practice makes perfect || briony

[aydan york]

She was late. She couldn't believe that she was late. She was supposed to be proving herself so that she could get her horses out here, not blowing it in front of the owner's face. Even though she didn't like the owner right now, she couldn't slack off in front of her. She didn't really know Mrs. Bridlewood, but she didn't like the woman simply because she knew too much about Aydan. Aydan hadn't wanted anyone to know why she was on probation or what her life was about. However, Mrs. Bridlewood now knew every single thing, and that made the young woman uncomfortable. She couldn't change anything, and her history had landed her a job here. She had to appreciate that small little fact. And if she could prove to Mrs. Bridlewood that she was changing, she had a chance of bringing her two horses here. It was all that she really wanted. She didn't care about anything or anyone else in this life except for Charlie and Aranel. They were the only ones who had ever been there for her whenever she needed them.

They were the only ones who were worth her time. But now she needed to focus on getting into work on time. She had slept right through her alarm because she had had to work the later shift at the restaurant. She hadn't been expecting that, once she had gotten home she had stayed up late because of her insomnia. It wasn't her fault, but as soon as she did fall asleep she must have slept like a log. The last time she had looked at the clock it had said three a.m., and she was supposed to wake up at five to get to work on time. However, she was now two hours late. She was supposed to be in to work at six, but now it was already eight. She was going to get a lecture when she got there, she was sure of it. Ignoring that thought, she figured she could handle it. It wasn't as bad as getting hauled off by the cops three times. And she was obviously making an effort to get there on time.

The young woman was sprinting to the barn, dressed in a simple pair of jeans with long thermals beneath them. She had managed to remember her warm winter work boots, and was bundled up in a tee shirt, a long sleeved thermal, a sweatshirt and her black carhartt jacket. She was ready for the day, and had even remembered her hat and gloves. She was going to be warm today, that was for certain. However, she was now heating up because of her quick pace and her multiple layers, and she was not appreciating that fact. The winter boots were weighing her down and making her slower as well. But finally, the stable was in sight. Relief spread through her until she looked at her watch. Eight oh five. Oh great. Picking up the pace, she flew into the aisle-way of the barn, not caring if she pushed by anyone on her way in. She made it to where she had to sign in and then did so, and kept going until she reached the tack room. She had to clean all of the school tack, and any boarder and student who had signed up on the list. Just wonderful. Shedding her heavy winter coat for now, she gathered her supplies and grabbed the first saddle. Settling down on a truck, she began scrubbing, cursing herself for her life.

[briony]

"Yes, Mum. I understand completely. You don't have to send me the saddles...or the bridles..." The voice of Briony Fontaine rang through her small rental car as she pulled up to Bridlewood Stables. A Blackberry cell phone was up to her ear as she spoke on about sending goods from her home in London. "Ok. Well just do what you can. I'm in no rush to get all of that stuff. I have Mango's saddle and bridle here so I really don't need the other few. But, I do need the leather galloping boots and my leather pads." The car ran as she sat in the parking loot for a moment more. The car was nice and warm, which was the opposite of what the temperature was outside. "Alight Mum, I will call you later. Bye." Briony put in the cell phone in the pocket of her brown Ariat coat. The door swung open as she turned the key, killing the engine and turning off the heat. Cold air seemed to hit Bri's face like a brick wall and quick turned her cheeks a shade of rosy red. "Damn." she muttered as she closed the door. Her black riding boots shuffled before walking towards the barn.

Once she was inside, it seemed like a breath of fresh, warm air..or as fresh as you can get in a horse barn. Briony was relieved to be somewhat warmer. Her hands quick brushed her fur adorned hood off of her head, revealing her head of brunette curls that she had yet to put back in her usual ponytail. Glancing around, Bri saw her horse in one of the stalls and grinned. "Hey mate!" she said cheerfully to the bay warmblood who's head poked up from be hidden by the door. His mouth was overflowing with lush hay. "Nice..." Bri mummbled, "My horse is a total fatty." Joking of course, she walked to the tack room to get her grooming supplies.

She wasn't surprised when she saw a girl in the tack room working on cleaning some tack. "Hey there," Briony said kindly. She smiled politely, taking her hands out of her pocket. "You seem to be working pretty hard on that saddle," she started, her British accent becoming apparent as she spoke. "But you might want to put a little elbow into it.." Briony began to demonstrate, looking quite stupid but indicating that the girl would need to scrub a bit harder if she wanted to get the saddle cleaned and nicely oiled. Briony put her arm back to her side after giving a thumbs up and then walked over to her tack trunk.

