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SOME GIRLS TRY TOO HARD

Oz stared at the blank paper in front of him with so much concentration, you'd have thought that he could burn a hole through it with his mind. He couldn't, of course, and he didn't really expect to be able to, but he was hoping that if he looked at the white sheet long enough, it would enrage him into enough of a fury to put out a really good song. Or even just a mediocre song. Or just a song.

Devon bounced over to him with unusual puppy-like enthusiasm. "Hey, Ozman. You busy tonight?"

Oz looked up from his failed attempts to incinerate the paper. "Hi, Dev. How are you? I?m fine, and thank you for asking."

The lead singer rolled his eyes. "We've known each other long enough to forgo formality. Now come on. You busy?"

Putting down his pencil, Oz sighed. "Not really. I was hoping to spend some time with Will--"

"Okay, cool," Dev interrupted him. "Cause we got this ragin' gig tonight at this frat house. They're paying us tons. Weed for a month, man."

Oz considered. Night alone with Willow, or night with a bunch of drunken frat boys? As much as he hated to admit it, the band kind of had to take priority, seeing as it was his entire future. Although, he sort of hoped that Willow would be his future too.

She would understand.

He turned to Devon, who was looking at him expectantly. "Can I bring Willow?"

Dev gave up an exaggerated sigh, and Oz held in a grin. Dev liked Willow, although he was loath to admit it. He was a lead singer, and lead singers viewed women as objects. And if Dev saw Willow as a friend...well, that would just do horrible things to his reputation.

"You sure you want to bring her to a party where people will be drinking and having sex everywhere? Where a drunken frat guy could hit on her?"

Oz considered. Then he sighed.

"Guess not, man."

Oz heaved his guitar case further onto his back and struggled to lift the amp higher than floor level. "Okay Mike, lift," he instructed in a strained voice. With great effort, the two managed to carry the amp into the living room of the frat house and put it down without breaking it. It was a pretty damn expensive amp.

Devon followed them, carrying his microphone. "Good work guys," he praised, oblivious as usual.

"Thanks," Oz drawled.

"That all?" Mike huffed. "Where're my drums?"

"Hey." A country club-looking blond guy approached them. "I'm Chad, and if you have any problems, just come to me."

"Yeah, cool. Where're my drums?" Mike bitched.

Chad looked intimidated. "Over there." He pointed to a large open area in the front of the room. Sure enough, Mike's drums were there.

Oz sighed and picked up the amp again, while Dev followed with his mic.

Oz finished the chord with a grimace, feeling the sweat making it's way down his face. His hair was sweaty and had probably made its way out of his trademark spikes.

Devon grinned. "Great show man! Now, I'm gonna go get to know those two girls over there. You need me, I'll be up in the left bedroom. See ya."

As the lead singer walked off, Oz rolled his eyes. "Whatever." He nodded to the rest of the band and made his way to the bar...or rather, the guy serving alcohol from behind a table. Oh yeah, that looked trustworthy. Probably wasn't even real alcohol--or it was the really real kind, that bathtub moonshine stuff. He'd had enough experience with that to know that it was never good.

Not that Oz was a heavy drinker or anything. In fact, he didn't really like the stuff. Hated it, and he knew for a fact that Willow did as well. But he was a musician, and this was a frat party, and he might as well take advantage of that fact.

"Beer," he told the guy. "No, wait. Shot of tequila?" The guy nodded and poured him a shot.

"Here you go man. Heavy shit. Enjoy."

Oz nodded, made a mediocre attempt to smile, then walked away. As he was leaving, a drunken idiot rambled up to him.

"Hey man, is this a ROCKIN' party, or WHAT?!"

Oz clutched his ear, attempting to save his tequila from being poured all over him. Shoving the guy away from him, he rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure," he mumbled under his breath. "I'm in heaven."

Although, big sigh. Lots of frustration there. His relationship with Willow had gone from 'progressing nicely' to 'moving at the speed of a paperweight.' But he couldn't help it. Much as he would like to make a move, she wasn't ready. And besides, he hadn't had sex with anyone since becoming a werewolf. What if he lost control? What if he bit her?

