Chapter 17

"Claire , come on we have to go." I heard aunt Vivi yell from downstairs. "Coming!" I yelled back.

I grabbed my stuff from my room then headed downstairs. There I saw my aunt waiting for me at the door, "Come on, get in the car." auntie told me, "Just a sec , let me check on Felix." I said and went to see where Felix is.

I found Felix sitting in the kitchen, so I went to the cabinet and took out the cat food and poured it in in his bowl. I picked Felix and put him in front of the food, "Bye Felix, see you tonight." I said and pet him. He purred then started eating.

I smiled at him then left to the car. I saw that my aunt was already outside so I took my stuff and locked the door behind me when I left.

I sat beside my aunt in the car, "You fed Felix?" auntie asked me, I nodded my head. "Okay then." she said and started driving.

...

Once they reached Ari's house

"Okay Claire, say hi to Ari for me. Also don't forget you are babysitting Bella today, kay?" Aunt Vivi told me. "Yeah auntie I remember ." I said , yesterday after I got home, Alexa texted me and asked me if I can babysit Bella from 1 to 10, she also said that she is going to pay me $25 per hour because I did such a great job last time. I tried to tell her that I would babysit with the same pay as last time. But she wasn't having any of it and told me I will take all of the money because that's what I deserve. After failing to convince her otherwise I agreed.

"Well , see you tonight?" Auntie asked, "See you tonight." I confirmed and kissed her cheek then got out of the car.

Auntie drove off and I walked toward Ari's house door. Her house from the outside is really beautiful and as she said there aren't any houses around except for their's.

I rang the bell and waited for a bit . After a couple of seconds I heard the door open and there stood a middle-aged woman, who I guessed was Ari's mom.

"Hello?" the woman I asked, I realised that she didn't know and started speaking."Hello ma'am , I'm Claire, Ari's friend. ." I said introduced myself.

A smile appeared on the woman face, "Ah yes , she told me about you. Come on in." she said. I stepped inside, "You have a beautiful home , ma'am." I said and that was the truth , her home is really beautiful.

"Oh thank you dear , and please don't call me ma'am my name is Charlotte ." Charlotte said with a warm smile. I nodded my head and gave her a small smile.

"Claire!" I heard Ari's voice from behind me. I turned around and saw Ari , and before I could react I felt myself pulled into a tight hug.

I instantly hugged her back . We parted after a bit, "I'm glad you could come Claire." Ari said, "I'm glad I came." I said. Ari gave me a bright smile "So I see you met my mom." Ari said.

"Yeah , I just met Claire and I can already see why you two are friends." charlotte said, Ari smirked at her mom "Yeah ,Claire and I are the best of friends." Charlotte raised her eyebrows then started laughing , Ari and I also joined in.

"Oh come on girls , I made waffles, come on and eat." Charlotte said, Ari started pulling towards the kitchen but I stood still for a bit then said, "Oh no Charlotte , I ate a bit before I came here."

Ari scoffed then said,"You don't refuse waffles when they are offered, not my mom's waffles . Besides my mom will make you eat them so no use trying to refuse." Charlotte nodded her head, "Yeah that's right, also I made homemade whipped cream so you can't miss out."

I was about to say something but Ari dragged me to kitchen and handed me a plat of waffles. "Now you can't refuse." Ari said with a smile. I sighed and shook my head but took the plate and sat down at the table.

...........

"This so good! Why don't yo make this everyday?!"Bailey, Ari's sister, exclaimed.

Charlotte gave her daughter a deadpan look, "Because not everyday is a weekend. And not everyday do I have extra time.Besides I still make you good breakfast on school days. Isn't that right Ari?"

Ari looked up at her mom with her mouth filled with food , she quickly swallowed and said "Yeah mom you do, but nothing like this!" Ari exclaimed. Charlotte glared at her daughters and mumbled under her breath' so ungrateful , I should stop cooking fro them.'

But well Charlotte wasn't that quiet since we heard it, "Love you mom!" Ari an Bailey said at the same time. Bailey shook her and smiled "Love you too girls."

"Thank you Charlotte this was amazing ." I told Charlotte as I went and put my plate in the sink. "I'm glad you enjoyed it dear." Charlotte said with a smile and I smiled back.

"Claire come on I want to show you something ." Ari said when she put her plate in the sink, I nodded my head" Okay , let's go." I said.

"Hey Ari, where are you taking her. " Charlotte asked . "To the barn ." Ari said with a huge smile on her face.

Charlotte nodded in understanding then said "Okay have fun, but be careful." "I always am." Ari said as she pulled me outside. I heard a vivid scoff and a ' yeah right' .

.......

"Ari slow down." told Ari as she started walking faster. "Come on move quicker." Ari exclaimed . I sighed and moved faster when Ari suddenly stopped in front of a barn .

"Come on." Ari said and opened the doors to the barn. Once she opened the door I saw what looked like a horse stable and nearly 15 horses.

I gasped and started walking inside with Ari right beside me. "Amazing right?" Ari said knowingly . I nodded unable to say anything , "This is my favourite place when I want to be alone." Ari said, "Are all of these your horses?" I asked.

Ari nodded, "Yeah most of them, there are a couple that people just keep them here." she said. I nodded my head.

"Come on I'll show you mine." Ari said and started walking towards the back . I followed her silently while looking at the rest of the horses.

"This Opie my horse." Ari said when we stopped at a brown horse. The horse had a brown coat and mane, it was beautiful. "Come on pet it." Ari said .

I stepped near the horse and put my hand on it's head .It was so soft. "You like horses, don't you?" Ari said, I nodded "We once lived in a place with a lot of horse barns , so I went there in my free time and learnt how to ride." I said remembering the the year I learnt to ride.

Ari's face lit up, "Perfect that means we can ride , Brady" Ari said in a loud voice , "In here!" I heard a man's voice , Ari followed the voice and I followed her. We stopped at a beautiful brown and white horse, inside I saw a mid-twenties man standing and petting the horse.

"Hey Ari, what do you want?" Brady said, "My friend Claire and I would like to ride , can you get Opie ready ? " Ari said, "Sure thing, what about your friend here?" Brady asked, "I don't know?, Claire how good are you at riding?" Ari asked me.

"Good enough to have won second place in a competition for horse riding. " I said, "well okay then you can ride kit kat here. " Brady said . "Okay then we'll be waiting outside ." Ari said and started heading outside .

I followed her, but as we were leaving I noticed a mesmerising black horse , I stopped walking and stood in front of it. I walked closer to the horse and that's when it noticed me, it looked at me as if it is unsure what to do , I noticed a basket of apples near the horse so I took one and tried feeding it to the horse.

The horse sniffed it but then took it from my hand and started eating , I put my hand on it's head and pet it.

"I see you like Onyx." Ari voiced said from behind me , I jumped a little but then turned to her, "His name is Onyx? It's beautiful." I said. "Yeah Onyx is the best horse anyone would want, too bad his owners left him." Ari said in a sad voice.

"They left him, why?" I asked shocked, "They couldn't afford him anymore. We put him up for sale, but if no one buys him the authorities are going to take him." Ari said.

I looked at the horse with sadness on my face, "Come on let's go , Brady is nearly done." Ari said and pulled me outside.