Jewel's POV:

" Okay, so how are we going to get Payton and Caitlyn onboard? " I asked as I sat down on the couch on the third floor of the main barn.

Blaire and Marlo sat on either side of me, both sipping from a can of ginger-ale.

" It's shopping, I think they'd be on board no matter what " Marlo replied.

Blaire and I gave her a look. We had discussed that we would go out shopping and then take tomorrow off to go trail riding and go to the creek to take the horses swimming. We had also discussed that we wouldn't judge the other girls before we got to know them, a mistake I had made at the beginning of the summer, but was working hard not to repeat.

" Right, ' Don't judge right away ' my bad " Marlo replied as she threw her empty can in the recycling bin beside her.

" Honestly, it's shopping, not just for us, but for our horses to, I think they'll love to come " Blaire said.

Marlo and I nodded.

Footsteps coming up the stairs turned our attention to the spiral staircase. My eyes widened as I saw Sky walking up the stairs.

She paused when she looked up and saw the three of us, her eyes locked on me.

I didn't know what to do, so I turned in my and stared down into the arena. Payton and Caitlyn were trotting their horses around, preforming a few bending exercises. It seemed like they had formed a bond and they didn't seem to mind us up here watching them.

" Um, can I talk to Jewel for a minute...alone? " she asked.

Blaire and Marlo looked over at me and I nodded, watching as they got up and passed Sky, walking down the stairs. I was sure that they were going to stop and stand on the stairs to listen, but I didn't mind that.

Sky slowly walked over and sat down beside me. She glanced into the arena, but something was different then before. She didn't have a spark of anger on her face, and her eyes weren't glaring at the two girls down in the arena.

" ...You feeling okay? " I asked.

" Ya, why? " She replied, turning back to me.

" Because your actually talking to me and you aren't glaring daggers at Payton and Caitlyn " I replied, not sure wether to laugh, smile or just continue to sit in uncomfortable silence.

Sky laughed lightly. " Ya, about that...look...I was...I was wrong about these girls...and about becoming a team....and I'm...sorry... "

I couldn't help but widen my eyes. Sky rarely said sorry or even admitted when she was wrong. She usually just made some sarcastic comment. That was her way of saying sorry.

I half smiled. " Um, thanks...so what made you change your mind? " I asked.

" Something dad told me...and your aren't going to believe it "

" About how he and Uncle John used to compete " I replied, laughing when I saw her shocked expression.

" You knew? "

" Yep, dad told me the same story the first day they got here, it's what made me want to get to know the girls more, so we wouldn't end up like he and Uncle John did " I told her.

" I guess we need to listen better, because we almost did end up like them " Sky replied, making us both laugh.

After a few seconds we fell silent again.

" ...Sky? "

" Ya? "

" ...Would you ever stop riding? " I asked her.

" Never " She answered immediately. " I love Onyx too much to have him stop doing what he loves, or make him go to someone else ".

I nodded. " Same "

" Plus, if I stopped riding, I'd lose my favourite thing to do with my best friend... " Sky added.

" Oh ya, Kendall would be so devastated " I joked. Kendall was Sky's best friend in school. She was my friend to, but her and Sky were closer. Also an equestrian, Kendall lived about 20 minutes from J.O.P.S, at her own family barn. She was away this summer in England, so we were keeping her horse, a Thoroughbred Clydesdale cross mare named Gypsy, here. I knew Sky was secretly hoping that Kendall's parents would let her board Gypsy at J.O.P.S after she came back, so she wouldn't have to be constantly driving here to ride when they wanted to.

Sky rolled her eyes and playfully punched my arm. " I meant you dummy "

I mock gasped. " Oh I'm so honoured! "

We both laughed until my stomach began to hurt.

Now we were back to old times.

And I loved it.

After our little laughing fit, we both smiled at each other. " So, what's this little shopping thing I heard you talking about? " Sky asked.

" Well, Blaire, Marlo and I thought it would be a great idea to take the team shopping and then take tomorrow off and go on an all day trail ride to the creek and back " I explained.

Sky suddenly smirked.

" What? " I questioned. " You don't like the idea? "

" No No! It sounds great, but, I have something we need to add before we put that plan into motion...something involving Uncle John and dad " she replied.

I tilted my head slightly, giving her a questioning look before it finally clicked in my head.

I smirked back at her. " Hmm...Interesting, please, explain more "

" Lets go get the rest of the girls, including Payton and Caitlyn, we're gonna need all the help we can get... " Sky replied as she got up.

I got up as well and followed her down the stairs. Whatever Sky had in mind, I hoped it would help dad and Uncle John like she said it would.

And I hoped it would help bring the team together.