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!.
Despite her best efforts, Eva Garnet found herself falling in with some of her old crowd prior to adoption and juvie. She tried hard to draw lines in the sand though to her credit. The loss of Nash to his family drama had hit her hard in combination with running back into Ripley. It was a weird feeling, trying to straddle the line between her old life, Ripley and company, and her new life, the Garnets and Tanner. Maybe it was stupid of her, sometimes Eva just didn't think she deserved their kindness.
Her friends cheered her on though as she zipped down high street on her cruiser skateboard though, as they biked or ran along. They dodged around the middle and rich class, likely disturbing the peace as their wheels and feet pounded the pavement and cobblestone. A grin rested on Eva's face now, shifting her weight to add just a little more speed. There was hooting and hollering. Ripley yelled something, catching her attention.
Unfortunately, with her hazel eyes looking away, the young woman didn't catch the door of a shop opening, and she slammed full force into it. Eva bounced off, her board flying as she hit the ground. Her brain felt rattled in her skull, as her friends darted in all directions now in a panic, but none of them came to her aid. Per usual, Eva was suddenly alone. Stars were flashing all over as she sat up, Ripley hanging like a shadow yet not coming over to her aid, laughing now with friends as she sat there stupidly.
Hazel eyes glanced up, and her stomach dropped when she saw the hulking figure of Elliot Scott stared at her. No wonder it felt like a train had hit her if he had been on the other side of that door when it pushed open into her way. Even more so did Eva panic where she realized who's door she crashed into and even worse, there was evidence of just who she was hanging out with, "You don't have-" But he disappeared, and Eva heard a name being yelled out: Tanner.
“I’m not saying that everything is survivable. Just that everything except the last thing is.” - John Green
“Good morning, my sweet Evee girl.” A sweet and sing song voice broke through Eva's morning stupor. Hazel eyes lifted from the steaming hot mug of coffee to see her adoptive mother walk in - almost looking picture perfect if it hadn't been for the most minor of sleep lines under her eyes. The teenager didn't know how Jessie Lipe-Garnet did it unless her late parents had programed Disney princess genes into her via a real Matrix machine. Eva offered her a smile though, "Morning...did you even party last night?" she joked, finally lifting her mug to her lips and carefully taking a sip. Truth be told, Eva hadn't been paying much attention to her adoptive mother last night, she had been more preoccupied with hanging out with her friends.
In the near distance beyond the walls, she heard the shuffling of steps now. Guess we're all awake now, she thought to herself. Sure enough, no sooner than the thought hit her - in came Brandon. Unlike their mother, he looked a little worse for wear yet he had made it into his sleep wear, "Morning." Eva offered now, hazel eyes watching him move towards the cupboard to grab himself a mug, "I managed to make fresh coffee on Jessie's fancy machine." Come to think of it, she had lost track of both of them last night when she was having fun with Nash and Tanner, "You seem awfully cheery."
“I’m not saying that everything is survivable. Just that everything except the last thing is.” - John Green
Eva merely rolled her eyes at her older brother's comments over her squeal - figures he would comment on the rare occasion she'd shed her tough girl exterior, "What? They're fat, cuddle-y, and adorable. I'm allowed to squeal." With that, she turned her attention back to them rolling around and investigating their frozen treats. Behind her, the teenager could hear the two adults talk amongst themselves but it was mainly about the pandas. How boring. While Eva loved pandas, she didn't need all of the scientific explanations that went along with them. She had thought Brandon and Lilith liked each other, like...like like. But, if all what they could discuss was pandas, then maybe she was wrong - she doubted that pandas and where they came from were somehow a turn on conversation.
But their time with the pandas were coming to an end, there were now smoothies involved. Hazel eyes took one last look at them before she followed after the two adults now, "Swirl is fine if strawberry is involved." Eva replied, feeling a bit deflated on being difficult. No matter what she had done so far, Lilith Thompson had been one step ahead of her - which was both impressive and admirable, but also insanely annoying. Then again, given their conversations at the Panda Exhibit, maybe Eva herself had been over-reactive to the idea of the older woman being a threat. She gave thought to Brandon's question, shrugging, "I don't know, maybe big cats...or naked mole rats."
