Jeremy POV
"JEREMY! YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE US LATE !" It wasn't anything new that he would be getting yelled at by Elena. "Yeah, yeah i'm coming." I'm not too keen on going to the first day of school. Aunt Jenna, and Elena have been on edge with me lately thinking that I was going to go back to using drugs as an escape from Vicki's death. To be honest it upset me that she was gone, but it was a troublesome relationship and I tend to do better on my own. The drug thing was behind me now, I don't have any intentions on going back to that place in my life anymore. Life hasn't been the greatest for me, or Elena it kind of just feels like we've only been surviving lately. She's been doing better ever since Stefan walked into her life, even with all that's been going on lately, he keeps her sane and takes a load off Jenna and I. I walk out of my room and head downstairs to meet Elena's glare.
"What took you so long ?!"
I shrug, "Was it a long time? I hadn't realized. You only kept telling me oh so many times."
She rolls her eyes, "Get in the car Jer, Jenna's going to be upset if she finds out we were late today."
"Great" I proceed.
Once we get to the school I can't help but feel relieved. Summer hasn't been so bad, but I felt like I was under a magnifying glass most of the time. My habits being studied constantly, it wouldn't normally bother me because it's mostly how it's always been. I can't blame those around me for always walking around with a red flag ready to wave it whenever they found my behavior suspicious. School was going to be my getaway, and I figured that I would start my year off right. I didn't want to stress Jenna any further. I never really had friends in school I mostly kept to myself, I used music as an escape and delve into whatever was being projected into my ears. Now that I think of it, it kind of makes me upset a bit. We park and there's Stefan waiting to escort Elena. I get out and wave to Stefan, "Wait Jer, don't wait up after school, i'm going to the grill. With Bonnie and Caroline."
"Sounds great," not really caring I give her a thumbs up and walk in.
Most of the day has been a blur really, mainly teachers telling us what they expect from us, and no one really paying attention. 6th period comes around and I walk into the art room. Everyone here seems to know everyone and I sit in the back alone, again the lonesome feeling kicks in.
Tyler POV
I'm rushing to get to art class. My father wasn't too thrilled that I had taken art as an elective, and honestly I didn't care. If anything it makes me happy that i'm not conforming to his "Lockwood Vision." It was because of this vision that I was forced to join the school football team and that I hadn't mind really. I mostly kept to myself always. I had few friends and even then they were mostly teammates and okay individuals that just happened to be a part of the few social circles that I knew. These days I mainly occupied my time by working out for football season, and drawing. I wasn't really in the mood to do much these days, Summer was mainly just me trying to figure things out and plan my next move. I reach the class semi late and walk in to find the room full with the exception of the seat next to Gilbert. Just my luck, before the teacher says anything I take my seat.
Jeremy POV
Tyler Lockwood sat next to me. Fuck. I wasn't the biggest fan of him we always had issues in the past and even had an ugly falling out. Seeing him here was kind of a shocker and a disappointment. Still I was mildly curious as to why he was here and couldn't really help myself.
"Lockwood in Art?" I sneer.
"Shut it Gilbert" he shoots.
"I'm just surprised really, aren't you the school trophy jock?" I ask in mild amusement.
"It was the last choice all the other electives were full, what's your excuse fag," he glares.
I was grinding my teeth with that last remark, when the teacher began assigning partners for the upcoming project.
"Alicia and Myra, and lastly Tyler and Jeremy. There's no changing the partners that you've been assigned, I want everyone in this class to become accustomed to working together." Karma's a bitch, out of everyone in the school I ended up being stuck with Tyler Lockwood, i'm rethinking this whole school as a refuge plan. I look over at Tyler and he looks the least bit pleased, honestly it kind of amuses me. "The first assignment will be a portrait drawn of your partner, I want you to get together and find one unique thing about each other and incorporate that into your portrait." Great this just keeps getting better, I bury my face in my hands in frustration.
Tyler POV
Just my fucking luck. I am not getting stuck with Gilbert. I tell the teacher that i'm off to use the restroom and head directly into the advisers office. "I need you to get rid of art, give me anything available i don't care!" She gives me a look and lowers her glasses, "We're not allowed to make any changes to your classes until the second week in, if you want me to change anything I can't help you." My blood begins to boil, "I can't be stuck in there for another two weeks, my father is the mayor of this town i'm sure you could figure something out." I threatened. "You can bring the president through here, there's nothing that can be done." and just like that she continues about her work. I walk out the room and find Jeremy about to walk in. "Listen man you're the last person that I would want to be paired with but get over it, i'm not trying to fail and we're stuck together. We have a week." he looks at me intently. "Fine, whatever we could meet up tonight after practice, meet me in the parking lot at 7" I walk away. I just want to be over this already and to be honest I can't fail. My father's been on my ass about how I need to improve on my grades that he maintained a 3.6 GPA in school. I try to forget it all and head towards the gym to gear up for practice.
Jeremy POV
I start heading over the school lot, it's a little past 7 but I didn't want to get caught in the middle of Tyler or Matt and their teammates. I wanted to get through this draft already and just get home. Walking towards the lot I spot Tyler leaning against a car by himself. I get this uneasy feeling in my stomach, earlier today wasn't easy and now I have to spend time with him.. alone. As I approach him I notice that he's sweating and kind of dirty from football practice, it's actually kind of hot. I've always kind of knew that I liked guys in the back of my head somewhere and always acknowledged when I thought a guy was handsome, but I never had looked at Tyler in that way. "I was getting ready to leave without you Gilbert," Tyler looks pissed, "Get in". I didn't want to argue with him and make this night a complete disaster so I comply. As we're heading towards his house I can't help but take him in, most of the sweat was gone by now but I took in the smell of sweat and some cologne he seemed to be wearing. Honestly I found it to be hypnotizing, why in the hell am I even having these thoughts about him anyways. Tyler was this asshole that couldn't stand me and that wasn't about to change. Still though it was hard not to keep my eyes off of him, I could see why people were always praising him.
Tyler POV
I couldn't help but notice that Jeremy kept looking at me before, well more like staring, it kind of made me wonder. He was an alright looking kid, his hair looked like it hadn't been brushed in a week but it kind of added to his theme. I always kind of knew that I was gay. Even when I was with Vicki she was kind of there to allow me to continue my front. Honestly being gay, and the mayors son, and a founding family member, would never work out. My mother always wanted to portray the perfect family image that she had falsely created. The husband that hated his wife and occasionally cheated on her with his mistress. And the mother that never had been available for her son for more than five minutes, always the hard worker and the perfectionist. Deep under all of that was a woman that often cried and liked to intake large amounts of wine. I'm sure somewhere in there she knew about her husband's affair, she seemingly never cared anyways. Jeremy then breaks him from his trance, "Are your parents home?" he looks at me, I continue to act unaware of his wandering eyes. "My father's gone till tomorrow, and mother is off at some benefit, what's it to you?" Sometimes I wish I wasn't such an ass. No one would be home and it's mainly why I chose my place instead. "Just wondering, ever get tired of being a dick?"
"Are you going to start crying?" I snort. "I wouldn't give you the satisfaction" Jeremy sneers. I conceal my smile a bit, this kid is something else. We pull into my driveway and for whatever reason I start getting this strange feeling in my stomach. Here goes nothing.