2016 January Collection

Request - Jeremy Gilbert "Being Alive"

You had not felt this alive for years, for decades. You had missed your heart skipping beats every time he touched your hand. You had missed your cheeks heating up every time he smiled at you. You had missed so much and you had not even known it, until you had met Jeremy.

He had been the one helping you to feel at home in Mystic Falls. He had told you which plates to order in the Mystic Grill and which ones to avoid. He had showed you where to hang out and where not to go. He had even tried to help you with your homework, even though that wasn't necessary.

With him you felt human and therefore you had never dared to tell him that you weren't. You had never dared to show him your sharp teeth. You had never dared to explain him that you would never grow older. You had never dared to confess that you were a vampire. Partly because you had been afraid that you would ruin everything. Partly because you had no idea how to say something like that.

"The woods can be kinda dangerous at times, but don't worry, you're safe with me." Jeremy squeezed your hand and he smiled at you.

Telling him that vampires and werewolves existed would ruin his entire world. It would change everything. It would change him.

"I know. You always take care of me." You smiled back at him and grabbed his arm with your free hand. You wished that things could stay like this forever. You wished that it would be just him and you and nothing else, apart from the trees and the birds.

Your sweet daydream was disturbed by an explosion. Not the figurative explosion you confessing that you were a vampire would be, but a real explosion.

Your first instinct was to find him.

He was human. He was only human.

"Jeremy?" You yelled his name, but he didn't answer. "Jeremy!" You tried again and you coughed. You couldn't see a thing because of the smoke, but all of a sudden you smelled blood. "Jeremy!" You panicked and you followed your nose, your instincts. You had no idea how many miles you were walking, but eventually you saw him, covered in wounds and blood, barely breathing.

His eyes were wide open and he tried to lift up his hand as soon as he saw you.

"Don't move. Please, don't move."

The blood was everywhere. On his shirt, on his pants.

You had no idea if he would survive this, unless you would do something. You didn't hesitate. You closed your eyes and allowed your teeth to grown. When you opened your eyes again, you saw Jeremy staring at you while you bit your own wrist.

He didn't protest, he didn't ask questions, he didn't panick. He simply waited until you brought your wrist to his lips and he took a few sips.

You realized that he knew. He knew about vampires and he had probably already known that you were one too.

He had just not said it.

Just like you had just not said it.