This chapter is mostly for fun and for establishing a bond between Nessie and Embry because I think they'd be good friends. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it! As always, reviews are greatly appreciated and encouraged.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

Nessie's POV:

I learned how to read music before words. My dad taught me how to pick out a melody and thread the lyrics through it. I've been writing music and lyrics since I was old enough to sit upright on a piano stool. I have countless journals filled with songs.

After I asked Jake to ignore me, I wrote more songs in three days than I had in my entire life.

It felt like heartbreak but I told myself relentlessly that it was ludicrous. I didn't know Jake. I certainly hadn't loved him. But his absence in my life and his determination to not notice me in class were producing some hella good, angst-ridden, heartbreak material from me.

It was just past nine when I finally left the pianist's rehearsal room. The campus was dark and spooky, filled with shadows and misty air, and I loved it and felt like running out to hunt but my belly was still sloshing full from the five blood bags I'd drained a few hours ago. My appetite had been unusually acute since my quasi break up with Jake. I had already sent word to Carlisle to send me more.

Caitlin was sprawled on the floor, eating raw cookie dough and watching some medical show when I got back to our room.

"Let's go out!"

"Now?" She looked at me, then at herself, clad in her Spiderman pajamas. "But…House just became available on Netflix."

"Which means you can watch it whenever." I stepped over her and shut off the television. "It's Friday night. We haven't been out of this room in a week. Let's do something."

"Like what? We go to private school, remember?"

"It's not prison. We're allowed out of the gates."

She got up, scratching at her hair as she scrunched her nose at me. "I did hear about some party."

"Perfect! Let's get ready!" I went to our closet and started sifting through my endless selection of dresses that Alice insisted I bring. "What should I wear?"

"Your uniform."

I turned to her with a frown. "Isn't that the opposite of sexy?"

"Not when you pair it with fishnet stockings. At least, according to boys."

When I continued to just gaze at her in confusion, she giggled. "It's a theme party: Nerdy and Flirty."

I rolled the waistband of my plaid skirt up as much as I could, exposing more of my thighs than anyone had ever seen. I wore a black bra underneath my white button up shirt and left most of the top buttons undone. My tie hung loosely knotted around my neck, my hair was in braided pigtails adorned at the bottom with ribbons and my fishnet stockings (why Alice had actually packed me fishnet stockings, I will never understand) disappeared into my high-heeled leather booties. I spun in front of the mirror, trying to see how much of my ass would be displayed if I had to bend over.

"Did I do this right? Do I look flirty?" I asked Caitlin when she emerged from the bathroom.

"Hell, yeah! You look hot."

I caught her reflection in the mirror and spun around quickly. "What the fuck are you wearing?"

She appraised her outfit: ill-fitting khaki pants and a pinstriped shirt tucked in neatly, leather belt, fake glasses, leather loafers and a calculator in the pocket of her shirt. She even had suspenders and a bowtie on, completing her female Urkel ensemble. "It's Nerdy and Flirty. You're clearly flirty, so I had to be nerdy."

I glared at her. "You're making that rule up."

"What's the big deal? You look amazing."

"We were supposed to both be flirty. I look like a two dollar hooker!"

"Yeah, but a cute one." She picked up her purse and threw my leather jacket at my face. "Let's get there before all the good stuff is gone."

The apartment she led me too was just off campus, in the woods. I was sure I had never seen so many people gathered in one place before. There were hot, sweaty bodies everywhere. It was impossible not to inadvertently rub up against people.

Caitlin escorted me through the place like she owned it. Partiers called to her over the pulsing music and she waved, a princess granting her people with a rare appearance. We eventually got to the kitchen. There was a gathering to get to what Caitlin informed me was the keg and we got in line to wait our turn.

The guy manning the keg turned out to be Carter and he whooped with delight when he saw us. "Where have you been all my life, gorgeous?" He slung his arm around Caitlin, who smiled up at him sweetly.

"Waiting in this damn line for a freaking drink!" she yelled. He laughed and kissed her sloppily on the cheek before handing us each a glass filled with clear liquid.

"Is this the good stuff you were referring to?" I asked. Carter was still gazing at her when he answered me.

"Only the best for you."

"By all means, don't deny the queen her spoils." A bored, insolent voice drifted from behind Carter. Will was sprawled on the counter, sporting his signature sneer. "And if it pleases her majesty, by all means serve her pet, too."

"What the hell is your problem?" I wanted to smack that ridiculous expression off his face.

