Another chapter, what's going on? When the story wants out you can't stop writing.

This chapter wrote itself and it continued through to chapter 9 but the story was taking me in a different direction from my initial idea and it wrote Edward out. I had to take my story back and rewrite the majority of this chapter again so I could get Edward back in (though he doesn't really feature in this chapter.)

Bit of a spoiler so go read chapter 8 if you don't want know about chapter 9.

(**I'm trying to write a 24 type chapter 9 which will just feature Edward and Samson.**)

Disclaimer – Again don't own Twilight, I'm not that good of a writer to produce anything that great.

Chapter 8 - A Turning Point

Monday morning 4am and everything I was taking back with me was packed in the car, I looked round the place for the final time and opened the front door to see Alice sitting on the bonnet of my car. I gave a huge sigh and lock the front door, I turned and walked towards Alice "Alice why are you here, didn't we say everything last night"

"We did, I'm not here for that, I'm here to see you off"

"Thank you Alice, I'm going to miss you" I said giving her a big hug"

"And I will miss you, are you sure there isn't anything I can do to make you change your mind?" looking at me with a smile on her face

"I don't think it's you that can make me stay Alice"

"I can always go get him"

"I sure you can but he can't say me what I want to hear"

"Tell me what you want him to say and I can get him to say it"

"He has to mean it"

"He will do, you just have to give him time to realise he has made a mistake"

"I can't, I don't want to see them together I can't see them together. Look, Alice I have to go I have a near 20hr drive ahead of me" I hugged her for the last time "promise me you'll keep in touch"

"I promise Samson, have a safe journey" I nodded to her and got in my car and drove off down the street. I looked in my rear view mirror to see Alice waving and Edward standing next to her. 'Just not enough Edward, you just didn't love me enough to choose me. Please love me enough to keep your promise, to not contact me, to stay away.'

I drove, I drove more than I planned to that Monday, I drove 13hrs and Stopped at Sacramento where I spent the night. Then got up at 9am the following morning and drove the 6 hrs to my dad's place in Hermosa Beach LA. I sat in the car not having the nerve to get out, when my dad pulled up in his car. He got out and came over and opened my car door, he pulled me out and hugged me. "Samson it's so good to see you" I started to cry, I had been holding in seeing Edward that final time. I didn't want to break down crying as I drove and I was afraid if I stopped I wouldn't be able to leave the other reason for crying is because my dad loved me. Once he found out I was gay he just started to ignore me, he didn't talk to me he didn't acknowledged me. He let me go and I saw that he also had tears in his eyes "I have been such an arse, I'm sorry son can you ever forgive me"

"Dad" was all I could say to him, I fell back into his arms crying

"Ok son, let go inside and we'll talk, you mum as told me some things" we walk into the house.

I brought him up to speed, I told him about Richie and how he was part of the reason for leaving and him being the other part, and the reason why I left Forks. I cried many times and my dad was there to hold me, he told me everything was going to be fine and that he was sorry for not being there for me before now.

It was good to be home with my dad, he made sure we did many things together, he was either making up for everything he has done or he was trying to keep me busy so I couldn't think. Nothing was going to make me forget Edward no matter how hard my dad tried; I always ended up crying myself to sleep. I also had my daily phone calls with Alice, the first few days she would start by saying Edward's name and before she could go any further I told her Edward was banned from our phone calls and I would go straight into telling her about my day, eventually she got the message and stopped trying to tell me about Edward. I was also emailing and texting Richie, he still thought I was in Forks. He still sent pictures and videos every day via email, I had managed to change our relationship to friends. He would tell me about his day and I would tell him about mine. In one message he told me about this guy he saw at the beach, but he never had the courage to do anything about it as he thought he should come out before he asks anyone out as he didn't want to do repeat the same mistake again that he made me. After two weeks of getting myself together again it was time to go back to school.

