Teardrops on My Guitar

Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won't see
That I want and I'm needing everything that we should be
I'll bet she's beautiful, that girl he talks about
And she's got everything that I have to live without

Samantha Forster slammed her locker door hard after a long and frustrating week of school. She then ran towards her bus, because she was, of course, running late as usual. She made it to her bus just in time. She climbed up the steps and found her best friend, Jen Kenworthy, saving her a seat towards the back of the bus. She sat down next to Jen, and Jen could tell that Sam was in a bad mood.

"Hey Sam, what's up?" said Jen.

Sam didn't feel like talking and shook her head and said "I'll tell you after we get off the bus."

For the rest of the ride Sam was lost in deep thought A few weeks ago, her family had had a New Year's Eve bonfire. At the bonfire her oldest friend, Jake Ely, had held her hand and Sam had realized that she had a crush on him. Although, that didn't really matter much now. Jake had been talking to Sam all week, but it was because of a girl he had asked to the Valentine's Dance at school, and of course the girl had said she would go. Her name was Kate Sanley and she was perfect in every way. She had long, blonde hair and a good figure. Sam had wanted to tell Jake that she liked him, but she didn't have the nerve to do it. Instead every time he talked about Kate Sanley, she pretended to be so happy her him. She would fake a smile every time he started talking, which was unusual for Jake.

Sam came out of her deep thinking about Jake when she realized that the bus had stopped and it was her stop. She and Jen got up and got off the bus. Jen started talking right away.

"So, Sam what's up? What couldn't you tell me on the bus?"

Sam answered "I don't have time to tell you, but do you think your parents would let you go for a ride after you're done with your chores?"

"I think so. This must be pretty important, if you're not telling me right away. I'll call you before, I start out. Where should we meet up?"

"Let's meet up by War Drum Flats."

"Okay, see you later Sam."

"Bye Jen."

With that Jen started walking away from the bus stop, headed towards Harmony Ranch.

Sam started walking towards River Bend, all the while looking for the Phantom. She hadn't seen him lately, but she still believed that she might see him soon. Sam kept walking towards home, when she felt someone watching her. She turned around and saw her horse standing a little ways off.

She couldn't believe that her horse was still alive. She slowly moved towards the Phantom, as if in a trance.

"Hey Zanzibar, how are you boy? I've missed you boy."

The Phantom started coming towards Sam slowly and finally stopped in front of her. Sam stretched her hand out to the Phantom and he sniffed it cautiously. The Phantom didn't seem scared, so Sam started petting him. Then she wrapped her arms around her horse and gave him a hug. She had missed him so much.

"Hey boy, do you think I could ride you today?"

Sam found a rock and stepped on it, that was the Phantom. The Phantom sensed what she was going to do and took a couple of steps back.

"I guess you don't want me riding you, huh boy? That's okay; I have to get home anyway."

The horse started backing away more and Sam said

"I love you Zanzibar."

With that the Phantom galloped away across the river. Sam continued walking the rest of the way home. Once she got home, she went upstairs to change into her work clothes. Before she went outside though, she sat down at the kitchen table and ate the cookies that Gram had set before her.

"How was school today Samantha?" asked Gram.

"It was okay, except for my geometry test. It was really hard, but I think I might have gotten a C on it though."

Gram went back to the stove where she was making supper. Sam thought that she should probably ask her if it was okay if she went for a ride with Jen.

"Gram is it okay if I go for a ride with Jen after I'm done with my chores?"

"It should be, just make sure all of your chores are done."

With that Sam went out and started mucking out the stalls. She kept thinking about how Jake smiled and the way his eyes twinkled when he talked about Kate Sanley. What she wouldn't give for his eyes to twinkle like that when he saw her.

Sam finished mucking out the stalls, and did the rest of her chores. As she went inside the house the phone started ringing. Gram answered it and told Sam that Jen was starting out. Sam nodded showing Gram that she had heard. She grabbed a drink of water and quickly went back outside.

Sam got Ace's tack and then went to the pasture to call him. Once Sam had gotten Ace, she put his gear on and started out for War Drum Flats.

It seemed like in no time that she had arrived at War Drum Flats. Jen wasn't there yet, so Sam just sat and enjoyed looking at the scenery. Sam heard a horse and looked up to find Jen riding Silly.

"Hey Sam, what's going on? You haven't been yourself all week. You have to tell me what's going on; otherwise I'll throw you in the lake."

Sam took a deep breathe and said

"Jake's been talking to me all week about some senior girl named Kate Sanley and it's been getting on my nerves." Sam didn't feel like elaborating yet, so Jen had to guess why that would bother Sam.

"Why should some girl that Jake's been talking about annoy you? The only way that would enjoy me would be if I liked the guy." Jen suddenly put two and two together and looked at Sam. Sam was looking guilty and Jen realized that Sam liked Jake more than as a friend.

"Sam you don't my any chance like Jake than more as a friend, do you?"

Sam didn't answer right away, which gave her away. Sam looked at Jen and found that she was grinning, and her eyes said I knew it.