He slithered from his perch like a snake. "I don't like liars," he breathed. Caitlin and Carter were too wrapped up in each other to notice.

"Well, I don't like assholes so maybe we should just stay away from each other."

He clapped his hands together just once, feigning delight. "I wish but I'm afraid that you have something I want."

With those words, I truly feared Will for the first time. "Come again?"

He reached out and pulled on the braids in my hair. "In good time, love. All things in good time."

"What's with all the monikers? Did you forget my real name?"

He winked at me as his mouth twisted into something that was almost a smile. "No Nessie. I'll never forget it."

"Quit being creepy, Will." Carter slid across the counter and punched Will playfully in the arm. "It's a party."

Will glared at him briefly before inclining his head in a half nod and sauntering away.

"My hero!" Caitlin giggled and gave his waist a squeeze. "Why don't you do that every time he's around?"

Carter sobered to the moment slightly and brushed some of Caitlin's hair over her ear. "He's still suffering. He not like he was…before."

Suddenly, the ghost of Aaron was crowding into the kitchen.

Caitlin shut down. "He was still an ass," she mumbled as she pulled away from him.

"Sure, but slightly more lovable."

"I'm going to show off my hot date," Caitlin declared before snagging my arm and dragging me away.

"Save me a dance!" Carter called after us.

"He's so crazy," she said.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, about you."

She scoffed. "Please, Ness. He's wasted."

"Drunk words are sober thoughts."

She laughed out loud and hit me on the shoulder. "Where the hell did you learn that?"

"I was a homeschool kid, not a nun. I was allowed to watch movies." The party was reminding me of some key scenes from my favorite teen rom-coms. Shots were being downed, half-naked girls were dancing on tables, and people were making out all over the damn place. Some poor soul was even throwing up behind the sofa. It was kind of amazing. "Honestly," I whispered to Caitlin, "I didn't think parties like this actually happened."

She patted me on the back. "Explore, my friend. These unchartered waters may prove very rewarding for you." I had to assume she was talking about the multitude of guys that were lasciviously staring at me. I couldn't help but feel flattered. After years of being cooped up with over-bearing parents, it was exciting to be around guys my own age and realize that I was attractive to them. "You're a hot commodity, girl."

We were walking around, or 'doing a lap,' as Caitlin called it, sipping our drinks and dancing, more like swaying, when I noticed Embry. He was standing off to the side, his perpetual smile in place while chatting with Leah. I nudged Caitlin and pointed them out.

"He's allowed to come to parties and hang out with us. He's not a real teacher," she explained. "She's cute. I wonder if that's his girlfriend."

"No, she's not," I replied too quickly.

Caitlin eyed me with good-humored suspicion. "Did he tell you that during your private study date?"

I shoved her. "I told you. It was no big deal."

"Mmmm hmmm…"

"I should go say hi."

"Of course you should," she giggled.

I was gone before she could make another snide comment. Embry's eyes flared wide when he saw me. Leah leaned away, into Embry and growled.

"Hey guys!" I tried to sound cheerful but it wasn't too convincing.

"Hey! Nice outfit." If another guy had said it, I could've taken offense to the snarky tone his comment carried. But Embry was too…light. There was a boyish cheerfulness to him that I envied.

"Thanks."

"The theme is Nerdy and Flirty. Not Nerdy and Whore bags." Leah whipped to Embry and I had to fade back so I wouldn't get smacked in the face by her short, choppy hair. "I'm getting another drink."

Embry smiled tensely and she stalked away. I swiveled to him. "So I'm guessing Jake told you all what happened."

He sighed, shrugged, shook his head. "He didn't really have a choice." He inched close to whisper in my ear. "Wolves have this mind-reading telepathy thing with each other."

"Sounds invasive."

"Very." He agreed grimly.

"She's really mad, huh?"

He blew out an exhausted breath through his lips. "She's been with Jake through every miserable moment of his life. When you showed up, she thought she'd seen the last of them."

I nodded, understanding perfectly. I didn't need the imprint influence to sense that Jake was a good guy, purely good, down to his bones. He didn't deserve any suffering. "I really didn't mean to hurt him. It's just all of this-"

"I get it."

"You do? Have you imprinted?"

He chuckled. "No, but like I mentioned, I'm privy to every one of Jake's tortured thoughts." I winced and Embry immediately took up a more somber attitude. "Hey." He grabbed my chin and forced our eyes to meet. "He's a big bad Alpha werewolf. He'll find some way to survive you."

