Trust is so fragile {}Lotti{}

[Onzyy]

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Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now
Wish right now, wish right now

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The black gelding was led from the barn towards a circular structure. His owner had him on an extra long lead, as the horse didn't trust her and would take any opportunity to strike. Her shoulders were hunched forward, and her head bowed. The honey blonde locks fell past her shoulders, and masked her face. The horse pranced at the end of his line and snorted at the structure that loomed before him. The teenager opened the metal gate and allowed the horse to walk through. She unhooked the lead line after closing the gate once again.

She pulled herself up to her height, brushed the locks out of her face and looked Spartan in the eye. He stared back defiantly. Come hell or high water, he would not let go of his anger today, is what Jemma read in those brown eyes. Her own look said, "I am your leader, but I will earn your respect." Jemma never believed in hitting a horse, and she wouldn't do so to Spartan. The two had been together only 2 months, and had met under the worst circumstances.

He had filled out wonderfully in those two months, and the only time the faint scars would show is when he grew his winter coat. Yet the scars that haunted them both were mental. Ingrained on both their minds. Pain and death ruled it for Jemma. Pain and anger for Spartan. Jemma hoped that coming to BRRA would aide in fixing their broken bridge, but there was no such luck. She was at her wits end and had tried everything. TTouch, join up, herbs, aromatherapy. And nothing worked.

So today, in the early morning light, Jemma had decided to observe. She put him in the round pen, and seated herself in the middle of the dusty arena. She would become a mere observer to this horse and wouldn't force anything on him.

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Yeah I could use a dream or a genie or a wish
To go back to a place much simpler than this

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This is written for Lottiand contains ... words. I used the following lyrics Airplanes:BoB ft. Hayley Williams and my character is wearing the following will create outfit later.

[lottii]

Noticing a stunning black horse being led towards the round pen, Callum followed at a distance as not to upset the horse. The way the horse was acting around the girl made Callum guess the horse had been abused, something was off about him. Once the girl had entered the pen with the horse, Callum approached the gate. Standing just far enough away he wouldn't be tempted to press his face to the gate to get a better view of the horse - it was that beautiful. Thinking about it, Callum decided the girl wasn't bad looking either.

She appeared to be sat in the middle of the pen, leaving the horse to do what he wanted. Callum feared slightly for the girl's safety, but was too shy to speak up and say something to her. Content with just watching, he was sure that should the horse propose a threat, he would be able to intervene. Whilst waiting to see if the girl would notice him, he carefully watched the horse, hoping he would be able to judge if the horse was about to turn and endanger the girl.

ooc: 200 words :s

[Onzyy]

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Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now
Wish right now, wish right now

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jemma draw up her knees to her chest and rested her chin on them. Her jeans were dusty and so were the boots and half chaps. The light blue flannel top kept her warm, but the sun soon changed that. She shed the top and it left her wearing a spaghetti strap top. She watched Spartan and noticed how he kept looking for a way out. He was walking along the rail, watching her and at some point broke into a small trot. She guessed that he wasn't used to doing this. Usually, Jemma would try Join-Up, or other exercises with him. The fact that she was doing nothing unnerved him. She wasn't aware that she had company, and for a while neither was Spartan.

With her back towards the gate, Jemma relaxed. She only took off the flannel top as she was warm. If she knew that there was a person she wouldn't think of it. Her arms were blue in places and a greenish-yellow in others. These were the marks that Spartan left for her. A reminder of the hate he felt towards her and no one else. Spartan however changed as he discovered the male at the gate. His demeanor turned friendly at once, hoping that this male would "save" him from whatever Jemma had planned.

As he belted out a loud neigh, Jemma jumped up from shock. She turned to face the male at the gate and her cheeks flushed pink. She wanted the ground to open and swallow her whole. She walked up to the gate to offer her apologies. I'm sorry. He's usually like that with strangers, she said softly, a Virginia accent coated her vocals. But never with me, she added mentally at the end of her sentence. Just then Spartan decided to prove her statement correct and lunged teeth bared and ears flat. Jemma was used to it, but was caught with surprise. His teeth caught a bit of skin, and Jemma swiftly retaliated with a finger jabbed in his jaw. This time she turned an even brighter shade of pink.

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Yeah I could use a dream or a genie or a wish
To go back to a place much simpler than this

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This is written for Lottiand contains ... words. I used the following lyrics Airplanes:BoB ft. Hayley Williams and my character is wearing the following will create outfit later.

