Graduation Day...
He calls my name and I nervously step up to him. He shakes my hand as he hands me the paper with a red ribbon tied around it. I turn to everyone and to my surprise, they give me a standing ovation. I spot Sara clapping so wildly and my parents faces are red and my mother is crying tears of joy. I hope. The clapping eventually dies down and I step off the stage and sit next to Sara and Cody.
" Did you see how much everyone clapped!" Sara excitedly whispers.
" Yeah. But why?" She raises an eyebrow.
" Remember three days ago?" A lightbulb flicks on in my head.
" Oh, yeah!" She giggles and I laugh a bit. Adam is next and when he gets handed his diploma, I can see his hand shaking from where we are at. And that's pretty far away from the stage.
Now, if you're wondering what happened three days ago, I'll tell you.
Three Days Ago...
As soon I step off the bus, I expect to be either pushed, laughed at or ignored. My eyes zip down to the ground and wait for it. I hear a distant laugh from Bianca and her group. So, I look up and see who they're picking on or hitting on. My eyes shift to her and, of course, she and her friends are flirting up a storm to Cody. Why him? I have two choices. One, walk away. And two, get Cody. I stand there for a couple of seconds and make up my mind. I walk towards Cody and the bullies, hearing the fake girls laughter. I am just ten meters away, when Emma walks by. She is a 'nerd' from what I've heard. I don't think she is though. She's just smart and has glasses, but is the schools nicest person. She just glances at the four people, consisting of Bianca, Liona, Kelley and Cody, that was a big mistake. Bianca catches her eye and I chuckle to myself, her face is redder than a tomato. She spins around and grabs Emma from her backpack, tugging her down to the concrete.
" Who do you think you are?! You can't just walk by me and my friends and Cody like that!" She nods and mumbles something.
" What was that? You're sorry?" I start walking towards them, waiting for it to happen. She raises her hand, with her palm towards the girl. She is just about to bring it down on her face, when I catch it. Her hand jerks back and I twist it behind her back. She whimpers in pain and I get in her face.
" Leave. Her. Alone." She smirks at me.
" Oh, look at you. Helping every poor little girl who gets in my way. It's their own fault." She scoffs.
" Bianca. You're so nasty." I snap at her. There is a lot of oo's echoing the crowd that formed around us, that I haven't even noticed. Her face scrunched up.
" Well, tell me how." She snaps.
" Well, when I called you on the phone once, I got an ear infection."
" Oh yeah? Well, your so gross. Thats why."
" Bianca! That made no sense!" Someone yells from the crowd. They all eventually fade away and I shove her down to the ground.
" Just leave Emma and Cody alone." She flinches and nods. I stand up, brush my hands off on my jeans and walk towards Cody and Emma. They are just standing there. The last two watching.
" Thanks, Hayley," She steps forward.
" You didn't have to do that, you know." She side hugs me and walks inside the school.
" Bianca is probably going to tell the principal." I nod. We step into the hallway and a bunch of people smile and high five me, for some strange reason. One small, brunette girl hugged me!
" Thanks for standing up to Bianca. She is so mean to everyone but Cody," She pulls away from the hug.
" She likes him, you know!" She whispers. I nod. She walks back to her friend and Cody and I to our lockers. He switched to the one beside mine. We have become really good friends.
When I unlock my locker, a couple notes come spilling out of my locker. I bend down and pick some of them up.
' Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!' One says.
' Dear, Hayley. Thanks for standing up for my sister, Emma. -Jamie, Emma's brother' I didn't know Emma has a brother. I zip my backpack open and stuff them all in. I snatch my textbook from my locker and head to class.
6 Hours Later...
The bell rings, sounding the end of school. I speed to my locker, opening it and grabbing my bag. I head to the bus and watch as people open the door for me as I exit the school.
" Thanks." I mutter. He nods and I hear someone call my name.
" Hayley! Wait up!" I turn and watch Cody run through the hallway with something in his hands. I see Mrs. Beach walk out of the office and I mouth to Cody; " Slow down!" He immediately reads my lips and slows to a fast walk.
