*I'm not entirely sure how you guys are going to react to this chapter... so it'll be interesting*

"Hey, so I was thinking maybe we could go somewhere together," Jeremy brings up hesitantly. He eyes Christian, who's standing in front of the full length mirror tying his tie, while laying on the bed in just a pair of jeans.

"Where were you thinking?" Christian asks keeping the majority of his attention on finishing his attire but sparing Jeremy a glance through the mirror. The teenager shrugs slightly.

"I don't know, maybe we could go back to Orlando" Jeremy suggests. "Or we could go to a different place," Christian doesn't answer right away as he processes and works out different thoughts in his mind. "I just figured since Elena and Stefan were getting away that we should too" 

"You want to go somewhere now?" Christian turns away from the mirror. Jeremy nods. "We can't" Christian shakes his head walking towards his shoes. "Too much is going on, we can't just leave"

"But maybe we should leave because so much is going on" Jeremy argued. "Chris, we're not directly involved in any of this-"

"Not yet, but I have a feeling we will be" Christian cuts him off.

"Which is why we should leave before we're pulled into it," Jeremy presses. He climbs off of the bed and walks up to him. "Babe, you've been extremely stressed out lately. Half the time I feel as if you're in a whole different universe. I think it would do you some good-"

"I'm fine" Christian reassures him. "If you want a vacation I can set something up but not right now," Christian tells him sternly. "Damon asked me to be at this party at the Lockwood's and I told him I would be there,"

"Why didn't you say anything? I could have gotten dressed and went with you," Jeremy runs his hand through his hair in frustration.

"What did you think I was getting all dressed up for?" Christian asks raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know, sometimes you like to look fancy" Jeremy shrugs. "If you give me a second I can get ready and go with you"

"No, I'd rather you stay here" Christian tells him grabbing his suit jacket.

"Why?" Jeremy's shoulders deflate.

"Because Damon has something up his sleeve and I'd rather not have you anywhere near one of his plans," Christian tells him obviously. "I don't want you getting hurt. I won't be gone long and when I get back we can do something,"

"Like what?" Jeremy question.

"I don't know but we'll figure it out, I promise" Christian walks up to him. "I'm sorry, I know you're frustrated with me and I'll make it up to you. I love you but I have to go" Christian captures Jeremy's lips with his own for a short kiss before speed walking out of the room.

Jeremy sighs and rubs his face as he's left alone in the room. He stands there for a moment before making a decision.

"Where have you been?" Damon grumbles as Christian finally arrives to the party.

"It took a little longer for me to get ready," Christian shrugs causing his older brother to roll his eyes.

"God, you're such a girl" Christian chooses not to reply to that comment.

"What am I even doing here?" Christian questions slightly pissy knowing that him being here with Damon was annoying Jeremy.

"I need you to have my back, can I trust you?" Damon asks looking into Christian's eyes.

"You're my brother, of course you can" Christian answers. Damon isn't completely sure if he could trust him but nods anyways.

"Come on" Damon pats Christian's shoulder and the two of them enter the Lockwood's residence.

"Damon, Christian, what are you two doing here?" Jenna asks appearing in front of them.

"Hi, you came" Damon's new girl, Andie, walks up to him. They greet each other.

"Where's Jeremy?" Jenna asks.

"He's at home, I'm not planning on staying very long, I didn't want to bother him" Christian replies. Jenna nods slowly still not completely alright with their relationship. Soon, Damon and Andie are walking away. Christian quickly follows them wondering what Damon had up his sleeve.

However, it didn't take a genius for someone to figure out his plan. It only took a few steps for Christian to realize where they were going and who they were headed for. Christian slowly falls behind and Damon starts to get nervous as he wonders where his brother's loyalty lies.

"Damon" Carol greets cheerfully. "What a surprise" Damon discretely motions for Christian to move closer. He does with extreme hesitance. "Elijah, I want you to meet Damon Salvatore. His family is one of Mystic Falls' founding families"

"Such a pleasure to meet you" Damon says holding his hand out.

"No. Pleasure's mine" Elijah replies respectfully. They shake hands while quietly sizing each other up.

"Allow me to introduce my brother, Christian"  Damon moves to the side slightly bringing all the attention onto him.

