Greatest apologies for not updating sooner... I blame work, exams, editing the yearbook and the fact that I stupidly signed up to be a campaign manager for the school mock election. The phrase 'trying to do too much' springs to mind. Anyhow, thanks for the reviews

LiTTleLoTTie: He He... well I think that there should be such a word as 'stalkerish'

Emma-J-Riddle: I'm glad that you liked it. Thank you for updating your fic... sorry mine took so long

StrangeGirl: I hope your exams went OK. Strangely, I can find time to come on fanfiction too...
Yeah, Adam's just got caught up in this thing which has nothing to do with him. But then again he did cheat on his girlfriend and would we expect anything less of Jeremy? Ali would be very freaked out if she saw the pictures of them kissing. I don't think that she would speak to him again... good thing that she didn't. I tried to get stalkerish written into the new edition of the dictionary... strangely they haven't replied yet...

Alianne: Yeah he confessed... but he was pulling her hair at the time and she'd just seem drawingings of him kissing her. I think that I'd run away too... maybe that's just me

AMLisdabomb: He had to let it out at some point I guess. Well a Sam- semi fan is better than nothing... soon I will convert you to the side of Raoul's... Mwahhahah (phantom laugh)

Nyeren: You still think he's evil? Well he does have an anger management problem and some of his methods are...ahem...interesting. And Jeremy isn't really the sort of guy you say 'get a life' to...

toomanycurlz: Well now you're going to find out what happens... and Ali likes the Fop. But how will she see him after the end of the chapter? Ha you're intrigued now... I hope

Angeloftheoperahouse: I am not inclined to let you have Jeremy because you murdered Christian (I don't think that I can forgive you for that...) OK, I have resolved not to kidnap Jayden because you have a good excuse but if you even think about leaving gaps as long as mine between updates...

Miss Mary Lou: You are probably right that Jeremy wouldn't normally hurt her, but she had just made him REALLY angry. Shirt will be off next chapter. And that guy... never gonna happen, because, well, I don't think that he likes me. Like that anyway

Kat097: Thanks for reviewing. Your fic is amazing. When I was in America so many people came up to me and told me that they like my accent... it was wierd...

Anyway, plot is going to move on slightly now. The rate that this is going there will be3 or 4 more chapters left to the end. Anyway, enjoy and leave me a review if you like... leave me a review if you don't like.

Yep, dont own POTO

16. Driven apart

The evening's performance went well although Ali made a special effort to stay out of Jeremy's way. It wasn't too difficult considering he was nowhere to be found unless he was needed onstage. She did not tell Sam about her conversation with Jeremy and did her best to put it from her mind. That was much easier said than done as her scalp was still painful from where Jeremy had pulled her hair and his words kept ringing in her head.

'I love you and you don't care one bit.'

Ali felt awful by this revelation. She had secretly known all the time that Jeremy had feelings towards her but for him to admit his feelings made her feel overcome with guilt that day after day, he watched as she went off with Sam. The only good thing that had come out of it was the fact that Jeremy had learnt to keep his temper for a longer period of time. It had taken a while before he finally snapped.

Ali did not stay long after the performance and went home quickly. Sam protested at this but Ali insisted that she wanted to walk alone. She needed to clear her head. What could she do now? Two guys both loved her. It should be easy. She was with Sam, but it wasn't. Sam was special to her, very special, and she couldn't think of who else could make her as happy as he did. But then there was Jeremy, someone that she didn't know what she felt about him. She loved the side of Jeremy that could relax her, comfort her, arouse her with just a simple touch. But then there was the side of Jeremy that conveyed his dark, distressed mind, his quick temper and his violent tendencies.

When Sam left the theatre, his family were waiting outside, eager to see him. Adam congratulated his brother on the performance and asked him passively:

'Where's Ali?'

Sam glared at his brother.

'Why do you care?'

'I need to talk to you.'

Adam waited until they were home and away from the other family members before turning on Sam.

'Well?' Sam asked.

'It's about Ali' Adam began.

Sam shook his head and turned away.

'Whatever you're going to say, I don't want to hear it,' Sam interrupted. 'Let me guess, you've come up with a new thing that Ali's going to do?'

'It what she's already done and I have evidence,' Adam replied calmly, not reacting to Sam's aggressive tone.

Sam said nothing but stared at him, which prompted Adam to continue.

