Disclaimer: I own nothing Degrassi...

"Took you long enough to get here!" Manny screeched, grabbing Emma by both hands and dragging her down onto the leather couch she was sitting on.

Emma shrugged off her coat, revealing a stunning black and white dress. "Work was hectic, to say the least. By the time I got out of the office and got home to get ready, it was already eight o'clock! I rushed around like a mad woman!" She leaned closer to Manny, asking in hushed tones, "Is my dress on right?"

Manny smiled at her friend, giving her a once-over. "You look fabulous, as always! I really like the dress."

Emma smoothed the front of the too-short dress, hoping that Manny wouldn't see her outfit for what it really was; a way to put herself out there and hope someone was interested. In the two months since Jay's impromptu proposal and their inevitable parting of ways, Emma had been on ten dates, all of which had turned out to be complete and total disasters! All Emma wanted from this party was to meet someone, anyone, who could spark more than an immediate interest which would soon fizzle. Emma just wanted to find her 'someone'.

She scanned the party while still listening to Manny drone on about who had come to the party with who and what so-and-so was wearing. She spotted the familiars: Liberty and Damien, recent newlyweds, Spinner and Paige, married now for two years, had gotten a sitter for their year-old son, Jimmy and Ashley, reunited (yet again) months earlier, but looking very happy, and many others, most with spouses or partners. Emma sighed, feeling like this was the last place she would find someone.

And then her eyes hit them. She tried to look away, but found it impossible. They were standing off to the side, chatting away with another couple. Their exchanged looks, intimate and private, made Emma's stomach turn. She felt like her throat was closing and the room had gotten smaller. And when his eyes met hers, she saw that her staring was making him uncomfortable. He offered her a small smile, but Emma pulled her eyes away, turning her head.

"You didn't tell me they'd be here!" Emma hissed, staring in the opposite direction.

Manny looked back over her shoulder and saw them. She sighed. "I'm so sorry, Em. I had no idea. What do you want to do?"

"Kill myself," she said, sarcasm dripping from her words. She looked at Manny. "Why couldn't I have had a date for tonight? I could have hired one! Do you know how embarrassing it is to be here, alone?"

Manny rolled her eyes. "You're preaching to the choir, honey. Alone is, like, my middle name. And who the hell cares what he thinks, anyway?"

Emma knew that Manny was right. But it was still hard to see him, with her, happy and moving forward. It should have been her...

FLASHBACK

"Getting married?"

Jay nodded his head slowly, fearing that this news would not only crush Emma, but that it would burn her so much, she wouldn't be able to move forward.

"Are you sure?" she asked slowly.

Jay sighed, sitting down on the floor beside her. He stretched his legs out in front of him. "He asked me to be his best man."

Emma's eyes met his. She realized that she was angry with him. "And you said?"

"I said sure," he answered.

She turned her head, refusing to look at him, deciding that the cold shoulder was the best action she could give right now. Emma knew she was being childish, logic told her that Jay wasn't doing this to hurt her, but still, her anger boiled over, spilling over onto Jay.

"So I take it you're mad at me?" Jay asked. "He's my best friend, Nelson."

"So what am I?" she questioned, finally meeting his eyes.

Jay searched for the right words. What was she exactly? It had only been six months since that day, when he'd found her, sobbing uncontrollably on the floor of her new, empty apartment. But it hadn't taken long for them to move from supportive friends to the casual 'whatever' they were right now.

"Forget it," Emma mumbled.

"Nelson, it's time to realize that this fantasy about you and Sean getting back together, is over. He's marrying someone else in one month!"

Emma's mouth dropped open. Most engagements lasted a lot longer than a month. One month. Eight years. Big difference!

"Why so soon?" she asked, holding her eyes closed tightly.

"I think...I think...I don't know," he stammered.

Emma opened her eyes and looked at Jay. He tried to dart his eyes away from her, but couldn't do it very successfully. Emma took hold of his arm, forcing Jay to look at her.

"She's pregnant, Emma," he whispered.

Pregnant. A baby. Why hadn't she thought of that? Sean was marrying her in one month, but only because she was pregnant. Emma silently cursed for not thinking of that move herself. She could have trapped him years ago!

"What's going on in that twisted mind of your's?" Jay asked, bumping her slightly with the side of his leg.

"He obviously doesn't really love her. He's marrying her because she's pregnant," Emma avowed.

Jay shook his head. "He loves her, Nelson. As much as that kills you to hear, it's the truth. He bought the ring before he found out about the baby."

Dammit! Why did Jay have to tell her that? It was so much easier thinking that Sean had to marry her. But the truth was, he wanted to marry her. Sean wanted to marry someone else, not Emma.

"You okay?" he asked.

She nodded her head slowly. "So one month, huh? Okay. So I have one month to try and break up this engagement."

END OF FLASHBACK

Emma's cheeks coloured when she thought back to how she had reacted to the news of Sean's impending nuptials. Had she really been that awful of a person? Yep!