"Hello, Christian" Elijah whispers softly. Christian doesn't reply. He hated Damon for putting him in the center of attention but the moment Christian looked into Elijah's eyes he felt trapped. He felt as if he couldn't look away. So many mixed emotions were running through him and it made him want to flee. 

"I'm going to get a drink" Christian finally decides. He walks past his brother, shoving his shoulder into his as he passes. He marches up to the bar and orders a strong drink. He drowns it quickly before ordering another.

"Easy, Christian, I would hate for this lovely people to believe you have a drinking problem" Christian inwardly groans as Elijah comes up to the bar and stands beside him.

"I don't have a drinking problem," Christian denies. "See, watch" Elijah glances at him as Christian chugs another glass. "I have no problem drinking," Christian smirks before motioning for the bartender to refill it. The human looks at Christian nervously never having seen someone drown two full glasses of alcohol, the strongest alcohol they have, back to back and look unaffected. "Fill the glass," Christian compels angrily. "Thank you," He mumbles much calmer once the glass is filled.

"Where's your boyfriend?" Elijah asks casually. Christian smirks picking up the hint of jealousy in not only his too causal tone but in his slightly tense stance as well.

"Probably in my room waiting for me to return," Christian smirks leaning against the bar on his side facing Elijah. "We had quite the long night last night, I can't blame him for wanting a little of time bit to recuperate" Of course this was a little white lie but Elijah didn't know that. Christian was fishing for a reaction and he wasn't disappointed. While Elijah remained his stoic self, a tick in his jaw gave him away.

"You know, I've been thinking a lot about our last conversation-"

"Oh, really?" Christian cuts him off knowing how much it annoyed him. His grin deepens as he notices Elijah's calm exterior begin to break in annoyance and frustration. "I haven't given it a second thought" This lie wasn't fooling anybody. Elijah knew he was lying and Christian knew that Elijah knew but it didn't matter, it the lie still annoyed Elijah which is exactly what Christian wanted.

"I should have never left you in Germany" Christian tenses immensely. "I should have returned to you, I should have talked things out and I should have included you in the decision... I shouldn't have ended things the way I did." Elijah's annoyance fades and is replaced by sorrow. "I'm so sorry, Christian" Elijah whispers. "I should have never said any of the things I said that day," Elijah admitted. "What I said couldn't have been further from the truth"

"Then why did you say them?" Christian whispers a single tear betraying him. Elijah's face falls even more as he watches it fall down his cheek. He raises his hand and gently wipes it away. He leaves his hand there, gently caressing his cheek. Christian gives in slightly and leans into Elijah's touch.

"I underestimated the love you had for me," Elijah whispers. "I never thought you would have reacted the way you did. I thought it would be a year at most for you to get over me, for you to forget about me and move on" Christian laughs moving his head away from Elijah's hand. Elijah frowns but lowers his arm. "I just wanted to protect you,"

"You wanted to protect me," Christian laughs again and drowns his third drink. "How ironic" Christian whispers watching the bartender fill the glass without hesitation. "You wanted to protect me, yet you were the one that broke me"

"I never meant for that to happen," Elijah tells him quietly. "I didn't think you would turn off your humanity, I didn't think you would be lost for so long,"

"Yeah, well, shit happens" Christian laughs humorlessly. Elijah stares at him but Christian avoids eye contact. He turns towards the bar and prays that Elijah will just leave but he doesn't, he simply moves closer.

"Is there anything I can do?" Elijah asks. "I know you don't want to hear it but I need you to know it," Christian clenches his eyes shut. "I love you"  The glass in Christian's hand shatters from the strong grip. A few people look over but the two of them ignore everyone else. 

Elijah reaches over for his hand but Christian flinches away. Elijah withdrawals trying to ignore the pang feeling in his heart. The bartender hastily cleans up while Christian picks the glass out of his hands with an emotionless expression.

"I know you're with someone else right now but I will wait for you," Elijah whispers to him. "I will do anything to get you back,"

"And what if I don't want you?" Christian whispers. Elijah tenses at the thought of never being able to hold Christian in his arms again. His heart breaks at the thought of never being able to share their lives together.

"Then I will have to learn to live with the regret of letting you go in the first place, a task that will take lifetimes to accomplish," Elijah tells him.

