia’s and Alison’s position. I’d die without Charm and he’d never be happy with a stranger riding him. It had to torture Alison and Julia every time they stepped into the stable. Their ban from riding wasn’t lifted until January and they had a looong way to go till then.
    I put on my helmet and led Charm to the indoor arena. I mounted and started warming him up. I leaned down and hugged his neck, grateful to have him.
    â€œHow sad,” Jas said, entering the arena on Phoenix. “You don’t have a boyfriend so you’ve resorted to making out with your horse.”
    â€œThat’s exactly what I was doing,” I said. “You caught me.”
    I looked away and trotted Charm forward. I wasactually glad when Heather rode inside. At least Jas would keep her mouth shut—sort of—when Heather was around. We all warmed up our horses while waiting for Mr. Conner.
    I halted Charm, backed him up, and then started him at a trot. A few strides later, I slowed him again and began working him in circles that got smaller and smaller.
    â€œI know you’re dense, but practice hasn’t started yet,” Heather said. “This is called a warm-up .” She said the last two words slowly.
    â€œWe are,” I said. “Whatever.”
    Before I could turn Charm in the opposite direction, Mr. Conner entered the arena with a smile. We halted our horses in front of him.
    â€œHi, girls,” Mr. Conner said. “I’d intended for us to practice inside today, but