The way he said survive made an icy dread shoot down my spine. "That's the whole point I was trying to make to him."

"What do you mean?"

My brain automatically shifted through the many verses I'd penned over the last three days. "I'm sure I didn't say it right. I was kind of a mess."

Embry smiled, a soft laugh snorting from his nose. "I heard."

I mock glared at him before heaving a steadying breath, trying to form my thoughts into an intelligible speech. "The way he spoke about the imprint and my mom and the way he felt about her and me…I couldn't help but pity him. He's so trapped by this…curse. He pined after a girl for years just because she was the closet thing he had to me."

"I thought most girls would find that romantic."

"Maybe they do but…I don't." I dropped my gaze from him. I was sure my whole heart was shining out of my eyes and I didn't want him to realize how vulnerable this whole situation had made me. "I think you should be with someone because you want them, not because you need them."

He tilted his head, considering my rationale. "You don't think it's good to be the person that completes someone's life?"

"That's not how I see it." I chugged down a healthy slug of my drink before trying to explain more fully. "My mom basically became comatose when my dad left her for her own safety. My dad tried to kill himself when he thought she was dead. She jumped off a cliff so that she could hallucinate his face while he was gone." I shook my head, wondering not for the first time how it was possible to love and hate, respect and despise at the same time. "I don't ever want to be so dependent on another person. That's no way to live." The last measure of liquor sloshed down my throat, granting me the last bit of bravado I needed to tell Embry the final thing about this fishy imprint business that annoyed the shit out of me. "Last complaint and then I promise to stop ruining this party for you."

His eyes sparkled as his grin almost split his face open. "Thank God."

"This is going to sound really spoiled and entitled and naive and I hope you won't think less of me because I think you're pretty awesome." Then, I whispered in his ear, "I want him to earn me. I don't want to fall for a guy because the universe or some ridiculous supernatural magic says I have to. I want to fall in love with the guy that sweeps me off my feet."

I pulled back and to my surprise, Embry was clenching his teeth together, trying not to laugh. I was shocked, offended. I thought I'd been rather profound.

"What?"

"Fuck, you guys are perfect for each other."

I held my hand up, exasperated with men. "You obviously weren't listening to me."

"I was and I get it, I get your point. But I also know Jake. And I don't think you should dismiss him too quickly."

"I didn't dismiss him! He walked away pretty easily."

"You asked him to."

"So what?"

"You didn't want him to walk away?"

"No! I mean…yea-I don't…shut up! You are annoying."

He chuckled and took the now empty glass from my hand to place it on a nearby table before grabbing onto my elbow. "And you're drunk. I'm taking you home."

"You don't have to do that. I need to find Caitlin."

He pointed across the room and I followed the direction until I saw Caitlin wrapped up in Carter's arms. "I'm sure she'll be fine."

"I knew he liked her!" I exclaimed as Embry led me to the front door.

He shouldered most of my weight as we shuffled back to campus. I was half passed out when we reached the edge of campus, drunk on AB positive and vodka. It might've been a pleasant feeling if I was sitting down.

"You're a sweetie. I'm not your problem."

"You're not a problem at all," he assured me.

My body warmed with genuine affection for him. "Can we be friends?"

"I think we can manage that." I heard the laughter in his voice and liked him even more. I kissed him on the cheek.

"You da best."

"I know. Now which dorm is yours?"

He planted me on my feet but kept a steadying hand on my waist. I glanced around, hoping for something familiar to jump out at my impaired brain. All the buildings were remarkably similar and I grew frustrated pretty quickly until I noticed an indistinct shape on the grass near a far building. "I think it's that one."

"You sure?" Embry asked while he rummaged through my purse for my keys.

"Pretty sure. That's Jake being a stalking psycho, isn't it?" I'd never seen a werewolf before but the thing sleeping on the grass was definitely dog-like and enormous, ten times bigger than a regular wolf. I could hear him snoring from across the yard. There was no other explanation.

Embry snapped his head up in alarm. He followed my gaze and groaned when he saw the same distant figure. "Poor bastard."

"Poor creepy bastard."

Embry handed my purse and keys to me before jerking his head toward the front door. "Get inside. I'll take him home."

"Thanks. For everything."

He punched my playfully on the chin and then jogged over to the sleeping werewolf. I rushed inside, closing the door quickly behind me as Embry began to rouse Jake.

Sleep managed to elude me that night while I wrote a song I eventually titled 'Watchdog.'