What if he killed her?

Also, he'd been doing a lot of reading on werewolves and their sexual habits. Their mating habits.

He loved Willow. He was completely sure of that. But he wasn't sure if he wanted to be mated to her for the rest of his life.

For one thing...well, okay. She loved him. But how could he sure of that? She'd cheated on him once. A second time, especially if they were mated, would kill him.

And secondly...what if they broke up? He loved her, and he wanted to be with her forever, but--they were in high school, where emotions were susceptible to change. Not to mention abnormally strong. And what if Willow met a nice, normal human guy that wouldn't try to eat her flesh during the full moon? She'd just have to say, 'No, I'm sorry. I'm mated to a werewolf, so I can't be with you.'

And...what if he met another werewolf?

The thought struck a chord in him. The thought of someone to run with, someone to see the moon with. Someone to hunt with.

As he thought that, he looked up. That's when he caught the eyes of the girl.

She was standing in the corner looking sultry, and doing a really good job of it. Her hair was short and blond, cut to about her ears, and her eyes were like two deep oceans. She was wearing a flame-red shirt and tight black pants, and she was holding a full drink.

She was staring right at him.

Oz felt a shiver race up his spine. This girl was sexy. This girl was beautiful. This girl was...

Not Willow.

The thought hit him like a cold shower, and he turned away feeling cold and scared. < I almost did something, > he thought to himself.

< I need another drink. >

He quickly chugged the one he had, then went back to the guy for another shot. As soon as he could, he looked around for Chad. "Hi! Oz, right? Enjoying the party?"

Oz took a moment to wonder how such an ass-kissing suck up got into a fraternity, then remembered that some people had influential fathers. "You got a bedroom I can crash? I'm sort of tired."

"Then, a suggestion? Lay off the booze." Chad looked pointedly at the drink in Oz's hand. When the guitarist only glanced at him blankly, then took another chug from the shotglass in his hand, he sighed. "My bedroom is upstairs. Second to the left."

Oz felt distinctly weird about going to lie down in some guy?s bedroom, then brushed the feeling off. Technically, every room in the house belonged to 'some guy.' It was a frat house, after all. And better to lie down on the bed of some dateless country club kid than a druggie freak who'd been doing who knows what in his bed.

Oz made his way around the necking (and otherwise engaged) couples on the stairs and found the second bedroom on the left. He heard a distinct moaning from the first bedroom on the left, and he grinned.

"Way to go, Dev." It was just like Devon to hook up with two girls at once, then sleep with them both at the same time. Probably fulfilled some lead singer contract.

He closed the door behind him, then lay down on the bed. "Maybe I can get some sleep before Mike and James come to get me."

He closed his eyes, took another drink from the shotglass in his hand, then fell almost immediately asleep.

When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was another pair of deep green eyes staring at him.

"Ahh!" He jumped up, his usual Oz-ish state of calm disturbed that there was some girl in here who?d been watching him sleep.

No, not some girl. The girl. The one from downstairs.

"Hi there," she purred in a husky voice. A natural singer, he could already tell.

His pulse was racing, and as he tried to gain some modicum of control, he brushed his hair back and sighed. He'd nearly had a heart attack. "Hi. What are you doing in here?"

She shrugged. "I got tired. Some guy told me that I could sleep up here if I wanted. So I did."

He sniffed the air. Sure enough, she'd been sleeping in there. But as his nostrils widened, he sensed something else, smelled something else.

Werewolf.

He mouthed the word, and as he looked up at her she slowly nodded.

"You know what I am."

Oz nodded. He knew. It was...odd. He seemed to be having trouble controlling the rate of his breathing. "I'm Oz."

Her breath was coming fast too. "Veruca. Nice to meet you."

"Same."

Veruca reclined on the bed, looking bored. "So, what do you wanna talk about? The rest of my band is downstairs trying to pick up drunken women, so I've got a couple hours."