It was my first day back at my old school in LA, my mum had phoned me to wish me luck and told me not to worry, any problems let her know and she will deal with it. So I drove to Mira Costa High School, I was a little early and parked in my old spot, there were a few students. I looked around but nothing had changed not that I was expecting anything to have. The only thing that had was me. I had left LA with a broken heart over one boy and have now come back with one over another boy. But things are different this time my feelings and relationship for Richie had changed, he is no longer my boyfriend the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life as the feelings I had for Richie have been eclipsed and they now pale in insignificant to the ones I have for Edward. But Edward had made his decision and it wasn't me so I now have to move on with my life, and to do this I needed friends, people who can be there to help me through the bad times and to enjoy the good times with me.

I made my way to reception and picked up my timetable then went to checked when the football team were practicing, I wanted to surprised Richie and have some fun with him, I had said I had forgiven him, which I had, but I still owed him for what he did to me, for the pain he caused. Practice was this lunch so I was going to go to practice and hopefully show him I was back and embarrass the hell out of him and cause him some problems.

The morning went better than I thought, I didn't have any of the bullying I had last time, though I did have some problems keeping it together as I started missing Edward, I missed his presence and our conversations. To stop these thoughts I started planning for lunch time practice of the football team and what I was going to do. This didn't go well as I didn't know what you do at practices, I know in games people cheer and stuff but did you do the same thing in practices? I also had to think about his reaction, he wasn't going to be pleased or look pleased anyway I had a fairly good idea of how he would react and I had a plan in please of how I would react to him.

I sat on the bleachers on my own eating my lunch, the sun was shining and I was loving it, 'I had missed you sun' I said to myself as I watched the team come out, followed by the cheerleaders, I also noticed more students came to sit on the bleachers. One group that came and sat on the bleachers was the group that was the most consistent in its bullying and I was dreading meeting them but I wasn't going to be an easy target this time round I was going to give as good as they take. They turned and looked at me.

"Look it Samson, he's come back to stalk Richie" the top bitch in the group shouted

"If you're going to stalk one of them it might as well be the best looking one," I shouted back, this got the attention of everyone there. I spotted Richie, he a mixed expression on his face, I never thought you could look happy and scared at the same time but he did. I stood up and shouted "Go Richie" and then took a gulp of my orange juice, to stop myself form laughing. I was being so childish doing all I can to embarrass Richie but he deserved it.

The top bitch was now making her way up to me and finally sat next to me.

"So where have you been, gay boy" she sounded friendly as she spoke to me

"The names Samson so use it and if it's any of you business which it isn't I have been in Forks" I kept my tone defensive as I spoke

"I see you've grown a set of balls while you've been away," she said as she looked at me, she had a smile on her face "I like it" she continued

I turned back to face "Forks does that to you" my voice changed to one of sadness

"So why come back, was it to have another go for Richie?" she kept her voice warm and friendly, I needed to stay on guide she could turn at any moment.

"No, but it's fun embarrassing him, I'm running away from someone" why am I telling her this, am I that desperate for a friend that I would try and get this bitch to be my friend

"Who"

"Edward"

"Who's Edward?"

"A guy who couldn't decide who he wanted"

"So he chose another boy?"

"No a girl"

"You lost out to a girl, ha ha ha"

"Yap"

"So you came back to get over him"

"Something like that"

"So have you come back to try and turn Richie gay, you must really like him?"

"There's more to him than football, he just doesn't show it."

"How do you know, you only tutored him"

"Oh yes sorry, that must have been in my dreams about him. So what did he tell everybody after I left?"

"He said you tutored him in math and that was it, though he did spot you sometimes when he was out places, you where following him around"

"Excuse me for just one second." I stood up "Keep it up Richie yah." I sat back down "Making a complete idiot of myself probably, saying all the wrong things I don't care. Sorry, Yes I did tutoring him math, stalk him, no. I didn't following him to movies or bowling or maccy d's."

"You what, are you trying to tell me something?"

