Generated word of the day: Smile
(Is the word generator trying to break my depressing one shot streak? XD)

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Hoof beats thudded along the grassy field. The grey horse's ears pricked, mane and tail flowing behind him as he cantered along the open field. His strides ever so slightly uneven as he pulled at the bit, begging his rider to loosen the reins and let him gallop.

"Easy boy." Jesse cooed under her breath, keeping her grip on the reins firm, but gentle.

She didn't want to burn out his energy yet, even though she was dying for some adrenaline herself. It's been ages since she's last had the time to saddle up the gelding.

The horse snorted in disapproval as Jesse gave the reins a small tug, slowing him down to a trot, then an energetic walk. He chewed at the bit, anxious to start running again.

"Soon, boy, soon. I know you've been cooped up for too long." Jesse whispered, giving him a pat on the neck as she rode him up to the small cottage.

Jesse slipped her feet out of the stirrups, swinging her leg over the saddle. As she dismounted, the door to the small cottage opened, a familiar person stepping out.

"Jesse!" Lukas called, giving her a wave. Pulling her horse's reins over his neck so she could properly lead him after her, Jesse jogged over to Lukas and threw her free arm around his neck.

"Good to see you." Lukas said as they pulled away from the hug. "I was wondering if you'd come today."

"I promised, didn't I?" Jesse replied, brushing a string of hair from her eyes. "I know I'm busy, but I'd never break a promise. Plus, I probably would've started pulling out my hair if I had to be cooped up in my office for another day."

"Well, I'm glad you're allowing yourself some fresh air." Lukas replied, before ducking back into the cottage and reappearing with his black leather jacket. "Let me go saddle up my girl."

Jesse leaned against her horse's flank, rubbing his neck and tangling her fingers in his dark grey mane as she waited for Lukas, an excited grin playing on her lips.

It's been more than two months since the Admin's destruction, and it's been good. Jesse was finally able to relax again, for once not feeling any pressure. The only downside was that she was alone for most days. Other than Radar who obviously worked with her, none of her friends were really around. She'd been looking forward to this weekend with Lukas for ages now.

"I hope you're ready for some galloping." Jesse said as Lukas came from the stables, leading his bay mare behind him. "My boy here is itching to run."

Both of them mounted their horses again, steering them towards the open fields that stretched for miles. They trotted for a bit to warm up Lukas's horse, Jesse enthusiastically filling him in on everything that's been happening in the past weeks.

Finally, as they reached a clear stretch of land, both riders exchanged glances. Only a nod from the other was enough of a signal.

Jesse barely had to urge on her horse, the mere loosening of the reins being enough to send him into full gallop. The grey horse tossed his head, giving a playful buck. Usually a move like that would have dislodged Jesse, but she's grown used to her horse and was prepared to sit tight through his moment of excitement.

Lukas's horse galloped up beside Jesse's, few strides behind her horse. Jesse felt a slight flicker of sadness. Usually, back when the order used to ride together, the others would hung back while she and Petra raced each other for most of the ride. It felt different to only be riding with Lukas.

But Jesse let the feeling slide, her smile restoring. She knew things would never be the same, and she accepted that she had to make peace with that.

Jesse stood up in the stirrups, grinning as the strong wind whipped back her hair, it loosely waving behind her. Lukas urged his slightly-less eager horse on as well so they were no galloping side by side. They're gazes flickered sideways, eyes meeting.

"I know I'm no match for you in a race-" Lukas called to Jesse, raising his voice above the thundering of the horse's hooves. "But can you do this?" There was a playful, competitive hint to his voice.

He urged his horse on past Jesse's, and she slightly pulled on the reins to let Lukas gallop ahead of her through the field. Jesse soon saw what he was approaching, an old fallen log.

Lukas's horse pricked her ears, approaching the log as if she's jumped it a million times before – which could totally be possible. At the exact right moment her front hooves raised off the ground, Lukas bending low over her neck. Jesse watched in awe as the mare cleared the log, even flicking up her back hooves expertly. She landed smoothly on the ground, mud flying up from her hooves.

"Show off!" Jesse called over to Lukas, steering her horse towards the fallen log as well.

She felt her horse's pace even on the approach to the log, Jesse counting each stride in her head as she watched the obstacle approach.

Then there was that rushing moment when they went airborne, every muscle of her horse tensing beneath the saddle. Soaring over the log, as if time went into slow motion, the glorious feeling ending with that victorious thud of the gelding's hooves meeting the ground.

Whooping loudly, Jesse steered her horse back to Lukas, the two of them cantering side by side once more, before finally starting to slow down.

--------------------------

"I never knew you jumped." Lukas admitted.

He and Jesse were sitting side by side on the grass by a small stream, watching the horses grazing. The warm afternoon sun was beating down on them, the sun slowly starting to drift downwards as the end of the day neared.

"I haven't been for long." Jesse explained. "I don't think I've ever really jumped anything higher than that log."

"Well, looking at you today, I'd say you're close to being a perfect jumper." Lukas said. He nudged Jesse's shoulder with his. "We have the whole weekend ahead of us you know, I could always give you some lessons. I have a whole jumping course set up that I like to take my girl over ever once in a while. Mostly logs, nothing fancy."

"I would love that." Jesse said, leaning back on her elbows on the grass. "I've missed this." She said.

"Riding?" Lukas asked.

"That too, but mostly just having fun." Jesse said. "Don't get me wrong, I love Beacontown and everything, it just... it gets lonely sometimes."

"That's understandable." Lukas replied. "Even here, sometimes it gets a little quiet. We should totally do this more often."

"We should." Jesse said, looking over at Lukas, their gazes meeting.

They turned their attention back to the horses, watching as Jesse's gelding lowered himself to the ground and rolled in the long grass. Lukas's mare watched the grey horse roll, while she just lazily chewed on some grass.

Jesse didn't want the weekend to end. For the first time in weeks, it felt like she finally had a real reason behind her smile.

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Decided to try and go for a more happy-themed one shot for today. I had a blast since I absolutely love horses and will jump at a chance to write about them, lol. I also wanted to try something a bit different, as I feel like I have a bit of a repetitive theme going in my one shots.

As much as I tried to make a happy Jesse staying in beacontown, I just can't believe that Jesse would ever find her happy ending alone. Without her friends I mean, she's obviously never alone in the massive beacontown. As much as I loved the deeper, sad truth of friendships drifting apart in Season 2 of story mode, it also comes really upsetting. To see friendships that strong drift apart, is just... yeah. 

Ok, I need to stop myself, glorious story mode rants are for my randomness book XD 

I'll see you all in the next one tomorrow, with whatever the word generator spits out next! :D