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Saturdays were Fallon's favorite day of the week. There was no school, which was wonderful, and without a job, Fallon was left to design her schedule as she wished. One unexpected fixture on her Saturdays had become one of her favorite things to look forward to each week too: horseback-riding with Jada out at the stables.

There was always something that Fallon liked about Jada, that intangible quality that made her gravitate toward some and swerve away from others. Jada was polite. She dressed well. She was well-bred without making Fallon feel judged or lesser. Now, Fallon really loved being around Jada; they were friends.

Their Saturday rides had quickly become a weekly date. They would both ride together and practice, and Jada had taken to teaching Fallon jumping techniques. Other girls on the CA equestrian team insisted that Fallon must have an outside coach to be improving so rapidly, but the cinnamon-haired girl would just smile coyly and shrug. Jada had a way of breaking things down that made more sense than what the CA riding instructors said. At the end of the month, Fallon would have a chance to upgrade to the A team, and she intended to meet that goal. If she did, she knew it would be largely because of Jada's help.

That morning, Fallon had ridden her Andalusian stallion, Taillevent, hard. Little flecks of white foam gathered around the corners of his mouth, and his coat was slick with sweat. The teen slid from his back and quickly began to break down his riding gear to stow away. "You want to go cool them out down the path, or just around the pen?" The bit slid out of the stallion's mouth with a metallic jitter, and Taillevent snorted. Fallon patted his side, whispering to him in French.

Andalusians were Spanish horses, but Fallon did everything to make her boy as French-infused as humanly possible. She whispered French words to soothe him and slapped the name of a cuisine-changing French chef's name across his forehead. Most of the other riders called him Talon, a strange hybrid of horse and rider name, but Fallon stuck to the long pronunciation.

Magenta eyes moved back to Jada. "I might like the trail today. It's nice out." She held out a hand as if to feel the breeze, and then laughed, moving the heavy saddle over to his stable.

Jada and Lady had a much more seamless dynamic than Fallon and Taillevent. The stallion was young, though gentle, but the two were still getting to know each other. Taillevent might be docile, but he was intelligent and cunning. If Fallon didn't keep an eye on him, he'd overturn buckets and eat out of other horses' feedbags. When this happened, Fallon got very embarrassed, especially in front of someone as practiced as Jada, but she never got angry at the stallion. Like her, he was just a bit difficult to handle.

Even now, as Fallon pulled his blanket, Taillevent started to walk away. "Hey hey, boy, not okay," she said, gripping his lead line and pulling him back. The horse threw his head, but it wasn't violent. "If he's going to be like this, I'm nervous to take him out bare," Fallon said, glancing over her shoulder to Jada.

When Fallon cooled Taillevent down, she liked to do so with little more than the barest bridle, but his fussing made her nervous. He hadn't thrown her yet, but there were plenty of things that could spook him on the trail. She considered this while she wiped him down, playfully swatting him when he tried to walk away.

"The pond would be nice. Taillevent seems to like it, my little water horse." For whatever reason, the Andalusian seemed to flourish in water. Without being told, he'd often wade out into it to hop around. Fallon thought of him as some kind of mythical Kelpie -- an Irish creature said to be a water-dwelling horse. He certainly played the part.

Fallon slapped the blanket over Taillevent's tall with a thud and slid out of her riding helmet. Since she was still learning, Fallon always wore it for jumping lessons.

Most would like a spirited stallion, but Taillevent's insubordination was a case of distress for Fallon a lot of the time. Dr. Price told her the horse would be good for her. Learning to care for a difficult animal would be excellent practice for dealing with difficult people. And she did love the Andalusian -- even when he wandered off or ate the feedbags of every other horse within reach.

"You're right," she said, adjusting his bridle. They didn't need a bit for this ride. "Not worth the risk."