"No. So you know my name what's yours"

"Alice" I snigger at that "What's so funny about the name Alice?" she said, she sounded hurt

"Nothing, my best friend from Forks was Alice, well it's nice to meet you Alice" we sat in silence watching the practice and eating our lunch, when LA Alice finally broke the silence

"Something did go on between you two didn't it?"

"If Richie says he's straight then he's straight"

"You know Forks has changed you, you are really different. I watched you a lot before the whole Richie thing kicked off, I watched you too closely."

"You watched me, why would you do that?"

"I liked you though I never had the courage to talk to you. I use to watch you surf at the weekends, you never noticed me but you noticed the other surfers though. That's how I found out you where gay."

"So was it you who outed me but why if you liked me?"

"I was jealous of Richie; you liked him and not me"

"If you saw me watching the other surfers you must have known I was gay so why was you jealous of Richie"

"I always thought I had a chance until I saw you around Brody you acted differently, you looked at him differently and that day when I saw how you both at your locker and how you acted around him it suddenly hit me. You had fallen in love with him and that shut the door on any change I thought I had with you"

"So why you talking to me now then"

"When I saw you this morning, like I said you looked different, you walked differently, you even look different. I like the shorter hair and the colour it suites you, anyway I thought if I can't go out with you, the next best thing would be to be friends. What do you say?"

"Well Alice, since my Alice from Forks can't be with me I need an Alice in my life. You have a lot to live you to, some very big shoes to fill"

"I hope I can fill them."

"Good luck with that, you are going to need it" I gave her my mobile number "here's my number"

"Thanks, you haven't put any pressure on me" we looked to the field "He's gay isn't he?"

"Even though we are friends now, I'm still not going to say. There is only one person who can tell you that and he's the one playing ball."

"I think you've said enough Samson, he's gay"

"Time to leave I think" I stood up "let me know if he looks for me when practice is over will you." Alice nodded and I left practice and passed her mates "later girls"

Heading to my car after school someone scared me half to dead "God Edward" I stopped took a deep breath and looked to see LA Alice at my side with her friends "sorry, Alice don't do that"

"Sorry bad memories?"

"No, just memories I want to forget. So why the excitement?"

"He looked up after practice, and I mean really looked, he looked all over the bleachers searching you out and he looked really disappointed he didn't see you"

"Good now let's see his reaction to me being back"

"Why what's going to happen?"

"Well I think he might be waiting for me, shall we go see if he is"

"Let's" Alice replied. As we walked she introduced me to her friends and we chatted about what had happen since I left, which was nothing really and I told them about my time in Forks when Alice stop dead in her tracks bring me to a sudden stop. Richie was standing by my car; I smiled 'now for part 2 of my plan' I thought to myself.

"It looks like you're up to bat" LA Alice said bringing me out of my thoughts

"You what"

"Baseball term, it means your go. What you going to do?"

"Go see what he wants"

"That it?"

"No, but I'm not going to tell you it with spoil the surprise, I'm sure I'll be talking to you later"

"I'll hang round just in case"

"You won't want to miss this, I hope" and I walk off to my car, I stood within an arms length of him "hi Brody want to start our Maths tutoring again?" He grabbed hold of my shirt and pulled me up to his face

"what you doin back, why you came to practice and shout, do you know what everyone is askin me" he spat at me so loud everyone in a 3 mile radius could have heard and then in a low whisper he continued "and how the hell are you able to look so much better?" To the outside world it looked like he was chewing me out. This is what I expected him to do, though I wasn't expecting the whispered bit, my broken heart jumped. Time to put the final part of my plan into action

"Get your hands off me you big ogre. Where do you get off threatening me like that?" he let go of my shirt and I fell back onto my feet "Is this what I get for showing some team sprit?" I shouted at him just as loud as he did to me. I push him away from my car door. I then whispered, "Call me." I saw a smile appear "I see you don't want my support so I won't be showing up to you football thing again, and can I thank you for spreading it about that I stalked you, you wished I stalked you. Now move I want to get home," I shout at him again. I opened my car door, got in, shut it as loud as possible and drove off. I stopped off at KFC and got a bucket to celebrate on the way to my house. It was nice staying with my dad but I was now use to living on my own and having things my way. As I was paying for my bucket LA Alice phoned, I thanked the cashier and drove off

"What the hell was that all about in the car park, I thought he was going to thump you, but you shot back with both barrels. If anyone was thinking of picking on you before they'll think again after that. I thought Brody was going to cry at what you shot back but then he smiled after you pushed him but that soon went when you started up again. I thought you liked him; it's a funny way of showing it to him. If he was interested in you before you've made him think again after that performance."

