A/N: UGH! Dialogue is SO hard! lol This was supposed to be longer, but the last part didn't fit, so I took it out and put it into Chapter 3.

This chapter sort of got away from me and the plot sort of... Chapter 3 is going to be a bit more exciting, I promise. Sibling rivalry is heating up in this chapter and it's going to turn into a boil in the coming chapters, and so is the budding romance between Jeremy and Alan and confused feelings between Jeremy and Tyler. It goin' get goooood! lol

I'm sort of scared of making promises I can't keep, but please bare with me. I'm kind of a review whore, sorry, they make me feel good. lol

Please Enjoy.

*I'm sorry if this showed up twice on your email, for those who put this on ALERT, but there was a problem with the posting of this chapter. So I'm re-doing the posting.*

Unexpected
Dinner For Schmucks

Jeremy

Alan texted me an hour ago. We made plans for the weekend. Dinner and a movie.

I was currently finishing up a sketch for art. Some kind of half man, half beast creature. I don't really know what it is, sometimes you just don't. Sometimes you start drawing and something unexpected happens. Something amazing. And that's what I liked the most about art and drawing. That no matter what you have in your head, it doesn't always turn out that way.

Sliding the charcoal gently across the paper, making sure to shade whenever it's needed, I continue the drawing. It was coming along nicely.

The creature, currently coming to life on the paper, seemed oddly familiar. Sitting back in the chair, pulled away from the drawing, I stared at it. A weird feeling was creeping up on me in the pit of my stomach.

Weird, just weird.

I got up, away from the sketch, away from that feeling, only it seemed to follow me. It's hard to describe...

It reminded me of someone, someone I know, someone I know that I know.

I startle when there's a knock on the door.

I catch my breath, and shake it off before answering, "Yeah?"

"Its time for dinner, Jeremy," Jenna says, opening the door slowly.

"Ok, I'll be right down."

She looks at me, and stares a bit, brows furrowed in slight concern. "You ok, Jere? You look a little flushed."

"You just scared me a bit. I didn't know you were home," and that was true. I'd been concentrating on that drawing, determined to get it done, I hadn't realized when she'd come home.

She gives me a small smile, "Ok, then. I'll see you down there."

"Ok."

And dinner is kind of awkward. What with me, Jenna, Alaric, Elena, Stefan and Damon. And I'd just come out. It was all kind of intense, nobody knew what to say exactly.

I had a funny suspicion though, that Damon had a few choice words he would like to get in. As indicated by the smirk that was currently plastered to his face. Bastard.

I wish Alan was here, he'd be able to ease some of my tension.

The group was all couples anyway, it made me feel worse. Jenna and Alaric were a thing. And then there's that weird sort of back and forth threesome thing going on with Stefan, Damon and Elena. I inwardly cringed at that one.

My sister was weird. And kind of a ho.

Don't get me wrong, I love my sister to death. But, come on! Just pick one already. You can't have your cake and eat it, too. Lucky bitch!

Its Alaric who breaks the silence, "So, where's Alan, Jeremy?"

The entire table freezes, atmosphere now tense. Like they'd all been thinking it. Stefan is frozen mid-bite, fork halfway to his mouth. What? Did they think we'd broken up already, or something?

"He's busy," I answer. "School stuff I think."

"You think?" that was Elena. What was with the attitude? Girls really are a mystery.

"Yeah, I think," I say, pure venom in my voice. "I'm his boyfriend, not his keeper, Elena."

She scoffs, "How do you know he's doing what he says he's doing?"

She had a point. But still. "How do you know Stefan was doing what he said he was doing, when he went on that 'family trip'," I put a lot of emphasis on that one, "last month?"

The table was frozen again, the tension was even worse from before. Stefan seemed to have sunk deep into his chair. Determined not to be noticed. not wanting to be a part of anything.

I'd put him in the crossfires of our argument and I didn't feel guilty about it all. I was right, and everyone knew it.

Alaric mimicked Stefan in a way, not wanting to get involved. Elena looked fucking pissed! And Damon looked, well, Damon looked thoroughly entertained. No surprise there. Devilish bastard.

Elena was just about to retaliate, but Jenna never gave her the chance.

"Knock it off," Jenna intervened. "The both of you. Save your arguing for after dinner."

And the table was quiet again, with everyone silently shoveling food into their mouths.

What the hell was Elena's problem? Was she having problems with Stefan again? Or was it Damon this week? Either way, she shouldn't be projecting her problems onto me.

I bet she just can't stand all the attention not being on her for once.

So maybe that last comment was me venting some pent-up rage from earlier. Doesn't make it seem any less likely, though.

Toweling the last dish, Jenna hands me the plate to store away. It's as I'm closing the cabinet, Jenna asks, "How was school today Jere? Any problems?

"No more than I expected," I answered her honestly. "No ones given me crap or tried to beat me up, anyway."

Some tension fell from her shoulders. She was worried for me. I guessed I eased some of it for her.

She breathes out, "That's good. I'm proud of you for coming out, Jeremy. I bet it wasn't easy on you. And I'm happy for you and Alan. I like him. Your parents would approve."

A smiled a real smile. That meant a lot to me. "Thanks, Jenna. That means a lot to me."

"It's true, ya know? They would have loved you no matter what."

I took a breath. "I know. Thank you, Jenna," I say as she pulls me into a hug.

Jenna's hugs always remind me of my mother. They make me feel loved, cared for and precious. She's easily fills the void, though not completely, that my mother left when she died.

"Your very welcome," she says, slightly pulling away, looking me in the eyes. "They'd be proud of you Jeremy. You're so brave."

I didn't exactly agree with her on that last one, but it did make me feel good, so kudos to her.

I didn't think I was so brave.

At all.

"They'd be proud of you, too," I tell her. And I meant it.

The look she gave me did not disappoint.

"Don't let what your sister said, get to you. She's just looking out for you."

"Yeah, maybe."

A/N: I'm making Elena out to be some kind of bitch. Though, I don't know if its just my general dislike for the character, or if she has some sort of special reasoning for her attitude in the story. I haven't really decided yet, stay tuned on that one.

I hope you liked it.

I'm begging for some reviews, I'd really like to know what you guys/gals think of this. I'm wracking my brain for plot, dialogue, and scenarios.

-passion