B.ehind the S.ea

[mudfang]

[glow=black,2,300]Blair[/glow]
The men played along to marching drums...
And boy did they have fun behind the sea.
They sang, "So our marching legs are marching clocks.
And we're all too small to talk to God."

Blair brushed her bangs out of her eyes and hurriedly flung random items of clothing from her drawer. Hadn't those jodhpurs been right there? Third drawer down... Or was it second drawer down? She sighed and closed the drawer, walking to her closet. She pulled out a pair of skinny jeans. They would work. She got dressed quickly and pulled her hair into a ponytail. She looked down at her trashy boots. She'd had them for three years, and the toes were coming off. She laughed at herself. Up-tight, tense Blair actually laughed at herself. Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all.

She walked to the stable, seeing as her foster parents hadn't bought her a car yet. Indie welcomed her with a nicker and a snort. Blair stroked the mare's muzzle. It was sad to think that Indie might be gone in only five years. She pushed that negative thought out of her head. She hurriedly groomed Indie, making her pelt shine. She brought her tack out and tacked up Indie. She didn't have to use her martingale anymore, but she brought it out anyway. She really didn't know why.

Blair did that sometimes. Like, she would order a burger even though she's a vegetarian, or she would buy baby shoes even if they wouldn't fit her big toe. "Why did I bring these out?" she said to herself. "Silly Blair, stuck in the past..."

After Indie was all tacked up and the martingale was back in the tack room, Blair buckled her helmet and headed outside. She mounted Indie and opened the gate, eager to get started.

[beautifulxxlie091]

Evan

I am nothing now and it's been so long
Since I've heard the sound, the sound of my only hope
This time I will be listening.

Evan stepped out of the small midnight blue car and stood there, looking at the barn. He blew a breath out of his mouth upward and when it hit his hair, it blew upward. He sighed and brushed it down back into place. His black hair was in it's usual style today, swept sideways and straight. He needed to dye it again soon. Maybe red again. He looked at the barn, this new place, Pinewood. He'd make friends here, he wouldn't be like before. He'd be friends with good people.

He pushed himself away from his care and started towards the barn where his horse Highwire waited for him. Highwire was a black Swedish Warmblood and the total love of his life. If it wasn't for that horse, he wouldn't have made it through the last year and a half. Evan smiled as he entered the barn. He swiftly walked down the barn aisle until he saw his black gelding poke his head out. Evan dropped the small bag he carried with him and rubbed the geldings nose affectionately. Highwire snorted and bobbed his head.

Evan grabbed the lead and led his horse to the cross ties. Highwire stood in the cross ties patiently, his head held high, while Evan worked a brush over his body. His mane was up in braids which needed to be taken out tonight, and his tail was needed to be combed. Evan worked around Highwires body and finished with his feet. Evan stepped back from his horse and looked at him. Highwire snorted, as if he knew Evan was wasting time by looking at him.

Grabbing the saddle pad Evan laid it on the geldings back. He placed the English saddle atop it and tightened it securely. The bridle was last and Highwire took the bit after three tries. Evan led his tacked gelding towards the jumping ring, Highwire tried to pull ahead only to be stopped by Evan. He snorted in protest but listened obediently. Once outside the barn a few yards, Evan mounted Highwire. Settling himself in the saddle, Evan pushed Highwire towards the jumping ring for a workout.

As they approached the ring, Evan noticed another person with their horse. He walked to the entrance carefully with Highwire, making sure the horse didn't try and advance towards the strangers like he had so many times before.

[mudfang]

Blair entered the ring. She prepared to trot, but heard hooves behind her. She turned around. There was some guy at the gate on a really pretty gelding. She sighed. Why couldn't she be alone? Just for once in her life? But, she decided to socialize.

She could tell the guy was trying to keep his horse calm around her and Indie, being strangers to them she decided to stay where she was. She turned on her prettiest smile. After all, this guy didn't look half bad. "Hi!" she greeted. "Is that a Warmblood? He sure is beautiful."

She really meant what she said. But... beautiful... such a funny word to her. "You look beautiful, hunny." her mother had said to her. Her father had patted her on the head and smiled his handsome smile. It was nine o'clock. The got in the truck. At ten o'clock the truck rolled.

Blair shivered involuntarily and tried to smile again.

[beautifulxxlie091]

Evan wasn't expecting someone to be in the ring but alas there was. He sighed and planned to turn back when he heard the person say 'hi'. When he looked at her, the girl was smiling and she was pretty. "Hi" He said. "Um, yeah he's a warmblood. Swedish. He may look beautiful but he can be the total opposite" He said, the word beautiful feeling weird on his tongue. He tried to smile but ended up patting Highwire on the neck.

He looked at her mount, a very powerful looking mare. "She looks like a very good jumper." Evan said referring to her horse. Highwire shifted, annoyed to be so close to the arena and not moving. Evan scratched the gelding shoulder for a moment to calm him down. He raised his head to look back at the girl in the ring. He swiped his hair aside and wore a small smile, "I'm Evan, this is Highwire" He referred to his horse.