"Alice" I shout at my phone, "take a breath and let me speak, let me explain." I waited she didn't speak

"Ok, he wanted to know what was I doin back, why I went to practice and shout out at him and asked did I know what everyone was askin him. Plus he whispered something about looking better now than I did when I left"

"He said you were looked better than before"

"Yes"

"He likes you, I knew he was gay. What I don't get is why you did what you did?"

"Because I couldn't reply to him without it looking like what it would have looked like to people watching. Like two old friends catching up."

"I see your point, so you made it look like you both hate each other, throwing people off the scent. You also made yourself look tough as well."

"You haven't asked about his smile"

"Why did he smile Samson?"

"Because I asked him to call me"

"I better get off the phone so he can call, call me after he does Sam and fill me in, good luck byeeee"

"Bye Alice"

I drove for another few minutes before arriving at my new home 3 minutes from the beach. I put my phone in my pocket and got out of my car. I went round to the other door, picked up my bag, bucket, and went in to eat. Richie phoned after I finished the last piece of chicken.

"Your dad said you don't live with him, so where are you living?"

"I'm not going to tell you that"

"Why not don't you want me to come round?"

"No"

"Why not, I thought when you said call me maybe…."

"Yes I know what you thought but we're just friends Richie and you said you wouldn't go into another relationship like the one you had with me and just because I did it before with you I'm not going there with you again."

"You're right, I'm sorry"

"I'm back because a boy in Forks broken my heart, everywhere I go I seem to fall for the wrong guy. I came to practice to let you know I'm back and I shouted because I want to embarrass you and pay you back for breaking my heart. And yes I can imagine what they were askin that's why I shouted. I look better because I felt like a change, plus I've done a lot of running in Forks, the surfing isn't that good and not as close as here."

"So we're just friends, because seeing you again Samson"

"I know, when you said I looked better I must admit I felt something"

"But I would have to come out for anything to happen between us, that's if you want me back"

"If I want you back that's the question and you want me to answer that before you make your decision so you have a reason to come out. At this moment I just want friends and I would like us to be friends. I don't think I could handle another relationship at the moment, Friends?"

"Friends, I'll see you tomorrow at some point" and we hung up

I showered and changed clothes then phone LA Alice to update her on the phone call. She was impressed with what I told her but thought I was stupid I could have a secret boyfriend and it would be hot because no one else would know. I told her that I had been there and done that, it good for a while but then you end up worrying most of the time about being spotted and people noticing which in the end someone always does, you noticed. I then made my usual phone call to Alice in Forks and she talked about her designs then

"Samson can I just say something without interruption and you hanging up please"

"This is about Edward isn't it?" I didn't need this, thing where going good at the moment,

"Yes it is, please Samson, please let me tell you about him"

"Alice, I've had a great first day back, Richie and I are friends we both know where we stand and I've made friends some good friends. I'm moving on and I want to forget about Edward, he made his choice and he's going to have to live with it. I'm not going to run back to him because he's broken up with Bella and now want me it doesn't work like that. What happens if I come back and three weeks later another girl comes along and he dumps me for her? I'm not putting myself through that, you have no idea who tough it is Alice"

"I think I do Samson"

"Alice just……Leave me alone, let me move on"

"Samson he misses you, I miss you, and we all do"

"Bye Alice" I didn't need this, I didn't know he misses me, I sooo wanted to go back and comfort him and make everything better but I wouldn't be but it would always be there every time we met a new girl would he leave me for her. I just couldn't live in consent fear of losing him. I loved him though.