" Hey, I am giving this to you. It's from Sara. She has to help out after school, which is now, so.... Here you go!" He holds out an envelope that has my name on the front.
" Thanks, Cody!" I say. He glances at his bus and I turn my head. The bus driver honks the horn and he turns to me.
" Oh! Bye!" He quickly says and hugs me. Cody pulls away and runs to his bus. I walk for my bus and find that is has left. Oh, crap! I turn and speed over to Cody's bus and hop on. The bus driver looks at me and I explain what happened.
" Okay, pick a seat." Cody looks up and when he lies his eyes on me, he pushes his friend out of the seat. I chuckle to myself then notice that everyone is staring at me, impatiently waiting for me to sit down. I quickly shuffle to my seat beside Cody.
" Well, hello again!" He energetically says.
" Hello. Long time no see." He laughs and we talk for the rest of the ride. I realize, how in the heck an I getting home? It's a completely different route and street. I nervously turn to Cody and fake smile.
" Ugh, Cody? Can I get off at your stop?" He nods and smiles at me. Nearby, there is a shriek from three seats away.
" Why is the freak here?!" Bianca. The bus driver looks back at us through his mirror and ignores us.
" Hey! Haven't you had enough?!" I yell. The bus pulls into a stop and he opens the door. Cody taps my shoulder and I let him in front of me. When I am at Bianca's seat, I shove my hand in her face and push her down into the leg space on your seat.
" Agh! I'm stuck!" She says, arms and legs flailing around. I laugh and step off the bus. He walks beside me, down the dirt driveway. The scent of fresh hay greets my nose and I spot a large barn. I smile at him and open my mouth but he beats me to it.
" Okay, we can go to the barn." I happily squeal, sarcastically, and skip to the barn. I throw my bag on the ground, right in front of the open doors. I look inside and spot many, multicoloured heads. A few nicker to us as I walk by each and every one. There is probably about 37 stalls and at least half of them are filled. One buckskin skewbald catches my eye as I walk down the aisle, which has many brightly coloured saddle pads and ribbons all handing alone the stalls.
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Not ten minutes later, he has his grullo stallion and that dun skewbald mare bridled up and ready to ride. He lets me in front of him to the mounting block, but I politely decline. So, he steps up and jumps on to the 17 hand stallion and waits for me. I smirk and show him up by grabbing the mare's mane by her withers and swinging myself up. Luckily, she is like, 15.2 hands.
" How did you do that?!" He questions, mouth gaping open.
" Practice." Is all I say. I kick her barrel, lightly, and send her into a lope through the forest, on the trail home. When we arrive at my place, my mom bursts out the door, spooking Moose (Cody's stallion).
" Hayley! Where have you be-" She is stunned by either the horses or Cody. I turn to him and smile, handing Dancer's reins.
" Thanks for the horse, Cody. See ya tomorrow." He smiles back and I slide off Dancer.
" Thanks for letting me ride you, Dancer." I kiss her on her velvety muzzle. And turn to my mother.
" Oh, mom. This is Cody. Cody, this is my mom, Louise." She smiles at him.
" Hi Cody." He says hi and waves back time as he trots back home. I step into the barn with my mom.
" I thought... Well, I didn't even know where you were!" She exclaims.
" I texted and called you several times, but no reply." She continued. Crap! That's what I forgot. My backpack at Cody's barn.
" Ugh! I forgot my bag at Cody's place, just outside the barn!" She laughs, teasingly, and turns my shoulders back to the house.
" Oh, well. I think you've spent too much time around horses, you'll turn into one!" I laugh. We open the creaky door and I kick my boots off, sending them flying across the room. I speed up the stairs and get changed into my pyjamas.
After brushing my hair and teeth, I slump down on my cool bed. I leave my window open, so I crawl under my blankets and set my alarm. Goodnight.
P.S.
That horse is Dancer, next chapter it will be Moose!