Chapter 9: Secrets Not Kept

After a long day full of drama, Jake sat down on his bed and put his head in his hands. He couldn't believe all of the events that had happened in one day. He had called Sam earlier in the evening to see if she was okay. He had been relieved to find out that she was doing much better than she had been earlier in the day and she had seemed concerned about him. He hadn't told her about his breakup with Kate yet. For some weird reason he wanted to tell her in person about the breakup. It was important that he tell her that he broke up with Kate and that he was falling in love with her.

The dance was now only two days away and he no longer had a date. He really wanted to ask Sam to the dance, but his brother was already taking her. He had to go to the dance and tell Sam how he truly felt about her. He had to tell her that he had been wrong about Kate the entire time.

Jake knew he had to get a date to be able to go to the dance, so he could confess his feelings to Sam. All of a sudden Jake thought of a way to get a date for the dance, but hated the idea. There had to be another way, but he realized that there wasn't. He dreaded what he had to do, but he needed to be at that dance. The things people do for those they love, thought Jake sourly. Jake slowly picked up the phone on the table and dialed a number he thought he would never have to dial.

At Harmony Ranch Jen heard the phone ringing and decided to answer it since nobody else was in the house. When she picked up the phone she was very surprised to hear the voice of Jake Ely on the other side.

"What do you want Ely?" asked Jen defensively. "I'm trying to get my homework and other important things done."

On the other end of the phone Jake sighed before answering. He hated talking to Jen on the phone because she was always defensive and had a very short temper with him. He decided he would just get to the point right away.

"Listen Kenworthy, I don't want to waste your time. I need to ask you to do a favor for me," said Jake quietly.

On the other side of the phone Jen was smiling wickedly to herself. The big, gruff silent cowboy was asking her for help. Jake must be really desperate to be calling me for help thought Jen. Depending on what this favor of Jake's was maybe she could use this to her advantage for her best friend.

"I'll help you, but it depends on what I would have to do," said Jen.

Jake started to feel embarrassed and shy about what he was going to tell Jen next. She would mostly think that he was crazy and tell him off, or she would totally flip out on him.

"Jen, what I'm about to tell you, you can't tell anybody."

Jen's curiosity was indeed peeked now. What could Jake Ely possibly tell her that nobody could know of? Jen decided to go with it and just see what was so top secret.

"Fine. I won't tell anybody your secret. So what is this so called secret of yours anyways?"

Jake took a deep breath. "After school today, me and Kate got into a big fight. She was talking bad about Sam, so I broke up with her."

"Wait a second," exclaimed Jen in an excited breath. "You mean to tell me, you broke up with Kate after school? That's your big bad secret?"

"That's not the entire secret Jen," said Jake slowly. "I broke up with Kate because I realized today that I don't love her. I love Sam."

At these words Jen dropped the phone onto the floor. Had she just heard Jake tell her that he broke up with Kate because he loved Sam? What the heck was going on? All of a sudden she realized that Jake was still talking to her.

"Jen, did you hear what I said?" Jake said slowly, as if talking to a small child who didn't understand.

"Yes I heard you," replied Jen in a huff. "I just didn't think I heard you say the words that I thought I heard you say. Did you really just say that you broke up with Kate, because you're in love with Sam?"

"Yes," replied Jake slowly and clearly. Jake was starting to worry about Jen. She wasn't taking this news well at all and he still hadn't gotten to ask his favor yet.

Jen sat down and was trying to analyze this new information that she was receiving. Jake was in love with Sam and broke up with Kate. All of a sudden Jen realized something: Jake was going to ruin all of her planning that she, Sam, and Quinn had gone through the last couple of days. He wasn't with Kate anymore, so he wouldn't be going to the Valentine's Dance and wouldn't be able to get together with Sam. But on the other hand this was wonderful news because he was in love with Sam and they didn't need a silly school dance to fall in love at. But still all of that good planning was now wasted and Jen decided that Jake Ely would get a piece of her mind for that.

"Jake I'm really happy that you broke up with Kate and love Sam, but you just completely ruined all of my plans to set you and Sam up at the Valentine's Dance."

"Maybe not," said Jake. "That's where my favor comes in. I want to tell Sam how I feel about her at the dance. Since I don't have a date anymore, I was wondering if you would go with me and then I can tell Sam that I love her at the dance."

"All right," said Jen in an even tone. "I'll go as your date to the dance and then once we get there you can confess your feelings to Sam. This actually will make everything so much easier."

"By the way Jen, why did you want to set me up with Sam in the first place?" asked Jake curiously.

