A/N: Here's part two. I hope you like it! By the way, if you notice, this chapter says Whitney's apartment when the last chapter said house. I changed it, because I realized that New York probably doesn't have quite too many houses, especially not where the characters live. Sorry about the confusion!

Christopher's POV

I cannot believe that my dad forced me into this. I really cannot. I despise my father right now. And I also despise Whitney, because it's her fault I'm here in the first place. If she hadn't given me that stupid flyer……

So here's what happened:

Whitney was going around in school, passing out flyers for her, as she called it……Her Friday Night Birthday Bash. She walked past my locker while I was packing up some books, looked me up and down—as if checking to see if I was worthy—and then handed one to me.

"So Chris, I hope you'll come to my birthday party," Whitney said, batting her eyelashes.

Was she serious?! First, why would she even want me there? Wasn't it just a few months ago that she would mock me and Em?

But then again, times were different a few months ago. I had Em. I had long hair. I still played Journeyquest. What I wouldn't give to get those days back.

But still, was she actually serious? Why did she want me at her party? And what ever gave her the idea that I'd want to go to a party like hers. But whatever.

"Ummm, no thanks," I said, turning to walk away.

"Oh, Christopher," she said, swatting my arm playfully. "Don't be shy."

She was really getting on my nerves. Who did she think she was?! Did she think I'd forget all of the mean stuff she said about Em just because Em had died? It definitely wasn't going to happen.

"Everyone's going to be there. I mean, even Nikki was invited!" she said, still trying to get me to respond.

My heart added an extra beat. I'm not sure what it was about, but I shrugged it off. It must be frustration with Whitney. That's all.

Besides, I didn't really picture Nikki Howard as someone who would go to a high schoolers party, but I could be wrong. Since I didn't exactly picture Nikki Howard as someone who would go to high school, and well apparently, I was wrong about that.

"Yeah, well not everyone will be there," I said, trying to walk away again.

"Christopher, I know you want to come. Don't be shy, just take the flyer," she said, laughing and looking around at her friends, especially her sidekick, Lauren. She folded it and placed it in my backpack before turning and walking away.

So, that's what it was. She wanted to show off. She wanted me to accept her invitation. She was worried that I'd embarrass her.

I wanted to rip the invitation out of my bag, wad it up, and shoot it at her forehead, but I couldn't, because she was already walking away. So I left it, grabbed my bag and headed home.

That was Monday, and by today, I had completely forgotten about it. I pulled my books out of my bag as I sat down on the couch to attempt to do some homework. Even though it was Friday, I didn't have much else to do. I couldn't work on hacking into Stark until Nikki got me that code.

I knew she would though. I wasn't sure how I knew, but I just knew. I knew that I could trust her with it. It was a weird feeling. I felt oddly connected to Nikki, and I felt that I could trust her with a lot of things. There was something about her, and I wasn't sure what it was. It was something I wanted to find out.

Anyway, as I was sitting on the leather couch doing my homework, the Commander walked in. He bent down and picked up a piece of crinkled paper and looked at it.

"What's this?" he asked me, curiously.

"Oh, just some invitation to some girl's party. You can toss it," I said, shrugging and turning back to my work.

"It says the party's tonight……" he continued, still staring at the paper.

"and your point is……?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"You should go."

"Or not," I said, looking at him like he was crazy. "Dad, I do not want to go to some shallow high school party for some girl that I couldn't care less about," I explained, bored.

"Yeah, well, you were invited. You should go. Besides, you haven't gotten out of the house in a while. Since, well, since Em died," he said, getting quieter towards the end.

My whole body tensed. I knew it was true. I mean I knew she was dead. But still, hearing it mentioned made my heart break and my body tense. If only I had another chance, I would tell her that I loved her and that I wanted to be with her. I would kiss her like crazy and never let her go. But I would never have another chance. And I hated hearing it, because it made her death feel so much more……well, real.

It was easier to pretend that it was a nightmare and to tell myself that eventually I'd wake up. But to hear it, it brought me back to reality. There was no waking up. Em was gone. Dead. She was no longer alive, and she would never be alive again.

My eyes started to feel glossy, and my jaw and fist clenched.

"Dad……" I said, warningly.

"Look son," the Commander said, putting a hand on my shoulder. "I know this has been hard on you. I know that you really cared about Em……"

"I loved her, dad," I said, still clenching my teeth, trying not to cry.

"I know, Son," he said, with pity.

Great. Just what I needed. My father, pitying me.

"But, you can't just stop living because of this. You need to move on. I know you don't want to. I know that it hurts. But it's the truth. I wish it wasn't, but it is. That's just the way it is. You're going to have to move on. Life doesn't stop moving just because the people we love are no longer living. Life goes on, and we have to move with it or be run over."

"Yeah, well I'd rather be run over, but thanks," I said, grimly. I know I shouldn't talk to my dad like that. But I didn't want to hear it anymore. I was tired of hearing how I needed to move on. He didn't know how I felt. The person that I loved was gone, and I never even kissed her or told her how I felt. I was an idiot for not noticing it while she was here. And I'll regret it for the rest of my life.