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[aydan york]

Aydan wished more than anything to have her horses here. She didn't care if she had to keep them at a different stable just because Bridlewood wouldn't allow it. She would find a way to keep them close to her because she couldn't stand being away from them for very long. Aydan was a competitor, and had shown horses her entire life. She was a good rider, and people had paid her to ride their horses at shows around her area. She got paid to groom for a lot of people, and had been around horses for as long as she can remember. Her parents had funded the sport because they believed their daughter could go far. But when she started getting involved in negative things, they had cut her off. Not only had they cut her off, but they had kicked her out as well. That left Aydan struggling to provide to the two horses that she had recently acquired. Her parents had bought them for her, and they refused to support her any longer. She could keep the horses, and they would sell them on the spot.

Aydan wouldn't give them that satisfaction. She kept them, and found two jobs to support them as quickly as she could. Aranel was her newest addition, and the buckskin mare was as sweet as they could come. Charlie was her rock, and always had been. He was a stallion, but he didn't show the normal characteristics. His dapple grey coat was dark and he was her boy. She wouldn't be able to live without them. She had gone to the barn whenever she could to get away from her parents, and now it had become more like her home than anything else. She remembered sleeping the hayloft when she couldn't pay the rent, and the stable owner hadn't even minded when he stumbled across her one day. After that he had given her a room, and she paid her horse's board by working at the stable. She still had Aranel and Charlie there. But now she could afford to spend the money for their board. She didn't know why she had come here. Probably because it was an amazing opportunity, and it was either this or go to jail for however long. She was taking this. But it wasn't what she expected. She didn't expect to have her life's story displayed for Mrs. Bridlewood to see. That bothered her more than she could explain, but she would have to get past that.

Sighing to herself once more, Aydan started working on the saddle. She was no stranger to cleaning tack, for it was one of her jobs at the old barn. She knew how to do it, and had been doing it for years. She hated when people told her what to do as well, but she had to listen to her employers. She had to or she'd be fired. She couldn't afford that. So now, she started scrubbing, going over it lightly for a moment, inspecting it before she really began scrubbing. She wanted to make sure nothing was out of place or coming loose. If something was wrong, she would leave a note or let Mrs. Bridlewood know. It was what she was supposed to do anyway. But this saddle looked good, and she was beginning to start working harder on it when some girl walked in. Aydan was already in a bad mood, and because she was a quiet person, she didn't send a greeting forward. Until she was spoke to. Trying not to be frustrated at the interruption, she just nodded in response. If the girl was looking at Aydan, then she would have gotten the greeting. If not, then Aydan wasn't going to lose any sleep over it. Blowing at the small wavy strands in her face that had escaped her ponytail, she heard the statement by the British girl. Was she serious? Raising an eyebrow, she still didn't look up until the girl spoke up, telling her that she might want to put a little more strength into it. Finally glancing up, she watched as she went on to demonstrate, and gave her a look. Uh, thanks? I think I can take it from here, since you know, it is my job." She had at least said thank you.

[briony]

Swinging open her trunk, Briony looked over her shoulder at Aydan. "I see that." she replied when the other girl said that cleaning the tack was her job. "I've actually seen you around the barn a lot. But since I never see you ride I assumed you worked here." Bri lifted out of the trunk a shiny chesnut colored saddle and rested it on one of the saddle racks above her trunk. She looked it over for scratches and dents since the saddle was in transit from England only a few days before. Her soft hand ran over the slightly curved seat, removing any dust from it's surface. Briony looked down in the organized trunk and got out Magno's bridle, setting it on a hook. Slamming the trunk shut, Briony spun around seated herself on it while reaching in a small cooler set next to her that she had left in the tack room yesterday. The drinks that were inside were still cold, so that didn't shy Briony away from grabbing a cold can of Root Beer.

The fizz of the Root Beer opening interrupted teh awkward silence that was in the room. She looked at Aydan, who was still working on the saddle she was cleaning. "So, do you own horses here at Bridlewood? I think I saw you walking with one the other day." she said, trying to strike up conversation. She raised an eyebrow as she awaited an answer. Briony was sure this girl she was speaking to was on probation but she wasn't going to assume right away unless the girl said she was.

