I slumped against my locker and slid to the floor and pulled my knees up to my chest. I leaned my head back and covered my face with my hands. I'd managed to keep it all in around everyone but here all alone I let it all come out. While I was trying to get wind under control the way he acted the way he attacked Jake and reared. My little Fire did the same thing and if brought back all the flashes I've been trying to avoid since the accident.

I heard someone come in and sit down next to me,

"I take it that you've got quite lot more going on than you let people see," I looked up and saw Megan sitting next to me. I nodded tears streaming down my face,

"The accident if was worse than you think" she nodded sadly and took me into a hug. We stayed like that for awhile until I raised my head,

"Ok I've gotta go get Wind ready for cross country placements," she nodded and we both stood up. I wiped my eyes and opened my locker grabbing my cross country saddle, bridle, saddle pad, and polo wraps which someone had slipped into my locker for me when Wind was getting patched up. I slipped my vest back on and made my way over to Wind dropping my stuff off at the cross ties. I grabbed Winds lead rope and quickly clipped it on him before I opened his stall door. I led him down to the cross ties and quickly re - groomed and tacked him. I led him to the arena that they said cross country was in and saw a few people already there including Sonia, Will, and Ben. I gave Ben and Will a small wave as I walked over. I pulled Wind to a stand still and vaulted up. I immediately noticed Wind was being extra tense and saw Sonia was on the gelding from earlier. I pulled Wind away and saw Ben come up next to me,

"So your a Cross country girl, I should've seen that coming especially with his build," I nodded,

"Yep I do Cross Country and Show jumping, what's your second riding expertise now that I see you clearly do Cross Country,"

He shrugged

 "It's the only one you don't have to worry about how perfect you look and my second one is actually rodeo so yeah" my eyes widened ever so slightly,

"They have rodeo classes here" under my breath I added, "I'm gonna murder him" Ben looked at me curiously but nodded,

"Yeah they do Josie actually sometimes has us do rodeo skills to change things up a bit" my eyes widened even more,

"Well I might just pull a disappearing act on those days," his brows furrowed,

"If you don't know how, that's fine she usually uses some of the kids who have done it before as an example," I mentally sighed, I most definitely know how to do it,

"Um ok but anyways you ready for the test?" He nodded,

"I think so, oh and I forgot to ask how's this guy doing?" He said mentioning to Wind,

"He's gonna be ok just a few cuts" I heard a sharp laugh a little ways over. I looked over and saw Sonia laughing,

"Your just lucky that beast of a horse didn't kill Jake and that trick to calm him down, geez that must be one powerful sedative" my face hardened and I yelled at her back,

"If I remember correctly Jake's also the one who almost smashed you and if I hadn't yelled at you there'd be a Sonia pancake in the courtyard and your horse swung his rump at Wind not the other way around. So turn that petty little finger around because it should be pointing at you. And unless you want my fist to hit home this time I suggest you shut it," all the cross country kids stared at me and I saw Will choke back a laugh covering it with a cough. Sonia just gasped and Ben did the most ridiculous nothing he clapped and hollered,

"Get put in your place!" The rest of the kids stopped staring and laughed at Ben's comment until I heard a sharp whistle,

"Ok then Sonia no more comments like that because I'd really hate to break up a fist fight on the first day. Now then whose ready for some cross country?" Every body hollered,

"Me!!" Josie smiled,

"Alright then Connor your up first, the course is very direct so very little chance for you to get lost" I nodded and started out the arena. Once we were out I pushed Wind into a gallop slowing at the first jump and we cleared it! We kept  a steady pace and I heard people start behind me. The last jump was coming up and we were halfway to it when Wind reared. I wasn't prepared but managed to hold on by grabbing his mane but straining my left shoulder while doing it. Wincing as I gathered the reins I continued the course. Just because it hurt didn't mean I couldn't still try my best. By the time I'd made it back my shoulder was throbbing painfully.

I saw Adam come out of the Arena Casey and Josie not far behind. Dismounting, I made my way to Adam, leaning against him, my limbs tired from the ride.

"Hey Connie what's happened? You took a lot longer than you usually do on a course," he asked worried,

"I strained my left shoulder a bit holding onto Winds Mane when he reared," I said tiredly,

"Alright let's go back to the dorms," I shook my head,

"I need to untack Wind," my brother shook his head as well,

"Nope, Casey's gonna do that for you," I looked back to see Casey leading Wind away.

"Fine," I started to walk but my brother swung me up into his arms, instead of protesting I automatically rested my head against his chest closing my eyes hearing him talk to Josie,

"She'll be ok she just needs some rest she always pushes herself to hard," 

"She seems like she's in good hands, I'll close up practice and let you guys go to the dorm without a fuss,"

"Thank you," as he started walking I buried myself deeper into his arms.

. . .

"Connor, Connor" I slowly fluttered my eyes open and saw Casey leaning down over me, I winced as I felt my shoulder throb and bolted up right,

"Fire!" I heard someone come running up to me and gently push me back down on my right shoulder making me realise I was in a tank top. I laid back down and pulled that blanket cover me over my left shoulder and saw it was my brother next to me and stroking my hair,

"Shh Connie it's ok it was just a dream it's ok"  I blinked at him and started sitting up slower this time though and Adam helped me up. Someone had changed me into a tank and shorts. I felt my blanket fall off my shoulder again and kept my head down. I felt a few other pairs of eyes on me and saw Will, Ben, Casey, Amy, Megan and Nick all sitting down around me. We were in the living room on the first floor and the living room clock said it'd been three hours since the tryout.

Adam sat next to me on the couch and pulled the blanket back over my shoulder,

"You want your brace? You know the drill whenever you strain your shoulder," I nodded looking up.  Megan was the first to speak after him,

"What happened?" I looked at her glad she wasn't asking about the two large scars that marred my left shoulder,

"Wind got spooked and reared, I almost fell off but managed to stay on by holding onto his mane but straining my shoulder in the meantime."  Adam was gone about three minutes before he came back with a black shoulder brace. He helped me slip it on and I relaxed a little at the familiar feeling on my shoulder. While he was gone it had stayed silent.

"Did Wind get settled in alright?" I asked Casey,

"He was a little tense but he was eating and drinking water" I nodded and Will looked at Ben,

"Are you gonna tell her or what?" Ben shrugged and Will sighed just as Casey said,

"You two better spill" so Ben did,

"So Josie told us who got on which team and well you, me, Will, Nick, Sonia, Ally and Lukas made the advanced team and the other seven made intermediate," I gasped,

"But I barely finished the test!" Ben shrugged,

"Exactly what Sonia said but Josie said if you'd have finished without wind rearing you would've had the best time she's seen in years" I stared and Adam let out a whoop,

"And wait a minute Nick you tried out?" I said raising an eyebrow at his he shrugged while Casey grinned and said,

"It's a Friday and y'all know what that means," we all laughed and yelled 

"Pizza!" With Adam yelling a lone popcorn. Laughing I scooted over on the couch for Casey and Adam to join me, while Adam started rambling,

"This calls for epic transformers movie celebration" everyone else agreed and congratulated me, Will, Ben and Nick on making the team. Adam turned on Transformers age of extinction and we all settled in. Amy and Megan ended up of the love seat, while the three boys argued who gets floor and who gets chair. That ended in all the girls telling them to shut up and sit down. Well mainly me and we just spent the night eating pizza, candy and popcorn and watching movies