Emma stood infront of the bar with a horrific look upon her face while watching the other bartenders at work. The place was crowded, packed even. Several bouncers had to keep the line in check out front. I guess everybody wanted to be here, at Coyote Ugly.

Emma doesn't do this. She doesn't spin bottles in the palms of her hands like Mia was doing right now behind the bar. She doesn't prance around in short skirts. But she did, right now as a matter of fact. And most importantly, Emma doesn't get up on slippery, alcohol soaked bars and dance around like she's some exotic dancer. Like Manny right now..

Yet. Here Emma stood. Still needing a job . Maybe Emma did do this… maybe Emma was very conflicted right now..

Emma couldn't believe her eyes. Manny was good, don't get her wrong, if she was one of these horny guys in this bar too she'd be cheering Manny on as well.

Emma could hear Paige giving her the rundown on how everything works, but she was only half listening because from the way these girls owned the bar and how loud their audience was hollering, that's all she could do. She watched as Manny dropped down from the bar to pick up a bottle of whiskey and twirl it effortlessly in her hand before pouring a few shots without missing a beat. Meanwhile, Alex was pouring 12 different shots and somehow hearing every order shouted at her. Mia worked the bar with her innocent smiles but seductive eyes.. that's how she got her big tips.

"Are you listening?" Paige snapped, waving a hand in front of Emma's face, forcing her attention back on the rules she was giving her. Emma nodded shyly with wide, deer caught in the headlights, eyes. "Good." Paige smirked and pulled her towards the corner of the bar where she reached back for the speakerphone then draped an arm around Emma's shoulders and tugged her to her side.

"Hey!" She yelled out at the rowdy crowd who didn't seemed phased by the loud shout, "Hey everybody! Shut up!" The noisy patrons settled into a low buzz as Paige introduced Emma, "I have a special treat for you guys tonight! I'd like you to meet my new girl-" She leaned over with this expectant look on her face.

"Em-Emma." She whispered timidly. Paige stared back at her like she wasn't sure whether she loved the name or hated it before shrugging her shoulders and smirking. It was sweet and innocent. That'd get Emma tips from all the men who thought they could get into her skirt.

"Emma!" as soon as Paige shouted the name, all the people in the bar went wild. "Buy her a drink boys!"

Paige left with that, knowing what would happen next. Emma thanked the heavens for the bar that trapped the men from piling over to get to her, rising their cash in their hands to buy her a drink. While Emma just stood there in shock, Alex came over, shoving her back.

"Out of the way, New Girl, I'm workin' here!" Alex spat as she reached for a bottle and drizzled out shots. Emma nodded an apology and tried ducking and dodging the other girls who were less physical with her than Alex.

"Come on Em," Manny said, running by her, "You got this!"

Emma tried to jump into the game, all while trying her hardest to take orders from the unruly customers and give them what they wanted. She was somewhat starting to get the hang of pouring drinks, but the fast pace was throwing her off.

"So here's how it works.." Paige told Emma, leaning on the back bar to watch Emma work and see how she does. Emma was flustered but tried to listen as she took another order and Paige continued.

"..I own this place. People know me as the Queen B from New York who opened up this bar. It's my baby. I take care of my girls. But cross me? It'll be the worst mistake of your life."

Emma glanced up to see Manny flash them a smile and go back to fake flirting with some guy who was buying rounds of shots just so he could talk to Manny.

"Manny's the Filipino Tease." Paige explained and then laughed, "She knows taking off her engagement ring gives her more tips." Paige then caught Mia bottle feeding a regular customer and pointed, "And Mia's the playful fun and sexy girl."

Paige then looked at Alex and shared a smirk as her girlfriend walked by, "Alex is the Bitch from New Jersey. We all sort of play our little parts, except Alex really is a bitch. Not to me of course, since we are together. But just play your part."

"What's my part?" Emma asked, a little curious and still going over the fact that Paige had just said her and Alex were together. Not that she had a problem with lesbians! She just, wasn't expecting that.

"The sweet and innocent virgin." Paige declared. Emma couldn't even help but snort. She wasn't THAT innocent. Paige shrugged and rolled her eyes smiling, "It's just an act you have to play. Every guy is into something different. Weather it's for the bitch, tease, or hot virgin. And you've got this 'good girl' vibe about you. Work it."

Emma nodded, taking this all in. Paige leaned off the counter and gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder then left to go do more managing.