Retrieving the blanket, she set up Taillevent again, whispering promises in French to get it off him just as soon as they reached the pond. Jada was right about it; she was usually right when it came to the horses. Fallon was still learning. "I'll grab the extras," she said, crossing back to grab them and sling them over Taillevent's back.

The black horse eyed Lady warily and snorted right back. He was spirited and playful, but not a biter. He was prone to tossing his head at her instead. When she bit, he'd whinny, but she never seemed to get caught.

Lady was out of luck that day. Fallon landed one hand on the saddle and swung up on to it, moving Taillevent's mane out of the way. "I think we'll beat the rain. Won't we Taillevent?" She patted his side and then lifted the reins, guiding the horse out toward the trail.

Jada looked graceful when she got on to Lady's back, always did. Fallon was getting better, but Taillevent was tall. She had a long way to go. When Lady nudged the Andalusian, he sidestepped away and snorted. "Taillevent is shy," Fallon said, laughing. "I don't know if he can handle a woman like Lady." It was true. The stallion seemed to choose to ignore her, leading the way down the path.

The casual trot to the water drifted by with the hazy summer breeze. It was a nice day, even though the sky was gray and the clouds heavy with impending showers. Fallon liked how the air smelled right before a rainstorm. It was like there was electricity in the air just waiting to break out.

A large oak peeked into view around the bend. It jutted out into just before the path straightened and was the typical starting place for their race. Fallon and Taillevent had only won once, and it was because an old branch fell in front of Jada and Lady. "Hm... I'm feeling good about today," Fallon said, leaning forward. Taillevent flicked his tail; he knew what was about to happen.

Fallon waited for Jada and Lady to come up beside them. No use in having a victory rescinded for an unfair start. Once everyone was in line, a playful grin worked its way across Fallon's lips. "Let's see if we can break that pretty winning streak of yours today." She was teasing, and the light bounced around in her eyes.

A few moments of customary pause and then -- Fallon squeezed hard on her thighs and bid Taillevent to run. "Come on, Taillevent!" she shouted. The horse was already moving, shooting Lady a competitive glance.

Annnnd they're off!

The wind caught in her hair, whipping her long braid behind her like a flag. Taillevent bore forward, grunting with each gallop. It wasn't just Fallon who wanted to win; the young stallion was getting better every day too. He had a competitive streak in him that went against his otherwise docile nature. It was one of the reasons Fallon chose him over the Friesian when she was still shopping for a horse.

The tree line broke and both horses exploded onto the clearing just before the lake -- Taillevent first. Fallon threw her head over her shoulder, moving the reins to turn her winning horse around. "We did it, my love!" she shouted in French, giving the horse a cheerful pat.

Fallon beamed when she glanced at Jada. She was too happy to be particularly gracious in her win. "I can't either!" she said, rubbing Taillevent again. "It looks like Taillevent and I are finding our rhythm." Each time they raced, Fallon claimed her side would win, but this was the first time it had really happened, even if it was just by a nose.

Taillevent was busy raising his neck high and glancing down at Lady. His tail flicked behind him, and he bobbed his head, trotting off proudly toward the lake at Fallon's command. An ego was clearly building.

Fallon slid off the saddle and quickly untacked him. He deserved to feel the air on his back. "How are the debutante plans going?" she asked, leaning around her horse's broad back to see Jada. "Parents still being... themselves?" A grin broke out across her mouth as she tossed the saddle over a low fence post that marked the trail.

Taillevent seemed happy to be free of his gear. He trotted off toward the water, nudging Lady with his head as he passed. Fallon snorted. "Look at him. He's getting confident," she said, "or maybe just cocky." The stallion had reason to be cocky, certainly. He was an expensive horse and looked like it. Taillevent had the glossy sheen and consistent coat of a model purebred, which was good since... he was.

