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For a good five minutes, Matt watched the water in the glas swirl around as he moved it, creating a never ending cycle of various patterns, calming down and picking up again. His gaze was clouded over slightly, completely focused and unfocused on the glass at the same time. Eventually though, he brought himself back to reality, leaning against the counter to sip on the water slowly. It calmed his nerves slightly, but well...nothing would stop it entirely. Not while he was still here at least, considering everything reminded him of Ranger. Matt had no idea why it was affecting him just as badly as it was. Perhaps it was because the academy had never had a horse go missing before? Or perhaps it was the blood lacing the stall door. Or, the fact it was almost certainly Ranger that had passed him and Eleanor in the clearing. In fact, he knew why, it was all three. With a sigh, Matt set his glass down and pulled out his phone, attempting to use that as a distraction instead. - Only a few minutes passed before Matt decided that wasn't helping either, and so set his phone down on the kitchen counter. He still felt sick, was tired, and something still felt...wrong, and no matter how hard he put his mind to it, he couldn't figure out exactly what it was. Just as Matt closed the dishwasher after having put the glass in there, he heard...movement. Not from indoors, but from somewhere. The sound of the rain muffled exactly what it was, but it sounded like a...door, maybe? Perhaps a car door. But then he would have heard the car rolling in, unless it was a staff member going out. He waited for a minute, waiting to hear the crunching of tires on the gravel, signalling a staff member leaving the premises. Nothing. Matt felt something wash over his body, quickly rolling out into a small numb feeling in his fingers. He quickly swiped his phone off the counter and stuffed it into his pocket, taking a deep breath. To others, it would seem absurd to be this anxious about the simple sound of a door, it wasn't even fully nightime yet...But last time he had dismissed noises like this, it had turned out with a missing horse. - Without much of another thought, Matt left the kitchen, his gaze this time scanning the room incase the door had been someone entering the lounge, and it had just sounded more muffled than usual. Sure enough, his eyes landed on a girl standing by one of the windows, staring at her phone. It didnt take him long to realise who it was, and he strangely felt a sense of...relief? Mainly because if this was a repeat of anything like the incident two weeks ago, he could actually talk about Joe. That was all, though. "Did you just come in?" He asked finally, walking towards a window the other side of the lounge door, peering out at what he could. There was no one there, no movement at all, but the rain was clouding what he could actually see. That and the fact the weather was making it much darker than it was meant to be. He turned back to Eleanor to wait for a response, his only hope being that she would say yes, so he could just leave and go back to his dorm. Somehow though, judging by the look on her face, that wouldnt be the case. |
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Eleanor had scrolled aimlessly on her phone for a few good minutes before she got a text from the group chat with her friends. Kat asking if anyone wanted to meet up in her dorm room and have a movie marathon. She didn't send her own response yet, reading through the others first. Lily would join, Sam said no cause he had homework to work on. Eleanor didn't feel like sitting around watching movies, not even with her friends at the moment. She sent her own short reply declining before closing the group chat and resuming her scrolling. She came across a post about Ranger, and asking if people had any info. Eleanor didn't linger on the post, both because it would not help and because she heard a voice. •~• Eleanor looked up to see Matt at another window. She turned her phone off and put it back in her pocket. She leaned her head on the window to continue looking out even if it was a low chance she'd see anything. If there was even anything to see. "No, I've been here for a bit. I saw you come in." She answered, straightening up to face Matt instead of the window. She had accepted that Matt was the only one she'd be able to talk to Joe about, and they were stuck in the same boat. Eleanor had thought about talking about it with her friends, or at least Katherine. But had decided she didn't want to drag any of them into it, even if she knew there was a good chance they'd believe her. But one person, even if it's Matt, was a small relief. Eleanor was debating asking Matt if he'd noticed anything else happening with Joe. Beyond the normal facade she's seen as of late. •~• But then again Eleanor couldn't be positive trying to start a conversation wouldn't just have him snapping at her. Matt certainly looked like that's what he'd answer with. But then again Matt had spoken to her first, so