Chapter 26

Jake and Sam ignored each other while at school, further devastating Sam. She was missing her friend. Sam talked to Jen about it during lunch one day.

"I'm telling you, apologize," Jen told her. "He's too stubborn to realize he's an idiot and to do it. If you value that friendship, you'll have to be the one to do it."

Sam was beginning to think Jen was right. Her gaze shifted to where Jake normally sat with Darrell and his other friends and sat upright in shock.

"What?" Jen asked turning to look. Her mouth formed an O.

Rachel Slocum was sitting at the table next to Jake, laughing up into his face. She touched his arm as she did.

"That creep," Jen muttered.

"He deserves her," Sam gathered up her things and started out of the lunch room. She didn't even bother looking towards Jake. Jen caught up to her.

"I'm sorry," Jen told her.

"Don't be," Sam responded. "I'm just happy I found out what a moron he was before…"

"Before what?" Jen wondered.

"Nothing," Sam shook her head. "It doesn't matter. He doesn't matter."

Jake had been well aware of Sam as she went by him. He had watched her out of the corner of his eye. She hadn't even glanced at him. Rachel touched his arm again and he reluctantly looked at her wondering what the heck she wanted with him.

"So Jake," Rachel was saying. "What do you think?"

"About what?" Jake asked, totally lost. He guessed she hadn't realized he wasn't paying any attention to her.

Across the table, Darrell snorted.

"About taking me to the prom," Rachel said.

"The prom?" Jake yelped. "I, uh, no way I, uh, don't dance…"

"I'll teach you," Rachel insisted.

Darrell guffawed and Jake looked at him, begging for help with his eyes. Darrell's eyes told him he was on his own. What are my eyes telling you now, Darrell? Darrell just laughed harder.

"Uh, thanks Rachel, but no," Jake shook his head. "I don't do dances."

"I'll take you, darlin'," Darrell volunteered. Jake could see the sarcasm in Darrell's expression.

Rachel looked at Darrell like he was a lower life form. "No thanks." Then she turned towards Jake again. "Let me know if you change your mind, Jake. I'd love to go to prom with you. We'd make such a cute couple."

Darrell didn't try to hide his amusement. He sputtered with laughter.

"Barbarian," Rachel sneered as she stood up and left the table to return to her friends.

"Nice seeing you, Ice Queen," Darrell responded. "My gosh, Jake! That was priceless. I think you should go with her."

Jake looked at him like he was crazy, which of course Jake was convinced he was.

"I don't do dances and I sure as heck don't do proms," Jake shuddered.

"What if Sam wanted to go?" Darrell dared.

"Well that's not gonna happen," Jake shook his head.

"What did you do to her?" Darrell wondered.

Jake sighed. I acted like an idiot and lost my best friend and the woman I wanted to be with for the rest of my life. Too bad she'll never know how I feel now.

"It's a long story," Jake said instead.

"Maybe I'll ask Sam to the prom," Darrell pretended to ponder.

"You're not a senior, remember?" Jake snapped.

"Oh that's a low blow, bro," Darrell told him.

Jake sighed again. "Sorry."

"Whatever you did to Sammy, fix it," Darrell suggested. "Since you two aren't talkin', you've become a son of a gun."

Darrell stood up and left Jake to stare after him in shock.