Mr. Lahey dragged Isaac down the basement. The boy whimpered in the clutch of his brutal father, pleading wordlessly for him to stop. The man slapped him hard on the face, Isaac staggering back and falling to his back. He could taste blood in his mouth.

"I'm sorry dad" his voice small and helpless

"Sorry?" his dad spat, "Your apology is as worthless as you are"

By the collar of his shirt, his father dragged him across the basement towards the freezer. He tried to break free, resisting with everything he's got even if he knows it would only earn him more bruises and broken bones.

Anything but that, Isaac looked in horror as his father opened the lid of the icebox. The old man shoved his son inside, not an ounce of guilt as he slammed the top shut.

Darkness.

Isaac screamed his voice echoing around him.

Nothing.

He pushed and kicked and scraped trying to get out.

Nothing.

His cheeks were wet with his tears.

Still nothing. Then.

"Isaac"

He couldn't breathe properly from the confined space.

"Isaac"

Through the darkness he felt as if the walls were closing in on him. He continued to scream and thrash around.

"Isaac!"

Isaac sat up gasping for air, dazed and light-headed. Sweat trickling down his neck, his throat rasp as if he'd been actually screaming.

Isaac jumped realizing that Nash was squatting beside the couch he laid at, her couch. He'd fallen asleep at her place from last night's mission.

With nothing better to do to pass his time, he'd been helping her out track pack-less omegas that have been causing trouble around France and neighboring countries the past few months. There were a lot of werewolves, to his surprise, and even more were-others in existence.

Her hand reached for his, instinctively he moved it away but she grabbed on to it. The way she held on to him, the way her skin touched his; it eased him.

"Are you okay?"

"I—it was just bad dream" but it felt too real for him

She didn't ask what it was about, probably since she already knew. Dreams like these haunt him episodically.

Isaac's ragged breathing was slowly evening out. They stayed like that, in silence, for what felt like forever, her hand holding his.

"Do you want some water?" his hand longed for hers, when she pulled away

"No, thanks" Isaac stood up, "I better go, I think I've overstayed my welcome"

Nash was about to protest but he cut her off.

"Besides, I need to shower" he gave a toothy grin as he made his way to the door

"A much needed one, you stink" she pinched her nose, riding his blithe but the concern never left her eyes

As he reached for the knob, she called out to him. "Hey"

With curious eyes, Isaac turned to her.

"Do you want to go out tonight?"

"Are you asking me out on a date?" he asked suggestively, "Does that mean I'm a step further away from never?"

"No! Its still never" she smugly said, "My friends are dragging me to go out on a rave, I was wondering if you wanted to come along"

He gave one of his lazy smiles, "Sure"

Climbing through the window of Nash' loft, reminded him of the times he sneaked into Allison's room. He made himself comfortable on her white leather couch; he could hear her move around her room.

"Seriously, what's with people and breaking into my loft?" Nash emerged from her room

Isaac leaned his head backwards, looking at her upside down and shrugged. "Knocking is too mainstream."

Nash huffed in amusement. She rummaged through her refrigerator and tossed him a can of ginger ale. "Pre-rave drink"

"You look nice" he observed, popping open the can

She was in a white-cropped top with faded print revealing a bit of her perfectly toned stomach, an oversized cardigan tied to her small waist, black frayed jeans and black leather boots. There was a stack of accessories on one of her wrist. Nash always had that grunge-preppy look going on.

"Not too shabby yourself" she popped hers

He had on his favorite black leather jacket, loose white muscle shirt with faded print, black jeans and black kicks. He noticed they were wearing matching outfits; he smiled at the thought.

The rave was at a warehouse somewhere downtown. It was late in the night and the bass can be heard two blocks away. Flocks of teenagers headed inside, waves of music pouring out as the door opened.

Inside, sweaty bodies bumped and grinded in the dark as bright lights flashed to the music. Voices raised trying to converse over the loud music.

The last time he went out to one of these was at Derek's loft with Allison at Danny's black light party. And that didn't end too well, although he was able to do some PDA on the dance floor with Allison.

He'd been watching Nash dance the night away with her friends from the corner where he stood for almost an hour, armed with a red cup filled with beer.

Their eyes met and gave that lovely smile of hers. She peeled herself away from her friends and approached him.

"You've been standing there all night" she poked his side

"I like my view from here" Isaac shrugged leaning at the wall

Nash seemed to enjoy watching the crowd simultaneously jumping every time the bass dropped.

"Hot girls?" Nash assumed

With another shrug, he answered her vaguely with a "Maybe."

Isaac had been avoiding inappropriate glances and advances from girls all night, even Carrie. She was a typical bombshell; curves at all the right places. But she didn't appeal to him. She was too talky and frankly a bit dense. Before becoming a werewolf, he'd do anything to get some action with a girl.

