Chapter 25
Jake was at the bus stop the next day. Sam gave him a smile when she saw him.
"How's your leg?" Sam asked as she rushed up.
"Fine," Jake told her. "It's not a big deal, Brat."
She knew better, but she also knew Jake and knew he'd never make a fuss over it.
"Jakey gets out of gym for a few days," Bryan told her.
"Lucky you," Sam said to her friend.
Jake shrugged. He didn't mind gym. It gave him a chance to climb the huge rope that hung from the ceiling and play basketball. To Jake, gym was just like recess but a whole hour.
The bus arrived and Jake ended up sharing a seat with Sam. He ignored the knowing looks from the twins. He regularly sat with Sam, so why were they giving him looks today?
Next year they'd be gone to middle school and it would just be him at the elementary school. Oh and Sam. In a way he was looking forward to it. He didn't really need them to look out for him anymore. Most of the students knew of the Ely brothers and didn't try to antagonize them.
He did worry about Sam once he moved on to middle school. She'd be alone in elementary school. Of course, he almost snorted, she knew how to hit if anyone tried anything with her. Again, Jake thought that maybe it hadn't been a good idea for them to teach her how to hit. Especially when he was usually on the receiving end.
Sam looked over at him and saw the small smile on his lips. The smile transformed his face. She thought Jake was cute anyway, but with the smile tugging on his mouth he looked really cute.
Jake felt her eyes on him and glance over to see her quickly avert her eyes from him. Was that a blush on her face? He was curious as to the cause, but didn't say anything or tease her about it.
When they reached school, the four of them got off the bus. Sam noticed Jake limping a bit as he walked. Jake saw the concern in her eyes.
"It's okay, Brat," Jake assured her. "Just a bit stiff."
"Yeah, me too," Quinn smirked as he walked by the two of them to head towards a group of girls.
Jake gave him a look.
"Did Quinn fall off his horse or something?" Sam asked. Bryan was walking by and snorted.
"I wish," Jake grumbled. "Ignore him, he's an idiot."
He could see the confusion on Sam's face, but there was no way he was going to explain it to her.
"See you later," Jake limped away, seeing Darrell up ahead.
Sam trailed after him, passing Quinn and his harem.
"See ya, Pinky," Quinn teased. Sam stuck her tongue out at him causing him to laugh.
"Why do you even talk to her?" one of the girls asked.
Sam turned to look at who it was that said it. She thought it was a fourth grader that she had seen on the playground. Even for elementary school, the girl was everything Sam was not. Not a blond hair out of place and her clothes looked to be the latest fad.
Sam looked down at her jeans and sweater. Her hair was a weird shade of reddish-brown more appropriate for a horse than a little girl. Sam hung her head, feeling very plain.