Hey everybody. I'm sorry that I have been updating so slow.

I am going to try and and update as soon as I can.

At least school is over on thurseday so between now and july 31st you should be getting a lot of updates and then its off to Cali for a month

I can't wait.

Well here you go chapter 3.

Chapter 3: The river court

Jamie passed Tammy the basketball. Tammy shot it from the foul line and it swished in the net.

"You're good. We've been doing this all day and you've barely missed any shots." said Jamie.

"Well I have been playing for about five years. It was like my escape I guess you can say. It was the only thing that was mine and that was always there. No matter how bad I was feeling if I just had a basketball and was shooting hoops I knew that everything was going to be okay. I guess thats kind of lame considering its just a game to some people but it was more than that to me." explained Tammy.

"No it makes sense. My dad is a professional basketball player. He has been playing since he was younger than me. Dad always said that nothing beat the feeling that you get when your on the courts. He says its like everything just stops and its just you for a moment. There are no problems or anything. For a split second you feel as though you can take on the world." said Jamie.

"Your a smart kid Jamie and your dad seems pretty smart too." Tammy commented.

"Actually I get my smarts from my mom." joked Jamie.

Tammy laughed. It was a great day, sunny and clear. She was happy for the first time in a long time. She was actually enjoying playing around with Jamie. He was a cool kid. He was really smart for his age and even though he was lashing out right now Tammy knew that he was hurting inside. Jamie thought that Sam abandoned him. Tammy knew that wasn't the case. She knew Sam and she wasn't like that.

"So when should I tell Brooke?" asked Tammy.

"Not yet. I think you should just wait and try and help Brooke first. Don't take this in the wrong way but no matter what Brooke is going to feel guilty about Sam leaving but Tammy you can help her. Your Sam's sister you know her." said Jamie.

Jamie and Tammy sat down by the water. Tammy looked back at Brooke and Haley who were in the car a across the court. Tammy caught Brooke's eye and she smiled. Brooke smiled back at her. Tammy looked out across the river. She picked up a rock and threw it into the water.

"I just wish that this was easier. I just want to go and get Sam but I am kind of afraid." confessed Tammy.

"Why?" asked Jamie.

"What if when Sam comes back everything changes. What if Brooke won't want me anymore. I have no where else to go Jamie and I am not going back to the group home." said Tammy.

"Tammy you don't know Brooke. She would never do that to you." said Jamie.

"You can't know that." said Tammy.

"Trust me." said Jamie.

Tammy was quiet. She wanted to believe Jamie but as always there was that tiny feeling of doubt that lingered in the back of her mind. She wanted to trust people again but it was so hard. She was a wreck though she put up a front. She tried to act tough but on the inside she knew that she was weak. She couldn't even protect herself. She hated herself for that. Tammy wanted to just get away. She wanted to stop thinking the way she did. She always had these moments. They bothered her so much.

"You wanna go for a swim?" asked Tammy.

"Um I don't think so." said Jamie.

"C'mon kid you gotta put a little edge in life."

"I can't swim. Can you?"

"There's a first time for everything."

Tammy knew that she was being stupid but she just needed anything to make it go away. It was eating at her little by little and she needed it to be over with. She stood up and Jamie did right after her. Tammy took off her sweater.

"Tammy don't!" yelled Jamie.

"Jamie its just a little bit of water."

"Actually its a lot of water and you don't even know how to swim. Are you insane? I have almost drowned before its not fun. You could die!"

Tammy looked out over the water again. Jamie's voice went through her head. She wondered if she jumped in what would happen. She knew obviously that she would probably drown because she couldn't swim. But a part of her didn't care. A part of her mind kept telling her to jump in. She knew why she felt that way. Brooke was the first person she ever told about what her foster dad did. She had delt with it in the past so she had accepted what happened. She knew that it wasn't her fault but she still had her days. Every once in a way she got really depressed. She would just get these random sad or angry feelings and sometimes they would just last for a second and go away but other times they lasted for most of the day. Those were the days she hated. She didn't know how to deal with it and it got so bad that sometimes she acted reckless to make it go away. It only worked for a little while but it was better than nothing.

"So what's Tammy's story?" asked Haley.

"She's been hurt bad. I don't get why people become foster parents and then hurt the kids. I hate sick people like that. Her foster dad was a real bastard to her. He hurt her if you know what I mean." said Brooke.

"Did she talk to you about it?"

"Not really I didn't want to push her besides she said that she's fine and I know that all people say that even though they aren't but I think she's delt with it she just hasn't faced it head on yet."

"She'll talk more about it when she's ready. It's only been a day so I am sure that she's still trying to figure you out. She wants to make sure that you aren't going to hurt her. It's the same way as Sam was. Just give her a little time."

