Nessie's POV:

My thirst came surging back as soon as I shut the door to my dorm building. I ran up the stairs as quietly as I could and slipped into my room. Caitlin was, luckily, fast asleep. I sulked across the room on my hands and knees and opened the chest that held my secret stash of blood. In less than a minute, I inhaled three bags. Finally satiated and utterly exhausted from my bizarre night, I crashed into bed and fell asleep in an instant.

It's a good thing I don't need as much sleep as a human because five seconds after I closed my eyes-

"What the fuck happened to you?"

The sun shone brilliantly through the blinds, the slanted rays of light hitting my face. I squinted my eyes against it and stared up at Caitlin.

"Food poisoning. That's what the nurse said anyway."

She frowned for a moment, hands on her hips in a disapproving pose. "I told you not to eat the eggs."

I cracked a smile, relieved that she wasn't really mad. "Henceforth, I will heed all your warnings."

"You're such a noob." She huffed before crashing into me, hugging me with all her might.

"I'm a what now?" I asked with my voice muffled by all her hair.

"A noob. You know, it means the new kid." She sat back and wiped a few tears from her cheek.

"Caitlin, why are you-"

"I'm sorry. I realize that I'm totally overreacting to whatever happened to you last night but…ever since Aaron…I cry all the freaking time. It's really annoying and it happens even when nothing is sad but I can't seem to help it." She took a deep breath to compose herself. "I'm sure it will stop someday."

She stood up in a rush and threw a shirt at my head. "Get moving. We're late."

I showered and got dressed faster than I ever had in my life, throwing on my uniform and rushing out the door behind Caitlin with my shoes untied and my shirttail hanging loosely around my plaid skirt.

We raced across campus with minutes to spare. By the time we got to the cafeteria, there was just a sad assortment of bagels left on the food line. We each grabbed one and went to our table.

Will was leaning back in his chair, keeping it steady on the back legs. His feet were propped up on the table. Selena and Abbey greeted us with relieved smiles. Marshall and Carter were equally as friendly. Will, however, regarded me with a calculated smile. "New Girl lives. Thank the Gods."

Caitlin called him a mouthy prick under her breath but only I seemed to hear her. We settled into our seats. Will surveyed me thoroughly. "You certainly bounced back quick from that food poisoning."

I met his gaze, hoping my cheeks weren't flushing. I wasn't the best liar, despite having to do it a lot. "Yeah, I guess I did."

"So," he drawled as he leaned forward and set his elbows on the table. "What do you think gave you such a bad tummy?"

"Would you leave her alone?" Caitlin snapped.

"Hey!" He held his hands up like he was surrendering. "I'm just doing some research so I can avoid whatever food had an ill-effect on her."

"Or, you could just stop eating all together," Caitlin quipped. Carter and Marshall snickered but Will silenced them with one contemptuous look.

"Stand down, princess. No reason to get up on your haughty horse to defend the newbie. It was only a question." Will looked back to me with a challenge. Caitlin seemed to deflate into her chair as she waved her hand at me, giving me permission to speak.

"My best guess is that it was those eggs…or egg-like substance."

Will smiled and it felt evil. He stalked around the table like the Big Bad Wolf until he was towering over me, which wasn't saying much since I was sitting. "Now that is interesting."

"Really, you find that interesting?" I asked.

His smile grew wider until it looked like it would stretch off his face. "I do because you didn't eat any eggs yesterday." He leaned down until we were nose to nose. "Did you?"

I raised my eyebrows at him, giving myself a little time to think. It's true that I didn't eat eggs yesterday. Why hadn't I thought of a better cover story? I decided the best course of action would be to not answer his questions at all. "Why are you so obsessed with me?"

He snickered as he pulled away and I felt a sense of pride wash through me as everyone else giggled. I got him. I bested the King.

"Whatever, noob." He skulked back to his chair and hunched down with a scowl on his face but his eyes stayed trained on me. Luckily, the bell rang a few seconds later and I no longer had to endure his unwavering glare.

I opened the door to Jake's classroom and nearly walked straight into Embry. "Hey," I said brightly and I felt Caitlin's gaze fall on me. Embry shook his head once and I realized that I'd been way too friendly with my greeting.

"Good morning, ladies," Embry said, a little too overly professional. "Please take your seats. We're about to begin."

"Where's Professor Black?" I asked, my voice spiking as I realized how disappointed I was that he wasn't here.

Embry tilted his head, his eyes growing hard as he silently told me to shut up. "He's running late. Please take your seat."

"Nessie, come on." Caitlin tugged at the sleeve of my shirt until I began following her up the stairs. "Did they give you any drugs last night? You're acting loopy."

We settled into our seats and my eyes scanned the front of the room, hopelessly searching for a glimpse of Jake. "Sorry, I didn't sleep much."

"Who are you looking for?"

I let out a stuttering chuckle and Caitlin's eyes widened. "The reason for your existence. Professor Hot Stuff….remember him?"

"He's probably playing hooky after he was acting so weird yesterday."

"Yeah." It was a struggle to keep my voice steady. "Probably."

I was desperate to see him, which really freaked me out. I barely knew the guy. He was a werewolf. He'd kidnapped me, sort of, just the night before and yet I felt short of breath. I had been so sure that I'd see his face when I walked through the door of his classroom. When I didn't, it was like I'd been plunged head first into ice water, held under by crushing disappointment as my lungs struggled for breath and brain scrambled for sense.

"What's wrong with you?" Caitlin whispered some time later. I glanced at the clock and was astonished to see that class was halfway over.

