It takes three days for Jeremy to get over himself.

Three days of avoiding eyes in the hallways and of his head brimming with thoughts and possible solutions. Three days for Jeremy to figure out exactly why he'd been as bothered as he was, and why he hadn't accepted Tyler's apology.

Saturday afternoon finds him at Tyler's doorstep. It's another one of those perfect days, but he hardly notices, except to acknowledge the fact that if he hadn't texted Tyler to ask him to be home this trip would have been for naught.

He'd woken up that morning early enough to watch the sun rise through his window. He'd laid in bed for hours, and all he could think was that he was tired of this stupid argument. That he should have just accepted Tyler's apology instead of dragging this whole thing out for too long. He'd finally admitted to himself that he wasn't just mad at Tyler for just letting Bri hang all over him, but also for something that wasn't even relevant to either of them anymore.

When he'd seen Bri hanging all over him, all Jeremy could think about was Vicki. That Vicki had tossed him aside for Tyler, and now Tyler was going to do the same for Bri. But that wasn't the end of it; his mind had done a mindfuck on him, and for a few moments, Bri was Vicki, and she and Tyler were kissing, and Jeremy had no idea who'd tossed him aside for whom, but it didn't matter anyway because the end result was the same. Combine that slip in sanity with the warnings of never letting anyone know about them, and Jeremy literally felt like time had stopped, and reversed, and he was back in the same situation he was in before.

But he knew this wasn't fair to Tyler. He knew that what he had had with Vicky was totally different from what he and the other boy had together. He and Tyler actually had a very good reason for keeping this just between the two of them and the few that knew. This wasn't like Vicki, when she'd just used him for drugs and told him to stay hidden because she couldn't bear being seen with someone a year or two younger than her.

He'd loved Vicki, but she'd shunned him more often than not. But Tyler... He wasn't sure how deep his feelings ran for him, but not once has Tyler turned him away. Even with Bri there, Jeremy had heard that slight begging undertone to Tyler's voice, even though at the time he'd pretended he didn't. He'd been too blinded with the past that he hadn't given Tyler a chance.

Jeremy was letting Tyler off the hook easily this time; what he'd done was inappropriate, but he was new to this, and he hadn't meant to hurt Jeremy, and Jeremy knew that.

With all these thoughts swirling through his head as he watched the sun move across his bedroom, there was one that was the most persistent; I just want to see him.

By the time he'd gotten up, showered, and ate, it was eleven o clock. And it was 12: 06 by the time he'd gotten up the nerve to text Tyler the very simple Can I come over?

Seventeen minutes later he'd gotten his answer, and had taken his time walking to the Lockwood Mansion. He was happy that by the time he'd gotten out of bed Elena was gone. He didn't feel like dealing with her sad eyes, and indignation towards Tyler. She was gone early and back late a lot nowadays and Jeremy assumed it had something to do with vampires; the idea that had once fascinated him so much had by now gotten too complicated and stressful to deal with.

He kept waiting to hear her slip up and mention werewolves just so he could officially declare his life as a scene in Twilight.

Yeah, he'd read the books.

They sucked.

His thoughts of Twilight had somehow carried him all the way to his destination, and now he was waiting for someone to answer his ring.

The door swung open a few seconds later, and Tyler's uncle stood there. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he leaned against the door frame.

"Yeah?"

Jeremy had no idea what the hell was up with the Lockwood family. Mrs. Lockwood was nice enough (even if most of it was an act, but at least she pretended), Mr. Lockwood had been a douche of epic proportions (who the hell eggs on two high school boys to fight, especially when one of them is your son?), Tyler had tried to fight him everyday before their relationship took a turn for the much better, and now Mason Lockwood is blocking the doorway. He has the same look in his eyes now that he'd had at the funeral. That 'back-off' expression. That look that said 'leave or I'll make you.' Maybe it's just me, Jeremy thought. Maybe (for some reason he wasn't aware of) the Lockwoods just hated him, and no one else.

