AN: I know this plot is overdone but I wanted to write this to get out of my moody mood. Takes place at the bonfire. Sorry it's short and not very good but please review? And maybe visit my poll?

Disclaimer: I am the Queen of England. And I own Phantom Stallion. Psh. I wish.

Holy crap. Jake Ely is holding my hand. AND he saved me a piece of pie. I wonder if he's feeling okay….?

"Brat! Why are you touching my head?" he asked, jerking away from my searching hand.

"Hold still! I'm-just-trying-to-see-if-you're-sick!" I managed to mutter while trying to get a feel for if he had a fever or not. "Huh. Nothing." He just stared at me then with a questioning look on his face. I stared right back innocently. "What?"

He was the first to look away for once. Victory! With added cheer, my hand was still entwined with his. Double victory! We went and got our pie and journeyed over to where the others were. Jen looked pointedly at our hands and then locked eyes with me, silently conveying that she would get ALL the details later. Oddly enough, she also had a small victory light of her own shining in her eyes, as if she new something. Huh.

We spent the rest of the night laughing and singing songs around the fire. Surrounded by the people I loved the most, I couldn't imagine that things could get even better. Amazingly I was wrong.

Slowly, people started packing up and leaving as the night went on. Jen came up and gave me a hug before she left with her parents. "Call me later. I want to know what happens. Got it?" she whispered in my ear.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said slyly.

"Ha-ha. Sure you don't. When I say all, I mean ALL. Don't make me hunt you down either! I don't think a certain Ely would like that." At that, I blushed and found Jake helping Gram put food away. He managed to look up at just that instant and grant me with a small smile. I blushed even harder, thankful for the dark.

"Fine, fine. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

"Deal."

All of the Elys, except Jake, loaded into their vehicles shouting loud goodnights to the rest of us. The cowboys went back to their bunker and Dad, Brynna, Gram, and Cody went back inside. Only Jake and I were left.

"So... Do, uh, you want to go down to the river?" Jake asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

I smiled at his small gesture of embarrassment. "Sure." We walked slowly, almost close enough to touch. Reaching the river, we lay down on the bank and looked up at the stars in quiet contentment. I almost fell to sleep it was so peaceful, when I heard my name.

"Yeah Jake?"

"Well… You know I'm going to college soon…" My heart broke a little when I remembered he was leaving me soon. I couldn't help the tears that rose to the surface. "Sam? Why are you crying? What did I say?"

"I'm fine Jake. Just got a little dirt in my eye is all. Keep going."

"Okay… See here, the thing is… IthinkIloveyou." My heart stopped at those words I thought I heard. "Say that again, I didn't really hear you."

"Sam, you're so full of life, and love, and beauty. I want to be a part of that, if you'll let me. Will… Will you be my… girlfriend?" I turned my head to look into his mustang eyes. I knew plain as day that he was putting himself out there, just for me. And then I knew what I had to do. How I had to tell him.

I took a deep breath and got to my knees. I watched his face fall when I didn't answer right away. And then? Well then, I tackled him.

I guess I had a little more power than I thought because I knocked the breath right out of him. Whoops. But now's not the time to think about that. "Jacob Ely. You are the single most infuriating person on this planet. But you are also my best friend. Now, kiss me already damnit."

Oh boy, did he ever.