[TD NOCO] Barks And Bites

13

"Noah hasn't shown up to work all month... I'm starting to think he's gonna quit..." Courtney said to Gwen.

They're sitting alone in Courtney's office.

"I'm surprised how easily hurt he is... considering how unemotional he was before Cody confessed to him." Gwen said.

"There's a lot about Noah we don't know... he told me he went through a tough break up around 5 years ago... he said he's over it, but... well, the effects are still there."

"Cody doesn't deserve this... he didn't do anything wrong." Gwen defended him, crossing her arms.

"Noah obviously has some issues from his past he needs to work out, but we don't know the full story. Besides, don't forget... he's not even human..." Courtney whispered that part. "Maybe vampires aren't good with emotional stuff." She shrugged.

"Yeah, guess you're right... maybe I should talk to him... well, in any case he shouldn't be alone. Especially not when he's this sad." Gwen decided.

....

Gwen knocked on Noah's door.

There was no answer, but Gwen was determined. She opened one of the windows and snuck inside.

She walked around the house, admiring the style and decor.

She's never been here before, but she got the address from Cody.

Eventually she passed by a closed door and leaned her ear against it. She couldn't hear anything.

She opened the door and it was pitch black inside.

She turned on the flashlight in her phone and used it to look around. She saw a few picture frames hung on the wall.

She noticed Noah's phone on the dresser. She walked over and turned it on. He still doesn't have a password.

She looked through it quickly and saw hundreds of missed calls and unopened texts. They were mostly from Cody, with some from Courtney and herself.

She looked around with the flashlight and almost jumped when she noticed a coffin in the middle of the room. She took a deep breath, remembering that Noah was in fact a vampire.

She approached the coffin cautiously and tried opening it.

She couldn't open it herself, but suddenly it started hovering as it opened. Noah emerged from inside and stepped out.

He glared at Gwen.

"So cool..." She commented.

"What are you doing in my house?" He asked angrily.

"I came to check on you..."

"I'm perfectly fine!"

"Except that you haven't shown up to work in like a month!"

Noah narrowed his eyes. "A month..?"

"Yes. It's been a month! Don't tell me you've been asleep all this time?"

Noah looked away awkwardly before walking over to his phone to see the date. "...oh."

"Noah, talk to me... I know you're heartbroken, so just spill the beans."

"I'm not just heartbroken. I don't want to talk to anyone ever again."

"That's a little dramatic, don't you think?"

"I'm sick of trying. Nothing has ever gone well for me."

"Hey... I know you're in your feels right now... but look at me. I'm here. I care about you. And so does Courtney. Don't shut yourself out, okay?"