Chapter 9

"Sam" her best friends' voice shook her out of her bad thoughts. "Samantha, let's go." Jen said a little impatiently.

"Coming." Sam said a little shaky. She picked up her half eaten lunch and walked towards the trash can.

"Sam, are you alright?" Jen asked with a tinge of worry.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Sam said trying to steady her voice.

"Yeah, okay. Well then if you're sure let's go so we can finish the scene and get out of here." Jen said a little exasperated.

"Why are you so tired? You've hardly done anything." Sam teased her best friend. Jen glared at her and Samantha giggled her pain away. A little.

Rehearsal went by pretty fast. Sam tried not to focus on the heartbreaking thoughts she had been having and succeeded somewhat. The car ride home was a different story.

"Tell me." Jen pleaded Sam for the fiftieth time.

"I did." Sam answered exasperated.

"So you're going to sit there and tell me that there's nothing going on between you and Jake?" Jen asked disbelief hanging in every word. Sam laughed.

"Fine." She took a deep breath before she started the story. "Well it all started when yesterday I walked out of the shower and accidently ran into Jake. He called later that night to say sorry but for some reason we ended up staying up late talking." Sam couldn't help smiling. Butterflies formed in her stomach when she thought about the phone call.

Jen didn't say anything all she did was smile. After a while Sam got annoyed at her friends sudden lack of conversation.

"Well, say something." Sam said a little annoyed.

"I don't know what to say." Jen said still thoughtful.

"Try." Sam retorted. Jen stayed quiet for a couple seconds more.

"Okay. I am happy for you and all I mean you too finally talked like how you used to and all but," Jen paused and analyzed Samantha's face. Samantha was staring out the window thoughtful. Jen felt it was safe to continue so she did.

"But, what about that girl from the river? Have you asked him about it?" Jen said maybe a little to firm.

"No. I haven't." Sam answered lacking any emotion.

"Why not?" Jen said again too firm.

"I don't know." Sam answered voice a little shaky.

"Well I say you should ask him as soon as you can because honestly Sam I don't want to see you hurt again. What if you fall for him all over again and then this mystery girl pops up again?" Jen said trying to hide the anger she felt at the thought of her friend being hurt again.

"I know. I will." Sam said trying to be a little stronger.

Thankfully, they were almost near Sam's house so they stayed quiet for the remaining time.

"Well thanks Jen. Talk to you later." Sam said her mind in another world.

"Your welcome. And think about it Sam." Jen said trying to get her word through to her best friend.

"Yeah, I will. Bye." Sam said as she closed the door and turned towards her home.

Sam heard Jen cross the bridge but she was too consumed in her thoughts to care much. She kept walking, not to the house, but to the stables. Horses would help her think, or not think. Sam was getting close to the stables when a voice stopped her dead.

"Hey brat." Jake chuckled.

"Hey." Sam tried to sound happier, but she just couldn't. Jake picked up on it.

"What's up?" He asked a little warier. Sam heard his change of tone so she tried to use all her best acting skills.

"Nothing just tired." She said in her best fatigued voice even she believed it.

"Acting right?" Jake asked clearly buying it.

"Yeah. It's not physically tiring like horse riding and ranch work but mentally it takes a lot." Sam said sitting on the ground for emphasis. Jake chuckled.

"I'm serious. Try memorizing lines plus what emotions have to be behind them, how your body has to be placed, where you have to move, and you have to be ready to improvise at any moment." Sam got into the easy flow of talking to Jake. She couldn't help it.

"I bet." Jake smiled and sat down right next to her. Sam's stomach flipped. What the heck is wrong with me? She thought. Shouldn't I be mad or even sad? She said to herself.

"I'd like to see you try." Sam challenged.

"No thanks." Jake said. They stayed quiet for a moment. "Since when did you like acting?" Jake asked with sincere curiosity.

"I don't know. A little after you left for college." Sam said technically not lying. She wasn't about to tell him the real reason.

"Mmm. Cool." Jake said pondering over it. "Was it like Jake's gone now I can do whatever I want?" Jake teased.

"Yeah, I finally breathed and was able to relax without someone breathing down my neck every second." Sam teased back. Jake's face fell a little.

"You know I only wanted to keep you safe." Jake said serious now.

"I know." Sam said with a powerful emotion bubbling under the surface.

"Your Gram's making really good food for dinner you know." Jake switched the subject.

"No I didn't know." Sam said still thoughtful.

"Yeah and guess whose invited to enjoy in the deliciousness." Jake said trying to keep the conversation going, which was weird for a cowboy who talked next to nothing. Sam was taken by surprise at his attempt to keep a conversation going.

"Let me guess?" Sam started but ended with a long look at Jake.

Wrong move. Sam's gaze locked onto Jake's deep mustang eyes. They stared at each other for what seemed a long time and no time. Jake broke the silence.

"Sam," he paused. "I missed you." Jake said still not looking at her.

"I missed you too Jake." The words came easily to Sam's lips. They sat in silence for a while.

"Well we should start going inside dinner should be close to ready." Sam said suddenly. She was close to tears and she didn't know why.

"Yeah let's go." Jake said getting up and turning to offer his hand. Sam took it and her heart skipped at the touch of his hand. She quickly let go but then Jake did something he had never done and Sam never thought he would. He tenderly got her hand and barely held it. He then turned to look straight into Sam's eyes.

Sam's heart was beating like a hummingbird but she stared right back. So many emotions had been going through her mind, her heart. She had been so confused all day but in this moment everything ceased to matter. It was just her and him. Nothing else. No one else. She smiled at him.

Jake took it as an okay and kissed her hand then turned it in his and interlocked his fingers in hers. She tightened the grasp and smiled the most innocent sweet smile Jake had ever seen.

They walked hand in hand without a care in the world.