Finally starting to get back on track! Enough sad stuff...let them LAUGH!

Zach gave a small wave as he pulled out of my driveway; I watched his car drive away before walking to the barn. The moon was full and bright so I left the lights off letting the moonlight fill the aisle way. I stopped at Ace's stall and let myself in, he looked up from his pile of hay curiously before turning his attention back to it. Food before anything else...what can I say...horse like owner.

Poor Zach. The freshness of his sorrow began to bring back all of mine that had been building for days along with old sorrows of the loss of my own mother. I slid down the wall and sat on the clean straw, drawing my knees to my chest I rested my chin on them. And then...I let all the emotions I've been trying so hard to keep in out. I didn't even budge or jump when I heard the stall door open again and felt someone sit down beside me.

"Why are you always here?" The sound of my voice was muffled by my knees, not bothering to pick up my head.

"What did he do to you?" He sounded stern, his voice strained.

I looked up at Jake confused. What on earth was he talking about? "What?"

"Did he hurt you?"

Oh. "No," I rested my chin on my knees, enjoying not being suffocated by the lack of air in my little shelter I had made myself.

"Sam?" For once Jake sounded confused and I looked over at him again. He searched my face in the moonlight, his eyebrows scrunched together on his forehead. "What's wrong?"

I sighed. Feeling like I've been over this a hundred times before...especially with Jake. "It's just...hanging out with Zach tonight...made me realize how much I miss my mom."

"Uh-huh...um why?" Jake being lost was like a fish living on the playa...it just went against nature.

I told him about Zach's parents and how it reminded me of mom.

"C'mere Brat," sighing Jake pulled me into a hug and I didn't fight it. Even though something about being mad at him poked in the back of my brain like an annoying little splinter.

"You know what sucks?" I didn't wait for him to ask what. "River Bend is all I really have of her. Even my photographs of her were all taken from here or somewhere around here...its like I have to lose her twice."

"You'll never lose her Sam. She'll always be in your heart...you know that."

I smiled. "You sound like such a queer."

He grunted and pushed me into Ace's hay pile before standing up. "You really are a brat."

I hid my smile, cause even though I teased him, he'd never know how much his little girly statements help me.

x-x-x-x-x

Jake didn't bother saying bye after I was finished teasing him so I walked inside to find Gram cleaning the kitchen. She looked at the clock then at me. "You're actually early...everything ok?"

"Yeah, great," I said mimicking a yawn hoping it would get me out of playing three-thousand questions with Gram. She nodded and went back to cleaning; I sighed in relief and headed for the stairs.

"Oh!" Wanting to cry, I turned back to look at Gram. "The Slocum boy called...Ryan! He said to call him tonight," she paused and tsked her tongue. "All of these gentlemen callin' on you Samantha Anne...Wyatt don't like it."

Oh geez. What was this the 1950s? Oh, me, oh, my! A gentleman caller for me! Sheesh. "Okay, I'll call him from my room." I ran up the stairs before Gram could say anything else embarrassing or start her grilling.

I was a little ashamed that I actually knew the Slocum's number and didn't need a phone book, but was greatful to hear Ryan pick up the phone instead of anybody else.

"Ah, Sam. I'm glad you called!"

"Yeah, sure. What's up?" I really didn't care to have a conversation right now.

"I got everything you need."

Wow. I sat up straighter remembering my plan I had, feeling excited I smiled. "Geez. Do you have like a Teletubbies supplies on standby?" That would be mega creepy.

He laughed. "No...I just have my ways."

I guess it was a family trait. "Cool so when can I get it?"

"I can pick you up tomorrow morning for school if you'd like...Jen too," he added as a second thought.

At least I wouldn't be alone which would be really awkward. "Yeah sure."

"Alright I'll be at your house at seven."

"Wait!" I had an idea. "Can you actually do me one more favor?"

"Yeah, what?"

"Well...Rachel gets to school early for cheerleading right?" Ryan confirmed this and I smiled wickedly. "Do you think you can get me there earlier than her?"

"I can do that."

"Thanks Ryan," I hung up and for the first time in my life...I couldn't wait for school tomorrow.

x-x-x-x-x

"I'm a little worried Sam that it was so easy for you to break into that." Jen stood next to me fidgeting while I rummaged through Rachel's locker. "You have a solid career ahead of you."

"Thanks for the support Jen." I rolled my eyes as I set the final touches in Rachel's locker and put everything back where it was. "You sure this will work?"

Jen rolled her eyes mimicking me. "Thanks for the support Sam," when I just stared at her unamused she sighed. "Yes it'll work."

I smiled, victory was mine.

"Here you go Samantha," Ryan stopped beside Jen and I. Jen smiled and fixed her hair, when she saw me staring at her she glared. Ryan handed me a red lump of fabric with a giant smiling mask. Po. The Teletubbies really are creepy...I shivered as I grabbed it from him. "Rachel gets here in ten minutes...school doors open in twenty."