All was going well, sort of, but customers continued to buy Emma shots and all that alcohol was starting to get to her. She was known to be a light drinker, so she didn't know how much more she could take of this. After another customer wanted to take a shot with her, she couldn't help but refuse it, trying to ease the guy off by telling some tragic story about how bad she is when it comes to being drunk.

"Hey, Paige!" Alex called over her shoulder as she kept a watchful eye on Emma, "New Girl is refusing your good booze!"

Emma's mouth fell, turning to look at Paige who raised an eyebrow at her, hoping that wasn't true.

"No, I was just making it a double!" Emma shrugged, shooting the burning liquid back then cringed at the taste. Screw Alex! She really was a bitch!

Alex just looked at her with a surprised expression, snickering a little, before going back to tend to the customers. Emma tried her best to shake of the after burn, but her vision was starting to get a little cloudy and she couldn't quite keep up with the drink order the customer was currently shouting at her.

"Uhm..huh?" Emma mumbled trying her hardest focus.

"Got it!" Mia called and playfully bumped her hip with Emma's so she could hand the guy his beers and shots. Emma nodded to her thankfully before scurrying off to help someone else. She was really trying as best as she could. She wanted Paige to know she could do this!

Emma turned to watch Manny accept yet another shot from a customer and swallowed it back effortlessly. Suddenly she felt envious..

"How do you do it?" Emma asked with a pout and Manny giggled, pulling her to the side and poured a shot before grabbing a beer. She lifted the glass and explained to Emma..

"Take the shot, don't swallow it, but act like you did before you 'sip' the beer. While you 'drink' the beer, spit the shot into the beer." She did it to show Emma, and it really did look like she took the shot. "Voila!"

"Clever." Emma teased but nodded. Now she knew what to do.

The rest of the night went well. Well, except for dropping half a Jack Daniels bottle.

"Don't think the New Girl is gunna cut it!" Alex shouted over at Paige. Emma scowled but grabbed a broom to sweep up the glass.

At the end of the shift, Paige giggled at Emma while the two blondes walked outside. It was around 4am, and Emma was beat!

"You did good, Emma." Paige insisted.

Emma even looked tired. She knew she'd probably sleep the whole day away. "Really? I thought I was horrible."

Paige snickered, "Some of the girls don't even get through the front door their first shift or even make it half way through." She walked back to the door to go inside. "You might just be a coyote Emma Nelson."

Emma smiled and turned away as the door shut behind Paige. Emma happily squeeled and that's when Manny came out and Jay's orange civic pulled up.

"Ready to go home, girl?" Manny asked, yawning right after.

Emma nodded but they shared a hug and small laugh. "Tonight was crazy." Emma said, crawling into the car.

Jay turned from up front and joked, "You made it? I thought Alex would for sure eat you alive."

"She tried." Muttered Manny next to him and he chuckled, starting the car up.

Manny and Emma hung out for a little at Emma's place after. The blonde leaned back on the couch with Manny next to her, wrapped in blankets.

"How does Jay deal with you working there?" Emma had to ask.

Manny giggled a little, "He doesn't deal very well with it. No jealous boyfriends in the bar, remember? Jay barely comes inside. He knows I'd get fired if he got into a fight with someone but he also knows it's just a job. He makes good money, but I make more." She yawns. "But, he's also good friends with Alex. So he knows she'll watch my back."

Emma nodded and looked down. Made sense. Emma knew her past boyfriends wouldn't of liked it though. Sean especially. Maybe it was a good thing then that they weren't together anymore… Emma smiled sadly thinking how big his eyes would of popped out if they were dating and she worked at Coyote Ugly. But nope. She was single, alone in the city, and now a coyote. Things were JUST getting started..

(((***)))

The next week, Emma was getting the hang of things. Tonight she wore a nice little black dress, and it was tight in certain places and a little revealing by how short it was but her nice long legs showed off and to finish it off, nice black high heels.

The waiter from the Diner, Spinner, had come tonight. He stood with his friends and couldn't stop staring at Emma. He finally got the courage to go up to the bar and leaned on it, trying to get her attention. He hoped she'd remember him..

"You're a coyote?!"

Emma looked up and noticed him. She blushed a little and smiled, "So I am." She looked around and asked, "What would you like?" She didn't mean to be rude, but she was working!

