|-Crazy Day-|

[Rachel Corrigan]

It had been a crazy day so far and it wasn't even noon yet. Ugh! I need some food! My focus went into guiding my feet to the spacious cafeteria. I knew that life here would be harder in a lot of ways but to think that it would be this crazy was unknown to me.

Since I had gotten here, I have met people among people, found a horse that can talk to me, and tried to help a girl and her horse get along better.

I made my way over to the lunch line, got as much food as I knew I could eat, and grabbed a nearby seat. Looking around, I saw plenty of people hanging and talking together about school or home. I looked down at my tray and smiled at the plate of spaghetti, cornbread, pizza, Alfredo, and a salad. Nobody could say my eating wasn't diverse.

Wow. It's pretty nice in here. It's busy without being over the top. I like it. Smiling, I ate my food. Nice and easy. For now.

[Ty Standford]

I saw the cafeteria only feet ahead and figured I should stop in to grab some grub or at least a chair for a minute. Knight took out all my energy with his knotted tassels and caked hide. If he wasn't sort I would have been concerned about how many times a day he rolls. I knew my appearance was good on this particular day but I didn't pan on sticking around to meet anyone.

I repositioned my backpack on my shoulder and then dragged myself to the door and then through, into the warm building. I smelt the aromas of all sorts of different foods. Everything from pizza, my favorite, to cornbread, which is as long as there was chili there was no doubt I would pick the easy down home favorite. I put myself in line not paying much attention to the room of folks around me.

I got my chili, cornbread and bottle of water before heading over to a small table. I put the food down and took off my coat and bag. I fished through it till I found my latest issue of Perfect Horse Magazine. I sat down and flicked through the pages all while enjoying the spicy sensation on my taste buds.

[Rachel Corrigan]

I looked up from my food, remembering that I had a book in my pocket that I could be reading instead of just eating. I looked around, not really looking for anything. During the once over, I saw another girl just sitting alone eating.

Oh come on, what's meeting one more person here? Might as well be nice to her and not eat alone. In a surprisingly fluid motion, I gathered my food and walked over to the girl. Hey, would ya like some company? I looked at what she was reading and pulled out my latest book by Kim Harrison. At least I might get some long overdo reading done.

[Ty Standford]

Wonder if Knight would let me drag a plastic bag behind him. I scanned over the pictures of a girl riding a horse demonstrating the training technique they had in the article. Most likely not, he had trouble just taking an apple out of my hand when we first met. I sighed and decided that holding off on any scary or further more, life threatening training techniques were out. I flipped the page then to read up on worms and how to identify if a horse had worms. I hardly noticed the girl that sit down and looked up with a shocked expression upon my face. I then smiled sheepishly at her before saying Sure, have a seat. I smiled again trying to pull myself together that someone was actually interested in being my friend or at least taking an interest in my loneliness.

I watched as she pulled out a book, I wonder if I should try to conversant with her. What are you reading? I asked trying to be friendly. I know that I completely skipped out on my name so I then decided to back track. My name is Ty by the way. What's yours? I then all of sudden felt like I was asking too many questions at once so I just sat back in my chair in waited for a response.

The remainder of my article was looking interesting but I didn't want to be rude by asking a question and then not listen to the answers. Knight did that and I hated it when my answer didn't affect his unchanging facial expression. I really hoped he decided to show more emotion towards me, but then again this relationship will take time and patience. Two things that I'm sure he never had offered up to him.

[Rachel Corrigan]

Once she accepted my offer to sit with her, I started setting everything down. I realized that I had subconsciously pulled out my book when Ty asked about it. Smooth one Rache I cursed myself for not paying attention.

Oh! It's Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison. The name's Rachel Corrigan. I answer to anything though. I settled everything around me and got a little comfortable. So I ain't seen ya around here lately, where ya from? I'm sorry if I'm asking too many questions...I hope you don't mind that I'm gonna keep eating. I'm still listenin I bent down enough to keep eating while I listened for Ty's response.

