Lauren and Lucky (6 page)

Wednesday at 9.42p.m.
– I'm writing this in bed by the light of my torch

The others have gone to sleep. I did try, but I couldn't stop thinking about everything that happened this evening. I'm writing it all down in here because hopefully then my brain will be able to switch off!

After we'd all had showers, we got into our pyjamas and I went into the older girls' room so us four could practise our dressage tests and help each other learn our sequences off by heart. It was really funny, 'cos we were doing it like a quiz show and when we got something wrong, Paula was going, “Beep! Incorrect answer. Goodbye!”

Arabella came and joined in with us when she'd had her shower. Everything was
fine at first, but when I was in the hot seat I said my trot down the centre line the wrong way round, CXA instead of AXC. Paula did the beep, but then Arabella chipped in, shouting, “Incorrect answer! You are rubbish! Please leave the competition! In fact, don't even bother entering! You've got no chance of winning on that lazy, scruffy pony anyway!”

I was almost shaking – I just couldn't believe she'd been
that
horrible to me!

Everyone else was staring at her, but she just burst into fits of giggles – she obviously thought she was being
funny
!

Then Leonie said to her, “Why don't you buzz off!” and Paula added, “We didn't even invite you. You came barging in and now you're ruining things.” Even Marie mumbled, “Yeah,” really quietly.

Arabella looked surprised at first, and then her eyes filled up with tears and she ran out of the room.

After that the others had a moan about her and I didn't join in at first, but then I thought,
Well, why not, after she's been so mean to me?
So I told them what she'd said about Marie wanting to make Mischief look like a pop star, and about how I've been looking after Gracie, as well as Lucky, when she's been too lazy to bother.

Then when we were downstairs having our hot chocolate, the phone rang and Jody said it was my mum. I stood round the corner in the porch bit talking to her, 'cos it was too loud in the kitchen, and I told her all about everything I've been up to here at Pony Camp. I even had a quick chat with each of my brothers – I was amazed they wanted to speak to me, they're normally too busy playing outside! Then Mum came back on to say goodbye, and when I put
the phone down I turned round and there was Arabella, listening in! She went, “I love you, Mum!” – copying me, but in a mean way.

I was like, “So what? It's my
mum
!”

Arabella pulled a face and shouted, “
Baby
!” and then stomped off. I don't get what her problem is – after all, if she doesn't like me, why doesn't she just ignore me? Why does she have to trail round after me being horrible? I don't even know what she's got to be moody about – she's so lucky; her life's perfect and she's got
everything
. It's not like I even want to be friends with her, anyway. Not when she's mean, and lazy about looking after Gracie. It's like she doesn't even care about her own pony.

Oh, hang on, I can hear something. It sounds like crying. Let me just go and see…

It was Arabella I could hear, crying in the bunk above me. I tried to ignore it, but she sounded so upset I couldn't. I climbed up the ladder and shone my torch on her. Her face was buried into the pillow and she was sobbing her heart out.

“What's wrong?” I whispered. “Are you feeling sick? Shall I get Jody?”

Arabella tried to speak but no words came out, just this coughing choking sound. “No, it's not that,” she finally managed to mumble.

I pulled myself up and sat at the end of her bunk. To be honest, I felt really scared and I didn't know what to do. I was about to get Jody, when Arabella started talking. In a whisper she said, “No one likes me.”

I thought about fibbing and saying
of course they do
, but I didn't feel like it. Instead I told her
the truth. “That's because you're so mean to me.”

“Only as a joke,” she said weakly.

“Well,
ha ha
,” I whispered. “It's pretty mean for a joke, you know. I don't understand you, Arabella. You've got everything. You're so—”

“I know you think I'm lucky, but I'm not,” she muttered, then burst into fresh sobs.

“Of course you are,” I said. “You've got Gracie.” I still felt pretty fed up with her. After all, I'd do anything to have my own pony!

“Gracie hates me,” she snivelled.

