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Tyler’s leaning up against the side of his car still reeling from…well from everything. He’s waiting, rather impatiently for Caroline and Matt so he can get the fuck out of here but they’re sure taking they’re sweet time about it. There are figures approaching him but he can’t quite make them out through the darkness, it doesn’t look like blonde hair but there are two of them so…

They’re in front of him and definitely not Caroline and Matt; instead it’s a rather pissed off Elena Gilbert and Stefan who looks unsure about this whole thing and maybe a bit scared, actually a lot scared as he watches his girlfriend with skeptical eyes. He can only assume (and he figures it’s a pretty good assumption judging by how absolutely livid Elena looks,) that Jeremy’s told her everything, or at least enough for her to want to rip Tyler to shreds and honestly, right now, he would probably let her. She looks a lot like her brother (she’s pretty like him but definitely isn’t, at least not in Tyler’s opinion, devastatingly gorgeous like Jeremy is) but her eyes hold a fire and an agenda that Jeremy’s beautiful color never could and Tyler knows he has every reason to be afraid of her right now. God where are Caroline and Matt.

Stefan grabs Elena’s arm to try and pull her back, almost like he’s trying to tame the beast but she isn’t having any of that as she glares up at her boyfriend who shrinks under her gaze. Tyler stifles a chuckle. It’s obvious who wears the pants in their relationship not that Tyler has any room to judge, he’d be just a whipped for Jeremy (he kind of already is,) as Stefan is for Elena.

Elena shakes him off and stops right in front of Tyler who’s not entirely sure what to do with himself so he doesn’t do anything and stays propped against his car with his arms crossed over his chest. Icy, dangerous eyes pierce his own and Tyler feels like she can see every secret he’s ever had and that scares the shit out of him. She points an accusatory finger at him and Tyler doesn’t have any room to shy away or anywhere to escape to but boy-oh-boy did he wish he did.

“Listen to me, Tyler Lockwood,” Christ her voice is just as harsh as her eyes, Caroline is friends with this chick? “I don’t know what you’re playing at but it needs to stop. Where do you get off hurting people the way you do? Maybe it’s all just for kicks, if it is fine but find someone else to mess with and leave my brother alone!”

“Elena…I-”

“I warned Jeremy about shit like this, and guys like you although I didn’t think that warning would ever apply to you Tyler. I didn’t ever think you’d be like this but now I see how it is with you, just like all the other dickhead guys out there…you want one thing and one thing only. Stubborn ass that he is though didn’t listen to me and now look where that’s landed him. Leave him alone Tyler, I mean it,” her lips curl into a rather unattractive snarl. She lowers her voice so it’s dangerous and menacing, “If you think even for a second that I won’t destroy you if you keep messing with him, well let’s just say that Jeremy’s pissed off friends will be the least of your worries.” Then just like that the venom dissolved and a softer Elena takes over. There’s the pretty sister, gentle protector, guardian without the claws that Tyler’s seen around campus preening her brother with a sweet motherly affection. “He’s been hurt so many times Tyler and I will not watch as it happens again, I just won’t.”

Tyler stands up from the car, speaking vehemently so she understands, “Elena I would never, never hurt him.”

“You already have,” and that feels like a bullet through his chest, suddenly he can’t breathe because she’s right. Thursday afternoon comes rushing back to him, hearing it from someone else’s mouth makes it sting that much more and he’s never hated this stupid plan more.

“I know I have…but,”

“Hey guys, Lena, Stefan, what’s going on?” Tyler gets cut off by Caroline’s approach.

Nobody answers and Caroline stands there looking oddly put out and entirely confused. Matt quirks an eyebrow at Tyler but he doesn’t know how to respond in a way that wouldn’t take half the night and a few more beers.

“Elena,” Tyler starts and she turns back to him with an annoyed expression, “I know I’ve hurt Jeremy and believe me I hate myself for it but I’m going to fix it.”

“No you aren’t,” Elena hisses and Stefan grabs her around the waist to keep her from lunging at him, Matt comes to stand next to Tyler while Caroline crosses her arms over her chest. “You stay away from him Tyler, you’ve done enough.”

Caroline makes a sound of understanding, “We’re not done yet though.” Tyler mentally face-palms, that sounded so horrible and exactly what Elena was talking about.

Elena’s eyes widen at Caroline who looks completely unfazed. She whips her head around to Tyler then back to Caroline, to Matt then to Stefan. “You’re all…I told you it was a game to him,” she spits as she looks towards Stefan.

“It’s not a game,” Caroline argues almost indignantly but then she softens as a look a pride comes over her features, “It’s an elaborate multi-step plan that’s in its late adolescent stages…like I said we aren’t done yet though.”

Elena scoffs loudly, shock painted all over her face at her friend’s explanation. Tyler glares at Caroline while Matt shakes his head tiredly. “Caroline,” Tyler starts; she looks at him expectantly, “Stop talking.” Her face falls almost comically.

“A plan,” Stefan wonders but he doesn’t sound as mad as Elena does when she speaks, “A plan to break my little brothers’ heart! He isn’t a toy Tyler! His heart isn’t some silly little play thing for you to do as you please with then toss away like it’s a piece of garbage!”

“No it’s not anything like that-”

“Really,” she cries, “Because it sure sounds like-”

“I’m in love with him!”

Elena looks taken aback, a whole new level of shock. Caroline looks stunned too but not unhappy, Matt looks proud and pleased and Stefan doesn’t look surprised but why should he be, everyone knows about his crush.

“What,” she squeaks once she’s composed herself, “You can’t…you don’t-”

“I do,” Tyler cuts her off. She shakes her head eyes wide, looking like a thought is stuck in her throat. “I’ve been in love with Jeremy since he was a freshman.”

“But…that’s, that’s not-”

Matt chokes loudly, exaggerated, making them all jump, “Wait a fucking second…you really didn’t know.” Elena shakes her head mechanically. “I thought everyone knew,” Matt murmurs quietly as he looks at Tyler with a funny look on his face. Tyler shrugs his shoulder with a laugh, he thought everyone knew too, guess not.

Elena looks back to Stefan and he just smiles, her mouth is agape when she looks back at three of them. She clears her throat looking a little embarrassed, “So…” Elena gestures to Tyler. He looks down to himself, dark clothes and leather jacket, he’s so comfortable in these clothes he completely forgot he was wearing something that would be considered ‘not him.’

“This,” he pulls at his jacket, drags a hand through his hair, “Is all for him.”

“But why,” Stefan speaks, his voice showing the confusion that isn’t present on his face. Caroline straightens up because this is where she comes into play. “Bad boy,” she smiles like it’s the most obvious thing ever as she points to Tyler, “That’s what Jeremy wants, so that’s what we made Tyler into.”

Elena smiles slightly as she watches Caroline like she’s finally gone off the deep end. “Why not just be yourself.” Tyler considers this but doesn’t answer as he thinks about it. Elena softens completely as she watches Tyler as he thinks about her words, she pats him on the shoulder before she’s taking Stefan’s hand and turning to leave.

Tyler turns to Matt who pulls him into a one armed hug. They start getting into the car when Elena calls out to him, “Lose the bad boy, he’ll like you better if you show him you…trust me!” She tosses him a smile and wave before continuing on her way with Stefan on her arm.

He gets into the car to Matt beaming and Caroline looking a little affronted. Tyler takes off the leather jacket and places in on the seat between him and Matt as he starts the car, he can’t stop thinking about what Elena said the whole way home.

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