"Emmy?" Grace started cautiously.
   "I'm not listening." Emma returned distractedly, her eyes carefully criticizing her looks in her compact. A manicured nail traced a delicately arched, and well-cared for, ebony brow.
   "Why?" Her friend questioned softly.
   Emma clenched her teeth, then instantly forced herself to relax, and turned a devil-may-care smile to her. "Because you don't play the game."
   The answer, so simple in words, yet so complicated and destructive in actions.
   Her jaw clenched again, "And you're my friend."
   Pulling up into the gravel driveway, Grace cut the engine and looked around nervously. "C'mon, Em." She murmured, "it's not worth it."
   The tremor in her voice had Emma upset again. "Oh yeah." She corrected, "it is."
   Yanking hard on the door handle, Emma was stalking towards the spacious and luxurious house. Leaving Grace to stay or follow as she saw fit.
   On the outside, her stride was smooth and cool, oozing female confidence. Inside, Emma was at her boiling point and calling upon her internal well of strength to keep her from shaking with anger.
   Stepping inside, without knocking or being invited, she crossed the room in her strappy sandals and kicked the chair out from under an unsuspecting male.
   The commotion brought on the extra attention that she needed.
   Hand on hips, she leaned down into his flushing face. "If you wanted to play the game, baby, I would've made a better opponent."
   She nodded to an embarrassed Grace standing in the doorway. "She doesn't know the rules, so what kind of conquest could she have made for you?"
   Her lips quirked then, "Unless you're just a beginner." She sneered, "and if that is the case, then I'll really teach you a few tricks. The hard way."
   Remaining quiet until then, Taylor gave the siren an appraising look and leered, "Yeah? What? Wear a condom so that I don't catch some STD from you?"
   A snicker from their audience had Emma raising a delicate eyebrow before sticking her three-inch heel into his shoulder and pressing down. "You, who can't even play the game with an experienced player, has no defense."
   Moving to shove her foot off him, Taylor was flushed again when all he pushed was air and fell onto his back again.
   "What's going on here?"
   A deep resonated voice called from another doorway off to the side.
   Fixing her skirt, but not looking up, Emma shrugged demurely. "Nothing that concerns you." She retorted, angry at the interruption.
   "You see, it does." He continued on, stepping on into the room. "That's my friend you're standing over and yelling at like a banshee."
   Raising her red glare finally, Emma kept the shock from playing out on her face, and lifted her chin defiantly. "And?" She asked carelessly.
   "And he concerns me." He returned smoothly.
   Emma was an excellent judge of character. Where she found false strength and masked weakness in Taylor, his friend was exuding masked strength and false weakness.
   She felt her lips twitching into a smile. "He played my friend. I want to play him and make it fair since she doesn't even know the rules of the game."
   He returned her smile with ease, "And you think that's his fault."
   Emma felt her muscles tightening once more. "What joy could there be fighting someone who doesn't even know that there is a battle going on?"
   She laughed unexpectedly, surprising them all. "Unless he truly is a coward?"
   The taunt had its desired affect.
   "I'll play the game with you in his place."
   The offer knocked her off guard, but she recovered admirably. "It's not you who played my friend."
   Looking up from lighting a cigarette, he exhaled a steady stream of smoke into the air. "But I'm a better opponent for you, Emma." He smiled, "unless you're a coward too?"
   The knowledge that he knew of her had her reeling and flattered at the same time.
   Quickly though, she realized the game had already begun. Between the two of them.
   Her smile stretched some more, provocative and appreciative. "On your mark." She started as she walked towards him, "get set." She took the cigarette from his fingertips and took a slow drag and blew a delicate ring towards him.
   He grinned and finished, "go."
   Nodding, Emma turned around and flicked the cigarette at Taylor. Winking, she left. Leaving everyone staring after her, and Grace racing to keep up with her.
   Taylor turned towards his laughing friend. "What did you just do, Ike?"
   Isaac just laughed some more, "The game, Tay. I just started the game."