Some Dinner and Collections

[DJ]

Hope tugged the glass-paned door open and walked into her contemporary-styled home.

She invited Micheal in and closed the door behind her, blocking the chilly breeze in the air under the dark sky illuminated by bright stars. She sat down on the wooden bench and unzipped her well-loved field boots. She slid them off over her feet, and the leather still resembling the shape of her leg, she tucked them out of the way.

She stepped off of the cool tile onto the heated, polished, wooden floor of the kitchen area. She opened the fridge, flipped through the freezer, and searched through the cabinets. "Suggestions?" she asked Micheal wondering if she had any preferences. Hope had many things, and was sure she could cook the offered suggestion, but had no idea what she wanted to make or what Micheal did or didn't like.

[Bree]

Micheal quickly followed Hope into the house. Its contemporary style was well decorated and she couldn't help but look around as she took off her riding boots. The soft leather glided off her feet and she let out a breath when she felt the cool air, although she was wearing socks, swarm around her feet. She neatly arranged them by the door ready for her next adventure. A shiver ran up her back, she loved mixing styles together and this was a perfect blend. It made her realize how much she wanted her own space.
"You have a gorgeous home, Hope."
She smiled sweetly and walked over to the opening of the kitchen. As she watched Hope rummage around her kitchen she played with the curls of hair that came out of her tight ponytail.
"I'll eat basically anything unless its veal or venison. They make me sick. But I can just have tea, sometimes that's all I have for dinner."
She switched her weight from one leg to the other.
"Do you need some help?"

[DJ]

"Thank you!" Hope grinned, glad someone else liked her house. "Nice and clean because I'm never in it enough to make it messy." She chuckled and took some chicken from the fridge.

"I think I'm just going to throw together a soupy stew. There won't be many dishes for Jared to do and it won't take too long to make. And sure, I'd love some help." She handed Micheal some peppers and a cutting board she pulled for a wooden holder on the counter. She flipped the switch at the end of the counter, turning on the lights under the cabinets, illuminating the counter.

She handed her a large silver knife with a black rubber handle and pulled up the trash basket before opening the chicken and slicing it into bite-sized chunks. She poured some chicken broth into a pot and added some herbs, flavoring it.

She asked a question while she sliced other vegetables. "You can probably ride Paladin after a farrier trim or two. As soon as he can walk comfortably. But you should certainly do some ground work and work with him. He'll be a great horse." She smiled and peaked at the broth, waiting for it to boil.

[Bree]

"Soup is very good."
Micheal said slipping into the kitchen and after washing her hands she began to slice the food that Hope had given her.
"Ground work definitely, but I don't want to ride him while he's tender."
She thoughtfully looked at the knife chopping.
"He needs some pounds on him before I can even put a saddle on him."
She didn't even know if he was broke yet. If not she planned on using Monty Roberts' techniques.

[DJ]

Hope nodded. "And with the proper nutrients, it'll be easy to get weight on him and it won't take too long." Hope smiled and slipped the pre-cooked chicken into the boiling stock.

She dumped in the veggies into the mixture as well and covered the pot, allowing it it simmer.

"Let's go into the living room." She led Micheal into the carpeted room with large windows and sunk into a large couch.

"So," she paused, not sure what else to talk about now that they'd gone over showing and the new horse. She looked around at her paintings and photographs on the wall, hoping Micheal would this of something to say.

The silence wasn't uncomfortable like usual, just confusion.

[Bree]

Micheal sighed as she slumped into the comfy couch. She stared around at the walls that were covered in various horse pictures. The smell of the soup started to permeate the room.
"I'm thinking that Paladin probably won't be ready for showing by the time the first team show comes around. So I was thinking I could use another horse until he's ready? Whichever one you would think appropriate."
She drew invisible horses and various horse items on the couch with her finger.

[DJ]

Hope bobbed her head slowly. "I think using another horse would be great. But will you have enough time to manage? I really think it's a great idea, I just don't want you to abandon Pie. And I'm sure that's not the correct word, "abandon" and I'm sure you'll still spend time with her, but will it be enough? Three horses are a lot to manage. Especially when one is in rehab and the other is a show horse needing practice and work." She smiled, trying to comfort Micheal, because it really was a great idea, but she wanted to make sure Micheal knew what she was getting into.

She looked around the room again as Micheal seemed to be thinking of an answer. She took a deep breath inhaling the aroma of the soup in the other room, continuing to cook.

