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Post by Michelle on Dec 18, 2009 20:49:02 GMT -4
It was rather early, once again, when DJ awoke. The sun had not yet rose, and they sky was an odd mix between sky blue and navy blue. He kicked off the covers and slid out of bed quietly, not wanting to wake up his roommates, and then got dressed in his usual beachy attire – black board shorts, blue singlet, some thongs and a pair of sunnies. He was about to grab his surfboard for yet another morning of catching the waves…
…and yet something in him wanted to visit the stables once more. Was it his love of animals talking? Or was it the fact that he hadn’t seen Shannon since the night at the dance…
It was most likely the latter, and he knew it. Sighing, he loaded his pockets up with more dog biscuits for Goldfish, and then left the building.
It was quite cold outside; the morning was clouded with a thin layer of fog, and the grass still fresh with dew. He strolled along past the quad, whistling as he did so, in case Goldfish was nearby. It turned out she was, and she joined him on his walk to the stables as soon as she received another biscuit from DJ. He eventually reached the stables, Goldfish at his side. DJ looked around for her, and then realized it was probably stupid to go looking for her at this time in the morning…
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Post by River on Dec 18, 2009 21:42:09 GMT -4
Shannon sat in the stable, completely oblivious to DJ's presence. Dawn was just beginning to show hints of a possible future existance, and it was chilly, hinting at the coming of autumn. Shannon gave a small shiver, and buried her fingers in her horse's mane. "No, I don't think he would either," she whispered softly to the stallion. She often came here in the early morning hours just to visit with her horse. She enjoyed that she could talk to him about anything, and he wouldn't argue with her. He would just look at her with those big, intelligent brown eyes, as though he understood exactly what she was saying. He bent his head to nuzzle her lap, and she stroked his mane. "I know, buddy, I miss you too," she sighed, affectionately kissing his forehead.
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Post by Michelle on Dec 18, 2009 22:11:58 GMT -4
DJ walked inside the stables, even though he knew Shannon was probably in her room, asleep. The golden stray followed him in.
“I don’t think you’re allowed in here, girl,” he said to the dog, who just barked a reply. “Ah, well…no one’s here, anyway…c’mon…”
He walked along passed the horses, wondering which one was her’s. DJ smiled, and every now and then he’d stop to pat a horse. Goldfish barked at the horses with excitement, and the horses replied quietly with snorts and whinnies.
“Shhh, keep it on the down low, Goldfish,” he told the dog, as he didn’t want to get kicked out.
DJ reached the stall in which Shannon and her horse were, and he would’ve walked pass them if he didn’t hear Shannon talking to the stallion.
"No, I don't think he would either.”
He came to a halt at her stable, but he didn’t want to interrupt her, so he didn’t speak. Who was she talking about? DJ thought about this for a short time as he watched Shannon play with her horse’s mane and kiss him on the head.
“Hey,” he greeted her simply, smiling rather awkwardly.
Goldfish woofed at Shannon, as if she were saying hello as well.
“Sorry, I know she’s not meant to be in here. That's one impressive horse you have there.”
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Post by River on Dec 18, 2009 22:20:10 GMT -4
Shannon jerked in surprise, wincing as a sharp pain shot through her back. She turned, and saw DJ standing in the doorway. "Oh! Hey, DJ! Sorry, you startled me. You're up awfully early. Thanks, he's my...everything, really," she said, patting Cookie on the head. The black horse tossed his elegant head, then snuffled into her hair. She chuckled. "Cookie says hi."
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Post by Michelle on Dec 18, 2009 22:56:06 GMT -4
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you…or hurt you…” DJ said when he noticed her wince as she jumped. “You’re okay, right?”
There was a tone of concern as he spoke. He opened the stable door, letting himself and the Labrador into the stall. Goldfish nestled Shannon’s shin with her head. DJ laughed, petting Cookie on the side of his face.
“Nice to meet you, Cookie. You look more like a oreo to me. Yeah, I know, I’m always up early,” he said with a laugh. “I always get up for a surf, but I decided to come here instead to…uh…”
Ah, great, now he did it. DJ stared at his feet again, rather embarrassed. He didn’t really want to tell her that he came down to the stables to look for her, but he knew she’d ask soon enough.
“I don’t really know, actually. I kinda just came down here to look for you,” DJ whispered. “I dunno…just acted on impulse…”
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Post by River on Dec 18, 2009 23:01:18 GMT -4
"Yeah, I'm fine, hey Goldfish!" At his words, Shannon felt her stomach flutter. This was unnatural for her... She smiled. "Really? I...I'm really glad you did. Umm...do you want to go for a ride?" she asked hesitantly, unsure if he would like the idea.
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Post by Michelle on Dec 18, 2009 23:37:59 GMT -4
“I’m glad I did too…” He cleared his throat.
“Will it hurt for you?” he asked quietly. “I don’t want to do it at the expense of your pain. I…um…I don’t know how to ride horses either, but I won’t mind if you teach me…”
DJ looked at her in the eyes, hoping that Shannon wouldn’t lie to him.
