"Wow" I nodded in agreement with Alec as we all exited the car. The Campus was amazing. Stables that could only be described as state of the art were to the left on campus and they looked amazing not to mention the horses we saw getting led were even more amazing.

"Can I go see my horse?" I turned around surprised to Eila talking the Hana,

"As soon as we get your stuff into your dorm you can go see your horse," Hana assured her before turning to the rest of us, "As for those of you who are working with a school horse you'll find out your horse assignments at orientation," we all nodded in response before grabbing our bags and following Hana to the dorm building we would be staying in.

"Alright room assignments are on this list over here, it's two to a dorm, boys up the stairs to the left and girls on the right. This is the same on each floor, with me so far?" we all nodded and she continued, "We have lights out at 11 for the training camp and you need to be ready to go at 8 am sharp each morning at the stables so make sure you wake up with enough time to head to the mess for breakfast, now then you all can check out your room assignments and get settled in. I'm your resident assistant as well as assistant trainer so come to me if you have any questions at all, about 8 others are here already so your roommate might be here already. The other 8 will be arriving this evening about an hour before orientation. Speaking of which orientation is at 6 pm so don't be late. Stride Away is rather strict on time schedules. Dinner is served one hour before that time," we all nodded again as Hana finished, "Alright, go ahead and get settled if you want lunch there's lunch being served in the mess hall in an hour," with that she left us and we all checked the list.

Girls:

Elizabeth Palmer - Alina Barrett: Room 106A

Carmen Pierce - Leyla Rowe: Room 107A

Danielle Fernandez - Hollie Wang: Room 105A

Florence Munoz - Eila Howell: Room 108A

Constance Cain - Priya Collins: 104A

Boys:

Fabian Duran - Kye Booth: Room 110B

Alec Howell - Jacob Byrne: Room 112B

Kian Booth - Seth Nash: Room 114B

Brian Morrison - Jonah Reeves: Room 113B

Ellis Lynch - Joey Ruiz: Room 111B

"Guess we're rooming," I looked beside me to see Alina come up,

"Looks like we are," I agreed before grabbing the two keys that were hanging next to our names, "Any clue where our room is? Minus the fact that it's to the right?"

She shrugged, "No clue,"

I tapped my chin, before spotting a sign, "Oh, there's hall signs," I led the way to it and found our room was on the bottom floor, "This way!" marching down the hall I managed to find the room number and opened the door with the one of the keys I had grabbed before handing the other to Alina,

"Any preference on bed position?" I asked as we entered, the room was set up simply with two wood wardrobes, two dressers, two desks by the windows and two beds in each corner by the single window with a small nightstand.

"I'd like to take the right if that's ok?" I nodded, before dropping my duffel onto the bed and leaving my suitcase by the wardrobe on the left,

"Oh hey, there's a bathroom!" i said discovering a door, I opened it to find another girl peering in,

"Well I guess you're our neighbor," I said with a laugh as we both jumped,

"I didn't know we had shared bathrooms but oh well, at least we don't have to run down the hall to go pee," commented and I laughed sticking out my hand for her to shake,

"I'm Elizabeth Palmer, but call me Beth," The girl grinned before shaking my hand,

"Hollie Wang, pleased to meet you!" I nodded in agreement and looked around the bathroom. It wasn't very large but large enough that it had two sinks, one toilet behind another door, a few cabinets and two small ledges acting as shelves.

"Apparently we have to go down the hall for a shower though," I added as Alina popped her head in through the door,

"Are we having a bathroom party?" she asked a small smile on her face,

"We have joined bathrooms," I informed her, "This is Hollie Wang, she's one of our bathroom buddies," Alina smiled, I nearly raised an eyebrow at her, she was acting completely different from how she had acted in the car.

"Nice to meet you Hollie, I'm Alina Barret but call me Lin, you too Beth," Hollie and I both nodded before exiting the bathroom. Heading to my suitcase I opened it and my wardrobe to put away my clothes.

"Hey Beth," I looked over at Lin, "I need to apologize about the car ride here, I wasn't having such a great morning so sorry if I seemed rude,"

I smiled, "It's cool just make sure to remind me you're not a morning person!" I chided with a laugh before emptying out my suitcase. Hanging my show clothes I gave my riding breeches their own drawer in the dresser before putting away the clothes in my duffel and hiding the duffel and suitcase under my bed.

