Jeremy gently untangled himself from Hope's unexpected embrace. He smelled really good so she didn't want to let go.

"So how are things? How are you?" He really looked at her, and she couldn't even see a hint of him checking her out or ogling her. It made her relax.

Still, she suspected the question wasn't entirely benign. Hope knew that Jeremy and his friends had opposed her father, Klaus Mikaelson, on many occasions. For the most part they didn't have kind memories of him, and they were always watching her for any sign she was starting to turn out like him.

She smiled and lied to allay any fears. "I'm doing great."

"So what are you doing here?" She wanted to get the focus off of her as quickly as possible. She didn't like talking about herself.

"Oh, Alaric called me and said he could use some help. Hey, walk with me to his office so we can catch up, ok?"

Hope did not want to go to Alaric's office, so she grabbed his arm to drag him the other way. "You can go there later." She said. "Let me show you some of the new programs we started…unf!" She grunted.

Jeremy hadn't budged.

She put all her considerable strength into it, and yet she still couldn't move him.

He laughed. "Hope, what are you doing?" He again gently removed himself from her grip.

"Jesus!" She said. "How are you that strong?!"

"Would you walk with me, and I can tell you?" Again with the easy smile. Alaric's office was the very last place on the campus that she wanted to go, but she wasn't going to turn down some alone time with Jeremy. As soon as the other girls found out he was here he would be swarmed.

She made a big show of acquiescing to his 'demand' and the two started down the hall.

"So, you know I'm one of The Five, right?" He said. She nodded in assent. She knew about these things academically from studying her father's life.

"The Brotherhood of the Five were supernatural vampire hunters, right?"

Jeremy looked slightly surprised. "Very good, Hope." He said. Hope felt stupid for the idiot grin that spread over her face at his praise.

"The Five were actually 'immortal' hunters. Between the death of the Silas, the original immortal, and then the magical no man's land that was placed on Mystic Falls many years back I seemed to have lost all the power I had as one of the Five."

"And thennnn…." Hope prompted.

"And then," Jeremy said in an exaggerated manner, "a few months ago I started feeling stronger. Like a lot stronger."

He held out his hand. "And then this reappeared." Hope saw an elaborate tattoo on the back of his hand, disappearing under his jacket sleeve, presumably to end across his chest.

"Um, is it complete?"

"Yes." That was all he said. To complete the mark he would have had to kill an immortal. But Jeremy had been killing rogue vampires for years. It probably didn't take him long.

"Can I see it?" She tried to hide her excitement at the possibility of seeing his bare chest up close, but some of it must have come through.

He laughed again, not condescending or patronizing, but just friendly Jeremy's laugh.

"Just trust me, it's complete." Hope knew her face was blushing so she tried to hang back a little bit and hide it in her hair.

They walked in silence for a short while. She didn't miss the opportunity to look him up and down.

Boy, his ass looks good in those jeans, she thought, and he walks with a confident swagger.

She thought about the things she would do to him, but she already knew he wouldn't go for it. Jeremy saw her as a child, and he had already rebuffed quite a few of the more aggressive girls. Rebuffed them politely and with class, which made them want him all the more. Penelope had been incensed.

Then she thought. Wait a minute. I'm supposed to be TAKING the things that I want now.

"Hey Jeremy, can we talk tonight? I'd like to ask you a few questions." With my hands, she thought. "Maybe you could drop by my room later?"

Jeremy looked wary. "Is everything ok?" He asked. He looked concerned. Dammit, she didn't want him to look concerned, she wanted him to look at her like someone he actually wanted. This could be the thing to get her mind off of Alaric.

"Well, it would be ok if we could talk." He must have heard some of the lust in her voice, because she could see that the switch had been flipped in him. He was back to "mentor Jeremy mode".

"Hope…I will talk to you about anything you want." Again with the infuriating look of concern. "Why don't we meet in the Library after I finish up with Alaric?"

The Library…! Grrrr! But she recovered before he saw the frustration on her face. She forced a smile. "Sure, that would be great. I'll text you! Can I get your number?"

Hope could see the indecision on his face. He didn't really want her to have his number because it might be considered inappropriate, and yet it actually made sense for her to have it. She wasn't exactly nobody, after all. She might need his help one day.

She knew that was the thing that tipped him over. "Ok, sure thing." He said, and pulled out his phone.

She called his number and they put their phones away once they were sure it worked.

Hope realized they had reached their destination. "Alright," Jeremy said, "I'm going to get in here and see what Alaric needs. I think you have a class to get to, right?"

Hope blushed again. He knew damn well she hadn't been going to class. He had found her on the way out to the back grounds.

"Yes, I'll be going to class." She said, sullenly. Jeremy opened the door to the office. She saw Alaric and Dorian already inside.

Hope was feeling a little petty, so she suddenly lunged forward and gave Jeremy a huge farewell hug and a juicy kiss on the cheek. Not only did she make sure to leave plenty of lipstick behind, she also made sure to squeeze herself all over him. The whole time she directed a laser beam stare at Alaric, who had what she could only call a 'shocked frown' on his face.

The stunned Jeremy Gilbert did not react for a full three seconds, but then delicately peeled Hope off of him. His face was completely red, with a huge glistening lip-print on his cheek. "Yes it was good to see you, Hope." He half-mumbled. He didn't look her in the eye.

He looks so cute when he's embarrassed. Hope thought.

She surreptitiously checked Jeremy's pants. No tentpole.

Goddammit! She thought. Normally she seemed to be able to do this to guys without even trying, and now when she wanted to do it, she couldn't!

He was too damn attractive. Probably had no shortage of experienced women his own age trying to hook up with him.

Well, she didn't get a rise out of him, but she got the next best thing. Alaric had seen her glance at Jeremy's crotch and his face was red. Hope also noticed that Dorian was smiling and shaking his head, obviously enjoying what he was seeing. She hadn't meant to put on a show for him, but she was beyond caring now.

Hope took off down the hall and left the boys to whatever they were getting up to. If she couldn't rope in Jeremy then maybe she had given Alaric enough of a kick so that he would make a move.

She would have to think on it some more, but she still had plans for tonight that she had been willing to forestall for Jeremy. Seeing as how their meeting looked like it would be strictly platonic she decided she would move on them anyway.

Feeling happily devious, she endeavored to get to her Ancient Tenets of Spirit Magic class and apologize for being late.