"Have you seen Jay?" Emma asked, looking around the crowded house. "It's not like him to miss a party."

Manny tried not to smile. "Jay? Um, he's around here somewhere. Why?"

Emma shrugged. She wouldn't admit it, especially to Manny, but she found herself missing Jay. Before, even in their so-called casual state, he was always around. To talk to, to watch movies with, to eat supper with, to make love to... Have sex, Emma! It was never love making! It was only sex! You don't miss Jay. You miss the sex.

"I just thought I'd say hi. I feel kind of bad with the way we left off. I think I'm gonna go find him," Emma started, getting to her feet.

Manny tugged on Emma's arm until she returned to her old position on the couch. "I need to tell you something," she started. She grabbed Emma's hand tightly as she informed, "Jay's here with someone. A girl."

Manny waited for Emma's reaction. She'd know within seconds if all of this was worth anything. If Emma reacted stronger to seeing Sean with someone else, than the idea of Jay being with another girl, then Manny would know to cancel all further plans, that her friend just wasn't ready.

Manny tried not to smile as she watched Emma's face fall, the concept of Jay moving on processing in her mind. Now let's see just what she would say.

"Jay? With another girl?" Emma asked, stunned by the idea.

"Well it has been two months since you removed his heart with a dull spoon, Em," Manny reminded. "The guy had to move on some time."

Emma continued to frown. "I guess I just never thought of him being with someone." She realized that Manny was staring at her, a satisfied look on her face. Quickly, Emma changed her tone. She smiled at her friend. "Well I guess this is all for the best, right? I mean, the last thing I need is for Jay to be pining away for me for months, right?"

Manny knew that Emma was saying that purely for her benefit. Time to step up the game. Manny smiled widely. "I am so glad that you said that! She's nice, Em. Really nice. Her name is Meghan. Do you want to meet her?"

Emma couldn't believe her ears! Manny, her best friend, liked this other bitch? Emma closed her eyes, trying to compose herself. Meghan was probably not a bitch, she told herself. She was probably a really nice girl who'd obviously lost her mind if she was willing to date Jay.

Manny went off in search of her new friend, eager to introduce her to Emma. Emma stared around at the familiar faces, realizing that she didn't want to speak to any single person here. She got to her feet, straightened her dress, and walked out of the room, hoping to avoid the awkward situation Manny was trying to force her into.

As she entered the back hallway, she ran directly into none other than Jay himself.

He reached out to steady her, his piercing eyes meeting hers.

"Emma Nelson," he greeted with a smirk. He assessed the image in front of him, fighting the instincts that told him to take her into his arms. That dress looked damn good on her, and try as he may, Jay was unable to hide the fact that he'd noticed. "Nice dress."

Emma smiled shyly, glad that someone had recognized and appreciated her effort. "Thanks. Nice shirt," she complimented, giving the button-up, dark blue shirt a playful tug.

His smirk grew. They were alone in this secluded hallway, commenting on each other's clothing, when all either wanted was to get out of them. Jay, holding onto a beer, leaned back until he touched the wall. He drew in the full image of Emma, biting into his bottom lip.

"So...what's new?" Emma asked, knowing that he couldn't keep his eyes off of her and loving every minute of it.

"Not much," Jay coughed. "I mean, I sort of...I've got someone new."

"A girlfriend?" Emma asked, feigning ignorance.

Jay nodded his head slowly. "Yeah. Her name's Meghan. You wanna meet her?"

Emma shook her head. "Not really. Ask me what I really want."

She knew that this was a dangerous game that she was playing, but she didn't care. Jay was hers and no new girlfriend was going to get in the way of her good time. Besides, she missed him. The sex! I miss the sex...not him!

Jay waggled a finger at her. "Naughty, naughty!" he scolded. "You can't be doing that, Nelson. I'm a spoken for man now."

Emma pushed herself off the wall opposite to Jay, sending herself into his chest. She pressed her body against his, asking, "Is that really what you want?"

Jay swallowed. To hell with Manny's plan! "I should probably take Meghan home," he announced.

Emma dug into her purse and pulled out a key. She slipped it into Jay's front pants pocket. "I'll wait up."

"Will you be wearing this little number when I get there?" he asked, running a finger under the small spaghetti strap, against Emma's bare skin.

Emma's brow shot up. "I'll be wearing something you like a whole better than this old thing."

She gave him a small kiss before leaving the hallway and exiting the party. The night may have started out poorly, but it was about to end a whole lot better! Emma left the party with a feeling of excitement and satisfaction. She could have Jay whenever and wherever she wanted him. That feeling of power swept over her, causing her smile to grow as she got into her car, driving to her apartment to prepare for her evening.

Emma, Emma, Emma! What does she really want? The better question would be: Is Jay willing to be her toy or will he hold out for something more? Keep reading!