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you're totally fine dont worry!!) - Matt had gotten down to the barn fairly quickly, before the majority of his class had. After all, he had left minutes early. In that time, he lightly hosed down Falcon, checked him over as usual and put him back in his stall, making sure the gelding was nicely calm before leaving him be. Content that he was, he hauled the tack up off the wooden horse and made his way to the tack room. During the ten minutes of somewhat peace he had, his mind had been flicking between three things. Hailey's issue, Falcon - as usual, - and Eleanor. More so Eleanor because they'd had a whole conversation with a single insult, or sarcastic comment. Matt was convinced the lack of negativity was just because they were on horseback, and if they weren't, it would go straight back to how it was. Well, there would be time to see. - Meanwhile, whilst Matt was in the tack room sorting things, Destiny was causing problems. Again. She had seemingly latched herself onto a Hollowhearts rider, one she didnt yet know the name of. When she heard a girls voice speak to her, she immedaitely realized who it was. That same girl from the village, the one that had told her to quieten down or...whatever. Se could barely remember. Slowly, Destiny turned away from the man she was talking to, a slow smile building on her lips. "And your problem is?" She asked, tilting her head. Destiny was naturally loud, and her voice carried out across the barn, much to the dislike of a few of the nearby horses. "He doesn't need you latching onto him, honey. You're not at Hollowhearts anymore. Give him some space, yeah?" Gosh she was insufferable. Her tone only rose as she spoke, acting as if she knew the guy personally. Anything to get male attention, though. Deciding her comments weren't enough, she carried on. "I dont know who you think you are, but this is the second time you've gone off on me for two consecutive days. What, you want male attention? First when I'm talking to Matt, now...him." She said, gesturing to the girls friend. "I should have known you Hollowhearts riders were exactly like that." - Just then, Matt emerged from the tack room, fiddling with a few of his rings. He was paying zero attention to his surroundings, and just about missed bumping into Eleanor by about an inch. He stopped, his hand brushing her shoulder as he lightly moved her out the way. Not because she was in the way, but becuause he would have collided with her otherwise. Before he could snap at her, - despite it being his fault, - Matt caught onto the tension that was hanging in the air. Mainly by Destiny's fiery look. That, and he had heard her voice from inside the tack room. "What's the issue?" |
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"Oh, I don't think I'm the one looking for male attention." Eleanor replied, crossing her arms. "You do know Sam here is-was- whatever a Hollowhearts too? Or do you just go after any guy you see?" She added, gesturing at Destiny with a hand. And then she felt someone brush her shoulder and stiffened in surprise, swearing under her breath before she looked over her shoulder. "Oh, you. Can't we stop running into eachother?" She said, narrowing her eyes at him. At least he hadn't fully knocked into her, but still. He could say something, not just try and move her. But then he asked what was happening, and she rolled her eyes. "Your friend here, if she's even that, is being loud again." Was all Eleanor said. As if to prove her point, some more of the horses showed displeasure, and she looked back at Destiny. •~• "Look, just stay away from my friends. Your making him uncomfortable, even if you apparently can't see it because your too caught up in yourself. I'll save you the trouble, you aren't getting a chance with him. Or apparently any guy you talk to, because this is the second time I've seen one so uncomfortable around you." She snapped, before she looked over Destiny's shoulder. Sam had slipped away to put Checkers away and just now popped back up, looking slightly sorry as if he had caused all this. Which just made her wanna snap even more at the blonde. She turned to face Matt, remembering he was there, and did not notice how close he was at first. He really was just about to just knock into her. Was his eyes always that... Hazel color? 