Vampire Diaries Imagines

Let's Breathe - Jeremy Gilbert

Sometimes, I just need a moment to myself. Mystic Falls has this way of pulling you into chaos like quicksand, and lately, I've been feeling like I'm drowning in it.

I slipped as quietly as I could out of the Gilbert house, where I had been staying for the past few months, my sneakers crunching against the gravel driveway. The cool night air felt like a balm against my heated skin as I made the long walk down to the edge of Wickery Bridge. The moon reflected on the water, shimmering like some kind of promise that peace was possible, if only for a moment.

Throwing my legs over the railing, I let my legs dangle over the water just sitting there in the quietness for a moment. The breeze tousled my hair, and for the first time in what felt like days, I let out a deep, unguarded sigh.

Alone. Finally. Just me, the calm water below me, and-

"YN."

His voice broke through my thoughts like a needle dragging across a record. I groaned, not even bothering to look over my shoulder.

"Jeremy, go home. I'm fine."

Instead of leaving, I heard his footsteps approaching. He didn't stop until he was standing right next to me, his figure coming into my view as he came to sit next to me but facing the opposite way. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught his sheepish smile.

"Clearly, you're not fine. When you go MIA like this, it usually means you're about to break something or scream into the void."

I rolled my eyes and kept staring at the water. "Maybe I just wanted to be alone. Ever think of that?"

He nudged me with his elbow just slightly. "You don't do alone time, YNN. Not unless something's bothering you. Spill."

There it was-Jeremy, being the overly perceptive, stubborn little brother type that he was. Except he wasn't my brother, and sometimes the way he looked at me made that distinction glaringly obvious.

"It's nothing," I muttered, hoping he'd take the hint and leave. He didn't.

"YN, you're the worst liar I've ever met." He leaned back just slightly so he could see my face. "So, you can either tell me, or I'll sit here and annoy you until you do."

I shot him a glare, but it didn't faze him. His grin only grew, like he knew he was winning.

"It's just... everything," I admitted reluctantly, my voice softer than I intended. "The constant danger, the secrets, the lies. It's exhausting. I'm exhausted."

Jeremy nodded like he understood, and maybe he did. After all, he'd been through more than his fair share of trauma. "Yeah, it's a lot. But you're not alone, you know. You've got me. Always."

I swallowed hard, hating the way my chest tightened at his words. I didn't know if it was the sincerity in his voice or the way his eyes softened as they met mine, but something about it made me feel seen in a way I hadn't in a long time.

"I just... needed to breathe," I said quietly. "To not feel like the world's falling apart for five minutes."

Jeremy sat up straight and offered me his hand. "Then let's breathe."

I blinked at him. "What?"

"Come on," he said, holding out his hand to me. "Let's take a walk. No chaos, no drama. Just you and me and some fresh air."

I hesitated, but the look on his face-a mix of boyish mischief and genuine concern-made it impossible to say no.

"Fine," I relented, turning myself and throwing my legs back over the railing, slipping my hand into his as he pulled me off my perch. His fingers closed around mine, warm and reassuring, and for the first time that night, I felt like maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay.

"See?" Jeremy said as we started walking along the bridge. "Not so bad, right?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I let myself enjoy the quiet moment, his presence grounding me in a way I hadn't expected. Maybe I didn't need to be alone after all.

We walked in silence for a while, the only sounds coming from the steady rhythm of our footsteps on the wooden planks of the bridge. The tension I'd been carrying all day began to dissolve, replaced by something softer, something warmer. It was strange how just having Jeremy there made me feel like the weight on my shoulders was a little easier to bear.

"Where are we even going?" I finally asked, breaking the silence.

Jeremy shrugged. "Nowhere in particular. Just thought you could use a change of scenery."

I glanced over at him, his dark hair falling slightly into his eyes, and I couldn't help but smile. "You're so annoying, you know that?"

"Yeah," he said with a grin, "but I'm your kind of annoying."

I rolled my eyes but didn't argue. He wasn't wrong.

As we reached the end of the bridge, Jeremy gestured toward a grassy patch off the side of the road. "Come on. Let's sit for a bit."

I hesitated for a moment, but the idea of sitting under the stars, away from everything, was too tempting to resist. I followed him over and plopped down on the cool grass, stretching my legs out in front of me. Jeremy sat next to me, close enough that our shoulders brushed.

"You ever wonder what it would be like if all of this-vampires, witches, werewolves-just didn't exist?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"All the time," Jeremy said, leaning back on his elbows. "But then I think about the people I wouldn't have with me if things were normal."

I turned to look at him, my brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"

He glanced at me, his expression unreadable for a moment before he spoke. "If things were normal, if Mystic Falls was just another boring small town, we probably wouldn't be as close as we are. And as much as I hate all the danger and the loss, I wouldn't trade having you in my life for anything."

His words hung in the air between us, heavy and electric. My heart did this strange little flutter, and I suddenly felt like I couldn't breathe.

"Jeremy..." I started, unsure of what I even wanted to say.

He sat up, leaning closer to me. "I mean it, YNN. You've been my anchor through all of this. When everything feels like it's falling apart, you're the one thing that keeps me grounded."

I swallowed hard, my eyes darting away from his. "You're just saying that because you wanna make me feel better."

"No," he said firmly, reaching out to gently turn my face back toward him. "I'm saying it because it's true."

The way he was looking at me-like I was the only thing that mattered in the world-made my stomach flip. I'd always known Jeremy cared about me, but this felt different. It felt... deeper.

"I don't know what to say," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

"You don't have to say anything," he said softly. "I just needed you to know."

For a moment, we just sat there, staring at each other. The air between us felt charged, like something big was about to happen. And then, before I could overthink it, I leaned in, closing the distance between us.

The kiss was soft, tentative, like we were testing the waters. But when his hand came up to cup my cheek, pulling me closer, it deepened, becoming something more. Something real.

When we finally pulled apart, I felt like the world had shifted on its axis. Jeremy's forehead rested against mine, his eyes searching mine for some kind of confirmation.

"Was that okay?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

I let out a shaky laugh. "Yeah, Jer. That was more than okay."

He smiled, his thumb brushing lightly against my cheek. "Good. Because I've been wanting to do that for a long time."

My heart swelled at his words, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt like I could breathe again. Maybe I didn't need to be alone to find peace. Maybe all I needed was Jeremy.