A/n: Okay, this is my first time writing something. Ever! So please be gentle. I know it's sloppy and could stand to be tweaked and fine tuned, but I thought, what the heck. Right? I'm anxious to get some feedback. Constructive, opinionated, whichever. :) If there are reviews, it'll definitely keep the story going.

Thank you for reading!

When Nothing Matters Anymore

The days had grown longer. Uneventful. Jeremy Gilbert was aching for each day to quickly end so he could return to his safe room. Where he knew no other pain could ever reach him. There he was positive that no one would die on him. That no one would have the opportunity to leave him. To disappoint him. For him to disappoint anyone. He was so sure of this because he knew that he'd never let a single soul walk through that entrance and into his safe haven. He had opened his heart before and learned the hard way that nothing good ever comes from that. So he sure as hell would never open his door to anyone again.

As he sat alone in his bare room, he had raked his mind of how everything had gotten this way. He thought about who had made him this way. And seven months ago, he never would have believed the cause.

7 Months Earlier

Elena and Jeremy Gilbert had lost their parents. Tyler Lockwood had lost his father. Caroline Forbes had almost lost her life. It was unimaginable to think that all of this pain was suffered in such a small town as Mystic Falls. Where from the outside, seemed as if it were a normal and honest town. Idiots. Anyone would be a damn right fool to ever believe that Mystic Falls was anything but normal. And honest? Hah. You could forget it. The fact that there were Vampires running around was the least of it. Now there were Werewolves and witches, and God only knows what else is lurking around this town. Mystic Falls should be the poster-town of what a science experiment gone wrong looks like. All Jeremy Gilbert knew was that he fell victim to the love of a Vampire.

Her name was Anna. He loved her to his very core. It was a miserable realization that he discovered just how much he did love her until it was all too late. Before he saw his beloved Anna die from that stake, Anna was simply his friend with whom he'd share affectionate times with. After that moment had he realized just how much she meant to him. He knew that he'd never get the chance to tell her his true feelings. And for that, he hated himself. He tried to save her. As he saw his Unlce John raise that stake to the paralyzed Anna, he leaped to stop him. But just like the rest of his life, he had failed. She was gone forever by the man he thought was his family. However, he just turned to be a monster, an evil being, his enemy.

It'd been a month since he had to watch his love die simply because she was something John feared. It was bad enough that he isolated himself to nothing but Anna, but now, all he ever had was gone. He'd never felt more alone. The only place he ever wanted to be lately was where they first met. In that very library was the first time he had ever laid eyes on Anna. And much to his surprise, was the first time he laid eyes on Tyler Lockwood...actually reading...by choice. He wasn't sure if this was some joke or if Tyler Lockwood was seriously reading a self-help book.

As he read the title, he was caught by what had seemed to be his enemy. The bully. The Mayor's arrogant, athletic, cocky, self absorbed, self-help reading son. Tyler's eyes had spied Jeremy reading the book Tyler was captivated by. Within an instant, not even thinking, Tyler dropped it. Ashamed of what was on the cover. "Surviving Your Fears - You Are Not Alone".

Jeremy Gilbert was stunned. Truly shocked. Why would Tyler Lockwood be reading that? And as much to Jeremy's dismay, he was about to know why. Tyler was making his way to Jeremy. As soon as Jeremy saw Tyler come closer to him, he started to sweat. Why? It's not like Tyler ever made him feel this way before. Why now? With a sharp tone, "You will never tell anyone what you just saw me read! Got it?" came the words of a very angry Tyler. But then again, what else was new?

Without even thinking, Jeremy had spilled his thoughts.

"What are you afraid of?"

"Nothing! Not a damned thing. I'm Tyler Lockwood, no fear. Just feared."

"The book doesn't lie. I know what I saw. You're afraid of something. It's natural. It's what makes you human."

And with that said, Jeremy was instantly pinned to the wall. He was never more afraid or turned on in his life. This thought of warmth and never wanting to be let go again washed over Jeremy. He may have been confused as to why, but he didn't care. Tyler's strength had became a craving to Jeremy. He saw into Tyler's eyes. He knew Tyler was lying. For once, he finally saw through Tyler Lockwood's shield.

What Jeremy was really afraid of wasn't what Tyler would do to him, but the fact that for some reason, Tyler Lockwood was helping Jeremy's pain over Anna. He'd hope to know why.