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could hear Ana yelling at me, telling me these were the basics and I should have this. There was no excuse—I was making beginner mistakes.
    â€œLauren! Get Cricket’s attention!” Kim shouted.
    I could feel my face getting red. Everyone’s eyes were on me and the last thing I wanted was to mess up in front of them.
    We were strides away from the jump and I was too nervous to relax. In my mind, the handful of people watching turned into a crowd and they were judging my ride. The jump rushed toward us at a dizzying pace and fear took over. Spots swam in front of my eyes. This was almost like before .
    I yanked Cricket’s right rein, turning her away from the jump. The sudden sideways movement almost tossed me out of the saddle. Frustrated, Cricket threw her head in the air and half-bucked as I cantered her far away from the jump. I gripped as hard as I could with my knees, fighting to stay on.
    I slowed her to a trot and, finally, a walk. My heartbeat seemed to slow the farther away from the jump we got.
    â€œLauren,” Kim said my name again. She walked over to Cricket and me. “You okay?”
    â€œI’m fine,” I said. “I’m sorry. I—I couldn’t do it.”
    I didn’t look at anyone who was watching. But I was sure they were all whispering about what had happened. That was one of the worst performances I’d had in a long time. I was supposed to be the Lauren Towers. Now everyone probably thought I was a joke.
    â€œEveryone else is finished, so I’d like you to cool and groom Cricket, then come by my office. Okay?” Kim asked.
    I nodded.
    Kim touched my shoulder, then turned to address the other riders. But I didn’t hear her. It was like a silent movie. Everyone dismounted and started toward the stable. I watched Ana hand her horse to one of the girls who’d been watching and then make her way toward me.
    I dismounted, patting Cricket’s neck.
    â€œWe’ll get it next time, girl. Promise,” I said. We’d jumped a million times before—I had to keep reminding myself of that. But it wasn’t easy.
    I took off my helmet. The warm May air had made my long, dark brown hair stick to my forehead. I let my hair down and then gathered the natural waves into a ponytail. Afterward, I loosened Cricket’s girth and started to lead her in a circle.
    â€œIs everything okay?” Ana asked, reaching me. Her eyes were wide with worry.
    â€œI was so ridiculous,” I said. “Cricket was set to jump and I stopped her. I . . . got scared.”
    â€œThat’s okay,” Ana said. “You have every right to be nervous about jumping.” She ran her fingers through her light brown hair. “But what matters is that you don’t beat yourself up and that you remember you have done this before. And really well!”
    â€œEveryone’s probably in the stable laughing at me,” I said.
    â€œNo, they’re not,” Ana said firmly. “Don’t worry about that. Next time you jump, you’re going to fly over it without a problem. I know it.”
    I smiled a little. Ana had been one of my biggest cheerleaders since I’d started at Briar Creek.
    â€œI’ll be ready next time,” I said. I tried to make sure what I said sounded like a statement and not a question.
    Ana nodded. “You so will be.”
    Ana stayed with me for a few more minutes before her mom came to pick her up. Before she’d left, Ana had switched the subject to the weird mystery smell in homeroom. She’d made me laugh and I’d gotten past my bad ride with Ana’s help. I had conquered a lot of jumps since my accident, and just because I hadn’t today didn’t mean I was a failure.
    I walked Cricket out of the arena and past the wooden fence boards that had been painted a light brown last month. Kim had been busy making all kinds of repairs to the only riding stable in town.
    I hadn’t