Picture perfect mutilation. Bright to black with no hesitation.

TYLER & JEREMY

Tyler ran to his car. He couldn't catch his breath. Theories kept bouncing around in his head. None of them had a happy ending. If that smell had passed from Grace to Jeremy that meant it was strong. She was bleeding…a lot. But she said she was fine. Course, that didn't mean much. His mind refused to settle on anything. The same thoughts just kept repeating over and over in his head. He couldn't get out of the parking lot fast enough, let alone back to her house. The driveway was still empty. Why was she home alone? What the hell was going on? Tyler supposed that at this moment, everything was a bad sign. He barely managed to park before jumping from the car. The keys were still in the ignition, the engine still running, the door wide open. His fist was pounding on the door as he panted, still unable to catch his breath. His ears strained for any sound of movement. There was nothing. He pounded again. Tyler's breath came in shorter and shorter gasps. He didn't know what to do. Of course there was any number of rational explanations for this. She could be asleep, or on a walk, or dead on the floor. Shit. Tyler pulled out his cell phone, calling her. He paced back and forth on the tiny strip of concrete. It rang and rang.
"It's Grace. Leave a message." He closed the phone and brought his hands to his head. He tried the doorknob, which of course was locked. Fortune did not favor Tyler Lockwood. He knocked again.
"Grace?" Nothing. He couldn't just break in. No matter how much he wanted to. His floundering mind barely managed to form an idea. More of a name really. Jeremy. Tyler ran back to his car. Jeremy would know what to do. He had to.

Jeremy was sitting in class when there was a knock at the door. A messenger from the office came in and handed a yellow slip of paper to the teacher.
"Gilbert," she called out. Eyebrows shooting up he gathered his stuff in one hand and grabbed the paper. Tyler was waiting outside the office. His face was pale, sweat beading on his brow. Jeremy frowned.
"Tyler, what's going on?"
"We have to go, we have to go now I'll explain on the way," Tyler let out, grabbing Jeremy by the elbow and yanking him towards the door.
"How'd you get me out of class?" the taller boy questioned, still confused.
"I'm still the mayor's son," Tyler let out with a dead chuckle. As soon as they were in the parking lot Tyler broke into a jog, still hauling Jeremy along. He didn't speak again until they were in the car. "This morning, with Grace, did she seem okay to you?"
"Well," Jeremy paused, "a little strange I guess. Sort of quiet, she was talking slowly. She seemed confused but I thought that she was just tired."
"God damn it!" Tyler yelled, slamming a hand on the steering wheel.
"What?" Jeremy questioned, flinching.
"Blood. This morning, I smelled it but I didn't know what it was. Blood." Jeremy paled visibly. "I was there and there was no answer the house was quiet and I don't know what to do Jeremy. I don't know what to do!"
"Drive faster," Jeremy breathed, throat running dry.

All the worst possible answers were running through both of their minds now. Neither boy could quite breathe. In the desperate atmosphere they only had each other. Back at Grace's they ran to the door, Tyler beating Jeremy of course, but not by much. Tyler didn't ask what they are going to do, which was a good thing, because Jeremy didn't know. He knocked with a shaking hand. "Grace?" Jeremy called through the wood. Tyler shushed him and leaned forward, listening carefully.
"Someone's coming," he breathed. The door swung open to reveal Grace, wearing sweats and glancing at them curiously. Both boys took a step back unintentionally.
"Grace?" Jeremy questioned. Her gaze stayed on Tyler and narrowed as her lips pressed together.
"What are you doing here?" she questioned.
"Are you alright?" She ignored him. Tyler's cheeks flushed slightly and he shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Uhm, I wanted to see if you were alright?" She propped a hand on her hip.
"Why wouldn't I be?" No one had an answer for that. "What happened to forget we ever met anyways?"
"I'm sorry about that but are you alright?"
"I'm fine." She turned to Jeremy then. "Did you want to come in?" Jeremy glanced between Tyler and Grace, clearly torn. He wanted to make sure that Grace was alright but he also didn't want Tyler to be alone. Tyler inclined his head slightly towards Grace. Go ahead.
"Just for a minute," he murmured.
"I'll wait," Tyler let out, split between delight and disappointment. The few spare moments after Jeremy slips inside are agonizing for him. He paces back to the car and digs his toes into the ground as he rocks back and forth. Just when he thought he was about to totally lose his mind, Jeremy reappeared. He leaned to give Grace a quick hug. Tyler felt his eyes narrow. Grace ducked back into the house and Jeremy turned towards him. Tyler fixed his expression.
"Ready?" Jeremy questioned. Tyler nodded, too shell shocked to do anything else.
"Yeah."

Tyler was still worked up and he couldn't explain why. Not even if someone told him. It was as if he'd been through too much. First the fear and confusion. Followed by loneliness and desolation. Then slight redemption, even a little bit of comfort. All out panic, fear, more confusion. Now there was just…he couldn't describe it. A jump in his pulse. A catch in his breath. Jeremy's head was resting against the window, his eyes were closed.
"You alright?" Tyler asked quietly. Jeremy nodded, pulling his head up and glancing at Tyler after a moment. "Is she?" He shrugged.
"As far as I can tell yeah. I couldn't exactly ask about the blood so…I don't know."
"Well that's good," Tyler let out gruffly, his tone implying that it was anything but. Jeremy didn't respond. Tyler drove to his house without thinking. Pulling the keys from the ignition he looked at Jeremy before stilling, sighing slightly.
"It's alright," Jeremy said. "I didn't want to go home yet anyway. Elena would ask about my day and I wouldn't be able to come up with anything half convincing. Okay if we hang out for a while?"
"Yeah." Tyler pretended Jeremy wasn't completely letting him save face. He didn't pretend he wasn't grateful. "Thanks," he let out on a whisper before getting out. He wondered how Jeremy just stood there and took it. Like it was easy. Then again, he was human. Tyler took the swell of anger and swallowed it. That wasn't Jeremy's fault. But still. As he entered the house a breeze kicked up behind them, sending the smell of Jeremy straight at him. He turned on Jeremy before he knew it, catching the taller boy between his own body and the door. Jeremy remained silent, watching Tyler with careful eyes. It was as if he knew Tyler thought, what was about to happen. Tyler placed a shaky hand on the door next to Jeremy's head, leaning closer and sniffing the air. Jeremy's breathing stuttered. Tyler couldn't take it anymore. It was too much. All of it was too much. When it happened, it was sudden. In one second, a fraction of a second really, everything changed. Tyler's lips pressed to Jeremy's and everything changed. Even though the stage was set, the first act still took them by surprise. It was the first firework in the summer sky. A falling star. Burning hot, shooting across the night. Jeremy's fingertips slid against the wood of the door, failing to find purchase. His mouth was softer than it looked. It was all Tyler could think about. When he thought at all. Jeremy made a small sound at the back of his throat. Tyler barely heard it, but he couldn't pretend that he didn't. He pulled back suddenly, taking several steps away. Jeremy's cheeks were flushed. He watched Tyler carefully. Tyler didn't know what to say. Not even Jeremy could save him from this.

A/N: Ta-da! So excited that they're finally (not really) together! Anybody think I killed off Grace? Maybe? No? Idk. Anyways. Pretty please leave a review? *puppy eyes* Better yet. *Tyler puppy eyes*