Chapter Three
Chloe made her way through the unfamiliar place. Glancing at the entrance that was now behind her, Chloe looked for Caroline who seemed to still be in the car, Chloe knew her mother was going to take a while to get out of the car. There were just so many memories with dad and her and Chloe understood that her mother needed to come in when she was ready.
Trying to take her mind off of her mother, Chloe's eyes wandered around the walls of the restaurant and bar. She could see why her parents must have loved this place so much. And to her surprise, the place still looked quite busy.
Not knowing where else to walk, Chloe made her way to the bar while she managed to have a seat on one of the stools. Looking over the place again, Chloe's brows arched at the sight of a young waiter nearby. She tried not to laugh at the sight of him drop the drinks that were currently in his hands when he was about to greet the customers. But then again, she felt bad for him. She knew what it was like to be terrible at a job. Trust her. She knew.
Getting up from her bar stool, Chloe made her way towards the boy who started to clean the mess up. Bending down to his level, Chloe picked up a piece of glass that play from the broken cup and placed it in the bag that was held in the waiter's hand.
"Rough day today, huh?" Chloe asked as she continued to pick the big pieces of glass off the floor.
Watching as the boy looked up at her. "Nah, this kind of stuff happens every day," he said, muttering the last bit to himself.
Chloe smiled at him, "It usually gets better."
Going in for another piece of glass, Chloe's breath hitched at the feeling of his hand grab onto hers suddenly.
"You shouldn't do that, you could get cut," he said smiling back at her, "Thanks though."
"Y-Yeah, I'm Chloe," Chloe started while getting back at her feet. She watched as the boy got on his feet as well, his smile causing a sudden warm feeling at her stomach.
"I'm Dean," he said when closing up the bag that he held in his hand.
Throwing the small towel at his shoulder, Dean continued, "It's nice to meet you."
Chloe nodded, smiling at him. She knew she probably looked like a complete dork but she didn't care. He was kind of cute.
Chloe watched as Dean seemed to arch to the opposite side of her. Someone was calling him.
"Dean, hurry up with the drinks," a man called out from behind the bar.
Eyes studying his dark hair and eyes, Chloe was brought away from her thoughts when he seemed to speak up again, "Well, I should get new drinks out. Thanks for the help."
Nodding at the boy in front of her, Chloe watched as he started to walk away from her now when he made his way to the back.
Looking back at the bar, Chloe made her way back to the bar stool before eyeing the man that had spoken up before. She could have sworn she had seen him before. His blonde hair and blue eyes causing Chloe to think as he offered drinks to the other few that sat at the bar, she didn't understand how people could drink alcohol so early in the afternoon.
Freezing when he made his way to her, he wiped at the empty glasses on the counter. "Thanks for helping Dean out, he's new at it all," the man said, smiling down at her.
Chloe nodded slightly distracted as she tried to remember where she had seen him before.
"No problem," Chloe responded casually, as she twirled slightly in her moving chair.
Looking up at the man who seemed to be looking at her in curiosity, Chloe grinned at him. "I'll have a coke," she said, clearly accepting the fact that she wasn't going to fool anyone with her age.
Receiving a smile from the blonde man, Chloe watched as he prepared her drink before placing it in front of her on the counter. Twirling at the straw, Chloe looked over at the entrance to find her mother not there. Sighing she looked back at the man, who spoke up before she had the chance to, "You remind me a lot of somebody that I used to know."
Chloe's brow arched at that, "Who?"
He smiled while he continued to wipe at the glasses. Shrugging, he responded, "Just an old friend."
Brows furrowing at that, Chloe studied the man before her. She had definitely seen him before, whether it was in real life or a picture—Oh my god.
"Matt Donovan?" Chloe asked. She knew exactly who he was. Her father and mother used to talk about him all the time. He was her father's best friend.
Chloe watched as he grinned at her. "In the flesh," he stated before placing his rag on his shoulder and turning so that he could face her now.
"Woah," Chloe managed to get out, her eyes wide.
Confused over the reaction he got from the girl before him, Matt was about to say something, only to be interrupted by another familiar voice.
"I'm here Donovan," another man said from behind Chloe now.
Both Matt and Chloe looked back at the man. Chloe's brows furrowed at the sight of him. His hair was dark and lazily sitting at his head, while his blue eyes almost grey when he looked between the two before him in confusion.
"Damon! You've finally decided to make an appearance," Matt stated when grinning at him.
