-Heather would be sitting on the hood of her jeep, alone in the parking lot while being in a change of clothes that weren't her riding clothes for once. She would be wearing a black beanie, a black tank top with a skull printed on it, a black leather jacket, black studded fingerless gloves, faded black ripped jeans, and black knee high laced up combat boots. The young red brunette stared blankly at the pack of cigerates that she got from her gloved compartment since she had never opened them before til now, she opened it up to take one of the cigarettes out before placing the box back into her jacket pocket then she pulled out a lighter out from the other pocket after placing the cigarette into her mouth. Heather had already put Mystery back into her stall since she's next door to Storm, she lit the end of the cigarette before putting the lighter away to finally start smoking, she knew that she can't pretend to be happy forever as she just felt...empty..she didn't deserve the things in life like her mother, her little sister, friends, Toby, Mystery, Storm,....or even Prince. The young woman felt like an empty shell of a person that's she use to know but knew that...that woman was no longer there-

-As much as she wanted to feel truely happy instead of faking it but she knew that things take time...even though the young woman had already felt hopeless for trying to hope for something that will never come true, her green eyes have completely lost they're shine as they just look...empty...she had lost part of herself when her dad died but now...she lost herself completely ever since Prince died, she found it difficult to move on as she just felt stuck in one place, feeling like she can't go anywhere. Heather took the cigarette out then exhaled some smoke from her lips before placing it back into her mouth to inhale it once more-

-The large shepherd came running pass Tim and Emily, causing both Mystery and Storm to poke their heads out of their stalls before he stopped at the enterance of the barn, sniffing the air to pin point his owner's scent while giving out a few whimpers then Toby bolted off towards the parking lot while he panted. Once he found Heather, he barked as loudly as he could at her while running up to her, his tail wagging like crazy. Once he has reached her, he jumped up on her a bit, his front paws perfectly placed on her knees while he stood on his hind legs, nudging his wet nose at the hand that held the cigarette as if he was trying to tell her to stop smoking-

Heather Proudstorm | 21 | Eventer | Espresso Silhouette "Mystery" and Titanium "Storm" | School Horse: N/A | Pet: Toby the German Shepherd | M: Toby, anyone near by

-Heather would notice her dog running over to her at full speed ahead which she was casually holding the lighted cigarette. She watched the shepherd jump on her, his paws perfectly on her lap while he stood tall on his hind legs, taking notice of his cold wet nose nudging at her hand which finally got her to carefully put the lighted cigarette out, throwing it away in a kinda small zip lock bag then she started petting Toby, messaging his ears a bit- "I'm sorry bud, I didn't want you or anyone to see me like this." -she softly said to the dog as he nestles his large head into her arms, resting against her stomach a bit but his tail remain wagging. Heather gently rested her head into the large dog's fur while giving him a very gentle hug which lasted over 5 minutes before she finally stopped hugging him, allowing the dog to get down as she got off the hood of her jeep then throws both the pack of cigarettes and the little baggy that had the already used cigarettes into her gloved compartment, locking her car back up then she headed out of the parking lot with Toby right by her side as she was heading straight back to the barn-

take two lol

Em / Tim

Emily offered a friendly wave for their brief farewell, almost stumbling over a dog she didn't recognize as she headed towards her car. Although it was a short distance, many people stopped her to welcome her back, to ask about Camden or her or Magik or Noah, or any of the other topics that often got brought up. She had the gentleness and patience of a saint, receiving each person in the same childlike joy and happily repeating the same answers to each person she spoke to. She could have easily been discouraged or short of patience, but she remained kind and happy, truly in her element.

White Oaks really did feel like home to Emily. She never thought she would stay this long, grow this much, or have such an army behind her. She also never thought she'd meet someone like Tim, it was such a peculiar story, or so she mused. She reflected on some of the things he'd just said, actually considering them. Had he really loved her from the first day he had met her?

She smiled at the thought, then wiped it off her lips as quickly as it'd come. She didn't know what to think or how to feel. Tim had been a friend for a very, very long time, a good one too, most of the time. She wasn't willing to risk losing her person here, not because he 'couldn't do it anymore' and couldn't stand the thought of simply being her friend for any longer. She didn't want to rush into anything, though she wasn't convinced that alcohol wouldn't interfere with those plans. She tried to keep it off her mind and simply let things play out the way they were meant to--there was some higher power out there, right? Some kind of fate that had a better plan than she did?

Emily returned from the store about thirty minutes later, making her way to Tim's dorm without having to think about it. She'd been to the door thousands of times, but only inside maybe once. It wasn't for any other reason than a lack of need to.

She noticed he hadn't arrived, but a fond smile washed over her once more when she opened the door--it smelled like Tim. Of course, it should have, it just made her smile. She wondered briefly if her house smelled like her, and so on, as the mind does. She set the two paper bags down on the table and took a seat at the table, taking in his space.

It wasn't very decorated, which she had expected. He didn't seem the type to spend much time on a living space he only slept and sometimes ate in, he was practical. Emily was more lavish, she wanted to arrive back in her dorm and feel safe, feel connected to it. When she had been down the path in the main house as a student, she had everything and anything that reminded her of home, wherever that was. She had began to discover over time that home wasn't anywhere but here.