"Because Sam loves you and I would anything for my best friend." After Jen said those words she realized what she had just said. "Don't tell Sam that I told you that."

"Sam loves me?" asked Jake after what seemed like a couple of minutes to Jen.

"Yes, she loves you. Why, I'm not entirely sure of, but she does. She couldn't stand it when you blew her off every time when Kate was around. She would act happy for you, but inside it tore her apart"

"Why are you telling me all of this?" asked Jake quietly.

"Because I think you should know what it was like for her when you ignored her for the Ice Princess. Just treat Sam right Jake, and you won't have any problems. But if you break her heart, I'll hunt you down and hurt you and your horse."

"Don' worry, I won't break her heart," said Jake with a seriousness in his voice that Jen had never heard before. "It's getting late and I have to go. Thanks for the information Jen."

"Anytime, Ely. Just remember what I said."

With that Jen and Jake both hung up their phones and had a lot to think about for the rest of the night.

The next day Jen and Sam had off from school. The Valentine's Dance was to be held the next day, which would be Saturday. The girls were excited to have three long days off from school and a big dance to look forward to.

Sam couldn't help but notice that her best friend was in a super good mood that day. Every time she would ask Jen about it she would get a vague answer that didn't make any sense at all. Finally Sam couldn't take it anymore and asked "What are you so excited about? And don't tell me some vague answer again either."

Jen wanted to tell her best friend the real reason why she was so happy but had made a promise that she wouldn't break. Instead Jen went with a half truth. "I got a date for the dance tomorrow night!"

"Really?" asked Sam excitedly. "That's terrific Jen!"

"Thanks," said Jen.

"Now we can both have fun at the dance." Sam was saying in a rush of words.

"We'll both be at the dance and when Jake sees you tomorrow night all fancied up, he'll forget about Kate and only have eyes for you."

"I doubt it," said Sam sadly. "He'll be too busy dancing with Kate and gazing into her evil eyes all night to notice me."

"Oh, cheer up Sam," said Jen happily. "People can surprise you when you're not expecting it."

"I suppose so," said Sam. "So who are you going with tomorrow night?"

"It's a surprise," said Jen excitedly. "You'll get to meet him at the dance tomorrow night and not before that."

"I don't even get a hint?" asked Sam mischievously.

"Nope," replied Jen in a serious voice. "What are you wearing to the dance tomorrow night?"

Sam noticed that Jen had changed the subject and decided not to push the topic any further on her secret date. "I was just going to wear my long black dress."

"Please tell me that it's not the long black dress with pink polka dots on it," said Jen in a horrified voice.

"Why, what's wrong with that dress?" said Sam. "I've worn it before and you never said anything about it."

Jen shook her head in amazement at her friend's lack of fashion. "That dress might be okay for me to wear because I love bizarre fashions like that, but it's all wrong for you. You need a dress that enhances your features and will make Jake drop dead at the sight of you."

"Where am I supposed to find such a dress?" asked Sam. Sam couldn't believe this. The dance was tomorrow night and the dress she had been planning to wear wasn't good enough according to Jen. She wanted the perfect dress that would make Jake notice her and fall in love with her.

"I believe that I might have a dress that would be perfect for you. It's an emerald green dress and it will make you look drop dead gorgeous tomorrow night."

"I'll have to see it before I decide to wear it."

"Of course," Jen said. "Here's a picture of it."

Jen pulled out a photograph of a lovely green dress. It was a gorgeous green strapless dress that had sparkles on the torso and would go great with Sam's auburn hair.

"Jen, this dress is beautiful."

"I know," said Jen smugly. "That's why I picked it up for you when I went to the thrift shop the other day. I knew it would look great on you."

"Well at least I have a dress now. Anything else that I need to look drop dead gorgeous for tomorrow night?"

"Let's see the perfect hairstyle, earrings, shoes, and probably a million of other things. Let's go through your stuff to see what you have and then we can try out different hairstyles on you today."

Sam couldn't help but think that she wouldn't have survived this dance planning stuff without her best friend's help. Sam smiled at Jen and said "What are we waiting for? Let's get started because we have less than 24 hours until the dance."

With that the girls went up to Sam's bedroom and started going through what they could use and not use to make Sam into Cinderella by the dance tomorrow night. While they were trying on different pieces of jewelry and hairstyles, Jen let Sam in on the new plans for the next night. Jen and Jake had come up with some better plans the night before and Jen was positive that tomorrow night her best friend would be living a magical fairytale.