Lol, someone voted no on my poll xD sorry you don't like my story!


Jake parked his truck by the lake; he shut the engine off and turned his lights off. Silently, he opened his door and climbed out. I considered following him but my body protested against it, besides, his truck was comfortable. I hunkered down into the seat and heard the sound of his rusty tailgate being put down. A part of me wondered if he expected me to follow, another part didn't really care. Yawning, I lay down across the bench seat, his truck shook and I could hear his boots against the metal, he was doing something in the bed of the truck. A little curious, I pushed myself back up and winced a little.

His back was turned to me and he was standing by the window. I wondered what he would do if I opened it and pinched his butt. He would probably throw me in the lake and leave me there to drown. Stifling another yawn I lay back down. What time was is anyway? The green light from the radio glowed as I pushed it on to check the time.

It was almost midnight. Dad was going to kill me.

I sat up once again and turned to open the window to tell Jake he needed to get me home pronto. But he wasn't there.

"C'mon Brat," he opened my door and I jumped a little in surprise. He smirked and I rolled my eyes pushing him aside so I could get out.

"Jake I need to get home," I said wincing as I slid out of the truck and stood on my feet unsteadily. "It's a school night."

Jake snorted. "Since when did you care?" He grabbed my hand, surprising me again. When I opened my mouth to protest he squeezed my hand reassuringly. "Besides, I talked to Wyatt."

Whatever that meant.

"Ok...," I said hoping he would catch on to my uncertainty. Figures the only time I would want him to notice something he wouldn't...or he would just ignore me...which was most likely.

He led me around to the back of the truck and helped me up into the bed, hopping up after me like a jungle cat.

"Dun, nu, nu, nu, nu, nu, nu, nu, Batman," I sang and he rolled his eyes, kicking off his boots. I raised an inquiring eyebrow.

"Take off your shoes."

I suppressed a snort. "Why?"

He sighed and nodded behind me. "I know you aren't that dense."

I turned and saw sleeping bags, pillows, lanterns, and food all laid out. I blushed and took off my shoes. Jake shook his head and if I wasn't mistaken he looked like he was smiling.

I crawled towards the back of the truck and snuggled down into one of the sleeping bags.

"Where did this all come from?" I asked. I hadn't seen him get anything out of the truck...and we hadn't stopped by his house. I looked up at him with eyes filled with wonder. "Is it magic?"

He chuckled and sat down beside me. "Are you five?" Reminding both of us of my slap to his head when I had said I was five. I laughed and he glared at me unable to suppress a smile.

"I still owe you for that one...," he muttered to himself and I stopped laughing. Swallowing hard I shrugged.

"I think you annihilating me in paintball is good enough." And finding me like you did. And finding me crawling out of a dumpster. And observing my life fall apart in front of me. If anything, I should slap him about eighteen more times. But that wouldn't be very nice seeing all he had done for me.

Of course, I didn't say any of that.

He leaned back on his elbows and looked up at the sky. "Maybe."

I stared down at him, his teeth shone bright white underneath the shadow of his hat and I couldn't tell if he was looking back at me. His muscular arms strained against my father's t-shirt and his dark hair was slicked back into its ponytail.

He grunted and pushed himself back into sitting position. He took off his hat, his gaze resting on me. I looked away quickly and cleared my throat.

"Alright...what are you thinking about Brat?" He asked.

Of course, I couldn't really tell him I was just thinking about...him. Why would I be doing that anyway? Out of all the things I could be thinking about! Way to have a brain like a girl...sheesh.

"I don't know," I lied shrugging my shoulders. Well, it wasn't a total lie. "Just stuff...there's been a lot to think about, ya know?"

His lips turned down in the corners to a slight frown. "Yeah."

I sat up and pulled my knees to my chest, hugging them tightly. I rested my chin on top of my knees and looked out towards the lake. The moon was full and its reflection shone brightly on the surface of the lake, a slight breeze making small ripples on its smooth surface. Again I felt tears form in my eyes, burning as I refused to let them fall. I couldn't cry, I had to be strong...I've already acted like a child. It was time I acted strong, for dad, for Gram, for Jen, and Jake. Sitting around blubbering wasn't going to help anyone.

I still felt Jake's gaze on me and I sighed a shuddering breath. "What am I going to do?" I asked, my voice coming out in a hoarse whisper. It was the question I've been thinking about the most and if anyone were to know the answer it'd be Jake.

"Sam...," he scooted closer and wrapped his arm around my shoulder; I leaned against him and concentrated on holding back my tears. Never in my life have I felt so uncertain, so helpless. It was scary.

