Wow, I don't really know what to say about this. I can't actually remember where the idea came from, only that it's been in the back of my mind for a while now. I blame Gravitation. I'm pretty sure it's the only Twilight fic of its kind. I could be wrong. This is Twilight with a twist. The twist being male!Bella AKA Beau Swan, Beau being the closest name to Bella I could think of. It was originally short for Ichabod (as in Isabella/Ichabod) but I might change it to Beaumont. Any ideas?
Updates will most likely be sparse at first, I'm at university and we're on the brink of our exams, I'll be studying for most of the month of June, though, knowing me I'll probably start writing fiction as a 'de-stressor' instead of working. Anyways, read on and review; I'd love to hear what you think about the story. I use bits from the actual book at first, just to get the characterisation. For those who noticed, I took out the prelude, it doesn't really go with the direction I want to go with this.

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.Androgynous.

-Chapter One-

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My mother drove me to the airport, an awkward silence existing between us, filling up with the things we weren't saying to each other.

I was wearing my favourite shirt; a tight white wife-beater with the words 'I don't even think straight' emblazoned in rainbow writing across the front. One last dig at my step-father Phil before I was exiled from my sunny home in Phoenix to what had to be the bad weather capital of the US.

"Beau," My mother said to me, perhaps for the sixth million time. "You don't have to do this you know. Say the word and I'll take you right back home." She half-turned in her seat, her belly making it hard to navigate past the steering wheel. "We can work something out, you don't need to leave."

I didn't answer. It didn't matter if I did or not; Renee never heard anything she didn't want to. Instead I rubbed the small bump of her stomach. "Here's hoping this one's straight." I teased, pressing a kiss to her belly. "Otherwise it might find itself out of a home too."

Renee shot me a hurt-filled look. "Would you please not talk like that? Phil loves you."

I rolled my eyes.

"He does!" She insisted, her naive blue eyes wide.

"Yeah," I mumbled. "He just didn't want to share his home with a faggot."

Renee winced at the word. "Don't, Beau. Please?"

I sighed but complied. I leant forward and checked my reflection in the rear-view mirror. The snake bites I had recently had pierced, another attempt to get under my step-father's skin, were still slightly inflamed, though not as much as my ear.

I had recently graduated to a 0-gauge stretcher in my right ear; a celebration present to myself for finally getting kicked out.

Renee looked at my cherry red ear, and the large spike protruding through it in exasperation. "I don't know why you do that to yourself. You have beautiful ears, sweetie."

"They're just ears." I replied, prodding an experimental finger at the inflamed flesh. I suppressed a cringe when my whole ear burned. "The fact that it pisses off Phil is just a bonus." I added.

She sighed but didn't address my barb at her husband. Instead she turned again to the topic that started it all. "Maybe your relationship with him would improve if you could make an effort?"

Immediately any good will I was feeling towards my mother vanished and I sank back into the seat in disgust.

"It doesn't work like that." I reminded her.

"Well what about those camp things?" She suggested. "Couldn't you go to one of those? The...what are they called...Gay Reform Programs?"

"Renee," I said, ignoring her grimace at my using her first name. I don't think either of us could remember when I stopped calling her 'mom'. "There's no such thing as a 'gay reform program'. It's just a fraudulent camp for Christian teens in denial."

Renee's face crumpled. "Well couldn't you at least try it?"

I closed my eyes; despite whatever resentment I felt towards Renee for choosing her husband over his first child I still hated to see my child-like mother cry.

I felt a small pang, what would she be like when I was gone? Then I remembered; she had Phil now. Phil was with her so the bills would probably be paid, the fridge full of food, gas in the car and she would have someone to call when she got lost.

Phil would look after Renee; despite his feelings towards me I knew he loved my mother. It made the thought of my approaching exile easier to bear now that I knew Renee would be fine.

I opened my eyes just in time to see the towers of Phoenix Sky Harbour looming up ahead. I kept my gaze on the airport while Renee sniffed away the last of her spontaneous crying session beside me.

The silence grew again as Renee spent a few minutes looking for a park amongst the surplus of vehicles. It seemed everybody and their cousin was getting a flight today.

At least I wouldn't be lonely.

We sat in the parked car for a moment before Renee took another breath and turned to me. "Renee," I cut her off before she could start up the 'you don't need to do this' shit again. "I want to go. Honestly." I wasn't a good liar by any means, but I'd been saying the lie to her so frequently over the last few days that it almost sounded believable by now.

Renee began sniffing again. "I know," She swiped angrily at her eyes. "Stupid hormones." She reached out a hand and stroked my check softly. Just like she used to do when I was little. "I'm sorry."

"Me too." I whispered.

Renee steeled herself. "Okay, now remember to pull your weight around the house; I don't want to hear of any slacking off. Brush your teeth, wash behind you ears. And most importantly,"

I tried hard to suppress any ill-will I had towards her for what she was about to say. Don't commit matricide; I told myself, she's a pregnant woman.

"Don't tell Charlie about...you know."

"No I don't know." I said. Maybe baiting her was a little petty, but it was better than outright hitting her.

