Chapter 11
April 8th
A week had passed since Adam left for Egypt and Tasha was missing her boyfriend more than ever. They had facetimed each other as much as they could but it wasn't the same. Tasha wanted Adam with her more than anything and Egypt was just too far away. Tasha was just glad that Adam was having a wonderful time and he was enjoying every single second of every single day. At least Adam would only be away for another three weeks now, and Tasha decided that she would be counting the days.
Things were fine with university as well. Tasha had finally settled into her new routine and things were getting easier. She was hanging out with Sebastian, Emily and Emma between classes and she always had a good time. Role plays were still a regular occurrence, but Tasha was forcing herself to get used to it.
Tasha had also been thinking of Nicole a lot. They hadn't seen each other a lot, but they had just finished a long phone call with each other seeing as it was the midsemester break. Nicole couldn't stop talking about Riley and Tasha was so happy that her best friend's relationship was working out well. She was so happy when Nicole said that Riley actually told her he loved her. Tasha really fangirled over that when she heard it. She was so excited for her best friend.
"All work and no play makes a very sad human being," Sebastian said from behind Tasha.
Tasha jumped slightly, "Seb, you scared me."
Sebastian just laughed.
"What are you doing here? In my house?"
"I was bored. Wanted something to do."
"Who let you in?"
"You sister."
"You should have told me you were coming."
"Where's the fun in that?"
"At least I would have known."
"Not fun."
"Very funny."
"So, what can we do today?"
"I don't know."
"Still moping about Adam?"
"I miss him."
"That's why we need to do something."
"I can't think of anything."
"Don't you worry, then. Old Sebby here will think of something."
"Sebby?"
"Long story."
"It sounds like one I want to hear."
"Some other time."
"Why not now?"
"Its embarrassing."
"Now I really want to hear."
"Now you really have to wait."
"Why?"
"I feel like froyo."
"Froyo?"
"Frozen yoghurt."
"Oh, right."
"So, any good froyo joints around here?"
Tasha laughed.
Sebastian was weird.
"Are there?" he asked again.
"Yes, there is. At the shopping centre."
"Let's go, then."
Tasha then got up with a smile on her face.
She was now seriously glad that she had met Sebastian.
...
That afternoon, Isabella couldn't stop laughing. The funniest thing happened when she and Hannah were out on the trail. The girls were riding their horses because it was such a nice afternoon, and they happened to bump into Lucy and Daniel. Isabella admitted that Lucy was a good rider, and she was doing what Mr Wilson said; cutting her some slack.
But that all change as soon as everyone saw Lucy fall off Melody.
Melody had spooked and Lucy fell out of the saddle and into a mud puddle. Isabella and Hannah, as well as Daniel, dismounted their horses and helped Lucy stand up out of the puddle. The girls couldn't help but laugh when Lucy and Daniel rode off, the lesson learnt in Mr Wilson's little lecture gone out the window. Even though Isabella could see that Lucy was embarrassed, she still laughed.
And now she felt bad.
"Maybe we should stop laughing," said Isabella, "we wouldn't be laughing if it happened to us."
"I know," replied Hannah, "but it was funny because it happened to Lucy."
Isabella then decided it was time to change the subject, "do you want to go for a canter? It seems like a good place here," she suggested.
Hannah nodded. The girls had been exploring new places to ride in the town of RayBourne and they had discovered some great places.
"Okay, let's go," said Hannah.
The girls kicked their horses into a canter and both smiled when they tossed their heads with pleasure. The land around RayBourne was absolutely beautiful and the girls couldn't stop looking at the large rolling meadows, rivers and ponds. The girls soon pulled their horses to a stop so they could admire the scenery.
And as soon as they were stopped, Isabella noticed that Hannah couldn't stop laughing again. Isabella now couldn't help but feel really guilty about it and she was feeling so bad about laughing. She kept imagining Mr Wilson looking down on her, asking her why she was being so mean.
When she was finished, Hannah bent down and patted Midnight on the neck, "I am glad he has settled down," she said.
"Yes, and he and Storm are getting good at tolerating each other now," replied Isabella.
"They really like to compete with each other, don't they?"
"Yes, they do."
The girls laughed. The horses were funny.
"So, how is Destiny?" asked Hannah.
"She is good," replied Isabella.
"So, she and the foal are doing well?"
"As healthy as a horse."
Hannah laughed, "that's good to hear."
Isabella nodded in agreement.
The girls then slowed their horses to a walk and peacefully enjoyed the scenery for a while.
"Now," said Isabella, changing the subject, "next time you come to my house, I would love for you to meet Nicole and Tasha."
"What about this Adam guy?" replied Hannah.
"He is away, remember?"
"Oh, yes, he is," said Hannah before she looked at the time, "we should probably get back. Dinner will be ready soon."
Isabella nodded in agreement, "okay, let's go."
