AN: Thank you, my dear readers, for the signs-of-life in the form of – more than welcome - reviews, favorites and followings (followers? Hmm?). I hope I don't disappoint ;)
Chapter 11: The Reason – Hoobastank
It had been three weeks since the woman and her followers kidnapped me. I had completely recovered about two weeks ago, physically at least. I was still having horrible nightmares about my friends being ripped to pieces. I often awoke sweaty and with my heart pounding furiously, but there would always be someone by my side in an instant – most of the time it was Alec and he would hold my hand or caress my face until I fell asleep again.
In the moment, I was walking with Felix and Demitri to the library. I had spent many hours in there over the last period of time. Sometimes I wasn't even in there to read, just take pictures or simply surround myself with the soft air of quietness that every library seemed to possess. Alec was overseas to the Middle East with Jane, Tom and some of the other guard members. There was a matter, they needed taken care of and I was edgy all the time. I was worried sick about Alec. What if he got hurt again? What if he was up against someone too strong for him? Oh no, what if something had happened to him? Shouldn't he be back by now? It had already been three days and he said it was an easy mission. Was he being untruth to protect me so I wouldn't worry? Well, too late now!
"Stop thinking about it, Noel" Felix suddenly cut through my rising panic and I gave him an almost startled look. He chuckled at my wide-eyed expression.
"You were twirling your hair and starting to hyperventilate" he said as if that explained his earlier statement.
"What?" I blushed and realized a lock of my hair was still wrapped around my finger. I quickly let go and blushed even deeper.
"You do that every time you worry about Alec" Demitri winked as he held the door to the library open for me. We all walked in. The smell of old books and dust didn't have the calming effect I was hoping it would. I sighed heavily and looked up at my friends. I knew it was no use hiding it. They were good at telling what was going on with me. I wasn't quite sure if that was a good thing or not.
"I can't just not worry. What if he got hurt?" I asked sadly.
"He might" Demitri said and I jumped.
"But he's a vampire. It's easy to patch us up - unless we are burned of course. Anyway, they'll all be back soon" Demitri continued and I sucked in air painfully. Burned?! That was so… barbaric!
"Demitri!" Felix growled in annoyance and Demitri sent one look my way before apologizing with an almost invisible wince. I barely registered it as my mind was blazing with new worried thoughts of what could've happened to him. I was pacing back and forth on the faded red carpet that decorated the wooden flooring of the library.
Alec was afraid of fire. Oh, dear! What if someone used it against him?! What if… oh no, I couldn't even finish that sentence in my head, it was too gruesome to even think about!
"Noel" Felix put a calloused hand on my shoulder causing me to instantly stop my pacing. I worriedly met his gaze, having to crane my neck backwards in order to do so. His eyes were sincere yet determined and there was no doubt to be traced in the pools of red staring down at me. My shoulders slumped. He didn't even have to utter any words. His eyes gave me all the reassurance I needed. A smile tugged at my lips and I wrapped my arms around him as a thank you. He was nothing like Trevor, but still like a brother to me. Both he and Demitri were. However, whereas Demitri was the goofy one, Felix always knew just what to say or do. He was more laid back than Demitri, but I loved them both equally.
"What should I ever do without you?" I said and smiled up at him. He ruffled my hair good-naturedly with a smile of his own.
"I have no idea, kiddo"
"What about me?!" Demitri yelled in mock hurt and I giggled before giving him a hug too.
"What did I miss?" an amused voice came from the doorway and my head whipped around in surprise.
"Alec!" I gasped and ran to him. He chuckled as he opened his arms to me and held me in a tight hug as if he never wanted to let go – which would be completely fine by me, as I seemed to have grown extremely paranoid when it came to his safety. I pulled back slightly to meet his soft, red eyes. My hands resting on his shoulders while his were gently placed upon my waist.
"You're back" I breathed in delight and suddenly felt silly for being so worried about him the past few days. Of course, he would come back in one piece. Of course, he was all right.
He smiled brightly at me, looking more handsome than usually and almost taking my breath away. He smiled at me as if he was a deaf man hearing the sound of music and laughter for the first time. As if I was the one thing that made everything seem more beautiful and wondrous. Not even to mention the look in his eyes. It was so intense, but it felt strangely familiar. Was it what I had been searching for inside myself - the mysterious feeling that kept welling up in me and overflow?