He doesn't dwell on it. "Uh, I'm here to see Tyler?" Jeremy hates that it comes out like a question, but he doesn't wince like he wants to.

Mason eyes him for a moment more, and Jeremy wonders what the hell he's looking for. Finally he steps aside and gestures towards the swooping staircase. "He's upstairs."

Jeremy nods and steps around him. He ignores the sensation of eyes on his back as he walks up the stairs.

He'd only been in Tyler's room once. It had actually been the same day he'd met Mason Lockwood. After being sent away, he'd found the bathroom just fine, but couldn't help wandering around the huge house. He'd known when he'd found Tyler's bedroom, mainly because it looked exactly the way he'd thought it would look. (Not that he'd given much thought to what Tyler's room would look like or anything.) The space was full of heavy dark wood, and deep greens and blues. There were trophies on one wall, and football, basketball, and hockey magazines scattered around, along with what looked like a football jersey balled up in a corner. Jeremy could also admit now that he'd also known who's room this was right away because of the way it smelled. Just like Tyler; like his cologne, and laundry detergent.

He finds the room by memory, and doesn't give himself time to hesitate before he raises his fist to knock.

"Yeah," comes a voice through the door, and Jeremy turns the doorknob, takes a calming breath and steps inside of the bedroom. It looks just like it did before, only now it's cleaner, and Tyler is sitting on the bed, facing the door. He's wearing a dark green polo shirt, with dark jeans, and no shoes, just white socks. Jeremy's heart skips a beats at the way he looks sitting there, looking at him. Straight at him and not at his shoulder or over his head like he had been doing all week long.

Jeremy shuts the door behind him, turning the lock without really thinking about it, and leans back against the wood. He wants to sit next to Tyler, but he knows that if he does, he wont be able to focus, which is vital as he's not exactly sure he knows what he wants to say. He has a gist; he'd been planning to work it out in his head on the walk here, but horribly written stories had somehow gotten him distracted.

"Hey," he says, not least of all to break the silence.

"Hey." Tyler looks wary, and a little tired.

There are a few beats of silence. Why is it so hard for them to talk to each other? You'd think that after all the things they'd done and gotten past it would get easier.

"I think your uncle hates me."

Tyler just shrugs and gets up from the bed to walk to his dresser. He doesn't retrieve anything from it though; he looks like he's moving just to move. Like being in the same room with Jeremy makes him uncomfortable.

Jeremy sighs. He just needs to stop stalling and just say it. "Look, I'm sorry." Tyler doesn't say anything, but he stops wandering aimlessly around the room, and turns to face Jeremy again, arms folded across his chest. "I'm sorry that I gave you a hard time. Well, gave you a harder time than I should have." Tyler makes a sort of disbelieving noise and shakes his head. "What?"

"You kept twisting my words around. Everything I said you just..." he fades off and unfolds his arms. He starts moving again. It occurs to Jeremy then that Tyler is very different with him. Any other time, any other fight, with any other person and Tyler would have been aggressive, getting his point across by talking loudly, or at least finishing his sentences. But now he's quieter, and more willing to listen. This realization makes Jeremy that much more willing to get this whole thing done and over with.

"Sorry. It wasn't all your fault. I mean, I was thinking about something else. I should have known you wouldn't have done anything. I probably overreacted."

"What were you thinking about?"

Jeremy blinks. "What?"

"What else were you thinking about that had you angry?"

"Well, you had me-"

"You know what I mean."

Jeremy sighs. "Nothing, it's not important."

Tyler stops walking and looks over at him, his expression annoyed. "I'd say it was important. You took your anger for something else out on me-"

"Oh like you haven't," Jeremy scoffs.

"You're right. I haven't. Not since we started this, I haven't" Jeremy feels slightly ashamed as he realizes that this is true. He also considers the fact that the person who Tyler's anger stemmed most is dead now, so there isn't as much to anger vent anymore, but Jeremy thinks its best not to say this. He's here to make up with his boyfriend, not start another fight. "So, what were you thinking about?"