“I’m not saying that everything is survivable. Just that everything except the last thing is.” - John Green
Eva just waved her brother off - literally, when he mentioned the words 'teen drama'. He didn't know what he was talking about - neither one of them were teenagers, she and Izzy were practically adults. Surely, they could handle talking about coffee together without knocking heads. Well. Maybe. Eva knew she didn't do well with stubborn people, given the teenager herself was stubborn, but hey, anything could happen. Besides, she rather talk about firefighters than Izzy Flores. A snicker escaped her over the thought of grown ass men being annoyed over french press coffee, "Is that so? I may have to pay you a visit at work to witness this."
She leaned back a bit now, as best as she could with the island stool without toppling over, thinking, "Well, maybe we just need to get you some evidence." Granted, Eva wasn't sure if any of her ideas were legal or not, and Brandon sometimes felt like a more sensitive soul than she was. It's not like she wanted to get him in trouble - she'd weighed her options though and see what he said. Besides, the topic shifted just a bit, mainly because she had been stupid enough to mention her friends. Hazel eyes rolled, playfully though as she smiled, "Yes, two boys. Don't worry - I'm not dating either of them." It's not like she'd ever date Nash, but Tanner...well, he was a different story.
Her eyebrow arched at Brandon's comment now, "Did you just say that the best pick up line for you is a traffic accident? Now that - I have to see in action." Truth be told, her brother didn't really seem like a smooth talker, but she hadn't seen him out in the wild with a girl quite yet. Not that she wanted to. A - that was gross and B - Eva didn't quite feel like sharing Brandon's attention quite yet. He did, however, hit her with a freight train of a reaction to dating any of his colleagues. Her jaw tighten as she stared at him, weighing on whether she wanted to light up to him about that illegal comment, but then backed down, "I won't."
Damn. At this rate, she'd be taking her french toast back to her room like a dragon hoarding it's treasure. Her brother had taken over the prepping now, as it was just about ready to get cooked. Hazel eyes watched the toasts get drenched before getting flipped to the pan. Her stomach growled, signalling that with coffee now down, she was ready to eat, "Toasty - not burnt...but close." Her gaze flipped to Brandon now and just shrugged, "I find protein and fat tastier," before countering, "Why do you like maple syrup so much?"
“I’m not saying that everything is survivable. Just that everything except the last thing is.” - John Green
It didn't seem possible, but that smile of Hunter's (now she had a name!) seemed to grow, and still not in a terrible way. Hazel eyes just stared at him, trying hard to not admire. He was no Tanner Scott, but hey, he was cute in his own way. Maybe Eva just thought he was cute because he was cool and clearly not judging her for wanting to try something new. The teenager was never sure with skaters, the ones she knew seemed to give off an air of being too cool for anyone, or they thought she was a tramp of some sorts, "Thanks. I appreciate the judgement free zone, Hunter."
Eva did have to mull over what she wanted to do. There was more to this than she initially thought - it wasn't just about buying the board. Good thing she had saved up her cash from work then, "Probably just commuting and playing around in my neighborhood or my friend's neighborhood. I don't think I want to do any tricks or hang out at the skate park." Wow, that sounded snobby of her, "Uh, not that there's anything wrong with the skate park." Hunter did look vaguely familiar after all, she might have seen him before when just walking on by on her way to another destination, "I just like to figure stuff out on my own...not buying a board obviously, but how to use it."
God, she was really rambling now like some dumb, lovestruck tween. Sighing, she decided to move this along now, waving towards the boards once more and grinned, "Uh, please, show me some before I embarrass myself even more."
“I’m not saying that everything is survivable. Just that everything except the last thing is.” - John Green
Eva wasn't sure why the other girl thought she might be addicted to anything else other than causing trouble. It's not like she knew what Kennedy was up to outside of what she had said - this was her first time, and maybe only time, talking to her. Still, to be a bitch, Eva let the young woman stew in silent curiosity for a bit more before confirming Kennedy's original thought, "To trouble. I bet you like the rush of not getting caught." That was how the teenager herself had been for a while, or maybe she just liked the attention from a certain girl. It was hard to tell, either way, it didn't matter, the past was dead.
She rolled her hazel eyes at the label of 'goody two shoes', but honestly, it was a little on point. From what insight she had of Brandon and Jessie, they were as straight laced as they came. Eva didn't poke them too much about their past though, once she accidently stepped into something personal that caught the ire of her adoptive mother and well, she decided to not cross that line again. It did nothing to dwell her curiosity, but the teenager knew from her own personality, finding out answers just meant a waiting game, "Yeah. It's nice. I feel...safe." Maybe too safe, but she didn't feel like sharing that detail with Kennedy who seemed to be watching her like a hawk for weakness. An eyebrow arched at the next question, before Eva relented, "No...I guess I don't kiss and tell either." Although if someone tried to fuck her over, all bets were off.
