SOPHIA

I hadn't slept in days. My nightmares were relentless since receiving that letter from him. All the progress I'd made towards recovering from my trauma was erased. I was tortured day and night by what he did to the point where I'd get a flash of a horrible memory every time I blinked.

I hadn't felt so terrified in a long time. With Victoria so sick and now the knowledge that he was still trying to torture me, I was constantly on edge.

Whenever I drove to or from school I was always looking back to make sure no one was following me, and other than school I didn't leave the house. And when I was home I made sure every window and door was locked, even my bedroom door.

I knew I was acting insane but I didn't want to repeat history. I wouldn't survive something as traumatic as what happened last time.

The only thing stopping me from checking myself into a padded room where no one could hurt me, was Damon. He was my rock. Even though he didn't know about the letter he could tell something was wrong so he was doing everything he could to cheer me up.

But it didn't take long before he tried to figure out what the problem was. He wanted to know so he could fix it, but I couldn't tell him. I needed to keep everyone safe, so no one could know about the letter. If there was a possibility that he could somehow come for me I needed to make sure no one else got caught in the crossfire. So instead of telling him what pushed me over the edge of paranoia I told him about Tori. I explained how sick she was, and that I couldn't visit her for a little while.

He seemed to believe me but I could see the suspicion in his eyes. He knew there was something bigger going on but he didn't push the subject. Instead he just tried harder to ease my fear, which started with using his new nickname for me.

Sweetheart wasn't exactly original but for some reason it still made my heart flutter anyway. Everyone knew that Damon wasn't the type to give girls nicknames. And now that I think about it, Damon wasn't the type to give any girl the time of day, let alone a nickname. That in itself made me feel very special.

But there was still a part of me that was hesitant about Damon. We had been enemies for years before it suddenly all changed. What if this was all just be one big plot to ruin my reputation? He could pretend to like and care about me, then once I'd grown to trust him, he could easily humiliate me in front of the school by revealing all my secrets. My popularity would disappear and he would win the competition once and for all.

This wasn't about popularity for me anymore, but what if it still was for him?

But was it possible for him to be that cruel? Especially after finding out everything that had already happened to me? There was no way any sane person could ruin someone's life after it had already been ruined so thoroughly before. Right?

Damon had always been a pain in the ass but he never did anything seriously awful before, I had no actual reason to believe he would now.

And hadn't he proved enough that he cared about me? He didn't have to beat up his best friend for me, he didn't have to cheer me up, and he didn't have to listen to my life story. He deserved my trust, but I couldn't give him it all. I trusted him more than anyone else but there were still things I couldn't get myself to tell him. Maybe that was my subconscious warning me about him?

With everything going on in my life, the last thing I needed was for Damon to blindside me, so I decided to keep him cautiously close. I couldn't let him know that I had suspicions about him so staying away from him wasn't an option. I had to let him continue trying to help me, but I would keep my guard up and a close eye on him.

A sudden knock at my bedroom door startled me out of my thoughts and a cold shock of terror ran down my spine. Was it him finally coming to finish what he couldn't before? Was I ready to die?

No, of course I wasn't ready to die. Had anyone about to get murdered ever been ready to die? I doubted it.

I sat frozen on my bed, heart racing, waiting for him to somehow open my locked door and kill me.

"Sophia stop being stupid and open the door." Damon half yelled from behind my door.

My heart instantly slowed and a wave of relief washed over me. It was only Damon. Even if I was suspicious of him, I knew at the very least that he would never physically hurt me.

But how did he get in the house?

I vocalized my question and I heard him sigh before finally replying "Your aunt and uncle let me in on their way out, they said you're on your own for dinner."

That made sense, they were probably going to visit Tori.

I quickly got up and unlocked the door.

"Is this really necessary?" He asked, half amused, half irritated.

"Um. Y-yeah. I don't want my family bothering me." I lied, not as smoothly as I wanted.

Like every time I lied, Damon looked suspicious but didn't say anything about it. I knew he knew I was lying, but for whatever reason he never pushed the topic.

I couldn't understand why he never pushed for the truth though. Either he didn't care enough to find out or he didn't want to pester me. Or maybe he was waiting for me to tell him when I was ready. Too bad I would never be ready to tell anyone.

"So when do you get to go see Victoria?" He asked as we sat down on my bed.

"Tomorrow, bright and early. I can't believe they kicked me out for a week. She could've died and I wouldn't have been able to say goodbye." I replied, my blood boiling at the memory of that day.

He nodded in agreement but didn't comment.

"Would you like to come with me tomorrow to see her?" I asked hesitantly.

The look on his face as my question sunk in was priceless; shock, disbelief, fear, and happiness all mixed into one look.