Sipping her drink, she glanced down at her cooler seeing another can. "Oh, I apologize for my rudeness! Would you like a drink?" she said, offering the last can of Root Beer in her cooler. "Sorry for the surplus of Root beer. I tried it at a resturant and ever since I've been knid of addicted..." she added. She hadn't had it before so when she found it at th elocal grocery, she pretty much bought every twelve pack there was.

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[aydan york]

As Aydan continued the steps that she knew by heart to clean the saddle, she was aware of the other girl gathering her riding supplies. It made Aydan jealous to put it simply. It made her jealous that all of these students could afford to come here and rider here, and it made her even more jealous that their horses were so close to them. She knew it was her fault that she was in the position that she was in, but that was her own doing. She took responsibility for it, and it shouldn't make it impossible for her to bring the most important things in her life with her. Biting her lip now, she just shook her head. She couldn't change the way that things were. She couldn't change the fact that her parents had kicked her out at the first chance that they could, and she couldn't help the fact that she had made the choices that she had made. She had to live with it, and she had to live with the fact that she couldn't get her horses here now. She needed to stop complaining and do something about it. She was trying, but coming in as late as she had today was only going to set her back.

Suddenly the girl's voice broke through her thoughts, and she looked up as she again stated the obvious. Well she was glad that she could see. Ignoring that statement, she continued scrubbing the flaps of the saddle, and soon wiped them down with the clean, dry cloth she had to the side. She just had the stirrup leathers to finish and that would be one saddle done out of the large amount she still had to do. She would get it done so she wasn't worried. Hearing the next words, she tried to think about how to answer that. Thinking quickly, she spoke up. "Good assumption on your part." She credited the girl, and then heard the can being cracked open. It was too cold for Aydan to drink anything right now except for coffee or hot chocolate. Not knowing how the girl did it, she just shook her head once more and then heard her next question and statement. Oh no. How was she going to answer that one? She just needed to say the truth, which was easy for her. Looking down, she finished the second stirrup leather and stood up after rolling it up and wiping it. Sliding it back on it's wrack, she grabbed another and started on it after sitting back down.

"Nope. I was doing turn-out." She stated matter of fact, and then reached for more leather cleaner. Going over the saddle with her eyes first, she saw nothing out of the ordinary and started scrubbing once more. It was like a ritual to her now, and she could do it with her eyes closed. As the other girl seemed to notice something, Aydan looked up as a can of root beer was offered to her. Well, that was nice of the rich girl. Aydan wasn't expecting it from her in all honesty. A little taken aback, she just shook her head. "Don't worry about it. I'm alright thanks." She could be nice when she needed or wanted to be. It was only right. Hearing her explanation, a small smile tugged at the corner of Aydan's mouth. Because Aydan worked at a restaurant, she found it a little funny. The girl was obviously not from around here, as Aydan wasn't either. "So where are you from? I'm guessing they didn't have root beer." Aydan's voice was tinted with an Irish tone, but she did her best to cover it in the states. She didn't need anyone asking anymore questions.

[briony]

Briony nodded when Aydan told her that her assumption was a good one. That was good since there really wasn't any other guess that she could think of. Since she had never seen this girl riding she couldn't ask if she rode and she hadn't seen her instructing so she saw no reason to ask her if she taught her. So, Briony made her educated guess and that was right. Setting her can of root beer on the ground, Briony laid her hands in her lap and watched as Aydan switched out the nice, clean saddle for another that needed to be oiled and cleaned.

"Oh," Briony said plainly when the girl told her that she was only putting horses out, indicating that they weren't hers. "I thought you owned them or something." Shrugging when Aydan didn't want a drink. She kicked the cooler out of the way, put her leg up on the trunk she was sitting on. Her hand wiped across her boot and adjusted the zipper and snap under her knee. She figured she'd have to buy a new pair sooner or later since she had had these since she was eighteen. They really didn't look all that old though and the only visable sign or wear was the leather on the side of the boot that rubbed against the saddle flap.

She was pretty zoned out when Aydan had asked where she was from. After a moment she finally answered, "Oh! I'm from London." she smiled and laughed at herself. She had gotten so into fixing her boots she had blocked out sound it seemed. "I moved here a few months ago for school and riding. My parents suggested it would be a 'new experience' and 'something different' for me. But, I really don't see the difference, yet." Her fingers quoted her words when she spoked of her parents ideas and fell back in her lap when she looked at the girl again. "Are you from around here?" she asked. The girl sounded like she was American, but these days you could never be so sure.

