Unexpected (Vampire Diaries Fanfic)

Mysterious Salvatore

The next morning, I woke up early, feeling a mix of excitement and concern. I wanted to check in on Jeremy and see how he was handling everything. I got ready quickly, pulling on a simple outfit—jeans, a cozy sweater, and sneakers—and headed over to Elena's house.

When I arrived and knocked on the door, Jenna answered with her usual warm smile. "Hey Jess, Elena and Jeremy are eating breakfast. Come on in."

Jenna was awesome—her laid-back attitude and youthful spirit made her feel more like a friend than an adult. I walked inside and into the kitchen, where Elena and Jeremy were seated at the table, sipping their coffee. The smell of fresh coffee and sizzling bacon filled the room, creating a comforting atmosphere.

"Hey guys," I greeted them as I took a seat at the table.

"Hey! How was your date?" Elena asked with a wide grin, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"It was really awesome," I said, my face lighting up. "He was a perfect gentleman."

Jeremy looked up, a hint of confusion in his eyes. "Who'd you go out with?"

"Tyler Lockwood," I replied.

Jeremy's expression shifted, and he gave me a wary look. "Be careful. That guy can be a real ass."

I snorted, brushing off his concern. "I'll be fine."

"Whatever," Jeremy muttered, but I could see the worry behind his words.

"Jeremy, are you okay?" I asked, sensing something more beneath his terse response.

"I'm fine," he said, though his tone was defensive.

"Are you sure? I heard about Vicki," I said gently, my concern evident.

"Drop it, okay?" Jeremy said, his voice strained.

"Okay," I said, feeling a pang of concern as I dropped the subject.

Soon after, Bonnie arrived to give us a ride to school. Elena and I said our goodbyes to Jeremy and Jenna, and I climbed into the backseat.

"Where's Stefan?" I asked Elena as we drove.

"He had practice this morning and had to leave early," Elena explained.

We arrived at school, and as I walked through the crowded hallways, I spotted Tyler talking with his football buddies by his locker. He looked up and saw me, a broad smile spreading across his face. He jogged over and greeted me with a kiss on the cheek, making me blush.

"I missed you," he said, grinning.

"You saw me last night," I teased.

"Well, I did," he said with a playful smirk. "Me too," I replied, laughing as he walked me to class.

Caroline was across the hall, grinning widely as she spotted me. I waved back, feeling a bit self-conscious under her gaze. As I settled into class, I prepared myself for another day of the usual routine.

The school day dragged on, but Tyler managed to walk me to my classes whenever he could. It was comforting to have him around, and his presence made the day seem brighter.

After school, Tyler drove me home. As we pulled up to my house, he turned to me with a serious expression.

"Hey Jess, do you want to go out with me?" he asked, catching me off guard.

"We went out last night," I said, confused.

"I mean, do you want to be my girlfriend?" he clarified.

A smile spread across my face. "Sure, I would love to."

"That's great," Tyler said, visibly relieved. He leaned in and kissed me again, this time more softly. It was my first kiss, and it was everything I had hoped for—gentle and perfect.

"Goodbye," I said as I got out of the car, my heart fluttering.

I walked into the house, still grinning from ear to ear. My mom was in the kitchen, finishing up some cinnamon buns. I grabbed one as I headed to my room.

I quickly finished my homework, knowing that I'd be meeting Elena at Stefan's for dinner later. At 5:30, my mom drove me over to Stefan's house, which was grand and imposing with its large columns and sprawling front lawn.

I knocked on the door, and instead of Stefan, a tall guy with semi-long black hair and piercing blue eyes answered. His confident smirk caught me off guard.

"Hi, is Stefan here?" I asked, trying to hide my surprise.

"Hi, I'm Damon, Stefan's big brother. Stefan went out for a few minutes, but come on in," he said, stepping aside to let me in.

"I'm Jessie. It's nice to meet you," I said, shaking his hand.

"I've heard about you from Stefan. You moved in next to Elena, right?" he asked, his eyes appraising me.

"Yeah, just on Sunday," I replied, trying to keep my composure. Damon was strikingly handsome, and I couldn't help but be intrigued.

Just then, Stefan walked in, carrying a couple of grocery bags. "Damon, take these," he said, shoving the bags into Damon's hands.

"I guess that's my cue to leave," Damon said with a last smirk, "It was fascinating meeting you, Jessie." He turned and walked out, leaving me with a curious mix of relief and disappointment.

"Hey Jess, Elena's on her way, so I guess we should start dinner," Stefan said, turning to me with a smile.

"Yeah, that sounds great," I said, following him into the kitchen.

Damon had disappeared, leaving us to prepare the fettuccine Alfredo. The kitchen smelled of garlic and cheese as Stefan and I worked together.

"So, what did Damon say to you?" Stefan asked suddenly, his tone serious.

"Nothing much. We just introduced ourselves," I said, puzzled by his concern.

"Just be careful, okay? My brother can be dangerous," Stefan warned, his gaze intense.

I nodded, reassured by Stefan's protective demeanor. We continued cooking, and soon Elena arrived. We enjoyed a delicious dinner together, filled with laughter and conversation. The evening was pleasant and comforting, a welcome distraction from the day's earlier events.