"There, I think that's good!" I announced and looked over at Lin to see her just shoving her clothes into her drawers, she gave me a sheepish look when she caught me watcher,

"I'm not very organized," I laughed and walked over,

"Let me help, when you have two younger siblings you learn to keep everything put away neat and clean so they can snoop in stuff laying around," at this she let out a laugh and stepped back as I went to work straightening her clothes.

"Want to get some dinner?" Lin asked, swiping her phone and key off the counter, I nodded, before following in suit before heading out the room.

"BETH!!!" I turned to see Alec running down the hallway, another boy chasing after him. I raised an eyebrow as he darted behind me, "HIDE ME! HE'S GONNA KILL ME!" I rolled my eyes as the second boy came to a halt in front of me,

"Alec, I can still see you man," the guy said eyebrow raised at me,

"No you can't! I'm not here!" Alec whispered, still hiding behind me. This is a quite interesting situation mainly due to the fact that Alec is about 5'10, and 6 inches taller than me, of course it seems in this moment he completely forgot that.

"Are you his twin?" the boy asked, I snorted at this, I was 5'4, tan with shoulder blade length dark strawberry blonde hair, and grey eyes. Alec was also tan but with dark, almost black, hair and equally dark brown eyes.

"Um, not even close, I just met him today," I informed the boy, "I'm Elizabeth Palmer, but I go by Beth," the boy shrugged sheepishly,

"Sorry didn't think the dude would hide behind someone he just met, and I'm Jacob Byrne," I raised an eyebrow,

"He literally yelled Beth how did you not pick it up that I'm not Eila?" Jacob shrugged,

"He didn't tell me his twins name," I rolled my eyes again before looking behind me at Lin and Aec,

"One, this is Alina Barrett, she goes by Lin and two why am I hiding Alec?"

"He ate my donut when I specifically said not too," Jacob supplied, "Now if you'll excuse me I need to get this boy to buy me another donut," he finished reaching around me for Alec, I pushed him back, before stepping out of the way and Alec looked at me in betrayal,

"How could you!"

"You ate his donut, I get it, if you ate my donut I'd do the same thing," I explained as Jacob put Alec in a headlock and dragged him down the hallway.

I turned to Lin, "Ready to go?" she looked at me with a weird look,

"You. Are. Crazy," I laughed as she linked elbows with me and we made our way to the Mess hall.

"Oh my goodness, It smells so good! I want some!!!" Lin groaned as we got in the line for pizza, I laughed and patted her on the back,

"Patience child, Patience and you will get some soon enough," she glared at me just as we came up to the food,

"Hi there ladies, what would you like?" the lady behind the counter asked sweetly,

"Cheese,"

"Pepperoni," We answered at the same time causing the lady to laugh,

"One at a time,"

"Cheese,"

"Pepperoni," we said again this time with a few seconds between each other.

"Alright here you go, have a good day ladies," we smiled and thanked her before grabbing our pizza and grabbing a drink from the front and heading over to a table by the windows.

"This is so good," Lin moaned after taking a bite of her pizza then sipping her sprite. I rolled my eyes at her and at my own pizza. Then I couldn't disagree.

"Mind if we join?" I looked up to see Alec and Jacob, each with Pepperoni pizza but what got me laughing was the chocolate donut on Jacobs plate and a sour expression on Alec's face.

"Go ahead," Lin said, seeing as I was too busy laughing. Alec pulled up a seat and sat by Lin glaring at me still no doubt mad that I had let Jacob at him. Jacob pulled up a seat beside me and I stole a piece of his donut getting shocked looks all around,

"Why would you do that?" Lin asked as Jacob stared at me,

"Easy, he owed me because I let him get Alec," this in turn got me a glare from Alec, a laugh from Lin and a still shocked look from Jacob.

"You're evil!" I shook my head at Jacob and whacked away the finger he pointed at me,

"No...I'm smart and I wanted some of your donut," this got a chuckle out of Alec and Lin as Jacob pouted.

"Anyone know what time it is?" Alec asked, taking the last bite of his pizza.

"It's 5:50" Linn supplied,

"Isn't orientation at 6?"

"Uh...We should go," I finished throwing my plated and empty juice bottle into the trash. The others soon followed and we quickly jogged to the main barn.

