Chapter 24

A couple of weeks later, Sam woke up with a scratchy throat. She rubbed her throat as she swallowed, feeling the rawness.

"Oh no," Sam moaned. Jake was due home any day.

She dressed and went down to the kitchen.

"You look awful," Gram told her.

"I feel bad too," Sam slipped into a chair.

Gram put her hand on Sam's forehead.

"You should stay home today," Gram suggested.

"I have a test before break," Sam sighed.

"Can you make it up?" Gram asked.

Sam shook her head. She didn't want to ask for special permission from Jake's mom.

"Maybe you can come home after the test," Gram said.

"That's a good idea," Sam nodded, and grimaced.

"What can I get for you, honey?"

"Something cold," Sam begged. "My throat is really sore."

"Hmm," Gram murmured, putting her hand to Sam's throat. "Your lymph nodes are swollen."

"Great," Sam croaked. "Jake is due home and I'm sick."

"Depending on what you have, you probably shouldn't see him," Gram told her.

Sam groaned. There was no way she didn't want to see Jake while he was home. Darn it all!

Gram put a bowl of vanilla ice cream in front of Sam.

"Thanks Gram," Sam murmured, dipping a spoon in the bowl.

"You're welcome sweetheart," Gram brushed Sam's hair back off her face. "Try to stay away from Cody while you're not feeling well."

"I will," Sam promised.

"I'll let Brynna know," Gram said.

Sam nodded, having another spoonful. She groaned at the cold against her throat.

Just as she was finishing, she heard the beep of Jen's horn. Sam finished up and put the bowl in the sink.

"I'm leaving Gram," she tried to yell up the stairs, but her voice cracked.

Sam needed to let Jen know she would be driving in on her own. She grabbed her backpack and her coat before going outside.

Jen waved as Sam started towards her. Jen looked surprised as Sam came to the driver's side. Jen rolled down the window.

"What's up?" she asked.

"I'm sick," Sam responded.

Jen put her hand over her mouth and pulled away.

Sam laughed. "I'm going to drive myself and leave after our history test."

"Okay," Jen muttered against her hand. Her eyes were dancing behind her glasses.

"Be nice to me or I'll breathe on you," Sam teased and Jen laughed.

Jen waited while Sam got into Dad's truck and the two caravanned to Darton High.

One of the first persons they saw was Darrell as he was getting out of his car. He waved at the two girls, surprised that they had driven separately.

"You two fightin'?" Darrell wondered.

"No," Jen shook her head. "I just don't want Sam breathing on me."

"Why's that?" Darrell asked, looking at Sam. "Didn't you brush this mornin' darlin'?"

Sam swatted him and he laughed.

"I prolly brush my teeth more often than you do," Sam scoffed. She rubbed her throat and groaned.

"Sore throat?" Darrell inquired.

"Yeah," Sam nodded.

"Isn't Jake coming home?"

Sam gave him a look and he laughed.

"Oh man!" Darrell crowed. "Poor Jake's gonna be upset his girl is sick and he can't kiss her."

"His girl's going to be upset too," Sam groaned. She held her throat and swallowed loudly. "Don't," Sam began, then swallowed again. "Don't tell him I'm sick. He might not come home."

"I won't, gorgeous," Darrell promised.

Sam nodded and went to her locker.

"How bad are you?" Jen asked.

"Bad," Sam croaked. "My throat feels like it's on fire."

"Do you have a fever?" Jen wondered, reaching out to touch Sam's forehead. "You're warm."

"Great," Sam muttered. "Gram's going to lock me up in my room and not let Jake see me."

"He probably shouldn't see you," Jen said. "You're sick and whatever you have you could give to him."

Sam groaned as she shut her locker. "I'll see you later."

"Take care of yourself, Sam," Jen told her.

"I will," Sam promised and went to her first class.