'She cheated on you Sam.'

Sam's eyes flashed with anger.

'Adam, why don't you want us to be together? Why?'

'This is hard on me too but I didn't trust her. So I followed her. And I took this picture as proof.'

Adam handed over a sheet of paper. Sam snatched it off him and the expression on his face turned to one of shock when he saw what was there.

'What is this? When did you? Ali, what are you doing? With him?' Sam stuttered half to Adam, half to himself.

Adam hid a smirk as he advanced on Sam and put his arm around him.

'I'm sorry Sam. None of this is your fault. I know the truth hurts,' Adam purred.

Sam shook his head speechless.

'Do you know this person?' Adam asked

Sam nodded bitterly.

'It's Jeremy. He plays the Phantom. We've never got on. He's been stalking Ali for weeks. I don't believe her. She promised me that there wasn't anything.'

'I'm so sorry,' Adam said comfortingly.

'She's lied!' Sam said, anger building in his voice. 'She lied to me and cheated on me!'

Sam leapt to his feet but Adam pulled him down.

'Not now,' his brother said calmly. 'Wait until you've calmed down.'

Sam sat down again.

'I'm sorry that I didn't believe you Adam,' Sam said hanging his head.

'That's alright little brother,' Adam said kindly. 'I'm here to look out for you, remember?'

Sam smiled weakly as Adam left the room. Before he walked out the door he turned back to Sam.

'You know what you have to do,' Adam said before leaving his brother alone, staring at a picture of himself and Ali.

The next day Ali and Debbie walked to theatre together. It was to be the last performance and the girls were half glad the hard work would be over, but were also going to miss the rehearsals. Debbie followed Ali into her dressing room where they found Sam waiting.

'Sam!' Ali cried happily and threw her arms around him.

Sam stood stiffly and made no reaction. Ali backed away confused.

'Sam, what's wrong?'

'We need to have a little talk,' he said stonily.

'Ur, maybe I should go,' Debbie said uncomfortably.

'No, stay Debbie. You might find this interesting,' Sam snarled.

'Sam what is this about?' Ali asked.

She was slightly worried, she had never seen Sam act like this before.

'I'm going to leave,' Debbie said loudly. 'I need to, um, see, ur, Mrs. Sinell! Yes, Mrs. Sinell! There's some steps and, anyway, bye.'

With those words, Debbie removed herself from the room as quickly as possible. Ali looked at Sam, waiting for an explanation.

'I suppose that I always knew,' Sam began, not taking his eyes of Ali. 'I just didn't want to believe it. You were always off with him, always talking to him, thinking about him.'

'Sam, what are you talking about?'

'You know what I'm talking about,' Sam spat. 'You and Jeremy, Christine and the Phantom, a fitting couple indeed.'

'What?'

'I trusted you Ali, and you've betrayed me. Yes, I know all about it.'

'All about what?'

'Drop the façade Ali. I know all about your little relationship with him. I know that you've been cheating on me.'

'Sam, I swear to you-'

'Don't bother Ali. I've got evidence,' Sam said smugly thrusting Adam's picture into Ali shaking hands.

Ali stared at the picture in shock.

'What is this?' she muttered. 'Where did you get this from?'

'Does it matter?' Sam snarled

'Yes it matters!' Ali cried slightly more hysterically. 'This is a fake! I have never, never kissed him. Ever! Well except for onstage, when we were acting.'

'Don't deny it Ali,' Sam said. 'The evidence is in your hands.'

'And I'm telling you it's fake! Please believe me! I would never cheat on you! Not with anybody! Especially not with him!'

'And you expect me to believe that? You expect me to believe that he locks you in dark rooms with him against your will? You expect me to believe that you go with him to secluded places and strangely can't remember anything?'

'I don't remember-'

'Give me a break Ali! You know let's just call this whole thing off! Forget it! Forget that we even went out. You can have him!'

'Sam please! No! This is Jeremy's doing! He wants to split us!'

'Save it Ali. Save you breath for tonight,' Sam said before storming out of the room.

Ali collapsed to the floor, burying her face in her hands, in complete shock. It was over? Sam had finished with her just like that? Over something that had never happened? Taking a deep breath she decided to take a walk in the theatre grounds to clear her head. Ali left her dressing room to sit under the large oak tree that she had christened 'her father's tree' unaware that she was being followed by more than one person.