"Oh good we made it with moments to spare," Lin gasped out as we entered to see that everyone was just getting seated. Taking 4 seats in the back we waited for them to begin.

"Welcome everyone to a new training camp!" a man said coming up to the front of the group and facing us, "As some of you may know I am Solomon sharp the head trainer here at Stride Away. I know many of you are ready to know which horse will be yours for the summer and for some the rest of that horse's life, but first I need to explain the scoring system. Here at the Stride Away training camp we will be scoring you in each lesson. The highest amount of points you can get is 10 the lowest being...well 0. Each week the two people scoring the lowest will be required to complete a task, whether that be as easy as sweeping the aisles for a week or as difficult as raking the arena or even polishing all the saddles and bridles," he smiled, 

"But it is with great pleasure that I say this, each and every one of you has a chance to joining the Stride Away Collegiate equestrian program if you end the summer with a combined score from each of your lessons of at least 90 points. We won't tell you how we get that score but we will tell you each and every lesson matters," We all nodded seriously the whole group hanging on to every word he says, "Now then, I'm sure those of you who didn't bring your own horse are ready to find your horse, but of course, we won't be making that easy. Your horse will be revealed after you complete...a form of scavenger hunt. Those who brought their own horses," He flashed a smile, "Your horses were hidden as soon as you went to dinner," murmuring broke out before Solomon quieted the room,

"Now then, each of you please see Hana for your first hint," in a matter of seconds we were all over by Hana who handed out the hints. I looked at my own as it was handed to me,

"Find the ring where riders learn to Dance," I nearly rolled my eyes at it, that was a little too easy, Jogging out of the main barn I jogged down till I was at arena two. It was in the pamphlet that I had gotten online that each discipline had its own arena. Dressage happened to be arena number two. Each arena had its own tack room and a few stalls before leading to the large covered arena. Making my way in I peered over the gate and froze when I saw people riding. From the looks of it Stride Aways official dressage team riders as well. Mentally cursing Solomon I took a deep breath building up my courage before entering the arena. A small woman stood in the middle shouting instructions at each rider who were now looking at me with interest. Feeling my face flush I ducked my head down and walked toward the woman in the middle who was now staring at me eyes narrowed,

"Who are you?" the woman snapped hands on her hips,

"M-My names Elizabeth Palmer and I ...well Solomon sent the trainee's on a scavenger hunt for our horses ma'am and my first hint led me here," I heard a few snickers as the riders came to a halt around me and the woman. The woman's face softened,

"Oh, sorry about that, I forgot that was today, I'm Michaela Schmidt the dressage trainer here and I believe that one of my riders has that hint you need," My face heated up again as I turned around facing the riders on their very muscular and very beautiful horses.

"What did you say your name was?" one girl asked,

"E-Elizabeth Palmer," I stuttered out,

"Oh, Here ya go then, Solomon said not to give this to anyone but a girl named Elizabeth Palmer in the dressage arena," she said tossing me a rolled up piece of paper. Saying a quick thank you I jogged out of the arena opening the note as I did,

"Well done Elizabeth, one down two to go,

Go to the place where you replenish," at this I raised an eyebrow, there were a lot of options for that one. Thinking I continued to walk and then I decided to try the mess hall. Jogging across the campus I entered the mess hall and made a beeline to the lady that had given us the pizza,

"Excuse me Ma'am" the lady turned a slight smile on her face,

"Can I help you?"

"Well...um...do you have a note for Elizabeth Palmer, I mean well me?" she grinned,

"Well done I take it this is your second hint if I'm correct?" the lady said handing me another rolled up piece of paper. I nodded and she made a shooing motion,

"Well go find that final one!" I grinned and said my thanks before running out of the hall after reading the note,

"For your next clue, find the place that no equestrian enjoys going," running around the main barn I found the manure pile exactly where I thought and started searching around it.