'What the hell?!' She screamed at herself within her mind. "Keep a eye on your friend." She said out loud, even without knowing why she said it. She was pretty sure Matt here wasn't friends with this girl, not with how the last time looked. But it came out anyway. •~• Without waiting for a response Eleanor moved past him bumping his shoulder with her's, and after a moment Samuel followed. She went to where she had left Dutchess tied up, apologizing quietly. She checked her mare over, checking her hooves too, before giving her a quick hose and putting her back in her stall. Without a word she then grabbed Samuel's arm and lead him out of the barn. Once they started walking the growing familiar path, she finally spoke again. "Are you good, Sam?" She asked, looking out of the corner of her eyes at the boy, who ran a hand through his hair before shoving his hands into his pockets. "Yeah, I'm good. Thanks, actually. I didn't want to just tell her to go away, it would've felt rude." Samuel answered. She gave him a pat on the back. "I know. That's why I'm here! To do the hard parts." She finished with a grin, which he returned. "Are you good though? You seemed tense back there for a moment." •~• He asked, tilting his head. She took her helmet off and reached for her braid, undoing it and brushing her hair down. She had completely forgot about taking it off, caught up with Destiny. "Oh, yeah I'm good Sam. Hey look, there's Lisa and Katherine! Come on, let's get inside and out of the sun. We've just got lunch and another inside class." Eleanor waved, catching the attention of the other two girls, who they caught up with before continuing to walk. Just in time. |
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The influx of words from Eleannor took Matt slightly by surprise. He had no idea on what the issue even was, so when she snapped back at Destiny, and then seemingly at him, he was just left sort of...baffled. His gaze caught Destiny's as Eleanour finished speaking to her. The blonde looked about ready to burst, but to his surprise, she didnt say a word. She sort of just stood there, mouth open like a fish. That was a first. Matt frowned as Eleanor shoved past him and walked away, seemingly catching up with a few of her friends. "Not a friend." He muttered under his breath, breathing out a long, exasperated sigh. Tensions were bound to be high a week into Hollowhearts arriving but this was the most arguing in two days, he had seen in a while. Slowly, Matt turned to Destiny. "Can you not keep your head down for one day? Stop provoking everyone." He snapped, his eyes boring into the girl. She just stared at him, as if he had spoken an entirely foreign language to her. Gosh it pissed him off when she did that. "Are you listening? Stop provoking them. Leave them alone." He repeated. - Destiny finally stopped staring long enough for Matt to stop tensing, though when her voice cut through his thoughts, it only returned. "It's not my fault she keeps arguing with me every time we cross paths. Like at the village yesterday, when I was simply talking to you. Now today, because im talking to her friend or whatever. She cannnot tolerate attention from a guy not being towards her." Interesting way to put it, seeing as she was describing herself. Matt just sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes for just a second. "Whatever, Destiny I do not care. Do what you want.2 He mumbled, turning away from her and to the barn entrance. It wasn't like he was exactly...defending Eleanor by all means, why would he care? But gosh Destiny got on his nerves. Yeah, that's what it was. - Realising it was nearing lunch now, Matt made his way to the cafeteria, despit having absolutey no appetite at all. He pushed the doors open and spotted Dylan, who waved him over. "You're finally here. How did the lesson go? I heard Joe left a good half an hour early." Dylan mused, watching as Matt sat opposite him. For the next ten or so minutes Matt explained vaguely, talking about Falcon being so jittery, the ground poles, the...pairing. By the end of it, Dylan was practically bursting. "Oh dude you have no idea. These pairings are like, whole term long, you're stuck with that girl. Give her a chance though, you'd look good with her. Just try that and if it doesnt work out, ditch her. If you know what I mean." Matt nearly choked on air as Dylan finished speaking, and he shot him a glare as if Eleanor was sat right next to them. "I'd rather date Destiny. You're kidding, right?" He protested, brows furrowed. Only around 50 minutes left of lunch, and it was finally time for next weeks tour planning for the rest of the afternoon. |
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Lisa was ranting about something that happened in her and Katherine's class to Samuel, who both walked ahead. Eleanor walked behind with Kat, who kept poking her side. "Whaaaat is up with you? You've got that look on your face." Kat said, waving a hand in front of Eleanor's face. "Ellie. Elliiieeee." "Okay okay, I heard you the first time." She grasped Kat's hand, pulling her off balance slightly. Laughing at Kat's fumble to walk straight again. Katherine threw her arm over her Eleanor's shoulders, making the two bump into eachother a few times before finding a rhythm. "Seriously though. What happened with your lesson? I want all the gossip." Katherine added after a minute, and she