Initiation Read Online Free PDF Page A

years—everything is about mind games and winning for her. I’ve tried to put it aside for the sake of my friendship with Clare, but Riley’s even competitive about that.”
    â€œThat’s too bad,” I said. “Clare seemed so nice. And I can tell that Riley’s a little . . . territorial.”
    Khloe rolled her eyes. “Don’t let her psych you out—Inoticed that she didn’t waste two seconds trying to scare you about tryouts.”
    â€œIs jumping really what I should focus on?”
    â€œRiley lied . Everything’s equally important to Mr. Conner,” Khloe said. “I have no clue why she said jumping was so important, but she knows better.”
    Just hearing Khloe debunk Riley’s advice about jumping being key slowed my racing heart. She was right— Riley was just trying to psych me out!
    â€œThanks, Khloe,” I said. “So . . . you want to stop talking about someone you don’t like and come meet Whisper?”
    Khloe’s eyes sparkled. “Definitely.”
    I shook Riley off with every step toward Whisper’s stall. Once we were just steps away, the mare poked her head over the door.
    Her brown eyes widened when she saw me. My entire body felt warm. I’d never loved anything as much as I did Whisper. Just knowing something that special was mine made me feel incredibly lucky.
    â€œOooh, Lauren! She’s so beautiful.”
    â€œThanks.” I grinned. “We haven’t been partners for long, so we’ve got a lot of work to do. But I love her.”
    I stroked the mare’s cheek while Khloe scratched under her forelock.
    â€œHow did you find her?” Khloe asked.
    Khloe had spoken the magic words. There was nothing I loved to talk about more than Whisper.
    â€œMy old riding instructor, Kim, knew someone who had a good reputation for buying and selling horses. I tried a lot of horses before Whisper. None of them were right for me. I was so worried! I didn’t even know if I’d find the right one in time for school.”
    â€œThat had to be a ton of pressure on top of starting Canterwood,” Khloe said. She was a great listener. She listened just as enthusiastically as she spoke.
    I nodded in agreement. “I was really down about it— worrying about finding a horse, questioning my decision to even come to Canterwood, even whether I was doing the right thing by leaving my boyfriend.”
    Khloe held up a hand. “Stop. Right. There.”
    â€œWhat?” I said, laughing.
    â€œYou said boyfriend. I know you just met me, but you don’t mention a ‘boyfriend’ to a girl and expect not to have a bigger conversation about that. You’re so not getting away with dropping that detail. We’re so having that convo later!”
    I giggled—I loved Khloe’s honesty. “Deal,” I said. “But you have to spill in return.”
    â€œWell, what are we waiting for?” Khloe asked, grinning. “Let’s go to The Sweet Shoppe—a place you will get to know very well—grab dessert, then go back to our room. We can talk boys, compare class schedules, and maybe do some unpacking and decorating?”
    â€œSounds perfect.”
    I gave Whisper a final pat and we started down the aisle.
    Khloe waved to a bunch of people on our way out. She seemed like the It Girl of the stable. But not in a way where everyone was afraid of her or sucking up because they felt like they had to. The people who flashed smiles at us seemed to genuinely like Khloe.
    A feeling of giddiness and relief swept over me. I couldn’t have gotten luckier with my roommate.
    We walked across the clipped lawn and up the sidewalk toward The Sweet Shoppe.
    â€œJust a sec,” I said, stopping to pull out my BlackBerry. “Photo op,” I explained to Khloe.
    I snapped a pic of the Shoppe and sent it to Chatter, writing, So adorable! I think this will be my fave hangout