A/n: Oh my goodness! I left my computer for a few hours. (I'm on Vacation, lol.) And came back to see a bunch of reviews! That was quick! I'm starting this the same day I posted Ch 18, so I hope I get done with it today too. New reviewers: Daniel Carrero, Katherine Pierce, , Lailani Wolf, and everyone thank you thank you! Your reviews were too kind! :))) You guys are incredible. I loved the suggestions. I'm not sure how to incorporate them, but I'll do my best. Hope you enjoy! I've got a feeling that this Chapter won't be as good as the last, but I hope it goes smoothly.

Chapter 19

Is that all right?

Crash!

Jeremys' phone had been crushed into a thousand pieces as he threw it against his wall. He watched as the phones' remains fell to the ground. It was as if time slowed down for just a moment allowing Jeremy Gilbert to process everything that's happened.

That bastard. He loved him and hated him simultaneously. Jeremy never even knew that was possible. One side of him wanted to beat Tyler senseless and the other side of him wanted to touch Tylers' perfect body; In ways that would make porn stars blush. Was he fucked up? Or was he just a stupid teenager in love? He'd never know the answer. But he did know one thing though. He still loved Tyler. You don't just stop over night. The worse part about it was, Jeremy didn't want to stop loving him.

[The Next Day]

Tyler's p.o.v

Ooh, damn. I'm never drinking again.

Mmnh, what happened last night? I remember- Jeremys' house. Was he-? Was he with someone? Unhh. Who was I with? Why does my fist hurt like hell? Is that-? Is that dried blood? Ah, hell.

p.o.v over

Tyler couldn't remember much. He knew his knuckles were throbbing and the skin had broke and dried blood was all over his right hand. His head was pounding and he fought the urge to gouge out his eyes. Every dull sound rang in his ears and the dimmest light was as bright as the sun.

Pieces of last night started to come back to him.

He remembered that he was with Michael. He remembered that he went to Jeremys'. And he remembered- oh no. His hand traveled to the back of his neck and he could feel faint grooves. Tyler slowly walked to the bathroom in front of the mirror and studied his neck. He saw hickeys and faint bite marks. Suddenly it all came back to him. He realized that the hickeys weren't from Jeremy and that he let Michael not only suck at his neck but-, other places.

The athletes eyes squeezed together and he also remembered the phone conversation with Jeremy. He told him the truth and Jeremy told him not to call him. But he couldn't remember if Jeremy said it was over. More than likely it was, but did Jeremy say it? The boy tried so hard to think about it and he prayed that it wasn't over. But come on? Would Jeremy really forgive?

There was only one way to find out. Tyler picked up his phone and called him.

Straight to voice mail. Oh come on, he sighed.

Tyler was still hung over and he had a head ache from hell but he decided that if Jeremy wasn't going to talk to him over the phone, in person was the next best thing.

He could tell he wasn't all together enough to drive so he just walked. In the freezing weather mind you, but the boy was ambitious.

Finally he found himself in front of the Gilberts' house but he couldn't muster up the confidence to walk up the drive way and knock on the door.

He didn't have to because there was a car pulling up with Jenna and Jeremy in it.

The car reached to a stop and Jenna shot Jeremy a confused look.

As he unbuckled his seat belt he told her it was nothing and he'd be inside in a minute.

Jeremy sat there for a second not knowing what he should do. Punch him. No. Kiss him. No. Knee him in his fucking groin. He shuddered at the thought. It was like a rule that dudes would never do that to other dudes. But Jeremys' heart was in knots and he hadn't gotten much sleep the night before so he said screw the rule. Of course he wouldn't though. His plan was to seem cold and unaffected.

He opened his door and watched as Jenna walked inside.

"Jeremy, wait." Tyler made his way slowly to Jeremy and wanted so badly to squeeze him for days.

"Go away, Tyler". Now, you'd think Jeremy would look pissed, or hurt, or any other kind of emotion. But he appeared to be- just emotionless. His eyes were flat and his voice was monotone and his body stood straight and he took long but slow strides to his house. Not even looking at the other boy.

"So what? We're done? Just like that? You won't even say anything?" He didn't intend to yell, but his voice was louder than he meant for it to be.

Jeremy stopped. He thought about Tylers' words. He came to the realization that even though he loved Tyler, he loved himself more. And no one cheats on Jeremy Gilbert and just get away with it. He wasn't going to act as if things were fine. He wasn't going to smooth the blow. He wasn't even going to put on a slightly comforting face. Jeremy turned to face the boy he craved and resented at the same time and made his decision.

