Chapter Text
Imogen, as she often happened to be, was a bundle of nerves as she rhythmically tapped her pencil against the back of her hand. Spread out in front of her on the library table was her laptop, a dozen freshly printed flyers, and a bag of sour patch kid knock offs that claimed to be a “healthy alternative snack.”
“Imogen!”
Imogen’s head snapped up at the voice. It was her favorite voice, the one that rung out like a bell and simultaneously set her mind at ease and made her heart speed up. She couldn’t help smiling softly as Laudna walked over to her.
“Hey. Got you your gross gummies.” Imogen set the bag of slightly sour candies in front of Laudna as she sat down.
“What would I do without you?” Laudna beamed appreciatively and began to tear the bag open. Imogen wrinkled her nose as Laudna popped one of the watermelon-shaped candies into her mouth, then offered the bag to Imogen. No matter how many times Imogen expressed her distaste for the things, Laudna always asked if Imogen wanted one.
“No, thanks. I don’t know how you eat those. They’ve got no flavor and they stick to your teeth.”
In response Laudna bared her teeth in an exaggerated smile, closing her eyes and leaning closer to Imogen. “Like I said, gross,” Imogen laughed, pushing at Laudna’s shoulder. She ignored the way her heart stuttered when her entirely platonic friend came near.
“What are you up to?” Laudna asked brightly, settling into her seat and fishing out another gummy.
Imogen sighed, the small reprieve from her stress fading away. “Equestrian team stuff.”
“Ooh! Tell me all about it! You know, I’m so proud of you for making this whole thing happen,” Laudna gushed, clearly not sharing Imogen’s current gloom about the topic.
“I–thank you Laudna, you’re sweet–but I’m having a hard time with all this…” Imogen gestured to the table in front of her, “...this paperwork. There’s so much to fill out and there aren’t even a lot of people signing up for tryouts either. I don’t know if it’s gonna work out, Laud.” Imogen picked up one of the flyers advertising tryouts for Jrusar University’s first ever competitive horse show team and ran her finger along the shiny ink.
Laudna furrowed her brow. “That’s ridiculous! Who wouldn’t want to be on your team? How can I help? Are we putting up more flyers?”
“Yeah, I printed out some more, but most people who’ve contacted me were in the club last year anyway,” Imogen said defeatedly.
Imogen had run for Equestrian Club president at the end of her freshman year, winning mostly due to the fact that she was probably the most experienced with horses out of the entire population of their small club. Most members were just on the email list and only a few rode regularly. She didn’t necessarily want to lead the group, but no one else was stepping up.
She was determined that this year the club would be more active, her main goal being to start an equestrian team that would compete together. Aside from Laudna, who she met in an anthropology course last semester, Imogen hadn’t made many friends at college. For Imogen, humans were difficult to deal with. Horses were easier. So the math should be simple. Horses + People to Connect with Through a Mutual Love of Horses = Friendship?
At least that’s what she told herself.
Imogen took a deep breath and steeled herself for what she was about to ask. Her anxiety made it extremely hard to ask anything of others, but this was Laudna. She was the kindest person Imogen had ever met. The exception to the rule of Imogen’s loneliness.
“Hey, Laudna?” Imogen breathed, unable to look in her direction. “I was wondering if maybe you’d be interested in trying out for the team. I know you haven’t ridden before, but they have an intro class, it’s just walk/trot, and we have a really great coach who will help you learn. I’ll help out too, of course, I can give you some extra lessons on Flora, and… I mean, you don’t have to, but it’s just… an idea I had.”
After Imogen trailed off she peeked over at Laudna, who seemed to be contemplating deeply while chewing one of her candies. That was something Imogen loved about her, her honest expressiveness that made it easier to tell what she was thinking or feeling. It reminded her a bit of Flora.
“I don’t know anything about horses…” Laudna said slowly. “I might even be a little afraid of them.” For some reason the thought of being afraid of horses appeared to make Laudna grin excitedly.
“It’s okay, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–” Imogen started to trip on her words in a scramble to backtrack.
“Imogen, that wasn’t me saying no. Of course I’ll do it, if you want me to,” Laudna said matter-of-factly.
“Laudna, you really don’t have to–”
“If it means I get to spend more time with you, how could I not?”
Imogen’s felt her stomach flip and her heart lurch at Laudna’s sincere tone. Here she was, a girl asking her friend for a favor. Here her friend was, saying yes. Maybe it shouldn’t be a big deal, but it felt like it was.