Authors Note:

Hi guys. (; So, before you start reading this, I just want to say thank you for the reviews for the last chapter. I'm hoping to get even more for this chapter. I'm sorry I haven't updated, schools been hectic seeing as it just started last week. I woke up early (early for me anyway) and wrote chapter two. So I hope you enjoy it! I know Jen is a little OOC, but you'll understand why once you read this. This whole chapter is in Sam's POV, just so you know.

SPOILER: IT'S A CLIFFHANGER. (; But don't you dare scroll all the way down, until you read the entire chapter. (; Okay, I think I've wasted enough of your time. Just enjoy, and review. (Even if you hate it…please review and tell me why you like it/why you didn't. I love con criticism.) ENOY. (;

Sunkissed; CHAPTER 2

The next morning I woke up bright and early. Well…it wasn't necessarily bright, since it was 6 in the morning. I wasn't completely sure how I got up in my bed, because the last I knew I fell asleep on the couch. Dad probably carried me up. I quickly showered, and pulled on jeans and an oversized striped sweatshirt.

Most Nevada days in the summer are freezing, until it gets past noon. Then it gets overly hot. The weather wasn't the only thing acting weird. I called and texted Jen, right before I watched the movie last night, and she never responded. I got her voice mail. That never happens, unless she's in church. And who goes to church on Tuesdays?

I thought of Jen, as I pulled a comb through my shoulder length auburn hair. I put on these little pink flower earrings that my gram bought me for Christmas, my horse hair bracelet, and a friendship bracelet Jen had made. She had a matching one. I wondered what was going on with her, and if she was okay. That thought only lasted a little while, when I heard a knock on my door.

"Samantha? Honey, are you up yet?" Gram's voice came through the door. I left my wet hair down, and opened the door. Gram stood there in a skirt, and butterfly shirt, her hair pulled back in a swift bun.

"Yep, I'm up." I said.

She nodded. "Good. Come on down for some breakfast." I followed her into the small kitchen, where she placed a bowl of oatmeal in front of me. I ate it quickly, eager to get outside. "What are you going to do today, Sam?"

"Oh. I'm going for a ride with Jen." At least, I thought I was. She hadn't texted me back, but I figured she got the text. She would never pass up the opportunity to go for a ride. Gram nodded, and gave me a soft smile.

"That sounds like the perfect way to spend a summer morning." She said. I know. It was perfect.

"I better get going." I said, standing up. Gram placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Sam, honey, be careful. Okay?" She said, sounding worried. Annoyance flashed through me. I was not a little girl, anymore. It had been two years since my accident, and I was now 15. I didn't need anybody telling me to 'be careful.' I've been riding since I was practically born.

But still, I said through gritted teeth, "Yes, gram." I walked over to the door, and slid my socked feet into the boots that were lying in the corner. Then I pushed open the front door, and breathed in deeply. I wished I dried my hair, because it was freezing out. I shivered.

It was still dark out, but I could see Dad talking to Pepper over by the corral. "Morning, Dad. Morning, Pepper." I said.

Pepper smiled, and Dad said, "Hey, Sam. You're finally up. Seems like you had a big night last night, huh?" He smiled, and I knew he was joking about me falling asleep on the couch.

"Sure did, Dad." I said, grinning right back at him. "Anyway, I'm going for a ride with Jen." I said, fingering the elastic hair band on my left wrist. He nodded, grunted something, and went back to talking to Pepper.

I slowly edged toward the barn. I flicked on the light switch, and walked slowly down the hall. Ace's stall was the very last one on the left. I passed the stall that Sunkissed was temporarily in, and couldn't help staring.

She was just standing there. That's all. But she seemed so peaceful and content after what she had been through. She was a mystery, and nobody knew exactly what she had been through. But we knew whatever happened was bad.

I edged closer. I knew I should leave her alone, because she only really trusted Jake, but she was so captivating. So breath-taking. She stared at me as I approached her stall. She took a step back. I didn't open the stall door, but leaned on it and cooed softly, "Hey, pretty girl. It's okay, don't be afraid."

But she was afraid. She was angry, confused, scared. And she reared in the stall, knocking into her feed buckets. I backed away from the stall, like it was on fire. She ran into the stall door, and I could see the white's of her eyes.

"Sam! Are you okay?" Dad said, running into the barn. He saw me wide-eyed in shock, staring at Sunkissed. "Oh!" He said. Then he put a hand on my arm, and led me away. I was still sort of shocked. How could a horse be that afraid? So afraid and angry that she was willing to hurt herself to get revenge on the people that hurt her.

"Sam." My dad said, bringing my attention back to him. "I don't want you to go near that horse again. He's Jake's responsibility for taming him. He's dangerous. Stay away from him, Sam." He said, gesturing toward the horse that was now glaring at us, viciously.