Had he actually just introduced himself to someone without actually being asked to? He actually spoke. His plan was working out. Talk, make new friends, forget about...them, it was working so far.

[mudfang]

Blair smiled at him again. He seemed nice enough. "Nice to meet you. I'm Blair, and this is Indie."she said, patting Indie's neck. "I've had her since she was born." The mare snorted.

She took a good look at the strange guy on the gelding. He seemed decent enough, definately fit. Then, the dude decided to up the feeling in her cut by swiping his hair to the side. She shivered. But... how could she even consider it? She wasn't special whatsoever. She's the girl who eats alone at lunch. She's the girl who hasn't been on a date since sixth grade. She's the girl... who doesn't have parents.

Blair's upbeat mood faded and she looked at the boy. "Well... ugh..." she stammered. "I should start... Indie's getting fidgety." Indie wasn't moving. In fact, she was half asleep.

[beautifulxxlie091]

"Nice to meet you Blair" He said with a small smile again. The girl was most definitely pretty, Evan cleared the thought from his head. He was the guy who couldn't even tell people about why he was how he was, never mind the thought of falling for someone. He looked down at his boot and moved it slightly in the stirrup like he had to adjust it.

He looked up as Blair spoke and he just nodded. "Yeah go ahead, I'll take Highwire to a different area, you were here first, you work here" He said as he nodded his head. He clicked for Highwire to turn but the stubborn gelding snorted and planted his feet. Evan tried once more to turn the huge gelding but he didn't budge.

Sighing, Evan kicked his foot out of the stirrup and dismounted off Highwire. "You brat" He said under his breath. He patted the geldings neck and pulled on the reins. Highwire didn't move. He kept his eyes on Evan's but he did not move. He wasn't moving and Evan could tell. Evan stopped trying to make him move and just stared at the gelding. This must be a sight, the silent kid with the bratty horse staring each other down. It wasn't the first time Evan had had to do this with Highwire. It had taken him about ten minutes last time though. He didn't want to stand here for ten minutes making a fool of himself in front of her.

Now he was worried about making a fool of himself. Since when did he care. Highwire took advantage of the confusion in his riders head and yanked his head up. The reins slid from Evans hands and the gelding was free. He didn't move but he watched Evan, who now was totally in the moment now. He stared at the gelding slowly moving his hand towards the gelding reins. "Don't you..." He couldn't finish because the gelding took off running around the ring. Evan gulped.

[mudfang]

Blair gave a small chuckle and slid off of Indie. The mare looked slightly confused and glanced at the gelding galloping around the ring with wide eyes. Blair laughed again and led Indie to the fence, dropping her reins. Indie was great with that kind of stuff. There could be an earthquake and that mare wouldn't move if you told her to stay put.

Blair walked over to where Evan was standing. She unbuckled her helmet. "I think he wants to stay here." she laughed. She put her hand on Evan's shoulder, but pulled it back rather quickley. "He's quite the mover, though." she commented, stepping slightly farther away from him. Her face was a light shade of pink. "Amazing."

Indie stood where she was told. Once she picked up a foot as if to start walking away, but Blair pointed a finger at her and her hoof fell to the ground like a chunk of lead. Blair smiled at the old mare fondly and noticed for the first time the patches of grey on her muzzle.

[beautifulxxlie091]

Evan watched the horse run around while Blair walked towards him. He swallowed, nervous about really being so close to her. He shook his head, why was he nervous. He had to keep his head clear, last time confusion led to his horse running free around the arena.

"I think he does too" He said. When he felt her touch, he didn't pull away or even flinch. He wasn't sure why, he usually would. "He can move beautifully yes but he can't do dressage." He explained, watching his horse run. "He is just to high strung for dressage, he won't put up with it."

Evan was amazed at how her horse just stood there so calmly as his horse was making a fool of him. Evan watched Blair's mare carefully as she did not move at all. Evan watched his black gelding shooting around the arena with out a care in the world. Evan whistled between his fingers, loud, and Highwire slid to a stop. He stared at Evan but didn't move.

Evan didn't move, he knew if he did Highwire would take off. He stood there near Blair as Highwire moved again. He trotted this time, a floaty trot that Evan just watched. Highwire trotted right past them, four or five feet in front of them just to tease Evan. Evan didn't speak, he walked forward towards the middle of the arena. Highwire kept trotting but this time around he stopped. He stopped in front of Blair, ignoring Evan.

[mudfang]

Blair raised an eyebrow. Gingerly, she reached out to Highwire, hoping he would remain still. Indie, however didn't like this too much. The old mare walked slowly to stand beside Blair, watching like hungry paparazzi. Blair smiled at her horse's jealous act.

"Well, look on the bright side." she chuckled. "At least he's friendly!"

Blair was uneasy. She had this feeling in the pit of her stomach that was impossible to describe. Her face was no longer pink, but she felt like it was. Why didn't he... She blinked. Could it be possible? No... no, it couldn't. But, there was no wrong in being positive, was there?

