A/N: Another chapter for all of you!

I DO NOT OWN THE VAMPIRE DIARIES OR THE CHARACTERS.

Chapter Eight:

"Hey, how did things go with your uncle?" Jeremy asked me, as I opened the door to his bedroom and stepped inside. I gave him a small smile, before shutting and locking the door.

"They were good, really good, actually. He wants me to move in with him. He couldn't have shown up a better time. My dad and I don't really get along." I told him. He nodded.

"Yeah, no offense, but your dad is an ass." He agreed. I laughed. He doesn't know how right he is. I still remember the night that my dear old dad wanted Jeremy and I to fight each other outside of the school… I didn't think that even he would go that far. "I'm happy for you, Ty. You deserve to be happy." He told me, softly. I pulled him to me for a kiss. I went to deepen it, but he pulled back. "I'm exhausted. Let's just lie down and sleep." He suggested.

"Just sleep?" I asked him. He nodded.

"Just sleep," he responded.

"Okay." I agreed. I took off my jeans and climbed into bed with him. He wrapped his arms around me and nuzzled my neck. I took a deep breath. It feels so nice just to be held. I've missed it. Being with Jeremy… it just makes me realize just how fucked up my life really is. He gives me something that I've never gotten from all of the other girls. It's not just physical stuff with him. What we have… What he is… It's so much more than that.

He cares about me and he's not afraid to show it. It's the little things that get me. He's okay with just laying here and not fooling around. He's not pressuring me for anything else. He doesn't criticize me and he's not constantly putting me down. He doesn't hit me… He's never been violent. It's so fucking nice.

I know that this is trouble. If things go south between us, I'm not sure that I can take it. It's given me something real to hold onto, when things get bad. I don't think that I could go without it, again. I'm not strong enough. I know that I'm not.

We're not even official and I'm already falling for him.

Jeremy's POV

I blinked and tried to find the source of warmth on my chest. I smiled, when I realized it was Tyler. It's weird how quickly I've gotten used to him being here. We hated each other for so long… I never imagined we would ever actually be doing whatever we're doing. Whatever changed between us… I'm glad that it did.

"How do you like your eggs?" Damon asked me. I shrugged and looked at him, questioningly.

"Why are you in my kitchen… cooking?" I asked him, instead of answering his question. He just smirked and shrugged.

"My baby bro and your sister are on the outs. So, I thought I'd come over here and hang out. If I happen to see them fight, then that's just an added bonus." Damon breathed. I can't figure him out. Stefan, I get, but Damon's a whole 'nother story.

"Scrambled with cheese is good." I answered him, not sure what else to say. "Isn't it weird that you and Stefan always chase after the same girl?" I asked him, guessing that this wasn't the first time they'd both gone after the same person. Damon shrugged.

"I like a challenge." He smirked. I nodded, slowly, and turned away. Just how crazy is he? I'm kind of afraid to find out. "Are you really one to talk, Baby Gilbert?" He asked me, as he got to work on cooking my eggs. "Like I said, I don't care who you date. You could fuck a tree and I wouldn't bat an eye, but Elena on the other hand… She'd probably care."

"What are you trying to say?" I asked him. His smirk dropped from his face and he looked serious.

"Elena is a lot of things, but she cares about you, Jeremy. I don't think that she would care if you wanted to spend the rest of your life shacked up with Little Lockwood." He told me.

"I get what you're saying, but you have it all wrong. I'm not ashamed of Tyler." I corrected him. His eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Then why stay in the closet?" He asked me. I shrugged.

"I don't know. It's not like I'm positive that I'm gay or whatever. It's only ever been Tyler. He isn't ready to say anything. That's why it's so important that you don't say anything." I told him.

"Trust me, Gilbert, if there's anything I can do, it's keep a secret. I told you that I wouldn't say anything and I won't. I may be cruel, but I'm not heartless." He assured me.

"Why are you helping me?"

"I figured that it can't be a bad thing to get on your good side. It puts me one step closer to being in your sister's good graces."

"Thank you… Damon." I breathed, as I put a hand on his arm. He gave me a smirk and shrugged.

"Don't mention it. Eat up. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and you are a growing boy." He finished sarcastically. Before I could question his change in behavior, I saw Elena and Jenna walk into the kitchen.

"Really, 'growing boy,' Damon?" Jenna asked him, clearly amused. "Where's my breakfast?" She asked him.

Tyler's POV

I yawned and opened my eyes. I groaned when I realized the other side of the bed was cold. Jeremy must already be downstairs. I pulled myself out of bed and threw my clothes on, before heading down to find him. I heard voices in the kitchen, before realizing that it was Jeremy and Damon talking. I strained my ears to hear them.

Jeremy's not ashamed of me? That… hits a lot harder than it should. I don't want Jeremy to think that I'm ashamed of him. I'll have to figure out a way to tell him that I'm not, without telling him that I overheard him talking to Damon. I'm glad that Damon is going to keep what I have with Jeremy to himself. At least that's something working out… for once.