This picks up where the other chapter left off.

Normal disclaimers apply.

I couldn't believe it. I hadn't seen him since I was sixteen years old and he hadn't changed a bit.

The way I felt about him back then came bubbling back to the surface.

"Long time no see."

Not long enough. I wanted to punch him in his stupid face.

"What are you doing here, Greg?"

"I'm out on a date with a model."

"Not for much longer you not." I stood to leave, but he stopped me.

"Please don't go. I'm sorry. Can we talk?"

"What's there to talk about? You're still an asshole. I'm still gay. Not much has changed really."

"It may not for you, but it has for me. Please sit down."

I sat back down and kept my hands folded on the table in front of me. "Talk."

"I'm sorry for how I treated you in high school. The things I said, and did, that day in the locker room were completely out of line. What you said about my 'type' was true, but I was just too scared to admit it. I was almost eighteen and too shit scared to admit that I like men and women equally."

"So you're bi?"

"Yes."

"And you what, thought you would come to New York to try something on with me?"

"No! Not at all. I wasn't even aware you were in New York until a few weeks ago. I've been out here since I graduated high school. Came here for college. The internship is part of my course."

"How do your parents feel about your life choices?"

"They don't know."

I scoffed a little and shook my head. "You haven't changed a bit."

"Yeah I have."

"No, you haven't. If you can't admit to the two most important people in your life who you really are, then you're still that scared seventeen year old who lashes out at people."

"How did you do it?"

I wasn't given the option back then. Carlisle was my doctor and he figured it out. My birth mother got a priest to question me before throwing me out. Esme knew via Carlisle and my caseworker."

"See! It's not easy to come out."

"It gets easier. As the years go by, more and more people have become more accepting. It's not so taboo anymore. Jasper had it worse than me."

"How is he, by the way?"

"I wouldn't know."

"You not seeing him any more?"

"I'm on a 'date' with you aren't I?" I quipped, using air quotes.

"Ah, yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck. "You can leave if you want. I'll lie to Siobhan too."

"That's not necessary. I'm fed up with lies. They don't get you anywhere."

He had the decency to look ashamed. "I really am sorry, Edward."

"Forget it Greg. I'll tell Siobhan that we didn't hit it off. I won't risk your career by telling her the truth." I got up and walked out, leaving him sitting at the table by himself.
I never saw him again and stayed true to my word. I never told Siobhan the full truth. She didn't need to know what Greg used to be like. All I said was that I used to know him and that we were just not compatible enough to get along.

She dropped the issue after that and didn't try to set me up on any more dates.

000

December 2004

My contract with Demitri was over at last and I was heading back to Forks.

I had shipped my car and other belongings back a few days ago. I handed over the keys to my home in Albany. Selling it on for the same price I bought it for. I wasn't out to make a profit. After two full years of working with Demitri and doing all four major fashion shows, I had more than enough money than I knew what to do with.

All I has to do now was catch this flight and I could finally leave that part of my life behind.

Don't get me wrong. I loved every minute of it. The people. The travel. The friends I made along the way. But I longed for home. I missed my family.

I had offers from other brands and companies to sign on with them, but I turned them down.

After spending two years in front of a camera, I ended up becoming more intrigued about what goes on behind the lens. The focus. The depth. The lighting. I wanted to learn it all.

I've signed up for an online photography class. There are some great places in Forks and the surrounding areas that I want to capture.

"The New York to Seattle red eye is now boarding."

I picked up my carry on and boarded my flight. Homeward bound at last.

000

"So uh, I have some news." Emmett squirmed in the seat of his jeep.

We were an hour into the drive back to Forks after he picked me up at the airport. "Please don't tell me you crashed my car."

"What? No, nothing like that." He laughed, not taking his eyes off the road.

"Then what is it?"

"Well for starters, mom and dad won't be holding their annual new years eve party in a few weeks."

"That's good. Did they say why?"

"Yeah. They'll be holding my wedding instead." He glanced at me, before putting his eyes back on the road.

"Wait, what?! You're getting married? But you and Maggie broke up." He left her six months ago after finding out she had been cheating on him with a younger exchange student.

"There are more girls on the planet than just her, Ed."

"So why am I only just hearing about it now?"

"Because I wanted to tell you in person." He shifted in his seat again.

"Why do I get the feeling there's more to it?" He refused to look at me. "Emmett, what aren't you telling me?"

"You may not like who I am marrying."

"Why not? Who is she? It is a 'she' right?"

"What?! Of course it's a she." He took a deep breath and blew it out loudly. "It's Rosalie." He shot me a worried look out of the corner of his eye.

"Oh." I swallowed thickly. "She always did have a thing for you."

"You're not mad?"

"Why would I be mad? It's not like I'm in love with her."

"No, but you were with Ja-"

"Don't!" I said, cutting him off. "Just...don't." I sighed, looking out of the passenger window at the trees zipping past.

"He's going to be there you know."

"I know." Like he would miss his own twins wedding.

"I'm sorry."

I snapped my head round to stare at him. "You listen to me and you listen to me good, Emmett McCarty-Cullen. Don't ever apologise for who you fall in love with. Rosalie is a great girl and was an excellent friend to me once upon a time. Don't worry about me."

He gave me a dubious look, but kept his mouth shut for the remainder of the drive home. I may have even feigned falling asleep so I wouldn't have to talk about it any more.

000

I was out in the woods behind home with my newly purchased camera when I swore I could feel eyes on me, but each time I looked there was no one around. I shook it off as paranoia and carried on trying to find the perfect shot for my class entry photo.

