Rival Revenge Read Online Free PDF Page A

rest of the pairs act out whatever was on their cue card. Everyone did a great job and someone in the class was always able to tell who the actors were portraying. It was a fun game for everyone and I liked it more with each pair that I watched.
    â€œThanks, everyone,” Ms. Scott said. “I’ll see you next class. Read the assigned chapters and keep practicing the memorization techniques we’ve worked on. Please put your homework on my desk before you go.”
    It was my goal to be the first one out of there. I grabbed my backpack and Heather was beside me, creating a one-girl barrier between Jacob and me. Jacob was getting his stuff ready to go too, but I didn’t look at him as I shoved my books into my backpack.
    At least I had a real reason to hurry. Today, my YENT lesson was next. That was the cool thing abouttheater—the elective was held at different times during the week. I was especially glad to go from theater—a class I had to share with Jacob—to riding. Plus, at this time of the day, Callie and Eric wouldn’t be at the stable.
    I put my paper on Ms. Scott’s desk—it was a definite A. It was a page longer than required and I’d even asked if there was something I could do for extra credit. My grade in the class was already an A, but I wanted to keep it up as high as I could.
    Heather put her paper on top of mine and together, we walked out of the auditorium and toward the stable. Heather looked at me and sighed. “You’re not going to be weird for the entire lesson, right?”
    â€œNope,” I said. “I swear—I’m fine. You’ll see in the arena. I’m over last weekend.”
    Except for losing Callie, I wanted to add. And Eric. And Jacob.
    As we walked, people stared after us. It had to be the last thing anyone expected to see—Heather and me walking together. Everyone had probably thought sitting at their table once for lunch would be the end of it and we’d go back to fighting like we always had. Even I thought it would be that way. Apparently, I was wrong.
    Heather and I slipped into stalls in the newly renovated bathroom and changed into our riding clothes. The once-tiny bathroom now had three separate stalls, a wider mirror, two sinks, and way more counter space.
    We got our horses’ tack and split up in the aisle. Heather went to Aristocrat’s stall and I went to get Charm. I gathered his lead line in one hand and opened the stall door. Charm whirled around, ears flicking back and forth anxiously.
    â€œOh, I’m sorry,” I said. I always said hi to Charm before I went in his stall. I rubbed his neck, then snapped the lead line to the ring on his halter. He stood still while I clipped him into crossties and picked his hooves. Charm leaned into me as I brushed his shoulder. I ignored him and kept grooming him. I switched to the dandy brush and flicked dirt from his legs. Charm, turning his head as much the crossties allowed, tried to nudge my arm.
    â€œWhat?” I asked, then realized my tone was sharper than I’d intended.
    Charm blinked at me.“Oh, boy, I’m sorry,” I said. I let the brush fall into his grooming box and hugged him. “It’s not you. It’s … everyone else. You’re always on my side and I was mean to you. I need to remember that I’m not alone in the arena when I’ve got you.”
    Charm nodded and rubbed his cheek against my upper arm.
    â€œWe’re going to get itback, Charm. We’ll be awesome—like we were before I got all mixed up with Jacob. And Eric. And then Jacob and Eric.” I sighed, pausing to think for a second. “I don’t think I ever completely lost focus on riding. I just … got so caught up in drama. I’m sick of it—seriously. Done. Over it.”
    And I was. I’d panicked for what felt like years to try and keep Callie and Jacob together after his confession that he still liked me.