I opened my eyes, allowing the sunlight to captivate my attention. I tipped to the side of my bed, reaching for a ladder. Of course. I'm not in New York anymore. I yawned, walking towards the living room. "Harps, eat some oatmeal." My dad said, passing the bowl towards me. I frowned, moving my spoon gently against the mushy mixture. Anna trudged into the room, a pout plastered permanently onto her face. "I can't believe you're ditching us to go to some prissy riding school with a bunch of brats." She whined. "Aw, will you miss me? I asked. She rolled her eyes. "Who else is going to clean my room?"

———— flashback

"Are you sure you need three pairs?" Dad contemplated, holding up three pairs of tan riding pants. "They give you a pack of riding clothes, but these are important." I protested. "Budgets tight honey, I think they're already giving you enough." He replied, putting the pants back on the rack. I bit back a frustrated glare. Clutching a shiny black riding hat, we headed towards the register. I cringed as the lady typed in the price, staring at my dad's wallet expectantly. We left the building, walking towards the parking lot. I caught my reflection in the shiny car doors. My pale complexion complimented shiny blond hair. Wait, was that a-

"Harper! I can't believe you're leaving so soon!"

I turned to see Ella atop a horse trotting towards me. Her smile stood out against her red lips and wavy black hair. "One sec." I turned to my dad. I walked towards Ella and patted her horse. It grunted, twisting its head until its chin slipped from my clutch. Ella yanked the reins, veering her horse into a slow walk beside me. "How's Anna fairing?" She asked. I sighed. "Angry that we're leaving." I muttered.

"Harper honey we have to go!" My dad shouted. "I gotta go." I grimaced, waving goodbye to Ella and her horse 'Kisses'.

I hopped into the car, pinching my nose at the pungent smell. One year Anna had a lip gloss obsession and let's just say holding your Mickey Mouse chapstick by the air conditioners left a sickly sweet scent. The breeze trickled through the car window, tickling my cheek. The car jolted to a stop about a block from my house. "I have to get groceries, Harps. Can you walk the rest of the way?" I nodded, unbuckling my seatbelt. The sunlight beamed down on me, and for once, I couldn't help but smile.

———— present time

"Dad! Where are my boots? I can't lose them!" I screeched nervously. "Relax Harps, you put them next to your suitcase yesterday, they must be around here." Dad said. I paced back and forced anxiously until my ankle brushed something. "Ouch!" I jumped, peering at the mysterious object. Anna doubled over laughing as I picked up my boots. I sent her a nasty glare and crammed them into my suitcase. "The car comes at twelve, why are you in such a rush?" Anna asked. I rolled my eyes. "I'm in 'such a rush' because I forgot to pack like, twenty things! Well I guess I'm finished now." I realized, feeling my cheeks burn with humiliation. "Toothbrush, honey." Dad remembered, tossing the item at me. I grabbed it and tucked it into my toiletries bag. I zipped up my suitcase and propped it on the ground. "Top chef marathon?" Anna suggested. I grinned, finally something we could agree on.

———— time skip

I peered out the car windows as we drove away. Tears streaked my sister's cheeks as my home whizzed away. Another girl sat next to me, her silky black hair covering her face like a curtain. Roughly twenty minutes later all I could see were trees. "Hey. My name is Harper." I said, trying to start a conversation. "Trish." She replied, her gaze still on the window. The car parked and the doors opened with a slight hiss. My mouth dropped. The place was huge. There were four towers, one on each side, and at least four floors. "Your new right?" Trish asked. "Um, yeah." I said. She smirked a little. "Figured."

I tried to ignore the shame crawling in my gut as I headed towards the main entrance. "Room 301." The lady at the front desk told me, handing me a little keycard. "Thanks." I mumbled, dragging my suitcase towards the elevator. A cute boy walked in with me, smoothing down his brownish blonde hair. "Are you new?" He asked. I sighed. "Yes."

"No, I mean too riding." he clarified. "What's that supposed to mean?" I raised my eyebrows questioningly. "Nothing, you just look like an amateur."

I scoffed and jammed the button to close the door. We stood in silence for the rest of the way up. Ding! I rolled my luggage out of the elevator, pausing only to look back at the boy. He raised his eyebrows at me as the doors closed. What a prick.