I looked up and saw that my dad's face was getting red, and he looked angry. I guess my last comment was a bit much.

"Now, Christopher Maloney. That was uncalled for. You get yourself up. You get dressed, and you take yourself to that party tonight," he said, strictly, turning to walk away.

"I'm not going, dad," I said, annoyed. I hated telling my father no. I never told him no. But I wasn't going to go to the party of some girl I hated who just happened to be the girl who made fun of the girl I loved back when she was alive.

"Oh, yes, you are. Because I said you're going. End of story. You are going," he said, giving me the look.

I knew that look. That look meant do what I say or else. And let me just tell you, from experience, you do NOT want to experience the or else.

"Fine, dad. Whatever," I said, picking up my books, sighing, and heading to my room.

I threw on my favorite Ramones t-shirt, some tight dark blue jeans, and my leather jacket. I grabbed the flyer with the address to Whitney's house, and I headed out the door. But I still glared at my dad and slammed the door on the way out.

Hey, you can't always act your age. Every now and then, you have to be immature in order to prove a point.

So, anyway, that's how I found myself heading to the party of the one of the people I despise most—aside from Stark, of course.

I continued all the way to Whitney's house. I thought about bailing a few times. I thought that I would just go somewhere else, hang out for a few hours, go home, and my dad would never know. But the thing is, he would know. Somehow. My dad would find out. I mean, after all, he was the Commander. He knew things. I wasn't sure how he knew, but he did.

When I was younger, I would have sworn that he had hidden cameras everywhere I went. He always knew when I had done something wrong.

So, reluctantly, I dragged myself up to Whitney's door. I would have knocked, but that wasn't necessary. People were going in and out as they pleased. Loud music was blaring from the apartment loft, so much that you could hear it down the hall. I walked in to see the most extravagant party I had ever seen.

Thousands of lights, a DJ, a giant cake, a chocolate fountain, and……an ice sculpture?! Was that really necessary?

I mean, really, this has got to be a joke. She has an ice sculpture of herself. That's just so….so…..something only Whitney would do.

I scanned the room for any familiar faces. Not that I'd really see any. I mean, yeah, I guess I recognized most people from school. But I didn't really talk to anyone. Em had been my only friend…….and…..well yeah, I didn't want to think about that. Just thinking about it made my throat tighten and my eyes burn.

I stood in the corner, just watching everyone pass by. This party was out of control. There were people dancing on the table and alcohol was everywhere. I mean, what kind of parents let their kids have parties like this, especially when they have neighbors who could hear and easily call the cops?

I can't believe my dad wanted me to come to this party so much. I'm sure my dad would be so proud, I laughed sarcastically.

I went and found some soda, then went back to my corner, still scanning the room. I thought it was more entertaining to analyze what everyone else was doing.

Lauren, Whitney's sidekick, was over across the hall in a dress that appeared more like lingerie, twisting her hair around her finger, and trying to flirt. Well, she was more than trying, she was succeeding. The football player she had targeted was long gone. I'd like to think that they were having a serious conversation, but I'd only be fooling myself. Lauren was having a one way conversation, telling him whatever he wanted to hear, only he wasn't listening. He was too busy focusing on something, well, little below the neckline if you know what I mean. Her dress didn't leave too much to the imagination.

I scoffed. The Walking Dead. That's definitely what they were. If only Em were here to share this with.

My chest burned, and I quickly scanned the room to look for another pathetic interaction.

But I froze when I saw Nikki walk in. My heart skipped a beat. It must have been the heat from too many people dancing, mixed with the caffeine in the cola.

What was she doing here anyway? Wasn't she too busy for a high school party?

I noticed that she was talking to Lulu Collins—the one whose father had really screwed up the Journeyquest movie. Although, it didn't matter, because I didn't even play Journeyquest anymore.

Anyway, just as Nikki was scanning the room, her attention landed on me. Her eyes practically bulged out of her head, and I was intrigued. Why was she so shocked to see me here? Was I really that uncool to where I wouldn't be invited to a party like this?

Anyway, she quickly recovered, her cheeks turned red and she gave a small smile and waved.

For the first time that night, I smiled back and started to head over to her. Maybe now I'd finally be able to convince her to get me that code I needed.

I needed to stop Stark. I needed to bring them down. They cost me the most important person in my life. Nothing anyone does will stop me, because I will bring them down. I'll make them pay for what they did to Em. Her parents didn't even sue or anything. But I was going to make them pay. Much more than they'd lose in a lawsuit. I was going to take them down, once and for all.

But first, I needed Nikki's help. And I knew she would help me, because well, as I said, I just knew. There was something about her. I knew I could count on her.

Nikki Howard was my secret weapon to bring out Stark Enterprises, and I would stop at nothing to take them down.

My eyes were still locked on Nikki's, as I started walking towards her. But I was stopped, when I felt someone grab my wrist, and I slowly turned around……

A/N: That's all for part two. Tell me what you think. Review and tell me what you liked, what you didn't like, what I could change, and if you think Christopher's POV sounds ok or if I need to change anything? Please review and let me know, and I'll try to update soon!