Chapter 7: Freaked out

Noel's POV

Some believe that when someone faces death they see their life flash before their eyes. For me I saw my past and not the things I couldn't remember as a baby but the days I spent with Damon. Although I didn't spend many with him I saw them in a new light. The way he looked at me when I wasn't fully paying attention. He had a deep longing look.

How he was always home when I was. How he was somehow avoiding any real conversation with me. Somehow it all didn't add up and then everything I thought I knew about him vanished. And the dream turned into a nightmare with a monster chasing me. I couldn't really say it was Damon as the monster or not but I kept hearing Evan say they're vampires. It really freaked me out, but I couldn't figure out which freaked me out more. The fact that Evan's voice was so creepy or that Damon wasn't who I thought he was anymore.

I sat up in my bed as I began waking from my dream like state. I was in my room and in my bed like nothing happened last night. Something in me actually wanted to believe it was all a nightmare. So like anyone would do I got up to investigate. I went into one of the guest rooms closes to mine and the bed was made up like it always was. And no sign of anyone being here at all which really made me scratch my head.

I went to further the investigation. I had no idea as to what time it was but I didn't care I needed to find someone with some answers. And surprisingly enough I ran into my mom who was in the kitchen probably fixing herself another cup of coffee. I walked right up to her and she just looked at me like everything was normal.

"Good morning honey. How did you sleep?" She said still filling her cup with coffee and then sugar.

"Not great but mom what happened last night. Actually the entire day."

"What do you mean? Are you asking what I did yesterday?"

"No, I'm asking what I did."

My mom put down her cup and put her hand on my shoulder. "Noel, is everything okay?"

"Please, mom, just answer the question."

"I don't know if I can, sweetheart. If you're referring to a couple of hours you went missing the other day you'll have to talk to Damon. Otherwise, I have no idea as to what you're talking about."

It was good to know that Damon was a real character and not some made up monster I came up with. Now I just had to get in touch with him which would be hard since I didn't have my phone. I was just about to walk away when my mom spoke, "Oh about your phone before I forget. I sent Lewis to the store to pick you up a new one since you lost your last night. He had to stop at the grocery store as well so he might be a while."

"Okay well do you know where Damon went, I need to talk to him?"

"He went out with your father and some of the other guys from the company for lunch. They shouldn't be too much longer."

"Alright well I'm going to hop in the shower, can you let me know when they get back."

"Sure thing sweetheart." With much in question especially since things were coming back and all I had was more questions. The last thing I remember clearly which was when I was supposed to meet Damon at a coffee shop. Everything else was jumbled with mixed feelings about everything. I was just about to leave the living room when my mom came out of the kitchen. "I wanted to remind you that dad and the other CEO's are having their annual BBQ this Saturday. You know it's the first Saturday of the summer. Your dad wanted me to remind you and you can bring some if you like. Maybe you could bring Elizabeth. Oh, that reminds me is everything okay with you and Elizabeth because she came over here looking for you the other day?"

"Yeah everything's fine, I was just having a bad day and now I'm being a bad friend." I tried my best to lie to her but I didn't trust myself with what was true and false. I also don't remember what I told her last night if we did indeed talk. My mom didn't seem to really like my response but she said nothing against it.

"Well, I hope you plan on apologizing soon. Elizabeth is a good friend to you and I hate for you to lose her. Good friends are hard to come by and don't forget about Saturday." Although my mom was right I had more pressing matters to figure out and as soon as everything with that is in order then I will go beg for Ella's forgiveness.

"Yes, mom I agree with you. While I'm in the shower I'll think about what I'm going to say to her." I left the living room and sped up the stairs and into the bathroom.

Once I was showered and started getting dressed in my room a knock was heard on my door. "Honey, Damon and your father are back."

"Thanks, mom, let him know I'll be down in a minute," I answered while looking at myself in the mirror. I was so excited to finally be getting the answered I deeply craved but at the same time I was worried. I wondered if everything I thought happened actually happened and that terrified me the most. That there was this unknown world out there that I knew nothing about. And what did that mean for me?

I threw on a white t-shirt that had a black rose printed on it. And some black skinny jeans with rips in them all along the legs. After I dried my hair I put on some makeup and when I was reaching for lipstick I would normally either do a gloss or a nude. Today I went with a deep crimson red. I didn't know why but I liked it. After looking somewhat presentable I left my room to go downstairs and into the living room where Damon stood. From the back, he looked exactly the same as I remember but as soon as he turned around the darkness came.

Like I was suddenly slapped I remembered everything from the coffee shop to being bit by him. It was coming in so fast but still so clear. I wanted to see the man I saw before with his smirk and our genuine conversation, but instead, I saw the monster that Evan showed me. I was at least a couple of feet away from Damon and he looked like he was trying to read me. "I guess I should go first, how did sleep last night?" He said. It sounded like he was nervous, maybe he wasn't used to this kind of circumstances.

"Okay, I guess. Actually, you know what no I did not sleep okay. I mean what the hell happened last night Damon."