[Emily]: hiiiiii, i'm in ur houseeeee?? you're not gonna stand me up now are you? lol

[Emily]: also!!! omg!! you'll never guess what I have!!

She sent several laughing emojis after, keeping things light and humorous. After all, that was what you did in this scenario, wasn't it?

A few minutes later, he opened the door. She grinned and started talking enthusiastically almost immediately.

"Ohmygosh Timmm, you will never believe what they have here. It's so American, it's so funny. A box of wine. Imagine? I know I was supposed to get, like, really strong stuff, but it was so cute I couldn't resist. Plus, we're on the young side of middle-aged white people, we drink wine. Look! Look!"

Never in her life had she been so amused by something so small, it was truly entertaining and she rambled on about it for minutes. "I bought vodka and some other stuff too, but, I mean, boxed wine."

She grinned up at him from where she was perched by the table, happy. It was no wonder other people said her attitude was infectious, she was sunlight incarnate. Giggling, she added, "I feel like you need a cat, or cats. Or something. You must be so lonely in here. And you just seem like the kind of person who likes cats."

-Heather would have stopped in her tracks to turn around a bit to look over at the man on horse back while Toby stood beside her while he wagged his tail but he closely watched the pair approaching them. The red brunette couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, he looked kinda familiar to her while noting of what the man has said which caused her shrug, folding her arms across her chest- "I didn't think that anyone would notice me smoking but I guess I was already wrong." -she said this, watching Toby as the large Shepherd was wanting to go greet the approaching pair since he was determined to make some new friends then she paid full attention to the raven haired man- "You look kinda familiar...have I seen you somewhere before?."

-She started petting her dog's head, she had to admit, the man looked rather good looking dispite the fact that her little attempt of avoiding new people as long as she can backfired on her- "I'm guessing your one of the new riders or something?." -The tone of her voice held a lot of curiousness but remained quite soothing-

Calvin + Therese / Open

He sighed deeply, this was inevitable. "Uh, are you okay, miss?"

He'd wandered into her accidentally, on his way absolutely nowhere. He missed his motorcycle, he missed being somewhere where he could chase his unstoppable adrenaline rush, he missed home. The skydiving instructors here wouldn't know his name and his life story, nor would the cliff diving and bungee jumping teams. Did they even have that in Virginia?

On an angsty walk, he'd heard noise that was much too quiet to be one of the screaming voices in his head. It was a woman crying. Probably the most beautiful he'd ever seen, and he had met three already that astonished him. She was thin, poised, graceful--he could see it even as she wiped tears off of her flawless face. She radiated an aura that was intoxicating, and if he hadn't been in such a rough place, perhaps he would have been interested in seeking a thrill of a different kind. He had admired her from afar, that is, until she looked up at him.

Though in any other circumstance he would have considered himself fortunate to earn the glance of someone such as she, Calvin couldn't help but feel sheepish and uncomfortable--she, a stranger, was clearly crying, and was clearly upset. He didn't do emotion--in fact, he avoided it at all costs by jumping off bridges and jumping onto moving trains. He was also genuinely himself, he wouldn't just change for the sake of gaining affection and being 'liked.' It disturbed him greatly that anyone would do such a thing. Yet, he had felt the need to release that utterance, one that left him in a painfully vulnerable position, one where she may unload any and all baggage on him. That was his greatest fear, no matter how beautiful she was. He only valued women with independence and fierceness, ones who could think for themselves and shared the same passion as he. He liked women who could contribute an equal amount of passion to a relationship. He paused for a moment to allow her to say as little as possible, then he would run--for the hills.

"Yes," she replied meekly, quite embarrased. She hadn't expected anyone to be down by the pond, so many were at the barns or on the trails on such a beautiful fall evening. "I just miss my home, that is all."

"I'm sorry to hear," he replied blandly. He went to leave, then hesitated. "I s'pose I should introduce myself. I'm Calvin."

"Thérèse," she said kindly.

"Alright, well, see you around," he replied, leaving as soon as he'd wandered upon her. He briefly considered walking as far as his legs would take him and then deciding what his next move was, but refrained. He would have to stay here for some amount of time--the military had ordered it, it was not a suggestion.

Laurence / Thérèse, Zander

Laurence, while initially disturbed by the entire commotion that was Sam, was in a far better place now. He was still quite annoyed that Sam had no respect for his house, which she was now living in, and no respect for him, but he told himself it was just something he was going to have to get used to again. She annoyed him endlessly and got on his last nerve constantly, but he tried to put it in perspective: she was alive.

Eventually he would have to hack his mount for the next weekend's show, but he wanted to put it off. As of right now, he still felt like the rider he was when he was hacking multiple horses every day, not the one who had taken a year away from horses to handle 'business.' However, everything in him wanted nothing to do with this--he didn't need another reminder of his weaknesses and his shortcomings.

Deciding he could handle the personal aspect of this first, he shot a text to his teammates, putting riding off just a little bit longer.

[Laurence (to group)]: Hello all. I would love to meet both of you, are you available to meet me by the big yellow barn on the left side of the property in around fifteen to twenty minutes. If not I will be available tomorrow.

[Thérèse (to group)]: Yes!! I will see you soon.