Broken Hearts Read Free

said, pulling back on her reins.
    â€œIt’s definitely over,” Josie groaned. “I was at the mall yesterday, buying new jeans for school. Half of Shadyside High was there.”
    â€œWhat are you doing tonight?” Melissa asked Josie, changing the subject. “Going out with Jenkman?”
    Josie made a face. “Yeah. Probably.” A devilish grin spread across her face. “Unless Chuck asks me.”
    â€œGive me a break!” Melissa exclaimed. “Don’t tell me you’re breaking up with Jenkman already.”
    â€œWhy shouldn’t she?” Rachel said. “She’s been going with him for nearly a month.”
    â€œHa-ha,” Josie replied sarcastically. “You’re just jealous, Rachel, because I know a lot of guys. You and Luke are like some old married couple.”
    â€œWe are not,” Rachel protested. Her horse began to pick up speed again, trotting almost silently over the pine needle-covered ground.
    â€œHow long have you been going with Luke? Since you were in diapers?” Melissa teased Rachel.
    â€œSince we were freshmen,” Rachel told her, sticking her tongue out.
    â€œHow boring,” Josie groaned. She tightened her grip with her legs as her horse picked up speed to catch up with Rachel’s.
    â€œLuke is not boring!” Rachel insisted, gripping the reins more tightly as she posted out of time with her fast trotting horse. “Take it back, Josie.”
    â€œDave isn’t boring either,” Melissa offered.
    â€œI can’t believe you’re still going out with Dave Kinley,” Josie said dryly. “How come you go for all my rejects, Melissa?”
    Melissa smiled. “You have so many rejects, Josie. It’s impossible not to!”
    Rachel and Melissa laughed. Josie didn’t join in.
    â€œYou’ll dump Dave too,” Josie said seriously. “Just like I did. You’ll see. He’s so immature.”
    â€œEveryone is immature according to you,” Melissa replied, her smile fading. “But I like Dave. He’s kind of wild, but—”
    â€œImmature,” Josie interrupted.
    â€œThere are worse things than being immature,” Rachel called back.
    â€œName ten,” Josie joked.
    â€œLet’s stop yakking and ride,” Melissa urged impatiently. “We can decide who’s immature later, okay?”
    Josie and Rachel agreed. The three girls rode on in silence, moving single-file along the twisting path, riding between sunlight and shadows under the tall trees.
    The only sounds were the whispers of the trees and the steady, gentle thud of hooves. Melissa found herself becoming hypnotized by the rhythmic rocking, the insistent clip-clip-clip, the shifting shadows, the darting golden rays of light poking through the dense foliage.
    She found herself thinking dreamily about Dave. Josie was wrong about him, Melissa decided. Josie was a good friend, but she was often wrong about people.
    Melissa could see why Josie accused Dave of being immature. He had a wild side, an angry side. Dave could be as moody and childish and unpredictable as Josie, Melissa realized.
    They obviously couldn’t get along because they were too much alike.
    They both had their cruel sides too, Melissa thought. Josie had been really cruel to Dave when she had broken up with him.
    Dave had been hurt, Melissa knew.
    Melissa raised her eyes to glance at Josie, who wasseveral yards ahead of her on the path. She watched Josie’s short dark hair bob up and down in a steady rhythm under her helmet.
    Josie didn’t seem to care if she hurt boys, Melissa thought. She could be sensitive and caring when she wanted. She had helped Melissa through some bad times, and she was very loving to her sisters Erica and Rachel.
    But when she had made up her mind to dump a guy, she dumped him. That was that. As if the guy were some sort of doll or stuffed animal, to be tossed aside.
    â€œLook, a