Weeee my 2nd chapter :) The chapters will soon get more interesting; they're boring me as of right now. Check out my profile, it might help you understand the story, I don't know. Just kidding about only updating Mondays, this is kind of addicting. Oh, and I don't own the characters, those are Terri Farley's. I also don't own twinkies, but I would love to.

Memories were flooding back now. This was Jake. Taller, older, and much cuter from the last time I saw him. I blushed and looked away, something I rarely did. When I looked back he was rubbing the back of his neck. I smiled as I remembered nine-year-old Jake standing in my kitchen, doing the same exact thing before asking if I wanted to go for a ride. I looked around the room. Next to Jake were three more guys who looked similar to him, they must be his brothers. The next in line was who I assumed was Mr. and then Mrs. Ely.

"Why don't you take a seat, Samantha?" Mrs. Abbey asked curtly. I did and the usual questions began. What do you like to do? Who are your friends? Do you like school? Once the whole family got going, I had some different questions. " Have you ever mucked a stall?" I answered yes to that one. One of the brothers asked if I had a boyfriend, and I told him no even though I wasn't sure. I kept glancing at Jake, and I could feel him watching me. I was sure we had been friends, maybe even best friends. I looked around again and realized everyone was watching me. The next words Mrs. Ely spoke shocked me so hard I was glad I was sitting.

"When can she come over?"

Mrs. Abbey was almost as shocked as I was. " Are you sure you don't want and more interviews, we have some very nice girls, or if you want you can come back later, take your time in the decision?" She looked so flustered I almost felt bad for her. Almost.

" That's quite all right actually, we'd love to take Samantha home as soon as possible," Mrs. Ely said. " Maybe even today?"

"Oh, of course," Mrs. Abbey replied, regaining her composure. " Why don't you go pack your bags Samantha?" She raised her eyebrows. I guessed she wanted me gone.

" Why don't you go help her Jake?" asked Mrs. Ely. He tried to look bored but I could tell her was curious. " Sure," he replied. One my way out Melinda looked shocked. Gwen and Rachel looked around like baby birds, unsure how to fly without Mother Melinda's instructions. I grinned at Christy as I went by and she caught my arm. She pulled me into a huge hug.

" Mrs. Abbey's going to see-"

" Screw the rules," she said, " You better come visit me " I nodded. Jake looked uncomfortable, but I felt strangely at ease around him.

"C'mon," I told him. When we reached my room I pointed immediately to my desk chair. "Sit," I ordered. He did and I sat on my bed. " So… you're Jake. And you used to be my friend. I think maybe my neighbor too," I looked at him, but he didn't say anything. " And now you…" I was giving obvious hints, and he wasn't catching on. I decided to wait. He had to talk sometime. He did.

"Ever since you… had to leave, we've been looking for you. And no one would tell us. We checked all around, but we didn't check here at first… then we stopped for a year. We thought you must be placed in a home, or we'd have found you by now. And then my mom heard about this place… and she just had to check. She really wanted to find you, to make sure you were okay."

I could tell that had been a speech for him. I could also tell I was going to ball my eyes out if I didn't get my act together. A few tears slipped in the corners of my eyes. Shoot. Now he was going to think I was some big wimp and go tell his mom and my chance to get out would be ruined. I wiped them away but they were replaced. Shoot, shoot, shit. Jake stood up and sat down next to me.

"Hey, it's okay." I could tell he was uncomfortable again. "Lets pack your stuff up?" I just nodded. We were done in ten minutes and my box was light enough I could have carried it one handed, but he toke it anyway. He was about to leave when I grabbed his arm.

" Um," I wanted to say something nice to thank him but all I could think of was " Does it looklike I was crying?" He shook his head no. " Ok. Thanks." We walked down without speaking, but it was a comfortable silence. They must have had their talk with Mrs. Abbey because the Ely's were standing by the lobby doors waiting for us. When Mrs. Ely smiled I couldn't help but smile back. I had done this before so why was it so different? Because they knew me. Someone in the world, more than someone - a whole family, cared about me. I was knocked out of my thoughts by a thump on the back.

" Welcome to the family sister, I'm Nate. This is Bryan, and this is Quinn."

" Watch out, I bet she hits back," Jake said. I turned and looked at him from the corner of my eye. Had he seen my rising hand? I gave him a smack upside the head for good measure. His brothers were laughing at him as we reached the cars. I was starting to like this. Everyone quieted for a second and looked at me, almost expectantly.

"Uh, what?" I asked.

"You look exhausted Sam, why don't you ride back with just Jake so you can get some rest." Mrs. Ely suggested, looking concerned. I suddenly did feel exhausted – at least emotionally.

"Okay," I said. Jake led me to an old pickup truck and opened the passenger door.

"You want me to drive?" I asked. What was he thinking? I was only fifteen.

"Um, no. I was…" He looked mad for a second but quickly erased any expression from his face. " Never mind." He closed the door and walked around to the other side. What was his problem? I sighed and climbed into the already started car. He wasn't going to make this an easy friendship to repair. I fought to stay awake in the car. I wasn't usually so tired, but my nightmares had kept me up last night. The next thing I knew I was asleep, and dreaming the same dream I'd been dreaming ever since the night it happened…

He was coming up the stairs. Every step sounded further away, but he was still coming. All I could hear was his steps, in time with the beating of my heart in my ears. All my blood was rushing to the bottom of my stomach. Everything was slow, slow, slow and his steps were coming closer, closer, closer-

"What?" I yelped. Jake snatched his hand back from where he had been poking me. If he hadn't woken me up I was sure I would have gotten further in my dream. I'd never dreamed the whole thing. If I could just remember what had happened, maybe I could figure out what he wanted, what was so important Dad needed to find it like he had?

"Sorry, I was just wondering if you needed anything." He looked a little bit sheepish, and I remembered I really should be nice to him. Outside my window was a small gas station with the words "Phil's Fill Up" painted across the side in a rusty orange color. Across the street was a small diner with a sign that read "Clara's." He was still staring at me awaiting my answer.

"Sure." I said.

"What do you want?"

"Whatever is fine. Please?" I replied. I was still a little mad that he'd interrupted my dream. A couple minutes later he came out of the store with a bag. He handed me an orange soda and a package of twinkies, my favorite. I eyed him and he smirked.

" How did you know?" I asked.

"It's always been that way. When we were little and my mom used to take us to the movies, you would always get that."

"Oh."

"So what were you dreaming about that was so important?" I glared at him.

"Nothing," I said, but with hesitation in my voice. Suddenly I wanted to tell him. I wanted to tell him everything, about how if I could just remember, it would be ok. He was waiting.

"It's just this dream I keep having. But it never finishes, and I need to know what happens, okay?" Now I was really mad. This was none of his business, I shouldn't be telling him. He didn't say anything until we had pulled up to a large three-story house.

"Did you ever ask anyone for help?" he asked.

"Who would want to help me find something out about my past?" Great, now he knew what the dream was about.

"Me."