I took a deep breath, trying to come up with something that would convince her I wasn't insane. I opened my mouth to respond when the door opened and Jake strolled in. I watched him with starving eyes as he walked over to his desk and sat. He leaned back, seemingly without a care in the world, his legs crossed casually at the ankles and watched as Embry continued to lecture the class. I could sense the other girls shifting around in their seats as they sneaked peeks at him.

His body overwhelmed the chair he was sitting in. The muscles in his legs strained against the fabric of his pants. His tan skin set against the stark white of his dress shirt was mesmerizing. Seeing him like that reminded me of the night before, when his arms had grasped me around the waist and pulled me against his chest. He was so strong, so tall, so handsome-

"Nessie?"

"I think I still have a fever."

"Yea," she said with a sly smile on her face. "A lust fever."

I just nodded. My brain was short-circuiting. I didn't hear a word Embry said the entire hour. I focused all my brainpower on trying to get Jake to turn around and look at me.

Caitlin had to nudge me when class was over. Everyone was filing out of the room and I was still just sitting there, staring. I shook my head a few times, trying to clear the fog his presence created between my ears.

"Maybe you should go back to our dorm room and lie down."

"I'll be fine."

She shrugged and started down the stairs. I followed, happy that I was behind her because I stumbled a few times. I couldn't keep my eyes on my feet.

I was trying to catch a glimpse of him over my shoulder as we drew closer to the door. Caitlin grabbed my arm to pull me through when he called out to me.

"Miss Collins?"

I turned around, so eager to see his face straight on. Our eyes met and he smiled for the smallest moment before regaining his composure and plastering on an appropriate teacher's expression.

"May I see you for a moment?"

"Sure." I glanced at Caitlin. "I'll see you at lunch."

"What's going on?" she asked.

I just shrugged and tugged my arm from her grasp. I heard her mutter 'whatever' as she walked toward the door.

Jacob fiddled with some papers on his desk while we waited for the room to empty. When the door finally shut behind the last student, he let out an enormous sigh before pivoting to me. He placed his hands on my upper arms, sending scalding heat deep into my skin. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, losing myself in those deep brown eyes as we gazed at each other for an immeasurable moment. Finally, Embry cleared his throat. "There's only 10 minutes between classes, guys."

"Right." Jake dropped his hands from my arms just before another student walked into the room. The guy didn't seem to notice us but Jake projected his voice loudly, almost as if he wanted him to hear us talking. "What would you think about taking private tutoring sessions with Embry? I don't want you to fall behind in this class."

"This is just the second class. You already think I need help?"

"Yes, I do." His teacher tone was back in full force and I was confused for a moment before he winked at me.

"Okay…"

"Great! You guys should exchange contact info and set up a time and place to meet."

Embry handed me a piece of paper with a phone number, a time, and the words 'our place' written hastily on it. "Okay…" I said again.

Jake smiled and nodded as I pocketed the note.

"So, that's great. You guys will meet and study and it will all be…great."

Embry smirked and leaned into Jake's shoulder, patting it briskly. "Very smooth, my man."

Jake glared at him. "Shut it." Embry chuckled as he turned away. Jake focused on me and his eyes actually grew dark as they roamed my face. "I'll see you later- or tomorrow, ya know…in class. Here, in…class."

I pitched forward so only he could hear my next words. "I want an explanation for whatever the hell is happening between us."

"What do-"

"Seriously, don't try and deny it." I fixed him with a hard look until he nodded. "I want answers, tonight."

I spent the rest of the day in a haze, my head absorbed with the anticipation of seeing Jake again. Before leaving for his house, I downed three bags of blood. I felt inexplicably drained after what was a fairly dull day besides the interaction I'd had with Jake and Embry at the end of class.

Caitlin didn't believe me when I told her where I was going after dinner. "I've never heard of Embry tutoring anyone."

"They said it's just because I'm new."

"And you're going to his apartment?"

"Is that weird?"

She snorted. "I get that you've been homeschooled since the beginning of time but haven't you ever seen Dateline?"

"You think he's serial rapist?"

"I'm just saying that you don't really know the guy."

"This whole thing was Professor Black's idea." I put my coat on and slung my backpack over my shoulder. "Do you think they team up to rape and murder their students?"

She rolled her eyes and shrugged. "Probably not. Just…be careful."

I felt bad for lying to the only real friend I'd made at this school but I didn't have another choice. "I promise and I'll text you when I get there and I won't be back late."

"Alright…"

"Thanks, mom."

"Go on, weirdo."

I garnered some pretty interesting looks from the stragglers on campus as I walked by myself to the edge of the forest that was quickly growing dark as the sun set. I already knew the path by heart (thank you half-vampire memory) and I set off at a brisk pace.

I could barely make out Jake's house through the thick trees when I heard a rustling behind me. I froze, terrified that I'd been caught breaking curfew. I didn't see anyone and after waiting a few moments I continued on my trek. I only took a few steps before I heard it again. This time when I turned, there was a girl standing there, staring at me.

"Who are you?" she asked before I could even form a coherent thought.

"Uh…I'm a student at Evergreen. I was just going for a walk. Who are you?"

"Isn't it past curfew?"

She was dressed in normal clothes, the kind a teenager would wear, so I didn't think she was a teacher or faculty member. "I have permission from one of my professors to-"

"Professor Black?" Her face flushed angrily and her eyebrows drew together.

"I'm sorry, who are you?"

She threw her head back, cackling wildly. "Why don't you ask Jake when you meet up for your little rendezvous?" She walked away, throwing her hair back over her shoulder in an angry flick.

"Wait!" I followed her a few steps but she was walking so quickly that she was already almost out of my sight. It seemed like she was floating along the forest ground. "What's your name?"

"It's Jess!" she yelled back while flicking me off.