that had to be a good sign right? She didn't understand why she needed to think so hard about it. Eleanor casted another glance at the window as if her view of outside would've changed within the few minutes. It had not. Maybe she was starting to hear things that weren't real now too. "Notice... Anything else happen with Joe these past couple weeks? I haven't gathered anything, he's seemed pretty normal. And puts in as much 'effort' as the other staff into finding Ranger. But he's definitely still off." Eleanor said, looking at him again. Should she ask if he heard the noise? Better not, unless she'd want him thinking she's crazy if he hadn't. Least not at the current moment when there's another matter to talk about. She'll ask in a bit, after all it seems like nothing truly happened anyway. Even as she tried to convince herself, she was restless to go check on Dutchess and the other horses. But forced herself to calm. The horses are fine, no-one smart would try something in this weather. Right? |
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The answer from Eleanor was just as Matt expected, no matter how hard his brain wanted to tell him she wasn't the one who'd just come in. It also surprised him slightly, the fact he had no idea she watched him walk in. Well, he had paid no attention to his surroundings either way so that made sense. Matt stepped back from the glass slightly, taking in Eleanor's answer with a slow nod. His brain was torn in two, half thinking about how worrying the situation was, half thinking about how stupid it was to worry. It was a riding academy, the gates weren't locked for another half an hour, it could be anyone. Anyone ranging from a staff member leaving to go out for the night, to a student coming back from a ride, or from the village. The incident with Ranger had definitely taken its toll on him. He had chosen to ignore a feeling that felt off then, and look how that had turned out. Hell, it was bordering on paranoia. As much as Matt didn't want to be, he was grateful he was able to talk to someone about it, even if it was Eleanor. - Matt had been noticeably zoned out with his thoughts as she spoke, and her blank look was what brought him back to reality. For a few seconds, he racked his brain to bring back the words she'd directed at him, scrambling to be able to put them in the right order. Eventually, he got there. "Not really." He mumbled, stepping away from the door altogether and sitting down on the nearest couch, his eyes trained on the window opposite though it was entirely foggy due to the rain outside, and the warmer temperature indoors. "He couldn't be more normal, which is...strange. I saw him in the village a few days ago asking just about everyone there whether they had seen Ranger or not. He seems genuinely concerned," Matt stopped his own sentence for a second, watching a rain drop run down the glass, disappearing at the very bottom. "Either that or he's concerned he'll get caught." - Matt thought on his own words, finally bringing his gaze away from the window, and instead settling on Eleanor, lookinig at her. Except he really looked at her for the first time, completely devoid of annoyance or the feeling to rile her up. Only then did Matt realise he barely actually knew anything from her appearance, that if she went missing and was asked to describe her, he would fail miserably. Medium length brown hair, tan skin, dark brown eyes that seemed to change tone a little when the light danced around them. His gaze flitted to a small, fading scar near her eyebrow, something that hadn't really stood out to him before now. Realising what he was doing, Matt quickly averted his gaze away from Eleanor, staring back at the foggy window in front of him. What on earth was he doing? He knew he'd be lying to himself if he said she wasn't...pretty. Not that he needed to dwell on that. - Matt ran a hand through his hair absentmindedly, his attention pulled to the sound of a stall door close to the barn. Deciding he wasn't too keen on coming off incredibly paranoid, he shook the sound off as nothing more than the staff doing their final checks before outside gates were shut. Probably early, given the fact the rain had picked up much heavier now. "Mya told me to thank you, before she left by the way. I...forgot entirely." He lied, speaking up suddenly. Matt hadn't forgotten Mya had said that, he just hadnt felt like talking to Eleanor about anything but the sponsor event. "She's grateful for staying and talking to her for a bit, when Ranger went missing." |
