Jakes POV

"Hey, Jake!" A voice caused him to turn, and he smirked as Darell came running towards him. "Didn't you hear me calling you?" His friend asked, falling into step beside him as they walked towards school.

"No, I was thinking." Jake's hands were in his pockets, and he barely noticed Rachel Slocum's flirtatious wave as he walked past. That caused Darell to stare at him.

"What's wrong with you?" He asked, then glanced at Rachel and grinned. "Problems with the ladies?"

"Yes." Jake said, not looking at him. Darell's eyes widened.

"You mean, Rachel…?"

"No, idiot." Jake snapped. Darell sighed in exasperation. "I think Samantha Forster likes me." Jake muttered, not meeting Darell's gaze.

"Nice." Darell said, grinning and clapping Jake on the shoulder. "You're going to ask her out, right?"

Jake hesitated. "She's as close as my sister, I've known her forever…" He said quietly, frowning as he rubbed the back of his neck.

Darell shrugged. "All right. It won't bother you if I ask her out, then, will it?" He didn't wait for a response, and called out Sam's name. Jake glanced up, seeing her a few feet away.

"What?" Her voice shot straight to Jake's heart and an inner battle started up.

'No way, we've known each other since we were four.'

'Exactly, you don't want to hurt her.'

'I don't want to lie to her either.'

'You like her though, and she likes you.'

'Doesn't matter, I'm going to college in a year.'

'There's the magical thing called e-mail.'

'I don't want to tie her down.'

'You could break up then.'

'I don't want to hurt her.'

'But then-'

His inner monologue was cut off by Darell's voice. "Want to go out sometime Forster?" He was smirking. Jake cast a glare at him, but when he looked back at Sam, he saw her watching him.

"Sure." She said it while looking directly into his eyes. Frowning slightly as Darell draped one arm over Sam's shoulder and kissed her on her cheek, Jake grasped Darell's arm and held him back as Sam walked towards her next class, smiling slightly.

"If you hurt her, in any way…" He wasn't aware of the venom in his voice until he saw his friend's eyes widen.

"Hey man, you lost your chance." Darell said smoothly, walking away.

"Yeah," Jake whispered, standing alone. "I think I did."

As Jake sat in his truck, waiting for Sam to come out of the building, he ran one hand back over his black hair, resting his Stetson on his head and sighing slightly. "How did this happen?" He muttered, nearly irritated. "A few days ago, she was just Sam, my best friend. Now, she's Sam…This great girl that I can't have."

He turned back towards the school and realized that Sam was already outside. But she wasn't alone. Darell was standing with his arms around her, with his back to Jake. Fuming silently, Jake's hands tightened on the steering wheel and he honked once. Sam had already pulled away from Darell and trotted towards the truck, climbing inside.

"Hi Jake." She said happily.

"Brat." Jake said curtly, peeling from the parking lot.

"Are you ok?" Sam looked at Jake warily, holding onto the handle as he drove towards River Bend.

"Fine." Jake snapped, then slammed on the brakes outside Sam's house.

"All right…" Sam said as Jake sat there with the truck idling. "I guess I'll be going then…Thanks for the ride…" She got out and started towards the house. Just before reaching the porch, Jake spoke.

"Sam, wait."

She turned to look at him, and Jake slid from the truck, trotting over to her. His left hand slid to her waist and his right hand moving to her cheek as he kissed her softly on the lips. It lasted for several moments before he pulled away and turned, walking back to the truck and driving off in a cloud of dust.

Sam stood there, bewildered as she watched the dust from Jake's tires settle.

"Sam?" Brynna's voice caused her to turn. "Was that Jake?" She asked, smiling.

"Yeah…" Sam looked confused and joyful at the same moment, and Brynna decided not to say anything. There was more pressing news anyway.

"Your father and I have been talking. With the threat to his livestock, Wyatt could have the Phantom relocated." She said gently. Sam gasped.

"He just thought the bull was threatening Hotspot, and especially when she was hurt-"

"Sam, I know. But your father's herd comes first, you know that. That stallion is wild now, he isn't Blackie any longer." Brynna rested her hand on Sam's shoulder. "Dr. Scott says Hotspot has enough energy to go back home, but we aren't sure if she is going to recover yet. Ryan and Jen are spending some time with her now, and you can go visit them later if you want."

Sam shook her head. "I've got tons of homework…" She said quietly, which was basically a lie. She had the sinking feeling Ryan and Jen weren't just sitting on opposite sides of Hotspot's stall, discussing her recovery. Sam doubted Jen would welcome her intrusion.

Then there was Darell. He was doing her a big favor, and it seemed he had been right when he told her making Jake jealous would heighten any feelings he had for her, but she didn't want Darell and Jake's relationship as friends to go away just because of a favor to find out what Jake really felt. She'd talk to both of them tomorrow.

"Samantha! Telephone!" Gram's voice echoed up the stairs, and Sam bounded into the kitchen. "It's Jennifer." Gram said smoothly, handing the phone over.

"Sam! Get over here now!" Jen's voice sounded hysterical.

"Jen, what is it?" Sam whispered.

"Ryan…He…We were…And then…" She couldn't seem to find words. Frowning, Sam realized her friend was holding back tears. A rush of understanding flooded her.

"I'm on my way, Jen." Sam said, rushing outside to saddle Ace.

((Nice little cliffhanger. Bad Ryan Slocum. And poor Jen. More Phantom/Hotspot stuff coming next chapter.))