"We'll try and figure something out, I promise," he squeezed his arm reassuringly as if to back up his statement. "Besides," he reached around and grabbed two granola bars; handing one to me. "It may not seem like it right now...but it's not the end of the world."

It sure felt like it was.

x-x-x-x

Jake was sound asleep next to me, his deep breathing joining the rest of the night time sounds. A distant howl, a chirp of a bug, the rustle of a nearby shrub in the breeze, and a new sound...a sound of wild horses. Slowly I sat up making sure not to wake Jake and scanned the playa. A snort drew my attention over towards the lake, slowly a smile spread over my face. I drew my legs out from the sleeping bag quietly and crawled towards the tailgate, with a final glance back a Jake I hopped out.

Horses lifted their heads from the water at my slow approach; I came to a stop and searched through the herd for the one horse I was looking for. There was a small disturbance in the middle of the herd, a few scattered out of the way and the Phantom emerged. His silvery white coat shone as bright as the moon and his attentive dark eyes caught mine.

He trotted towards me and stopped halfway, bobbing his head and pawing. I glanced back at the truck to make sure Jake was still asleep and was surprised to see that he was. Who would have thought he'd be a deep sleeper. Taking a deep breath and keeping my gaze towards the ground, I took a tentative step towards him. A quick peek up let me see he was watching me, but not frightened. I continued in his direction slowly until I could hear his soft breathing. Again I felt myself smile.

"Zanzibar," it was a whisper as soft as the breeze that played in his mane. In return he gave a soft nicker and I looked up.

I offered my hand to him and he rested his nose in it, sighing contentedly. I too sighed and reached my other hand up to scratch his forehead.

"That's my boy," I whispered smiling at him. His ears flicked towards me at the sound at my voice and his big brown eyes softened.

I rested my forehead on his and closed my eyes. His warm breath still tickling my hand, my other hand entwined in his mane. In that moment everything was so right in a time of wrong. Sure, I'm losing River Bend...my home. That doesn't mean I was losing everything. My friends weren't leaving, nor my family, I wouldn't have the same neighbors--but I'd still see them...and I still had my Zanzibar. Maybe I would be alright...just maybe everything will be okay.

"It's not the end of the world...," I smiled as he gave a snort of agreement.

x-x-x-x

Getting back into the truck quietly was harder than getting out. I wiped my hands on my pants before placing them on the tailgate and slowly tried hoisting myself up. A squeak of pain came out as I smacked my knee on the tailgate and I looked up to see if it woke Jake up. Surprisingly, he was still sleeping.

"Maybe he's dead...," I muttered crawling over to my sleeping bag. There was a sense of accomplishment once I was settled into my sleeping bag. Never had I thought in a hundred years would I be able to sneak around with Jake nearby. So there really is a first for everything...

I rolled over onto my back and jumped, startled, banging my head against the back of the truck. Jake smiled down at me in his annoying knowing way and I groaned.

"How's Blackie? Not so black anymore is he?" Jake asked still smiling--which I guess was better than him being mad. So instead of acting surprised, I played along.

"He's as healthy as a horse." I shoved him back so I could sit up. "And I was little when I named him...sheesh."

"You really thought you were being sneaky? You know you can't keep anything from me."

I rolled my eyes. "Gee, Jake...how's your ego? Still bursting at the seams I see."

Jake snorted and lay back down on his sleeping bag. "Go to bed you pesky hooligan."

I lay back down in my sleeping bag too, actually tired now. "You go to bed...," I yawned rather lamely, before falling asleep.

x-x-x-x

Cold...really cold.

I stretched out in my sleeping bag and realized Jake was gone. There was an odd sense of movement...why was the sky moving? As if to answer my question a bump made me bang my head on the floor. Realizing what was going on I scrambled out of my sleeping bag and sat up. The truck was moving...Jake was driving the truck!

That poop head.

"Jake! You moron!" I banged on the back window yelling, hoping he could hear me. "Jake!"

I could see his smile in the rear view mirror. Hopefully he saw my returning glare. Slowly he pulled the truck to a stop on the side of the road and I jumped out of the bed; taking my sleeping bag with me.

Rubbing my head where I hit it, I walked over to Jake's door. He opened it and I threw the sleeping bag at him.

"What?" He asked laughing.

"Thanks for waking me up you jerk," I said hoisting myself in the truck and climbing over his lap into the passenger side seat.

He shrugged. "You looked peaceful...and honestly it was nice and quiet."

"Hardy-har." I rolled my eyes but couldn't help but smile. In his own way he was looking out for me. Of course he did it in a not so great way...but I take what I can get. I pulled down the mirror to get a quick look at my reflection.