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Genuinely concerned, Matt had said about Joe. And that rubbed Eleanor the wrong way. Joe was the highest suspect, for them two, and if it turned out to be true... The thought of the one who committed the act acting just as concerned as everyone else? That definitely irritated her, maybe even more the Matt did. Joe was definitely trying to cover his tracks, that's what she figured at least. No one else had ever given her such bad vibes, even if her own thoughts were mingled in to help feel that way. Matt went quiet again and Eleanor did not hurry to fill the silence. She saw Matt just... Staring at her from the corner of her eye. And she had to keep herself from staring back. Inside, she was squirming under it. Sure she's caught herself doing it a few times over the past couple weeks. Both ways were weird. And while she kept her eyes on the glass she grew uncomfortable. Yeah, uncomfortable. •~• Thankfully he looked away and Eleanor had to stop from letting out a exhale of relief. Instead she headed to the kitchen to find some other then water to drink. She rummaged for a bit before absolutely nothing sounded good and got more water anyway. Eleanor headed back to the main area, pausing when she also heard the sound of... Another door? It was faint, she couldn't tell what door but it did come from the barn. She risked a glance at Matt. And unless she's actually going crazy, which she doesn't truly think she is, then he had to have heard it too. But Matt didn't seem to concerned about it, and oddly enough that kept her from questioning it. Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing Eleanor wasn't sure. •~• Eleanor went back to sitting on the couch she had been earlier, downing some of her water again before setting it aside. Matt was speaking again and she turned her attention back to listening to him. When he mentioned Mya she straightened up a bit more. Eleanor remembered the day that it was mentioned Mya was leaving the Academy for the time being, and that was the day she'd been the most guilty. Mya had left without any updates on Ranger, and she could just imagine how the other girl felt. She still wished she could've done more then simply talking and comforting, but she knew it had helped in it's own right. The thought did help Eleanor feel a little better about the situation, even if she hadn't done much. "Thanks for telling me." She mumbled, staring at her hands instead of looking at Matt. Lie or not she wouldn't even blame him if he actually forgot. So much has just been happening. •~• Eleanor heard the rumble in the distance and knew the rain was only going to get worse and get darker. She typically loved storms, there was just something so calming about them. But this one didn't feel right. And it didn't help that she knew Dutchess hated them, unlike her rider. The mare could handle simple rain, but not when thunder and lightning popped up. Eleanor got up once again, taking care of her drink and picking up her pencil and sketchbook. Which she was going to have to end up hugging close to keep relatively dry. "Um... I'm going to head out, before the weather gets even worse. You should too." Eleanor added the last bit only because no one should get caught out in a storm. Mhm. They could 'talk' another time, when they wouldn't possibly be stuck in the barn lounge in a storm. Not because she thought he needed a nap or quiet or anything. Eleanor headed for the door, deciding she'll go check on Dutchess quickly before heading to the dorms. •~• (Ha! Minutes before my phone dies lol.) |
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Mine too actually so I apologise if it's short sob) - The time in the lounge felt like it was passing painfully slowly. Matt didn't know himself why he was still there, there was nothing...keeping him there. It was raining outside, likely to start storming, and he was stuck with Eleanor, which wasn't exactly where he wanted to be, or so he told himself. It wasn't something Matt would dwell on nor ever admit to himself out loud or otherwise, but he was somewhat...warming to her presence. Probably because he was around her a lot for the sponsor event, but there was just something about her. Whatever, it didn't matter. Why he hadn't just gone up to the dorm, he had no idea. As Eleanor got up and started rummaging around the kitchen area, Matt pulled his phone out, half in an attempt to distract himself. The first thing his gaze landed on was a message from his sister, who was just yapping about how bad the storm was down where they were, updating him on things he couldn't care less about. He didn't mind it though, it usually made him feel better. That was, until she started talking about some criticism their parents had about him one random evening. - Matt replied to the various, many messages that his sister had sent, finding himself successfully distracted for a good five minutes before the sound of the distant thunder brought his attention back to reality. He stuffed his phone in his pocket and looked back up, glancing at Eleanor for a few seconds as she spoke, about heading back up. Well that conversation was short. Good. He nodded, looking towards the lounge door and back to her. "See you tomorrow." He mumbled, immediately turning his attention back to whatever else he could, anything that wasn't her. Why Matt felt so uncomfortable he had no idea, but deep down he knew it was nothing to do with Eleanor. Something just felt wrong. - Once Eleanor had left, Matt got up and made his way to the kitchen area to get