I had been out here for a few hours and it was snowing overhead, but the thick canopy of ever greens stopped most of it from reaching the forest floor.

It was so peaceful.

A world away from people constantly shouting my name and barking orders.

I was just straightening up after capturing some ice formations on a fallen log when I heard it. A low whining growl.

Then I could hear the padding of the footsteps as it got closer.

I turned slowly to see a wolf advancing through the trees. A wolf on it's own is not a good thing. It could either be a scout running ahead of its pack, which means I could soon be surrounded, or, it could be a lone wolf, which doesn't bode well for the animal. Wolves need a pack to survive, especially during winter.

The beast stopped in its tracks and sniffed the ground in front of him without breaking eye contact. I discreetly put my camera in flash mode, so I could startle it if it advanced any closer, before trying to make my escape.

It laid down where it stood and the forest fell silent once again. No more padding footsteps. No howling in the distance. This animal was all alone and it had seeked me out.

It was probably cold, tired and hungry. Remembering I had a lunch packed with me, I slowly moved my bag from my shoulder to the ground.

The wolf let out a warning growl and rose to its feet, but didn't come any closer.

"Easy. I'm not going to hurt you." I don't know why I spoke to it. It probably didn't understand me. I reached into my bag and pulled out some of the cooked chicken I had brought with me. I know we're not supposed to feed the wild animals, but I felt sorry for this poor creature.

I tossed it a couple of pieces and it wolfed them down. No pun intended.

I gave it a few more chunks and while it was busy eating, I switched off the flash on my camera and snapped a few pictures using the zoom feature to get closer shots.

After finishing the chicken the beast curled up and watched me out of tired eyes as I continued to take pictures of him.

I was just packing away my stuff when a girl came running up and over a ridge in the distance. The wolfs ears pricked up and its tail started wagging.

"Jake! Jake!" She skidded to a stop when she noticed me. "Oh, I'm so sorry. Has he been begging you for food?"

"Excuse me?"

"Jake here." She motioned to the wolf. "He belongs to me."

"Wait, he's not wild?"

"Pfft no. I raised him from a pup. His mom abandoned him because he was the runt of the litter." I breathed a little easier now that I knew I wasn't about to be mauled by a wild animal. "I'm Leah by the way. You look familiar. Do I know you?"

"I'm Edward. Edward Masen."

Her mouth dropped open in shock. "No thee Edward Masen? Of Kournikova fame?"

"Yep. The very one." I smiled.

Her eyes bugged out a little. "Oh crap. Have I interrupted a photoshoot?" She asked, looking around as though a camera crew would appear from between the trees.

"No. I don't do that any more."

"What? But why? You were so good at it."

"It was fun, while it lasted, but I missed home."

"Wait you live here?"

"Yeah. I grew up in Port Angeles and was moved to Forks when I was fifteen."

"So what are you doing all the way down here in La Push?"

"I'm in La Push?"

"Yeah."

"Wow. I didn't realise I had walked that far. Sorry if I'm trespassing on private land."

"That's alright. There's no marked land borders out here. Whatcha doin all the way out here anyway?"

"I was looking for inspiration for my photography class." We had fallen in step together as we walked through the woods and now we were approaching her property. Jake ran off ahead of us and settled down on her front porch.

"I'll have to ask my dad, but you can photograph some of our tribal stuff if you like? If that's the sort of thing you're looking for, that is?"

"I don't know what I'm looking for to be honest. I was hoping inspiration would have hit by now."

"You're looking too hard. It won't come if you force it."

"No, I guess not." We walked the rest of the way in comfortable silence.

I was able to visit with the Quileute tribe leaders who allowed me to photograph their heritage headdresses and other artefacts that were passed down through the generations. Each of the elders had their own tales about the history of their tribe.

I took pictures of each piece and listened to the back story of them too. This would make a very interesting exhibition at a gallery.

"Thank you Mister Clearwater, for allowing me to do this. Your tribe history is fascinating." I said with complete sincerity.

"Thank you Edward. It's a shame others do not share that same sentiment, and please, call me Harry. Will you join us for supper?"

"I would love to. Thank you." My stomach let out a loud grumble. "Err, sorry about that. I didn't eat lunch." I glanced over at the wolf asleep by the fireplace.

"Leah told me what happened. I apologise for the stupid mutts behaviour."

"It's quite alright. No harm done and I was able to get some great shots of an actual wolf."

"You were duped. This silly young thing wouldn't hurt a fly. Leah is way too soft with him." Harry lead me through to their kitchen where his wife Sue was putting multiple dishes of food down on a table, while Leah and her younger brother Seth set out the cutlery and drinks.

"Thank you Mrs Clearwater. This looks amazing. Uhm, sorry to ask, but does any of this contain garlic?"

"No. Our Seth is allergic."

"Oh really? Thank goodness. I am too. Almost killed me."

Seth grinned at me and held out a fist for me to bump. He was a great kid.

The meal of steak, mashed potatoes and gravy with biscuits was the best food I had eaten in two years. Proper comfort food that I could get a second helping of. I hadn't felt that full in a long time.

000

"Mom, I'm home." I called out later that evening. "Don't worry about saving me dinner. I've already eaten. I'll be in my room editing if you need me." I took the stairs two at a time, dropping my bag near my old desk and pulling out my camera. I had just turned on my laptop when the bedroom door slammed shut. I looked round and it was like I was transported back to being sixteen again.

All the feelings I had back then came rushing to the surface.

Fear, nerves and lust. Hatred, hurt and love. Oh so much love, that was what hurt the worst.

"Get out."

Guess who's baaaack!

Let me know what you think.

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