"Ah!" Yelling I jumped back against the seat before scooting back forward. "Oh...wow. I think I should go home...take a sick day." My reflection stared back at me...but the thing was it didn't look like me. My eyes were swollen and red, the cut above it bruising around the edges, my lips were chapped and cracked...and my hair looked like it possessed its own planet.

"No can do...we are almost there now." Jake said as we neared the school.

"Um, are you blind? Look at me! I can not go in there like this...," I tried combing my hair with my fingers but ended up just putting it in a ponytail.

"Trust me Sam I'm doing all I can not to laugh," he smiled and I hit him in the back of the head. "Ow...besides, since when do you care what other people think?"

I sighed and closed the mirror. Crossing my arms I sat back against the seat and closed my eyes. "It's not that I care what other people think...I just don't want to draw attention."

Jake glanced over at me quickly and turned the truck into the school parking lot. "I thought you liked the attention."

"You're a jerk." I said unbuckling my seat belt. Jake parked the truck and I opened my door. He reached over me and pulled it shut.

"I'm sorry," he apologized, being serious now.

I shrugged my hand still on the door handle. "I know, I know...me too. I haven't been necessarily pleasant. So, just forget it."

"Do you really want to go home?" His arm was still stretched across me and holding the door.

"Nah, it's ok." I pushed on the door again and he let go. "Besides...I'll just tell everyone you beat me up." I smiled at him and shut the door. His door shut too and his boots smacked the pavement behind me.

He put me in a headlock and I tried to kick his shin but I missed.

"Tell everyone that and I will." He messed up my hair more than it already was and I pretended to make choking noises.

"Uncle, eh," I took a huge dramatic breath and rubbed my throat. "Abusive." I looked at him accusingly and he rolled his eyes.

"Get outta here," he shoved me towards school and I stuck my tongue out at him. But I did feel better and I guess I had Jake to thank for that.

"Samantha Forster!"

I gulped, I knew that angry voice anywhere...

"Where have you been?" Jen marched up to me her braids flapping angrily. She stopped short and stared at me, gaping. "Whoa, what did Rachel do now?"

I rolled my eyes. "Pfft, as if Rachel could ever inflict this kinda damage on moi? I'm insulted Jen."

Jen started getting flustered, her eyes wild. "Sam! This isn't funny! What happened? Are you ok? Why didn't you call me? Did you go to the hospital? I can't--"

"Jen!" I yelled cutting her off.

She looked at me sheepishly. "Sorry." We walked towards the school in silence and I could tell Jen was itching to ask more questions. She hated not knowing things...it was in her brainy nature. "Well?"

"Quick version or long version?" I asked sighing. Not like we really even had time for either.

"Hm, quick...then you can explain things in further details later," she said flicking a braid behind her shoulder.

I stopped and pulled her over by a tree, we stood under it alone and I took a deep breath.

"Jake and Darrel play paintball with Sam. Sam come home. Bank man in Sam's home. Sam get panic. Bank man take Sam's home. Sam run away. Sam fall down mountain. Sam get stitches," I hoped that using an ancient sounding voice in third person would make it not seem like a big deal. By Jen's stricken look it didn't work.

"Sam are you serious?" She asked in a whisper. Her eyes looking shinier than normal. "You lost River Bend?"

"Sam very serious." I mumbled looking down at my shoes. "Sam is-"

"Stop referring to yourself in the third person!" Jen yelled causing a few heads to turn.

"Sam is--I mean--sorry," I glared at a few people whose stares lingered too long and they looked away.

Jen leaned against the tree and rubbed her face, pushing her glasses up her head as she did. "God, Sam...that's awful. I'm so sorry."

Usually, I'd get annoyed when people would tell me they were sorry. Like when my mom died, everyone was so sorry. Sorry, for your loss. Sorry, about your mom. Yeah, I know, I was sorry too...except I really was. People try sympathizing with you, so they say sorry, because they don't know what else to say. I didn't want people to say it because they didn't know what else to say, I wanted them to mean it. But then there were people who truly did mean it, like Jen and Jake. When they said sorry, they really were, because they see me everyday, they are almost always with me. Always there for me...not just when my mother dies.

"It's okay Jen...really. It's not like it's the end of the world or anything. Just time for a new home." I said remember what Jake had said.

"Where are you going to move?" She asked still trying to gather herself.

I shrugged. "Who knows," I grabbed Jen's arm and pulled her into a hug. "But you aren't getting rid of me that easily...don't worry."

Jen giggled and pulled back. "Darn."

I shoved her and laughed too. The warning bell rang and I waved to Jen as I jogged for the building. Now it was time to face everyone else.