Evelyn's POV:

" Eve! " I smiled the minute I heard Jakes voice. " Finally caught you at a good time! " he teased.

I rolled my eyes as I laid on the couch in Ash and my makeshift room, aka Jewel and Sky's basement. " Well, the time difference isn't easy to work around! " I giggled.

He chuckled and I felt a pang in my heart. I missed his voice, his laugh, everything. Last night I had listened to a song that almost made me cry whenever I listened to it and thought of Jake. I knew I had to talk to him right away, so I had gotten up extra early to get dressed for lesson sot hat I could have some time to finally call him, instead of just texting and leaving voicemails.

I wonder if he felt the same way I was right now...

My thoughts were answered when he spoke. " I miss hearing you laugh... " he sighed. " I haven't stopped thinking about you... " I felt myself blush.

" Same here... "

" How have things been at JOPS? "

" Well, things started out rough, then got worse, but now they seem to be picking up. Lucky too, since the tryouts are a few weeks away... "

" Ya, I got your message about Hugo. How's he doing? "

" Much better than before. He seems to love stall rest more than most horses " I sighed dramatically. " he's going to have such a hay belly when he's allowed to go back to work "

Jake laughed. " You'll be able to get him back into shape in no time! I know it! "

I smiled. " Thanks, Jake... " I paused for a few seconds, nodding as Ash emerged from the bathroom, ready for this morning's lessons. She smiled and made kissy faces as she passed by me.

I managed to nail her with a pillow with an impressive backhanded throw.

" How're things with you?

" It's amazing here! Oliver Townend is such a great coach. He's no Sully of course, but he still finds a way to make lessons fun! "

" And how's Titan and Luna? "

" Luna's been acting up a bit with the bigger jumps, but Oliver rode her for a lesson and then she was better. Titan's still a beast and Oliver said he'll be a fierce competitor in cross country. He has no fear "

" That's good...and how's Britain? "

" Eve! "

I ignored Ash as Jake spoke.

" I love it here! The time change took some getting used to, but the countryside is so beautiful! But as much as I love it, it's not home... "

" Eve! " I nearly fell off the couch as the pillow I threw earlier hit the back of my head.

" What! " I turned to Ash, who was staring out the window near the bottom of the stairs that led to the basement.

" You have to come see this trailer! " Ash had her face practically glued to the glass. " It's amazing! "

I sighed and I smiled playfully. Ash was like a cat with a laser pointer sometimes.

Jake laughed through the phone. " Sounds like you have to go, talk later? "

I laughed. " Deal, talk later! "

We both hung up and I slid my phone into my pocket as I made my way to the window. Squeezing in beside Ash, I noticed that she wasn't kidding. The trailer that had pulled up in front of the barn was beautiful. Clean, crisp white with a bright red stripe running down the sides and back. Just above the stripe was written 'Riverdale Stables'.

" Maybe JOPS has some new horses being delivered? " I spoke.

" Whatever the reason, I want a better look at that trailer! And what's inside! " Ash grabbed my arm. " Come on! "

After pulling on our boots, we made our way outside and towards the daunting trailer.

Ash and I stood back as the driver got out and moved to open the back door, setting the ramp down. Peeking inside as we walked to the other side of the trailer, I caught a glimpse of two horses.

Two amazingly beautiful horses!

One of the horses was pure dark bay with no other markings and the other was light bay with beautiful markings on its face and legs. A big blaze connected to an almost diamond shaped star, while the horse's white leg markings wrapped around the hind legs and left front leg, one marking going all the way up one hind leg to the horse's thigh.

" Wow... " Ash and I collectively breathed in unison.

" Impressive, aren't they? "

I jumped as Ash and I turned to see two guys standing behind us.

And they were...very attractive...to say the least...

One was a tall blonde guy with piercing blue eyes and the other had forest green eyes and dark brown hair.

I felt myself get immediately tongue-tied.

The blonde guy smiled as he walked around us to get to the light bay horse in the trailer. The horse looked even more impressive when it was in motion, muscles rippling with every step.

" I'm Felix, Felix Marston, and this is my mare Rio " The blonde rubbed the mare's neck.