The rest of the week went great. I had a girlie Tuesday night with LA Alice and her friends at the cinema, Wednesday evening was my night to have dinner with dad and on Thursday Richie sought me out and asked if I wanted to go to a gig with him I a couple of weeks time so I had a Friday night out with Richie booked. Friday at school LA Alice and me planned to spend all day Saturday at the beach so Friday night I got all my homework out of the way as soon as I got home from school showered put my pj bottoms on and began to work on a picnic lunch for Saturday. I was half way through when my door bell interrupted me. Opening the door Richie was standing there

"wow, I know I shouldn't say this, being friends and all but your hot" he said with a huge grin on his face, I should have been mad at him and if I was he would get more than his fair share, I would have blown up at him.

"no you shouldn't but I'll take it, come in, I'm in the kitchen" I closed the door and showed him to the kitchen "take a seat I'm making a picnic for lunch tomorrow, Alice and me are spending the day. So I guess I should ask how you know where I live"

"You promise you won't be mad at me if I tell you"

"No promises Richie, so it's probably best if you don't tell me then. Not at the moment anyway"

"Why what's up?"

"It's just Edward's family; they have been calling me all week and spending text messages about Edward"

"Why what's up with him, nothing serious I hope I know you love him"

"You know about him dumping me for a girl called Bella right"

"Yes"

"Well I get the impression that didn't work out"

"And now he wants you back"

"I don't know he hasn't called, like I said his family have, telling me he's all depressed and missing me"

"And they want you to go back him"

"No they just want me to talk to him, be friends with him. I told him not to contact me when I left and he's keeping that promise"

"So why can't you contact him tell him you can be friends, we are can you not do the same for him?"

"Because I'm scare it will lead to us getting back together"

"Why is that a bad thing?"

"It's a similar situation to ours only he doesn't know if he's gay and I don't want to go through being dumped by him again for another girl"

"Phone him and tell him you want to be friends with him, just friends and give him the same ultimatum that he has to tell you he's gay before you would consider a relationship with him. It was hurt me to see you go to him, but you love him, I know he hurt you but you don't want him to be in pain."

"Thanks Richie, I just couldn't get passed him hurting me again to see the solution to this problem, I'll phone him tomorrow. So what are you doing here?"

"You're in a better mood now"

"Yes, I guess"

"I'm on a date with a girl"

"And I'm that girl am I"

"I guess, I didn't know where to go, I couldn't stay at home just in case someone from the football team came by"

"So you thought you would hide out with me"

"I also have a big favour to ask"

"I didn't expect to have to do you a favour so soon after helping me with the my problem, so what do I have to do"

"Let me stay the night, I'll sleep on the sofa, no funny business, we're friends"

"You want it to look like you spent the night with this mystery girl, you know I shouldn't be enabling you to look straight, you know what the gay community would do to me if they knew about this. You can stay, but you have to help me with my picnic"

"Thanks Samson" we chatted away as he helped me. I felt better with the whole Edward situation and more comfortable being around Richie "Samson, I'm not doing anything tomorrow, could I come along"

"What to the beach with me and Alice"

"Yes if that would be alright"

"Sure, we better make more food then and you're going to need a change of clothes"

"Yah, I'll go home and change while you call Edward, don't want to be around for that"

"thanks Richie" and I placed my hand on top of his looking into his eyes as I said it "lets finish up here then you can take me on the date" He looked shocked. "Don't worry we're not going out, the movies are on the shelves in the front room you can pick the movie I'll bring the popcorn." We finished up Richie went and picked a movie and I picked up the popcorn, "so what have you picked"

"Romeo and Juliet" he said smiling at me "it's a good date movie, it has a young Leonardo DiCaprio in it for us" he wink at me

"Why would I be looking at Leo when I've got you here" I said smiling at him

"Ok, timeout with the comments, we're friends remember" he said he had a huge grin on his face. I turned the lights out as I passed the switch and stood facing him sat on my sofa

