Chapter 3

Jeremy and Tyler sat in silence in Tyler's car. Jeremy craned his head while he gazed out the window. The various landscapes molded together while Tyler focused on driving.

After about ten minutes of silence, Jeremy shifted his gaze towards Tyler for a moment. His heart thumped inside his chest while it got louder with each passing moment. "You still haven't told me where you're taking me. Couldn't we have just grabbed a bite at the Mystic Grill? I'm sure that it would suffice."

A grin twisted across his face. "You really are impatient Jer, aren't you?"

Red spread across his face while Jeremy averted his gaze. "I guess so. It's just something that I can't help."

"It's kind of cute." Tyler clicked his lips together.

Jeremy just remained silent. He couldn't believe that Tyler just used the word cute in relation to him. That was definitely not normal for another guy to do to another guy. The subtext of "cute" extended beyond a simple bromance. Jeremy just bit his lip while a smirk donned his face. He might not have known where Tyler was taking him but he was pretty sure that he was going to have a fun evening.

Tyler stole another glance as he took his eyes off the road for a second. "What? You have nothing to say now?"

Jeremy's shoulders bounced up while his gaze continued to be on the road.

"One thing that I can definitely tell you is that we are no longer in Mystic Falls anymore." Tyler exhaled a breath. It wasn't long before they plowed down another road. Tyler turned right at the arrival of the new road. After that it wasn't long before he pulled into a parking lot.

Tyler and Jeremy sat at a booth at the diner several minutes later. They were across from the other.

He raised an eyebrow at Tyler. "This is where you wanted to take me? A diner?"

Tyler put the menu down while his eyes shot up at Jeremy. "It's not just some diner. My Mom used to take me here all the time when things were bad at home. This place is special."

Jeremy sighed. A burning sensation jabbed his stomach. He extended his arm as he attempted to squeeze Tyler's hand. The thing was Tyler left his hand where it was. He didn't even bother to pull it back or brush Jeremy's hand aside. "That sounds sweet."

He threw a gaze back at the menu while he rubbed his left eye with his free hand. "It was. While it lasted at least."

Jeremy perused through the menu some more. He didn't know what to think of Tyler. Tyler was the kid that tormented him a lot, yet here he was determined to make him a friend or something by opening up to him about something personal. Even Matt had never behaved like that with him.

He inhaled another breath. "Do you know what you're going to order?"

"I'm not sure." Tyler scratched the top of his head. "Maybe the Prime Rib sandwich?"

Jeremy wet his lips with his tongue. "That sounds good."

Jeremy broke off in mid sentence. Laughter fell from his mouth.

Tyler narrowed his focus. "What's so funny Jer?"

"Nothing," said Jeremy. "It's just I thought that would know what you want to order if you used to come here a lot."

Tyler gasped at Jeremy. "Oh. I see."

Jeremy stared at Tyler as he noticed that Tyler started to blush. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about it. I was just teasing you."

His classic amused grin returned to his face. "Yeah. Okay. If you say so."

The waitress arrived a minute later. She was a twenty something blonde. The woman looked at Tyler first. "Do you know what you want to eat?"

Tyler hesitated for a moment. "Yeah. I think that I would like the Prime Rib sandwich."

The woman moved to Jeremy. "And what about you?"

Jeremy didn't even have to think about his answer. "I'll have what he's having."

She smiled at both of them. "Sounds good."

The waitress shuffled away in the opposite direction as she left Tyler and Jeremy all by themselves. Jeremy almost wanted to scream at the sight of Tyler staring at the waitress's ass when she walked away but Jeremy realized that would be stupid. Tyler would never be his no matter how much Jeremy wanted him. Tyler was "straight." But Tyler and he had kissed. That really happened. There was no denying it. Jeremy just wished that he and Tyler would discuss the kiss. The whole thing was just too unnerving for him.

He shot Jeremy a grin. "What are you thinking about?"

Jeremy glanced down at the table. "Nothing important…"

After their meal the diner, Tyler talked Jeremy into seeing a movie and going out for ice cream afterwards. Tyler walked Jeremy to his front porch well after ten o'clock that evening.

He didn't even have to fake happiness. "Thanks, Tyler. I had a lot of fun."

Tyler's eyes bulged up. It was as if he was going to vaporize Jeremy with this stare. "Me too."

His chest bobbed up and down a couple of times. "You really made a difference in my life today, and for that I'm eternally grateful."

"No thanks necessary." Tyler reached over with his arm while jabbed Jeremy's chin in a playful fashion. "Besides, it's nice to see you happy for once."

A gust of wind howled in the background while Jeremy's teeth chattered. "I could be happy with you."

Tyler just stared at Jeremy. He didn't say anything.

A lump pricked his throat. "I should get going…"

"Wait Jer…" Tyler stopped speaking. He just couldn't bring himself to speak.

Jeremy crossed his arms together. "Look Tyler what the hell is going here? We kissed each other."

"You're right." Tyler pulled Jeremy in for a kiss before Jeremy could open the front door. Tyler's lips pressed against Jeremy's lips in a matter of seconds. Tyler put his hands on each side of Jeremy's head.

Tyler pulled back from the kiss ten seconds later.

Jeremy pouted. "What the hell?"

A tear rolled down his cheek. "I'm sorry I can't do this."

Tyler darted down the front porch and hopped in his car before Jeremy could even process what happened.

There was only thing that Jeremy could be sure of. He was really confused!