It was…
"What are we? Air?" Demitri said sarcastically, but I could hear the amusement in his voice. I blushed deeply, though my cheeks were already feeling quite hot. I turned in Alec's arms to look back at my two friends I had completely forgotten were still present. I moved to pull away from Alec, but he wouldn't let go of me. I found that I didn't mind and my heartbeat sped up.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Demitri" I said sincerely as he grinned at me. Felix rolled his eyes with a smile and started to walk towards the exit.
"We have business to take care of anyway. Come now, Demitri, they want to be alone even if Noel would never admit it" he smirked at me and I was sure I resembled a tomato by now. Before I had time to protest they were already gone and I tentatively met Alec's gaze. I was overly conscious about his hands still resting above my waist. He was smiling softly down at me, making my stomach flutter excitedly and my heart soar. It was deeply addictive.
"I've been driving everyone insane with my worrying about you" I admitted as it was the first thing that popped into my head.
"Yeah?" he perked up as if I just told him something wonderful.
I nodded with a hint of a smile. He snaked his arms further around me so I had to take a step towards him. There was only the smallest amount of air between our bodies as he locked his hands behind my back.
"I'm not sure I can ever let you go. I… have been worrying about you too" he said in a serious tone and I started in surprise. About me?!
"What? Why? I'm not that clumsy" I said with wide eyes. Sure, I often fell over my own feet or the smallest of obstacles, but someone always seemed to catch me before I hit the floor or rolled down a flight of stair.
"You are, but that was not what I was worried about" he smirked and it took me a moment to realize what he was referring to. I instinctively brought my hands to cradle his cheeks just to make sure he would grasp the seriousness of what I was about to say.
"I won't be taken again, Alec. Aro wouldn't allow it. Security has gone up and there is always someone with me now. Beth won't even let me go to the bathroom alone, which I'm not sure what to feel about that, but you know Beth. She can't be argued with. It's a good thing she went with Heidi to do some fishing today – Aro won't let her stay here unless she does something to contribute. I don't think I could handle much more of her smothering me as if I…" I realized I had begun rambling and closed my mouth before I could continue. Alec chuckled and kissed my nose before letting me go only to take my hand instead.
"I have missed you so" he said and I blushed with a smile spreading across my face.
..:-:..
"By the double-barreled jumping jiminetty!" I heard myself exclaim with annoyance as the strap of my Nikon broke and my camera fell into the cookie dough I was making – or trying to make. I had already made the flour-bag explode on myself, drop the knife I was trying to cut chocolate with and nearly spill the entire milk carton on the floor. Beth and Demitri was more than amused by my attempts to bake, while Alec kept trying to take over or at least make me give up my task of baking. I swear, if that boy had fewer manners than he had, he would have been biting his nails off watching me. Good thing Felix and Heidi wasn't here to watch me fail too.
"By the what?" Beth scrunched her nose in a mix of disgust and amusement from her seat on the wooden barstool at the kitchen-counter.
"What did you just say?" Demitri sounded as if he was on the verge of breaking down in laughter once again.
"What happened?" Alec asked as I held up my precious Nikon with a heavy sigh. The sticky dough was partly covering the lens and stuck to a few other places on my beloved camera.
"My Nikon got dirty" I was looking sadly down at the dough I could no longer use. I had two choices now either make a new batch or just give up on my little conquest. The universe sure made it hard for me to make this – or was it just my genes or from wherever I got this clumsiness of mine.
"I can see that, but how?" he smirked and took the camera from my hands, carefully cleaning it up for me.
"The strap snapped. I guess it was too worn" I pouted as I threw my dough away. Maybe it was for the better. I didn't want to think about what sort accidents I could encounter with the oven had I ever gotten that far. Which reminded me: I had forgotten to turn it on. Maybe I really shouldn't do this.
"That's what you get for always wearing that monstrous thing" Beth stated as she came to my side. She took me by the wrist and started pulling me away from the sink I had started to fill with soapy water.
"What are you doing, Beth? I need to clean that up"
"No, you need to sit down before another crazy almost-swear word escapes those pretty little lips of yours" she teased, but still managed to sound as if I had had a stroke.
"Why were you wearing it while baking in the first place?" Demitri smirked.