My taste buds went on overdrive while I took in all of the food. It was obviously getting closer to regular lunch time because more people were filing in to get some food. It got reasonably louder and more crowded. I looked up to see if Ty had started talking yet. When I realized that she hadn't, I smiled at her and kept eating, all the while trying to keep watch on her. I waited patiently for Ty to say something.

[Ty Standford]

I watched her sit down and settle and then answer my questions. I smiled at her and nodded to the book. I've never heard of it then again I didn't read much out of the horse industry or books such as My Friend Flicka. I sat up straighter as she began to talk to me about my new enrollment. First time someone had took a interest in my life. I thought but smiled happy to answer.

I'm new around here, haven't been here for more then a week but I love ever minute of life here. I'm from Kentucky. Where are you from? I asked aware that she was still scarfing down food which made me turn to my own meal for a mouthful of corn bread.

I then dug into my book bag to pull out a bottle of water, I loosened the cap and took a drink after I swallowed my corn bread. How long have you been going to school here? I asked a sparkle twinkled in the corner of my eye as I smiled at her and waited for a response.

[Rachel Corrigan]

Jeez girl! Slow down on the intake huh!? You look like a starving pig! Ok, that's better. I took the eating speed down a couple notches as I noticed how quickly I was shoveling it in. While listening to Ty, along with all the other people now crowding around us, I started formulating my answer. Yea I just started here not too long ago. I pretty much came with everyone else. I'm originally from South Dakota, but I came here from Texas. I remember going through Kentucky, it's a beautiful state. I gave Ty a heart warming smile, through a mouthful of pizza, and laughed really hard after swallowing.

So...you like to read? I love to. Woah! I'm sorry, I'm just babbling away here. Quickly, to hide my embarrassment, I continued eating, at my slower pace. My attention became drowned in the flowing conversation of everyone nearby as I waited and ate. Gosh I'm glad I got all this food. Maybe I should stow away some carrots for Rosco. Decision made, I wrapped up a few and stuffed them in my jacket.

[Ty Standford]

I kept on a warming smile as she scarfed away. I didn't mind she reminded me of some friends that I had back home, of coarse most of them where guys, but I picked up on some of there bad habits to. I smiled and listen to her and then took another mouthful of chili wondering if I should scarf to, to make her feel better anyway. She looked embarrassed. South Dakota! Really? I've always wanted to take a trip out there or well any place like it. Nevada has been like my dream state for like ever. I smiled wondering if I was also rambling too much. I was very easy to start a conversation with, some told me that I could go on for hours. Which I'm sure was true, I got a mouth for chatter.

I smiled and then took another mouthful of delicious chili, the people at this campus sure knew how to cook. This was nothing like mothers back home, Uneatable and usually hard if, especially her scrambled eggs. I certainly had nothing to do with the chicken! I shuddered at the thought of eating another home cook meal. I love to read but I don't venture far from the horse world. I said smiling sheepishly in her direction and smiled trying to tell her I didn't mind the babbling. I was quite the babbler myself.

[Rachel Corrigan]

I was oddly comforted at the look Ty gave me at my apology. I guess she understands or something I kind of missed home when I began eating the pizza and talking about Texas and South Dakota. Every Friday night, my folks and I held a little party, just me, them, and my siblings. We had pizza, soda, candy, everything someone could think of. With a sigh, I finished my pizza and set my tray slightly aside.

Yea. South Dakota was awesome, except for the extremely cold weather. I don't do very good in the cold most of the time. I read pretty much anything except romance novels and non fiction books. Those just ain't my type. I love dark fantasy and supernatural types. Hey do you have any pets? /i got a cat who is as nutty as crunchy peanut butter. But he's adorable. I felt confident in my over talking as she listened. When I first meet someone, I have an annoying quality to talk too much and too fast, but with Ty, I didn't think about it. I smiled broadly at the thought of what she took me as.