[lottii]

Watching the horse's movement, he noticed he had a stunning trot, despite this clearly not being as stretched out as he could move. The horse had not noticed him, as was the same with the girl. He tried desperately to think of her name, but he didn't think he was in any classes with her.

As the horse approached the gate, it was clear to Callum when the horse had seen him. He appeared to calm down, which was strange, Callum thought. He didn't hold much faith in his abilities with horses, so perhaps this horse's issue was with the girl in particular. That still made little sense - why would she be working with the horse if she was the one who had abused him?

As the girl clearly became too warm as the sun emerged, she removed the top layer she was wearing, revealing a pretty top underneath. Noting the bruises, he decided to try and find out if these were caused by the horse of something else. Not that he would have the nerve to ask that outright, of course. The horse's neigh for greeting alerted the girl to his presence. Oops. He was hoping not to interrupt their session.

He listened as she spoke, before adding his own thoughts "He is worse with you?" he asked, as the horse answered his own question. "Ouch, you ok?" He asked quietly, his worry for the girl taking over his shyness for a brief moment, before returning. "I'm Callum, by the way. That sure is a beautiful horse", he finished. Wondering how the girl would respond, he looked away from her as her cheeks flushed, studying the horse's face instead.

[Onzyy]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now
Wish right now, wish right now

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jemma heard the boy's question, but Spartan answered it in a way when he decided to attack. He always chose to make things worse, but for some reason she loved him. Spartan held a piece of her heart, and even if the horse didn't agree with her, she would never stop loving him. Her mother would know what to do, but she wasn't there, and she would never be again. In times like these Jemma wanted to curl up, and cry. Or just scream until her lungs held no more air. Yet she did no such thing. Tears were pointless, and shouting just didn't suit her.

What she really wanted, or rather who, was her grandfather. He would know how to comfort her. She rubbed the spot where Spartan made his mark. Yeah, I'll live, she answered him with a timid smile. He sure was handsome, but he looked slightly older than her sixteen years. He said his name was Callum. It was an odd name, but didn't sound out of place. The Academy held a variety of people and she had heard other names odder than the one presented to her. Jemma. Pleasure to meet you Callum. Thanks. I've had him for about two months now, but his arrival wasn't too happy, was another mental addition to the dialogue.

Spartan stuck his velvety muzzle through the metal bars of the gate. He breathed in Callum's scent and huffed in acceptance. It was something that Spartan hadn't done with her yet, but with every single stranger. Her heart broke into smaller pieces. All she wanted to do was scream at the horse. Tell him what had happened wasn't her fault. If she could turn back time she would've done it all differently. I miss her too... flashed across her mind. It would be different if Jemma had only waited until morning.

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Yeah I could use a dream or a genie or a wish
To go back to a place much simpler than this

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This is written for Lottiand contains ... words. I used the following lyrics Airplanes:BoB ft. Hayley Williams and my character is wearing the following will create outfit later.

[lottii]

Callum was pleased to hear the girl said she was okay, although she was rubbing the mark and he was pretty sure it would of hurt. He wondered if the girl needed to vent, although she didn't seem like the sort to get angry and make noise about things. "Thanks, Jemma. Would you like me to try handling him, or would he be fine with anyone other than you?", Callum asked, aware he was most likely touching a nerve, but trying his hardest to phrase his question without making her have to explain if she didn't want to. He hoped it came across like that. As he looked at her, he studied her face shyly, looking away once she caught his eye. Callum was useless at guessing ages, but he guessed she was only a couple of years younger than him, and seemingly just as shy.

Stroking the horse's muzzle presented to him through the gate, he bent down and gently blew back into the horse's nostrils - returning his greeting. He wondered again what the horse's story was, but figured it was a sore subject with Jemma. "What's his name?"

ooc: they are getting shorted

[Onzyy]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now
Wish right now, wish right now

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

There was quiet for a short while. Spartan seemed happy in Callum's presence, and Jemma wondered if he wasn't the key into unlocking Spartan's trust. She was wondering how to voice her question, when Callum asked his first. I'll be fine. He's usually only like that with me, and I know why. Then something clicked in the back of her mind. Didn't she and Callum share a class, namely Natural Horsemanship. He was also in her Geography class, wasn't he? She hadn't been paying much attention to other students during either of those classes.

