Chapter 13

Despite the promise to herself to not worry, she puzzled over Damon's behavior all night. She finally fell asleep when her brain was too tired to think about it any more. She awoke the next morning groggy as if she hadn't slept at all. This relationship had barely begun and it was already complicated.

She walked downstairs and began fixing herself breakfast. Her cell rang halfway through and she dashed for where it was sitting on the table. The caller ID read 'Elena.' Not who she had been hoping for but good enough. She greeted her friend as she answered.

"Hey, Em. I talked to Stefan last night. He was a bit concerned too. He said Damon seemed a little 'off' last night to him as well." Elena launched into what she knew Emma wanted to hear right away. "He said he would talk to him. He thought it would be best if you backed off for a bit, until he could get it sorted out."

Emma felt herself biting back tears. Crying? She wasn't typically a crier but she felt so overwhelmed with the emotions of the past few days she could feel her eyes welling up. "Back off, huh?" She whispered into the phone. That was not the advice she had wanted.

"Yea, sorry hun. I know that will be tough, I don't know what I'd do if I had to back off from Stefan." Elena sympathized.

Emma took a deep breath. "Yes you do, you told me about that. You'd go after him; a little fight or anger wouldn't keep you away." Elena was forgetting she had already been through a similar situation with Stefan.

"True, but Stefan is... different than Damon. I might take Stefan's advice on this one." Elena replied gently. Emma bristled but she knew Elena had a point. Stefan had always been known for being good and kind and deep down he always would be. Though Emma only saw the good in Damon, she couldn't ignore the bad he had done previously.

"You're right." She conceded, turning back to continue working on breakfast. "It's going to be tough though. You know how I worry about things."

"And worry and worry." Elena agreed. "So that's why Jenna and I are having a girls' night tonight. Come over around six, we are going to watch romantic comedies and eat popcorn and ice cream and just all out forget about boys and their issues. Jenna's totally up for it, she's been on the relationship roller coaster herself. Sound good?"

Emma hesitated a moment but the offer was too good to pass up. Besides, she hadn't seen Jenna in forever and she thought some girl time would do her good. "Okay, six. I'll be there." She promised. They said their goodbyes and she hung up the phone. She felt a bit better after talking to Elena, and she was sure Stefan would get to the bottom of this.

However, that good feeling was overshadowed by an ominous feeling deep down. Why couldn't she shake this feeling in the pit of her stomach that something awful was about to happen?

"Damon."

The voice behind him made him roll his eyes. Damon was getting tired of his brother always on his back about something or other. Wasn't he supposed to be the big brother, taking care of his younger sibling? This was so backward.

"Stefan." Damon replied, turning to face his brother with a forced smile. "How delightful to see you."

"We need to talk." Stefan stopped a foot away from him. Damon crossed his arms eying his brother.

"No, you need to talk." He pointed at Stefan.

"Fine, I need to talk." Stefan conceded.

"Talk away."

"You're acting...strange. I've noticed, and Emma's noticed-"

Damon exhaled in annoyance and threw up his hands, cutting his brother off. "You guys really worry too much over nothing."

Stefan continued as if he wasn't interrupted. "And we're both concerned." Stefan leaned in to make sure Damon was looking at him. "You have people that care about you, it's not a bad thing."

"Well, caring friends, I am fine." Damon stated, bowing and then walking away from Stefan. "There is nothing wrong. So tell Emma you talked to me and I'm fantastic."

He heard Stefan sigh and knew this was not going to be over so easily. Damn the Salvatore stubbornness.

"You have to admit, you've been off. You've not been very 'new Damon' like." Stefan held up his finger to quote what he was saying.

"Don't finger quote me." Damon frowned.

Stefan rolled his eyes. "Don't avoid the subject."

"I-am-fine." Damon hissed, instantly in Stefan's face. "I am just tired of everyone being on my case. I am allowed to have a moment of anger. I am not all Pollyanna sunshine like you. I'm an angry, hungry vampire and I can be 'off' if I want to. Stop trying to control me."

He felt satisfaction at the flash of uncertainty in his brother's eyes. Good, let him be scared or annoyed or whatever he was feeling. Damon was tired of being under the moral microscope. "I'm going to find dinner."

"Damon." Stefan's tone was warning but Damon left without looking back. His hunger was the only thing driving him tonight and he could smell a feast nearby.