He, too, hesitated before a smile lifted his lips and he replied, "I would love to."

I mirrored his smile and for a few moments we just sat there, smiling at each other. If anyone walked in and saw us like that they would think we were crazy. I mean who just sits and smiles at someone? But to us it seemed to be a regular thing.

"So, have you talked to Dylan recently?" Damon asked, ruining the moment.

I made a disgusted face at the mention of that jerk.

"He's tried to talk to me once but I practically away before he could make say a word." I told him.

He chuckled, "He's tried to talk to me a few times too but chickened out whenever I shot him a glare."

I giggled. Dylan was such a coward.

"What's so funny?" He asked, his face twisting in confusion.

"I just think it's funny that I dated someone who's scared of you. A bunny is scarier than you." I told him, laughing some more.

He glared his scariest glare which had me clutching my stomach with laughter.

He crossed his arms defensively, "You know bunnies can actually be pretty scary little things."

"Keep telling yourself that." I choked out between chuckles.

"It's not nice to tease people sweetheart." He said in a tone that a parent would use when scolding their child.

My laughter was uncontrollable as he shot me another glare. How could anyone find him scary?

"Okay that's it." He growled playfully, a smirk appearing on his handsome face.

I was about to question what he meant but before I could utter a single word he had me pinned to the bed.

The laughter immediately died in my throat when I realized the intimate position we were in.

I looked up into his startling blue eyes and he looked down into mine. Ever so slowly he began leaning down and my eyes fluttered closed. My heart was thumping in my chest in anticipation for his lips on mine.

Seconds passed and nothing happened, so I opened my eyes and looked up at Damon's smirking face.

What the hell?

Then I was laughing again as Damon's hands attacked my ticklish sides.

"S-s-stop D-Damon!" I yelled between laughs.

"Never!" He exclaimed.

"P-please!" I screamed.

"Only if you say I'm the sexiest and scariest guy you've ever met." He offered.

I shook my head side to side wildly, "N-no. My mom always told me lying is bad!"

"Okay then." He said, tickling me even more.

"Okay, okay! I'll say it!" I finally have in, my voice breathless from laughing so much.

His hands stilled and looked down at me expectantly.

"You're the sexiest and scariest guy I know." I grumbled inaudibly.

He cupped his hand to his ear and squinted, "I couldn't quite hear that, could your repeat yourself?"

You're the stupidest, most stubborn guy I know.

"You're the sexiest and scariest guy I know." I yelled loud enough the whole neighbourhood could probably hear.

"I'm sorry but I still couldn't-" He started to say but I slapped him on the shoulder and his words were replaced by a chuckle.

"That's what I thought." I mumbled.

He didn't say anything and he didn't get off of me either. I kind of liked being this close to Damon. It made me feel safe, like no matter what tried to hurt me it would't be able to reach me through him.

But the other thing I felt with him so close, the desire to kiss him, was worrying. I couldn't let myself feel that for him, it would only end badly for me. So instead of letting him hover above me, so close our bodies almost pressed up to each other, I decided to get some space.

"Get off of me you fat ass." I grumbled teasingly, pushing against his hard chest in a failed attempt to move him.

"I don't know, I kinda like it here. Don't you sweetheart?" He teased back.

My heart raced when he called me my new nickname. Why was my body betraying my brain?

"I'd rather not be under a five hundred pound guy." I told him.

He sighed dramatically "Fine. I guess I'll get off."

But he didn't move.

"Okay, get off." I drawled expectantly.

"Oh yeah." He muttered and finally moved away from me.

I suppressed a sigh of relief when I had some space at last. I needed to be more carful around him.

For a minute no one spoke, we just sat in a comfortable silence. But then Damon had to open that big mouth of his, "Sweetheart, what's for dinner?"

I rolled my eyes, "You're the cook out of the two of us, you tell me."

He shot me a smile and stood up, "It's a surprise, no coming downstairs until I call for you." He instructed.

I nodded and he made his way to the door.

"Make sure not to burn the house down." I called after him once he was out sight.

I heard him chuckle and then everything was silent.

I was all by myself again.

My paranoia started to kick in immediately even though I tried my hardest to push it away.

What if he showed up and killed Damon because he was at my house, and then took me to torture me again?

No. He was locked up in prison for life. There was no way for him to hurt me anymore. I needed to stop coming up with these impossible scenarios before I drove myself completely crazy.

The letter he sent me was just to scare me. He wanted me to worry about him getting me. He was simply bored in prison and wanted to torture me any way possible. He was always able to play mind tricks on me, so why wouldn't he now? I was actually surprised it took him so long.