Grinning back at Matt, Damon looked back at Chloe who seemed to now be gawking up at him. Brows furrowing, Damon walked into the opposite side of the bar so that he was now next to Matt.
Chloe's eyes were wide as she stared at Damon. This was Damon. This was the one her father had told her about. He was the one that her mother had once loved!
Damon Salvatore.
"Who's the kid?" Damon asked causing Matt to glance back at Chloe.
Before Matt could say anything, Chloe started, her expression still shocked, "You're Damon? As in: Damon Salvatore?"
Damon's brow arched along with Matt's as they both looked at her in confusion. "Yup kid. That's me."
Looking between the two that stared at her in confusion, Chloe tried to compose herself to the best of her ability while sipping at the coke before her. Well that was easy. She thought she'd have to search long and hard for this mystery man, but nope, he stood before her along with her father's best friend. Wow, this town really was small.
"You okay?" Matt asked when he eyed the girl before him.
Chloe watched as Matt seemed to be continuously looking at her, when Damon simply seemed to go back cleaning the counter.
Looking up at Matt, Damon sighed when he heard another bang from behind the restaurant. Groaning in frustration, Damon sighed.
"Is Dean back there?"
Looking away from the girl and at Damon, Matt nodded. "Yes, he went to get more drinks for table six."
Chloe watched as Damon glanced between her and Matt before walking away from the two and to the door that lead to the storage room.
Looking back at Matt who seemed to be serving someone else who was at the bar now, Chloe sighed at the constant glances she got from him. She knew he was going to ask her many things about how she knew his and Damon's name.
Glancing over her shoulder and back at the entrance of the Grill, Chloe smiled at the sight of her mother finally making her way through the doors of the restaurant.
Caroline took in a deep breath when she decided on finally stepping through the door of the Grill. She sighed in contentment at the sight of the place. Nothing had really changed about it; the scent and the feel to the room sent memories to rise within her mind. A lot had happened in this place. And she couldn't help but feel right at home. This was her home.
She couldn't help but think of Tyler and the fact that he would have loved to come back here with them; to experience and meet with every one of their friends again. Although, Caroline was scared of just that, she couldn't help but want to meet the ones that had always been at her side.
Looking over at the bar when spotting Chloe, Caroline rolled her eyes when she saw her sipping at her coke. Slowly making her way closer to the bar, Caroline froze when her name seemed to be called from behind the counter.
Looking up at the wide-eyed man, Caroline smiled hugely.
"Matt!" Caroline half-yelled in sudden excitement while she watched Matt make his way quickly towards her.
"Oh wow, it really is you! Where have you been!" Matt asked when a huge grin plastered at his face as he practically engulfed Caroline with a tight hug.
Smiling at the crock of his neck, Caroline hugged him back before both of them pulled away.
"I've been gone for a long time, haven't I?" Caroline asked glancing at Chloe who still sat on the stool while she watched the two before her.
Smiling up at Matt again, Caroline walked past him and towards Chloe who seemed to have gotten off of the stool and closer to her mother.
Resting a hand at Chloe's back, Caroline smiled before looking back at a confused Matt while he looked between the two blonde's before him.
"This is Chloe. She's my daughter," Caroline said before nearing Matt, along with Chloe.
Matt's eyes widened at that. His eyes resting on Chloe, he couldn't believe it. "You have a kid?" Matt asked in shock.
Chloe rolled her eyes at the man. What was it with everyone calling her a kid. She had just turned sixteen today! She wasn't a kid!
Caroline smiled warmly at Chloe and then at Matt before saying, "Yeah, she's all Tyler's and mine."
Matt's eyes softened at that, his lips curling up into a soft smile.
"I kind of figured that would happen since both Tyler and you seemed to disappear from Mystic Falls," Matt stated before walking in closer to the two.
Bringing Chloe into a hug too, Chloe couldn't help but feel a bit awkward at the fact that just a few moments ago, he barely knew who she was. But she hugged him back nonetheless. He was her father's best friend.
"Did Tyler come for the surprise visit too?" Matt asked as he pulled away from the hug shared with Chloe.
Chloe looked over and watched her mother's smile falter slightly. Looking back at Matt, Chloe responded for Caroline, "No. He didn't…" Chloe trailed off, glancing at Caroline as she said it.
Frowning slightly, Matt nodded at the two. But before he could say anything else, someone's voice intruded the conversation between the three that stood before each other.