Jemma watched Callum return Spartan's acceptance and she smiled. He seemed to know a thing or two about horses. She felt the odd compulsion to tell Callum everything. From the death of her mother to Spartan, but she retreated deeper into her self. She didn't share her painful history. There was no point. She wasn't going to moan or complain. This was how the cards had been dealt and she was going to play the best hand possible. Another question broke into her thoughts. His name is Spartan, and he was a great horse. He had wonderful movement and a great jump. Yet Jemma still had to experience it all. Spartan often refused point blank to do anything when she was riding him, but was wonderful with other riders.

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Yeah I could use a dream or a genie or a wish
To go back to a place much simpler than this

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This is written for Lottiand contains ... words. I used the following lyrics Airplanes:BoB ft. Hayley Williams and my character is wearing the following will create outfit later.

[lottii]

Noticing Jemma had an edge to her voice as she answered, Callum wondered whether offering to help with the horse in general would be a good thing. He spent a few moments pondering how to phrase his suggestion. "If you ever want any help, just let me know. We are in a couple of classes together right? I think I remember this guy from Natural Horsemanship," Callum stroked the horse gently, once again wondering the gelding's story but not daring to ask. Continuing with with his rare long speech Callum thought about any other class he might have seen the girl in, "I think we might have Geography together too, maybe we could sit together, I don't really know anyone else". Suddenly realizing how much he had spoken, Callum shut up quickly, not sure if he had said too much by asking to sit with Jemma in geography class. His cheeks flushed pink - a look he knew didn't suit him, and for some reason unbeknown to him, he wanted to impress this girl.

Turning his attention back to the safer subject - the horse in front of him, although without mentioning his clearly turbulent past - Callum decided it was safe to start talking again. "Spartan. It suits him well. How old is he? Have you ridden him yet?" Almost wishing this was safe ground, Callum flashed a quick, hesitant smile towards Jemma. His eyes flickered to the horse again, and he took in the similarity to his own horse, "Is he a thoroughbred? I have a black thoroughbred too, Black Champagne. I guess you might have seen him in Natural Horsemanship class." Callum blushed again, why did this girl have the ability to turn him from the guy renowned for almost never speaking - apart from to his horses' - into this blathering idiot.


ooc: 300 words! Word count is on the rise again.

[Onzyy]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now
Wish right now, wish right now

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jemma watched Spartan and quietly hooked the line onto it. She avoided Callum's gaze as she stood there. He had somehow made her feel different than usual. She usually kept to herself, but somehow he made her feel like talking. That was unusual for her, but she looked up when he spoke again. Thanks. I appreciate it. she said, throwing him a soft smile. I took Natural Horsemanship hoping to find a solution for Spartan. My mom and I used to work with problem horses the natural way, but Spartan is the exception to the success. For Jemma this was a long speech. She hoped that somehow she hadn't indicated that her mother deceased, but the words she spoke were truthful.

He mentioned Geography and she turned a light shade of pink. Um, okay. Sure we could sit together. I don't really know anyone here myself. Then they started talking about Spartan again, and she was relieved. Some of the subjects were getting awkward not to say the least. Spartan is about 8 is what the vet told us. We couldn't be exactly sure when we got him. she said. Her head buzzed slightly at the next question, but being Jemma, answered truthfully,I haven't ridden him yet. He won't let me mount. I've seen others ride him though, she said softly. It was a painful topic, as it was such a complicated one, but she had to talk to someone. Callum didn't seem like the judging type, and he hadn't accused her of being the one that had abused Spartan...not yet at least.

It was what everybody thought. That she was abusing Spartan, but the truth was far worse. Once again the topic changed, and Jemma racked her brain trying to remember Callum's horse. She had a memory for such things, but during that class she hadn't been paying attention to other students and their horses. Spartan had been acting up like always, and Jemma had to do her best not to cause a scene. I have to be honest and say that I don't. My mind was Spartan during that lesson. Sorry, she threw out. Why was she talking so much? And for what was she saying sorry for?

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Yeah I could use a dream or a genie or a wish
To go back to a place much simpler than this

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This is written for Lottiand contains ... words. I used the following lyrics Airplanes:BoB ft. Hayley Williams and my character is wearing the following will create outfit later.

[lottii]

Callum listened as the young girl spoke, a long speech was clearly as rarer thing for her as it was for him. He noticed the smile, filing away in his memory how it looked - somehow he didn't want to forget it and he didn't think he would see it frequently. He considered what she had said about the Natural Horsemanship, and voiced his thoughts. "I am sure you will work out whatever problems he has soon, maybe it will just take some more time for him to accept you."