I just had to get the letter out of my mind. I was safe now. Damon was here and I knew he'd protect me if needed. And there was always the police, they saved me last time, found me right before I was about to get shot, they could do that again. Right?

I had nothing to worry about.

But if I was safe why couldn't I sake off that uneasy feeling whenever I was alone? Like something bad was about to happen. Like someone was watching me.

Maybe there was an owl outside my window watching me and that was why I felt on high alert. That was a more realistic explanation that him breaking out of prison.

Hopefully Damon finished cooking soon. It had been around fifteen minuets and I didn't know how much longer I could sit here, drowned in my horrible thoughts. I needed a break from my own brain. 

"Sophia, you can come down now!" Damon called, somehow always having perfect timing when I needed him the most.

I sighed in relief and rushed downstairs.

"Woah, someone's hungry." He teased when he saw me run into the kitchen.

"I'm just making sure nothing's on fire." I lied, taking a quick look around for anything burning.

He gave me that suspicious look but like always, changed the subject. "I made pancakes."

I looked at him and burst out laughing. Out of all the things he could've made, pancakes, really And the way he said that was so innocent.

"What?" He asked, pouting out his bottom lip cutely.

"P-pancakes?" Was all I could choke out.

"I like pancakes." He defended himself.

Could he get any more adorable?

Once I stopped laughing I looked down at the perfectly cooked chocolate chip pancakes and my mouth watered, they look delicious.

"Bon appetite." He said, and that was my cue to dig in.

When I put the first bite of the heavenly food in my mouth I let out an embarrassing moan of delight.

I heard Damon chuckle but it sounded strained.

I looked over at him in confusion and saw that he was already staring at me, his eyes darker than usual.

I smiled at him and shrugged before turning my attention back to the food on my plate.

How could someone make such perfect pancakes? If I had the choice I'd eat these every day for the rest of my life.

Once every last crumb was cleared from my plate I let out a sigh of pure contentment.

"That was the best thing I've ever eaten in my entire life." I complimented.

"I'm glad you liked them." Damon's said, taking my plate and bringing it to the sink with his.

"So what do you wanna do now?" I asked him.

He thought for a second, then smiled and pulled me towards the living room.

"I'm not making out with you on the couch if that's what you have in mind." I joked.

He rolled his eyes and pulled me down on the couch beside him.

"You and your one track mind. I want to watch a movie." He replied, shooting me a playfully disapproving look.

I rolled my eyes as he set up Netflix. We browsed through the movies until one caught my attention.

"The little mermaid!" I exclaimed excitedly.

He gave me a bewildered look for a second before smiling and selecting the movie.

I squealed but immediately quieted down when my all time favourite movie began.

When the part where Ariel and the guy were on their boat date, something outside my house made a loud banging sound.

My first thought was that it was him, and he had finally come to kill me, so I instinctively curled up to Damon's side for protection.

He looked down at me with comforting eyes that told me I had nothing to fear and I immediately forgot about the noise outside. Everything seemed to disappear except the movie singing Kiss The Girl.

Slowly, Damon's face got closer to mine. And even slower, my face got closer to his until I felt his hot breath fan across my cheeks.

I saw his eyes close and that was all I needed to make the final move and press my lips to his.

My eyes closed as sparks exploded through me.

I always thought sparks were for books and movies, I never in a million years thought they were real.

His lips moved gently in sync with mine and I had to fight back a sigh of contentment when he ran his hand through my hair. The kiss was sweet and loving, not hungry and lustful like I had always experienced in the past. Damon's lips were taking their time on mine, not in any hurry for something more. This was what a kiss was supposed to be; patient and gentle, not rushed and demanding.

I ran my hands up his chest and wrapped them around his neck, earning a little groan from him.

And all to soon, the kiss ended.

He looked at me with dark eyes, darker than I'd ever seen them, and the emotions swirling in liquid blue was hard to read, there were just so many. But one I could easily pick out from the others was lust.

Suddenly his cheeks began to heat up, brighter than I'd ever seen him blush before.

My eyebrows pulled together in confusion, why was he blushing so much?

I instantly got my answer when he looked down in embarrassment and I followed his gaze. My cheeks reddened to match his when I saw the effect I had on him, just from a simple kiss.

But when it really sunk in I burst out laughing.

He looked up at me in shock and quickly put a pillow on his lap.

"It's not funny." He grumbled, looking anywhere but at me.

"S-sorry." I said in between laughs, clutching my stomach because all the laughing was beginning to hurt.

He mumbled something under his breath that I didn't quite catch, but I was too busy trying to calm my laughter to care.

I couldn't believe I, Sophia Mackenzie, turned on Damon Blake with a simple kiss.