"Well," Christian looks at him. "It's a good thing you're immortal" Elijah gives him a pleading stare but Christian simply looks away from him. "My brother brought me here most likely to keep you from killing him," Elijah frowns his eyebrows slightly. "He most definitely has a stupid plan up his sleeve so do me a favor," Elijah instantly nods. "Whatever his plan is, don't kill him"

"I won't" Elijah instantly agrees. Christian nods and walks away from him without another word. Elijah goes to call him back but refrains. Despite Christian's words, Elijah wasn't ready to give up on them. 

"Is the reason why you won't leave with me Elijah?" Christian tenses a few steps outside of the Lockwood's mansion. He slowly turns and looks at Jeremy.

"When did you get here?" Christian asks.

"Well, I saw you and him by the bar" Jeremy says. "You two seem pretty close" Jeremy says remembering the way Elijah caressed Christian's face and how Christian leaned into the touch with a peaceful look on his face.

"Jeremy, don't be worried-"

"Don't be worried? How could I not be?" Jeremy spat. "You once told me that you would always be in love with Elijah" Jeremy said struggling to keep his voice from cracking. "And I asked you what would happen if he returned, you said he wouldn't but look where we're at" Jeremy laughed wiping the tears from his eyes. "Elijah's back and I feel like you're slipping"

"I'm not" Christian says as confidently as he could. "I love you, Jeremy" Christian moves closer to him but Jeremy takes a step back. "You want to leave? I'll leave, ok? I'll go anywhere you want, for as long as you want. We can run, I don't care, just don't leave me"

"You want me now but do you want me for the long haul?" Jeremy whispers. "Do you want me more than Elijah?"

"I don't trust Elijah, Jeremy" Christian tells him. 

"Do you want me more than Elijah?" Jeremy asks again but more sternly.

"Jeremy, I want you, I love you" Christian says becoming more panicked.

"Do you want me more than Elijah?" Jeremy asks slowly. Christian feels a few tears falling down his face. "I can't be with you if I'm always going to be terrified that one day you're just going to leave me out of nowhere. I can't be with you if all you're going to do is think about Elijah. Ever since he has returned he has had your complete attention, even if he wasn't even in the same town as us"

"That's not true" Christian shakes his head.

"But it is" Jeremy whispers. "I am so in love with you, Christian Salvatore-"

"I love you too" Christian whispers.

"But I don't know if I can trust you," Jeremy whispers.

"I haven't given you a reason not to trust me" Christian points out. "Please don't give up on us, alright? It will work, I will make it work"

"Until Elijah convinces you to return to him," Jeremy mutters.

"That's not going to happen" Christian growled sternly. Jeremy smiles at him.

"We both know it is," Jeremy whispers. 

"Why are you doing this?" Christian whispers. "You love me, I love you, why can't we make this work?"

"A relationship cannot work without trust-" 

"Exactly! And there isn't a bone in my body that trusts, Elijah!" Christian snaps. "Don't end this, please" Christian whispers. "Please, Jeremy, you're the only one keeping my head above the water right now" Christian whispers.

"That isn't healthy, Chris" Jeremy whispers to him. "You can't rely on one person that much, you need to trust yourself"

"I don't" Christian whispers. "I'm not as strong as you think I am, Jeremy. Physically, I could demolish an entire city on my own but mentally," Christian slowly shakes his head. "I'm hanging on by a thread"

"Chris, I can't be your only source of happiness. I can't be the only one keeping your head above the water. I will be there for you and I will help you in any way I can but as a friend... I think you need a friend more than a boyfriend, right now" Jeremy whispers to him. "You need to focus on yourself, not everyone else around you"

"Are you leaving me?" Christian whispers.

"Not entirely" Jeremy shrugs. "We're friends and I still love you but everything else has to stop," Christian lowers his head slightly. "Just for a little bit at least," Christian glances up at him. "I want you to get better, Christian... I don't know how vampires do it but you need to get some kind of help and I'll be there for you... When you're feeling better mentally and you still want to be with me then I'm here for you... and if when that time comes and you don't want to be with me... then I'll look back at what we once had and smile because it's been amazing"

"I love you, Jeremy Gilbert" Christian whispers walking up to him. He reaches out for Jeremy but the teenager backs up.

"I'm sorry" Jeremy whispers. "I love you too, but I think I should go"

*😬😬😭😭😭😭*