Chapter 4
Both Sam and Jake groaned as they looked at the champagne in their glasses. Even though Maxine had only given Sam at the most one swallow of the liquid, Sam felt a headache coming on.
"I can't drink this," Sam whispered to Jake. "Not even a drop."
He shook his head. "Give me your glass."
Sam handed it to him and he hurried into the kitchen. He was back a few moments later with their glasses. To Sam it looked like he had added more champagne.
"Ginger Ale," he whispered, handing her the glass.
"I think I love you," Sam told him.
Jake's mouth twitched.
Sam saw Maxine look at Sam's glass. Sam figured she was wondering how Sam got more champagne in there. She heard Jake's snort next to her.
"I'm going to smack you," Sam hissed. It only made Jake laugh harder.
"To Samantha," Maxine started the toast. "We had faith that the judge would throw out Linc's suit. Good job at standing up to him."
"To Sam!" everyone echoed. Sam blushed.
"Speech," horrified, she heard Quinn's voice shout. Then the other Ely brothers joined in until everyone was chanting it.
"I'm going to kill statue boy," Sam muttered. Jake heard her and she heard his choked back laughter. Everyone else was looking at her expectantly.
"Uh, thank you?" Sam managed. Jake couldn't hold back his laughter any longer and Sam bit her lip to keep from joining him. She also heard the rest of the Ely brothers' barks of laughter, plus Jen's giggle. Darrell wasn't able to contain his amusement either. Sam did the only thing she could think of. She grinned and shrugged.
Later she was standing with Jen when Darrell came over. He gave both girls a hug. Sam gave him a kiss.
"I can't thank you enough for your wonderful uncle," Sam told him.
"He likes you, darlin'," Darrell said. "He thinks you have a lot of spunk."
"Well, I like him too," Sam responded.
"He was happy to help," Darrell shrugged. "So how are the two most gorgeous women at Darton High? You two will be graduating soon, huh?"
"Finally," Sam sighed. "Of course, one of us is going to be valedictorian."
"Oh please," Jen rolled her eyes. "I might not be."
"Oh please," Sam gave it right back to her, causing Darrell to laugh. "Of course you're going to be. You have the highest grade point average in our class."
"Where does that leave you, darlin'?" Darrell asked Sam.
"I don't care as long as Mrs. Santos hands me a diploma," Sam told him.
The three of them laughed.
Sam saw Jake walking towards them and she watched him as he approached.
"The table is still there," he whispered directly in her ear causing Sam to choke. She gave him a shove as he chuckled.
"You are a completely rotten boyfriend," Sam hissed at him.
"Trouble in paradise?" Darrell teased.
"Sam thinks I'm rotten," Jake told him with a grin.
"He is rotten," Sam rolled her eyes.
"Just a little while ago you liked me," Jake reminded her.
"I did then," Sam stuck out her tongue at him. "I didn't even want to look at that champagne."
Jen laughed. Sam had told her that she and Jake had gotten drunk from champagne on New Years Eve and both had nasty hangovers the next day.
"Champagne's good," Darrell said.
Both Sam and Jake groaned in response.