"Gotcha," finding the note tucked in a pair of cloves hanging by the wheelbarrow I unrolled it,

"Well done Elizabeth, you'll find your horse where you began your journey," my brows furrowed, there's a lot of options for that. Checking the main barn sure enough it wasn't there I jogged around to where Hana had dropped us off. Nothing. Trying one last spot I jogged to my dorm building and let out a laugh when I saw a groom standing in the commons holding a horse who looked like she was determined to cover the room in hoof prints,

"Please tell me you're Elizabeth Palmer," I grinned at the exasperated groom,

"Thank the heavens, Good luck with this one she's a bit crazy," I nodded my thanks as the Groom handed me my horse. Leading her out of the dorm I looked at her in awe. From the looks of it she was rather young, I wasn't able to tell the breed but she was a beautiful chestnut with a white stripe on her face, three white socks and one white stocking. At least that's all I could see about her because the next moment she pinned her ears and lunged at me. Ducking out of the way I tightened my hold on the lead and scolded her before reading the nameplate on her leather halter,

"A Promise of a Nightmare(Prim)" I bit my lip. From what I had just seen she was definitely a handful. Keeping a steady grip on the lead I took her back to the main barn where Solomon was waiting with a grin on his face.

"Congratulations Elizabeth you're the first one back," he told me,

"Please call me Beth," I offered, "Also, what breed is Prim?"

Solomon grinned, "She's a full blooded Hanoverian,"

I gaped at him, "Are you serious?"

Solomon continued to grin, "You bet, and as you can probably tell she's young, only 8 in fact, and has yet to show," I continued to gape at him until the sound of hoof steps interrupted us. I looked behind me to see a light brown haired, blue eyes boy walk in a stallion following him.

"Ah, looks like you've found Legend, Seth!" Solomon cheered, "how about we take this to the arena so it doesn't get too crowded," he said ushering us into the arena beside us. Leading in Prim I stopped in the center, the boy, Seth, stopping beside us. Stroking Prim I felt her neck start to quiver. Knowing this from a temperamental horse I used to work with I quickly moved her away startling Seth, just as she kicked out her hind legs.

"Hey! None of that!" I growled at her as she tried to yank the lead away from me. Eventually I got her to stop it enough that I could resume a normal position while Seth stared at me,

"She's a definite firecracker, huh?" he blurted stroking the Stallions neck,

"Oh yeah she is, 5 seconds after I met her she tried to eat me," I grumbled, eyeing Prim who was eyeing me right back. Seth let out a chuckle,

"She seems like she met her match though," he continued,

"Let's hope so," I muttered as two more riders and horses entered the arena. I grinned when I saw one was Hollie from earlier, leading a brown gelding, a boy beside her leading a dark bay stallion with a star and three white socks. Seeing me she led her horse over to me,

"Whose that?" She asked seeing Prim, I narrowed my eyes at Prim as she tried to bite me again and I just barely got out of the way in time,

"This is A Promise of a Nightmare, or Prim," I introduced before looking at her horse, "And who might this be?" Hollie grinned obviously pleased with her pairing,

"This is Broken Wings, or Monty, he's such a handsome man," she gushed, rubbing her horse's nose. The gate opened and this time Alec and Jacob walked in, sour expressions on their faces and they seemed to be squabbling about one thing or another. Tracking their movements I jumped when I felt a tail whack me on the back. Looking at my horse we exchanged looks. She was definitely going to be trouble,

"I got here first and you know it!" I looked over to see Alec shaking a finger at Jacob not yet noticing there were others in the arena,

"Oh you wish you got here first," Jocab snapped back,

"Um, you who! Boys! I got here first," I announced smugly as their heads snapped around looking at me. This of course ended in them sulking. Rolling my eyes at their behavior I looked at their horses. Alec, like me, had a chestnut mare but she was a lot smaller with only two small socks and a large star and looked like a different breed. Jacob on the other hand had a stallion that was a dark brown fading into a lighter brown on his stomach and one white stocking plus a white stripe on his face.

"Alec, quit sulking!" I looked up to see two more riders walk in one of them being Eila who had snapped at Alec. Eila was leading a paint mare with the conformation of an irish sport horse and the girl with her was leading a dark bay mare with a white stripe on her face and 4 white socks.

"Beth! Watch it!" I turned away as Prim lunged at me again, nostrils flaring. Glaring at Prim who seemed to laugh I tugged on the lead rope,

"Would you quit that!" the mare started to prance and I saw the other girl with Eila had come into view of Prim with her mare. Struggling to keep Prim under wraps I started to turn her in a tight circle as the gate opened and more riders arrived. Prims head shot up yanking the lead out of my hand,

"Oh no..." Prim shot forward all her energy going into her lunge and she galloped towards the now open gate. Riders and horses alike dodging the wild mare. Chasing her I heard shouts behind me as other horses started prancing and rearing, spooked from Prims sudden dash.