pinched her friend's arm. "Later, after lunch. I'm starving." She replied, before the two hurried to catch up with the siblings as the entered the cafeteria. •~• They found a empty table near the back after getting their food. They all sat down, Sam scrolling through his phone while Katherine dug into her food. She sat besides Lisa, who had a book open while she snacked on her food. She leaned over her shoulder, trying to see what she was reading. History about... Well something. Hey she liked reading herself, just not school related stuff. "If you got that from the library, the librarian is going to hate you if you get food on it." She whispered to Lisa, poking the page. Her friend merely flicked her finger away and flipped the page. "I won't. I will smack you with it though, Ella. So eat your food." •~• Eleanor blinked, before sitting normally again. Alright then, that conversation is over with. Nothing new with Lisa, that's just how her friend was. Lisa wasn't much of a speaker unless she really liked something or something got on her nerves. She poked at her own food, taking a few bites. Before looking around the cafeteria and back. How she wished she had her sketchbook, or a normal book, or anything really to distract herself. She pulled her phone out and scrolled through that, checking new posts or texts with either of her parents. Eventually she put the phone down when Katherine once more sucked everyone into another conversation. •~• Thirty minutes later, twenty before lunch was over, the group left early. She and Sam headed for the dorms to change fully out of their riding gear, while Kat and Lisa agreed to wait outside the girl's dorm. She had told Lisa about the Destiny run in on their way to the dorm, and she had agreed to check up on Sam later. Eleanor knew he was most likely fine, but she wanted to check on him at least one more time. Now currently she was back in her dorm room, changing back into her earlier clothes but swapped the hoodie out for a violet T-shirt. Once again, first thing she grabbed from her drawer. She checked the time, before putting two small violet stud earrings. Simply because she hadn't worn any in awhile, and didn't want her ears closing up. She then slipped on her other boots and headed back downstairs to where Lisa and Katherine were waiting. Kat threw her arm back over Eleanor's shoulder. They met up with Samuel and then made their way to the last class of the day, which should only take a hour, two at max. |
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After a little while, Dylan was done eating. Considering he had been yapping the whole time about various things, it had taken him an ungodly amount of time just to get a sandwhich down. And when he had finished it, he just carried on talking. Gosh that guy did not stop. Eventually though, Matt was able to get a quick word in about leaving, having only just realised they needed to get to tour planning. Only then did his roomate get up to leave, which Matt found somehwat amusing. - The afternoon spent tour planning was mind numbingly boring. It was all talk about who would do this, who would do that. It wasnt like there was anything but reputation at stake, and even then, it was just curious parents probably forcing their kid into riding, coming to see what a riding academy was like. Literally not one student actually cared, but the staff sure did. The majority of the few hours were just spent assigning roles, talking about who's horses would be used for riding, who's would be turned out so they were out of the way, and who was set to lead which set of people. By the end of it, Matt was just irritated. Somehow, the staff had gotten it into their mind that it was a good idea to one, have Falcon be ridden by the more experienced children of the parents, and two, lead the younger children around in the afternoon. What made them pick on him, was beyond his understanding. Still, he didn't complain. Much. His mind was jst going over the events of the evening and wha he wanted to do. He'd leave the class, go up to his dorm to rest slightly, and then hack out on Falcon in the evening. - When the few hours were finally up though, Matt left the room, falling into step beside Hailey as they traipsed across the academy building grounds, to the main part. They had chatted lightly during the tour planning, the earlier tension somehwat fizzling away into just normal conversation. Though, when Hailey stopped him outside the doors of the main building, Matt was able to sense something was coming. Ten minutes of her talking to him, and he was in a very, very difficult position. All he could really take from it was, her promise over a year ago about keeping it as just friends, was well and truly out the window. She liked him. A lot, apparently. Matt not only didn't want to lose the friendship with her, but he also just...didn't want a relationshi. Any time soon, at all. Instead of doing the nicer thing, and actually talking to her about it, he just left and made his way up to his dorm room once he spotted people filing out their classes, leaving Hailey just...stood there. |