When he started getting attention from girls when he turned, the thrill of the chase was gone. It was a bore how easy most girls are these days. But Nash wasn't. She was different she seemed wiser and reserved.

"Hot guys then?" she gasped wide-eyed

Beer spewed from his mouth when he heard her outrageous idea. Nash chuckled at his outburst, wiping some beer off of her arm.

"I'm definitely into girls" Isaac shook his head, whipping it back laughing. "Come on, let's dance"

Nimbly he took her hand and led her through the crowd, holding tighter as it became denser with the sea people. They were finally face to face on the dance floor; she smiled at him and started jumping with the crowd. He followed suit.

The crowd seemed to shift and Nash got pushed forward to his chest, he caught her in his arms. Time seemed to slow down between them. Surrounded with teens enjoying their youth, there was a sense of normalcy.

Their eyes met, Isaac noted the way her eyes glinted with the lights. The way her short locks fell on her face. The way she didn't push him away rather clutched onto his jacket.

"I didn't realize how freakishly tall you are" Nash teased mischievously

"That, or you're just freakishly small" Isaac playfully bantered

Hesitantly, he slid his hands down to her bare waist, looking at her eyes for any sign of unwelcome. Her gaze never faltered. It surprised him when she placed her arms around his shoulder. Their bodies flush against each other.

The alcohol must be making both of them bolder. Isaac rested his forehead on hers, their nose touching. He could hear both of their uneven breathing.

"Get your hands off my girl!" someone grabbed his shoulder and punched him square on the jaw, he heard Nash call his name

People beside them gasped at the commotion. When he straightened up, he saw her being dragged through the crowd by another guy.

"What are you doing? Let me go" Isaac heard her say over the music

Something boiled in his chest, it made his ears burn and he clenched his jaw. Furiously he followed them out the warehouse. Isaac was able to see who the mystery guy was; it was the guy from the surprise that glared at him.

"Parker, let me go" Nash indignantly hissed

"She said let her go" Isaac grabbed the boy's arm when he didn't let go

"You should mind your own business" Parker arrogantly raised his chin up, "And keep your hands away off my girl"

"I'm not your girl," she protested

"Let. Her. Go" Isaac menacingly taunted, and slowly applying pressure—causing Parker to wince in pain

Nash pulled Isaac away sensing that he was about to beat Parker up. The latter growled in anger, advancing closer to attack Isaac.

Nash and Isaac ran as fast as they could away from the rave, his hands laced around hers. They took off as soon as Isaac gave Parker a bloody nose. It didn't take much effort from him to do so. For him, that was the most normal fight he'd ever had since he turned. Something most teenagers would experience at least once in their life.

When they finally stopped running, they were already outside of her building. She laughed breathily and it got him laughing too. She pulled her hands from his, nudged him lightly and it sent shock all over his body.

"So… Parker…" Isaac cleared his throat, unsure on how to ask her about him

"Hmm?" she played coy

"What was that about?" he could hear the jealousy in his own voice

"An old flame trying to rekindle romance" Nash simply put

"Why did you break up?" Isaac cocked his head

"Relationships really doesn't suit me, I can't disclose much about who I am and what I do on my free time" Nash kicked a pebble, "But I couldn't explain that well. And he hated me for that, so much that he openly slept around with different girls to hurt me"

"Did it?" Isaac probed

"A bit" she shrugged, "But I did find out that he'd been cheating on me for quite some time, so maybe I dodged a bullet"

"And the douche have the nerve to try to get back together with you?"

"He's not used to getting dumped or not being chased after"

It was chilly and Nash rubbed her arms to feel warm, the flimsy cardigan wasn't doing its job. Isaac was quick to remove his jacket and wrap it around her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and got surprised with the words that escaped his lips.

"You're too good for him"

A small blush crept up her caramel skin. He tugged her with his arm behind her back and walked her up to her loft. Neither of them talked on the way up, both too embarrassed with what has been said.

Quietly saying goodbye, she closed the door behind her. Isaac buried his fingers through his hair in frustration as turned to walk away. What was he thinking? He quickly pivoted, when the closed door opened.

"I forgot to give back your jacket" Nash handed it back to him

"Oh" Isaac was sort of disappointed that it was only about his jacket, "Thanks"

There was a lull between them again, with Nash holding the door and Isaac awkwardly standing at the hallway. She took a step forward to him, reaching for his face bringing it closer to hers as she tiptoed and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"I had fun tonight" Nash whispered as she let go and resume her position, "Goodnight"

Isaac touched where her lips left; feeling his own cheeks burn up. Even after the door closed, he didn't move an inch, just listening to sync of their wild beating hearts.

Author's Note: Your comments and suggestions are very much appreciated! It would really help me improve my writing.