[Bree]

Micheal frowned and bit her lip. If only she was closer. She could work in the outside arenas in the daytime and the indoor in the nighttime. She looked at the ceiling and the floor respectively while she thought. Paladin wouldn't need to be worked until he got some weight on him and got a clean bill of health. But after then he would need ridden also along with the other horses.
"I'll be turning eighteen in a few months. Then I'll be able to get my own apartment close to the stable. I already have credit so that won't be a problem. Until then I will only have to work two horses. Hopefully, I'll have an apartment before Paladin needs to be ridden. That way I'll be closer. I won't have much 'me' time but it won't be for very long I hope."
Micheal tossed different ideas in her head. Some were thrown aside as soon as they came up others where thought farther on. She rocked her leg in time with her thinking wrinkling her forehead when she thought of something else.

[DJ]

Hope bit her lip thoughtfully, a bit nervous. She coughed lightly before speaking. "It's your choice. Just throwing the idea out there." She blinked quickly and looked down before continuing. "If you'd ever like to stay in the guest room, summer is coming up, you know. The guest room is free at my house. And you're always welcome here. If you're interested, you can talk to your parents. She looked up back into Micheal's eyes trying to be sincere about it. "It'd make life a lot easier for you. And you could basically live here. Until you're old enough and can afford your own apartment."

Her eyes widened and she smiled half-way, not wanting to look awkward. She knew Micheal would need to think about it, but she was always welcome and Hope wouldn't mind living with her for a while.

And she smelt the soup again and left the couch to check on it.

[Bree]

Micheal was held aghast by the response. First the team and now this? She stared at her fingernails that begged to be gnawed. Regaining her composure she looked just below Hope's eyes.
"Thank you, but I wouldn't want to intrude especially on you and your husband. I just don't think it would be appropriate. Thank you though."
She smiled and nodded after licking her lips. Hope was too sweet to offer her home she wouldn't feel comfortable at all.
"Besides my birthday is before summer break so I'll have an apartment by then."
Micheal followed Hope into the kitchen.

[DJ]

Hope nodded, understanding. "Boyfriend," she commented lightly, laughing for a breath or two. "I don't think either of us are quite ready for that commitment."

Hope lifted the cover of the pot away from her and steam poured upward wafting a hearty-smelling soup. She clicked off the knob, extinguishing the small blue fire. She opened the cupboard, removing two large bowls and placing them on the counter. She ladled Micheal a large bowlful, filling one for herself also and opened a drawer pulling out two spoons. She carried the hot bowl to the island in the kitchen and pulled two bar stools out from under the counter.

"Want a drink?" she asked before sitting down, heading to the fridge.

[Bree]

"Oh, I'm sorry, I just assumed.."
Micheal stopped and nodded her cheeks heating up. Foot meet mouth." When Hope placed her the bowl on the island the smell waifed thick up to her nose.
"It looks and smells delicious."
She commented moving it around with her spoon, studying the contents. Tempted to take a bit she set her spoon down waiting for Hope.
"Bottled water if you have it, tea otherwise."
Looking around the house again she studied out the large windows.

[DJ]

"It's alright." She smiled and didn't care because it happened all of the time. Neither of them minded because it happened so often, and it made Hope think about future years when maybe they would get married. She brushed it out of her mind when Micheal's answer interrupted her thoughts.

"Sure." She opened the fridge and bent down to get two bottles from the bottom shelf of the door. She stood back up and strode back over to the counter, sitting on a bar stool next to Micheal.

She spooned a mouthful-sized amount of soup, but blew on the spoon lightly, trying to cool the hot liquid.

[Bree]

Micheal smiled at Hope and nodded when she handed her the bottle. The outside of it dripped with sweat from being taken out of the fridge. She wanted to hurry and eat to get back to Paladin but sufficiently waited for the soup to cool. Blinking as the steaming liquid cascaded down her throat. She took a big gulp of the water to cool her throat down.
"Hot."
She breathed laughing it off. Eating had always been easy for Micheal. One didn't have to talk to the person with them. But now Hope didn't really make her shy. It wasn't much of a bother now. She took long bites of soup when it had cooled finishing it up quickly.

[DJ]

Hope finished her soup quickly, after the liquid cooled, and it was delicious! She took the last swig of water and stepped down from the bar stool, placing the bowl in the sink and bottle in a garbage container, able to be recycled.

"All right." Hope led Micheal upstairs to her comfortable-sized bedroom, and opened the chest at the end of her queen-sized bed. She pulled out three layers of blankets, laying them on the bed. She then moved her socked feet across the plush carpet to a large dresser and opened a drawer, pulling out a pair of baggy, light teal pants, covered in black and white horses. She dug through the drawer and found a pair of pink pants, also covered in horses, but these were brown equines.

She pulled open another drawer, stealing two shirts from the top, also with a horse design on both. "There," she nodded, "What else?"