He hid a smile as Jemma blushed, for some reason it amused him. He didn't think it would be right to show her this though, he knew he would hate it if it was the other way round. Callum nodded gently as she answered his question, maybe riding was a sorer topic than he had first imagined. He decided he needed to add a comment, and offered forward his suggest gently, and although it was not intentionally easy to turn down, it might turn out sounding that way. "I guess, if you want to talk about horses, or anything sometime, if you wanted to I mean, then I wouldn't mind talking". It all came out a bit muddled, he felt heat raising across his face but he thought it was at minimum understandable.

"There is no need to apologize, the focus of the lesson was your own horse, not nosing into everyone else's", Callum replied without thinking. He didn't get why the girl felt the need to say sorry, but if she did, he guessed that was fair enough. "If you want to come down to the stables with me sometime, I would show you my horses if you like. I have a Saddlebred called Wynter too. Perhaps we could go riding together, you are welcome to ride Wynter or Champagne if you are not riding Spartan by then, although I am sure you will sort it soon". Callum ended his second long speech to Jemma, and for some reason unbeknown to him, he didn't blush. Instead he forced himself to show the gentle smile he would usually hide.

[Onzyy]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now
Wish right now, wish right now

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jemma watched Spartan. Her heart broke when she thought of how he rejected her. It was such a long tale, but somehow one word summed up Spartan's feeling. Hatred. That was what the horse felt, and she didn't know how to change it. Every natural remedy her mother wrote down for stress, anxiety and anger didn't work. No technique helped. More than once she wished that she had her mother with her. That her grandfather was with her at that moment, but he was back home. A first in her wishing was for her father. He was someone who had abandoned her, but they were trying to make amends. For so long she had been living without him, and she didn't feel the need for her father.

Somehow Callum seemed to understand her. He didn't pressure her to talk, and they were happy not to talk. The silences weren't awkward and the conversation well enough. I don't want him to just accept me, I want him to forgive me as well, she said softly. Then the realisation hit her of what she said. She was horrified, and wondered what Callum would be thinking. It was a catch-22 situation. She listened to his next reply, hiding her eyes from his face. Thanks. I appreciate it, she replied, meaning what she said.

Spartan watched her with the white's of his eyes showing. Jemma just didn't know what to do anymore, but left it rather than forcing the situation. Callum started talking horses again, and she listened intently. I'd love to meet your horses and a ride doesn't sound bad either. There was real enthusiasm in her voice, and she was glad that Callum had made the offer. She knew that Linda, her grandfather's girlfriend, would have loaned her an Arab from the stud farm, but Jemma had refused the offer, knowing that Spartan would be neglected if she had another horse. Jemma had one object of her focus, and that was Spartan.

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Yeah I could use a dream or a genie or a wish
To go back to a place much simpler than this

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This is written for Lottiand contains ... words. I used the following lyrics Airplanes:BoB ft. Hayley Williams and my character is wearing the following will create outfit later.

[lottii]

Hearing Jemma speak, he drew his eyes away from where they had settled - on Spartan. He would love to ride him, but somehow thought from what Jemma had said about him being only an issue with her, it would not be a tactful thing to say. He was enjoying speaking to the girl, he thought she was a couple of years younger than himself, but so long as she acted mature it didn't really bother him.

He was slightly confused as to why Spartan would need to forgive the girl. The gelding clearly had strong feelings for her, so something had obviously happened. The obvious thought would be to assume the girl had previously abused the horse, but that did not fit with the girl at all, not to mention Callum refused to believe she would do that. No, it had to be something else, although he had not a clue what that may be. He knew he had to say something in response to her statement, but he suspected she had not been intending to see so much. "No matter what you want, if you want it to happen enough, give it time and effort and it will", Callum said softly, with a small smile. "It might not be such a similar situation, but it took me weeks to get enough trust from Champagne to be able to ride him without falling off. You will get there, I promise you that much."

Pleased that Jemma seemed excited at meeting his horses, he wondered who she was riding in lessons, or if she just wasn't taking part. "Are you borrowing a school horse for riding in class and stuff? I don't know what disciplines you are interested in, but you could always borrow one of mine if you wanted, I always feel guilty I can only ride one in class." He watched Spartan rolling his eyes towards Jemma, and worried again if he was going to go for her.

