Chapter 4 – Horseshoe Pass
2063 Words
Kaya’s POV
"We’ll take it slow to start and then we’ll see how you feel about upping the ante – you may even feel the need for speed! Nothing like the wind in your hair when you’re riding". I grinned like a Cheshire cat as we started to motion towards the lane that leads us to the Pass.
We picked up speed and I couldn’t believe how brave and steady Leah was on Tiffin, considering we had rarely gone this fast for this long before. Both the horses were confident, but this was all new to Leah. I was in my element, and I could see she was too. This right here was heaven.
"Omg Kaya, that was amazing!" Leah couldn’t contain her excitement as we jumped off the horses and led them to the quietly babbling stream to cool off and drink. We had easily been riding for over two hours.
It was easy to get to the water’s edge as the earth naturally gave way to the movement of water winding along the banks of the valley, flowing gently but steadily, gleaming as it made its way along it’s natural path.
After the horses were sated, we tied them up loosely to an overhanging tree near the water’s edge. We handed them a mouthful of each of their favourite mix and gave them each an apple. I could see Leah’s legs had gone to jelly a little, so I laid out the blanket and handed her a bottle of water.
We collapsed next to each other and lay on our backs looking up at the crystal-clear blue sky only marred by the odd whisp of white cloud.
"I love it here" I sighed wistfully as I lay in complete contentment.
Leah was quiet for a moment before she breathed "this is heaven".
I couldn’t agree more.
We lay in silence for a short while, taking in the beautiful countryside that was on our doorstep. The sounds of the birds and the insects around us, the farm animals in the distance and breathing in the lush clean crisp air.
It felt so good to be here. And then both our stomachs rumbled and ruined the moment.
"Lunch" we said in unison and then started to laugh.
As I was unpacking the food I just decided to come out and say it "Leah, I’m gonna ask Jayden out."
"What! Really?"
"You think it’s a bad idea?"
"No! I’m just surprised"
"If I wait for him to ask me, I’ll be waiting forever. I think he likes me, but is just not asking because he is scared. I’ll say no"
"Then go for it! I’m excited for you"
"Really?"
"Yes! Why wouldn’t I be?"
"You sure you don’t like him?"
"Of course, I like him! But not like that."
"There’s something else."
"Okay, what is it?"
"I’m gonna sleep with him"
"s**t Kaya, that’s huge"
"Not really, it’s not that big a deal anymore. Everyone has lost it. Well, everyone except us! And if I keep holding out, I’ll be a virgin forever."
"Being a virgin isn’t a bad thing K."
"I knew you’d be funny about it."
"No, no, I’m not. If you’re sure, of course you should go for it. I just don’t want you to feel like you have to, you know."
"I don’t. And I wanted my first time to be with him. He’s a good guy. I know he’ll treat me right."
We talked a little longer and then it dawned on me.
"s**t, Leah, I’m sorry"
"For what?"
"Being a virgin isn’t a bad thing, right? I didn’t mean to make you feel like it was."
"K, I know you well enough to know you didn’t mean it like that."
"I know, it’s just, well, you’re different to me."
We had both had some experience with guys, but she always seemed to hold on to her virginity like it was gold dust. She had had more opportunities to lose it than me, I was sure of it. But she never had.
We were quite open with each other about boys and stuff. But s*x seemed to be off limits. I wondered if it was because we were both virgins or because she was shy about it.
"I don’t think I am."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, if I found a guy I really liked, I wouldn’t hold back. I’m not intending to hold back until I’m married or anything K. I’m not a prude. I just, well, I just haven’t met a guy I like enough. And well, how can I talk about something I know nothing about?"
"Oh, okay then, consider me told" I started to laugh "I actually thought you were going to wait!"
"s**t K, I’m not a f*****g virgin because I am waiting for marriage! But nor am I about to throw myself at a man because I want to lose it!"
"You think I am throwing myself at him?"
"f**k, no, I didn’t mean it like that!"
I started to laugh. I knew she didn’t mean it like that, but watching her squirm was hilarious.
"You bitch."
"Don’t you know it! You still love me though, doncha."
"Yeah, you know it. So, what are your moves?"
"What moves?"
"Please tell me you are not going in this blind?"
"Well, no, I just, I don’t know, was hoping if I got him somewhere quiet, it would just figure itself out. I mean, I’m not going to throw myself at him!"
"Well, I’m glad about that! But you must have a plan? Are you going to sleep with him at the party?"
"I don’t know. I guess not. That would be a bit soon, but I’m not holding out."
"OK, but don’t hold out on me either! I want all the details! All of them!"
"Promise!"
It was getting on a bit, and we needed to make a move. So, we got the horses ready and rode home.
