Just one more day. One day of Jeremy looking at him with love instead of hate. They get up, they go to school and it's like a wonderful dream that Kol knows he'll have to wake from. All day he puts off saying anything to Jeremy, maybe he can stay asleep a little longer. After school they wind up at the park and Kol can't keep putting this off. They're sitting under a tree, just enjoying the day and each other's company. It could be one of those perfect moments if this shadow wasn't hanging over him. And now Kol knows they'll never have another one.
"What is it?" Jeremy asks, "you've been weird all day." This is it.
"You remember how pissed off Nick was at the dinner party?" Kol asks, knowing that of course Jeremy does.
"Yeah," Jeremy says, worry creeping into his voice.
"He decided I needed to be punished-"
"But that's not fair," Jeremy says indignantly, "all you did was open his eyes to the truth."
"I know," Kol says with a sad smile, "but that doesn't matter now because he's already done it."
"Done what?" Jeremy asks. Fuck, Kol doesn't want to have to tell Jeremy this, he's going to lose him. Kol takes Jeremy's face in his hands and looks into his eyes. Looking into Jeremy's eyes has nothing to do with compulsion, just the truth. And wanting to remember these last happy moments.
"I love you," Kol says and then he kisses Jeremy. Kol wants to savour this, it could be the last time he ever gets to do this. Jeremy melts into the kiss initially but then he pushes Kol away and far too soon it's over.
"Done what?" Jeremy repeats fearfully. Kol sighs.
"He's compelled me to turn you. I've got until midnight. I'm fighting as hard as I can, but I won't be able to stop it after that. You need to leave town Jeremy. I'd go but that's no use, I'd still know where to find you. It has to be you. You have to leave and not tell me where. If I can't find you, I can't hurt you." This hurts more than Kol thought anything could.
"No. I won't leave you. You wouldn't do that to me." Jeremy says with determination.
"I don't want to but it's out of my control now. If you stay this is going to happen."
"We'll find a way..." Jeremy says as much to convince himself as Kol.
"You're not listening Jeremy," Kol says, trying to impress on Jeremy the seriousness of the situation. "It's either leave and be human or stay and become a vampire."
"I need time to think," Jeremy says and then he walks away from Kol. Kol knows it has to be this way but watching Jeremy go is the hardest thing he's ever had to do.
xxx
When Kol gets home Jeremy's not there. His duffel bag is gone and so are some of his clothes. So that's it. Jeremy's made his decision. Kol will never see him again.