Complication

Chapter Six

A/N: Thank you to all my readers! Please comment what you think about this book so far!

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The Grand Prix arena was just beginning to start when I stepped into the Big Eq arena right next to it. Just last week I was showing in a C rated show and here I am now in the A circuit with billions of spectators around. Of course they're not all watching me, most are waiting for the Grand Prix to start. But, since there's no riders in that ring yet, people are bound to turn and watch the next closest ring to them.

I take a deep breath and pick up a trot to begin my opening circle. Aspen is on point today, listening to every little movement I make. I shouldn't take all the credit, Brandon hopped on him the other day and gave him a much needed break from me.

I canter in slow, even strides to the first vertical. I made sure I didn't crawl up his neck and we landed smoothly on the other side.

We make it through half the course without a problem. We come up to a big oxer with a tricky turn to yet another oxer. "Whoa" I half- halt to make Aspen shorten his stride a smidge to reach the distance perfectly.

The great thing about eq is that it's not timed, so instead of taking the shorter route to the oxer where many people before me overlooked the distance and came too close to the base of the jump, I go around the first vertical I jumped for the longer approach. I sit back and hold Aspen to the base of the jump and he flys over it easily.

The rest of the course was easy, Aspen picked his head up to the last jump. A big vertical with a Liverpool full of shinny blue dyed water. I feel Aspen's stride shorten in hesitation, I give him a cluck and put my leg on. Instantly he spurts forward, and looks to run out of the fence completely, but without even moving my hand too much, I steer him back into the line and he jumps it a bit awkward, but not too terrible.

I finish with my closing circle and give him a pat on the neck. "Good boy" I say when I leave through the exit gate.

"Good job handling the turn and that last jump." Brandon says when I dismount and hand my reins over to Javier. I would take Aspen back myself but I can tell that Brandon wants to talk. I say thank you to Javier and turn my attention back to Brandon. "So I know that you didn't have any plans on showing tomorrow, but-" He looks over to a twenty-something year old girl, "I think I just found your first client."

"Really?" I look over at her too.

"Jackie Peterson. She owns a whole string of horses and was just talking to me about one that she wants to get sold, but she needs someone to train him and ride him in shows to get him noticed. She said she would do it herself but doesn't have time." He starts to walk over to her and I follow. "So I was wondering if you want to show him tomorrow?"

Tomorrow I was supposed to head home, but I suppose one more day wouldn't hurt. "Yeah, no problem."

"Perfect." He walks up to Jackie and shakes her hand, "Jackie, this is my student I was telling you about, Gina."

"Nice to meet you" I greet and shake her hand. She has dark brown hair and dark brown eyes to match. Her smile was big and greeting, and her voice matching that too.

"Nice to meet you too." We turn towards the Eq arena as the announcer starts to say the placings. "I already worked everything out with Brandon." Jackie starts to say, "We have his show schedule up and ready, he will be living at your barn, and I will take care of all the expenses." I nod and listen to the announcer call the person in sixth place. I know that I'm out at that point. No way could I have placed in a class full with twenty seven people. "And, of course, you will get paid for working with him, and get part of the commission when he sells. We will talk numbers later." Right then I heard my name on the loudspeaker. "Congratulations" Jackie smiles, "Fourth in your first A rated show." I smile, and try to hide my excitement, but it was too great. Jackie realizes, "It's okay to be happy, that's a big deal. Most people have been showing here for years and still don't place. Be proud."

I was, I semi- skip back to our stalls with my white ribbon. The tent barn is all decorated in Two Trees get-up. Thankfully, it's more elegant than most barns who look like they barfed up their barn colors everywhere. Two-Trees doesn't have it's own barn colors, but to be honest, I'm kind of happy that it doesn't. Instead, If we really have to decorate something, like these to support Two Trees, its always black and beige. But we just have it on our banner and that's it. Everything else is, well, decorated with small trees and mulch.

Javier has Aspen in his tent stall and is brushing away the saddle mark. "I can take it from here, Javier." I say as I open the stall door.

"No, no, you can't get your show clothes dirty!"

I role my eyes, "Always finding an excuse Javier." I shake my head. But then I take off my show jacket and replace my helmet with a Baker horse brand baseball cap, "All better" I say as I walk back into Aspen's stall.

Now Javier shakes his head, "I give up" He throws up his hands and walks out.

I spend an hour grooming Aspen and praising him for being awesome. When I check my watch I'm surprised to see that its seven at night. I call my mom and Justin to tell them that I'm staying another day. Nobody seemed to mind, I think my mom is happy to have the house to herself for three days.

"So your staying an extra day?" I spin around to see Lucas.

My mood immediately goes sour, "Do you always sneak up like that? You're so annoying!"

"All I did was ask you a question..." He says in defense.

"Yes, I am staying here, but that's none of your business."

"It kinda is, we're a team remember?"

"Riding wise, because we are at the same barn. So it's forced. Never would I pick to be on a team with you."

"Oh come on, you love me." He flashes that evil smirk that he always does.

"No, no I do not." I say angrily, That smirk means he's about to do something. Usually it's cutting me off while I'm riding but I really have no idea what's about to happen now.

He slams me against the wall and aggressively tries to make out with me. I try to push him off but he's too strong and has me in a death grip. His breath not only smelt like beer but it tasted like it, stale and disgusting. "Get off!" I barely say. I yank my right arm free, cock it back as much as I can, and slam it into his face as hard as I can.

He stumbles back a couple of steps, cradling his face with one hand. I wipe my lips on my shirt, "Don't ever touch me again!" I venomously say through my teeth. He walks out of the barn, holding his face and cursing under his breath.

I storm off and drive back to the hotel, thinking the same question the whole entire time.

What was Justin going to say about this?

My stomach grumbles because I didn't eat not one thing all day. And now that I think about it, I didn't eat anything yesterday either. But I'm too angry and confused to even look at food. I slide right into the bed and thankfully my fifteen hour day made me too tired to stay up and think all night.

I was hoping to sleep in tomorrow and go home, ride Harry, take care of Zara, see Justin.

But now I have to get my ass up at four in the morning again and show a horse I've never ridden before. And now I have to deal with this Lucas shit. This ought to be fun.