himself another glass of water, half to soothe the irritating anxious feeling that wouldn't go away, half to keep himself busy. He didn't fancy going back up to the dorm just yet, and wanted to check on Falcon before he went anywhere else. Just not yet, at least wanting to give the rain some chance to ease before darting out to the barn. As he leant against the kitchen counter, the sounds of movement became unmistakeable. Stall doors, a horse moving...or many multiple. And mumbling? No, no one else was possibly out there, not at this time. It eventually crossed Matt's mind that Eleanor could have gone to check on Dutchess before heading back up, so he shook off his thoughts and finished his drink, stuffing it in the dishwasher before finally making the decision to head out to the barn. Hopefully Eleanor wasn't out there, and if she was, she wouldn't pay any attention to him having the exact same idea. He just wanted to get Falcon checked, make sure he wasn't too spooked by the storm, and get back up to the dorm to sleep the ridiculous amount of anxiety - and guilt, - away. |
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Eleanor hurried for the barn, holding her sketchbook close to her chest. She went for the one of the side doors, being the closest, but it was locked. She cursed whoever decided that was smart, not taking the two seconds to even think about it. Right now her main thought was to get out of this rain. Eleanor went around to the main doors and thankfully they opened. She opened just enough to slip inside before slamming it shut. It was quite dark in the barn, and the lights that were on flickered slightly. Creepy, did not help the ominous feeling growing in her chest. Eleanor sat her sketchbook and phone aside, before spending a few minutes finding a towel. She pulled her hoodie off to the less soaked T-shirt beneath and set that aside too. She'll put it back on before leaving. •~• Eleanor found a relatively clean towel and wiped off enough to at least feel dry. She then headed for the tack room, flicking the light on and doing a quick scan. A part of her needed to see if anything else had disappeared. Two bridles were missing. She didn't pay any further attention to trying to figure out what or who's other one was missing. Instead staring at were she had last put Dutchess bridle, and how it was no longer there. Eleanor checked the rest of the tack room, but it wasn't anywhere. Her's, a piece of her tack was gone. She wouldn't have called it cheap, but she wouldn't have called it expensive either. Wasn't Joe taking expensive ones? Did he run out? Eleanor checked the rest of her tack, still here. The door sounds she heard earlier, could they really have been... She should've trusted her gut. •~• Like now. Eleanor still had the feeling something was very, very wrong. She spun around, her feet moving before her mind could catch up. One stall, two stall, three stall... She didn't look at any of them until she hit Dutchess's. Shadows. It's fine, that's fine Dutchess had a black coat, the mare just blended in, the light was dim. Eleanor felt like her heart was going to burst from her chest with how hard it was beating when she un-latched the stall door and walked in. But when Eleanor got from one end of the stall to the other without hitting anything, like a horse, she felt sick. Absolutely sick. She stood in the stall for a good minute before stumbling out, not even bothering to close the door again. Or look at the bits of blood she hadn't noticed on it. Dutchess wouldn't have gone willingly, not in a storm. How could Someone- Joe- get her out? She couldn't even bring herself to go check on her friends horses because if any of them were gone too... •~• Gone. Dutchess was gone. Her horse was gone. Eleanor felt tears threaten to fall, and her breathing wasn't any better. She was so, so tempted to run back out into that rain. But the cruel sense of logic kept her in place for the moment. She wouldn't find anything in time, she spent to much time trying to convince herself it was nothing. But Eleanor needed to, maybe just like Mya had been ready to go down the trail in the dark if they hadn't ran into her. She didn't bother grabbing her hoodie nor phone before Eleanor was running out the doors again. She just about smacked into someone, she didn't even look at them, didn't process. "Move!" She just shoved past them and went for the trail she'd been positive Ranger had went down. She paused only at the gate for a moment to look down at the dirt- now mud. Hoofprints, and more then one set. Two? Two horses? She hadn't looked in the other stalls. Was Joe not alone? •~• Eleanor looked down the trail, she couldn't see anything. Hear anything. And she was already soaked by the rain. Right where they'd stopped Mya from running to look for Ranger. Her beautiful mare was gone, that thought was on full repeat in her head. She couldn't believe it. Why Dutchess? Why? She couldn't have been more then a hour behind. But sometimes that's all the head start that was needed. •~• (Sorry if it's a little meh lol Brain decided 12 am and half asleep was perfect time to think of ABSOLUTELY everything to write. -_-) |