After Sam had left Ali, he did not go back to his dressing room, instead he hung around in the corner. When Ali left her room, he was not surprised to see Jeremy slip out of the darkness and follow her. Jeremy had his eyes fixed intently ahead of him and did not seem to notice as Sam chased after him.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

He followed her as she left the room, she seemed upset and the Fop had left her alone. When she was alone, that was the time to strike her. He had heard the shouting from the room and heard Sam tell her that their relationship was over. The plan of the Fop's brother must have worked. In honesty, he had not thought that Adam would carry it off but it had appeared that he had been quite successful. He watched his angel cried and sat on the ground next to the large oak tree. She would never have to know that he was behind it, he would be there to comfort her and dry her eyes.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Ali jumped when she heard a twig crack but could not see anyone. She got the fright of her life when a pair of hands rested gently upon her shoulders. Twisting her head around, she saw the face of Jeremy looking down on her.

'My angel,' he said in his trance-like voice. 'Don't be upset. It was all for the better.'

Ali nodded closing her eyes, consumed by the voice. She felt Jeremy walk in front of her and crouch down in front of her. She felt his hand rest on her cheek and his soft voice lulling her away from all rational thought. However there was a voice inside her head that reminded her of who he was. Who she was placing her trust in. Ali's eyes sprung open in time to see Jeremy's expression of victory.

'No!' she screamed, pulling herself out of his grip and jumping to her feet.

The force sent Jeremy falling onto his back so all he could do was look up at her.

'You won't do this to me again! You've ruined everything I had with Sam. You must have been behind that photograph! No-one except someone who has such a twisted mind as yours would have ever come up with such a cruel way of breaking up people!'

Jeremy got to his feet, struggling to keep his temper.

'I assure you that I had nothing to do with this photograph. I don't even know what it's a photograph of,' Jeremy said.

'You're lying!' Ali screamed at him. 'You knew that this would happen! Well, let me tell you one thing Jeremy, nothing will ever happen between us. Nothing! And do you know why? Because I don't like you, I don't! You've got a temper problem and you practically stalk me! You can tell me that you love me but that won't change anything!'

'Why not!' Jeremy shouted back.

He took a step towards Ali but she backed away from him.

'You're the first person that I truly loved. Why won't you love me Ali?' he fumed

'Because I'm with Sam!'

'I think that I'll have to remind you that he just left you,' Jeremy snarled.

Ali stared at him angrily and, unable to think of a comeback, turned and left him. Jeremy was too stunned to follow and stood and watched her leave.

'You belong to me,' he muttered before stalking into the trees

Sam watched as the scene unfurled before him, staying out of sight. So Ali had been telling the truth. She hadn't cheated on him. It was Adam who was telling the lie. He slipped away from Jeremy, following Ali back to the theatre. As soon as they were inside, Sam caught up with Ali and pulled her aside ignoring her requests for him to leave her alone.

'I'm sorry,' Sam said looking into her eyes. 'I've made a terrible mistake.'

Ali stared at him, her mouth hanging open.

'What are you talking about? Half an hour ago, you didn't want anything to do with me.'

'I know, I'm sorry. You were telling the truth, the photograph was a fake. I should have believed you.'

Ali bit her lip and nodded bitterly.

'Well now you know,' she replied.

'Ali,' Sam said putting his hands on her arms. 'Please let's forget this ever happened. Let's go back to the way that we were.'

'Go back?' Ali repeated shocked. 'Sam one minute you dump me in a rage and the next you want me back. Do you trust me?'

'Of course.'

'You promise that you'll trust me, whatever you might see or think?'

'Yes.'

Ali paused for a moment looking at the ground.

'You're going to have to give me a moment to think,' Ali said.

Sam looked shocked.

'What's to think about Ali? It's me, Sam. I said I'm sorry.'

'You accused me of cheating on you. You didn't trust me.'

'So that's a no. After my one mistake, you're calling it off?' Sam said incredulously.

'No, I just need to think. Maybe, just give out relationship a little break? But whatever happens in the future, you'll still be my friend right?'

Sam smiled and pulled Ali into an embrace.

'Whatever happens, I promise that we'll stay friends. I'm not going to lose you again,' Sam whispered.

Ali smiled and walked back to her dressing room with Sam unaware of the figure following them, fuming that Adam's plan had not entirely worked.