Jeremy really doesn't want to tell Tyler he was thinking about Vicki. It'll only make him feel uncomfortable, and stupid, and move them farther back progress wise.

"It really doesn't matter, Tyler, I promise. It was stupid."

He expects Tyler to push the point, but he doesn't. Instead he says, "You argue like a chick."

Jeremy's eyebrows shoot up. "What?"

"You argue like a chick." The corner of Tyler's mouth is turned up in a small smile, and Jeremy takes that as a good sign.

"No, I don't."

"You do." Tyler walks around his desk to go back to the bed. He sits down and leaves enough space for Jeremy to sit next to him. "You twist everything I say into something bad."

Jeremy smirks and pushes himself off of the door. He takes the seat next to Tyler, but doesn't sit too closely. "That's called arguing well, not arguing like a girl."

"Girls are good at arguing."

"True." They smile, but continue to look down at their feet. A few minutes pass in a comfortable silence before Jeremy turns his head to look at Tyler's profile. "Don't do it again," he says in a low, serious voice. "Next time, I won't care what your excuse is."

Tyler doesn't say anything but nods down at the floor. The bed shifts, and he looks up to see that Jeremy has moved closer.

Jeremy's body is humming with warm energy. He's missed being this close to Tyler. He'd hated seeing him around and not being able to smile or talk to him. He moves even closer so that their legs are touching, thighs pressing together, and he leans in to place his lips against the side of Tyler throat.

Tyler moves back a bit but Jeremy follows. He places another kiss on the hollow of his neck and can hear the smile in Tyler's voice as he murmurs, "I'm letting you off way too easy."

"Funny," Jeremy moves up to kiss Tyler's strong jaw, "I thought the same thing this morning." He smiles against Tyler's skin.

When their lips meet, both are curved upwards slightly. Tyler relaxes his mouth right away to allow Jeremy's tongue to slip inside. Jeremy can't help the small hum of pleasure he emits, and doesn't feel at all embarrassed when Tyler lets out a small laugh. "Miss me?"

Jeremy just nods and leans in further. He lifts his hand to run his fingers through the short hairs on the back of Tyler's neck, and he grips them slightly. His chest feels light, and his head is swimming, and he feels utterly content.

Tyler raises his hand to hold onto Jeremy's wrist and he strokes it lightly. A shiver runs through Jeremy and he deepens the kiss, while adjusting himself so that he's got one knee up on the bed. Tyler takes the hint and, without breaking contact, backs up so that he's laying in the middle of the bed, with Jeremy on top. The lengths of their bodies mold together perfectly, and Jeremy has to take a deep breath in attempt to slow his speeding heart.

His leg slips between Tyler's and they move their hips at the same time and Jeremy's heart seems to stop completely for a moment. He buries his face into the other boy's clean smelling neck, and Tyler takes the opportunity to flip them over. Now he's on top, and Jeremy would never admit it, but he loves this. He loves being beneath this strong body, loves giving up control. Tyler leans back so that he is straddling one of Jeremy's thighs, and he rips his shirt over his head. Then he pulls Jeremy up by the front own shirt and Jeremy lifts his arms, and allows his own T shirt to be pulled off and thrown to the side. He lies back onto the pillows and Tyler follows him down, warm smooth skin sliding together, and making them sigh into each other's mouths. Jeremy slides his hands down Tyler's back and slips his hands into the back pockets of the boy's jeans. He squeezes the demin clad flesh in his hands, and presses down as he rolls his own hips up.

He feels Tyler's breath hitch, and suddenly things change pace, from languid and exploratory, to urgent and needy. Tyler's fingers, which are buried in Jeremy's shaggy hair, tighten for a moment and then his hands move down and they are everywhere, and he's moving his hips faster even as he slips a hand down to unfasten the button on Jeremy's jeans. Jeremy takes his hands out of the boy's pockets, and slides them around so that he can work on Tyler's pants too, but their hips are too close together and all they succeed in doing is bumping hands and tangling fingers.