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You're fine don't worru!) - Matt knew immediately when he opened the like door, that even heading out to the barn wasn't the best idea, with the rain being so heavy. He knew the weather had said something about rain, but in no way was it meant to be storming or as heavy as it was. He shut the door again for a second, internally debating whether he should just head up to the dorm now. Falcon would be fine, he was in his stall, he had no way of getting out, and the barn was obviously as secure as possible for storms much worse than this. For some reason though, Matt could not shake away that same intense feeling, almost like impending doom, and so his internal debate was over. He would go and quickly check the gelding. - He quickly made his way around the edge of the lounge and to the barn entrance, staring down at the floor to avoid his vision being heavily compromised by the raindrops which just happene to blow into his face the. unite his foot touched the gravel. As a result, Matt wasn't looking at all where he was going, and someone nearly smacked body heavy into him. Under a split decision, he moved out the way, and luckily him and the stranger didn't collide - though they did yell at him slightly to move. Usually, Matt would have just frowned and shrugged something like that off, maybe uttered something sarcastic or insulting in the persons direction, but this was an entirely different scenario. They sounded panicked, it was late, no one else was mean to the out here, and the only person he could think of was Eleanor. As Matt looked behind him to see the figure running from the barn entrance, he just about made out who it was. Despite the fact she wasn't wearing her hoodie anymore, he could tell it was Eleanor - which only made things just that little bit more worrying. Matt toyed with the idea of turning around and running back after her to see what was wrong, or to call her stupid for running around when the storm was rolling in somewhat fast, but he didn't. He hadn't seen it for himself, but he could almost taste what was wrong. He knew Eleanor well enough to know she was usually very calm, and composed, and he couldn't imagine much got her this worked up. Unless something close to her was gone. - Matt tore his gaze away from Eleanor and made his way further into the barn, heading for Dutchess' stall without a second thought. Matt's fears were confirmed in an instant. No horse, blood on the stall door, a slightly messed up bed from where there was clearly a struggle. He felt his heart rate pick up significantly as his eyes scanned the scene, and he rushed to the tack room to double check, hell to triple check whether her bridle or halter was still there. Maybe he was mistaken, and she was out in the pasture? No one knew it was meant to be stormy tonight. That wouldn't explain Eleanor's behaviour, though. Matt flipped the tack room switch on, his gaze scanning over where Dutchess' tack was meant to be, and was only met with the horrifying sight, that her bridle was indeed gone. He ran a hand down his face, staring at the peg where the bridle was meant to be hanging, shifting his gaze along each of them to see if the others were still there. Yes, yes...yes. All the other tack seemed to be in place, so it wasn't as if someone had raided ths tack room again. Matt turned around to look at the other side of the tack, his gaze catching on to a very unfamiliar sight. Falcon's bridle was gone. Not only his bridle, but a rather expensive showing halter that was usually up on a peg right below the bridle. - Without thinking, Matt raced out the tack room and down the barn, right to the very end where Falcons stall was meant to be. His heart was hammering against his chest, and he could barely process the sight of the empty stall as he got there, the only noises he was hearing for a few seconds being the gentle swing of the open stall door, and the horrific hammering of his heartbeat. Falcon was gone. He was...gone. There was no other way to describe it, Matt's gelding was gone. And so was Dutchess. That's two horses in one night, and Matt knew for a fact that at least Falcon, wasn't out in the pasture, or in any other stall. He had been taken. - Matt had no idea what to do. For a good minute, he was frozen, his feet stuck to the ground like it had suddenrly iced over and trapped his feet down along with it. Then, he remembered how Eleanor had sprinted past him, heading towards what looked like the same trail that Ranger had been taken down by who was likely the same culprit. Without another thought, he moved towards the direction she had gone in, spotting her stood exactly where they had both found Mya when Ranger had gone missing. For a second, Matt had no idea what to say, just letting the rain pour down onto him, barely blinking as water hit his eyes, blurring his vision momentarily. Matt looked down at the very obvious two sets of hoofprints, his stomach churning. Why Falcon? Of all horses, why him? Why Dutchess, too? He knew he had to say something, anything so he wasn't just standing there staring. "Falcon's gone too." He couldn't muster up anymore words, nothing to elaborate, he was terrified. The thought of the fact neither of them got on only flashed across his mind, but that was definitely the very least of both of their worries now. Regardless of relationship, they were now in exactly the same boat. |