I slowly nodded, but said, "I know, Dad. But-" I started, but dad held his hand up to stop me.

"No, Samantha. Just please do not go near Sunkissed again, until she is completely tamed. Do you understand?" He said, and waited for me to nod again, before saying, "Okay. Go get Ace, and get ready for your ride.

I was confused. Dad was being completely unfair. How could he not expect me to be at least a little bit curious about this mystery horse?

I unlatched Ace's stall door, and let myself in. He was calmly eating hay, and looked up at me. I couldn't help but smile, as I petted him. I slipped the saddle pad on, then the western saddle. Normally, I brushed him first but I really wanted to get going. I was already a little behind the planned time. I grabbed the bridle, and put it on, making adjustments.

"Come on, boy." I whispered. I led him passed, Pepper and Dad. I overheard (which is totally different than eavesdropping, thank you very much Jake!) dad telling Pepper to call Jake, and tell him to come help calm Sunkissed down.

I put my foot in the stirrup, and swung myself up on Ace. I waved at Pepper and Dad, as we left. "Come on, Ace-y." I said, pushing my heels into his sides. He broke out at a gallop, and we made our way to meet Jen. We had planned to meet on the playa, by the huge tree, where we met often.

I waited for a while, but I didn't see anybody. I was beginning to wonder if she was coming.

"Maybe she's just a little late," I thought.

I reached down into my saddle bag, and took out my cell phone. I texted her, 'Where r u?'

Finally, after what seemed like forever, I saw a misty shadow in a horse appearing. I was so relieved.

"Hey, Jen!" I called out, as she reached me. She smiled, and waved. I looked her over, to make sure she was okay, and saw she was wearing a really pretty, blue shirt that matched her eyes perfectly. When I squinted I could see a small bird on the label. When had she started wearing Hollister clothes? She also wore jean shorts (even though it was freezing out), and gray scrunched up boots that looked like UGG knock-offs. I scanned her wrists for my matching bracelet, and sure enough, she was wearing her matching rainbow friendship bracelet, along with a charm bracelet on the other wrist. Wow, she was definitely more fashion friendly than me. Even though she must be freezing. I'm perfectly fine in my sweatshirt, thank you very much.

"Hi. I'm so sorry, I couldn't leave until I finished breakfast, and then my mom made me do my chores now instead of later." She said, beginning to rant. She sounded fine, back to normal almost.

I laughed. "It's fine. I'm just happy you came." I reached over and petted her horse, Silly, and then gave her a one armed hug. She gratefully returned my hug. She pushed her hair out of her eyes, and I caught a glimpse of blue feather earrings dangling from her ears.

"So what's new with you?" I asked, letting Ace nibble some grass. I glanced back at Jen, since she hadn't responded yet. She looked nervous, and she was staring at the ground. "Hello? Earth to J," I said, moving my hand right in front of her face. I laughed, expecting her to laugh too. She didn't.

Finally, she turned toward me, looking nervous. "Ihavesomethingtotellyou…" She whispered. I couldn't understand her at all, between her not spacing her words, and the fact that she was whispering.

"Wait, what? Say it louder." I said. I shivered, wishing I dried my hair again.

Jen took a deep breath and said, "I…I have something…to tell you…" She said, nervously. She glanced at the ground. Silly could sense her nerves, and shifted underneath her. I rolled my eyes. I figured she had to tell me something, when she started talking.

But I was trying to be patient. "What?" I said impatiently. Well…so much for being patient.

She finally shifted her gaze up to mine. She mouthed something that I couldn't understand.

"What?" I asked again. This was taking up all our riding time. Why couldn't she just spit it out, and we could go? How hard was it to tell me?

"Promise you won't laugh, or get mad?" She said. She tried calming Silly, but it didn't work. Silly could sense something was wrong, and was growing restless.

I was beyond annoyed. What was so bad that she couldn't even tell me, her best friend? "Yes. I promise." I said.

"Okay…" She started, and then paused. She turned her gaze to me, instead of the ground. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore.

"Just spit it out!" I said. And finally she did. And when she did, I wished she could take it back in.

"I'm dating Darrel."

Authors note: Oohhh….Cliffhanger! Did you guys like it or no? It's not that much of a shocker, that she's dating him (I've seen loads of fanfics with them together, even though I can hardly believe it.) but it's a shock to Sam.

I know I posted this link last chapter, but just in case you didn't see it;

That is what Sunkissed looks like. And there is a little bit of info on her breed. (As I mentioned in ch.1 her breed is originally from brazil.) So read up, and get to know her breed. You'll be seeing a lot of her…hence the title. (; So that's enough for now, I'll probably write more tonight or later today. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. PLEASE REVIEW. VIRTUAL COOKIES if you review. So review, you know you want some! Thanks! (;

Love, Jul (;