Fallon put her hands on her hips and turned back to Jada. The debutante ball had been a topic of much debate between them. Fallon had opted to have a bat mitzvah as a preteen instead of a debutante ball, but she still liked the idea of it: all the planning, coordination, and class. It was satisfying to live through Jada's experience without having to go through the stress of it herself, especially with her mother. She tried to picture what the family dynamic must be like in the Chamberlyn household. It stressed her just to think about it.

"Thank God for fire codes," she said stretching her arms above her head. "Unless your mom plans on bribing the fire marshall." She turned to look at Jada. "Though I guess that isn't out of the question."

Up ahead there was an overturned log lying a feet feet behind where Taillevent leaned to drink from the lake. Fallon began to walk toward it. "If the dresses are bright pink, I might have something going on that night... oh yes, I remember now. So busy that day." Fallon grinned and took a seat on the log, gesturing for Jada to come too.

When the girl was within hearing distance, Fallon offered a sympathetic smile. "So... any developments on the cashier situation?" It bothered Fallon that someone was harassing Jada. When the dark-haired girl first shared the story, Fallon was horrified. It was the kind of thing that always happened to someone else, someone on the news. But Jada was visibly shaken by it the first time they spoke. Fallon had wanted to bring it up all day, but put it off, never finding the right time.

Well, until now, apparently.

Taillevent was all for some fun, and he pranced after Lady, rearing up on his hind legs every so often and whinnying. Fallon watched them for a bit, laughing. She had chosen a little boy of a horse, that much was obvious.

Turning back to Jada, Fallon widened her eyes. "Your mother is deviously ingenious." From what she had heard and briefly seen of Jada's mother, she was certain that Mrs. Chamberlyn would get along with Mrs. Novette-Naim, at least when it came to meddling. In breeding and posh? Mrs. Chamberlyn certainly took the cake. Fallon's mother dressed simply, but it wasn't always to the benefit of her figure. She was well-groomed, not fashionable. There were times when Fallon wondered who her fashion icon was and how she had adopted it. Her style was a throw back to some mod, old Hollywood glam mash-up, too old for her, often too big. Fallon wanted to seem more mature, and her choice of dress was just a costume that helped advance that goal. In time, it had become permanent.

She feigned apprehension on the log beside Jada. "I don't know..." she said, glancing away. "My sock drawer could use some reorganizing." This was absolutely false. Fallon's sock drawer was always organized. Her laughter broke after, smile spreading wide across her face. "No, I'll come and see the castle. And definitely the dress. I hope you look like a walking wedding cake." She was just teasing, but Fallon shot the girl a faux-serious glare.

It softened to a true look of seriousness when Jada spoke of the stalker. When Fallon first heard, she was shocked. The man had broken into Crystal Academy, which meant he could have broken into her room too, if he wanted. The idea of having a stranger in her bedroom made Fallon shiver. He would probably leave his shoes on too. The teenager wasn't sure what to say so she just nodded sympathetically and offered Jada a supportive hand squeeze.

The topic breezed right into pleasantries about school, and Fallon welcomed it. "History." Fallon said it with the same enthusiasm that she might have said 'root canal' or 'colonic'. The subject always eluded her. Names, dates, and countries changed, but everything else seemed to stay the same. Who could understand why things happened in history other than those who were actually there for it? "I have to write an extra credit paper if I have any hope of pulling a C in it. I hope you are ready to gain twenty pounds for all the help that I need. I will whip mousse to release my frustration." She mimicked the frantic hand motion for a second and then relaxed again.

The air was thick was moisture, the clouds heavy and gray. Fallon stared up at them. It was pretty, she thought. The smoky gray of the sky, the scent of moisture, the cool chill of the air, the building static above their heads. She loved storms, always had. But not being caught outside in them. They'd have to leave soon, no matter how much fun the horses were having.