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Eleanor heard footsteps behind her, or that's what it sounded like. She wasn't positive over the rain and she didn't bother turning to look. She only turned her head slightly when the footsteps stopped close. Matt. He was probably the one she smacked into when leaving the barn, he was the only other one near the barn in this weather that she saw. Why was he out here, why did Matt come over. But those questions faded before she could speak them. Eleanor did not have the energy to deal with him the usual way. So Eleanor went back to looking down the trail, even if she knew there was no hope of seeing anything. •~• When Matt spoke, it was just one sentence, and he didn't add anything else. But it made Eleanor look at him again, quicker this time. "Falcon as well?" Falcon too. Falcon was the second horse. She thought the pit of despair in her couldn't get deeper, but it just did. Was that the second bridle she hadn't bothered to place in the tack room after seeing Dutchess's gone? Eleanor ran a hand over her face, clearing her vision slightly from the rain, and tears she wouldn't admit to. And brushing some hair sticking to her face away. Dutchess and Falcon, Dutchess and Falcon... It'd become a matter of why. Because they were the best pair for the event? Oh the event, how do they do that with no horses? What would the rest of the staff think, they haven't even shared who the sponsor is yet. And two more horses are now missing. •~• Eleanor knew she needed to think about it rationally, like she did speaking to Mya about Ranger. But it's a thousand times more different when it's your own horse. "Why, would it be them. Out of all horses in the barn..." She trailed off. The question was as much as for Matt as it was for herself. Eleanor put her head in her hands, the cold from the rain finally catching up to her. They shouldn't be standing out here for much longer. The possibility of never seeing Dutchess- And Falcon, who had wormed his way in over these weeks- again, was real, and they couldn't do anything freezing. But after that, Eleanor didn't know what to do. And she could hear it in Matt's tone, he was just as terrified. He really was the only one she could speak to, relate to. About Joe, and now their horses. •~• "What do we do? He couldn't have done it alone. Not two horses, not our horses." Eleanor said, locking her eyes onto his hazel ones. Now was definitely not the time to even think about how she should be treating Matt. She could care less at the current moment. He also just lost his horse, she could only imagine what Matt was also thinking. Maybe they shouldn't have this conversation in the middle of a coming storm. Eleanor gave the hoofprints on the ground another look, the rain already starting to wash them away. •~• (Short, but here. Next should hopefully be longer. :)) |
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No worries at all !!) - As usual, Matt could barely register Eleanor's reply to him, but this time it wasnt just down to not listening, or drifting off thinking about other things. His mind was barely grasping onto anything exept Falcon. Not the rain, not the near constant flashes of lightning, not the following, loud rumbles of thunder nearly overhead already. Falcon. He swallowed hard, looking back at Eleanor, his eyes drifting over hers. It was pouring with rain, but he was certain he could see tears, lining the rims of her eyes, which only somehow made him feel worse about the situation like he was the culprit. Why that was the case he had no idea, but i wasn't something to dwell on now at all. They had bigger problems. - He shook his head at her first question, looking down as the water dripped off his hair, watching it land amongst the rain in the puddles below their feet. It was a good question, why Falcon? Why Dutchess? There were many, many other options in the barn, many other skilled, perfectly healthy, award winning horses - especially with Hollowhearts there now. So why would they choose what they did? And why both of them. Matt took a deep breath, looking back at the barn like it would magic the horses up, like they would be stood there on the cross ties waiting to be put back in the stall. Shockingly, that didnt happen. "I...don't know." Was all he managed to get out, his mind struggling to form an actual, sensible thought that he could put into sentences. What the hell were they meant to do now? How do you think rationally after losing a horse? It was difficult enough with Mya, let alone your own animal. Whoever t was, definitely knew them to some