[Ty Standford]

Not much for those teeny bopper books myself. I said with a slight look of disgust for all the books about a ugly chick, who thinks she not pretty, but really is, and ends up getting the big hottie anyway. What kind of books are they anyway? The guys always claimed they where a perfect fire starter back home. I laughed at the distant memory. My friends never had a knack for reading like me. It's cold around here to. Can't say I like it much myself but it's better then when it thunders. I don't like lightning. I smiled again feeling that I could be open with her.

I think the only thing I've read out of the horse world is some science fiction book, that all my friends where crazing about. Then again my friends are known for reading picture books. I said with a laugh. I don't think I've seen them read a book outside Thomas the Tank Engine series. Although I must agree with them on the imaginary. I then picked up the water bottle and took another drink, swallowed and then set it back down where it was before.

I don't have any pets with me, but back home I had a dog named Bell and a house cat name Professor Zaria Sandles. I have no idea how she got that name, must have been some childhood thing. I laughed a little and then took another few bites of my chili before realizing it was all gone. What grade are you in? I'm in 11th. I said still being my bubbly self.

[Rachel Corrigan]

As she spilled her story, I laughed at her reference to her old friends. When she finished, I said That's okay, my old friends in Texas couldn't get past Algebra 1 or children books either. It was always kind o funny though because every time I got the chance, I would act all smart to drive them nuts. But they were good friends to me. I pulled me drink back to me, knowing it would be flat compared to its bubbly fizzy beginnings. Wincing at the strange taste of flat soda, I gulped it down anyways.

Slowly, the nearby people began dispersing to go where ever they chose beforehand. Suddenly, a list of things that I had to do flooded into my head. Call mom and dad, get groceries, watch a movie of some sort, get ready for classes, blah blah blah Looking down at my own drink, what was left of it, I started laughing uncontrollably.

[Ty Standford]

I laughed along with her knowing exactly by what she met, I did the same thing till the guys threaten to stop hanging out with me. Guess they thought I was like the kid sister or something, but it was still amusing anyway.Totally! Especially when they claim to know something any then you go and show them up, guys hate that. I said with a smile glad that I had met someone knew that day. She was so much brighter then talking with Knight who found any chance he got to make a rude comment.

I picked the bottle back up took another sip and then put away in my backpack. What's your horses name? I asked interested. I ride a Paint gelding named Knight, quite the little back talker. If you know what I mean. I said with a smile. I simply loved talking about horses.

[Rachel Corrigan]

My mood had lightened quite a bit, the food settling. Oh his name is Rosco. He is a stubborn gorgeous brute. But all in all, not too bad. He loves carrots though! I held up the small bundle of carrots and laughed. By the way, I'm a senior. A very awkward senior. Out of nowhere, my cell phone rang. Looking up, I gave Ty a sheepish smile and stood up. Sorry, I have to see what it is.

A little bit away, I answered the obnoxious rings. Hello?...No...That's correct...The other way...Okay...To the left a little...Up...Up...There ya go! See it? Yea...Good...Okay, later...Bye I hurried back to Ty once I hung up. Sorry about that. The keeper at home lost the brushes for the horses and decided that I would know where they are. I missed home and I know they missed me but I was happy here.

[Ty Standford]

I listened to her contently while she talked about Rosco he sounded so pretty and it almost sounded like his personality matched if not was very similar to that of Knights. I heard her cell rang and felt that I better stay quite till she was done. I smiled and then stared back to my magazine while she chatted.

I then looked up when she sat back down and smiled cheerily her way. My family hasn't seen a horse on their property sense my last pony Scooch. By the way I ride a stubborn little paint horse named Knight and I'm on a Junior. I felt is was only fair to share with her. I was so happy to be making friends here at Catalpa.

[Rachel Corrigan]

I was happy that my chattiness wasn't getting to her like it tended to with others. I didn't mind that she looked at her magazine while I talked, since I like to read while others talked for long periods of time to help me listen, backwards I know but true.

I listened while she talked a little about her horse. Really? Those are really gorgeous horses! Yours stubborn too? I gave a little laugh at my inquisitiveness. Looking down at my watch, I realized that I should be callin my folks, but I was makin a friend! I'd call when I got back to the dorm. They'd understand...