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Eleanor could practically feel Kat complaining through out the last lesson, despite the smile her best friend had plastered on her face. The 'help me' look in her eyes. Eleanor honestly didn't find it too bad. Yeah it was boring but it wasn't worst. Or maybe it was just the fact classes for the day were almost over and she was almost free. It passed in a blur, just like the sun above, and before she knew it she had... Nothing to do. Lisa went off to ride Sunny, Samuel had gone off somewhere she didn't even see, and Kat had ran for the dorms proclaiming something about freedom, which maybe other students within hearing distance to cast her looks. Eleanor rubbed her forehead, before she spun on the spot for a moment. •~• She saw that other girl, not the blonde. Hailey, if she was thinking right. The one she was pretty sure was Matt's girlfriend or something of the sort. The girl had said something about a relationship back in the barn this morning. Hey, she wasn't trying to eavesdrop! Though currently Hailey was just... Standing there. Relationship problems? She didn't see Matt around. Maybe it was something else? Wait, why did she care? It wasn't her problem. In fact it had nothing to do with her! She headed for the girl's dorm, but as she passed Hailey she slowed her steps slightly. Looking out of the corner of her eye. Before she gave a small wave. Just the tiniest, in return for that smile this morning. That's all it was. •~• She made it to her dorm, and stayed this time instead of rushing out for a class. Grabbed her sketchbook book and sat at the provided desk, resting her head in her hand as she began to draw. It helped relieved her stress from the day, and the small breeze every once in awhile from the open window was... Nice. A peaceful moment in this chaotic school. And this was just the first day. She drew for maybe about a hour before she checked the time. The sun wasn't setting yet, but she could tell it was making it's way there. She stood from the desk and flicked the TV on, watching whatever popped up first while changing into a pair of pajamas and sitting back on her bed. She pulled out her phone at a text from Kat, "??? You said later. Tell me now, pleaaaase." Eleanor shifted against her pillows to get comfortable before she began typing out the, apparently, long awaited story. •~• After she finished informing Kat of the days events, she texted back, "Seems like you and this Matt are either fighting or being reluctantly civil." "Yep, that about sums it up." Eleanor sent back, and only about a second later did she get a reply. "Can't blame you, I mean, the guy isn't bad looking." Eleanor blinked at her phone. "Keep it to yourself, Kat I don't want another high school accident." "Hey! It was one time. And you didn't deny it!" "Well I'm denying it now. And it wasn't one time, you..." After awhile of texting, she eventually told Kat to shush and sleep or something. She then put her phone aside and sat up on her bed. She needed something to do. |
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Matt showered, and stayed laying on his bed in the dorm room, pretty much just staring at the ceiling. He had so much to think about. Hailey, class assignments, the tour next weekend - especially Falcon being used as pony rides, his parents who always seemed to be at the back of his mind. Falcon, again...And for some reason he just could not get Eleanor out of his head. What was it about her? Why was she so....frustrating. He had spoken to a few other Hollowhearts riders too, and he had not thought about them once again. Perhaps it was jsut because they'd been forced together for the rest of the term. And she had a very, very sharp tongue when it came to people messing with her friends, evidently. No, clearly Matt was just stressed. The weight of the situation with Hailey was yet to fully hit hm, and he took full advantage of that. - As the sun started to dip, he hauled himself out of bed, looking out the windows down at the academy grounds. There were a few people mulling around, some turning out their horses for the evening and night, some bringing theirs in, and others coming back from hacks or private lessons. To the left, he caught an argument happening between a Utopia rider and s Hollowhearts rider. To the right, he caught a girl sitting on the grass by herself, on her phone, looking somewhat upset. Everyone there had their own issues. - With a sigh, Matt pulled on a simple, fitting black shirt and jeans, and then pulled his trainers on. He decided to go on a hack later, though not at all dressed for it. Still, he