Truth (Isaac Lahey)

Chapter 4: New Isaac

Emma closed her book and picked up her phone as she heard her ringtone going off quietly. "Hello?" she said without checking who it was.

"Hey Emma." It was Isaac.

"Lahey."

"Could I come over?"

"I don't think that's a good idea right now."

"Emma, I can't go home."

"I know your dad's a dick but-"

"My dad is dead."

Her eyes widened. "What?"

"He got attacked by something. I know you're mad at me but I didn't know where else to go."

"You're already here, aren't you?"

She dropped her phone in surprise when she heard a light knocking on her window and say Isaac standing outside of it. Slowly, she hung up her phone and walked over to the window, opening it enough for him to enter. Once he was in, she shut the window as usual. "You're on the floor tonight."

"I'm sorry about what happened earlier."

She sat down on the edge of her bed. "Are you gonna tell me why you were being such an ass?"

"I can't." He looked down at his feet. "I'm so sorry Emma, but I can't tell you why."

"Are you trying to make some new image for yourself or something? Because I thought you were perfect just the way you were."

He shook his head. "Something happened last night, when I got attacked by that animal. You need to believe that I'm still the Isaac I was last night. Nothing has changed."

"Except your attitude. You're lying to me, I can tell."

"Emma, I don't want to lie to you."

"Then tell me the truth."

He looked at her, a pained look on his face. "Emma, you need to believe that I'm still me. That's the truth."

"Is there someone else?"  The words pained her to speak, but she knew that she had to ask.  "Is that what this is about?  Are you trying to make me hate you?"

He shook his head, tears gleaming in his eyes.  "Emma, there's never been anyone else.  There never will be.  I know I'm being an ass, but all I'm asking is that you just trust me.  I'm still me.  I promise."

"Are you going to tell me why you were being such an ass?"

He took a deep breath - one of his signs of hesitation, she knew.  "The animal that attacked me...  It wasn't one hundred precent animal."

She rolled her eyes.  "You're insane."

"It was a werewolf."

She laughed.  "You think I'm that stupid?  Werewolves aren't real."

"Yes, they are!  I'm becoming one of them!"

"Prove it."  She crossed her arms, her own tears beginning to form in her eyes.  "You know, it's one thing to come here when you know I'm pissed at you - keep in mind I didn't invite you.  But then you try to lie to me.  You can't do this to me, Isaac."

"Emma, I'm not lying."

"Prove it.  If you ever loved me, ever want any chance of me forgiving you, you need to prove things to me now."

"I can't.  I don't know how to control it, I could hurt you."

"Then I'll assume you're lying."  She walked over to the window and opened it.  "Get out."

"Emma-"

"Out."  Tears began to fall down her face as she pointed through the open window.  "Leave.  And don't come back."

"Emma!  Will you just listen to me for one second?!  I don't know what you want me to tell you!"

"The truth, Isaac!  I want you to tell me the truth!"

A sort of growl escaped his lips as his eyes slowly changed color, from blue to yellow.  Emma stared in horror as his face became more pointed, and hair grew rapidly down the sides of his face.

"AHH!"  She looked around and grabbed the closest thing to a weapon that she could find, which happened to be a softball bat.  She picked it up and held it, ready to swing if she had to.

"Don't yell so loud, your parents are gonna hear."

"My parents aren't home, it's their date night."

"You asked for proof.  This is it."  She could see the pain on his face when he saw the fear on hers.  "Emma, I'm not going to hurt you.  I'd never hurt you.  I'd hurt myself before I hurt you."

She slowly lowered her bat and walked over to him, still grasping it in her hand.  She slowly reached up and touched the side of his face, then looked at his yellow eyes.  "I don't know what this has to do with you being an asshole."

"I'm being forced to join a pack.  The alpha, the guy who bit me, he's an impolite asshole.  Betas take after their alpha, I guess."

She shook her head, taking a step back.  "If that's how things are going to be, we can't be together."

"Emma that isn't how things are going to be.  It got to my head.  He got to my head.  But today, I - I had to spend the day without having you.  I couldn't do it.  I love you, Emma.  I love you so freaking much, it hurts.  I promise, that isn't how things are gonna be.  I'm gonna be the same me I always have been.  I promise."

"I - I think I need time to think about this.  I'll see you tomorrow."

"Emma please."

She shook her head again before kissing his cheek.  "Good night, Isaac.  Go stay with your Alpha or something."

"Emma-"

"Just go."  She sat down on her bed, picking up her book.  "Before I don't even think it over."

He watched her for a minute, tears forming in his eyes.  When she didn't look at him, only focused on her book, he climbed out the window.  And Emma was thankful that he didn't see the teardrops falling from her eyes onto the old pages as he left.