"I forgot to take it off" I blushed. I wore my camera around my neck so often it had become a part of me like if someone always wore the same necklace or ring.
"Of course you did. That thing is like an extra limb to you" Beth rolled her eyes.
"Here, good as new" Alec smiled at me as he handed me my now clean Nikon, completely ignoring Beth. He had seemed to come somewhat to his senses and instead of constantly fighting with her; he had gone to pretend she didn't exist. I wasn't sure if that was any better, but I saw it as an improvement, though I couldn't say the same for her. She insisted on mocking or annoying him, but that didn't really surprise me – her being Beth.
"Aw, are you being her little bitch… again. So sweet" she said in a sugared voice as she mocked him. I threw her a reproving look, before turning to Alec who was still ignoring her – though I could see a cold edge in his eyes. I accepted my camera and gently brushed my hand against his. He met my eyes with a slightly strained smile. It wasn't easy ignoring the force of nature called Beth. I had never tried it myself, but it seemed like a lot of work. Then again, I liked Beth – most of the time – compared to Alec who couldn't stand her existence.
"Thank you, Alec" I smiled up at him, trying not to grit my teeth as I heard my best friend make gagging noises behind us. Demitri chuckled.
"Ok, that's enough, honey" he said jokingly before grabbing hold of Beth's upper arm rather forcibly making her stagger backwards in her stiletto boots as he pulled her towards the door.
"Don't you honey me, lackey, or I'll rip off your precious little…" she hissed angrily, but I didn't hear what she was going to rip of before they were out of hearing. I saw Alec wince before smirking down at me. I guess it wasn't nice whatever Beth was saying. Did it really surprise me? I think not.
"So you want to start over with the… What were you making again?" he said with a tilt of his head toward the sink where bowls, spoons and the knife was discarded into the soapy water.
I pursed my lips and blushed slightly.
"I think it would be for the best if I let someone else take care of the cooking and baking" I admitted without meeting his eyes. Instead, I looked down at my flour-covered clothes with a pout. Heidi wouldn't like this. The shirt was brand new and made of silk. That was her favorite kind of fabric! He burst out laughing, almost making me drop my Nikon as I jumped.
"Sorry" he said still with laughter clear in his voice and I blushed deeply.
"But seriously, I could get someone to make you something, if you want?" he offered with an apologetic, wry smile. We both knew he couldn't cook for the life of him – not that I could blame him. First off, I wasn't that big of a chef myself with my burning stuff or having otherwise cooking-related accidents. Second, he was turned around 800 A.D. and he hadn't exactly spend his time exploring his culinary skills since then. He was an even worse cook than I was! He had tried making me breakfast once and let's just say it was good the kitchen was equipped with a fire extinguisher and a good ventilation system. For a centuries old castle it was extraordinarily up-to-date with, well, everything.
"No, that's alright. I was only baking those stupid cookies because it was something…" I trailed off as I realized he might misinterpret what I had been about to say and I bit my bottom lip as if the words would otherwise escape on their own.
"What?" he pressed on and I contemplated if I should tell him my reason – but I only considered for a single moment.
"It was something my mom and I used to do every Sunday and…" I stopped myself yet again, but I didn't have to finish my sentence this time. He knew. I could see it in the way his face went from serious and worried to sad and worried.
"I know you miss her, Noel…" he began and left the "but" unsaid. I had to bite my lip in order not to smile of how neither of us seemed to finish our sentences all of a sudden. Furthermore, there really was nothing to laugh at. I really was missing my mom and today wasn't exactly one of my good days. Baking those cookies was a way for me to be close to her, and at the same time keeping me from openly sulk and be depressed.
"I know" I offered him a tiny smile. He seemed to contemplate something for a moment before he took my hand with one of his and my Nikon in his other hand. He started gently pulling me towards the door.
"Where are we going?" I asked with a mixture of amusement and surprise.
"To get your mind off things" he smiled at me over his shoulder. He pulled me down the corridor leading away from the kitchen. Unfortunately, he was walking so fast I had to stumble after him in order to keep up which almost caused me to trip several times.
"Damn, you are slow" he growled with a teasing smirk as he swiftly lifted me off my feet and I gasped in surprise. I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck. He ran through the castle. Everything around us was a blur. I giggled at the thrill of not knowing where he was taking me or what was going to happen.