"You want to hear it?" He didn't blink. His voice hadn't changed from before.

"We're done." Jeremys' eyes traveled to the ground and walked away.

He walked away leaving Tyler just standing there. Tyler wasn't going to stop him. He wasn't going to run up to him and do what he wanted to do so badly, but he did say one last thing.

"I love you." His voice was raspy and low. It wasn't low enough for Jeremy not to hear it though.

Tyler had hope when Jeremy opened the door but didn't walk through. He paused, he stood there with his back turned against Tylers' view and he finally moved. He opened the door wide, walked inside, and shut it after him.

And that was it. Tyler walked the miserable walk to get answers and see how Jeremy felt and he got what he was after. He just didn't want the answer Jeremy gave him. He hoped for something positive and all he got was what he feared the most. They were over. But being the stubborn jock that Tyler Lockwood was, he knew it wasn't over forever. He knew that Jeremy still had feelings for him and he'd do what ever it took to make him see that. The only problem was that he didn't know how to make Jeremy forgive him. Getting Jeremy to realize that he still wanted Tyler would be the easier of the two parts. But you can't force someone to forget how you fucked up. And Tyler knew that.

That's where it hit him.

He'd have to go to the people that were close to Jeremy. Obviously his family was out. But he knew there was someone else. That girl.

Michelle? No.

Marnie? No.

Marissa? No.

Oooh, Melissa.

Now Tyler didn't know how he was going to talk to her, it's not like he's ever seen her around school. Well, except for that one day. The day that made him so jealous in the first place. But he knew he'd see her eventually. Even if he had to look for the damn girl. He thought it was a little ironic that he was so pissed because of her in the beginning, and now he was going to look for her and get some advice. And maybe, just maybe, convince her to help him. Which he knew would be a shot in hell, but he had to try. Right?

(Okay, so at this point Melissa went to Ohio for her Fathers' funeral and she's been back for a few days. I know the time line doesn't fit, but lets pretend it's been a few days since Tyler left Jeremys' house.)

...........................................................................

Tylers' at school and he hasn't seen Jeremy. But he's seen someone else.

He had an advantage because he knew what lunch she had. She had the lunch with Jeremy and he was actually thankful that Jeremy hadn't shown up that day. This was his chance to talk to her without Jeremy there. Without him knowing that Tyler went to the one person he gave Jeremy such a hard time about.

She was eating at the table she shared with Jeremy and was disappointed he didn't go to school that day. But she had friends before she went to visit her Dad in Ohio. Well, not many now that she didn't hang with the stoners anymore, but still.

Tyler scanned the crowd and finally saw her. She had people sitting with her and one at a time her table started to grow empty. Except for her, of course. Otherwise his plan would be for nothing.

Once she was alone Tyler made his way past the other students and without invitation, he sat next to her. At first Melissa hadn't even noticed. Until she took her eyes off of her food and looked up at the jock she once despised. Most of the stoners didn't like the jocks. And especially Tyler Lockwood. He was well known for being an ass and even after she sobered up, Melissa still had that opinion.

Melissa started to stand up and walk off but her hand was grabbed before she could do so.

"What the hell?" She looked annoyed rather than angry. This guy had never even spoken to her and now he was bombarding her lunch? What's that about?

"Hang on." He didn't notice his hand was still wrapped around her wrist but when he did, he dropped it instantly. After all, Tyler didn't want to scare her off.

"I'm- I'm Tyler." He said with his most charming smile.

She figured, 'What the hell, why not humor him for a while.'

So she remained as she was and started to speak.

"I know who you are." Except this time, she didn't smile back like Tyler did.

"Hmm. And I know who you are."

"Really? What's my name?" Her left eyebrow arched and wanted to see how much this guy knew.

"Melissa. Don't ask me to say what your last name is, because honestly, I don't know." Well, at least he was honest.

"Okay, and what do you want?" The words sounded harsh, but her tone actually wasn't.

"You're close with Jeremy Gilbert. And I need your help."

She was intrigued. Out of everything she expected, that wasn't even close on the list.

"Mmhm. And why would I help you?"

Okay, now Tyler Lockwood had a choice. He had the option to lay everything out on the line and hope she'd sympathize with him, or he could tell her most of the truth and see how far she'd go to help him without knowing all of the facts. He decided to just say he "hurt" Jeremy. Giving her the specifics would only decrease his chances of her helping him and he knew that.

His chocolate brown eyes looked into Melissas'. He was acting differently than she'd ever seen him act before. Before she left a couple years back, she remembered this pompous arrogant ass of a guy and now she was seeing a guy who looked, almost vulnerable.