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[aydan york]

This girl seemed to have a good heart. Aydan needed to stop being so judgmental towards people, but that was what happened when you had the life that she had. Aydan didn't mean to be the way that she was, and she was really trying to become nicer. She knew that half the people she was mean to didn't deserve to be treated the way that she treated them. She just couldn't help herself. Her parents had taught her from day one to protect herself at all costs, no matter what that entailed. So that was the one lesson that Aydan took to heart from them because it was the only one that mattered. If she built walls up, then no one could get in. If she pushed people away, then no one would want to come near her. It was the way she operated, and that's why her horses were her only friends. Even back in Ireland Aydan hadn't been close to anyone, and that was for good reason. Her parents had made lies about her, and no one in their right mind would want their children hanging out with a child like her.

So Aydan was used to being alone. She was used to the companionship of her two horses. She never complained. Being alone meant that you were safe from heartbreak and lies and cheating people. She didn't want to get attached only to be cast out once more. She couldn't suffer through that again. Besides, that had only made her bitter, and it was the reason why she had been arrested three times. This was her third strike. She didn't have a choice after this. Since her offenses were always rather minor, she was given this choice. She could work off her debt to society by working at a stable. For free. That was why she had needed the restaurant job so badly. Something needed to fund her horses. She was brought from her thoughts as the girl spoke up again. Aydan didn't know what to take from her tone or her words. "No not here. I have two back at home though." She shouldn't have said that. Now that would only lead to questions.

Why hadn't she brought them with her here if she was working here? That seemed to be the most obvious one of them all. Biting her bottom lip, she took a deep breath and exhaled. Well she had dug herself into her own hole. She couldn't blame anyone else for this mistake. Shaking her head slightly, she continued scrubbing and wiping the saddle, making sure it was well oiled and clean. This one was a lot dirtier than the one she was just cleaning, so it took some more elbow grease and time. Some people needed to learn to clean their saddles a little bit more. Aydan heard the girl's words next. Watching her speak, she nodded in response to the words about what her parents said. At least she had parents that were making an effort. "Well, give it some time. America has a lot to offer. And it's a great experience coming from London. Different atmosphere." She said with a shrug and then offered her a small smile. She needed to be nice. This was a step in the right direction. She looked down again at the saddle and heard the next question. Well, she didn't want to lie, but telling her she was from Ireland was giving too much away. So she would be vague. "I've been here and there. Don't really have a place to be from in all honesty because I've moved around so much." There. That was acceptable. The girl could either question her or she wouldn't. She spoke up once more. "I'm Aydan by the way. Which horse is yours?
" She wondered if she had worked with him or her before. When she said that, she meant just either turning out or feeding. That was pretty much all she did when it came to the horses.

[briony]

Briony's eyes got sort of wide when the girl said she did have horses. With a smile Briony propped her head on her hand, her arm resting on her leg. "So you ride?" she asked, "Do you do anything..special? Like jumping or dressage? Western stuff or just trail rides?" She didn't mean to sound so...intrusive, but since she also rode horses it was something they now shared in common. So, that was something they could obviously talk about rather than sitting here being bored and cleaning saddles. That just wasn't much or a conversation really. But Briony was glad this girl rode, or else she'd feel awkward talking about horses.

"Ha, Yes, I guess you could say that, but I still think it is somewhat the same. Though I really don't enjoy my college classes that I take. But, that's one reason I'm here and I only have a few more years of that." She grabbed her root beer once again and took another small sip. "You moved around?" she questioned, not really expecting an answer since she already answered. "That must not be fun. Good thing you're here though, right?" she said with a grin.

When Aydan asked about her horse, Briony nodded. "Yea! I have a big I-eat-all-day-long gelding named Mango. We do jumping mainly, but he's been doing some dressage for flat work and learning to extend his gaits and all of that jazz, but that's besides the point." she joked. "He's out in his stall," she motioned towards the ailse-way. "Have you ever seen him or worked with him?" she asked. Since she worked here, Bri assumed she may have taken him out to the pasture a few times or something. "I'm Briony Fontaine, by the way." she quickly added, almost forgetting to introduce herself.