Brooke was quiet. The mere mention of Sam's name had brought back all the bad feelings. All she wanted was to turn back time and do things differently. She wanted Sam to come home. She just wanted to tell her she was sorry but Brooke knew it was harder then that. Sam was mad at her because of what she did. She was hurt. She had loved Brooke and trusted her and Brooke told her to leave even though she didn't want to. Brooke just wanted Sam to know her real mom. No matter how much she loved Sam she couldn't be Rebecca.

"Sam loves you." said Haley.

"Then why won't she answer my calls and why won't she come home!." asked Brooke.

"Brooke you told her to leave. She did it but the truth is that Sam is probably mad at you. Do you know how long Sam wanted you to ask to adopt her? All she wanted more than anything in this world was for you and Julian to be her parents. She didn't even call Rebecca mom because she said that you were her mom no matter what the circumstance. You never stopped to ask her what she wanted and that's why she left. You need to give her time too." said Haley.

"I just wanted her to know Rebecca. I though it was the right thing to do."

"I'm not saying it isn't and I know that you wanted the best for her but she didn't feel the same way."

"So what do I do Haley?"

"I don't know but tomorrow school starts again and I will see Sam. I will talk to her and see if you two can get together and you can explain to her why you told her to go and everything."

"Okay. Oh I have to enroll Tammy in the high school also I just remembered. I still have to buy her some clothes. How about we go to the beach on Saturday with Nate, Kayla, Seth, Clay, and Quinn?"

"Yeah that would be great. It could be a great time for you and Tammy to bond and for us all to get to know her better she seems like a great kid"

"She is. She has this little teddy bear that her best friend gave her when she was younger. It's the cutest little thing. She sleeps with it every day. Her friend used to say that she would know if anything was wrong with her as long as Tammy had the bear with her. She got her taken away from her foster dad. She saved her."

Haley smiled. She turned for a minute and saw Jamie arguing with Tammy. Tammy had her sweater off and was starring at the water. Haley knew exactly what she was thinking.

"Brooke look!" yelled Haley pointing to Tammy.

Brooke looked and saw Tammy about to jump in the water she got out of the car and yelled Tammy's name.

"TAMMY!" yelled Brooke.

Tammy didn't even bother to turn around. She kept her eyes straight and focused. She knew that it would just take one step and the feelings would go away forever. She just needed to find the strength to take that one step. She took a few steps back and dived into the water. Jamie starred at the water. He was in shock. He heard his mom and Brooke running over. Tammy still had not come up from the water. He knew that something was wrong.

"Jamie where is she?" asked Brooke frantically.

"She just jumped in." said Jamie in shock.

"Brooke I don't see her." said Haley.

Brooke took off her shoes and jumped in the water. She diced under and looked around the water. It was hard to see. She needed to go up for air but she held on as long as she could to look for Tammy. Finally she saw her. She was floating head down at the surface. She swam up and grabbed Tammy.

"Tammy hang in there." said Brooke.

Brooke swam to the shore with Tammy. When she got there Jamie and Haley grabbed her. Haley laid Tammy out on the court. She put her head to her chest and listened.

"She's not breathing." said Haley.

"She didn't know how to swim." said Jamie

"What?" yelled Brooke.

Brooke was scared she didn't know what to do. She had just taken this girl in and she was possibly going to die. She didn't understand. Tammy knew that she couldn't swim yet she jumped in anyway. So much was going through Brooke's head at the moment.

"Brooke calm down." said Haley grabbing Tammy's hand and pulling her down next to her, "I need you to pump her chest five times for every breath I give her. Do you understand?"

Brooke just shook her head yes. Haley tilted Tammy's head back. She pinched her nose and took a breath. Brooke pumped her chest five times but nothing happened.

"Come on Tammy!" said Haley taking another breath.

"Why isn't it working!" yelled Brooke.

Suddenly Tammy began to cough. Haley turned her onto her side and she began to cough up the water. Haley patted her back as she continued to cough. She closed her eyes in relief. Brooke and Haley helped Tammy sit up. Jamie hugged her.

"Are you crazy!" yelled Jamie after letting go of Tammy.

"Yeah I would like to know the same thing." said Haley, "What were you thinking you knew you couldn't swim. You knew that you could die! Is that what you would have wanted?"

"And what about your sister!" yelled Jamie.

Tammy looked at Jamie and he quickly shut up realizing what he had just done. He regretted it but it was true. If Tammy died then she would never see Sam again and Sam would be crushed when she found out. Jamie hated that Tammy would try and do that. He knew that it wasn't her intentions but she just didn't think about the consequences of her actions.