“I once did ride a horse at a summer camp…I don’t remember how to do it anymore though…All I remember is that it hurts the nether regions like crazy…” he chuckled to himself.
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Post by River on Dec 18, 2009 23:42:30 GMT -4
Shannon let out a ringing laugh. "No, trust me, being in the saddle never hurts too much. And I would be happy to teach you! Umm...grab the black saddle there? The little one? That's Cookie's, it's a showjumping saddle."
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Post by Michelle on Dec 19, 2009 0:17:43 GMT -4
“Are you sure it’s not going to hurt? Not even afterwards?” DJ asked again, remembering what she had said at the stables last time. Even so, he got the black saddle for her, just as she asked.
“This one?”
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Post by River on Dec 19, 2009 0:29:15 GMT -4
"I'll be...sore. Put it that way. But riding has been my life since before I can remember, so it is completely worth it." She silently hoped that was true. Then Cookie nudged her, and she knew it was. Completely. 100%. "Yes, that one," she said with more confidence. She took the saddle from him, and looked Cookie in the eye. "Cookie, down please?" she reached down her hand to tap the floor of the stall. Cookie lowered himself to his knees on his forelegs, bringing his shoulders down within Shannon's reach. She carefully put the saddle on him and tightened it. "Alright boy, thank you." Cookie stood up again, shaking himself. She pulled his head down and bridled him.
Hooking the reins around her arm, she wheeled herself over to the ladder, which lead up to the loft. She lined Cookie up with the ladder and firmly said "Cookie halt." Cookie stopped moving immediately. Silently, she planted her hands on the rungs of the ladder and pushed herself out of the wheelchair until her feet were on the floor. She stifled a cry as she let a little too much weight onto her feet, and slipped. She quickly recovered, and pushed herself up the ladder using solely her arms. Using her feet for balance, she turned. Cookie edged closer all on his own. She let go of the ladder and switched her grip to the saddle, pulling herself onto his back. She quickly blinked back tears of pain as she gathered the reins in her hands.
"Alright," she said, trying to steady her voice. "If you grab the bigger black saddle over there," she pointed, "You can saddle Beanie, who's in the stall next to Cookie's. I can direct you if you need help."
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Post by Michelle on Dec 19, 2009 0:53:52 GMT -4
It was almost unbearable for DJ to watch Shannon get up on her horse. But somehow, at the same time, part of him admired her endurance. He couldn’t help but cringe when she cried out and slipped, and he was going to rush to her aid, only to see that she was helping herself. Goldfish barked loudly, growling with discomfort.
“A-Are you okay?” DJ said, taken aback. He moved her wheel chair to the side for her, and then took the other saddle. “It’s fine, I can do it by myself.”
And that’s what he did. DJ approached Beanie, patting the horse gently. He copied exactly what she did; only he let Beanie stand. He tightened the strap on the saddle loosely, but he didn’t notice.
“Like this, right?”
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Post by River on Dec 19, 2009 0:57:22 GMT -4
"Mmm, good, but tighten the girth more. The last thing you want is to slide off when you try to mount. Tighen as tight as you can get it, you won't hurt her. Then you'll put on the bridle. But when you're done with that hand me the reigns and tighten the girth again, Beanie holds her breath the first time, so it ends up looser than it should be," she told him, nodding, trying to distract herself. It was all worth it, it really was, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt like hell.
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Post by Michelle on Dec 19, 2009 9:10:41 GMT -4
He nodded, doing as she said. DJ tightened the strap as tight as it would go, and as Shannon had said, he didn’t hear a sound of complaint from the mount. He reached for a bridle nearby, fitting it over the horse’s head and then handing the reins over to Shannon.
“Here,” he said quietly as he gave Beanie’s leads. DJ crouched to tighten the strap for the 3rd time.
“Look, Shannon…teaching me how to ride isn’t worth it. If it hurts that bad…we can stop.” He was worried for her, but at the same time he didn’t want to make her unhappy. “I admire your endurance…but…yeah…” DJ’s voice drifted off. “I don’t want you to be all sore after this…”
A part of him was laughing; he realized that everything he said sounded sexual when it was taken out of context. He blushed and cleared his throat. “Don’t we need helmets?”
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Post by River on Dec 19, 2009 12:42:53 GMT -4
"Oh, shoot! Yeah, you do, but I don't unless I'm jumping. And this is SO worth it, I've been dying to ride, and if you come I don't have to go alone." she smiled encouragingly at him. The last thing she wanted was for him to back out now... She took Beanie's reigns from him. "There should be a helmet hanging on a peg just inside the tack room. You know how to mount?"
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Post by Michelle on Dec 19, 2009 20:36:45 GMT -4
DJ nodded, and began to head for the tack room. He still felt uneasy – but if Shannon said it was okay…
He took the helmet, taking his sun glasses off his head and putting them in his pocket before fitting the helmet on his head. It was a perfect fit. He walked back.
“No, I have no idea how I meant to get on...Teach me?” he voiced with a chortle.
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