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[aydan york]

Once Aydan got on the topic of her horses, it was hard for her to stop talking about them. She didn't brag about them in the least, but talking about them made her feel closer to them. It made her miss them a lot, but she had to accept the fact that they couldn't come here until she proved herself. She didn't know exactly what she had to do, but apparently she wasn't doing enough. Hopefully Mrs. Bridlewood wouldn't be too mad about Aydan being late today. She knew the horses still got paid by the other members who worked here, so it wasn't that bad. And it wasn't like she made a habit out of it. She had just worked the late shift at work last night, and in all honesty, that was the paying job, and she needed money. Sighing softly, she looked over to Briony as the girl started questioning her about her horses. She supposed there was nothing wrong in talking to her about them.

"Yeah I ride. I have a stallion named Charlie and a mare named Aranel. Charlie does most of the eventing...cross country, stadium jumping and dressage, while Aranel is better at dressage and jumping." She finished easily, obviously pleased to be talking about the only two things that mattered in her life. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled and finished the saddle, covering it and placing it back on it's holder. She grabbed yet another one and started the process all over again. This was going to take her half of the day, but she supposed that was what she got for being late. As the girl explained why she was here and what she thought, Aydan just listened quietly. She was a listener. It was what she was best at because she didn't have to put her input in. That worked out perfectly for her. As the girl finished, Aydan spoke up. "Well I hope it all works out for you." It was then that the girl spoke about Aydan's moving habits. She bristled slightly, but she tried to brush it off. She just didn't want to give too much away. Aydan raised an eyebrow as Briony spoke up. "Oh yeah, it's perfect.She said sarcastically. She didn't mean to be rude to Briony, but that was just how Aydan felt about this place right now. She continued scrubbing and then listened as the girl explained her horse.

Oh, Mango. Aydan recognized the name and put the name to the horse. She smiled slightly, knowing what Briony meant. She always gave Mango a little extra hay at the end of the day because he always enjoyed it so much, and he never put the weight on. She nodded slightly. "Yeah, I've worked with him. I turn him out and grain him with the other horses. He's a good boy." She finished, hoping the girl wouldn't mind that Aydan was the one who turned him out and fed him. She always took care of the horses like they were own because that was how she would want her horses taken care of. This girl sure spoke a lot, but Aydan wasn't judging her for it. She just seemed easily excited, which wasn't a crime. Aydan settled down into the rhythm of the cleaning, and looked up when Briony introduced herself. "Nice to meet you."\

[briony]

The root beer can slowly emptied as Briony drank the last of it. She laid the empy can next to her and looked up at Aydan. Hearing that she did dressage and jumping, like Briony did, made her grin. "That's epic!" she said, moving her legs off the tack trunk, sitting up right. "So you do what I do!" Continuing to smile, Briony stood up and tossed her empty can in the trash. Thank goodness Aydan said she did the same diciplines as she did. Briony figured the more they had in common, the more they'd have to talk about. Her theory was proving to be somewhat relivant to this situation. Briony stood next to some other rider's tack trunk, leaning up against one of the taller ones. She went on listening to Aydan who sounded particularly sarcastic when she said that Bridlewood was perfect.

With a scoff, Briony shook her. "That sounded very truthful, there." she said, "You just seem so enthusiastic about being here." Briony showed little expression that hinted to her own sarcastic remarks as she put her mess of brunette curls into a ponytail. "But I'm sure you have your reason why you say it that way. I won't bother asking." Briony wasn't really the nosey type and she had just met the girl, so she didn't really want to pry into her life. Briony herself wasn't one to tell everyting about herself. There were something you tell, somethings you don't.

Hearing Aydan talk about Mango brought a smile to Briony's face. Like a proud parent hearing a teacher compliment their child. "That's good!" she told her. "Hopefully he doesn't pester you for treats. He's a bit of a pig." Briony giggled to herself as she stuffed her hands in her pockets. The sound of a plastic wrapper was heard as she moved her hand, pulling out a few peppermints. Obviously, she was guilty of giving her gelding the delectable treats that he adored, but only when he did well during lessons and everyday practice. Raising an eyebrow, Briony put her treats back into her pocket, except for one. Her fingers quickly opened the plastic and poped the red and white colored candy in her mouth. She enjoyed them just as much as her equine did!

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