We arrived back and, as suspected, Leah felt like she had run a marathon. God help her in the morning when she really feels it! If I was honest, I felt it too, probably because it’s been a while since I went out for so long on Red. But I don’t regret a minute of it. No pain no gain, so they say.
We headed inside and we took turns for a hot bath after tea, revelling in the heat and steam around our aching muscles. I think the fresh air muddled our brains, because after that, the pair of us were good for nothing and we both fell asleep.
Leah’s POV
It was nearly 9.30 and Kaya wasn’t in bed. I had assumed she had gotten up early to sort the horses and let me lay in. She would be nowhere near as sore as me if she rode the horses almost daily.
I woke up late and felt like I had been hit by a bus. I have never felt aches and pains like that. I put on my loosest clothes, a pair of dark blue jeggings and an oversized racer-back vest top. I scraped my hair back in a messy bun and headed downstairs.
I was surprised to see Kai in the kitchen, he was usually up and out way before now. But then, it was Sunday, and I was never usually there on a Sunday! He just sat there and tousled his hair as I walked in, like I had s**t myself.
He laughed lightly and the sound made my body ache for him. It was pathetic the way he made me feel. I was also miffed he was laughing, mainly because I was more than aware he was laughing at me.
I brushed it off as Mel gave me a small welcoming smile and motioned for me to sit and I went to sit down.
"I’ll pass your breakfast over sweetie. Kaya will be here in a minute, she’s just finishing up outside with Cal. He said he’d give her a hand this morning as she slept in too!"
"Thanks Mel, I never knew pain like this existed’"I winced as a small chuckle escaped my lips. Kai just continued to stare at me with what I can only assume was a slight smug expression on his face. But as soon as I caught his glare, he looked away.
I felt awkward, I couldn’t help my thoughts turning filthy as he looked at me. Just being in the same room as he made my skin tingle, and my n*****s harden. It was embarrassing how much my body betrayed me.
"I really don’t know why you are looking at her like that, son", Mel said as she gazed at him. He looked down at his drink with almost a blushed tinge to his cheek. She continued in a lighter tone "If you had done the exercise she did yesterday, you would have blue balls and need an ice pack for your butt."
I couldn’t help but actually howl at Mel right now. Kai looked mortified as he left his steaming mug of tea still half full on the table and scarpered.
"Thanks Mel, you saved me! I Owe you one. Exercise is not my thing, as you may well be able to tell!" I said, still laughing at Kai.
The door opened and in came Kaya, unbelievably, looking almost as knackered as me. Shortly followed by Cal, looking fresh as daily. With a look of intrigue on his face he asked, "What’s so funny?" Neither Mel or I couldn’t bring ourselves to repeat it, so we just smiled and changed the subject. I’d fill Kaya in later.
We finished up breakfast and headed upstairs to get dressed and collect all my things. I sat on her bed and looked at her.
"You look almost as bad as me, you OK" I half joked.
"Haha Yeah, I’m good" she retorted, "It’s just been a long while since I did that. It was fun."
I started to throw my stuff into my weekend bag ready to go home, as I told Kaya about what happened in the kitchen.
"Ha! f**k off, She did not say that! I always thought my mum had an edgy side to her, but I very rarely see it."
"Well, today she kicked Kai’s ass; it was hilarious. You know you are so like her!"
"What do you mean? Coz, everyone says I am just like her. I like that. But what is it about her I am like?"
"She is always so accommodating, thoughtful and quiet, but today, today she had swag. That’s you K! quietly accommodating, thoughtful and kind, with an inner sass waiting to bite back."
"I can’t believe she had swag, man! And dammit, I missed it!"
Cal took me home before lunch and I made excuses to mum and dad not to have to sit with them. I went to my room and played over the events of the weekend in my head.
Kaya was going to lose her virginity. She may not think this was huge, but well, even though I didn’t hold my virginity on a pedestal, I still kind of thought it was a big deal.
I got the impression she had fallen into the trap most girls our age did. After a while, if you were still a virgin, you were deemed weird, frigid or both. I hope this is not true. But as my best friend, I would always have her back.
I honestly didn’t care what other people thought of me. Which surprised most people, when they realised this, as I was always perceived as a pathetic, weak, and naive person. Truth was, I was none of these things.
I just chose not to be the confident, strong, and independent person I knew I was deep down, I knew that girl was in me, she just kept herself hidden, because circumstances didn’t require her to surface. I was quite happy meandering my way through life as I was, for now.
I also got to spend more than about 5 minutes in the same room as Kai, laughing at me, but still, something is better than nothing, I guess.
God, I really was pathetic, wasn’t I? Maybe I was just delusional when I thought I could be cool, calm and collected.
- Writer
