Chapter 8
"Ryan's taking you tonight?" Sam asked Jen about the dance.
"Yes," Jen nodded. "Our first time out in public."
"You went to the movies," Sam reminded her.
"Yeah, but that wasn't a school function where people will know me," Jen said.
"People know us here?" Sam laughed. Jen laughed with her.
"True," Jen said. "Maybe next year when we're seniors, we won't be treated like lower life forms."
"Daisy will be gone," Sam grinned.
"If she graduates," Jen grinned back.
"Gosh, how miserable would it be if she flunks," Sam grumbled.
"Maybe I should offer to tutor her," Jen teased.
Sam barked out a laugh and the two friends laughed together.
"Can you tutor Rachel too while you're at it?" Sam wondered.
"No!" Jen yelped. "Now you're asking too much."
Sam giggled. "You're dating her brother."
"Her brother who is nothing like her," Jen pointed out.
"I hope not for your sake," Sam told her.
"He's not, Sam," Jen insisted. "He's a good guy. Give him a chance."
Jake dislikes him. Jake's my guy and I trust his judgment of people. The book is still out on Ryan Slocum. He is a Slocum after all.
Sam shrugged.
"He is, Sam," Jen told her.
"Okay," Sam responded. "He just makes me nervous because of his father."
"I know," Jen said. "Linc hasn't tried anything with the Phantom lately."
"And that makes me nervous," Sam replied. "It makes me wonder what he's plotting."
"Well Ryan isn't plotting anything," Jen maintained.
"I hope he has a sense of humor," Sam grinned.
"Why?"
"Bryan and Quinn are taking me," Sam told her.
"I still can't believe you're going with both of them," Jen shook her head.
"Who else would I go with?" Sam wondered.
"Jake?"
"Jake's not here," Sam reminded her. "So who better than his brothers."
"Brothers," Jen emphasized the plural.
"Won't I be the envy of every girl at the dance," Sam laughed.
"Well not all," Jen laughed. "I'll be happy with my date."
"Does Ryan dance?" Sam asked.
"I think so," Jen sat up in surprise. "You know, I never asked him."
"I'll be the envy of every girl at the dance," Sam laughed again.
"Yeah, okay," Jen conceded. "You might be. I may have to borrow one if Ryan doesn't dance."
"Nuh uh," Sam shook her head. "You might have to rent one if Ryan doesn't dance."
"You're pimping out Jake's brothers?" Jen choked on her laughter.
"Just think of all the money I could make," Sam laughed with her.
"And they'd just hate it too," Jen rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, poor Ely boys having to be pimped out," Sam had to cover her mouth she was laughing so hard. She wiped her eyes with the other hand.
"Oh my gosh, what a way to put yourself through college," Jen giggled, taking off her glasses so she could wipe her eyes on her sleeve.
"Maybe I should go to a business school," Sam suggested.
"Maybe Maxine should have had more than six sons," Jen said. "Oh wait, Jake doesn't count since he's not as hot as the others."
"Jen," Sam warned her. "You're talking about the guy I…" She broke off.
"You what?"
"I care about him a lot," Sam finished.
Jen tilted her head at her friend. "Is that what you were thinking?"
Sam looked away. "I love him Jen. I've always loved him," Sam looked back. "Do I love him as a woman loves a man? I think so even though we're still so new in our relationship."
"I'm not saying anything," Jen assured her. "Only you know if you love him or not."
"Our relationship isn't all that different than it's always been," Sam shrugged.
"How so?" Jen asked.
"We still tease each other, we still tell each other almost everything," Sam explained. "Now though there is just a bit more between us. We kiss."
"You've kissed him before," Jen reminded her.
"Yeah, but that was nothing like how we kissed this time," Sam felt warm again.
Jen grinned knowingly.