-Perception-

Jake rescues Sam and realizes a few things in the aftermath. Rather Jake-centric this chapter. Characters belong to Terry Farley. Will be Sam/Jake. Sorry if Jake's OOC, not used to his personality, especially with what I made him do in this chapter.

There you are, wild and free

Reaching out like you needed me

A helping hand to make things right

I am holding you all through the night

Chapter 7: Phone Calls

"Hmmmmmmmmm…" The vibrating phone in her pocket pulled her attention away from the movie she and her four old friends were so immersed in.

"Where's the thump-thump?" Jack Sparrow's voice demanded as she stood quickly exiting the theater to answer her cell phone.

"Hmmmmmmmmm…" The phone went off again and she snapped it open. "Hello?"

The voice was hesitant. "Sam?"

She hung up immediately upon realizing who it was. "Just because he's finally ready to talk doesn't mean I have to listen…" she told herself, stuffing the phone back into her pocket before turning to go back in.

"Hmmmmmmmmm…"

Stopping dead in her tracks, she answered it again, not letting the caller have a chance to speak before she did. "What were you thinking, Jake?"

Jake's voice hesitated on the other end of the line. "I- I'm sorry, Sam…"

"Why?" she cried, "Why didn't you talk to me after you told me? You didn't even come to say goodbye. Why?"

The voice hesitated again and then she felt an arm wrap around her from behind. "Cause, it wasn't goodbye," Jake smiled.

Sam whirled around, throwing her arms around him. "I hate you! You scared me!" she said, refusing to let go of him. "Why wouldn't you talk to me?" she asked.

"I didn't know how you'd react to what I said before," he admitted, but Sam, having known Jake her entire life, had picked up a few tricks on reading people and she could tell that there was more than what he was letting on.

"And the reason for you calling now and being here is?" she asked.

"Ugh, that's a surprise…" he told her. "I think someone's trying to get your attention…"

Sam turned to see Kylie, Eric, Josh and Leigh standing directly behind her. Apparently the movie had ended.

"Jake, these are some of my old friends. Kylie, Josh, Leigh and Eric." She said, introducing each of her friends. "Guys, this is Jake."

The two boys glared and the two girls looked about ready to rip Jake's head off.

"Did I miss something?" Jake questioned her. "Or do they always look like they're on a murderous rampage?"

Sam laughed nervously. "It's okay…" she told the four of them. "Do you mind if I go interrogate Jake some more and I'll catch up with you later?"

"Interrogate?" Jake laughed.

After agreeing to meet up for pizza later that evening, she and Jake headed out, back to the apartment complex Aunt Sue lived in.

"She's not home yet." She told Jake, upon walking in.

"Sam…" he started but she cut him off.

"When are you gonna tell me what that surprise is?" she asked.

He scratched the back of his neck again. "When you answer me one question."

"Alright…"

He looked more nervous than he sounded. "If I hadn't left the other day, how would you have reacted?" he asked.

A smile on her face, she tackled him, pressing her lips against his so hard it nearly knocked him off balance. When she finally pulled away, she looked up at him, mustang eyes meeting hers. "Answer your question?"

He nodded, unable to form words.

She laughed. "I didn't think you could get anymore speechless…" she teased, kissing him again before backing away to grab two water bottles from the fridge.

"Wow…" Jake managed, his eyes following her. "I shouldn't have left…"

Sam shook her head. "That's not all…" she smiled.

He raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "Oh?"

She leaned over, whispering in his ear as he had done to her. "I love you, too…"

Okay, I was only about 20 minutes over my self appointed deadline for this… And see, its not like I separated them for years… It was technically a week that she was in SF before Jake showed up… I suppose I should have mentioned that… Anyway, You'll have to wait to find out what his surprise is cause I have to think of it first. I'll update again soon! Reviiews much appreciated!