extent. And Joe knew at least Matt very, very well. - This was both stupid and terrifying. They couldnt just stand there for all of eternity, peering down the nearest trail like that would bring the horses back, it wouldnt. Plus, the storm wasn't ending anytime soon, they were soaking wet already and it was only growing colder, and darker. Not to mention that if a staff member saw them...They had to move. Matt turned to Eleanor, feeling that same strange pang of...something flood through his chest for a second. Why did he feel so guilty? He didnt take Dutchess, he had no idea what truly happened, so why did he feel so odd? He shook the feeling off the best he could, and gestured towards the barn lounge vaguely. "We're better off back inside, we're already soaking and the storm isnt stopping anytime soon. And if whoever did it comes back and is armed..." Matt let his voice trail off, knowing the end of the sentence didn't need t be spoken out loud. It was obvious. "We can talk about it or...do something about it in there. Or something like that, I dont know. Or if not, i'll see you tomorrow, okay?" Gosh, he was even more of a mess than he thought, trying to get a single sentence out. - Matt didnt wait for a response, though he strangely hoped she'd follow him to the barn lounge instead of go back to her dorm. Not for any other reason that it would be at least a little more calming, a little more grounding than sitting in there by himself with no one to actually go over what happened with. Yes, Matt could go up to the dorm and wake Dylan up, yes he could call an emergency for any staff member, but none of that...felt rght. Not yet, not now. He entered and sat himself down ono the nearest couch, ignoring the fact his clothes were soaking, and his shirt was clinging to him for dear life. Instead, he just...thought. About Eleanor's question. Why them? And what would they do about the sponsor event? About the championship at the end of the academy year? How would everyone else react? Would they ever see their horses alive again? |
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Eleanor nodded along with the words Matt was speaking, trying her best to not look him in the eyes again. She didn't want to see the emotions he no doubt had, reflected back at her. And because she now knew it wasn't just rain on her face and she would not forgive herself if Matt of all people caught her crying. At least he seemed to be thinking more rationally then her, but even then Eleanor had the sense it was barely. Matt was barely getting the words out and she would likely be the same speaking again in the moment. Inside, right. The storm wasn't going to let up any time soon. Matt was already walking away, and she watched him head to the barn lounge. Eleanor knew she should probably head to her dorm, change, talk to her friends. Do something to busy herself, if it was even possible. But she found herself heading to the barn lounge as well instead of the path to the dorms. •~• Eleanor did stop at the barn however. She did her best to not look at Dutchess's stall, nor Falcon's when her eyes drifted that way. She used the same towel she'd grabbed earlier to try and least dry up a bit, which was hard when one's clothes were already soaked. Just a quick conversation, and she'll head to her room to change. She grabbed her hoodie she left and wrapped it around her phone and sketchbook to help keep those relatively dry instead. Before Eleanor went back to the doors, she paused and went for Dutchess's stall. The stall door still wide open when she hadn't bothered to close it. Well now she did, latching it as well. Didn't want anyone hitting it or closing it in the morning. Eleanor head down to the end as well and did the same to Falcon's stall, carefully. She then left the barn. •~• Eleanor sped walk the short distance from barn to barn lounge, practically slamming the lounge door behind her. She looked over her shoulder and Matt was indeed here too, and that was somehow a small relief that spread through her. One that didn't last long as everything else, per usual came crashing back down. She'll have to tell the staff, call her parents, tell her friends too... Figure out how to proceed with the event, and try and find two horses. Eleanor moved and sat on the other end of the couch Matt was on. She didn't even think about how the water from her clothes would soak into the poor couch. She folded her hands in her lap, turning to pull her phone out of her hoodie bundle, but just held it, not turning it on. •~• "We have to tell the other instructors about Joe. Find a way to convince them." Eleanor said, finally speaking up. Her tears had thankfully stopped before she'd entered the lounge, but the feeling hadn't gone away. Not one bit, understandably. Did Joe go after their horses because he thought they were onto him? Joe had ran into Matt quite a few times, and maybe he'd picked up on Eleanor's own nervousness around him? Or maybe there was no motive besides money, who knows. |
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Sunny