Renee looked uncomfortable. "I mean your...affliction."

I deadpanned. "I'm not sick, Renee."

Renee sighed. "Beau, please."

I conceded. "Fine, I get it. Lie to my father about being a raging homosexual."

Renee if possible, looked even more discomfited than before. "I only want what's best for you. I want this to work out with your father...for your sake."

"Even if I have to lie to him?" I asked bitterly.

"Honey, Charlie's from a small town. I don't know how open-minded he would be about it."

"Open-minded like...Phil?" I said sarcastically. Renee looked pained. "Look, I get it Renee. Don't tell Charlie." I opened the car door. "I got to go, don't want to miss my flight." I left before she could kiss me goodbye.

It was a four-hour flight from Phoenix to Seattle, another hour in a small plane up to Port Angeles and then an hour's drive back down to Forks. Flying doesn't particularly bother me; I'd charged my iPod before I left, but it was the hour in the car with Charlie I was not looking forward to. I couldn't just block him out with my music.

Despite not seeing him often I actually liked my dad. But neither of us were what you would call verbose. Though he was pleased with my 'decision' I knew he would be a little confused as to my reasoning.

Since I could remember, I had spent a month every summer in Forks until I was fourteen. That was the year I put my foot down. The past three summers Charlie vacationed with me in California instead. I had not made my distaste for Forks unknown.

So it must have come completely out of the blue for Charlie when he got the phone call that told him he was to become my full-time caregiver, especially with how evasive Renee was bound to be on the subject.

He was still really nice about it; he'd registered me in the local high school and promised to help me find a car.

When I landed in Port Angeles it was already raining. I didn't see it as an omen; it was simply unavoidable. I put up my hood as I got outside; I'd straightened my hair in Phoenix and the rain would just destroy my hard work.

Charlie was waiting outside next to the cruiser; that was kind of expected too. Charlie was the Police Chief of Forks. Dream big.

The cruiser itself was my primary motivation for buying a car. I wasn't lacking in funds; having been doused in guilt money by Renee over the last few miserable weeks in Phoenix. I refused to be driven around in a car that flashed blue and red lights.

Charlie was still looking around as I approached. I didn't know if he hadn't recognised me because of the hood or the fact I had changed so much since we last saw each other. Charlie himself hadn't changed a bit. He still had his greying brown curls and the chocolate eyes that were one of the few physical things I inherited from him.

I'd been told throughout my life how much I resembled my mother. Perhaps if I were her daughter I wouldn't have minded. But being born a boy just led to constant teasing throughout my schooling for my 'sissy' looks.

We shared the same heart-shaped face and wide eyes. The same prominent cheekbones tapering down to a narrow jaw with a pointed chin. My lips were embarrassing rosebuds against my pale skin; perhaps a little out of proportion and way to feminine. Not that seemed a problem at my old school where people constantly fussed over my lips much to my mortification. Some of the bolder boys would teasingly contemplate as to whether my lips felt as soft and feminine as they looked.

The social awkwardness I inherited from Charlie. My mother was never lacking in friends, no matter what city we moved too. People just flocked to her, attracted by her positivity. Much to my distaste, people flocked to me attracted by my homosexuality. Everyone loves the token gay guy.

The coordination issues were all my own. To my chagrin, both my parents were perfectly balanced with Renee flitting from one exercise obsession to another; yoga to track to hiking, while Charlie needed to keep in shape for his job. I'd don't think they'd trust him around a loaded gun if he had even half the amount of clumsiness I did.

Charlie gave a jolt of surprise when I came into his line of vision. "Beau?" He asked surprised.

"Hey Ch-Dad." I said back, accepting the abrupt pat on the shoulder he gave me.

"You look different." He eyed me up. "Your mother know about those?" he gave vague gestures towards his mouth. I realised he meant my piercings.

I shrugged. "Yeah."

Charlie frowned but evidently decided that if Renee hadn't kicked up a fuss then he wasn't going to.

I took off my hoodie once we got under the dry cover of the cruiser. Charlie gave another once-over at me. "You did something with your hair." He commented.

I tugged on one of the dyed strands self-consciously. Another one of my reminders to Phil. I had bleached parts of my chocolate brown hair, giving it a two-toned effect. I was assured by all my female friends, especially Cass who was the one who did the dye job, that it was the height of 'cool'. I'd shrugged off their compliments; being popular had never really appealed to me like it had my mother.

I belatedly forgot about my gay pride t-shirt. Charlie glanced at it but said nothing more. I guess he thought it was a teenage fashion thing and was relieved when he didn't say anything. It occurred to me that maybe he wasn't as homophobic as Renee seemed to think.

But I wasn't going to take chances. I decided that I would do nothing to hide the real me, if he guessed than that was that. That way I wouldn't be breaking my promise to Renee.

Charlie changed the subject, just as the silence in the car was beginning to get uncomfortable. I was grateful to him. "I found a good car for you, really cheap." He announced. "Well, a truck really."

My interest was piqued. "What kind of truck?" I was suspicious of the way he said 'good for you' as opposed to just 'good car'.

