Welcome to Hickstead, home to both Seven Oak Stables, and Blue Acre - two rival stables. Both offer opportunities for their clients to reach the highest level of excellence. Each stable differs from the other, so choose wisely and never forget, loyalty is everything... Meanwhile as the stables battle it out, there's trouble brewing at the university. Be careful, if you don't pick a side you may get caught in the cross-fire...
This is an chilled out rpg with a super friendly and relaxed atmosphere! Remember to sign up with your characters full name in all caps and don't forget to do your claims! Thank you and Welcome, we've been established since 10th March 2009 but unfortunately have had to close guest view of our boards due to multiple sites ripping off our hard work, such a shame! Come chat to us in Discord before joining if you like!.
It was weird how he would get annoyed at his mum at random times before her passing and always wondered why parents had to be so irritating at times. All he longed for were moments just like those. She had been their constant in the home, their safe haven as well as their emotional support and whenever the second youngest had felt frustrated, angry or even sad she was always there to let him get things off his chest. Even if it meant being a snippy teenager.
The small pebbles barely hit the headstone as Nash didn’t put any force behind his lame attempts of throwing the gravel at it as well as the thought of not wanting to damage the slab of stone that had become so important to him. Oh, he wanted to be cross with Tracey Breckah today, wanted to be mad at her for not being here anymore, for leaving them and being the cause of each and everyone’s mess back at the house but he also knew this was the last thing she would’ve ever wanted.
The ground was moist and damp but it didn’t matter, he wanted to sit close to the grave instead of on the bench near the trees. Besides, why would he stare at someone else’s final resting place instead of the one he came for and loved. The one he still needed. The corners of Nash' mouth turned up in a small, sad smile. If mum could still reply to him she probably would’ve told him to stop throwing rocks at her and go do something useful with his day. Figures.
God, it was quiet here, why did cemeteries always have to be so damn quiet? So your thoughts would mess even more with your mind? Nope. He needed some distraction today, needed something to smile about. Nash dug his phone out of his pocket, opened Spotify and scrolled through his lists, ”Want to hear your favourite song, mum?” he asked and pressed play, knowing there wouldn’t be an answer to that question.
Lincoln swung his leg over his bike and pushed his feet down firmly on the peddles, pushing the bike forward as he left his workplace behind. He’d had an early shift at the pizza express which meant he had the rest of the afternoon at his leisure. He’d been trying to stay away from the house as much as he could since his mum had passed, especially with Jace kicking off every five minutes and Derek complaining about the mess. If Link wasn’t there to contribute towards it, it wasn’t his problem. He always got fed at work and late shifts allowed him to take home any leftovers rather than the restaurant throwing it away. Maybe pizza and pasta wasn’t the healthiest diet but he at least tried to garnish some of it with salad and pineapple was a fruit. .he occasionally took home Hawaiian.
With the last of his exams coming up, he’d been spending most of his spare time – when he wasn’t at work or with friends – at the library. He followed his usual route towards it, taking some back roads and cutting through some housing estates until he got to his short cut at the cemetery. He’d convinced himself coming this way was quicker than going along the main road – it wasn’t – but it gave him an excuse to stop by his mum’s grave. It was quiet and peaceful there. He used to think cemeteries were creepy, until his mum passed. Now it was a place he could sit with his own thoughts.
Link rolled his bike to a stop a little ways back from the grave when he noticed someone there. Nash. It had been a while since he’d had a proper conversation with his younger brother, only seeing him in passing at home and briefly in school. He’d taken his mum’s passing hard - as he had, as they all had. Curious as to what he was saying, he stepped off the bike and edged closer to his brother, hearing the sound of music playing, making him smile. ”Mum’s favourite song.” He said softly.
16 - smart ass - hyperactive - high school - single
The cemetery was silent today, way too silent and Nash was glad he was doing something about that. There were days when there were other people visiting the ones they had loved and there were days when there was not a soul to find well, not a living. Then again, who knew, maybe the souls of the ones who had passed actually filled the air around a garden of remembrance. There were spots with thick ledgers, filled with flowers or candles or other memorial items while other graves were obviously untouched with grass and leaves all over them. Nash knew they were never going to let that happen to mum. Ever.
Even now with things strained back at the house, mum was the one thing that still connected them all, the one person who they would all still do anything for even if she wasn’t walking this earth anymore. Nash wiped at the single tear that was forming in his eye, no, he was not going to cry. God, he missed her. The music didn’t help though, instant memories of Tracey Breckah filling his mind and senses. He could still feel her hand on his shoulder or her gentle kiss pressed upon his forehead. Shit.
”Mum’s favourite song.” The familiar voice startled the teen to the point where he almost dropped his phone. Nash turned around, having been too caught up in the quiet beats of the song. ”Link, mate....” he blurted out, in a way glad it was Lincoln and not any of his other older brothers. He had always looked up to the sixteen year old, Link was only a year older than he was but his brother was so much better to engage with than the one above the other boy. Jace. Nash turned back to look at the headstone, ”I was just….yea…” Did he really have to explain himself? No. ”I think she would like it?”
