Dear María

A few days after Jack left for tour, the doctor said my ribs were now completely healed and the next day I was already early at Hipica Collserola, tacking Stella up so we could head to out class in fifteen minutes.
Once in the arena, Montse and Adri joined us and we hugged and talked.
“Ladies and gentleman” Oriol shouted, walking into the arena, he was trying to sound like a radio announcer, “after breaking almost all her ribs, being squashed by a 500kg animal and almost died, María Mussons, this center’s homewrecker, returns to the-“ I threw my keys at his chest and he started to laugh.
“Very funny” I let out sarcastically, he turned to leave my keys on the fence, in a corner of the arena, next to his packpack and Adri’s stuff. The girls were already adjusting the girth tighter and Adri was already on Oteado.
“Hey, how are you? I heard you had your little 'recovery' with Jack” he winked at me.
“Much better, and he’s a sweetheart" I smiled, "Not like you” I joked whilst I jumped on Stella.
He gasped dramatically and chuckled. He looked away from he for a second and then looked at me again with a very happy and relieved expression in his features.
“I’m so happy you two are okay” he said, squeezed my thigh and patted my boot before smiling at me and walking to the centre of the arena.
“Okay, guys, five laps around the arena and you can start trotting!” he announced.
The rest of the class continued like that, joking but being ‘professional’.
Adri, for some reason was having trouble with Oteado, her andalusian stallion. The problem they had went on for a few minutes only Oriol mae Adri dismount and he jumped on. Adri stood to a side of the arena and watched Oriol’s show because, honestly, Oriol really did like rubbing in our faces the fact that he’s a professional.
He jumped on and Oteado, who started to pin back his ears and walked backwards. Oriol kicked him and turned his head with the reins, he was about to ask Adri for a whip when he managed to get him cantering without it.
“You see, Adriana?” he started. Here we go again. “It’s easy, you just have to ask him to canter when you have his balance between your legs and the contact in your hands” he said, “See?” here came Oriol’s show. He removed his feet from the stirrups and started to make them shorter and smaller, “When you have control of the horse you can easily adjust the stirrups…” he then completely removed the stirrups, “Remove them…” he put them on again, “Easy” he held back a chuckle.
“Okay, okay, Ori, I got it, just don’t rub it in my face” Ari chuckled, walking to Oteado.
Montse and I started to laugh quietly.
“What are you guys laughing at?” Oriol, still on Oteado.
“Nothing” we chcukled.
“So nothing, huh?” he made Ari go to the side of the arena again before galloping towards us, scaring Noble and Stella in the process.
They sprinted to the entrance but I felt them want to turn and gallop around the arena, still scared. And let me tell you: scared horse + galloping = disaster.
I pressed my legs and pulled the reins, whistling to Stella to calm her down.
She slowed down and stopped, looking around in panic. I tapped her neck and leaned down to kiss the side of her neck.
“It’s okay, baby girl, it’s okay” I whispered to her. I turned to Oriol, “You’re such a douche, Ori! You scared the hell out of her!” I pouted and leaned down more, so my arms could wrap around her thick neck. Oriol just laughed and smirked at me.
“Well, now at least she’s awake” he chuckled. I stuck my tongue out in his direction.

I stayed during the afternoon aswell, helping out where I could and going for walks with Stella. I just came out of the toilet and headed Stella’s paddock again when I ran into Ruben.
“Hi” I greeted him.
“Hey, long time no see” he said quietly.
“Yeah… what brings you here?” I asked.
“I-I was looking for you” I raised my eyebrows.
“Are you trying to send me to a mental place again?” I said condly.
“No, no. I hmm...I wanted to apologize” he cleared his throat.
“For what?” I raised an eyebrow. I wanted to hear what he was actually sorry about.
“For being such an dick to you and trying to send you to a mental institution” he looked at his shoes. He opened his mouth to say something but I cut him off before he spoke.
As much as I liked acting tough in these situation, I gave in. Poor boy, it's been almost a month since we last saw each other.
“It’s fine, Ruben” he looked up a me, “I missed you anyways” I hugged him. He seemed hesitant at first, but hugged me back, “Don’t worry, my ribs are okay now” I chuckled and his embrace tightened.
“I missed you too, bestie” he kissed my head and I saw him smile a bit. I pulled away first, “By the way, I heard you’ve been breaking hearts around here” he chuckled.
“Who said that to you?” I asked him with a smile.
“Every male staff in here” he said flatly, I raised an eyebrow, confused. “Apparently, Marcus and some other young instructors have a slight crush on you, miss” he smirked.
“They know I’m taken, right?” I smiled at the though of Jack.
“Yeah, that’s why they say you’re such a heart breaker” he grinned.
“Not in purpose!” I defended myself.
“I know that, bestie” he gave me a short hug and then he smirked playfully like a teenager.
“What?” I turned around to see if anyone I knew was around.
“Nothing, I was just wondering when are you going to present me your boyfriend?” he inquired. Here comes big-brother Ruben.
“When he comes back from tour, probably” I shrugged.
“Are you really gonna wait that long?” he raised an eyebrow, he knew me the best.
“What are you trying to say?” I closed my eyelids slightly.
He wiggled his eyebrows and smirked.

Notes

I wrote this super fast because it's basically a small filler chapter.
By the way, I just started to read this Alex/OC fanfiction which I think is very cool and I'm sharing it with you, in case anyone's interested. Link.

Title credit: Homewrecker by Marina and The Diamonds.