"You started it, 'wow you're hot'" I said to him trying to copy his voice when I got to the wow you're hot bit

"Ha ha-ha, was that mean to be me. Come on lets watched the dumb movie"

"Don't call my movie dumb, I don't know if I want to watch this with you know" I crossed my arms and pouted

"Sit down, you big girl" and with that he grabbed me by the waist and pulled me down next to him, putting his arm around my shoulders and started the movie

"Ok but no funny business" I said opening the popcorn

"Me" he said all innocence

"Yes you, I've been to the movies with you before, so I know all you little tricks" and placed the popcorn on his lap

"I thought I called a time out on the boyfriend stuff"

"I'm just making sure we don't stray or you get any ideas"

He turned complete to look straight at me "Samson are you sure this is just us playing around here. You said you wouldn't have a relationship with me if I didn't come out, and I'm still not ready to do that. are you having second thought about that?" he was serious and he wanted an answer this second, I did want to do stuff with him tonight, he had helped me with Edward, he looked so fuckable in his date clothes and it felt like old times with him when we secretly dated.

"I am having second thoughts, because it feels like old times being here with you, having fun in the kitchen, chatting together and just being together. Let's just watch the movie together and not ruin the friendship we have, I can wait for you to be ready I'm not going anywhere. If we can get through this as friends maybe we can do it again when you have another imaginary date" and nudged him in the ribs. He turned back to the TV and put his arm back round my shoulders and I snuggled into his body, but I saw the look in his face as he turned, he was mulling over what I had said to him, I had given him a lot to think about, I told him I was going to wait for him.

I woke the Saturday in bed I couldn't remember going to bed under my own steam or watching the movie to the end, I must have fell asleep. I got up and made my way to the kitchen Richie was there trying to make pancakes the kitchen was a mess.

I walked over to him "let me take over you know you can't cook by the way did I fall asleep during the movie last night?"

"Yes you did" he started chuckling to himself

"What's that chuckle about Richard" I tried to sound all parental when I called his name, he burst into uncontrolled laughter so I had to wait for him to claim down.

"Sorry but you and your impressions, it's one of the things I love about you" that calmed me down when he said that because I was getting angry with him. "You fell asleep within 15 minutes, 10 minutes after that you started drooling then you kept saying my name, you said Edward's a few times. I didn't mind you saying Edward's name because you sounded cross when you said it, you sounded happy when you said mine" he looked down before he said the last bit about being me sound happy when I said his name. I stood there looking at him it seemed to take him a long time for him to look back up. I couldn't say anything after what happen last night we where friends so I just made eye contact and I smiled at him thought my eyes

"You better start on the washing up, while I'll make the pancakes"

"thanks Samson" it was all he said, I didn't know what he was thanking me for, was for not saying anything or for taking over the cooking, no I knew what he thanked me for it was for not saying anything.

We ate our pancakes in silence but the atmosphere you could cut it with a knife the tensioned between us, one word or movement and we would both be on the floor making out. We caught each other looking at each other a few times and when caught we blushed like made.

"I better get home and change, you have to make a phone call." He got up and put his plate in the skin. "See you in a bit Samson" and he left me. I let out my breath I didn't know I was holding, dam you Richie come out already. I took my plate to the skin and washed up then I went and had a shower got dressed and phoned Alice to let her know Richie was coming with us. This lead to me telling Alice about Richie coming round and staying the night, I just gave her the basics about what happen and ended by telling her I would met her in half an hour. I then had nothing left to do I had put it off long enough I had to make the call.

A/N - Sorry for leaving it there.

Most of what has been edited out of this Chapter should appear again in Chapter 11.

Also during the time between Chapter 6 and 7 I ended up correcting the mistakes in the first 6 chapter which ended up becoming a complete rewrite of this story, if enough people are interested in reading this version I will put it up.

Don't forget to review as your reviews keep me going

Thanks for reading

Matt

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