Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. They are the property of CW network. I just have fun playing with them!
Title: Turning

Decisions

The prospect of walking down the halls of the Mystic Falls High wasn't so unbearable these days. Jeremy found he had something to look forward to these days. It was something that he didn't quite understand, but it felt good.

He had not felt like this since before his parents died.

However the reason was less than popular though. Of course the population of Mystic Falls would have laughed in his face. Wanting to become a vampire did not come up in regular conversation with fifteen year olds. Nevertheless, this was what was on his mind constantly ever since Anna revealed her little secret. Or perhaps more accurately, ever since he forced her hand by cutting his hand last night.

His eyes scanned the hallways for the petite brunette. She was very good at blending into the background. It might have been an essential need for her kind. He wasn't sure. Jeremy made a mental note to ask since he would soon become one, despite Anna's constant reproaches and rejections.

Jeremy the vampire. He stifled a chuckle. It so did not have the same kind of ring to it, like 'Dracula' or 'Lestat'.

"Hey Jer," Elena said, falling into step with him down the crowded corridor. "What's got you so distracted?"

"Uh," he fumbled. "I was just thinking about stuff."

"Such as...?"

"Uh..." Out of the corner of his eye he saw a blur of brown and black. His head turned slightly to inspect the phenomenon.

"Jer?" Elena turned her head towards the direction of her brother's gaze. "What is it?"

"Uh nothing," he dismissed, brushing off the idea that it was Anna. "I just thought I saw someone."

"You looking for Anna?" Elena asked, her tone slightly off.

"Maybe."

"Jer, how well do you know her?"

Jeremy turned to her sister and gazed at her curiously. He wondered if she knew something. Did she suspect as he had? Could Elena think that vampires existed in Mystic Falls?

"She's the weird stalker chick..." He shrugged as if it was nothing more than a casual acquaintance.

"It's just you're back on track with your life, and I just don't want anything to mess you up."

"And you think Anna can do that?" he scoffed.

"I think there's a lot of things you don't know about her and you can't always trust what you see."

Jeremy frowned and turned to his sister. "Why? Do you know something about her?"

Elena looked taken aback by the question. "Uh...Uh, no," she stammered. "I just mean that she's a new girl, we've never met before. You don't know anything about her."

"So what's the difference between her and Stefan?" Jeremy observed her carefully for any tell-tale signs that she might have an inkling of Anna's secret. "He was new to town," he countered. "And you took up with him pretty fast."

"Stefan's different."

"How?" Of course he knew the answer to that question. He's human.

"Look Jer," she sighed. "You just got over Vicki, it's probably not a relationship you want to rush into...That's all I'm saying."

"Like I said, I just met her," he lied. "It's not like I plan on dating her or anything."

"Okay...Okay. I'm sorry."

"Look Elena, I promise I'm fine. Back to normal."

"If you really could call our family normal," she joked, nudging him.

"Well, as close as it gets, I guess."

Jeremy watched her walk away, knowing that she would probably have a heart attack if she knew what he was contemplating. She had always been the responsible one. Even though she had been a lot more carefree before their parents died, she had always looked out for him. He knew it would probably kill her to find out he was going to become a vampire.

Of course that still depended upon Anna. He still had to convince her.

--&--

Meet me at Grillz.

Annabelle toyed with the cell in her hand. Her mother was running errands in town and they were to meet up in half an hour. Her eyes scanned the restaurant/bar for the scraggly-haired boy that was causing her to lose a lot of sleep. Of course, not that she slept much.

"Hey Anna!" Jeremy waved at her from the counter he was sitting at.

"Hey," she smiled, hopping up onto the stool beside him. "What's up?"

"Nothing," he replied. "Bored. Thought you could help me out there."

"And how would I do that?" She eyed him knowingly.

"Hey, I hear vampires know how to party?" he joked.

Annabelle knew there was subtext beneath his words.

"You really want to talk about that now?" she sighed, rolling her eyes. "I mean, you'd think after rejecting the idea so many times I think you'd get the hint."

"It's a good idea."

"It's a bad idea, Jeremy." Anna wanted to be annoyed and angry at him for continuing to broach the subject but the playful glint in his eyes kept her desire to lecture him at bay. "Why do you want this so badly?" she asked curiously. "I mean I've never known a person who would voluntarily become a vampire, unless there was a reason."

"I've already told you my reasons."

"Just because you're alone and lost doesn't mean you have to become a vampire. And until you give me a decent reason," she said, shaking her head. "I can't do it."

"So what do you deem a 'good reason'?" Jeremy needed to know what could possibly keep Anna from turning him. He did not think that vampires really had many morals. They killed people to feed for pete sake.

"You wanna know why we turn people, Jer?"

"Sure."

"There's no altruistic reasons. We turn people so that we can use them to do our dirty work," she said bluntly. "And we sometimes do it out of boredom. And that scene never turns out well."

"Well, are you bored yet? he smirked.

Anna just shook her head at his naivety. "I think the only good reason we could ever have for turning someone is because we could never be parted from them," she continued softly. Her eyes darted up to his. "And let me tell you, we're nowhere near that turning point." She laughed nervously.

She couldn't believe she had just said that. She sounded like an idiot. What was wrong with her? She was an old woman comparatively to Jeremy's fifteen years. And here she was rambling like she was fifteen again.

Suddenly out of the corner of her eye, she noticed her mother walk into the room. Her hair was wet as was her coat. She glanced out the window and realized it had started to rain outside.