Oz sat up. "You're in a band?"

Veruca opened an eye and looked at him. "Yeah. We're called Shy, as ironic as that his." She laughed huskily. "Saw you guys play. Nice."

Oz shrugged. "We're okay. Still need a little help. The amp sounds kinda dirty to me, but it can't be helped. It's my playing that I'm worried about. Sucks."

"Please. You could give my lead some lessons. He's having trouble with a few chords."

Oz blushed. Actually blushed. The only time he'd ever done that before was when Willow kissed him.

Willow. Oz grimaced, then shook the thought off. He wasn?t doing anything wrong, he was just talking to another band member, who just happened to be a female werewolf.

He decided to grab onto that tack. "So, I've never met another werewolf before. Besides my cousin, anyway."

"Cousin?" She raised a perfectly arched eyebrow.

"Yeah, he's the one who bit me. Last year. Kid doesn't like to be tickled."

With that Veruca sat up with an amazed look on her face. "You're telling me that your baby cousin bit you?"

He shrugged again. "Uh-huh. How'd you...uh, you know..."

She laughed. "Change?" He nodded, and Veruca continued. "I was sleeping with this guy, and one night he...you know. Bit me."

"Are you serious?" Oz shook his head. "I'd never be able to deal with that. Without blaming someone, I mean. With me, it's easier because it's my cousin and I love him. Besides, he's just a kid. He didn't know what he was doing. But you...what happened to the guy?"

"I killed him." She said it so nonchalantly that Oz actually jumped. "During the full moon," she continued. "One night we were running free, and I just ripped his throat out."

"Don't you have a cage?"

She looked at him, horrified, then turned sarcastic. "Oh, yeah. Of course. It's got a wheel and a cute...little...bell in it." She looked at him sadly. "God, somebody's domesticated the hell out of you."

Oz shook his head. "No. It's my choice. Besides, the one full moon I did actually run 'wild and free' I was nearly hunted down by this poacher. Not an experience I'd like to repeat."

Veruca froze. "But there aren't any hunters in town."

"Not anymore. My friend is the Slay--I mean, she fights guys like that. Bad guys."

"And that?s why you lock yourself up? Cause you're afraid that she'll hurt you?"

He shook his head, trying to find a way to justify life in a cage. "Cause I'm afraid I'll hurt her. Or Willow."

Veruca looked interested. "Willow?"

Oz smiled. "Girlfriend. Sweetest girl in the world."

She smiled sweetly. "Uh-huh," she said, her voice like sugar. "Honey, didn't anyone ever tell you not to date out of your species?"

Oz hung his head, then looked up with an honest conviction. "She is my species. I'm not always a wolf, Veruca. Most of the time, I'm just--"

"A regular guy?" she asked scornfully. He nodded. "Please. Did you ever consider that you're the wolf all the time, and this human face is just your disguise?"

Oz froze. Of course he'd thought it, but it wasn't...he didn't...

He looked up at her. "I've considered it. And it's not true."

Veruca looked like she was about to say something, but she shook her head. "So, uh...tell me about this Willow."

Oz opened his mouth to speak, and found that he couldn't. Veruca grinned.

"And when she smiles, her nose crinkles up..." Oz smiled. Once he'd starting talking about Willow, it was easy. Easy to talk about her, and easy not to look at Veruca and think 'Grr..'

"So, you've been dating for what? A year?" Veruca was leaning forward with her chin in her hand, looking interested.

"Yeah." Oz leaned against the headboard of the bed.

"So...have you slept with her?"

He bit his lip. "That's...none of your business."

Veruca nodded sympathetically. "Uh-huh. See, that's a 'no.'"

Oz laughed. "Well...yeah. But what's your point? You can have a relationship without sex."

"Not a good one," Veruca threw in. Oz laughed again. In the two hours they'd been talking, Oz had learned more about Veruca than he'd ever needed to know. Such as, she constantly made dirty jokes, and her entire life revolved around sex, singing, and running around under the full moon. But she was fun, and funny. Hell, she was hilarious. "But okay, why? How come you haven't slept with her?"

