Nessie ran a hand through her hair as she slithered out of the car sweat. "Bye," she said, in what she hoped was a beguiling, inviting voice. Well, hopefully not too entrancing, because then it would seem like she was desperate. Instead, she hoped it was seductive enough to promise more, but not to use the entirety of her sensuality. Her brows drew together as she contemplated her intonations, and then she remembered she was standing outside the car--with Jake in the driver's seat, looking at her expectantly. For a moment she wondered why he was looking at her like that, and then she remembered she was supposed to be leaving.

Funny how his presence made her mind turn to mush. Along with her legs which refused to move an inch from where her feet were rooted to the ground.

"Uhh..." she began--unattractively, her mind hastened to add-- "I'll see you tomorrow... Tuesday, yeah?" She bit her lip, awaiting confirmation.

"Definitely," Jake nodded. He mentally cursed over his choice of words. 'Definitely'? Really? That made him sound like some valley-girl. Did he normally talk like that? He racked his brain. He didn't remember ever using words like 'totally' and 'like' and 'definitely', but he couldn't be sure. He figured it was better to get away from here, and fast.

And then he remembered that he, too, had to get out of the car.

Smooth move, Romeo, he thought sarcastically.

Nessie grinned, "I forgot that you were using Mom's car."

"Me, too."

He turned off the engine and extracted the keys before hopping out of the Ferrari. He figured Bella and Edward could move it later. He certainly wasn't going to do it. Speaking of doing it, what if Bella and Edward had done it in that car? What if Nessie--by her ominous remark when they were driving--meant to do that? In the car? There was no way in hell he was going to do it where that damned bloodsucker had made his mark...

"Stop thinking," Nessie warned, ineffectively shoving an elbow into Jake's hard abdomen. "If you aren't aware, Edward is present."

"I'm aware." Like hell he couldn't smell the vampires.

Nessie winced. Of course he was aware. When wasn't he ever aware of anything? He was also damned aware of her huge crush on him, she was certain. He was probably even aware of her dreams about him that had her all but begging for the real person.

Of course, he seemed to have the same issue. She was--almost!--positive that he liked her just as much as she liked him. But there was still confirming, validating, and over thinking left to do. As soon as she got into her bedroom, far from Edward, she planned on mulling over every single one of his words and gestures and deciphering them.

They reached the door to the Cullen's mansion. Nessie hesitated for a moment, her fingers brushing the doorknob. Jake put his hand over hers and twisted the doorknob before flinging it open.

"Jacob." Edward's voice reverberated through Jake's eardrums.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Keep your head clear. Come on, Jake, you can do it...

"Edward," Jake responded dryly. "Here are the keys. I've gotta get going. My dad's in need of a--er--hand. Fixing up some engine. See you around." He tossed the keys to where Edward stood, and then whipped around and headed to the forest, where Nessie presumed he would end up morphing into a wolf... naked.

Nessie's body shook slightly. Stupid, stupid, stupid thought.

"Hi Daddy," she said sweetly, entering the mansion tentatively. "Why are you just standing there?"

He growled in response. "He's not good for you, Nessie."

"What are you talking about, Daddy?" Nessie assumed it was better to pretend not to know what the fuck he was talking about. "He's just a friend." A sexy, beastly, savage friend.

"Nessie," he said softly, as if trying to coax her thoughts out.

"I honestly have no idea what you're talking about." Although I really don't think you understand. "Jake and I have a good time together." A really, really good time. "We're just friends." With benefits. "I've got to do homework."

She dashed upstairs, but not before Edward caught up to her and held onto her wrist with a small amount of pressure. "Nessie. Please. Don't make this harder than it already is."

"Dad. I'm not stupid. And I'm not your little girl anymore, alright? If I wanted to do something, I'd do it without your permission!" she snapped. Shit. She wasn't thinking. "Let go," she hissed, breaking free her wrist. She just spilled. Not exactly spilled, but implied.

She was in deep shit.

Edward's golden eyes caught hers. She searched his gaze for a split second before darting down the stairs. Her brain was screaming, Fight or flight and she decided the flight option would be much more effective. Edward reached for her, but she twisted out of his grasp and ran for the door.

"Nessie! Stop!"

His voice seemed miles away. Blood was drumming through her ears, quickly becoming the only sound she could hear. Instinct took control of her body. She swung open the door and dashed out, following Jacob's scent.

"Nessie!" Edward called, running behind her. She now could make out his footfalls, mere yards away. She had to speed up. Her legs extended farther, the ground striking the bottom of her shoes hard. In the faraway back of her mind, she thought that the pretty shoes wouldn't last the run.

If, of course, she could even last. Edward was gaining on her, only a couple feet behind her. She couldn't let him catch her. She had to get out of the way. She had to run. Find Jacob. Do something.

Her pupils dilated, taking in her surroundings. Trees. Pine trees. Evergreens. Conifers. Stumps. Crickets. Grass. More trees. Too many trees. She looked upward.

And she jumped.

She heard Edward curse quietly, before slowing his pace down beneath her. She grabbed onto the bark of one of the pine trees, her feet dangling twenty feet or so in the air. She hoisted herself upwards and turned quickly, adrenaline racing through her body to her fingertips.

She lunged a couple trees in front of her, before climbing upward. Jacob's scent was less dominant as she scrambled higher, but she could still make out a faint trace of it. Edward was approaching quickly on the adjacent tree.

"Nessie, this isn't worth your effort," Edward whispered, edging toward her.

"Leave me alone!" she bellowed.

"You're acting illogically."

"You're acting like a fucking prick," she muttered, her voice low.

Edward blanched.

Nessie knew she would regret this episode later. But that was later. Her mind was shouting directions at her. Run--now! And her rational voice, her conscience, was asking her what the fuck she was doing. You called your father a 'fucking prick'. You aren't going to get away with that. Not now, not ever. It's really too bad you live forever, because your dad could realistically ground you for eternity.

Great. At least there was something to look forward to.

A/N: Okay, sorry. Rusty chapter, I know. Quite a bit out of character, but I haven't written this in—what?—five months? So obviously it's not going to be its best. And I know, I had promised a hotter chapter, but I decided to change some of it. So… maybe next chapter? Anyway. Review and maybe I'll get next chapter out sooner-ish.