"Sorry, gotta go," she whispered, sliding off her stool.

"Annabelle, you ready to go?" Pearl glanced over her daughter's shoulder at the boy whom Annabelle had been speaking with.

"Yep." Anna forced herself not to look back. If she gave any hint that she was nervous about Jeremy, her mother would pick up on it.

"Who were you talking with?"

"Oh just a classmate," she dismissed casually.

Just as they turned to leave, Mayor Lockwood stepped across the threshold.

"Miss, if you're thinking about travelling outside town, I wouldn't recommend it," he smiled graciously. "It's getting to be a pretty bad storm out, tonight."

"Well thank you, sir," Pearl smiled briefly. "I'm sure I can handle it."

"Mayor Lockwood," the host interrupted. "We have your table ready."

"Thank you."

Anna noticed her mother's demeanor change at the mention of the Mayor's name. She was plotting something.

"Actually, Mayor Lockwood, is it?"

"Yes?" The older man turned and gave her the once over.

"I'm new to town and was wondering if I may join you for a moment?" Pear smiled coyly. "There's a matter I'd like to discuss with you?"

"I'd be happy to entertain a lovely lady such as yourself at our table," Mayor Lockwood agreed, gesturing for Pearl ahead. "Isn't that right Tyler?"

Anna watched as the dark-haired teen beside the Mayor roll his eyes.

"It'd be happier if you weren't drooling over her, Dad," he whispered in disgust.

"Mother, can I be excused?"

Pearl nodded.

Anna wandered over to the pool table, feeling her mother's eyes on her. She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket.

You staying?

Glancing up she saw Jeremy watching her.

Yeah, Mom's got business.

Jeremy glanced over to see Anna's mother enthralled in conversation with Mayor Lockwood. Sliding off his stool he walked over to join Anna over at the pool table. However, he noticed her motioning him to stop. He frowned.

Mom watching

Talking with Lockwood

No

Jeremy slowed his talk and stopped in front of the dartboard. He plucked the darts from the board and took a few steps back. From here he could see her perfectly.

We're a secret

He smiled.

I know

This sneaking around reminded him of his relationship with Vicki. For the longest time, no one knew they were involved. He hated it. However, it was worse with Vicki because she wasn't just keeping him a secret for their sakes. It was a secret because Vicki wanted someone else.

With Anna, he got the feeling that she was trying to protect him.

Anna watched as Jeremy attempted to play darts. She tried not to laugh as she watched a dart bounce off the board and fall to the ground. He was really terrible at it.

Practise practise

Jeremy looked up and smiled half-heartedly.

Ha. Ha. *insert sarcasm*

She let out laugh.

Pearl glanced up at her daughter's laughter.

Anna bit her lip and kept her head down, turning her attention back to pool. Silently she chided herself. It was a stupid mistake.

Bored

She glanced up and saw Jeremy watching her. Suddenly she felt her face flush, though that was medically impossible with her being dead. Nevertheless, she felt herself come as close to blushing under his attentive gaze as she would ever come.

Suck it up princess

Jeremy chuckled softly.

Turn me and I will

Anna again was caught by conscience. Years ago, she wondered how she could possibly still have a conscience now that she was dead. There didn't seem to be an answer to her question though. Her life would have been easier to live by if she didn't have one. She could turn others and not worry about the consequences. But here she was again, torn by the desire to have someone who wasn't bound to her by blood (she smiled at the pun not intended). Jeremy seemed the perfect fit. Even if he didn't love her and she, him, he was a good friend. Those were hard to find.

He watched as Anna seemed to be lost in thought. Part of him didn't understand why there was such a delibration over it. Then again, Jeremy figured he should be glad that she cared enough to care whether he was turned or not. She was something he'd never encountered before. Of course, his image of vampires were definitely marred by folklore and myth. They had always been these demon things that needed to be killed.

Anna, she was something else. He could not imagine anyone wanted to kill her.

Her mother looked like she was just wrapping up her meeting with the Mayor, so Anna slipped into the ladies room before the long ride home. As Anna washed up, she could not help but notice this energy that was humming inside of her. She hardly recognized it. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she wondered if this could possibly work out?

She heard the door open and close behind her.

"Annabelle."

"Mother?"

"You have to stop associating with that boy," she hissed, her brow set in that determined way that Anna remembered from a century ago whenever she was angry. "Did you know he was a Gilbert?"

"Mother," she gapped, unable to lie to her about this. She never lied to her mother. It was something she never did, until that night. "I know."

"And what do you think you're doing with him?"

"He's my friend, Mother."

"You know what Gilberts do to so-called friends like us," she said harshly. "I was in that tomb for almost a century and a half because of them!"

"But Mother he's different!"

"What if he finds out about you? About us?"

"He already knows," Anna blurted out. "And he doesn't care!"

Suddenly Anna saw a streak of black and small stars streaking across her lids. The sting of the reprimand was a shock. Her mother had never hit her before. She stared at the woman whom she had rescued from the tomb and for a moment, she wished she hadn't done it.

"Annabelle," Pearl gasped. "I'm...I'm sorry."

She remained silent, unable to speak for fear of saying something that would incur more of her wrath.

"I shouldn't have done that."

Annabelle felt her mother embrace her. She could see her mother meant it. Her mother never lost control.

"It's just everything is getting to me," she whispered into Annabelle's ear. "That will never happen again."

"You know I love you."

Anna nodded her head stiffly.

"Yes, Mother."