Chapter 29
The summer passed quickly for Sam after the campout. Before she was ready, it was time to head back to school.
Gram took her shopping in Darton since Sam had a growth spurt and not many of her clothes fit her. Gram tried to talk Sam into a cute dress, but Sam crossed her arms over her chest and refused. She remembered what had happened the last time she wore one to school and this time Jake wouldn't be there to help her.
That little fact was too painful for Sam to even think about. She couldn't imagine going to school without Jake being there.
She had seen Jake the day before school had started. He had noticed right away that she was acting pouty about something. They were out at War Drum Flats after Jake had tracked her across the playa.
"What's wrong?" Jake asked as they sat on a boulder.
"Nothing," Sam wouldn't look at him.
Jake studied her as she sat next to him.
"Fifth grade isn't bad," Jake told her.
"I know," Sam murmured.
"I'll still be your friend," Jake said quietly.
Sam's head jerked up and he knew he had found what was bothering her.
"You're going to owe me dinner," Jake teased with a grin.
"McDonalds," Sam teased back.
"Nuh uh," Jake shook his head. "I'll drive us into Darton to the most expensive place I can find."
"You can't drive," Sam scoffed.
"I will by then," Jake reminded her. "You might be." He snorted.
Sam thought about that for a few minutes. He was right. Gosh, in six years he'd be almost eighteen and she'd be sixteen. Sam counted on her fingers. He would have graduated high school that summer. She looked up at him.
"Hard to believe, huh?" Jake said.
"How do you do that?" Sam wondered. Sometimes it seemed that he could read her mind.
"You'll never have a poker face," Jake grinned.
"What's that?"
"Doesn't matter since you'll never have one," Jake laughed as she hit him. "Just don't hit anyone in school now that I'll not be there to protect them."
"I don't want to hit anyone," Sam declared. Then she glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes. "Except for Daisy."
"Try and resist," Jake told her. "You don't want to get suspended."
"It might be worth it," Sam laughed.
Jake didn't deny it and the two smiled at each other. Then Sam's smile faded.
"I will miss you," Sam hated saying the words, but they were the truth.
"I'm not moving to Timbuktu," Jake reminded her.
"Just middle school," Sam sighed. "I'll be all alone."
Jake was uncomfortable. He wasn't sure what he could tell her to make her feel better. He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I'll still come over and help you with Blackie," Jake said.
"Will you?"
"I said I would," Jake responded.
"I can't wait until I can ride him," Sam mused, looking over the lake as the image of her riding him ran through her head.
"When he's two," Jake said. "When you graduate from sixth grade."
"How come everything happens in the sixth grade?" Sam asked.
Jake colored, thinking of Sam having the sex education classes then. Sam noticed and sighed loudly. Jake looked down at her and saw her watching him.
"Don't look at me," Jake shook his head. He still couldn't imagine Sam having breasts and periods. Jake shuddered.
"Sixth grade is horrible isn't it?" Sam asked.
Jake rubbed his neck again.
"Nah," he told her but he didn't sound convincing even to himself.
