Here you are, I'm not getting very many reviews, so you guys better review or I mite stop posting! And I don't wanna do tht! Also to swiftheart3477 I had thought about putting them together, but you review convinced me to maybe make it a little side story! And I have a question- if you put a author/story on ur review list, does that "alert" them when you update, or is it a bad thing?
---------
Chapter Four
-With Jake-
Jake Ely was laughing as he helped his girlfriend Dani out of the car, and pulled her into a hug that turned into a light kiss. But when he his gaze fell over to where two young teenagers-one he recognized as Jen- he fell silent.
Is that…Jake couldn't believe his eyes. …Sam? Jake wondered if his mouth actually dropped open. Sam, the girl he'd always known. "Dang." Jake muttered. The girl standing next to Jen, was definitely Sam, but Jake was having a hard time believing it. She had really changed. For one thing, she'd grown up real nice, but…She's gotten really pretty……Jake pushed those thoughts from his mind as his gaze landed on Dani.
"Come on." He told her. "We need to go greet the people."
Dani just laughed, and twining her arm around his, walked with him.
Jake made a point of putting his arm around Dani's waist when he walked by Sam and Jen.
-With Sam-
"Sam, you're drooling." Jen whispered in her friend's ear.
Sam shook her head. She wasn't reallydrooling, but she wouldn't have doubted it if she was. "God." She whispered.
"What?" Jen didn't see what had her friend so stunned. She knew it had to do with Jake…
"I haven't seen him in so long, I forgot-" Sam shook her head. "He looks really good."
"And by good, do you mean hott?" Jen laughed. Sam punched her, and Jen knew she hit the nail on the head.
Sam continued staring, until Jake walked right by her. She burned with jealously as Jake put his arm around Dani.
"Down girl." Jen breathed.
Sam laughed, Jen hadn't said that to her in years. "We might as well get back to the party." She said.
Jen nodded her agreement and they walked over to where Jake and Dani were being greeted by her friends and family members. "Well…" Jen said
"Well what?" Sam asked.
"Are you gonna go over there and say something?"
Just as Sam was shaking her head 'no' Jake walked left the group and walked over to her.
Sam stood tongue-tied. "Say, 'hi'" Jen instructed in her ear.
Sam swatted her away. "Hey, Jake. She managed to get out.
"How ya doin' Brat?" Jake asked, stopping in front of her.
Sam noted with some sadness that Jake hadn't hugged her like he'd hugged everyone else. "Good." Sam honestly couldn't think of a thing to say.
Jake, never good with words, just shrugged. "Well, it's good to have ya back." He said and walked away.
"Stupid. Stupid. Stupid." Sam hit herself on the head over and over again.
"Come on, Sam. Let's go see if we can go to your place, and you can see the horses." Jen tugged her friend along. "'Cuz if one thing can get you mind of Jake, its Ace."
At the mention of Ace's name, Sam perked up. Jen was right. After telling their parents where they were going, Jen got her moms keys and drove over to River Bend.
"Don't you just love being able to drive?" Jen laughed, climbing out of the car.
"I've got my license, but I've hardly drove. We take cabs in San Fran." Sam yelled over her shoulder, jogging towards the barn.
Walking towards the barn, a neigh challenged her. Sam recognized it as Ace's. "Hey, baby. It's me." Ace snorted. Sam let her horse sniff her palm. After a few moments of sniffing, Ace let out a whinny of joyous recognition and began nuzzling her. Sam laughed and let him nuzzle her head. "He's still the same." She told Jen.
Jen nodded her agreement. "He's older, but still a solid, dependable mount."
Sam sighed and closed her eyes. "The very best." With one last pat, Sam went off to visit Tempest. Her now two-year old filly was a very beautiful horse. She had the same "I'm the boss" attitude as her father. She acted just like her father, but she had remained black, instead of graying out. Since Sam was ahead of Jen, and out of earshot, she whispered to the filly. "Xanadu."
The filly shivered, she hadn't heard that name for awhile. She sniffed curiously at Sam's hand. "Xanadu." She whispered again. The filly snorted and rubbed her muzzle against Sam's cheek. Sam laughed in delight.
-With Jake-
Jake watched Sam go with Jen. He couldn't stop thinking about her…….
For some reason of its own, his brain remembered the day at the river, when he had kissed her. He had like her then. A lot. But the question remained. Did he like her now?
-With Sam-
Later that night, Sam went down to the river. She couldn't begin to explain how badly she'd missed this place while she'd been gone. She sat on a flat rock and watched the moonlight dance on the waves.
Suddenly, she heard a familiar nicker. Glancing up she saw him, floating down the mountainside, coming to her. Sam stood up and went to him. "Zanzibar."
The Phantom nickered and bobbed his head up and down, he remembered his name. "Oh, boy. I've missed you." Sam patted his neck. "I can't tell you how badly I've missed you." She ran her fingers through his mane. "I love you big boy."
The Phantom blew through his lips as if all this sappy talk embarrassed him. Then he rested his head on her shoulder, and allowed Sam to hug his neck.
After a moment, the Phantom backed away, and then with a snort, galloped back in the direction he'd come.
Sam smiled and stared after him. Zanzibar had come back on the same night she had. He'd come to say hello, and Sam was grateful.
When she walked into the house and climbed into her bed, Sam's thoughts returned to Jake. She wanted so badly to be with him. But so far, all she'd had was heartache. She knew she still loved him, but Sam wondered if she could ever stop……..
----------
There you have it folks, I hope you like it, and by the way, I rewrote the first two chappys, as I didn't really like 'em, so please reread them, they're not to different, but you ite want to read them nonetheless. Review please!
