Lessons (David/Open)

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Alex walked to the riding stables for her weekly horseback riding lessons with David. Her favorite horse there was Flame, the bronze stallion. He was easy to ride and always won first place in equestrian shows. Alex walked through the stable gates and walked right up to the check in desk. "Hi. I'm Alex, and I'm here for my weekly lessons with David Nolan." The clerk nodded and let her walk through to where her lessons were being held. Then, she saw David. "Hello, David. I'm here for my fourth lesson. How's your week been?"

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Flame stood silent and still between cross ropes as David groomed the horse. It was a beautiful and gentle mannered animal. He was waiting for his next student and thinking to himself. Once the horse was brushed, David took the saddle pads and saddle. He adjusted everything on to the horses back. That was when he heard the voice speaking to him. David turned slightly with a smile. "Hello." He took her. "My week is like any other. Yours?" He went back to the horse.

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Alex smiled as she watched David groom Flame. "Okay. I got a few more customers at my shop. Miss Blanchard stopped by and bought a few pieces. Are you still with Kathryn? Or is that relationship done with?"

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"Okay. I got a few more customers at my shop. Miss Blanchard stopped by and bought a few pieces." She told him and David nodded as he worked. "Are you still with Katherine? Or is that relationship done with?" He had reached for the bridle and now paused. His eyes narrowed only slightly before he spoke. "I hardly think that is any of your business." He told her though his tone was not unkind. He just did not feel comfortable talking about such things. David got the bridle on and then unhooked the horse and began leading the animal to the mounting block. "Time for your lesson." He told her now.

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Alex listened to David and did as she was told. "I just thought I'd ask, since Kathryn isn't around much anymore. You know, I was really close friends with her. I was just curious if you two were still--" She paused for a long moment. "Sorry. So, what are we learning in today's lesson?" Alex now felt a bit guilty that she had brought that up. She loved Kathryn with all of her heart and she liked how she was with David. But, since the accident, they hadn't been speaking and Kathryn wasn't really around to tell the story. When Alex was little, her father would go out and party with his friends at the nearby bar. He'd always leave Kathryn with her to babysit. Kathryn was Alex's absolute favorite babysitter, and so, that's when they became pretty close. Then, she married David, and Alex started taking lessons at the stables.

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David heard her try to explain himself but he did not bother to reply. He was still confused about how he felt about Kathryn and Mary. He really did not need anyone else asking him questions about it. When she asked about riding, David spoke again. She had already learned the basics, Mounting, dismounting, walk and canter.

"Today we are going to take things a little further." Once he got her up and into the saddle, David let the horse into the outside riding ring. He had set up a number of low jumps in a large circle. "We are going to try jumping now." He finished.

David hooked up a long lead to the bridle of the horse and then handed her the reins. She would have control of the horse. David would just make sure things did not get carried away. He moved to the center of the ring and waited for her to begin.

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Jumping. The thing Alex feared most. Jumping fences was the hardest thing to do in horseback riding. "Jumping? I'm a little afraid of jumping fences. Is it safe enough? I cannot get hurt. It'll affect my art business..." She had a little shake in her voice. One could tell that she was really scared.

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David looked up at the girl. He had to remind himself that she was of course young. "It's is not dangerous as long as you do as I tell you." He replied now. "When the horse goes over the jump, lean forward and along his neck slightly. Keep your heels pointed down and do not panic." He doubted that she would take the initiative to begin on his own. Not with this. With his long riding crop, he nudged the horse and the horse started forward moving slowly into a trot. Before long, it was approaching the first jump. Each jump was only about two feet from the ground. Just high enough for the horse to need to leave the ground.

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Alex listened to his words patiently, still panicking a bit. She made the first jump, doing exactly what David had told her. After the first jump, she didn't feel scared anymore, and she jumped at least 3 more small fences. "David, this isn't so bad. It's actually kind of fun. I'm not scared anymore." She paused and a thought came to her mind. "David, when is the next equestrian show? Cause I want to participate in it!"

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David watched silently. The lead ensured that the horse would move in a circle taking each jump as it came to them. She was doing fairly well. David could see when her fear began to fade. She began to move more comfortably in the saddle and to flex along with the horse. The horse of course was loving this. It was a chance for the animal to stretch it's legs. "David, this isn't so bad. It's actually kind of fun. I'm not scared anymore." Alex told him and David gave a soft smile.

"Good." He told her. "I knew you would be fine." He moved the horse with the lead and crop now to move further into the ring so that it was just a straight trot with no jumps. He wanted to watch Alex's form to see if she remembered their last lesson. "David," She said again and he answered with a "hmm?" "when is the next equestrian show? Cause I want to participate in it!" She continued. David chuckled. "Wanting to show off now are we?" He asked. "About a month. You still need some more work first."

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Alex really wanted to be in the next show. She had been working so hard on these lessons. "Okay. But do you think I'll be ready by then?! I really really really really really really want to be in it! I could win a blue ribbon, like Flame always does!" She said smiling. She got off the horse after a while and sat down with David on a small nearby bench. "David, can you keep a secret?" She asked him seriously. She was planning on telling him how she got interested in horseback riding to begin with, but there was a little bit of a secret story that went along with it.

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"Okay. But do you think I'll be ready by then?! I really really really really really really want to be in it! I could win a blue ribbon, like Flame always does!" She said with enough enthusiasm to make David smile. "I think if you work hard you could be ready." He told her.

David watched as she dismounted and moved to sit on a bench against the railing of the bench. He moved to join her after a moment. David watched the horse as she spoke. "David, can you keep a secret?" She asked. He did not look at her. "That depends on what the secret is." He told her. If it was something serious such as a crime or someone hurt, he would not keep it.

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Alex wanted to make sure he wouldn't tell anyone. She didn't want to leave Storybrooke because she loved it there. "Well, you see, I'm an orphan. I don't have a mother and daddy anymore. I've never known my mother, but I know she is still alive, just don't know where she is or what she looks like, or what her name is. And my daddy died three years ago, but I didn't tell anyone. I live off the money I raise from my art store. So, so far, I'm pretty good. But if anything goes wrong, I'm screwed." Alex was very nervous for she did not know how he was going to react to this, but he had to know this.

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David listened to the girl. His eyes were on her face as she spoke. What exactly was he supposed to say to this? Why was she telling him this. "Where did you get the money for the store in the first place? Why don't you go to the Sheriff to find your mother?" David shook his head now. "Why are you telling me this? There is not much I can do for you."

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Alex bit her lower lip and hard as she could until it had stsrted bleeding. She had to continue the truth. "My father had loads of money, so since I'm an artist, I opened an Art Gallery. I already went to the Sheriff, and nothing. But, she is trying. I told you because you are the only one i truly trust with this. The big ordeal is that my father died, and nobody else knows this but you and Sheriff Swan. I trust you because you are my favorite person here in Storybrooke. You help me with everything, you're the nicest..." She really did love him. He was like her friend. A close friend, that she'd probably have for a long time.