“What?!” I cried, then clamped my hand over my mouth – I didn't want Jody to hear and come in to tell us off. “Is that what you think?” I asked, a lot more quietly. “Is that why you don't bother doing things for her?”

She nodded. “I know she doesn't want me near her so I try to stay away.”

“But how can you think that?” I asked.
“Gracie's so sweet. She's a bit highly strung, maybe, but that's just her being an Arab mare. She's got a heart of gold.”

Arabella sighed. “I've only had her for a few months, and we just don't seem to get along,” she said then. “At the school stables she tried to kick me once when I was plaiting her tail. And she threw me off on a hack. And she keeps nipping me when I'm trying to tack her up.” Tears ran down her face. “Sometimes I feel scared to be alone with her,” she admitted.

That really shocked me. I could never be scared of Lucky, or think he hated me. We're such a team I just can't imagine it. “Maybe you should talk to Sally about it in the morning, she might have some ideas that will help,” I suggested. Arabella still looked really upset so, even though I didn't want to, I added, “I'll come with you if you like.”

She wiped her eyes. “Would you really?”
she asked. “Even after I've been so horrible to you?”

“Yeah, I suppose so,” I muttered. “And, hey, what's that all about anyway? I've never done anything to you.” I was trying to make it sound like no big deal, but actually I felt sick and my heart was pounding. Of course I've had fall outs with my friends and brothers, but no one's ever not liked me before, just over nothing.

Arabella was quiet for a long time. Then she finally said, “I guess I was jealous, because you're so lucky.”

“Lucky!” I screeched, and I had to clamp my hand over my mouth again. “Me?” I whispered. “But you've got
everything
! Freedom, fun and Gracie. How can you say
I'm
lucky?”

“Your pony adores you, your family's there for you,” she said simply. “I hardly ever see my mum and dad. They're not even coming to watch me ride on Friday. And being a boarder sounds fun, but it isn't that great in real life, well, not at my school anyway. The girls are always gossiping about each other and you have to get people on your side or you end up alone.”

“Is that why you really wanted us two to be friends from the start?” I asked. “Because you thought you'd better get someone on your side?”

She nodded. “Yeah. But now I know it's different here. Like you said, there
are
no sides. Well, at least, there weren't until I messed everything up. Now no one likes me, and it's just me on my own against everybody else.”

“It's not that bad,” I began, but I trailed off because, basically, she was absolutely right.

“I'm so sorry, Lauren,” she said then. “I'm really ashamed of how I've acted towards you.
I'm not surprised the others don't like me, either. But I'm going to change, I really am. Starting right now. I promise I'll make things up to you.”

I didn't say anything. I didn't feel like making up with her. And besides, how could I trust she wouldn't start being mean to me again, as soon as we were in front of the others? “Oh, please, Lauren, give me another chance,” she begged, bursting into tears again.

What could I say? She was really upset, and I did feel a little bit sorry for her after everything she'd told me. So in the end I agreed – we'd
forget everything that's happened and make a fresh start, but only if she says sorry to Lucky, too!

When I was back down here in my own bunk, staring at nothing and thinking, I started to see that Arabella isn't so lucky after all. Yes, sleepovers at boarding school would be fun, but imagine having one every night and never being able to go home? Sure, having girls around all the time sounds great. But imagine having to worry all the time about who liked you and who didn't – it's not something I ever think about! And yes, my family is annoying sometimes, but they're all coming to see me on Friday, even Dad and Nana. Imagine having parents who'll buy you a pony, but are too busy to bother coming to see you ride it! And worst of all, imagine thinking your pony hates you!

Isn't it strange? Sometimes things aren't what they seem at all. And neither are people. Thinking about Arabella's life really makes me
appreciate my own. She's right – I
am
the lucky one. I can't wait to give my gorgeous pony a big hug in the morning and tell him how lucky I feel to have him, too!

Actually, now I've written all this down I'm feeling a bit tired out myself. I'll just shut my eyes for a minute and minute and