[Onzyy]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now
Wish right now, wish right now

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jemma saw Callum's smile, and hoped that she would be able to recall it. In her mind she played with the idea of asking Callum to ride Spartan. Somehow she trusted the male, and that was already an achievement. Jemma couldn't trust easily, but didn't realise that this was the key to the solution. If she couldn't trust then how could Spartan trust her. Somehow she hadn't realised this just yet. Jemma wondered about his words. Time and will, a solution to nearly everything. Two months was a long time. It was that amount of time that she had spent with Spartan. That time willing him to forgive her, and put his trust in her.

Time and willing. I know. I have a suggestion, but it involves you. I need to see Spartan being ridden, and I was wondering if you would want to? I have a theory, but I don't know if it will be proven correct. She spoke with enthusiasm in her voice, but it held something else. There was hope, real hope in her voice. It was something that had abandoned her a while ago. She hadn't known that she could have hope again, but then again she didn't know if she could trust either. There was a glimmer of both in her future. Callum started speaking again, and she turned his attention to him. Riding in lessons was something that Jemma was reserving for Spartan and herself. It just wouldn't feel right on another horse.

I'm not taking riding lessons, but I suppose I should. She offered him another small smile. He was an amazing guy, or so was her first impression. Somehow there was a dark side to every guy she met. Spartan was relaxed around Callum, and somehow Jemma knew that he was going to play a critical part in both their lives.

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Yeah I could use a dream or a genie or a wish
To go back to a place much simpler than this

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This is written for Lottiand contains ... words. I used the following lyrics Airplanes:BoB ft. Hayley Williams and my character is wearing the following will create outfit later.

[lottii]

Callum watched as she clearly debated something in her head. Well, maybe it wasn't clear to everyone but Callum felt some sort of a bond had established itself between him and this girl, and in the short time he had spent with her, he had gained some sort of an understanding of her thinking. He knew there was something the girl was keeping from him, not hiding from him so much, as just not sharing it yet. As she voiced her suggestion, Callum decided this had been what the large amount of thought had been going into, so he paid close attention to her words.

"I would love to ride Spartan," Callum said. His cheeks flushed that Jemma was willing to let him ride the beautiful horse. "If you want, I can grab my hat and ride him in here. Not that I am eager or anything," Callum said with a small laugh. It was a gentle laugh, but a true one, and the first time he had done that in front of someone since coming to Blue Ridge. "Or we could wait until a different time," he suggested more sensibly before his question, "What is your theory? Or do you think it might affect how I ride him or something if you told me?"

"That's fair enough. It's not a requirement after all." That was all Callum had to say on her statement. If she wanted to explain her reasoning further he thought she would do so. Whilst waiting for her to start talking, he thought about Jemma. She was a few years younger than he was, but seemed perfectly mature and friendly, albeit as shy as himself. Although it may not be the best word in the world, he would describe her as nice. It briefly crossed his mind that something might happen between them, but he pushed it away before his face turned the color of a beetroot. She was a pretty girl, but he had never really been one for girlfriends - he had never seriously been out with anyone so far in his life, he was too shy with most people.

[Onzyy]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now
Wish right now, wish right now

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jemma was amused by Callum's eagerness. She realy didn't know how to respond to all this. After all, her previous boyfriend, wasn't this enthusiastic. He was a horse person as well, and he worked on the ranch as groom. The saying of 'never mix business with pleasure' was true in her case, as the relationship had gone sour, and it had turned awkward around the ranch. Everybody noticed, including her usually absent-minded sister. Spartan walked out ahead of the gate, and nearly dragged Jemma off her feet.

Let's wait till later. He deserves a break. After all, she had confused him enough for the day. Spartan loved working, and soon Jemma hoped she would be the one to be working him. It was a small thought that flashed through her mind, but it made her insides warm. It wasn't just that thought, but there was another. One where she and Callum would somehow be together. She liked him more than should have, especially since she had only met him today.

I'll save my theory. I first need to see if it's true, she told him. A smile formed on her lips, and even made her blue eyes sparkle.There was a lot that she still needed to learn about the world, but Jemma had experienced life in a whole different manner. I don't think you'll ride him differently, but there is something that I need to see before I tell you.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Yeah I could use a dream or a genie or a wish
To go back to a place much simpler than this

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This is written for Lottiand contains ... words. I used the following lyrics Airplanes:BoB ft. Hayley Williams and my character is wearing the following will create outfit later.