This talk about her brother made her wish her food was here now, mainly so she could shove it into her face to keep herself from being snappish. Eva didn't like Brandon getting attention. It was selfish, yes, but was it so wrong to be protective of a family she had just gotten a little over six months ago? Maybe it was, "I don't know. He's talking to some lady apparently." Fucking Lilith. Eva was still annoyed how impervious that woman had been to her sass and maneuvered around her every move at the Zoo a few days ago. While they weren't dating, the teenager had felt the vibes that seem to come off of Brandon and Lilith when they were with each other, though she doubted that either adult was smart enough to realize it yet.
"I mean...she is my mom. She's not hired help," Eva replied to the idea of having someone there to cook for her - technically, Brandon did also, but she wasn't going to give Kennedy any more ideas of a desire to poach the 'old man'. As for herself, the teenager merely shrugged, "I help. I can cook for myself - but its more basic stuff verses like, fancy." Everything Jessie seemed to make looked like it belonged on the table of a restaurant. And Brandon knew how to make a mean french toast. She arched an eyebrow, "Made you come here? Were you going to skip otherwise?" Not that Eva knew how to ride a horse, she stuck to the ground at the Sale Yard, but she had seen others ride to test the new horses outa nd it certainly looked exhausting.
A ladder? Damn, how high was this girl's house? Sucks to be the guy or girl dating her. Eva wasn't going to pry any more, given that she hardly cared. But then Kennedy was poking her now again, and the teenager merely cocked her head, staring at her. After a moment, she relented, "Yeah. I guess I have experience in sneaking around. I am a teenager after all." It was more than that, but fuck if this stranger was getting her full story on day one in Pizza Palace. And as for cheat days, Eva merely shrugged, "I don't diet, so I guess I don't really believe in cheat days or restricting myself. I feel like I would just want more of something if I were cut off from it."
“I’m not saying that everything is survivable. Just that everything except the last thing is.” - John Green
It had been a while since Eva Garnet had woken up in the same clothes she had worn before - in fact, last time she did that, she had a different last time. Sunlight hit her face, causing her face to scrunch. Eva rolled over, burrying her face into what appeared to be a couch pillow, hoping it would block out the annoying rays of light. But it was too late, the damage was done, and after a night of partying, the sun (and whomever had opened up the curtains) decided that it was time for the teenager to wake up. Eva pushed herself up now, hazel eyes staring blearily around, inspecting her surrounds before realizing that she was inside Lavender Creek - her adoptive mother's bed and breakfast, "Well...at least there's no walk of shame to be had." She grumbled.
Sitting up now, Eva rubbed the sleep from her eyes and blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the lighting of the room. There were still streamers everywhere, glitter on the floor, and no doubt tons of bottles waiting to be shoved into a bag and brought out to the bins. Hopefully Jessie didn't have any clients coming in today, because the clean up after her festive night for family and friends was going to be brutal, "But first...coffee." She untangled her limbs now and pushed herself up, stumbling from the living room and into the kitchen. As far as she could tell, the teenager was the first one up. Her brain was wracking around on the details last night, but it was clear that she possibly had one too many flutes of champagne - considering she was an adult and all.
She remembered Nash and Tanner being there, some of Jessie's friends. A frown sat on her lips - had the bug lady been there? Guess she'd find out sooner or later. Eva made her way to the coffee machine now, staring at it, and realizing that it was a little more fancier than the one at the apartment, "Shit..." no matter, she was an adult, she could figure this out. A few minutes later, the coffee machine staring whirring and the dark liquid was coming out of it now - hazel eyes entranced by its delivery so much that she hadn't realized that one of her family members had stirred awake as well and walked into the kitchen.
