I TROTTED CHARM AROUND THE INDOOR arena, feeling better than I had since the first day of school. Rain pounded the roof, making it sound as if more than three horses were warming up.
I hadn’t stopped feeling sparkly since my kiss with Eric. Tomorrow night was going to be amazing and I had to stop worrying about problems that didn’t even exist. Before the lesson, I’d put on my new breeches—plum-colored ones with suede knees—and was wearing my fave white shirt with a tiny pocket. I felt like me—like I knew what I was doing and could handle today’s lesson.
Jas trotted Phoenix up to me. I ignored her and stared ahead.
“Awww, trying to focus for once?” Jas asked.
I turned to look at her. “Awww, trying to throw me off much?” I asked, my tone mocking hers.
Jas’s eyes narrowed. Phoenix and Charm trotted faster, matching each other stride for stride. Before Jas could deliver a comeback, Mr. Conner entered the arena.
Jasmine checked Phoenix and dropped him back behind Charm. Ahead of me, Heather slowed Aristocrat. Mr. Conner walked into the arena and stopped in the center.
“Hi, girls,” he said. “Please drop your stirrups and cross them.”
Heather and I looked at each other—this was going to be intense. Jasmine, Heather, and I secured our stirrups and waited for instructions.
“Start at a sitting trot and make large figure eights, crossing through the arena’s center,” Mr. Conner said.
I eased Charm into a trot and sat deep in the saddle, gripping with my knees to prevent bouncing. We followed behind Aristocrat and the darker chestnut bent through the moves with ease. Charm followed behind him. I was glad I couldn’t see Jasmine for most of the exercise.
“Nice, Sasha,” Mr. Conner called out. I smiled, but stayed focused. Finally! This was how Charm and I were supposed to perform during lessons.
We made three more figure eights. With each repetition, I felt myself loosen up and my hips and back flexed. He was so getting a giant carrot after this.
“Larger figure eights at a slow canter,” Mr. Conner said.
I gave Charm extra rein and within two strides, he started to canter. Overhead, the rain slammed into the roof and almost drowned out the sounds of hoofbeats. The movement of Charm’s canter and the soft overhead lights made me relax.
“Slow to a walk,” Mr. Conner called.
We walked for a couple of laps and Charm was quiet—listening and waiting for a cue from me.
“Sitting trot for half a lap, then canter,” Mr. Conner said.
I squeezed my legs against Charm’s sides and pushed my seat into the saddle. Charm trotted and snorted, pulling his head down. He’d seen Aristocrat and Phoenix already start to canter and he wanted to go. I corrected him and made him trot for an extra lap before asking him to canter.
“Good call, Sasha,” Mr. Conner said.
We made two circuits around the arena before Mr. Conner asked us to stop. “I want to move to the other end of the arena and work the horses through some gymnastics.”
Heather, Jasmine, and I guided the horses behind Mr. Conner.
Ten rails had been lined up—all about six inches off the ground.
“These are spaced close together on purpose,” Mr. Conner explained. “But they’re low and you’ll trot through the course.” He moved away from us and over to the side of the course to watch.
“Omigod,” Jas hissed. “Trotting over those tiny jumps?”
Heather and I ignored her. I couldn’t think of one lesson when Jas hadn’t complained. She wasn’t a giant fan of practicing—she lived to compete.
“Sasha,” Mr. Conner said. “You can go first.”
I trotted Charm over to the start of the course and guided him in front of the first rail. He jumped it easily, trotted a few more strides and took the second rail. He bounced through the gymnastics and kept an even stride throughout. At the end of the course, I patted Charm’s neck and slowed him to a walk.
Mr. Conner nodded at us and motioned to Heather to go ahead. Heather and Aristocrat moved smoothly through the course. Aristocrat seemed to like the gymnastics—he tossed his head at the end of the course as if he wanted to go again.
Jas’s lips were pressed together and she glowered as she watched Heather rejoin us.
For the rest of the lesson, I kept my attention on Charm and we were a team again. When Mr. Conner raised his hand to signal the end of the lesson, I was sorry to stop. I’d even forgotten that there hadn’t been stirrups! It felt good to be back in the zone.
“Great job, girls,” Mr. Conner said. He looked at each of us. “I’ve noticed improvements in all of your hands and legs over the past couple of lessons. Please care for your horses and I’ll see you at the next lesson.”
I uncrossed my stirrups, dismounted, and then ran them up.
“You were great, boy,” I told Charm. “I’m so proud of you.” I loosened his girth and pulled the reins over his head.
I hugged him and started walking him in lazy circles around the arena. Maybe I’d been reading into things too much all this time. Tomorrow was my birthday, Eric and I were happy and my best friends were there for me. I’d been dreading the party because I felt so guilty about what I was doing, but it was time to let myself off the hook. Every lie I’d told was for a good reason.