"I don't think Indie feels like jumping today. Ugh... maybe I'll ride tomorrow." Indie snorted and shook her head. Blair turned to give her a small glare, but took her reins.

[beautifulxxlie091]

Evan shook his head at his horse as he walked over to where he was standing next to Blare. Evan smiled at the sight of her horse walk over after Highwire, determined to get all the attention. Highwire stood in front of Blair and sniffed her. He was a curious horse but he wasn't mean.

"He is friendly" Evan agreed as he approached his horse. Highwire turned his head to look at Evan but didn't take off again. Instead he turned back to Blair. Evan stood next to Blair and took the ends of Highwire's reins tightly assuring he didn't escape.

Evan twirled his clear lip stud with his right hand as he looked at his horse. He looked at Blair, but looked back at his horse almost instantly. He didn't know why he was nervous, he was never nervous around people. I of all people couldn't be falling for.... he thought but quickly doubted himself no way not me.

"No. No you can stay here. I wouldn't want to take the ring when you were here first. And, I think Highwire had his fun." He looked at her, a small smile touched his lips. "Plus, I might take Highwire out on the trails later..." He looked at his horse and let his voice trail off.

[mudfang]

Is he...? she thought. She looked at him, puzzled. Well, at least he was smiling. To tell the truth, she didn't know what came next. Normally, she could predict what was going to happen just because of experience and the way he other person acts. This guy, he was different. He made her think hard.

She offered him a small smile. "Want some company? I've been here forever, and I still haven't went on those trails." She turned on her charm, hoping that she was supposed to. She'd never been in a relationship before. Not like you could call her situation a relationship... yet.

She loved the way he twirled his lip ring. At first she couldn't see it, but she did after awhile. She glanced at Indie, who was falling asleep again. She waved a gloved hand infront of the mare. Indie jumped and Blair's smile grew wider.

[beautifulxxlie091]

Oh shit He thought silently. Did I just actually hint to her wanted her to come... oh shit. Evan patted Highwire on the nose gently, the gelding didn't move he just looked around the arena like he was bored.

Evan smiled, relieved and very glad when she asked if he wanted company. "Company would be nice" He said with a smile "I've never been on the trails either" He added as he looked at Blair. Evan stopped twirling his lip ring when he realized he was going it. He only did it when he was nervous or anxious about something.

Nearly thirty seconds later he was moving the stud with his tongue, another anxious nervous movement. He tried to stop several times but he kept doing it anyways. Evan laughed at Blair's mare as she moved a hand in front of her sleepy eyes. Evan looked at her mare compared to his gelding. Highwire standing on the alert, Indie nearly asleep just standing there.

"So you'll come with me..." He stared, he wasn't very good at things like this "on a trail ride today?" He asked, looking at her this time.

[mudfang]

Blair smiled at the strange guy who didn't seem so strange anymore. Was he asking her out? There was no need to get her hopes up, but she got that feeling in the pit of her stomach he was. "Ugh... of course." she said, trying not to act too happy. "I... I'd love to."

She couldn't believe it. Her heart had left her body, ran around the ring a few times, and jumped back into her throat. Finally! She was actually going on a "date". She would have to... She would have to put on some make-up or something. Oh God, she didn't have any make-up on. She bit her lip. "So... ugh... later?" Her heart prepared to leap out again.

After all, she hadn't had a... date... forever. Really, she had never been on a date. Ever. It completely baffled her that she had managed to get asked out (well, very subtly) while she was sweaty and smelled like fly spray.

[beautifulxxlie091]

Evan smiled this time, not just a little lift of the corners of his mouth but a real smile. It'd been a long time since he'd smiled and meant it. When she said she'd love to he was surprised at how he felt. It was something he couldn't explain because he had never really felt like that before.

"Later" He nodded. He didn't know what he was talking about, it was really him talking, his brain wasn't the one talking really. He was running on how he felt and how his heart felt. He gulped silently. His tongue quit twirling his ring but his hand reached up to twirl it instead.

As he twirled his stud he thought about things, it was only about eleven or maybe later, he wasn't sure. "Around one O'clock good for you?" He asked tentatively. He'd never been so nervous around a person before. Maybe it was possible for him to actually care for... no he shot through his head.

He of all people couldn't like someone like that...could he?

[mudfang]

Blair nodded, trying to keep the wide smile from her face. Her heart had finally quit jumping around and settled in it's rightful place, still beating fast, though. She was really glad Evan didn't have super hearing or something. "One o'clock is good." she said calmly, not daring to look at him directly, but petting Indie on the neck and fiddling with the reins.

She was as cheerful as she had been since she left London. She hadn't developed an english accent though, for some reason. But, that's beside the point. "I should... um..." she found herself stammering for the millionth time that day. Like that was new. "Exercise her." she finally finished after her brain had reassembled itself.

Indie stomped her foot on the ground, scattering sand all over Blair's old boots. She shook it off. She threw the reins over Indie's head. The old mare was finally awake. Blair glanced at Highwire. "Good luck with him." she said, allowing the pretty smile she had been keeping inside to creep to her lips.