"Chevy." He grunted in reply. "Got it from Billy Black, you remember, down at La Push."

I scoured my memory. La Push was a tiny Indian Reserve down the coast so it stood to reason that Mr. Billy Black was Indian. I could remember meeting some Indians on the few occasions I went down there. But Billy in particular skipped my mind.

"He used to go fishing with us in the summer." Charlie prompted.

"Is his wife the pretty one? Starts with an 'S'?" I asked, a conjuring a memory of one of Charlie's fishing buddies.

"Sue?" Charlie shook his head. "No, that's Harry. You used to play with Billy's boy; Jacob."

A flash of a small russet-skinned boy chasing me around the reserve, demanding I be the damsel he rescued came clear in my mind. "I remember." I said darkly.

'He's in a wheelchair now." Charlie continued.

"Who, Jacob?" I asked surprised. Sure I'd wished bad things on him when he forced me into one of his sister's dresses but I didn't actually mean it.

"No, Billy." Charlie huffed. Clearly he was getting annoyed at the interruptions. I wisely stayed silent and let him continue. "Anyway, he can't drive anymore and he offered me the truck cheap so I brought it for you, a welcome home present."

I shrugged; a free car was a free car. I wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth – or engine, and at least the truck would save me the shame of being driven to school in a police cruiser every day. Plus I got to keep my guilt fund from Renee. I was already thinking up uses for it.

"Thanks Charlie." I said with genuine gratitude. "It's a nice present."

Charlie looked suspicious as if he thought I was going to kick up more of a fuss than that. I smiled at him and leant across the window, watching the scenery pass by. It was certainly beautiful, I couldn't deny that. But everything was green; too green. Like the inside of some long forgotten fridge.

Eventually we made it to Charlie's. He lived in the same two-bedroom house he's brought with my mother in the early days of their marriage. Those were the only days their marriage had; the early ones.

The house was a sturdy Victorian structure with peeling white washboards and a forest surrounding the back. It, like everything else, was exactly as I remembered it. Only last time I visited it hadn't had the large red truck outside.

With a jolt I realised that it was my big red truck. And an even greater surprise came when I realised that I loved it already. Now I knew what Charlie had meant when he said that it was a good truck for me. This was the kind of car you'd see at an accidently totally unharmed with the scraps of the other car surrounding it.

It was perfect but I wasn't entirely sure it would run. "How old did you say it was?" I asked Charlie.

From his face I knew this was the question he'd hoped I wouldn't ask. "Early sixties, last fifties." He admitted sheepishly. "Billy brought it in '84. Did a lot of work on the engine. It works like a charm." He added defensively as if I were going to debate the validity of his friend's mechanic work. "They don't make them like this anymore, son."

I shrugged. "Fine with me." He looked doubtful again so I added. "I just wanted to know that it worked. Apart from that it's perfect."

He avoided my gaze and stared straight ahead, a slight flush tickling the edge of his collar. "Just want you to be happy here." He muttered gruffly, embarrassed.

I smiled at him. "Don't worry dad, I am." A total lie, but I wasn't going to admit that. I could handle being miserable by myself, I didn't want to drag Charlie down with me. At the moment he was the best parent I had.

It took a single trip to get all my worldly possessions upstairs to the smaller bedroom. Charlie had obviously gone out of his way to redecorate the best he could. Especially under such short notice.

Gone were the yellowed lace curtains and the small cot-like bed. He'd added a small double bed which was now the predominant feature in the room apart from the old writing desk upon which sat an ancient computer. I decided to buy myself a laptop and some decent broadband as soon as I could get the chance.

He kept the faded blue wallpaper and the old rocking chair still sat in the corner. I didn't mind, the chair had been one of my favourite aspects of the room.

I heard Charlie shuffle in behind me as I was taking in the room. "You can redecorate however you want." He told me. "I can get some paints from the hardware store; we can make it a weekend job."

I nodded at him and dropped my duffle bag on the floor. "Sure thing Charlie, it'll be a real father-son bonding time." I nodded encouragingly at him. I was trying hard to make him see how grateful I was, in case the whole gay thing ever blew up in my face. But living with Renee and Phil had sapped me of my regard for adults, so showing Charlie the proper respect took a lot of effort.

I think he saw that though, because he gave me a small smile of his own. "You'll be tired from your flight." He clapped me on the shoulder. "I'll let you get some sleep. School starts in the morning so be up early, okay?"

I nodded again to show my consent and waited for him to leave the room so I could finally breathe. Luckily Charlie wasn't the type to hover, much unlike my other parent, and he left me in peace pretty quickly. It was a relief, it gave me a chance to sit on my bed and let a few belated tears escape.

With another sigh I brushed away my sadness and opened my first bag, retrieving my favourite Victoria Francis poster. School was tomorrow, but first I was going to spend my energies redecorating my childhood room.

And there we are, chapter one. I hope you enjoyed it and I look forward to hearing any feedback and suggestions. Next chapter Beau goes to school and finds out what Forks High School thinks of him...

Being bisexuals doubles your changes for a Saturday night date...

Love Queen Cocaine

xoxo