Vampire Diaries Imagines

Miss You Already - Jeremy Gilbert

The trunk of Alaric's car slammed shut, and the sound echoed through the quiet morning air. I sat on the porch steps of the Salvatore Boarding House, arms wrapped around my knees as I watched Jeremy toss his backpack over his shoulder. His hair was messy, the way it always was when he didn't care enough to brush it, and his gray hoodie was hanging loose off his frame. He looked... older somehow. Older than the boy I used to chase around the yard. Older than the little brother I used to hold after nightmares woke him up in the middle of the night.

But that's what happens, right? Time moves forward whether you're ready for it or not.

Jeremy glanced toward me, his lips pulling into that boyish smile that always reminded me of Dad. He was trying to keep it together, I could tell. The way his shoulders were a little too stiff, how he kept fiddling with the strap of his bag - he didn't want to make this harder than it already was.

Alaric was leaning against the driver's side door, giving us space. He knew this wasn't something to rush.

"Are you sure you've got everything?" I asked, my voice steady even though my heart was twisting in my chest.

Jeremy rolled his eyes, smiling. "Yes, mom. You've already checked three times."

"Well, excuse me for not wanting you to get halfway across the country and realize you left your toothbrush behind."

He laughed, stepping toward me. "I think I'll survive without a toothbrush for a few hours."

I smiled back, but my chest felt tight. I didn't know how to say it - how to put into words what this moment meant. It wasn't just him leaving for college. It was the end of something - of this chapter where I had to be the one holding everything together. After Mom and Dad died, I'd stepped into that role without even thinking about it. Keeping Jeremy and Elena safe had become my whole world. And now... Jeremy didn't need me like that anymore.

"I would have gone with you to the airport," I said quietly. "But I think it would've been harder watching you actually get on the plane."

Jeremy's expression softened, and for a second, he just stood there, watching me with that knowing look he always had. "Yeah... I think it would've been harder for me too."

He sat down next to me, his knee brushing against mine. His arm looped around my shoulders, pulling me into his side. I leaned into him without hesitation. It was easy - being close to him like this. It made me realize how rare these moments were going to be from now on.

"You know you don't have to worry about me, right?" Jeremy said, his voice low.

"Yeah, well..." I swallowed the lump in my throat. "That's kind of my thing."

He chuckled. "I'll be fine, YNN."

I turned to look at him, searching his face for any sign that he was nervous or scared. But he looked... steady. Confident. Like maybe he was finally starting to figure himself out.

"Call if you need anything, okay?" My voice cracked slightly, but I didn't care.

Jeremy's hand tightened around my shoulder. "I will."

I hesitated, then leaned over and kissed the side of his head. "I'm proud of you, you know."

Jeremy smiled, but his eyes were glassy. "I know."

Alaric cleared his throat from across the driveway, and Jeremy sighed, standing up. He hesitated for a second, his hand lingering on my shoulder before he finally pulled away.

"I'll see you soon?" he said, looking down at me.

I nodded. "Yeah. See you soon."

Jeremy smiled one last time before heading toward the car. He climbed into the passenger seat, and Alaric shot me a small, understanding smile before starting the engine.

I watched them pull out of the driveway, Jeremy's hand lifting in a small wave through the window. I waved back until the car disappeared down the road, leaving behind the familiar, empty stillness of the boarding house.

I sat there for a long time, staring at the spot where the car had disappeared, my heart aching in a way I hadn't expected.

And when I finally stood up and went inside, the house felt just a little too quiet.

I stood in the kitchen, one hand wrapped around my coffee mug while the other lazily stirred in a splash of cream. The warm scent filled the air, but I barely noticed it. The house was too quiet - too still. No Jeremy stomping around looking for his shoes, no sarcastic remarks from the other room when I reminded him to clean up his mess. Just silence.

I hated it.

The quiet was loud in all the wrong ways.

I leaned against the counter, taking a slow sip of coffee, hoping it would settle the anxious feeling in my chest. Twenty minutes. He'd only been gone twenty minutes, and I already felt like the house didn't fit right anymore.

My phone rang from across the counter, and I nearly spilled my coffee scrambling to grab it.

Jeremy.

I answered so fast I nearly fumbled the phone. "Hey," I said, my voice too eager.

"Hey," Jeremy's voice came through the line, casual but warm. "Just wanted to let you know we made it to the airport in one piece."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. "Good. That's... good."

There was a pause, just long enough that I knew him well enough to recognize it wasn't nothing.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Yeah," he answered too quickly. "I just figured... I don't know... you'd wanna know we made it here okay."

I smiled a little, setting my coffee mug down. "I appreciate that."

"Ric's getting coffee, so I figured I'd call before he gets back. He's been rambling about some ancient artifact he's been researching, and I needed a break."

I laughed softly. "What's one more conversation of needless information from our favorite history professor for the road, right?"

Jeremy chuckled, but there was something softer underneath it - something that made my chest tighten.

"You sure you're okay?" I asked again, quieter this time.

He didn't answer right away, and when he did, his voice was quieter too. "Yeah... yeah, I'm good. Just... I guess it's weird, y'know? Leaving."

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "Yeah. It's weird for me too."

"You okay?" he shot back, his tone teasing now.

"Shut up," I muttered, smiling despite myself. "I'm fine."

"You better be." His voice softened again, more serious this time. "I mean it, YNN. Don't just... keep everything bottled up, okay?"

I swallowed hard. "I won't."

"And if you need anything -"

"I know," I cut him off gently. "Call you."

"Yeah." His voice wavered slightly, like he wanted to say something else but wasn't sure how. "Well... guess I should go. They're gonna call my flight soon."

I chuckled, even though I didn't really feel like laughing. "Yeah... okay."

"YNN?"

"Yeah?"

"...I miss you already."

My breath hitched, and I had to blink back the sudden sting in my eyes. "I miss you too, Jer."

Neither of us hung up right away, just the soft hum of the line stretching between us.

"I'll see you soon," Jeremy finally said.

"See you soon," I echoed.

The line clicked off, and I stood there, phone still pressed to my ear, feeling just a little bit better than I had twenty minutes ago.