Tammy was angry. She couldn't believe Jamie had basically ratted her out. He didn't say that Sam was her sister but still. Now Brooke and Haley were going to ask her questions and she didn't want that.

"What sister?" asked Brooke.

"I don't want to talk about it!" yelled Tammy getting up.

Tammy was dizzy and had trouble keeping her balance. Haley noticed this right away and was at her side to keep her upright and steady. Tammy got her balance back and then moved away from Haley.

"I am fine." said Tammy.

"Yeah I can see that. Tammy don't try and run away from this. Is there something going on because if there is you can tell us. Were not going to judge you if thats what your afraid of. We just want to understand whats going on. Why did you jump? asked Haley.

"I just needed to get something out of my head." said Tammy honestly.

"What?" asked Jamie confused.

"My foster dad." replied Tammy.

"Look Tammy I know that what your going through is hard but you have trust me. He can't hurt you anymore. Your going to be okay. I know that you say you've delt with it and I believe you. But maybe you haven't finished quite yet. Maybe you haven't faced it head on. You can't just push it to the back of your mind and expect it to go away. The truth is that it happened. And as hard as it is you need to remember that it wasn't your fault which I am sure you do but I am also sure that you doubt yourself once and a while. Were going to help you with this honey I promise." said Brooke.

"But you can't do things like this. Suicide won't solve anything. Quite frankly it will only make things worse." added Haley.

"I know but its just hard sometimes." said Tammy.

"Of course it is but bad things happen to good people sometimes and there is nothing we can do to make that change. Everything happens for a reason." said Haley.

"I' m not a good person!" yelled Tammy.

"Why do you say that?" asked Brooke.

"Because I let her protect me. I let her get hurt and it was supposed to be me. I could never stand up for myself. If I was stronger she would still be with me" said Tammy.

"Who? Your sister?" asked Brooke.

"She was my friend. The one that got me away." said Tammy.

"That wasn't your fault Tammy she was protecting you remember. She did it so that you could be safe." said Jamie, "Your foster parents were grownups they are the ones who should have known better.

"What's her name Tammy? We can help you find her." said Haley.

Tammy looked at Jamie. She could see that he didn't know what to do so he wasn't a big help. What did she expect he was only nine no matter how smart he was.

"I can't tell you." said Tammy.

"What? Why?" asked Brooke.

"I just can't. You want me to trust you right. Well then you have to trust me. I will tell you just not yet okay. I need to figure some things out first and don't ask Jamie because he's sworn to secrecy and that would definitely break the whole trust thing." said Tammy

"Okay." said Haley.

"We will give you some time. Just come to us when your ready and we promise not to interrogate Jamie if you swear to never do this again." said Brooke.

"I swear." said Tammy, "I'm sorry that I did this. I didn't mean to worry you guys. Especially you Jamie."

"It's okay." said Jamie, "I forgive you"

Tammy, Brooke, and Haley laughed.

"Well its time to head out. Me and you have to go to the mall to get some school clothes for tomorrow." said Brooke to Tammy.

"Seriously." said Tammy in a not so happy tone.

"What you don't like shopping?" asked Brooke.

"Shoppings fine I was actually referring to the school part." said Tammy.

"Figures. Should have seen that one coming." said Brooke as she, Haley, and Jamie began to walk towards the car.

"What is that supposed to mean?" asked Tammy as she walked besides Brooke.

"Nothing. But please tell me that you actually will not give me a problem with waking up in the morning." said Brooke

"Uhh okay." said Tammy.

Tammy knew that Brooke was probably referring to how Sam slept like a log sometimes and hated to be woken up early. She was the exact opposite. She was usually the first one up in the mornings and the last one down at night. It was kind of a defense mechanism. She was the only person who could actually get Sam up without her snapping at her or giving her a hard time. She would always sneak over in the middle of the night when she got scared. Sam never once yelled at her.

Tammy loved Sam and she couldn't wait to see her again all though she was a little scared. She hadn't seen Sam in so long that she was nervous. She didn't want Sam to be disappointed in her. She knew that there was no reason for her to be but she couldn't help it. She hated how the smallest things worried her. She wanted to be stronger like Sam was. But she knew that she was strong. She was a surviver. At least that's what Sam always told her. No matter how scared she was the fact still remained that Sam was her sister and no matter what she believed she loved her.

"You okay?" asked Brooke noticing that Tammy was a little dazed.

"Yeah I am going to be fine." said Tammy.

And there you go folks chapter 3

Summer is finally here yay.

What are you all gana do in the summer? I hope you all have a great one.

I am going to California for a month. July 31st to August 31st.

So I will try to update as much as I can before that.

Review :)