I jumped as a black horse rode up beside me the rider calling down to me,

"Need a ride?" Not even thinking I took his outstretched hand and pulled myself onto the horse who took off as soon as I was on. Gripping the rider as we raced after prim who was now out of the barn.

"There!" I shouted as I spotted Prim taking a sharp turn towards a field. I stared in shock as she ran down to the fence and at the last possible second launched herself over it.

"Hold on!" The rider shouted and urged their horse on and I closed my eyes and the horse jumped the fence and I leaned into an awkward two point with the rider. As I felt the horse hit the ground and no sound of hoof hitting wood we continued to race on my eyes open again. Yet again the rider urged his horse faster till we were gaining on Prim. As we came up beside her I leaned towards her head reaching for her halter. Got it! My hands wrapped around the leather and I pulled it enough that her head ended up on the riders leg and slowly but surely we came to a stop. Gasping from the crazy ride I slid my hand down from her halter to her leadrope as the rider turned and looked at me. Crazy enough he was smiling. Until now I hadn't known what he had looked like and now...well now I'm grateful I hadn't. The boy was good looking. Like majorly handsome with sculpted face, Hazel eyes and from what I could see under the helmet spiky Black hair on tan skin.

"U-Uh...u-um" I stuttered out, "Well...uh T-thanks for the ride,"

His smile grew, "No problem, it was fun," Fun. That was one word for it. "I think we should probably head back, Sully's probably having a fit," he said with a chuckle before urging his horse into a walk then a canter. My grip was tight on Prim's leadrope and she followed head held high.

"I haven't seen you around, are you one of the trainee's?" he called over his shoulder. I nodded then remembered he couldn't see me,

"Yeah, just got here today,"

the boy laughed, "This happened on your first day? Remind me to see what happens on your last day," I rolled my eyes, well gee thanks a lot random handsome boy who gave me a ride.

This time instead of going over the fence we went through the gate which I leaned over to open and close. Trotting to the main barn he pulled his horse to a stop as I hopped off and he smiled down at me,

"I didn't catch your name,"

"Um-"

"Beth!" I turned to see Solomon running towards me Hana behind me, I turned again when I heard the clip clop of hooves as the boy rode off. Weird, "Are you ok?" Hana and Solomon asked at the same time. I nodded, "Who gave you a ride?" Solomon demanded,

"I don't know,"

Solomon rolled his eyes muttering, "This kid is gonna be the death of me," Hana and I both give him a weird look before he continues, "Anyways what in the name of sam's hill happened?" I shot a look at Prim who still had her head held high, ears perked as she looked around,

"Prim happened," Solomon sighed,

"I should've warned you. Prim is one of our slightly, well not slightly, problematic horses. Based on your track record we figured you would be able to handle her better. I must warn you though Prim...well as you saw today is a handful, do you want to take her on? If not I can find you another horse," he explained.

I shook my head, "Yeah she might be a handful but she's a good horse..." I trailed of muttering, "I think," under my breath, "And I was raised not to give up just when a horse gives you a hard time," I declared and Solomon significantly relaxed,

"That's good, now why don't you join the rest of the group. I suggest you put Prim in her stall to keep her from Fair Lady, Danielles' horse. Prim and Lady have a history of acting up when they're near each other," I nodded guessing the mare was the one that Prim had saw and started getting fussy about leading up to the bolt. Leading Prim inside I kept an eye on her but her head was now lowered and she seemed a bit tuckered out from her great escape and didn't seem like she had enough energy for anything else. Finding her stall on the map that was tacked up near the front of the barn I set her loose and laughed as she immediately dunked her head into the water bucket sighing I watched her drink.

"What am I going to do with you?"

Annnnd here's chapter 2!!! I wrote two chapter before i even posted this story that way I could post back to back and really see what you guys think!

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Anyways!

Thank you and I hope to have the next chapter up! Who knows maybe this...mystery rider will be revealed? Also...have you guys ever met a male equestrian? Because I have yet to! I mean...they exist right?

4440 words!