That name sounded familiar...

" No way! " Ash spoke up. " Felix Marston? The Puissance jumper? The inventor of the Vortex jump? "

My brain finally clicked in!

Felix Marston was one of the best Puissance/high jumpers in the world. He created the nearly impossible jump combination called the vortex. His first attempt at the jump in the competition had led to both him and Rio getting injured. But he had made an amazing comeback after staying at JOPS for a few months. Sky had helped him and Rio get back into competition, then she and Onyx jumped the Vortex at the first ever Puissance competition JOPS had held.

Felix and Sky were now dating and were one of the top couples in the equestrian world!

The brown haired boy led the dark bay horse off the trailer and Felix motioned over his shoulder. " That's Harry Coleman and England "

Harry nodded at us. " Pleasure to meet you both " he spoke in a British accent. As if he wasn't amazing already.

While Ash was not so subtly fangirling over Felix and Rio, I made my way over to England.

" May I? " I asked Harry.

He smiled and nodded. " Course! "

I rubbed the gelding's neck. Nice and firm with well-defined muscles, although, I expected nothing less from Britans reining polo MVH (Most valuable horse). I had never really been interested in the following polo, but it was hard to ignore when Harry and England were tearing up each game. The gelding was a pure thoroughbred, but was as docile and calm away from the game as he was fierce and fast during the game. The pair also did high-level eventing, but it was clear that polo was the pairs real calling.

Still, that didn't mean if I was in competition with Harry that he and England wouldn't kick my butt. Their bond was like something out of a movie.

Maybe that's why he and Jewel were perfect for each other. They both cared deeply for their horses or any horses for that matter.

I giggled as I looked over my shoulder at Ash, who was acting all giddy as she fed Rio a peppermint.

" Finally you guys get here! "

I looked back and saw Jewel and Skylar emerging from the barn. Sky had a playful smirk on her face.

Felix chuckled. " You're crazy! We're right on time! " he held an arm out and he and Sky shared a quick kiss.

Ash and I stepped back, letting each couple have their moment. I felt a lump form in my throat, thinking of Jake almost immediately.

I wish he was here right now...

Jewel smiled as Harry wrapped an arm around her waist. " I see you boys have met our two proteges "

I felt honored that Jewel and Sky even thought of Ash and I like that and everytime Jewel mentioned it, I blushed, not from embarrassment, but excitement.

" Ah! So you two are Evelyn and Ashleigh? " Harry spoke up. " Well, we've been looking forward to riding with you two! "

Felix nodded as he and Sky pulled away. " Me too. As soon as Sky called me and suggested this, I started packing up right away! "

I raised a brow as I looked between Jewel and Sky, who were on the verge of laughing.

Sky playfully punched Felix's arm. " Way to ruin the surprise! We haven't told them yet! "

Jewel giggled. " It's fine " she leaned against England, the gelding standing calmly, not wavering an inch. " We know how hard you girls have been practicing for the tryouts, especially with everything that's happened in the past few weeks "

I nodded along with Ash. The girls were full of surprises so there was no telling what they had in mind this time.

" We thought Harry and Felix could give you a few lessons. A change of discipline can improve anyones riding " Sky spoke up. " Plus...maybe we could all have a little...friendly competition between the six of us? "

Felix chuckled. " Uh, oh, competitive Sky is coming out! Watch yourselves! " he teased, making us all laugh.

Sky punched his shoulder again as she continued to speak. " Felix, Harry, Jewel and I will also be doing a demo before the tryouts. Give the audience a little... "

" Inspiration " Jewel finished. " A few riders and coaches will be coming from EFA to watch and we figured it was a good time to show them how far they can go, in whatever discipline they choose "

I bit my lip. I knew there was going to be an audience at the tryout, but other riders and coaches from EFA watching...our future teammates and coaches seeing us try out for their school...it was nervewracking...but exciting to show off our skills.

I nodded and smirked. " Sounds perfect to me! All of it! When do we start? " I clasped my hands together.

I think Sky's competitive nature was starting to rub off on me...

And I don't think that's a bad thing...