Author's Note: I am so sorry this is late. I had a test and a paper due before the Thanksgiving break and pulled an all nighter. Then I drove home to my parents' house only to clean for the entire day. Then I saw New Moon, FINALLY! Then it was Thanksgiving, and I saw New Moon again, and then I pulled another all nighter shopping for Black Friday sales all over Jacksonville. And now I am currently babysitting my nephew. But here is the chapter. I have only had 8 hours of sleep since Tuesday, so if it is slightly off, I apologize. I hope you all enjoy it. And I hope that all of my U.S. reader's had a great Thanksgiving Day.

DISCLAIMER: Twilight characters and related likeness owned by Stephenie Meyer, Little Brown Publishing. No profits have been received in the production of this piece.

We made our way back to the house quickly. We started on the railing first and painted them a crisp white. I was painting along the bottom, while Sam of course worked on top. He didn't even need the ladder to reach the top.

"So, you asked what I do in my free time, what do you do, Sam?"

"Well, I don't actually have that much free time. I keep pretty busy."

"Don't you have any fun?"

"Yeah, sure, sometimes. Not that often to be honest. Um, my work with the Council is pretty important and takes up quite a bit of my time and energy," he said.

"Well, when you do have fun, what it is?" I really wanted to know about him, and it was depressing to hear that he didn't have any fun. I wanted him to be happy and it sounded like that maybe didn't happen very often.

"I like to go cliff diving with Jared and Paul," he said after a minute of thinking. "But I don't mind not doing a lot of things. I'm a pretty simple guy."

"Cliff diving?" I asked excitedly.

"Yeah, there a great spot at First Beach."

"I was just talking about cliff diving last week. Could you- I mean would you take me next time you go?" His eyes slightly widened and he started to bite his lip.

"Um, you know it's pretty dangerous."

"Yeah, I know, but I really want to give it a try. I don't get to do a lot, like I told you before. I really want to try something exciting."

"Okay, if you're sure. I'd rather go with you then you go and do it by yourself. You seem like the type to go and try that. It wouldn't be safe to try this own your own. It can be dangerous for anyone if done incorrectly."

"Great, so when can we go? Today?"

"Hey, hey, hey. Wait just a minute, Bella. I'm pretty sure that the Chief wouldn't be appreciative if I didn't finish my work because I took his daughter to go throw herself off a cliff for fun. So, why don't we just finish my work here this week and maybe next Saturday or Sunday we can go."

"Right, I forgot that you would have to finish your work. It seems like we're just having fun. And yeah, Charlie should probably not be told of our plans. He would totally flip out if he found out. So would Edward for that matter." Sam's body tensed on the last sentence. I was seriously wondering if he knew what the members of the Cullen family were.

"Yeah, well, he doesn't need to know, Cullen that is. I'm sure I could talk Charlie into being okay with the idea. Your dad doesn't have anything to worry about. I'll keep you safe, Bella, always." I had a feeling that we weren't talking just about the cliff diving. He always spoke with a knowing voice that implied more than what was said.

"Safe from what, Sam?"

"Anything… everything," he answered earnestly. It was vague, but I got the point. I just wondered why Sam Uley appeared to care so much about me. He seemed like a great guy, so why did he want to waste his time with me?

"You don't have to do that you know."

"Yes, I do. I have to keep you safe. It would k- I just have to."

"Really, I'll be fine. I'm sure you have better things to do, Sam."

"From what I can see, you need my protection more than anyone," he said narrowing his eyes at me. This infuriated me. I thought he understood that I didn't like being smothered.

"I'm not a little child that needs looking after. I am an adult, well I will be in a couple of months, and I can take care of myself. I've done a pretty good job so far, after all I am still alive. So, you can rest assured that I won't just break. I am not weak," I said fiercely.

"Bella, that's not what I was saying, not at all. I know that you aren't weak. I just want you to be safe and to know that with certainty I feel the need to protect you myself."

"I don't need a protector, Sam. Not another one, I don't like having the one I already have."

"I'm sorry, Bella, really I am. I should respect you better than that. I didn't mean to belittle you. You're important to me, Bella. I'm sorry that I crossed that line. I want to be your friend, not your father."

"Good, because a friend is what I think I could really use."

"Why do you say that? Don't you already have friends here in Forks?"

"I did, or I do. I don't really know. Ever since I started dating Edward, his family has pretty much become the only people I hang out with. I guess I've just lost touch with my old friends a bit. And as much as I love all of the Cullen's" I could see Sam shudder a bit "I need friends outside of that family. It's not healthy having my entire life center around so few people."

"I agree that you definitely need to spend time outside their home. The more the better," Sam said.

"It does get awfully boring there some days. That's why I kind of want to go cliff diving. One to prove I'm not a breakable doll. And two, I need to experience something different and exciting. I feel like Edward and I fell into a habit or routine of sorts. I love my time with him, but I feel like something is missing. And I feel like it's close, like I could reach out and put on my finger of it, but it moves away just as I get close enough to realize it's there," I stopped rambling, knowing that Sam probably thinks I have issues. "Sorry, I tend to have word vomit every once in awhile, especially when I'm feeling frustrated. Sometimes talking it out helps with the understanding process, but to an outsider I sound crazy."

