Hey everyone! This is my very first attempt at a FF. Let me know if you like it and if I should continue writing the story. Also, keep an eye out for auditions in the near future.
Enjoy! :]
CHAPTER ONE:
Joe got down on one knee, and pulled a ring out of his pocket. I gasped, and tears sprang to my eyes.
“Baby,” he said, “You mean everything to me, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you please marry---“
“Everyone knows it’s meant to be, falling in love, just you and me.”
My cell phone’s familiar ringtone woke me from the wonderful dream that I’d been having. I picked the phone up off the hotel nightstand and glanced at the caller ID. Mom.
“Hello?” I asked sleepily.
“Erin, where are you? I need you to come to the show grounds and help me pack up my equipment. It all has to be loaded before you leave for the airport this afternoon.”
I groaned. It was my last day in Fort Worth, Texas, and I had planned on spending the morning sightseeing. Not stuffing my mom’s horse trailer with her endless amounts of show equipment.
“Okay, Mom. I’ll be there in a bit.”
My mom had finally fulfilled her dream of showing at the World Championship show with her Paint horse, Kira. She’d done remarkably well, winning a World Championship in one event and finishing in the top five in another. It was a two-and-a-half-year journey that had begun with showing at the small shows back home in the Pacific Northwest. In the middle of her second year showing on the Paint circuit, she decided she was going to attempt Worlds.
So two weeks ago my mom and her trainer, Ingrid, packed up the horse trailer and made the three-day trip to Texas. Wanting to miss as little work as possible, I opted to skip the long road trip and fly down instead. I’d been here for ten days, and this afternoon I would fly back to Seattle.
I quickly showered and tied my long hair back in a messy bun. Not bothering with any makeup, I threw on jeans, a hooded sweatshirt, and my boots. I grabbed my purse, and headed downstairs to call a cab.
On the way to the show grounds, I thought back to my own show career. I’d started riding horses about eight years ago, when I was in fifth grade. I showed in 4-H, and eventually on my high school’s equestrian team. I must admit, I was pretty successful in both – I even won back-to-back state championships in Fitting & Showing, one of my best events. But two years ago, when I was 16, I completely lost interest in showing. It wasn’t fun for me anymore. The thrill I one time got from the competition was gone. Right after I quit riding, my mom decided she wanted to get back into showing. She had shown horses before I was born, and then gave it up when she had me. She bought a fancy new horse that came with an equally fancy price tag, and now she was living what used to be my dream. Every now and then, jealousy would kick in and I would long to be in the show arena again.
I made my choice, I thought. I chose to give up that dream.
I fished my iPod out of my purse and put the headphones on, trying to drown out the thoughts in my head.
“I think that’s it,” my mom said after I stuffed the last two garment bags in the horse trailer. It was three hours later, and after making countless trips from the barn to the trailer, everything was finally packed away and my mom and Ingrid were ready to hit the road for the long trip home.
“Have a safe drive,” I told my mom as we hugged goodbye. “I’ll see you in a few days.”
“Thanks, sweetie,” she replied. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Will do,” I replied.
My mom turned and walked to the truck. She and Ingrid hopped in, buckled up, and waved.
I waved back and watched as they drove through the parking lot and pulled out onto the highway.
I glanced at my watch. I had just enough time to get back to the hotel, pack my bags and get to the airport before my flight at 4pm. I pulled out my cell phone and called for a cab.
I cursed under my breath as I looked at the swarms of people around me. I’d forgotten that it was the Fourth of July weekend, and the airport was packed with people heading home from wherever they had gone to celebrate the holiday.
I despise airports. The whole flying experience, for that matter. I hate the screaming kids, the overpriced food and souvenirs – everything. Somebody seriously needs to figure out a way to make traveling easier.
I glanced up at the departure screen and found my flight. It was delayed.
“Of course,” I muttered, annoyed. Could this get any worse?
I took my hair out of the bun and let it fall down my back in waves. I ran my fingers through it, willing the migraine I could feel forming to get lost.
Thankfully, it didn’t take very long to check my bags and get through security. I decided to grab a coffee and walked through the terminal in search of a Starbucks.
While I was walking I decided to text my roommate, Angela, who was picking me up when my flight arrived at the Sea-Tac airport.
Ugh, my flight’s delayed, I typed. I’ll call u just be4 we take off. – Erin.
I hit “send” and continued on my search to find caffeine.
As I was walking down the terminal, I spotted a couple standing off to the side, holding hands, smiling, and staring into each other’s eyes. It was picture perfect, and they looked like they were completely in love.
I sighed. I wanted that.
All of a sudden, the toe of my shoe caught on a raised piece of the tile floor. My phone flew out of my hand, hit the ground, and then slid about 15 feet across the floor. It finally came to a stop after bouncing off of a black and gold shoe. As I raised my gaze from the shoe to the body that was wearing it, I realized I was staring at the most gorgeous guy I had ever laid eyes on.
Let me know what you guys think! I love comments! :]