didnt care. The staff wouldnt be wandering around, and if they were, he'd just have to be scolded. For now, he was planning on heading into the village on foot, to go and buy a few things he knew he needed. Hopefully the walk would clear his head, too. - He said goodbye to Dylan and made his way down and out the building, starting off across the lawn to the side gate. It didnt take Matt long to get ot the village centre though, considering the academy was right next to it, and he wasnt taking the hacking trails in that direction. The familiar surroundings hit him immedaitely. The various sets of siblings running around, either with their family pony or just heading to the park. The fruit sellers, the friendly neihbourhood elderly people, and a few people from various riding schools nearby. He traipsed down the street with hs hands in his jean pockets, the sun casting an orange glow over the place. It was such a peaceful setting, but gosh was he just so...stressed. - After Matt had gone into a few stores to get some things for Falcon, and a can of beer - obviously, - Matt sat himself down on the grass bank next to the river, setting the can down next to him. He pulled his phone out, eyes scanning over messages from the family groupchat that had just come through. As usual, for the second day in a row, talking about...him. Not in a good way, never in a good way. |
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Eleanor got up from her bed, mind decided. She'd go take one of those longer trails, clear her head. Relax. She grabbed a sweater and tied it around her waist just in case it started getting cold enough to need it as the sun went down. She slipped out of the dorm, heading down to the barns. Which was starting to feel like a familiar routine, and she knew it'd only grow more familiar. She headed over to Dutchess's stall, unlocking it and entering. "Hey girl, yes yes I'm back again." •~• Eleanor said, giving Dutchess a few sugar cubes when she began nudging her arm. "Does this mean you forgive me for earlier, yeah? We'll go out for a ride later. Just... Not yet." She rubbed Dutchess's head before stepping back out. She left the barn and headed for the trail signs, re reading them. The longest covered more ground then the other two, and circled back to the village. But the shorter one went right there, and probably would be easier to walk. Or there's the medium one woods, fields then back. •~• Eleanor went for the medium one. She'd walk the forest till she hit the fields, then she'll turn around and come back for Dutchess. So she began walking. The trail path was... Mostly smooth under her boots. A few dead leaves and twigs crunched as she stepped on them, but that just added to the noise of the forest. The few birds that were still up and her chirping, the few insects that were starting their night songs. She kept her gaze mostly infront of her, but she couldn't help looking around her every so often. The trees, the different flowers... This place was nice. Really nice. Eleanor walked for a bit before she finally came upon the exit of the forest to the fields, stopping. She'd explore those a different time. She turned around and began walking back. •~• Hazel. That color wouldn't stop popping into her mind when she saw a certain color leaf. And of course that led to Kat's earlier words, then to even earlier today, and in the end rounded out at Matt. Stupid Matt. Eleanor was starting to wish she hadn't ran into him the barn. Because then, maybe she'd be more relaxed. Less lost in her thoughts. When she returned from her solo walk she headed for the barn and brought Dutchess out. Tacking her up, muttering things for no particular reason. •~• Dutchess was her outlet sometimes. A way to get words out without actually speaking to someone, but still feeling the relief afterwards. Eleanor finished adjusting her bridle and rested her head on her mare's neck, blowing out a breath. "Okay. Let's go." She mounted then leaded Dutchess down to the trails once more. Couldn't she technically start on the short one and connect to the long one and return using the long trail? Yeah, yeah she'd do that. •~• As they started down the shorter trail for the second time, she loosened her grip on Dutchess's reigns. Trusting her horse, she turned her head upward seeing the stars that began appearing in the dying light. Pretty. Eleanor stayed like that for a bit, just watching the stars. Until she felt Dutchess turn, and she looked back down to see Dutchess heading for the water. Where there was a familiar figure. "Dutchess, no. Leave it." But of course her mare ignored her, to friendly of a horse. Walking up to the boy by the river. Pausing to conveniently take a drink, eyeing Matt out of the corner of her eye. Eleanor didn't say anything, all for ignoring him until Dutchess was done and they'd go. But she did speak after a moment.
