Chapter 11

It had been a rough day for Ben and the only thing he could think of doing to relive stress (and avoid his parents) was to go running around the soccer field. He hadn't done well on a project that was worth a big chunk of his grade and if he didn't get an A on the next test he would only be able to pull a C in the class. He was fine with a C but his parents were another story, he knew his mom would start lecturing about getting into a good collage and his dad would point out that with bad grades he wouldn't get as good of athletic scholarship, the same things he had heard since he was fifteen.

Emma on the other hand had gotten an A on the same project, mainly because she did it early and spent time on it rather then do it the night before because you spent all your time hanging out with your girl friend who in the process of hanging out remind you about said project. Ben smiled to him self when he thought about the day he spent with Emma. He had stronger feelings for her then any other girl he had dated in the past and to be honest she scared the shit of him. He realized this during science class when the teacher was lecturing on something boring like mitosis he couldn't remember. He couldn't even concentrate on what the teacher was saying all he could think about was Emma. The way her hair blew behind her when she ran, the way she mouthed the words to movies she'd seen a million times, her smile everything. He felt like he could tell her anything and that's what scared him. He had never felt this open or unguarded with anyone not even Nat. No one had gotten, as far behind the wall he put up as Emma she knew most of his darkest secrets, and his desires. And yet she still liked him. She didn't judge him or think he was any less because of it. Ben knew that's why he really broke it off with Libby. He still had feelings for her when he broke it off but Ben felt like he was living a lie when he was with her becoming the person she wanted him to be rather then who he really was. Emma was freeing him from himself and Ben knew that if he ever lost her he would never be the same. Suddenly it dawned on him, and he stopped dead in his tracks. He loved her.

"I love Emma Fisher" Ben whispered out loud to himself. He had never told anyone he loved them not even Libby.

" I love Emma Fisher," he said a little louder.

" I LOVE EMMA FISHERL!" He yelled

" Glad to know you feel some sort of emotion robot boy" a voice said from behind him.

Ben whipped around hart pounding he thought he was alone. But it was only Sam. She had a soccer ball tucked under hear arm, her hair was up in a messy bun, and her eyes were red as if she had been crying.

Ben had never felt as close to Sam as he had to Emma and her brothers, but they also hadn't grown up together, she didn't move to Westchester until fifth grade and by then the others were already siblings to him. Ben did like her and thought of her as a close friend but sometimes he felt uncomfortable around her, like she saw behind the mask when she wasn't supposed to, so he would instantly seal himself off from her to prevent her from entering his world uninvited.

"Sam what's wrong?" Ben asked cautiously he had never seen her cry, with out having some sort of physical damage to her.

" Nothing, I'm fine" Sam said looking up at the sky.

"Sam, I know we don't talk like this"

" Like what" Sam asked cutting Ben off.

" Like, about emotions and stuff" Ben replied " But I know something's wrong and your one of my good friends and besides you just heard me say that I loved Emma, one emotion for another?"

Sam half smiled at him but then her face turned stoney.

" I think Chris is cheating on me" she whispered just loud enough that Ben barely caught what she said.

"Oh I'm so Sorry Sam" Ben said some what uncomfortably; this Nat's job not his.

Sam just sat on the ground and held her head in her hands. Ben thinking this was his cue to leave was just about ready to take a step and give her some alone time, but she began to speak again

" Two years, we've been together two years and this is how he wants to treat me, no I'm better then that. Why Ben, why would he do this? He told me he loved me and that he always would" Ben looked at her and decided to sit down on the turf next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

"Sam, why do you think Chris is cheating on you?" Ben asked hesitantly.

Sam looked at him and took a deep breath

" He never calls, texts, or wants to hangout anymore. I try to talk to him in between classes and just seams distracted, and when we do hang out he texts the whole time and when I ask who he's talking to he gets all jumpy and nervous and then quickly says oh just one of the guys. It never used to be that way; he's so secretive all the time. I just feel it in my guy I don't have any "solid" proof"

Ben looked at her. Sam was one of the strongest people he knew and it was weird for him to see her like this, but he also knew from going through life himself that just because you have a tough exterior doesn't mean that your inside is.

"Sam I think if you have any doubts about Chris you should just ask him that's the only why your going to know the truth, if he says yes kick his ass and walk away if he says no still kick his ass and walk away, because it sounds like to me that he's getting ready to walk and its always better to be the dumper rather then the dumpie trust me I know from experience"

Sam just laughed and wiped away the stray tears that were running down her cheeks and stood up.

"Thanks Ben, this actually means a lot me, talking to you just don't tell anyone ok"

"Promise" Ben said " Also don't tell anyone about how I feel about Emma k"

"All right you got your self a deal, a secret for a secret"

Ben smiled at her. Sam bent down and grabbed the soccer ball.

"Well I guess I won't need this anymore, I was going to shoot around but you made me feel better then that ever could, see you around" She said as she walked away.

Ben watched her go feeling like the relationship between them had changed for the better.

Ok I am so so so sorry that I haven't updated in ages. I feel so bad but school picked up and this got put on a back burner. Let me know what you think all reviews are welcome. What do you think of Ben in this chapter good bad? He came out with a whole new side to him that just happened as I was writing. I will try to get another update faster next time I promise!!