I put the head on and Jen giggled. "What's the point of Rachel getting here ten minutes before everyone else?" My voice was muffled by the heavy head and Jen continued to giggle.

Ryan shrugged and smiled. "No idea. All the cheerleaders meet in the gym before school...Rachel sets everything up I guess."

"So she'll be alone?" Jen asked and Ryan nodded. "Okay well then...I guess we should get ready. Ryan go hide your car, Sam go get changed, and I'll find a lookout point."

"Ready...BREAK!" I yelled and ran to the bathroom. Today was going to be so much fun.

Getting the costume on was a little more difficult than I thought it would be, but when I finally got it on I ran into the gym and shut off all the lights. I stood by the door so I could see Rachel's locker. As soon as I saw her I wanted to vomit at her too-short skirt and her cleavage that was pushed up to her chin. Did she really think that it was cute? Her boobs looked like an extra chin. They had to be fake...nothing natural is every that perky. Am I really thinking about Rachel's boobs...?

I shook my head and watched her throw her cell phone in her bag before fiddling with the lock on her locker. It took all I had to contain my excitement as I wiggled in place. She pulled it open and in the gym I could hear the Teletubbies theme song blaring through her locker.

Over the hills and far away,
Teletubbies come to play ...
Time for Teletubbies,

She slammed her locker shut and looked around with wide eyes. I tried to put my hand over my mouth but the mask was in the way so I bit my lip. Shaking her head she turned the lock again and opened it.

Time for Teletubbies,
Time for Teletubbies...

She dug through her locker furiously before stepping back to stare.

Tinkywinky. "Tinkywinky!"
Dipsy. "Dipsy!"
Laalaa. "Laalaa!"

Screaming she ran right for the gym...just as Ryan had predicted. I ran to the center of the gym floor and waited...giddy. The gym doors slammed open and Rachel ran in.

"Lights...lights...li-" she fumbled for the lights and finally finding them switched every last one on.

"PO!" I yelled my arms outstretched. Rachel scream and ran, giggling I followed her. "Teletubbies. "Teletubbies!" Say, Heeeeee-lo! "Eh-oh!" Tinkywinky. Dipsy. Laalaa. Po."

"Get away!" Rachel screamed running down the hall. "Go!"

"Say Heeeeeee ...'Uh-oh!'" Rachel dashed through another door and into a dark classroom. I opened the door and crept in after her. "Where have the Teletubbies gone?" I shut the door and walked further into the room. "Raaaaaaaaachel. Come out and plaaaaaaaaaay."

She whined from in the corner. "Leave me alone! This isn't funny!"

She was right...this wasn't funny...it was hilarious. "Give Po a hug!"

"Stop!" She screamed bloody murder before pushing past me and running out of the room. Unable to control my laughter and longer I let her go hide while I fell against the desk laughing. Jen stepped into the room with the video camera in her hand and in hysterics.

"That was amazing!" She laughed shaking her head. "But do you think we were too mean?"

I turned to her. "It's Rachel."

She nodded. "True."

"Did you get the stuff from her locker?" I asked...wanting to leave no evidence behind.

"Ryan did. He put it in his car...what are you gunna do with the costume?"

"Wear it...all day."

Not really...it was too hot in this damn contraption.

x-x-x-x-x

"Where were you this morning?" Jake asked as he sat down at our lunch table. I hadn't seen Zach today and I was worried about him.

"School...where I am every weekday morning." I replied shoving a cookie in my mouth.

"You didn't get off your bus though. I needed to talk to you."

Stalker. "I got a ride..."

"With who?"

"Jake! Can we calm it down for one day?" He was starting to kill my mojo. I glared at Darrel who sat down at the table in front of me...surprisingly no bimbo attached to him today...which for once I would have preferred it if there was.

"Did you guys here?" He asked sitting down a huge grin on his face. He managed to wink at me before shoving a banana down his throat. Creep.

"You're a total perv? That's old news Darrel." I said scooting down some so I didn't I to sit directly across from him and his deep-throating banana self.

"Wait what?" He shook his head and turned his attention back to the both of us. "Rachel has been in the therapist's office all day!"

I choked on a chocolate chip and refrained from laughing.

Jake looked at me before turning to Darrel. "What? Why?"

Darrel leaned forward, excited to share his news. "Apparently they found her hiding under Mrs. Meyers desk in hysterics. She was mumbling 'Po'...whatever that means."

I bit my lip and buried my face into the veil my hair created. Not laughing was the hardest thing ever.

"You okay Sammy?" Darrel asked and I glared at him before kicking his shin under the table. "Ow!"

"I still hate you Darrel."

"You're still my one true love Sammy girl."

I stood up and grabbed my lunch tray. "Go jump off a cliff."

"Sam! You wound me Sammy!" Darrel called out as I walked away wanting nothing more than to pwn him across the face with my lunch tray.