He leaned on the counter and yelled over the music, "Uhm. Coors Light." He wasn't much a drinker, but he wanted to talk to her more. She looked sexy as hell. When she was at the diner, she was this small town girl who was gorgeous but never did he think she would do this. She seemed to be getting this 'big city' vibe.

Manny had peaked over and smirked between the two. She knew Spinner too, everyone did. He did after all work at the most favorited diner in the city and he seemed to have eyes on Emma now. He use to have it in for Paige too, until you know- she went lesbian.

Emma came back with his beer and gave him a friendly smile, "On the house."

She remembered he had gotten her a pie for free and was nice to her when she first moved here. She owed him that. Spinner sheepishly grinned and took the beer, leaving a big tip for Emma. Manny grabbed it for her when he walked away and she walked to Emma when she stood at the cash register.

"He totally has been staring at you all night!"

Emma looked over confused, than recalled who Manny had meant. Spinner. "No he hasn't."

Manny rolled her eyes at her and lifted up her tip. "He tipped you $20." Emma looked over into the crowd and saw Spinner rest his beer on a table and not even drink it. In fact, he followed his buddies out of the bar, leaving.

Hmm. Maybe he was into her. Was she ready for that?

"Should I go for it?" Emma felt so uneasy about it. Flashes of a certain ex boyfriends face entered her mind and she couldn't shut it out. She bit her lip and looked at Manny for guidance.

"Ofcourse you should!"

Emma smiled a little wearily but nodded. Maybe she would. Maybe it was time to move on….

The rest of the night was as busy as it was when the bar opened. Emma was doing a great job until someone ordered water, and all hell broke loose.

"He asked for water?" Alex whispered to Emma with a tone of disbelief. Emma nodded with a shrug and confused look.

Alex rolled her eyes at Emma and snatched the glass Emma had in her hands before grabbing the microphone. "Hey guys! Do we serve water in this bar?" She yelled out to the crowd. Emma spun around to see everyone pumping fists in the air and chanting Hell no h2o while Manny and Mia reached for the water hoses. Emma watched the girls in disbelief as Alex too began spraying the customer with water, soaking not only the one guy but everyone behind him as well. Mia and Manny sprayed their hoses at the rest of the crowd who were actually just cheering and loving it.

Not what Emma expected.

(((**)))

Emma flew into her bed with an exhausted sigh that morning she got home from work. She turned right over and just buried herself into her covers without even changing out of her clothes.

This job was going to probably be the death of her, yet, why didn't she quit? Maybe deep down she kind of liked it. Hopefully she'd be a permeant coyote soon and things would get easier. Paige said she was on 'probation' for now.

Emma finally shut her eyes and as soon as she did, she fell right to sleep.

((**))

Meanwhile, in her home town, a motorcycle went up Emma's parents' driveway. The front door to the Nelson/Simpson house opened, and Snake came out, his mouth hanging a little until it twitched up into a smile.

The figure parked his bike in the driveway and got off it. It was Sean. He was older, hair grown out, a light shade of brown, and he had piercing blue eyes. He was more tanned, and muscular, probably from all that army training. He's totally gorgeous.

"Sean. You're back!"

"Hey Snake.." he greeted with his deep smooth voice. He paused before he asked with a bit of agony but longing in his eyes. "Is she home?"

Snake raised his eyebrows and blinked. He already knew Sean wanted to see Emma. He just couldn't believe the timing…. "Uh-n-no. She moved. To the city."

"The city?" Sean couldn't believe it. Emma alone, in the city? Not that she wasn't brave enough but he couldn't help but feel protective. The city could be dangerous.

Snake stepped forward when Sean walked back to his motorcycle, "Where are you going? You want to come inside for a bit?"

Snake was still stunned. He couldn't believe Sean was back. The boy who left was now a man, and still seemed to want to be with his daughter. And Snake was more than okay with that, he was beyond happy. Wait until Emma heard about this!

Sean got on his bike and tightened his hands around the handles. "I got to go to the city."

Snake heard his engine roar back to life and then Sean was out of there like a lightening bolt. Sean knew Emma probably wouldn't be 'thrilled' with his return, but he could only hope. He went away for her and he was back, for her. He hoped she hadn't moved on. He knew he could never, even if he tried. He hadn't though. He hadn't tried to 'move on', he knew he'd come back and try to win her back. Even if she said she couldn't be with him anymore if he left. They both said things they didn't mean. They were young. He was 23 now, which made Emma 20. He hoped they could get through this and work things out.

He was helplessly inlove with her. And hopeless without her.