Sorry for the short (and not so great) chapter. =/
Sam's eyes fluttered open the next morning to find Jake's dark mustang eyes staring right back at her. As cheesy as it sounded--she couldn't help but think there was nothing better to wake up to.
He smiled and brushed her hair back away from her face, his hand resting on her cheek. "How are you feeling?" He asked his eyes boring into hers.
She sighed and stretched. "Better."
He gave her a disbelieving look and she rolled her eyes. "Honestly, a little sore but not as bad as I thought," she said sitting up.
Jake sat up too, Sam rested her shoulder against his and he rubbed her back. "You sleep ok?" She asked then blushed. Sure they hadn't really done anything--maybe just a little over excited kiss--but if Wyatt found out he would certainly make it his job to hunt Jake down.
Not to mention she would be grounded for the rest of her life and after-life.
Looking down at her he smirked. "Best sleep I've ever had."
She found herself rolling her eyes again. "Sure."
His face masked innocence. "Seriously. How about you?"
She shrugged. "Eh, I slept ok."
"Oh, I see. Just ok," he said, pretending to be offended.
Sam rubbed the sleep from her eyes thinking she must look a mess. Then, with a gasp she jumped to her feet wincing a little at her sore muscles. Jake stared at her, startled by her sudden outburst.
"Allie!" She said before ducking out of the tent. No one else was awake yet, at least she thought seeing that everybody still appeared to be in their tents. It had to be close to eight or nine o'clock in the morning, Sam thought guiltily looking over towards the horses who grazed in their make-shift paddock. The sun was bright and hot already in the cloudless sky; a slight breeze taking away from the intensity of the heat and rustling the tall grass. The sound of flowing water traveled along with the breeze reminding Sam of the nearby river and a much needed washing.
Ace's head popped up from the group and he whinnied softly too her; staying where he was. Sam walked to the paddock deciding to take care of the horses before checking on Allie. Besides, she felt guilty for not checking on Popcorn last night, much less even checking to see if he had come back. Ace's tail swished and seeing that she came bearing no food he went back to grazing, ignoring her completely.
"You are so food oriented," Sam muttered but was happy to see that yesterday hadn't affected him and that he still acted like his normal hungry-fat pony-self. Her gaze flicked to Popcorn who stood grazing close to Sweetheart, he too didn't seem to be too bothered. Sam climbed under the make-shift fence--rope and stakes--and walked towards Popcorn. His head didn't come up but he still watched her as she approached. Once Sam was near he lifted his head and took a slow step back as if he were going to retreat. She paused watching him and he stopped too. Sam hoped he wasn't in for a game of chase.
"Are you having a stare down with a horse?" Jake asked sounding amused. He strode up to the fence while he pulled on a fresh t-shirt.
Sam glared at him and was ready to snap but didn't, afraid she might scare Popcorn. "No, I'm trying to check Popcorn to make sure he's ok," she said softly with her voice hinting at a little annoyance. She returned her gaze to Popcorn who was grazing again--seeming to have lost interest in her.
"I already did," Jake said putting his hands in his pockets. "Give me some credit."
Sam turned away from the horses, gazing at Jake instead. "When?"
"Once quickly when he first came back, before I went out looking for you. Then again this morning," he rolled his eyes at Sam who stared at him impatiently. "He's fine."
She sighed and walked out of the paddock; standing next to Jake. "Thank you," she said, and then turned on him. "Wait, how long have you been awake?" She asked.
He shrugged. "About an hour. I fed them already so their set."
"Why didn't you wake me? I could have helped you," she said embarrassed and a little guiltily.
He grinned; wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "Because you just looked so darn cute, sleeping," he teased making Sam's cheeks flush, she was pretty sure she had probably been drooling.
That was not cute.
She groaned. "Oh wonderful, something else you can tease me about."
He kissed her forehead, still grinning. "Things just keep getting better and better."
Sam reluctantly pulled out of his grasp, remembering Allie. "C'mon, we better wake everybody up," she said tugging him back towards the tents.
Jen was already outside her tent, dressed and putting on her boots. Sam looked down remembering that she was still wearing what she slept in, Jake's undershirt and her soccer shorts. She could imagine what that would look like to everyone. She dived into her tent with a squeak, forgetting momentarily how sore she was.
"What'd you step on Ely?" Sam heard Jen ask Jake and she bit her lip to keep from laughing.
"Nothing important. Just your sense of superiority, Kenworthy," Jake replied sugary sweet.
"Hardy-har."
Jake's head popped inside the tent just as Sam was finishing buttoning her jeans. "Wha-oh," he grinned sheepishly and Sam pushed him aside so she could get out of the tent.
"Wipe that grin off your face," she hissed pulling her hair into a low ponytail and putting her brown Stentson on. "Morning Jen!" She called to Jen and walked towards her giving Jake a final warning glare, he frowned dramatically before smiling again.
Jen wrapped Sam in a hug and pulled back to look at her face. "Are you ok?" She asked sounding worried. "I'm so sorry I didn't get to see you last night. It was crazy and I wanted to-"
Sam smiled reassuringly and held up her hand to silence her friend. "I'm fine, honest. Just worried about Allie," she said glancing towards the tent she was staying in.
Jen nodded, her blonde braid bouncing. "Yeah, she's still sleeping. Tara's awake though, I sent her to fill up the canteens," she said nodding towards the river.
Sam raised an eyebrow. "Alone?"
Jen rolled her eyes. "Trust me; I don't think she's going to go anywhere." She waved it off and Sam guessed that she was probably right.
Jen started waggling her eyebrows and Sam just stared at her confused. "What?" She asked finally, starting to feel a little uncomfortable from Jen's eyebrow-waggling.
"So, uh, how'd you sleep?" She asked grinning like a four year old with a secret.
"Oh my God. You have been hanging around Darrel too much," Sam moaned exasperated.
Just to prove her point Darrel climbed out of the tent and walked towards them. He wrapped his arm around Jen's shoulder yawning. He grinned at Sam stupidly and winked.
"How d'ya sleep Sammy?"