Link’s footsteps paused as his voice startled his younger brother. ”Link, mate....” He lifted his hand in a half-hearted wave as his lips turned into an tigh smile in greeting. Why did he suddenly feel awkward, his brother wasn’t a stranger. He shook off the weird feeling he was experiencing and finished the last few steps to the grave, bending his knees to lower his backside down onto the grass to sit next to Nash. ”I was just….yea… I think she would like it?” He gave his brother a sad smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. ”Yeah I think she would too.” He said, resting a hand on Nash’s shoulder for a moment. He looked back to the grave and pulled his knees up to his chest, resting his chin on them. ”God I miss her so fucking much bro.”
16 - smart ass - hyperactive - high school - single
Link’s wave was a cool one, one he didn’t used to know from the slightly older boy and even his smile was a sad one these days. Before all of this Nash would’ve usually gotten a bump to his shoulder or something similar that would hold a hell of a lot more power than the younger teen always let on. It was brotherly love at its finest but it was gone at the moment and he sure as hell hoped it would return one day because he was completely over this shitfest at home.
His brother sat down next to him and it felt easy, like days of the past, even if they were at the most unthinkable place for anyone to be comfortable. The hand on his shoulder was one he hadn’t expected though and it took every bit of self restraint for him not to burst into tears. Nash wiped at his eyes and took a deep breath. He cleared his throat to make sure his voice wouldn’t break and nodded, not able to express the same words as Link without bawling even though he felt the exact same way.
”It’s not like illegal to play music here, ya think? Did you work? Do you have any leftover pizzas?”
Link closed his eyes and let the music wash over him, allowing the memories he’d refused to think about for the past few months resurface; his mum dancing to this song in the kitchen when she thought nobody was watching, her humming or singing to herself whilst cooking dinner, her soft nightly lullabies that had sent him and his brothers to sleep. He inhaled softly and rubbed a hand across his eyes to remove any tears that threatened to spill before opening them again. ”It’s not like illegal to play music here, ya think? Did you work? Do you have any leftover pizzas?” He breathed out a laugh and shook his head. ”I don’t think so. .only if it’s disrespectfully loud?” He guessed. He shrugged off his backpack with a smile and opened it up to reveal leftover pizza and pasta in some takeaway boxes. ”Have at it.”
16 - smart ass - hyperactive - high school - single
It was pretty hard not to get emotional as the song carried its melody across the burial ground. The music was getting to Link just like it was to Nash while neither boy seemed to want to admit that. It was hard to sit here and Nash couldn’t imagine it ever getting any easier but it was also one of the places he wanted to be at all the time. Just to be close to her. Which apparently he wasn’t alone in.
Nash nodded, Link had a point, maybe music at a cemetery wasn’t a standard thing or something people supported but he had been respectful about it. It wasn’t even about the volume anyways. The backpack came off and Link smiled at him. Oh, how he had missed that goofy smile. Nash returned it as he saw the takeaway boxes but when his gaze met his brother’s the grin faded. ”Right here?” he wondered for a moment as he looked around only to shrug it off. Okay yea, why not. ”Sorry mum,” he said softly as he took out a slice of pizza, almost looking at the headstone for a confirmation whether he was allowed to eat here or not.
He took a big bite out of the greasy hump, ”Ohh, this is good stuff, he said with his mouthful and the hint of another grin towards his brother, thankful for small blessings. ”Not as good as mum’s food though, sorry dude” Though the pizza was absolutely amazing, it didn’t come close to mum’s cooking. Dad’s certainly left room for improvement so this was definitely a taste of heaven since the left overs he got from the fridge at night were just bits to satisfy his hunger. ”just to warn you,” the words barely audible in between the chews as Nash ripped another piece of the pizza with his teeth, ”don’t eat the leftover pasta in the fridge. God knows what dad put in there but it’s dodgy as hell” Shit. Maybe ‘hell’ wasn’t the best choice of words right here.
”Right here?” He shrugged as his brothers own grin crept away. ”Yeah? Can take the rest of the stuff back for the others after.” He said, placing the box in between them both. It may have been weird to eat at a cemetery but as long as they cleared up after themselves it wouldn’t be disrespectful, he hoped. Besides, he wasn’t quite ready to leave his mum’s grave just yet and he was starving. ”Sorry mum,” He smiled and nodded to the headstone as he picked up his own slice. ”Ohh, this is good stuff, He bit into his own with a grin. ”I always nab the good stuff.” He said before savouring his own piece. ”Not as good as mum’s food though, sorry dude” He shrugged ”I know, I didn’t make it anyway, no offence here.” He smiled again. ”don’t eat the leftover pasta in the fridge. God knows what dad put in there but it’s dodgy as hell” He snorted, almost choking on the food in his mouth. He forced himself to swallow before answering. ”Maybe I’ll throw it out and replace it with the leftovers I took then.”
16 - smart ass - hyperactive - high school - single
The offer was a nice one but in a way Nash just wished they could stay here forever, having pizza with mum. No leftovers for anyone. Their mother probably wouldn’t agree and would want all of her men here together but they weren’t in that place just yet. Maybe someday? ”You do always nab the good bits” he grinned. This, somehow, here in this graveyard, was one of the best dinners he had had in a while and it was good to have Link with him. ”While chucking out the entire contents of that fridge is the best idea I’ve heard in days, I’m not sure I want to share this with them?” he confessed as he lifted up another piece to savor.
Nash was quiet for a while and looked around the cemetery, the headstones, the flowers, it all came down and love and family down here. That truly was all that mattered in life and the Breckah’s had screwed that one up for sure. ”Do you think home will ever feel like home again, Link?”
