So...who else has fallen off of the face of the earth? (ME ME!) But I've made a miraculous return and plan to stay! (Only because I finished the Harry Potter series...WHY hadn't anyone told me they were so addicting?) Here's a new chapter...nothing really important happens but it leads up to something eventful...if that makes sense? o_O Enough jibber jabber! Read darn it and review, review like your life depended on it (heroic music!)


Jen and Darrel had left leaving Sam alone with Jake. She wasn't quite sure what to say, she felt foolish and was embarrassed about what just happened.

"So…a camping trip?" Jake finally asked breaking the silence.

Sam kicked the dirt with her boot and watched the dust scatter. "Yeah…I just thought it might be fun."

She heard Jake walking towards her before he gently lifted her chin. He smiled down at her. "I think that's a great idea."

Sam smiled and got on her tip toes to give Jake a kiss. He hugged her close to support her from falling but quickly pulled away when he heard the screen door slam.

"Sam? Are you out here?" Wyatt called from the front porch.

Flustered, Sam smoothed out her hair and shirt and took a deep calming breath before calling back. "Yeah dad, Jake and I are just finishing picking up." She blushed and was glad that her dad couldn't see her.

Jake tugged on her shirt and she looked up at him. His face was barely visible in the dark night but she knew he was smiling because she could see his white teeth illuminated in the night.

"What?" she whispered.

"Let's tell him."

"Tonight?" Sam could barely contain her voice and Jake shushed her.

"Yeah, why not?" He was still smiling.

"Um I don't know maybe because this is definitely not a good time!" she tried to keep the sarcasm down but failed and immediately regretted it when she saw that smile disappear into the dark.

"What makes any other time better?" His voice was tight, she knew she had made him angry…tonight it seemed to be a trend.

"Because I'm not prepared Jake…you think he's just going to be hunky dory about it? May I remind you that I am still in trouble."

"Sam! Curfew!" Her dad yelled from the porch reminding her that she was already out later than she should be.

Jake sighed. "Well goodnight then I guess." Sam stepped forward to give him a hug but he was already walking away. Her heart sunk, her track record was not looking good tonight. Everyone she tried to reason with seemed to get angry with her.

"Samantha!"

"I'm coming!" She yelled a little short tempered stomping back up to the house watching Jake enter the bunkhouse without a backward glance.

"Dishes then bed young lady." Wyatt told her pointing to the sink wearily.

Sam rolled her eyes and huffed.

"And you better watch that attitude," he grabbed a cookie that Gram had left out then went upstairs to bed.

Sam mocked him after he left shoving the long yellow rubber gloves onto her hands. She all but threw the dishes into the sink and began to scrub.

"You better watch that attitude," she mocked sounding just like her father. Soap and water began to slop everywhere including her eyes which made her slow down for a breather. Why was tonight such an awful night? What had gone wrong? It had started off so great and fun before it suddenly took a turn for a worse. She honestly hoped things weren't beginning to fall apart.

x-x-x-x--x-x

"Cock-a-doodle doo! Rise and shine sleepy head!"

Someone yelled waking Sam. They tore the covers away and she groaned, rolling over to look at the clock and nearly died.

"It's three in the morning!" She yelled to the darkness, still not sure who she was talking to.

"Time to get a move on."

"Even the roasters are sleeping! So should I..." Sam began searching for her blankets.

"Got to get an early start if you want to go camping."

"Ha, that's real cute. Jokes on me! Really I do have to give you kudos though for waking up at the butt crack of freakin' dawn to pull this one off..." Sam was annoyed now...and cold.

"I'm serious!"

Just to show how serious they were they flicked on the lights. Sam shrieked and fell out of the bed trying to cover her eyes from the blinding light. She landed with a thud and moaned. This joke was no longer funny.

The intruder giggled, "whoopsies."

Suddenly Sam knew it was Jen, she wasn't sure why it took her falling out of a bed to realize this. Now she was really mad.

"Ok Jen you never know when to stop. Jokes over I'm tired...please leave me alone!" Sam half whined as she crawled her way back to the bed. She was almost back into its dreamy comforts when two arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her to her feet.

"See, told you that you'd need my help..." Sam's captor tried to place her on her feet but she refused to stand, instead she acted like a limp rag doll.

"I knew she wasn't a morning person...but this is just ridiculous!" Sam could practically hear Jen shaking her head.

"This isn't morning! It's an ungodly hour you choose to wake me to play your sick games!" Sam yelled trying even harder now to act as dead weight.

She heard an unmistakable grunt from behind her. It was Jake; she nearly smiled forgetting about their miniscule disagreement the night before.

"Sam, I'm a gentleman but I swear if you do not stand up I will drop you." He threatened as he tried placing her on her feet once again.

Jen lightly slapped her face. "WAKE UP!"

Sam decided if they wanted to be annoying so would she, she would make their little joke backfire on them. So without hesitation and barely a thought to it Sam spun in Jakes arms. She was now facing him, she saw the surprised look on his face through half closed eyelids and had to suppress a smile, she wrapped her arms around his neck then jumped wrapping her legs around him also locking her ankles together she held on tight so no one could pry her away.

"Five more minutes..." she sighed burying her face into his neck to hide her smile.

Jen burst into giggles. "You have got to be kidding me! If only you could see how ridiculous this looks!"

Sam heard some rustling and felt Jake tense.

"Jen you better put that cell phone away or-"

Jake's threat was cut off by a click and some more giggles from Jen.

"Oh my gosh, this is hilarious! Wait until Darrel sees this!"

"Jen! Don't you dare!"

"Keep it down! I'm trying to sleep here!" Sam yelled at the both of them and knew Jen was staring at her, she was pretty sure Jake would be too if he could.

Jake tried prying Sam of him but her grip was deadly. No way was she going to budge until he sat down on that bed...

"A little help here Jen?"

Sam could just imagine Jen rolling her eyes right about now. "Who was the one who needed help?"

"Don't test my patience Kenworthy."

"You are just full of threats this morning aren't you Ely?"

Sam found this as the opportune moment to make a run for it. She pushed herself away from Jake setting him off balance, she hissed at Jen like a cat and jumped back into bed getting a good grip on the railings of the headboard just incase.

"Did she just hiss at you?" Jake asked sounding highly amused whereas Sam was annoyed.

Jen grabbed her ankles and began to pull. Sam didn't budge.

"That is it!" Jen yelled storming out of the room.

"Don't forget the light!" Sam yelled after her. "Jake get me my blankie."

Jake snorted and Sam heard Jen come back into the room.

"Jen I don't think Wyatt-"

Sam screamed and leaped out of bed as cold water drenched her, she spun to face Jen.

"Jennifer!" She shrieked her cheeks burning with anger. Jen smiled and pushed her glasses up.

"Your five minutes were up."

Jake laughed and Sam spun around to face him.

"You think this is funny do you Ely?"

"Absolutely. And Sam...you kind of look like a drowned cat." He smiled and Sam had a hard time staying angry...even after he said she looked like a drowned cat. His smile made her soften and she smiled too.

"You're right it is funny...so is this!" She ran to him and gave him a big wet hug. Jen laughed and Jake glared at her.

"Oh no Kenworthy don't feel bad...this is a group hug." Jake dodged around Sam and pulled Jen in and they both hugged her.

Jen groaned smushed between them. "You know Sam sometimes you annoy the hell out of me?"

Sam smiled. "Yeah I know."

Jen shifted her glare to Jake. "And Ely...you're just a pain in the ass."

Jake smirked. "Yeah I know."