"You don't sound crazy, Bella, quite the opposite really. Most people don't pick up on such feelings, and when they do, they discard or ignore them. You actually seek out the truth and that is a very rare and noble gift," he said looking over at me intently with shining eyes. His almost black orbs melted me instantly.

"Wow, you just made my rambling sound like a treasured ability," I said with a smile. It was amazing how Sam could say things that went straight to my soul after only knowing me for two days. "It's definitely not my best attribute if you ask me."

"It's cute, so you shouldn't be embarrassed by it." I know that I was turning red and turned so Sam couldn't see it. "That blush is even cuter," he said. I turned back toward him to see that he'd moved directly next to me. His breathing was heavy and he was staring down at my lips. I felt like a magnet was pulling me to Sam. I could feel my heart beat increasing as my body anticipated the contact. We were only a few inches from one another's lips when he pulled suddenly away. "I think the railing is done, and we can start on the floor," he said looking all around except at me. God Bella, way to be stupid. Sam probably has a girlfriend and you almost kissed him. Never mind the fact that you do have a boyfriend. Though I wonder what it would feel like to have Sam's lips on mine. Edward's are cold and hard, I bet Sam's are warm and would mold to mine. I thought as I watched Sam prepare the blue paint.

For the next thirty minutes it was quiet. We both knew we almost kissed and apparently it wasn't a good position for either of us to have been in. I tried to focus on Edward, but we still hadn't talked since our fight and I didn't even mind. Two months ago I would have had nervous and anxious feelings if Edward was away more than two days on a hunting trip. But now I don't even care about when I talk to him next. I know I should, but with Sam, even when it is post almost kiss awkward, I don't feel that hole.

We were almost finished painting when Sam finally broke the silence.

"I'm sorry for before, Bella. It was wrong of me. I know that you have a boyfriend, and I shouldn't have put in that compromising situation. So, I apologize. It won't happen again. We're trying to become friends and I don't want to jeopardize that. I need you in my life, Bella, any way I can. And if that is as a friend, then I am honored to fill the job and I will be the best friend you can have."

"You don't have to apologize, Sam. Nothing happened, so there are no worries. Plus, it would have taken two if something had happened. I definitely don't want to mess up this friendship. I know we only just met, but I feel like you're supposed to be in my life, that you are supposed to be my friend."

"Don't worry, Bella, I'm not going anywhere," he said tapping his brush on my nose.

"Hey! That wasn't nice, Sam."

"Well, what can I say, I'm not always nice." I flicked my brush so that drops of paint flew into Sam's face. And that was the beginning of our twenty minute paint fight. Somehow I ended up with almost all of the spare paint on me, while Sam looked nearly clear of any paint.

"You ready for lunch?" I asked Sam as we, or rather I, cleaned up out back at the hose.

"Bella, if we're going to be friends, then you are going to have to quickly understand that I am never not hungry and when I do eat, I could eat an entire turkey and all the fixings for a family of four in one sitting. So, you never have to ask if I am ready for a meal. Got me?" He said smiling.

"Gotcha," I replied heading inside. Sam followed me in and helped me fix lunch. I had one turkey sandwich as I watched Sam eat five sandwiches loaded with turkey, ham, and roast beef.

"How old are you, Sam?"

"Twenty-one."

"Oh, really, I sort of would have guessed a few years older, like twenty-three."

"You thought I was twenty-three, over five years older than you, and you still wanted to be friends with me?"

"Honestly, I've always gotten along better with adults or people older than me. My mom said I was born middle aged. I guess that makes me a little boring, huh?"

"You're just responsible and mature, that doesn't mean you act middle aged or boring. I don't understand why you insist on thinking that some of your best qualities are your worst ones. You really don't see yourself clearly, Bella. I think we're going to have to work on that in this friendship of ours."

"If you say so…"

"Oh, I say so. Hey do you want to-" he was cut off by the phone shrilling on the wall.

"Sorry, let me get that real quick," I said hoping up to get the phone. I picked up the phone and answered.

"Hello."

"Bella!" Alice screamed into the phone.

"Yes, Alice."

"Are you okay?!" she shrieked on the other end.

"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because you disappeared. I can't even see you now that I'm talking to you. I thought maybe you'd, well, I thought you may have died."

"I'm fine, Alice."

"Then why can't I see you? It's only supposed to happen when you are in La Push, not in your own home." I heard some murmuring through the phone.

"Bella, it's Edward."

"I'm fine, Edward," I repeated myself.

"Bella is there someone else with you there?"

"Yes."

"Who?" I looked over at Sam who was sitting at the table. He looked tense and his breathing was strained.

"Sam, Charlie hired him to do some work on the house."

"Is Sam from La Push, Bella?" Sam started to lightly shake.

"Yes, why?" I waited for a response and all I got was the dial tone. I looked at the phone and then at Sam. "That was strange."

Author's Note: Edward and Sam meet. Let the showdown begin... I'd love to hear what your opinion of the chapter and/or story is. Review and tell me.