𝐇𝐎𝐀𝐗 | tvd & reign oneshots

- 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝗶 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 (𝟮).

Part 2! I'm trying something new with romcom plots and fluffy shit—it's something called branching out + I've been on a writing streak lately—NO WRITERS' BLOCK, WHOOO... anyways...

—

Jeremy and Anna stayed up the entire night, but no more words were exchanged between them - he didn't try to ask what her cryptic words meant. When the early rays of morning sunshine began to peek through the blinds, she fell asleep - Jeremy took her over to the couch and gently laid her there, draping a blanket over her body.

Everyone came in at 10, still hung over from last night, as Tyler had let them all crash in his living room - it seemed as if no one paid much attention to Anna on the couch, (or they did, they were just trying to be polite about it).

"Nice to see you're finally back in the dating game," Tyler remarked to Jeremy while looking through the archives. "Took you long enough, honestly."

"Yeah, it's been a while," Jeremy chuckled. "But—it's not like that with Anna. We're just friends, I swear—there's nothing going on between us. I've just met her yesterday - surely, I'd have to know her longer than that if we're actually going to date."

"Friends," Lexi Branson said, emphasizing the tiny word. "Sure, Little Gilbert, keep telling yourself that."

Their newest editor, Liv Parker, looked slightly crestfallen upon overhearing the conversation—but Tyler came up and wrapped an arm around her, presenting the blonde with a cup of espresso. She grinned brightly, all traces of storminess marring her features disappearing and leaned up to kiss Tyler's cheek. Jeremy concluded that something about Caroline's call last night might've had something to do with that.

In the front room, where Anna was just starting to wake up, realizing where she was, the booming voice of Matt could be heard. "Hey! You must be Jeremy's girlfriend! He hasn't been dating since high school because all his previous girlfriends died, and he's fucking terrified of traumatic historical precedent repeating itself—yeah. Anyway, it's so nice to meet you!"

Jeremy immediately groaned and mentally facepalmed himself, going up to see if the damage had been done. "You got any reporting or writing skills?" he heard Lexi ask. "We're desperately in need of another intelligent mind here to interact with for a change." Lexi specifically glared daggers at Matt as he backed away and put up his hands in surrender.

"I would, but I can't, alas," Anna laughed. "Only here for the holidays, but I would take up the offer otherwise. I know a few things, mainly from the high school newspaper I was in for a few years, but that's where my newspaper expertise ends."

"Well, you can be our honorary member," Jeremy said, entering the room with two cups of steaming coffee, handing one to Anna. "How does starting today sound?"

"I'd love that," she beamed.

What shade of brown were her eyes, exactly? Dark chocolate. Yeah, it was dark chocolate.

Jeremy didn't notice someone clearing their throat. "Just friends, Gilbert... just friends," Matt whispered into Jeremy's ear, causing the younger man to flush deep red and break away from his trance, shrugging it off and spending the rest of the day in the office, editing papers.

When the place had already closed up for the night, Jeremy stayed behind to finish his exposé with Anna. "So, Mr. Gilbert... what's your story?" she asked, setting down hot chocolate at his desk.

"Jeremy, please. Mr. Gilbert sounds like I'm some character out of a trashy 50s telenovela."

She giggled, and he felt a red blush covering his cheeks. "Yep, noted. Jeremy, I've told you my story, but you haven't told me yours yet."

"Well, technically... you didn't tell me your full story, remember? I asked you for one of your stories, I just didn't specify one. So it could very well be the full one, which, it's not, the real one, the short one that's either real or made-up, or the one that checks out on your alibi. I'd think it's the last two."

Her cheeks heat up in a red flush when he lists his reasons, and she leans forward, one hand on her chin and the other on the mug of hot chocolate. It's an unfamiliar feeling, whatever it is, but it's not horrible.

Not even close.

"Well, I've got all the time in the world," she smiles. "So, Jeremy, you're up first. What's your story?"

—
Edit: welp, Tyler's birthday was actually in February, but I already published it so why not - keep reading, keep writing, keep dreaming, V