“I’m not saying that everything is survivable. Just that everything except the last thing is.” - John Green
The awkward seemed to get a little awkward after sharing her feelings. Eva probably should have known better since neither her nor her brother seemed to handle feelings and emotions very well - that was Jessie's job. She let it go, and just nodded her thanks - if that was even the right feeling - after Brandon's words that he thought they'd be a good fit. Clearly, both of them were ready to move on to easier topics such as Auggie's secret coffee recipe and B Shift at the Fire Department. The teenager merely shrugged, "I feel like adults are weird about their secret recipes...maybe I can ask Izzy if she'll spill her father's secrets." It was doubtful, Izzy Flores didn't strike her as such, but if Brandon wanted her to try and befriend some girls, well, that seemed like the best place to start. The idea of fixing the coffee machine seemed silly to her, "Isn't a drip machine? Can't you just replace it for like 20 £? Or better yet, make B Shift replace it since they broke it?"
Eva wasn't sure what to make of the idea that she and Izzy Flores would get along merely because the both of them were stubborn. That truthfully sounded like a recipe for disaster in any friendship when an argument came up and quite frankly, both girls were the type who were ready to argue. She thought it over as Brandon slowly made the dirty dishes disappear before her, putting an end to the idea that there was secretly a cleaning fairy around the house that ignored her bedroom, "Hmmm? Oh. Well...nobody really. I think I just made some friends though...maybe. I'm not sure. Nash Breckah from school, and then...a Tanner Scott. I think he said he's related to that family that owns the hardware store in town." And of course, neither one of them was a girl, so Eva was a little curious to see what Brandon's reaction might be.
Laughter escaped her when the older man noted that R&R was not the place for him to meet a girl, "Guess I'm not surprised. Maybe you'll meet your future love by rescuing her cat from a tree. Anyways, you can stay single as long as you want." Eva was fine that he didn't have a girlfriend nor appeared to be looking. While she never admit it, given that she had just gotten him and Jessie in her life, Eva would probably get rather jealous of any new additions to their life as a family. Yes, it wasn't fair, but given all the shit she had gone through, was it really that wrong of her to just want this family unit to herself for a little bit? Hazel eyes watched as Brandon made a face over whom she found attractive, and couldn't help but to laugh, "Yeah yeah. I'm sure they're all too old for me." Eva joked now, rolling her eyes, "Got the protective big brother act down already, I see."
She nudged the mixing bowl towards him now, "Nah, you can add your zest." As they were dumped in and then mixed together, the bread pieces came next. It was rather methodical, watching Brandon get to work before announcing that they were finally prepped and ready to go, "Not very British of me, but I like adding peanut butter to my French toast, but only after they're cooked. So you are good to go with frying them. I'm not gonna get in your way. I'm starving now."
“I’m not saying that everything is survivable. Just that everything except the last thing is.” - John Green
She didn't appreciate Brandon's comment to her nor that glare: You think you’d be nicer than that to me. Yes, she owed it to him and Jessie for giving her a new home, a loving home, something that the teenager had never experienced before. But that didn't mean he got off scott free from her attitude, "You're my older brother. You get whatever sass I have." She replied back now - she might have gone on, not caring about the audience, when Lilith Thompson threw her a surprise.
Eva had honestly been surprised when the older woman appeared to call her bluff on the pandas. She had been expecting rejection and hoping to rub it in her face, instead, Lilith was informing her that she was about to get her and Brandon some prime viewing of the adorable black and white bears and the possibility of a smoothie on top of that. Being a typical guy, her brother announced that he was hungry and was willing to treat them, "Um...yeah. I could go for a snack." Her sass already feeling depleted by this turn of events of already being one upped by this mysterious lady. With that, she followed after the two adults now as they made their way to the panda exhibit.
Sure enough, when they arrived - it was a ghost town - at least at this particular landing and it didn't go unnoticed by Eva that they were near a keeper's door. As the keepers appeared with their fruits and vegetables, it did not go unnoticed by her hazel eyes that a furry black and white head appeared out of no where, following by the rest of its body. An uncharacteristic squeal escaped the teenager now as she darted up to the barrier, watching the female panda emerge to investigate. She almost didn't hear Brandon and Lilith talking behind her before they joined, "Oh. What Brandon said...you're not getting new ones?" Guess China was a jerk, "I'm not obsessed with Pandas, but as a basic teenage girl, I cannot deny how adorable they are nor the hilarity of their YouTube videos in the snow." She eyed Lilith besides her now, and managed to say probably the nicest thing over the night so far, "Thanks."
