Famous by Jessica Burkhart Page A

passed my friends. Whisper kept swishing her tail and lifted her hooves high into the air. It was asif she knew her friends had been watching. I rode her up to the group and everyone surrounded us, offering me a palm to slap.
    A shiver ran through me. This time from pure bliss—not cold or fear.
    â€œLT, that was amaze!” Cole said. He held up his gloved hand. “I wish we had that on video.”
    A perma-grin was stuck on my face. “Thanks, guys,” I said. “It was all Whisper. She’s turning out to be a real jumper.”
    The group broke up to let me cool down Whisper.
    â€œLauren,” Mr. Conner called. “Bring Whisper into the arena and walk her along the wall to cool her down. The rest of you need to line up in front of me.”
    I nodded and turned Wisp back toward the arena. I walked her on a loose rein.
    Mr. Conner smiled at me, looking up from his clipboard. “That was a fantastic ride, Lauren. Well done.”
    I smiled. Praise like that was rare from Mr. Conner.
    â€œHowever,” Mr. Conner said, “I’m afraid your time was a half second behind Cole’s. I hope you’re still just as proud of your ride, though.”
    â€œI am,” I said. “Whisper was amazing.”
    â€œCongratulations, Cole,” Mr. Conner said, nodding athim. “Your ride was not only clean, but it was also the fastest time. I’m quite proud of your effort today and hope you are as well.”
    Whisper and I rejoined the group, and everyone smiled at Cole.
    I mock-frowned at Cole. “We’ll get you next time,” I said icily.
    â€œI’d like to see you try,” he said, playing right back.
    Everyone laughed. Even Mr. Conner.

EVERYTHING’S COOL . . . RIGHT ?
    AFTER I TOOK CARE OF Whisper, I headed for Zane’s stall. Brielle, sliding the bolt to lock his stall door, turned to me with a smile.
    â€œIf it isn’t Miss I Rock at Show Jumping,” Bri said. She undid her long ponytail and let her blond hair fall around her shoulders.
    I shook my head at her. “Thank you, but we need a zillion more rides like that to really qualify as ‘rocking.’ ”
    Zane poked his head over the stall door, and I reached out to stroke his cheek. Brielle had a royal-blue halter on him that looked stunning against his coat.
    â€œWhat are you up to now?” Brielle asked.
    â€œHoping to chat with you, actually,” I said. “Do you have time to talk for a few minutes? I was thinking wechange and meet in the common room, maybe?”
    Lines creased Brielle’s forehead as she frowned. “Is everything okay? You’re making me nervous!”
    I waved my hand dismissively. “Oh, yeah. Everything’s totally fine. I’ll explain, but I just want to talk so I can basically make someone else stop talking.”
    We both laughed as I rolled my eyes at the awkwardness of my explanation.
    â€œSure,” Brielle said. “I’ll talk to you to quiet someone else. Makes total sense.”
    â€œLet’s get out of here.” I gently pushed my friend’s shoulder in the direction of the exit. I looped my arm through hers, and Brielle and I chitchatted as we made our way across the frigid campus and back to Hawthorne.
    â€œSee you in five,” I said when we reached the stairs.
    â€œFour!” Brielle said, running up the stairs to the room that she shared with Clare.
    I opened the door to my room, and it was empty. Khloe was probably still cooling Ever after their lesson. I purposely hadn’t told her that I’d been planning on talking to Bri. The whole thing was so silly. After Brielle told me everything was fine with her, then I could report back to my friends that I’d been right all along.
    I stood in front of the full-length mirror and checked my reflection. I’d slipped out of riding clothes and had slid on black leggings and an oversize lavender-and-white striped