"Because I'm in love with him." He said sincerely.

Her mouth fell open slightly and her eyes widened with shock. She immediately corrected her face but her brows still showed emotion. Surprised!

"I'll understand if you don't believe me. If I didn't know better, I wouldn't believe it either. But I do, and I fucked up. I screwed things up and I'm desperate. He likes you. Your friendship is important to him and I figured if anybody could help me, it'd be you." Well, Tyler mostly laid it all on the line. He was actually surprised at himself. He didn't know he'd sound so...sensitive.

"So, and- You and- and Jeremy? Together?" She didn't want to seem judgemental, but she had no idea that Jeremy was even into dudes. He'd never mention it to her before.

"Not exactly. Like I said. I fucked up and he ended it. But I know he still cares and if I can even get him to think about forgiving me, I'll do it. I just thought I'd be more successful if you'd help me out."

Damn it. She is never in a million years going to agree to help me. Why would she? She doesn't know me. She doesn't owe me anything. And now that she knows I hurt him, she's going to hate me. This was a mistake. Tyler was losing his ambition until-

"Okay." She said simply.

"What?" He was shocked. He was convinced that she'd refuse to help him, and the next thing he hears is, "Okay". Just like that? There had to be a reason.

"I'm going to help you win him back." Finally she managed to smile at him.

"I'm- I'm grateful, don't get me wrong, but, you don't even know me. Why so easy to say you'll help?"

"Because I've known Jeremy Gilbert for a long time. And the Jeremy now is so much different than the one from before. Some thing's changed about him and I've been trying to figure out why. Well, here it is. It's you. He's told me before that he had someone in his life that made him happy. He wouldn't tell me, though. Trust me, I did every thing to get it out of him, but he told me he'd say who it was when he felt it was ready."

She paused momentarily. Taking the time to read Tyler as best as she could. She knew he had changed. And she had a feeling that Jeremy had something to do with it. Only making her decision even easier. Tyler made Jeremy happier and Jeremy managed to take Tyler down a notch. The only thing that gave her doubt was the fact that Tyler did fuck up. And if he hurt Jeremy, then why does he deserve him back? So she decided the only way she'll help him is if he explained to her what happened and had better have a damn good reason and convince her he deserved Jeremy again.

"On one condition." Her posture had straightened and she was serious.

Crap, here it comes.

"Okay." He knew what was coming.

"What did you do? What could you have done to make Jeremy end it?" Melissa was pretty sure she knew the answer. But for her to be right, there would have to have been a third party. And she was curious.

"I'll tell you." He sighed heavily and took a shot. She'd either think he was a jackass and deserve what he got, or she'll still think that but help him because it was obvious he was hurting.

"Ready when you are." She blinked.

"I went to his house and saw him with another person. It was", he hesitated. "It was you."

"And I got the wrong idea, I guess. But I uh, I got jealous and left. A friend of mine knew about me and Jer and I told him that I thought Jer was cheating, which I know now I was completely wrong and was an idiot, but I didn't then. I went over to his place. And- I was pissed, and-", this part was the hardest, "one thing lead to another and I cheated on Jeremy. We didn't go all the way, but-", his faced turned so guilty and so sad that Melissa just stopped him.

"Okay. 1. Bastard move; 2. If Jeremy cared about you like he lead you to believe, then why would he cheat? and 3. Now I'm not so sure I want to help you. You cheated on him. Do you even know how wrong that is?"

"Of course I do." Tyler snapped.

"I'm sorry, I just," he breathed in and exhaled, "I made a mistake and I know what I did was horrible. If I could, I'd go back and re-do everything I did. But I can't and now I'm miserable. He won't talk to me, he hasn't shown up to school, and I miss him. I-I told him I loved him and he walked away. So of course I know what I did was terrible. And I don't blame him for hating me. I just, I want a second chance."

A/n: Okay. Let me know what you all thought. To be honest, I'm disappointed, but I needed some how to incorporate Melissa and this was the only way I knew how. Plus I kind of wished I waited, I mean, does it seemed rushed? Oh, I hope not. I realize there's not much Jyler in this one, but we can't have Jeremy forgiving Tyler in the blink of an eye, right?
Thoughts?
One more thing, there's a song that kind of goes with this. Well, it relates to the title at least.
9 Crimes - Damien Rice
Mainly when Tyler and Jeremy have their, "It's over", talk.
Which of course isn't the end of our Jyler. Oh heck no!