How does Conor's relationship with the monster change throughout the course of the narrative in Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls?

At first,
Conor believes the monster is merely a vision in a dream; then, he becomes confused about what
is real and what is not. Further, he does not understand the meaning of the monster's three
tales until he admits the truth about himself, a truth which the monster helps him
realize.

When the monster first calls, it appears after the moon passes
before Conor's window that looks out upon an old church and its graveyard. Also visible is a
large yew tree that transforms into a monstrous human shape:

I have come to get you, Conor OMalley, the monster said, pushing against the house,
shaking the pictures off Conors wall, sending books and electronic gadgets and an old stuffed
toy rhino tumbling to the floor (Chapter 1).

Conor
refuses to believe this monster is nothing more than a dream. After Conor is attacked by the
bullies at school, the monster reappears that night at precisely 12:07 a.m. When the monster
tells Conor that he wishes to talk with him, Conor says that he will meet...