Fallon rested her head in her hand and played with her braid until Jada snapped her attention back. She leaned over to look at the phone, pressing her arm against Jada's. The names she heard were more familiar than she expected. "Oh, small world," she said, grinning. "Are you talking about Audrey, as in short girl with bright blue hair? She's a good friend of mine, actually. If it's who I'm thinking of." A painted nail tapped at her chin. "Marlo sounds... familiar. Not sure why." If she saw a photo of him, she would remember him as the boy from the charity kitchen; a name was not enough.

Elzo though. Elzo she remembered. Audrey told her about the crush and his attitude. It morphed Fallon's smile into a smirk. "So Elzo? I think I've heard of him," she began, not intending to mention Audrey's little fixation. "What's your take on him?" Jada tended to be a decent judge of character, and Fallon was eager to hear another opinion on the boy who confused Audrey so much. Maybe it could help Fallon help Audrey?

Fallon smirked. Hearing stories about Jada's mom made her appreciate her own more. Her mother was a guilt-tripper, sure, but much more of a pushover. She just liked to feel like she wasn't responsible for anything, from her daughter's OCD to her failing marriage, and would do anything to pretend that everything was A-OK in her life. It really was better that she just stayed in France and let Fallon raise herself.

Leaning over, Fallon grabbed the photo from Jada. "Wow," she said, holding it closer to her face. "Your mother must have read my mind." She threw the girl a grin and then looked back to the photo. It wasn't horrible, though it was pretty bad. "The bodice is nice... minus the ruffled arm... things." That was the only good thing Fallon could think of to say. "If she buys you something terrible, I can make sure the dress has a little accident. Then you can get a new one?" If it were Fallon's party, she would insist on planning every detail, especially the dress. But Jada was a lot less obsessive than Fallon and seemed to take it in stride.

Granted, Jada had also been dealing with her mother for her entire life.

The clouds grew darker above the two girls, but they didn't notice. The horses, on the other hand, seemed to. They pranced around, throwing their heads up to the sky. Taillevent loved a good rain storm, and with his magical animal senses tingling, the spry Andalusian could feel the one moments away in the air. He whinnied, and Fallon glanced over to him, thinking little of it.

"It's a deal," she said, turning back. History was a problem, but Fallon was already on thin ice at Crystal. Her behavior was okay, but her grades were not exactly up to par. They gave her a little breathing room given the whole organ ring incident, but that charity would end soon. Would Fallon have what it took to stay in the Academy after that?

Maybe she could go to Meadowview with Audrey. Would that be so bad? It didn't precisely answer the question of where she would live, but Fallon tried not to fixate on it too much. "Audrey is so funny. I don't understand why she is so shy. She has no idea how pretty she is." Fallon shook her head. "I want to just grab her by the shoulders and shake her until she admits that she is beautiful. Maybe I'll just give her a tour of the community and point out all the girls I think are not as pretty as her." It bothered Fallon that Audrey couldn't see it. Fallon considered herself an excellent judge of female attractiveness, and Audrey's insistence that she was plain was an insult to that trait. "Maybe with our powers combined, we can take her out dancing, or something? She let me do her hair and makeup once. I bet I could make that happen again." A devious smile crossed Fallon's lips. Jada was a very persuasive girl, and Fallon had exceptional focus to a task. Maybe they could make a difference for Audrey?

A rumble of thunder broke the sky. Fallon glanced upward and opened her mouth to tell Jada they should go. A rain drop landed on her tongue. Another on her forehead. Then, before she could even close her mouth again, the sky erupted in rain. "s**t!" Fallon cursed, in spite of her good manners. "Run!" Taillevent was trotting about happily, tossing his mane from side to side.

At first, Fallon was afraid he might run from her, but the stallion actually behaved for once. She haphazardly tossed his blanket and saddle back on, hair pooling in her eyes and mascara running down her face. "I think God is trying to punish me!" she shouted to Jada in frustration. On the third try, she belted the saddle into place and swung onto the horse's back. No sooner were her hands on the reins, and she was off, galloping through the storm and keeping her head low.

They'd have to discuss the matter of Elzo Xanis later.