Marley Roze | Nirvana | D | Town Peoples.

Marley returned from her dorm wearing slightly frayed black jeans, black vans and a Nirvana t-shirt. She had restraightened her hair, her bob straighter than ever and had little to no make-up on.

She rushed up to the group and bent over, her hands placed on her knees. `` S-Sorry. I. Needed to put. Nirvana away.`` Marley told them between rushed breaths. She knew how weird she looked, a random stranger running up to them.

Catching her breath she looked around, her chocolate brown eyes catching Simon's for a brief moment. `` I.. Uh.. Hi. I'm Marley Roze.`` She announced herself. `` I'm the new rider. Nice to meet you all.`` Marley smiled momentarily before looking down at her shoes.

Timothy Blue / CEI / M:Emily.

Tim couldnt help the stinging feeling that overwhelmed his relief at her words.'Friend' - Wow.But did he expect anything else?Maybe not.He released her from his arms and turned side on to wipe the tears from his own,a little from embarressment and a little from bottled frustration.Her hug didnt just fix things.

"How do we do that? - I mean i want to but I just.."

Tim gave a deep sigh,raising his eyebrows slightly as Emily crossed her arms at him.He didnt say anything,offering a slight huff and folding his in return.Tim felt an incredible urge to soften,try and console her like he used to.Apologise so whole-heartedly,and his eyes showed this guilt and longing for affection so despairately.But the rest of his body wouldnt let him,just begging for the whole conversation to be over.Whether that was with a resolved ending or not.

Cheikhou Aidara | 22 | Vaulting | Chandler, Laurence, Sam & Simon [indirectly]

Cheikhou's eyes jerked up quickly at the woman's words, quickly brightening from their misty zoned-out shade. "Only a few days," she smiled brightly, shrugging her broad shoulders in a friendly motion "-but I haven't done that much. Just got over jetlag yesterday, so. Still settling in, I suppose."

"Vaulting. You know, that weird sport where people do handstands on horses without helmets? That one." Cheidhou laughed vivaciously, her hair bouncing energetically. "I'm Cheidhou, by the way. You can call me Chee though, most people can't pronounce it." There was no malice in her voice, simply an understanding tone.

"Anyone else you're expecting?" Two riders had joined the group; the blonde from earlier with an almost-attractive man: definitely not her type. Not that she had a 'type' as such, she simply wasn't one to fall for the typical hot brawny man most women were falling over.

Lorenzo Biancci | 27 | Polo / Endurance Trainer | Astrid

Lorenzo stayed silent as Astrid rode up beside him, guiding Gemini until there was about two metres between them. He wasn't quite sure if it was for him or the gelding; both were clearly susceptible to lash out at this moment.

"Not you, just-" Once again, he broke off. This seemed to be becoming a regular thing. "I need to think, si? I need to think about - you, me, what this is doing to me and - and I don't know. I just don't know." He ran one hand through his thick black hair, sighing loudly.

"I don't know, Astrid." This time it was quieter, pleading almost. For what, he was not sure. Gemini, picking up on his rider's change of mood, pinned his ears back at Raven. The gelding was always aggressive with other horses, and Enzo's mental instability was definitely not helping.

Astrid | Bjorn, Raven | M: Lorenzo

The darker haired woman scowled. `` Fine. Come find me when you've thought about it.`` She spat. Astrid turned the mare around and they cantered back up the trail. Almost half way up she broke into tears. `` I can't believe him!`` Astrid groaned. Raven picked up on her discomfort and anger and let out a reassuring nicker. Astrid pet the mares neck as they slowed to a walk.

`` I just- I just thought... maybe.. maybe he would.`` She didn't even bother to finish her sentence. Drying her eyes she was relieved that she had finally overcome her emotions.

Kierstan | DCT | Town Peeps

Kierstan had settled into the quaint conversation, more than happy to allow the girls to converse and silently stare off. His headache had only seemed to grow more intense between the drama with Emily and Tim and his increasing lack of sleep. He soon found his eyes scanning the horizon, looking for Sam. No doubt she'd be dressed to impress.

Soon, he saw her as well as another young man come waltzing down the hill, looking like some model couple in a magazine with matching leather jackets. It was disgusting. Yet, a slight smirk came over his features at how typical it was for Sam--he could read her like a book.

As they approached further, he couldn't help but subtly notice Chandler's change in demeanor, which he assumed was from the man, Simon he presumed, and not from Sam. She could be mean, but he doubted she'd had that much time to make a wicked impression on a new rider. As he made eye contact with the only person in the group he knew, he watched her features change subtly--was it guilt he saw as her features became slightly placid?

He crossed his arms and deadpanned, "well, if the queen of eventing says it's time to go, then it's time to go. No, waiting on one more." He offered her the slightest smirk, which was a variance from the typical, neutral stare. He then turned to his left to find another rider rushing towards them, turning to peg Chandler's disposition and still seeing her catching glimpses of Simon when he wasn't looking, begging to be noticed. It was all extremely subtle, and unless you were paying attention to the slightest changes, not exactly noticeable.