"You know I think it might be best if we talk outside."

"Why?" I immediately regretted asking that as soon as I said it. I almost forgot this was still technically a secret. And yet I still felt like I was the last one to know. Damon stood quietly I guess to try and figure out an answer to my question. "Never mind you don't have to answer that." I crossed my arms and walked by Damon to the back of the living room and to the double doors that led outside. But when I walked by Damon he tried to put his hand on my back as a friendly thing but all it did was make me jump away from him.

I didn't want to feel this way toward him. But the last thing I remember is him biting my neck after that I blacked out. "I have so many questions I want to ask you but I don't know where to start," I said while sitting down on one of the chairs.

"Well, what do you really want to know?"

"I want to know why you didn't say anything."

"You mean other than that it's a huge secret and most people think we're abominations."

"Yeah other than that."

"I didn't know how you would take it honestly. Most girls would freak out and never speak to me again."

"Well, that excuse is invalid because you already know I'm not like most girls. So try again why did you really not tell me?"

"Why does it matter if I told you or not. I thought it was on a need to know basis and you didn't need to know."

"I only ask because I feel like I hardly know you. I told you everything about me at least anything you asked. I'm truly trying to figure out if you're a danger to my family."

"You really think I'm a danger to your family?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out, it's not like you have a clean record. Although you did ask me to trust you last night, you still drunk me to a blackout state."

Before Damon could rebuttal the entrance to the back porch was opened. Revealing our house butler Lewis. He looked at me, "I apologize for interrupting Ms. Moore but I have returned from the store and have brought you, your new phone. Would you like me to set it up for you?"

"Yes if you wouldn't mind, thank you, Lewis. Is that all?"

"No, you also have a Ms. Elizabeth Baker on the line."

"Can you please tell her I will call her back in ten minutes? I am having a very important discussion right now."

"As you wish, miss." After that Lewis left leaving Damon and me alone.

"Look Noel I understand you're confused about everything but all that we talked about was true. And everything I said last night to Evan was to get you out of there as alive as I could. When I drank from you it was the only thing I could think of so you wouldn't harm yourself for when I went to kill Evan. I did it on purpose, I would never harm you intentionally."

"So you can control your thirst. You didn't lose control last night?"

"No, I didn't, I was more worried about getting you out of there."

"Okay, so what happened to Evan then?"

"He won't be bothering you anymore if that's what you're worried about."

"That didn't answer my question. Did you kill him?"

"Technically he wasn't really alive but yes."

"Did you have to?"

"I guess I didn't have to but this guy was a psychopath who knows what would have happened if I let him go. Besides he wasn't supposed to live anyway some stupid vampire accidentally turned him into a vampire. That's why he formed an attachment to me he wanted someone to show him the ropes but I wasn't in a good place when I met him. If you want I can answer any other questions about vampires you might have."

"No thanks." There were a few moments of silence before Damon spoke.

"Wait so you aren't curious about my kind?"

"Of course I am Damon. Everything I know about vampires is in books or movies. But after everything, I just don't want to know. I mean yeah you saved my life but I still don't know what this means for me. I mean you took me to an old vampire bar, what did you expect to happen?"

"How did you know that?"

"Evan told me but it doesn't matter I still don't know if I want you in my life. Ever since we've met you've been hanging out with me all the time. And yet I feel like I barely know you."

"Wait, Noel, what all did Evan tell you?"

"Does it matter?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out."

"Look, Damon, I think I just need some space right now. And all Evan told me was that maybe you aren't who I think you are." And just like that, I decided I was done talking. So I got up and left Damon standing alone outside. I think I needed someone to talk to my best friend the first person that came to mind the thing was I couldn't confide in her like I usually do.

After I went inside the house I went to try to find Lewis who had my new phone. But it turned out I didn't have to since he had placed it on the coffee table in the living room. I picked it up and immediately dialed Ella's number. It didn't take long for her to pick up.

"Hello?" she said confused since I got a new number.

"Ella it's me, Noel."

"Noel! Where have you been? I haven't heard from you in over twenty-four hours. What the hell happened?"

"Sorry Ella I was going through something and I didn't want to talk to anyone."

"What the fuck Noel, that's some bogus reasoning. Why won't you tell me the real reason? You're my best friend don't you trust me or think I can handle it?"

"It's not like that Ella. I just can't explain just know I'm truly sorry and I'm willing to make it up to you."

"Okay I'm listening but this isn't over by the way. I'm not giving up that easily." I figured she wouldn't but I knew how to distract her and hopefully not answer any questions about last night.

"I was thinking we have a girl's day and get away for a little bit."

"What were you thinking?"

"How about the beach, we could let Addie know and maybe have lunch at the pier."

"Okay that sounds great, I'll let Addie know and we'll all meet at my house to leave together."

"Sounds great and Ella thanks for being here I really need you today."

"That's what best friends are for and hurry up. I'm craving funnel cake." I chuckled at Ella and hung up the phone.