Nessie glared at anyone who dared to cross her path. She was on a mission that she'd rather not be in. But it was for the sake of her best friend.

She had decided to gather the nerve to talk to The Pack in order to preserve Bella's rep and destroy Melissa's.

She'd rather eat fried worms.

The school day had ended and most teens were driving home. But Nessie knew better. The Pack, along with some straglers, would be hanging around the back of the school usually near the football field. There wasn't even a game today so Nessie figured they were up to something. Who wouldn't run from school when given the chance? But from her personal experience, they were a weird group of people, mostly guys.

Nessie had her hands balled into fists as she approached the crew. They started whooping and leering at her as she came into view. She rolled her eyes and stepped straight up to the current leader.

Jacob Black.

His name sent a bitter twang to her heart, though she'd never admit it. They had...a past together. Nessie hadn't joined the Pack but she might as well have when she started dating the leader. For a time, they had felt like family to her. She was always around Jake and them. But at the end of their junior year, things had changed drastically.

The Pack had invited Nessie and her friends to come to a bonfire at La Push. Nessie had been thrilled at first. Her friends were usually looked down upon by Jacob and his crew. They were snobby, popular kids, Jake had said. But for her sake, they hadn't done anything bad to them. And now it seemed like they were making an attempt to be friendly. It was too good to be true.

And it was.

--

"Hey babe, c'mere." Jake wrapped his long arms around Nessie.

She smiled up at him, content.

"I was thinkin' about what you said earlier."

Nessie raised an eyebrow. "About being nicer to Bella?"

Jacob smirked automatically at the name. He wiped it off when Nessie glared at him.

He sighed. "Yeah, about that. I mean, if they're good enough for you, then they must be a'iight."

Nessie wrinkled her nose. "That's your logic?"

Jacob grinned at her. "Well, I never claimed to be the smartest dude in the world; only the hottest."

They laughed together and the day went on.

Later, Jacob had officially offered an invitation to Bella and the 'Socialites' as he called them. It was a good start, Nessie had thought.

"Reneesme, do you honestly think I'm going to fall for a trick like this? I mean, La Push is their turf!" Bella had yelled.

Nessie crossed her arms. "Oh please. They don't bite. Really, they want to clear the air. It's about time."

Bella huffed and stomped to her room, slamming the door shut. Nessie smirked.

Nessie knew this was Bella's way of saying 'What the hell. I'm in'.

--

Nessie shook her head, driving out the memories. They had gone to La Push then and had been completely surprised. Instead of a so-so welcome, they were bombarded with all sorts of junk. Bella had even drawn blood.

Nessie remembered crying angrily that they were jerks and she never wanted to see their dog-puke faces again. That's when Jacob had appeared.

He'd been insanely mad, yelling that he had nothing to do with this but to get over herself. He told her to stop thinking that she was above them when she had pretty much been part of the Pack itself. Nessie slapped him and cursed out the rest of the Pack. She'd been embarrassed, hurt, saddened, and now responsible for this not-so-unexpected attack. Bella had bunked over Nessie's for days after that to make sure Ness wouldn't do anything stupid. So, she forgot about all the good times with the Pack and started to hate them. She convinced herself that the whole relationship with Jacob had been fake. The Pack didn't really like her. They just wanted to hurt Bella and other Socialites through her.

She couldn't believe she had been so stupid.

And that is now why she was restraining herself from strangling Black.

Jacob coolly regarded her as she came. Inside, he was struggling to keep himself from scooping her up and kissing her. What had been the fallout between them wasn't his fault. His friends had decided to take matters into their own hands. Jacob really had wanted to get some peace between the two rivaling high school groups. But now, thanks to some guy who had started the stupid thing, a lot of parents had gotten involved. Jacob knew for a fact that this landed a lot of his crew on probation. He warned them.

But now something bigger than that was up.

He could tell from the way Nessie held herself. Her stance said doggone it I'll bite you while her eyes were jumpy. He could still read her if he tried.

And so could Nessie.

But she ignored the telltale signs of the want Jacob still had for her. She was through with him. For good, she reminded herself dutifully.

"Black." She spat on his black boots.

He stood up straight very slowly, the Pack suddenly becoming quiet and alert.

Then Jacob smirked.

"That was uncalled for, babe."

Fire lit up her eyes now. Jacob bit his tongue and mentally bashed himself. He knew that Nessie got worked up real easily. Why pick a fight if he wanted her back?

"Don't you ever call me that, mutt." Nessie itched to punch him, do something that would cause him physical pain. He hadn't known how emotionally scared she had been because of him. She wanted him to feel something!

"Yes, and now you're calling names. But anyway, what do I owe this visit to?" He really was curious, for the circumstances were...odd.

Nessie flipped her hair, annoyed. "I need a favor."

The Pack laughed until Jake flung a bottle at them.

"Shut up and let the lady talk! What's wrong with you guys lately?" Jake growled at them.

One of the guys stood up from the bleachers. "What's wrong with you? After all your preaching, you still talk to her. You're a hypocrite man."

Jake's eyes blazed. Normally, anyone who spoke out like that would be beat up immediately. But he was one of Jake's really close friends, the kind that grew up with him. If he had something to say, it would be wise to listen.

"Shut up." Jake warned.

"No. Go on Seth." Nessie said in a steely voice. She wanted to hear this. It would give her proof, real proof, that everything between them had been fake.

Seth stared at her blankly. But he didn't say anything else.

She always knew.

Jake turned to her, swallowing. "Ness..."

"The favor I need is some damage control." Nessie ignored the pleading note in his voice.

The Pack's eyes glittered at this. They were already in from the moment they saw her. They owed Ness big time.

Nessie took a deep breath and began to tell them her plot.

When she was finished, the Pack started to snicker.

"Yo yo, this is baby stuff. Ness, you sure you don't want us to give a lil personal touch?"

"Yah yah!"

Nessie crossed her arms and huffed. "No. Just do what I said. I don't want anyone ending up in jail, just freaked out. Maybe good enough that they'd want to move. Ok?"

Jake wouldn't look at her. He had migrated to the back of the mob.

Nessie ignored him as well.

"Hey, no prob lil' chica." Ukriel wrapped his arm around Nessie's shoulder.

Nessie stepped away. "I'm not lil' chica anymore. Jeez Uk! You're the worst!"

Ukriel grinned at her. "Love you too, baby."

"Ai'ight, that's enough." Jake spoke up.

Nessie looked at him but he still wouldn't meet her eyes. He was pondering over something else.

But she could tell her presence was bothering him.

"Thanks when it's done." Nessie called out. She hopped off the steps and turned towards the parking lot. She was eager to get this mess off her hands. She kept reminding herself that this was for Bella, her BF.

She cringed as a hand landed on her arm.

"Hey, c'mon." A voice said softly, soothingly.

But Nessie froze up with anger. "Go away Jacob."

Jake's face twisted. "Man c'mon! Really, there's no reason to be so cold. Boo, I miss you."

Nessie shook him off and ploughed ahead.

"I'm sorry! Look, I really am. I don't expect you to believe..."

Nessie whirled around on him. "Yeah, you're right." Her eyes were blazing. "And I won't believe you, you liar. Just do the job and do it right. For once."

She was done with him. For good.

Jake spat on the ground and stared after her retreating form. He'd get her back. He would try as hard as he could.

No wasn't an answer anymore.