I knocked on the door labeled 301, nerves clutching my gut. "Hello?" A girl opened the door. Her curly brown hair bounced around her petite oval face. "Hi, sorry, this is my room right?" I asked. She looked at my card, then nodded. I walked into the room, my mouth opening in shock. The place had a small living room and kitchen with a window that looked over the grassy fields in front of the school. My room was similar, with a fresh bed piled up with soft linens. "What's that?" I pointed at the tiny door in the corner of my room. The girl just smiled, nudging it open. I followed her up a pair of tiny stairs until we reached a small attic-like room with beanbags, mini bookshelves and fairy lights. "W-what is this?" I breathed. "There's places like this all over the school! They all have great views of the stables." She said animatedly. "I'm Hailey by the way."

I smiled. "Harper."

Haileys phone started to buzz rapidly. "Eclipse escaped!"

"Like... the moon?" I asked. Hailey giggled, "No, the horse!"

———— time skip

I rushed outside, following Hailey as we ran towards the fields. "Everyone stay calm." Our coach, Samantha, reassured us. Other people spilled onto the grass, walking towards the commotion. And that's when I saw him. A wild jet black horse reared in the distance. "Relax Sam, I can help." A boy said, his grip tightening on a lead rope. "He's too wild, get the sedatives, in case." Samantha insisted. A few moments later, the boy returned, holding a medical bag. "Caleb, help Leo with the sedatives."

The boy from the elevator walked towards Leo, snatching the bag from his hands. Eclipse neighed loudly, tracking their hooves into the dirt. Caleb and Leo slowly walked towards him. The horse reared up, preparing to crash down on them. Instinct took over. I dashed towards the scene, bracing myself. "Woah boy!" I raised my arms. Eclipse calmed slightly, jerking their head to the side. I reached for their muzzle and softly stroked it. "Relax boy, relax."

Eclipse stopped, only twitching but not attacking. "Leo, do you have the sedatives ready?" Samantha shouted over the noise. "Wait- no!" I blurted out. Eclipse whinnied and kicked their legs out. "He's nervous, you can't use the sedatives, they're freaking him out!"

"It's the only way." Samantha replied, nervously as she edged nearer. "There has to be a better one!"

Samantha sighed and Eclipse grew impatient, neighing louder than before. "Leo, pass her the lead rope."

The boy, Leo, threw a rope at me and I grabbed it. Eclipse's saddle had been bucked off, but his bridle still remained. I patted his muzzle, muttering calming words as I attached the lead. "Oh, be faster." A girl from the front of the crowd said, trotting towards us. She dismounted, speed walking straight towards me... and Eclipse. She shoved me aside and gripped the rope. She yanked it forwards and Eclipse started to neigh. "Stop, stop it! You're hurting him!" I protested, trying to soothe Eclipse. She scoffed, "Like you would know."

She yanked harder on the lead. Eclipse reared to almost his full height, his mane billowing in the wind. "Kelly stop!" Samantha yelled. Kelly screamed and stumbled backwards. With one hand patting him, I grabbed the lead rope. "Come on boy, one step at a time." I reassured. Leo and Caleb walked beside me, but far enough away from Eclipse. Suddenly I realized, everyone was looking at me. Whispering to each other and giving me funny looks. I gulped and looked away from the crowd, but the boys were looking at me too.

———— time skip

"Alright everyone. Now that you've settled in, classes will commence." Samantha told everyone. I fought off a groan. "Already?"

Hailey shrugged. "Check your key cards to see your groups, they change every week. Now, group one goes over to the jumps course, group two go to the dressage stadium and group three head to the race track. Newbies, follow me." Samantha announced. I waved bye to Hailey and walked towards Samantha. "We're going to find a horse. At Hillcrest you can train on multiple horses, but it's key to find a horse you depend on. Well it may not be your soul horse, it is still necessary."

The stables had a rustic yet fresh vibe with wooden walls and freshly painted gates. Samantha ushered for us to explore. I walked past the various stalls, breathing in the air, which smelled like horse droppings and hay. A sleek Arabian horse grunted as I walked by. Samantha smiled in approval. "I see Major has caught your eye."

I reached to pet his sleek muzzle. "Do these horses belong to anyone?" I asked. "The horses in these stables are available, but in the stables by where you'll be training are the owned ones." Samantha clarified. A girl walked up to me and turned towards Major. "Is he yours?" She asked. I opened my mouth but nothing came out. She raised a brow. "Yeah. Major is mine."

———— time skip

I grabbed the right sized bridle and a saddle pad. "Everyone, ready your horses, we're going for a tour around to test them out." Samantha announced. I tightened the front and back cinches and made sure the stirrups were the right length. I placed my foot in the stirrup and mounted Major. "Follow me." Samantha instructed, trotting out of the stables. I followed her tugging gently on the reins. A small gasp escaped my lips, Hillcrest Riding Academy would never cease to amaze me.