Jeremy gets slightly frustrated; he's so close to touching Tyler and the enthusiasm of their movements are holding him up. He bucks his hips, and Tyler raises up off of him slightly. Before he can settle back down, Jeremy grips his hip and holds him up; he uses his other hand to unfasten Tyler's pants fully. By now Tyler understands what Jeremy is trying to do, so he braces himself with one hand on the bed and does the same.

The second Jeremy has the zipper down, he reaches in and wraps a warm hand around hot, heavy, damp flesh. The hand holding Tyler up trembles, and he lowers himself so he's resting on his forearm. Jeremy gives a few slow long lazy pulls, and then gives one firm, sharp tug and Tyler's hips jerk into his hand. He has to rest his forehead against Jeremy's for a moment, but then his hand is working again, and seconds later Jeremy feels Tyler's hand wrap around him and pull, and his eyes flutter and slide shut.

They stroke each other slowly at first, lazily taking their time. Jeremy feels odd – his heart is beating quickly but this is the most relaxed he's been a long while. He lets the pleasure run through his body, lets his head fall back into the pillows. He can feel Tyler's lips kiss his ear, his temple, his cheek, and jaw, and neck. He arches his back when teeth gently sink into his neck, and a tongue soothes the spot. He feels high, like he's popped a pill and is floating, but this is ten times better. All natural.

He turns his head so that their lips meet, and once again the mood shifts in intensity. The kiss is rough, and their hands have sped up on one another and soon his hips are jerking into Tyler's fist, chasing it's firm hold, and shivers runs up and down his spine, and into his finger tips, and his vision is blinking out. Tyler pulls up again, and twists his wrist, and Jeremy comes intensely, his harsh "Fuck" swallowed by Tyler's soft mouth.

He wants to melt back into the sheets, but Tyler isn't finished yet, but he's close. Jeremy can feel him throbbing in his palm. He threads the fingertips of his free hand through Tyler's hair and pulls gently. "Hey," he says softly, and Tyler opens his eyes. Keeping eye contact, Jeremy pulls slowly but firmly. He wants to stretch his boyfriend's orgasm out for as long as possible. Tyler wants it faster, Jeremy can tell by the way he moves his hips so that his cock pushes deeper into Jeremy's fist, but Jeremy won't speed up.

At one point Tyler's eyes start to slide shut, but when he does Jeremy stops his hand. "Look at me," he'd whispered, and kissed him on the corner of the mouth.

Finally, Jeremy can feel that he's on the edge. He's swelling in Jeremy's hand, and his forearms, both on the bed now, are trembling. He allows Tyler to shut his eyes, and he pulls his head down to rest in the crook of his neck. Tyler's rough breaths hit his skin, and Jeremy turns his own head so that his lips are against Tyler's ear. He whispers, "Come on," at the same moment he twists his wrist, and Tyler releases a sharp breath and then another and then just like Jeremy, a sharp "Ah, fuck," and his hips jerk, one, twice, and Jeremy can feel his palm being coated by something warm and sticky. He milks Tyler gently, and Tyler lets out half a whine, before biting down on Jeremy's neck.

When his hips stop moving, Jeremy stops his stroking, but he keeps his hand wrapped around Tyler, and he scratches gently at the other boy's scalp. Long minutes pass in silence, and both their breathing goes back ot normal. Tyler hasn't moved much, except to bury his face further into Jeremy's neck, and move his hand up to cradle the boys face, tracing a thumb softly back and forth over his cheek. Soon the movement slows and stops and Jeremy thinks he's fallen asleep. He loves the way Tyler's full weight feels on top of him, comforting, and warm.

"You're not falling asleep on me are you?" He says this in a low voice, not pausing in his scratching.

Tyler shifts but doesn't get up. "Would that be a problem?" His voice is slightly muffled.

Jeremy runs his hand down the smooth skin of Tyler's neck and bare back, and feels a shiver run through the boy. "No." He lets his own eyes drift shut. "It's fine."