"I knew it!" Exclaimed Jen.

"Jen don't tell anyone what you just figured out, and please don't make fun of me."

"I wouldn't dream of making fun of you. Personally I don't feel like that towards Jake because he thinks he knows it all, but you two would be perfect together. But you say he's going out with that Kate Sanley girl? I always thought she was a boring, stuck up type of girl. Jake doesn't know what's he's missing by going out with that girl."

Sam smiled at her best friend. It was nice to know that Jen wasn't making fun of her for liking Jake and also for saying those other things.

"Thanks Jen. You always know how to make me feel better. What do I do now, though? I want to be with Jake, but he doesn't know that I like him like that, and he's always talking about that girl."

"I don't know, but we'll think of something. I could beat him up for you. Then maybe he would know and it would be fun."

"Jen don't go beating him up, even though it would be fun for you." Sam could see the disappoint in her friends eyes, because Jen would love to beat up Jake for her for no good reason. "Maybe I could make him jealous, but that never really works does it?"

"We'll think of something Sam. You could tell him how you feel though right now."

"Why would I tell him how I feel about him right now? He's not even here"

"I wouldn't be to sure about that. Look towards the north Sam."

Sam then looked towards the north and sure enough there was a rider coming towards them riding a black horse.

Drew talks to me, I laugh cause it's so damn funny
That I can't even see anyone when he's with me
He says he's so in love, he's finally got it right,
I wonder if he knows he's all I think about at night

Jake came up to them and stopped. He started talking about Kate and Sam listened. She then started telling him how she had seen the Phantom again for the first time in a while. Sam forget that Jen was there and only realized that she was there after Jake had left.

"Sam, you never told me you saw the Phantom again."

"I'm sorry Jen, I forgot about it until just then."

"It's weird the way you are when you're around Jake. I didn't realize it until just now though. It's like you can only see him and nobody else when he's around."

Sam thought about that. Was it true? Did she forget about everybody else when she was around Jake? Maybe it was true.

It was getting late, so Sam said good bye to Jen and started for home.

He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do.

Later on that night when Sam was in her bedroom, and she was thinking about Jake again. She was surprised when she felt a tear run down her cheek. Everybody she knew thought she should be with Jake, except for Jake. She wanted to make a wish, but she didn't believe that it would help. She had dropped little hints that she liked him, but it didn't do any good.

Drew walks by me, can he tell that I can't breathe?
And there he goes, so perfectly,
the kind of flawless I wish I could be
she'd better hold him tight, give him all her love
Look in those beautiful eyes and know she's lucky cause

The next day was Saturday and Sam got to sleep in. She was surprised to see Jake sitting at the kitchen table, until she remembered that he and her dad were getting a new horse that needed breaking in. Sam felt a little breathless, and hoped nobody noticed.

After breakfast Sam went outside and started on her chores. Once she finished she decided to go watch her dad and Jake break in the new horse. The horse was a mustang and was fighting them hard. But eventually they got a headstall on her and they decided to leave it at that for the day. Jake came over and asked Sam if she wanted to go for a ride, which she accepted gladly.

An hour later Jake and Sam were out riding. At first it was quiet and the only thing you could hear were the birds and the wind blowing. Then Jake broke the silence and said

"You're awfully quiet today brat."

"I'm just tired that's all."

"So Kate and I going to the Valentine's Dance together."

"I know. You told me that yesterday during lunch. I'm so happy for you. I never thought that you would be able to ask a girl out, because you're always so shy around strangers."

Sam decided that she would treat Jake like an older brother, like she always had.

They started heading back towards Three Ponies Ranch. Sam had to stop and get a recipe from Mrs. Ely that Gram wanted to try. Once they got to the ranch, Sam noticed a strange car and saw a blonde headed girl get out of it. Of course, she thought. It was Jake's girlfriend. Jake rode ahead and left Sam behind to go greet his guest.

He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do.

So I drive home alone, as I turn out the light
I'll put his picture down and maybe
Get some sleep tonight

Sam arrived in the ranch yard and went inside to get the recipe for Gram. She didn't know where Jake and his girlfriend had gone, and felt like Jake had abandoned her, which was actually true. Mrs. Ely gave Sam the recipe and Sam thanked her. Sam unhitched Ace from where she had tied him, and got up into the saddle. She then started for home alone.

Later that night Sam was going through the pictures she had taken over time with her camera. She was looking for one that she had taken of Jen on Silly, for a birthday gift for Jen. Jen's birthday was only a week away, and she thought the picture would be perfect. As Sam was looking she came across one that she had taken of Jake on Witch, and he was holding Faith, a blind little filly. She looked at the picture for a long time, and then eventually put down the picture. She would figure out a way to tell Jake that she liked him and that they were meant to be together. Somehow she would make her dream come true someday. But for now, she would pretend that she was happy for Jake.

He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only one who's got enough of me to break my heart
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do
He's the time taken up, but there's never enough
And he's all that I need to fall into..

Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won't see.