•~• "Dutchess does her own things sometimes. We'll be gone in a moment." She said, staring at the water. She looked slightly to the side, just enough to see that he looked... She didn't know how to explain it. Or if she was supposed to even see it. Was off the right word? She's known the guy for a day. Even then she wouldn't count it as knowing him. But Dutchess had came over her out of nowhere and... She trusted her horse. "Something... Up? Not that you have to answer. Not that I'm asking because I care about the answer! I'm just... Bored." Yeah, bored. That's all it is. |
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Matt's mother was the worst of the three others in the groupchat. Hell, she always had been throughout his life. She was constantly critical of everything he did, from finances down to tiny things like his appearance. For the most part, he had pushed it down, ignored it. But that didn't mean that it was getting any easier, in fact much more difficult. He was on the verge of cutting her off entirely, but he didn't want to lose contact with the family members he actually liked. He looked down at a few of the messages as they carried on coming in. Luckily, they moved on from the topic of Matt, talking to his sister Lexi about planning some sort of gala they were heading too. Matt immedaitely told them he couldn't go, before they'd even asked. Heading back to the confined walls of his parents estate was stressful enough, let alone at a useless event surrounded by rich people one upping each other. No, it was Matt's idea of hell. - He was getting fairly lost in his thoughts - and phone - as time went on, therefore not realising the horse and rider that had stopped beside of him. When he did though, there wasnt even a glance in their directon. It was a horse town, he was more than used to it. However, the voice was what had made him look up, it being all too familiar. Eleanor. He was much too tired to even sound annoyed at her presence for the third time that day, so instead he just gave her a sort of blank look, his eyes settling on Dutchess almost unconsciously. Eleanor's question took him largely by surprise though. That was not what he was expecting to come out of her mouth. - All Matt could do was sort of just...think for a second, unsure on what to say. He wasnt about to pour his life story out onto anyone he knew, let alone her. But then again, it was clear there was no point in lying. Still, he would rather die than tell anyone about his parents...issues. Instead, he settled on inside academy things. "Not really. Just...assignments, Hailey. You." He said, gesturing vaguely in Eleanor's direction. "And they want Falcon used i some sort of pony ride stuff for the tour next week, which i'm sure even you can gather as being an awful decision." He mumbled. Well, that sounded a bit too harsh. He bit the inside of his cheek, resorting to tearing his gaze away from Dutchess and back towards the river. "Sorry, I did not mean...Yeah." Brilliant. Great apology. He sighed and shifted his position, looking back up at Eleanor. He figured she'd push for some form of elaboration on any of them. Hell she'd spotted him and Hailey talking just a few times, so he elaborated without question. "I've been friends with Hailey for a fair few years, I knew her before I came here. We uh...something happened about a year or so ago, kind of a drunk mistake, and sort of promised to stay friends after that. Turns out she's not still on that same promise, and evidently i' the bad guy for turning her down." - There. He'd gotten it out, though somehwat awkardly. He didnt want to talk, - or so he told himself anyway, - but Hailey was friendly to anyone. No doubt it would get out soon anyway. |
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Well, that was a sudden dump of info. For a bit, Eleanor had no idea what to say. She wasn't... Hadn't been expecting him to actually answer. Or if he did, to just have it be a short answer, maybe with a sprinkle of sarcasm. Something was getting to him, more then what he told her, but she wasn't going to pry. Her father told her all the time it wasn't nice to pry into other peoples lives. He also told her to punch anyone that spoke rudely, so thankfully she usually only took his first advice. Eleanor hesitated, but dismounted from Dutchess. She stayed close to her horse though, keeping a hand on the saddle. She looked over at Matt, studying him. •~• "Yeah I can... See why that'd be a bad idea. From what I've gathered about Falcon at least." Eleanor bit her lip, before she rubbed her eyes and looked at Dutchess. They really decided Falcon would've be the best pick? There was plenty other riders and their horses that'd do just as good. It did seem like a really back decision. At his, well, half formed apology she just waved a hand slightly. "Don't start apologizing now, it feels weird." Eleanor mumbled, looking back down at him and tilting her head just a little bit. She had a feeling he was going to say more, but she wasn't sure what. Then the name Hailey came out. She just about told him to shush, quiet, she didn't want to hear about his relationship problems. But a stubborn part of her didn't allow the words to come out, so she listened. •~• When Eleanor finished she blinked at him before she looked away. Oh. So they weren't together. While they really made it seem like they were, but then the part of a knowing each other before and a drunk mistake made sense as well. But paint him as the bad guy? Even she wouldn't understand the need to do that. "Wow, that doesn't seem right, even to me. Well if she wants to paint you as a bad guy maybe it's time you try and stop being her friend too. Obviously she doesn't want that, and likely just plays it so you'd stay around." She said with a small nod of her head to herself. But as if she realized what she said, she quickly added. "That's what I think, anyway. I don't care, do what you want." She brushed some of her hair back over her shoulder, a absent gesture. Awkward, why was it so awkward? •~• Dutchess finally, finally finished drinkig and decided it was time to go. Eleanor mounted back up but paused before leaving, looking down at Matt again. "I could... Talk, with one of the teachers. Or whoever is in charge of the tour, maybe get them to swap horses. I have a friend who'd have a better horse for it. I'm just thinking of the kids, on Falcon. And how'd that go, that's all." |
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Sunny