Oz hesitated. Sure, in his head 'I'm a werewolf' sounded like a good defense, but out loud? And besides, Veruca slept with as many guys a year as the population of Canada, at least according to her. He settled for trying to explain his werewolf theory. "I'm afraid that I'll lose control. Become a werewolf--you know, the whole deal. Fur, fangs, claws. I might hurt her. And..."

"And..." Veruca prompted.

"Mating," he explained. "I don't want her entire life to be taken away from her because she's mated to a werewolf. And--"

Veruca interrupted him. "Wait, you think that you can...mate with a human?"

Oz looked at her. "Yes."

She laughed, a completely sexual sound. Hell, every sound Veruca omitted was sexual. "Look, a werewolf can only mate with another werewolf. I've fucked plenty of human guys, and it can't be done."

"Yeah, but...I mean, there was no emotional attachment there. And how do you know that werewolves can only mate with other werewolves?"

"Well..." Her voice went low and husky. All of a sudden, she was right next to him, whispering in his ear. "Let's test my theory, shall we?"

Immediately, her mouth was on his. She was on top of him, and their tongues were meeting, mating. Her hands went to his waist, fumbling for his belt buckle.

She pulled her mouth away from his. "I've wanted you since before I even met you," she breathed into his ear. "I sensed you. Did you sense me?"

He was panting, and he looked into her eyes. "Yes." His voice was rough, almost a growl.

Her smile was feral. "Good." She was attacking his mouth again, and he grabbed her waist. Again she pulled away from him, and as she peeled her shirt off, she smiled beautifically. "I knew you'd get it. We're meant to be together, you and me. You'll forget about that little prude in no time."

Little... God, she meant Willow.

Willow.

Quickly he pushed the girl off him and got off the bed. Veruca was lying there, pouting. "What is it? We don't need a condom. I?m totally clean."

He shook his head. "I can't do this."

"What?" Her voice went icy. "What do you mean?"

"Willow," he stressed. "I...can't." He quickly buckled his pants and opened the door. As he stepped out into the hall she followed.

Pulling her shirt over her head, she growled at him. "She's not your kind, Oz. You can't want her like you want me. We're the same."

He spun to face her. "No. I could never be like you. I could never kill."

She grinned and laughed, throwing her head back like an animal. "That's what you think now. But when you finally get that little girl into bed...your fangs'll be at her throat, and it'll be the most tempting thing you?ve ever felt. Next to me, anyway." She widened her stance, rolling her hips forward.

With a growl, he threw her against the wall. Looking into her eyes, he snarled. "Never."

She just laughed and puckered up. "Go ahead. I like it rough."

He growled again and dropped her. Then he made his way down the stairs again.

He found Mike as quickly as he could. "You ready to go, man?" he asked, trying to control his anger, his breathing. He was still worked up from kissing and then fighting Veruca upstairs.

"Yeah. Stuff's already loaded into the truck. We just gotta get the amp. Where were you, man? Devon got out of here about an hour ago."

Oz kept his head down. "Talking with someone. So, the amp?"

Mike nodded and they made their way over to the amp. Oz thought about Willow, what he was going to say to her. Would he tell her?

No, he decided. It was one little kiss; it was one little mistake. Besides, she'd cheated on him before, without telling him. Not that that justified this... But still, no reason to worry her.

He was never gonna see Veruca again. If he did, he'd rip her throat out.

He shuddered at his own animal instincts, then reached down to grab the heavy amp with Mike's help.

As they carried it out, he looked up, and he saw her again. Veruca.

She was standing against the wall with a drink, and she looked bored. And satisfied. Her hair was messed up, and her lips were swollen. From him. He growled. This girl gave 'bitch in heat' new meaning.

But anyway, as he watched, she looked out onto the dance floor, probably looking for her next quick lay. He felt bad for whatever little part of her soul she was missing.

What a bitch.