“I’m not saying that everything is survivable. Just that everything except the last thing is.” - John Green
Eva watched the sales associate smile at her - a big, boyish charming smile - the sort of smile that could melt even the coldest of girls. Was he trying to melt her heart also? Maybe not, the young man certainly didn't put up the front that he was trying to flirt with her. Maybe he was secretly just thinking 'oh no, another noob' and hid it behind his smile. Didn't matter though, and at least she had a name to the face: Hunter. He launched into an explanation of the different types of boards, the young woman was beginning to wonder if she was somehow in over her head. After all, she mucked stalls for a living - she didn't know the first thing about skate boards.
"Ah, probably cruiser based off of what you said," she said now, "I don't think I'm looking to do tricks or hang at the skate park. Probably just something to get me too and fro - like visiting my friends over at Oldaker or to keep me out of trouble." Maybe she should also say that it's nice to meet him since he gave her a name, "Also, it's nice to meet you, Hunter. I do appreciate you walking me through all this. Hopefully you don't think I'm some poser or anything."
“I’m not saying that everything is survivable. Just that everything except the last thing is.” - John Green
Eva couldn't help but to frown - she wasn't sure if she liked where this was going. All the things that this young woman was talking about - well, they were exactly the things that Eva used to do on a daily basis. It felt like a snap shot of her life before Juvie, before meeting Jessie and Brandon. All of this was odd, given that before she had gotten caught, she probably would have eaten girls like Kennedy Pietrangleo for breakfast. "Sounds like you have an addiction problem," Eva commented now, hazel eyes watching her, gauging her, "As for my family, I think I like them a little too much to do stuff behind their back." After all, the Garnets had taken a chance on her, and Eva finally was beginning to feel like she could be unguarded around them.
Of course Kennedy wasn't 'the sort of girl who kisses and tells'. Eva didn't bother holding back her eyeroll this time, "Of course you aren't." It didn't keep her from wondering which members of the opposite sex from Hickstead hung out with the likes of the brunette across from her - it was tempting to ask, but Eva didn't want to play her cards on potential crushes yet - not when the conversation was steering towards her brother. Speaking of Brandon, "I don't know, he's like 30." Maybe she should say he has a gimp or something. Although she was distracted by Kennedy informing her that her parents didn't cook, "A personal chef?" No wonder the other girl was afraid of pizza, "Well, that sounds fancy. I'm a little confused why you're here then." Eating with pleebs like herself who earned their money from mucking horse stalls all day in sweat and dirt.
Eva wasn't sure if her adoptive mother had her and Brandon on a 'health' kick per say, she just liked to cook. But it wasn't worth getting into, "Ah, I see. News year resolutions then." The teenager arched an eyebrow when Kennedy complained about how all of her suitors couldn't come to the front door, "That's what windows and ivy vines are for," Eva replied now, "And sheer determination, of course." She was fairly certain she could speak from experience given that she had done her own fair share of sneaking into homes - and tried to get Nash out of his house that way without his older brothers or dad finding out. The water nodded and left, and once they were out of ear shot, Eva finally said, "You shock me. I was convinced you were getting a salad instead of a controversial pizza."
“I’m not saying that everything is survivable. Just that everything except the last thing is.” - John Green
Eva had been hoping that she had been wrong some how, even though she knew she wasn't. But it was only a matter of seconds before she was proven right. Hazel eyes watched as the girl before her stopped dead in her tracks, a sort of rigidness taking ahold of her body, before she slowly turned around to face her. The teenager could feel her breath hitch and stop as her eyes met Ripley's own hazel eyes. Eva had always been jealous of the other girl's eyes, mainly because they seemed to skew green whereas her own went towards brown. Her lips twisted a little bit, now that she had gotten past the shock of seeing a figurative ghost. Apparently though, Eva Garnet hadn't been the only one in shock: "Eva? When did you get out?"
A laugh escaped her - hard, cold, the kind of laugh that Eva hadn't expected she still had in herself still, "What? Didn't think you'd see me again?" she asked now, releasing her clenched fists so that she could now fold her arms over her chest, hips cocking to the side, a challenging pose. It was hard to deal with the jumble of emotions inside of her heart, they conflicted with her brain given it was full of anger. Still though, Ripley deserved an answer and not just heated talk, "I got out in January, not that you care. It's not like you visited me while I was away," Eva felt her brow furrow, "You know...I thought we were friends."
“I’m not saying that everything is survivable. Just that everything except the last thing is.” - John Green