The girls then made their way back to the barn. When they arrived, they insisted to the stable hands that they groom and unsaddle their horses because they liked to. Although the students could, they rarely looked after their own horses. It was believed that the students rode at the stables, and the stable hands worked. But both Isabella and Hannah hated this and they wanted to look after their own horses.
Isabella and Hannah cross tied their horses and got to work unsaddling them. Isabella loved looking after her horse and she loved spending time with him. That was why she refused to let a stable hand look after her horse for her.
"Did I ever tell you about the time Nicole and I were in the barn late at night?" asked Isabella.
"No, when was this?" asked Hannah who was very interested in this conversation.
Isabella rubbed Storm's muzzle, "last year, at our equine studies camp."
Hannah laughed, "I have to hear this."
"So, we came over after lights out to come and see our horses."
"As you do."
"Anyway," Isabella continued, "it was dark and we heard someone come into the barn. So, we hid. We hid in the tack room and I went out to see if the coast was clear. It was lucky that it was and then we bolted back to our room."
Hannah snorted with laughter, "I am sorry, Isabella," she said, "but that is hilarious."
Isabella laughed as well, "it is, now that you think about it. Nicole and I normally don't do things like that."
Isabella was right. Usually, she and Nicole would follow the rules and it was that time that they had willingly broken them. But it was worth it just to see their horses.
"There is a first time for everything," Hannah joked.
"There is."
"Now, tell me what those mysterious papers were about that you got yesterday."
"I was meaning to ask you something about that," said Isabella.
"Ask me what?" replied Hannah.
"Could you drive me back to Sandy Beach tomorrow?"
"Okay, but I need to know why?"
"Tony and Elizabeth have organized for me to change my name."
"But Isabella is a nice name."
"Not my first name. My last name."
"But what about your parents?"
Isabella loved it how Hannah was so kind and caring. That was why Isabella told her all about her back story and what had happened to her in her life.
"I am going to change my name to Roberts-Doyle," said Isabella.
"That is really nice. But why don't you change it to Roberts-Doyle-Wilson?"
"Then I would have to change it to Roberts-Doyle-Wilson-Miller."
Hannah laughed.
Isabella laughed as well.
"Okay," said Hannah, "you can stick with Roberts-Doyle," said Hannah as she unclipped Midnight to walk him into his stall.
Isabella did the same with Storm and she put him in his stall. She then went to get some dinner for Storm and then she came back with his food. She laughed when she did because Storm would always be starving after a good idea. He would always get excited for his food and he was always so cute.
Then the girls said one last goodbye to their horses and then they went to the dining hall. They smiled at one another when they saw Lucy walking past. She looked so embarrassed and that was a feeling that she clearly never felt. Isabella had never seen Lucy like this before and now she couldn't help but feel worried about her. She knew that falling off of a horse was dangerous, and maybe Lucy was a little nervous now.
And then Isabella decided to do the right thing.
She wanted to make sure that Lucy was okay.
She made her way over to her.
"Hey, Lucy," she said, "are you feeling any better?"
Lucy looked up and glared at Isabella, "are you trying to rub it in? I saw you and her," she said, pointing at Hannah, "laughing at me."
"Oh, we weren't laughing at you," said Hannah, "we were laughing with you."
Lucy scoffed, "I don't know why I even bothered with you. I tried to be nice and I tried to be your friend but look at what I get in return? What was the point of even trying to be your friend?"
Isabella was speechless.
Mr Wilson was right.
And now she was a horrible person.
Hannah looked Lucy in the eye, "you don't know how to make friends."
Lucy just stared at Hannah.
"Yeah, welcome to the real world, honey. People are going to laugh at you."
Isabella was amazed and gob smacked at the same time. She had never seen Hannah talk like that.
And now she was still feeling even worse.
How could she have let this happen?
Lucy was also clearly not expecting this so she turned on her heal and exited the dining hall. Isabella was sure that she was going to go and complain about this to, 'Uncle.'
But Hannah was right.
Isabella had learnt a lesson. She and the others were no longer in school and it was time to stop acting like children. Isabella felt horrible for how she had treated Lucy and she couldn't believe she had done that. Lucy had done nothing wrong and she was honestly trying to be good. Isabella had managed to only make her feel like garbage when she was trying to make a friend. She might not have been the nicest person in the past, but Isabella had gone and done the wrong thing and now she felt terrible.
"I can't do this," said Isabella.
"Do what?" asked Hannah.
"Stay here after what we've done."
"We haven't done anything."
"We have been horrible to Lucy. Look at how we have made her feel."
Hannah didn't know what to say.
"I can't believe you spoke to her like that," said Isabella.
"Someone had to," replied Hannah.
"And now look; she's miserable."
"I know."
Instead of saying anything else, Isabella just headed back to her dorm room, not wanting to deal with anything else tonight. She just wanted to wallow in her guilty feelings and remind herself how mean she was. She couldn't believe she had done this and now she knew one thing; she had to make it right.