"Yup, that's our group. No harm done, Marley. Everyone ready to hit it?"

Jingling the keys he'd attained to one of the show vans the barn owned, he began walking towards the van casually, expectant that everyone else would follow. He unlocked it before pausing, saying, "ground rules for everyone, telling you now before chaos ensues. First, we're gonna all write our phone numbers on this piece of paper, and share them around. I'm gonna put Chandler in charge of making a group chat, so if anyone gets lost, they can text the chat and we'll be good to go. Second, I want everyone to pick a buddy. There are six of you, so either you can go in two groups of three, or in three groups of two. If anyone doesn't have a phone, they should buddy with someone who does. Finally, the person or people you choose as your buddy will be the person or people you split off with if time and location allows, so make sure you think you're with someone trustworthy, okay? Alright, let's go."

After handing out the piece of paper and having everyone sign it, Laurence got in the driver's seat and turned the van on. Once the doors were locked, he safely drove the van down the driveway towards one of the small, winding roads that led to the 'town' that allegedly popped out of nowhere, somewhere along these rolling fields and lush forest scenes.

Samantha Starr + Simon Triba / M: Town Group, Marley,Open.

"Ah - Finally a man with taste.I royally declare you an ass ,Hows that?"

Sam quiped in return,arching her perfect eyebrows at him with a testing gaze before glancing to the van.A van.She couldnt believe they were going off in that.

The raven-haired man had to raise his eyebrows just a touch at her comment in an amuzed manner,clearly not expecting her to hit back so calmly.He seemed more occupied at the moment with trying to catch Marley's eye though,Simon simply wanted to explain himself for not showing to the arena.So he hung back as the group wandered toward the bus,making his way to walk beside her,

"Hey - Just wanted to say sorry for not showing..I got a little lost."

He managed to chuckle,reaching up with his tanned hand to rub the back of his neck apologetically.

*****

Prepared to hit you,yes.

Sam couldnt help a slight eyeroll,understanding immediately that Kierstan was enjoying the king pin role a little too much.

"Oh Nanny - Are you going to change our diapers too?"

She spoke icily,an unshaking amusement to her tone.Sam seriously wanted to see how far she could push him,clearly not impressed with what she felt were immature measures.Certainly not because she wasnt even sure she'd be included in a grouping - Of course not.Still the strawberry-blonde settled near the back after reciting her number to Chandler like everyone else,allowing Simon and someone he was speaking to to settle beside her without so much as a snide remark.Her eyes then flitted out the window,shifting her weight as far from people as she could to watch the scenery flit past as they drove,her expression and body relaxing slightly.Her mind was working away,playing some gently pleasing fantasies to drown out everyone else.

Chandler | [Tour Peeps]; Kierstan, Cheikhou, Aodhan

Chandler watched the man try to get the other girl's attention, a hurt feeling hitting her like a ton of bricks. As someone who thrived off of a feeling of being wanted and needed, having the one person she felt madly attracted to be interested in, and/or a player, and/or dating one of the two girls he'd been grouped with hit her like a ton of bricks, ruining the well-hidden ego and pride she gained all motivation from.

Every once in a while, her attention would be caught by snippets of an ongoing banter between Sam and Laurence, but it was mainly in her own head, overthinking constantly. Why isn't he attracted to me? Why am I not good enough? What is his type? Why has every relationship I've had been unsuccessful?

Deciding to take it to prayer, Chandler spent much of the ride in silence, working through her emotions with God so that they didn't come out at all. She had very overpowering emotions, but wasn't at all an emotions person in any capacity, and thus, needed to ditch them as quickly as possible. It seemed God was the only way she'd been able to for most of her life, especially since her mom had died.

As the country scenes went by, soon fading and turning into a quaint little town with brick buildings, little shops, apparently a large university, and small paved sidewalks with little flowers, Chandler shot off one text to her favorite person on the planet.

[Chandler]: I miss u my favorite human being :(

[Aodhan]: What boy broke your heart now?

[Chandler]: one I haven't even met yet. promise me you'll come visit soon? i need your Aussie self back in my life full-time.

[Aodhan]: Sounds like chaos. Soon, I promise. How is Benny?

[Chandler]: good I hope. keep him in ur prayers? he's traveling right now, he should get here in a few days.

[Aodhan]: On it, love. I love you kiddo.

[Chandler]: luv you more <3 do you want to facetime me tonight?

To this final text there was no reply, causing concern from Chandler. Generally he texted back instantly, especially to her. Brushing the thought away, she got off the bus with the rest of the kids, faintly hearing Laurence ask, "so what should we explore first? The college looks neat. Lots of history I bet. This looks like an old Civil War town or something..."