Chapter 14

Rachel Slocum had never been so utterly angry in her life. Excluding the time when she saw Jake Ely kissing Samantha Forster.

But at least then their mouths had been closed!

Pacing Daisy Robert's bedroom, Rachel stopped to glance at the photos on her BFF's bulletin board. They almost all featured Rachel in them, she was glad to see. All except one had Daisy's ex-boyfriend in them. Then one caught her eye. It was of Daisy's birth mother (who'd run off to Las Vegas after having Daisy) with Mr. Roberts and two-day old Daisy in it.

"That's it!" exclaimed Rachel out-loud. "Everyone knows that I am famous for spreading rumors…"

Her blond cheerleader friend bustled into the room, wearing a low-cut tank top and skinny jeans. "Okay, I'm back." Daisy announced, handing a cup of steaming vanilla coffee to Rachel.

She held back a grimace. Her hostess was trying, but Rachel hardly could accept anything lower than a Starbucks or H&M clothing.

"What's the plan?" Daisy asked excitedly, lounging in her tie-dye beanbag chair. "I'm absolutely dying to humiliate Sam Forster in front of that hunky Jake Ely."

"Why's that?" Rachel snapped. She may have flunked Algebra 1, but when it came to social and emotional reactions, Rachel was a pro.

Daisy looked like a deer in the headlights. "Oh, you know, Sam's just so irritating and you hate her…"

Rachel raised two immaculate eyebrows. "If I did not know any better, I'd think that you are crushing on Jacob Ely!"

"Everyone thinks he's hot, Rachel. Plus, he's taken by a dorky fifteen-year-old. Seriously."

Clunking down the cup of coffee, Rachel crossed her arms and stared down at her beta girl. No one dared to talk back to the English Majesty. And Daisy especially, who'd probably had been stealing Jake Ely since she left in January!

"Listen, Rach." Daisy told her steadily. "We both hate Sammy Forster and we both love Jacob Ely. Now let's hear your scheme."

The brunette rich girl flipped her stylish cropped hair. "That's better, Daisy. But I'll need your loud mouth to broadcast this to Darton, Alkali and especially Jake's family. So listen up…"

Back at Riverbend

For the last forty-five minutes, Sam and Jake had worked in silence. It was a particularly awkward silence, but there really wasn't anything Sam could think of to say that sounded right. So she just kept scooping out the stalls.

Quickly, Sam through a glance at Jake. His jaw wasn't tightened and his eyes weren't mad. He just was embarrassed.

"Jake…" Sam started, setting down her shovel. "Um, are you mad that that happened?"

Jake couldn't meet her eyes. "What happened?" he inquired innocently.

UGH! Sam hated when she had to repeat something embarrassing. "You know, that we were kissing, more than we ever have, and then I forgot that Jen was on the phone with me?"

To her surprise, Jake gave a small smirk, still not looking up from scooping up dirty bedding. "Nah. Go figure, right?"

Sam rolled her eyes. "Well, I know that Jen won't stop pestering me until I tell her what happened."

Jake swallowed. "Just don't let Wyatt get a hold of this." he mumbled, rubbing his neck.

"I don't plan to." Sam responded.

…...

"Phil's Fill-up?" Rachel spitted out. "How revolting. But if that's what it takes to get revenge, so be it!"

Daisy rolled her blond eyebrows. "It's a good idea, Rachel, and you know it."

"But I'm going to have to talk to Darrell!" Rachel uttered his name like she did to Jen Kentworthy's.

"Quit being dramatic." Daisy said, ignoring Rachel's smirk.

Her best friend flipped her brunette hair back and sauntered through the door as if she owned the place. Of course, Daisy was used to it and followed her obediently like a little puppy. She did gape at the vehicle parked in the drive though. A crème-colored Porsche sat gleaming in the bright July heat. It was exquisite.

"If this can't win him, nothing can." Rachel announced. "It's a small gift from my father to repair all the damage that he's done to me."

Daisy smiled and ducked elegantly onto the immaculate matching passenger seat. In a specialized CD holder, dozens of brand-new bonus disks sat. Daisy noticed that the license plates were from New York and in bright pink lettering read "Rach Rulez".

Even if there was no traffic from her residence to Alkali, Daisy still hoped to see someone with a shocked expression driving past Rachel's Porsche.

"-I wanted it from New York City too," Rachel continued on. "So when I came back to pack up, I acquired it."

The petite blond, meanwhile smiled smugly at Clara as they cruised by Clara's Diner. The vibrant blonde only laughed, from what Daisy saw.

After awhile, Daisy and Rachel were inside the "unsanitary" gas station. Really, it was better than any Mobil or Shell around, since Darrell was pretty good at cleaning it up, shocker there.

"Why, hello, Daniel." Rachel said purposely, acting surprised to see him there. "I did not know you worked at this filthy store."

Darrell raised his eyebrows. "Yo, Queen." he laughed. "'Sup, Tulip?"

It was funny how she'd never noticed his biceps, Daisy thought dreamily. And how he was so tall and…masculine.

A sharp jab in the back sent Daisy back from her fantasy.

"I see some of us haven't grown up." Rachel replied crisply.

"Yeah? Still 5"6?" Darrell acted like she was a dwarf.

Rachel scowled. "I came here to pick up some items for our dear friend Samantha."

In the meantime, Daisy was grabbing newborn diapers, burp rags and with a short laugh, a nursing medication that helps the milk come faster. She wasn't surprised it was well-stocked. Phil's Fill-up was huge inside.

Darrell glanced at Daisy's armful of baby items. "When're you due?" he asked nonchalantly.

Rachel steamed. "It's for Samantha, Darrell, hasn't Jake told you the good news?"

"Oh yeah?" the teenage guy rung up the items to a grand total of forty dollars.

"Oh yeah." Daisy answered, a little bit too enthusiastic. "Since it already costs a load to have a baby, we figured we'd donate a few items."

Darrell laughed. "How nice of ya'll." he drawled, completely ignoring their comments. "Good luck with that medication."