Carefully setting down the last hoof, Clarissa patted Dumpling's rump as she passed behind him and hung the hoof pick on its hook. Dumpling stood patiently, eyes half closed, ears flickering to each noise on the quiet summer's day. After giving him a hug and a carrot, she led him out to his field and set him loose. Watching him amble to a shaded grassy spot, her mind wandered back to her boyfriend dumping her earlier that week.

It annoyed her, but it hadn't hurt. She hadn't really loved him, and they were still going to stay "friends," but she was pissed he was willing to cast her off that quickly. With a sigh she latched the gate and headed back up to the barn just as a truck and trailer pulled into the driveway. Interest peeked, she followed the barn owner to greet the new arrivals. Lingering just behind, she watched as they led a white horse from the trailer and let her get her bearings.

While the horse looked around, breathing in the new air, a motion in the truck caught Clarissa's attention. As the door opened, a girl her age stuck her head out.

"Hi."

"Hey."

Since it seemed the other girl wasn't getting out of the truck, Clarissa moved a little closer, "Is that your horse?"

Immediately she noticed the other girl, who had straight black hair and shocking blue eyes, had her leg wrapped in an air cast, "Yeah. I don't want to spook her with my crutches since she's already freaked out enough."

Clarissa nodded, glancing back to the mare who was nibbling suspiciously at some grass, then looked back to the girl, "My name's Clarissa, you going to be keeping her here?"

The other girl laughed and Clarissa could feel her cheeks flushing red.

"Nice to meet you, my name's Sam. And yeah, we just moved here and this seems like a nice place, close enough I can ride my bike here at least."

"Yeah, that's always nice. I always had to depend on my parents until I got my license. So what's her name?" she motioned to the mare that the barn owner was now leading into the barn.

"Daisy. Do you have a horse?"

"No, I just ride whoever James needs ridden, though my current project is Dumpling."

"Dumpling? He sounds adorable."

"Oh, he is. But he got his name because he likes dumping people."

Sam laughed so hard she nearly kicked the seat with her leg. Clarissa couldn't help but smile at how much laughter she seemed to have in her.

"I'm sorry," Sam said as she finally stopped laughing, "horses dumping riders isn't funny, but that is a great name. It tells all and yet is completely misleading."

Clarissa nodded in agreement. She was going to like Sam.

They hit it off at once. Sam, whose full name was Samona, was fun to be around, and yet she was always serious when it came to riding. Clarissa was glad to finally have someone her age to ride out on trails with, and the more time they spent at the barn, the more time they spent outside the barn.

Outside of school, since they attended different high schools, they were always together. Clarissa, who never considered herself a girly girl, found herself gossiping with Sam, and even allowed her to put on Clarissa's make up for a dance.

"I don't look half bad."

"I told you."

Clarissa paused as Bering Straight's "I Could Use a Hero" came on and began singing along, "I could use a sunrise, I could use a rainbow, someone on a white horse, I could use a hero. I could use an angel to guard against the shadows. I could use a strong heart, I could use a hero."

Sam just watched, a thoughtful look in her eyes.

Clarissa finished singing, flicked off the radio, and teased her hair unenthusiastically, "Well, that was depressing."

"What? You sing so well."

"I know," she sat down on her bed, "But I'm all dressed up and have no date to appreciate it."

"Well, I appreciate it."

"Yeah, well, you're the one to take credit for it."

Sam opened her mouth as if she was about to say something, then turned and popped a mint in her mouth instead. She busied herself with putting away her make up while Clarissa added the last bits of jewelry, humming the song softly to herself.

After Sam latched her make up case, she sat on the bed beside Clarissa, "You could take me as your date."

"In your jeans?"

"Well, no, I'm just saying," she paused, for a deep breath. When she exhaled, Clarissa could smell the mint on her breath, "I have a white horse."

Clarissa didn't say anything, and Sam didn't move. She just watched Clarissa with steady blue eyes. Then a little smile curled Clarissa's lips, and she leaned over, and ever so softly, they kissed.

And in the end, she had a date, but didn't go to the dance anyways.