"Matt, you've got to get a hold of that kid he—"
Caroline's body tensed at the familiar voice that rang through the air. Attention at the man a few feet away from them, Caroline watched as he stood frozen, his eyes on her as he swallowed the rest of his words.
Caroline's eyes stared at his wide ones. She knew that she would have to face him one day or the other but she never expected it to be so soon. She still felt the need to mentally prepare herself before meeting both Damon and Elena again.
Chloe's eyes widened at what had just happened. She had totally forgot the fact that Damon Salvatore was in the back room. She knew that her mother and Damon hadn't left off their relationship that well and she could practically see the shock on both of their faces. She felt instantly bad somehow, like if it was her fault that they had to face each other so soon. She knew her mother wasn't really ready for this yet.
"Care…?" Damon breathed out, completely out of words as he eyed the woman before her. He didn't know what to think about any of it. He remembered the time when he had woken up one day to find Caroline simply gone. She had left with Tyler and Damon never found out why. They had been going out for years until he woke up to no Caroline at his side. He tried to contact her but never was really able to reach her. But seeing her before him right now, he couldn't deny the fact that he did miss her. He missed her.
Caroline winced at her name escape his lips. Just looking at him now brought memories of their relationship to come rushing back. But what seemed to haunt her was the sight of Damon and Elena hurling themselves onto each other. They had betrayed her. He had betrayed her and she had loved him.
Silence over took the four. Caroline could feel Matt and Chloe's eyes on her. She could practically feel the curiosity and confusion between the oblivious two.
Body stiffening further at the sight of Damon's form nearing them slowly. Caroline watched as Damon composed himself.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, not being able to take his wandering eyes off of her.
Caroline couldn't find the power to speak when she finally managed to look away from Damon's gaze.
Chloe could see that her mother was struggling in trying to muster up something to say. Eyes softened at that, Chloe dated to wonder what exactly had happened between the two of them.
"We're here for good now. Just moved back in," Chloe stated, glancing at all the faces that surrounded her.
Smiling, Matt started, "That's great news! You should have started with that one Caroline!"
Caroline smiled up at Matt while she tried her best in not focusing on the confused look Damon was sending Chloe and her way.
"Yeah, we're staying with my mother," Caroline responded.
"Why after all these years?" Damon asked when standing next to Matt now.
Caroline looked up at him and sighed internally. She couldn't just ignore him forever. She had moved on from everything that had happened and had loved Tyler for all these years. Tyler always told her to be happy and Caroline was going to be. She wasn't going to allow Damon and her past haunt her now.
"We missed the old town and Chloe had never seen it before so we moved back," Caroline responded when glancing at Chloe who stood at her side.
Chloe nodded, "it's been a pretty good experience so far."
Matt smiled at the two before him, while Damon seemed to grow more confused. Glancing at Damon, Matt tried not laugh at his friend's expression. He had no idea what was going on.
"Oh, Damon, this is Caroline's daughter. Chloe," Matt said before looking back at the woman before him.
Damon's eyes practically shot out of his head. Caroline had a daughter? With who? Then Damon's thoughts went back to Tyler who had disappeared along with Caroline. So she got married to Lockwood?! Was he here too?
Damon tried not choking in his words when he said, "Nice to meet you."
Chloe's brow arched at the slightly high tone that came from Damon. She couldn't help but chuckle before replying, "Yeah, nice to finally meet you too."
Damon's eyes narrowed at that. Something was up with the kid. He just didn't know what.
Caroline glanced between Chloe and Damon and sighed. "We should head out now, explore more of the town," Caroline said when getting a hold on Chloe's forearm.
Matt nodded and smiled when Caroline hugged him goodbye. He definitely did miss the blonde. She was like a sister to him.
Pulling a part from Matt, Caroline looked over at Damon and swallowed hard. Hesitantly walking over to Damon, Caroline wrapped her arms around his tense form. Sighing before he could hug her back, Caroline pulled away from him. Eyeing his expression, Caroline's head cocked to the side at the warm and unknown vibe coming off of the Salvatore.
"It was nice meeting the both of you again," Caroline stated before looking back at Chloe who seemed to be smugly smiling back at her.
Caroline's brows furrowed at that. But deciding in brushing it off, Caroline started to walk past the two, following Chloe right behind her.
Damon watched as the two walked away from them. He tried his best in not thinking about the fluttering feeling he had gotten in his stomach when Caroline had hugged him. He could practically feel her touch still lingering which confused Damon.
Gulping hard, Damon knew that things were definitely going to change now that Caroline was back in Mystic Falls.
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