Disclaimer: L.J. Smith and Kevin Williamson own The Vampire Diaries. "Kingston Vampire" belongs to Pendulum and DJ Fresh.

A/N: It's so easy for me to write Jeremy, I can't even explain it.

If Bonnie Bennett had to make a list of people she thought would call her wanting to talk, Jeremy Gilbert would be number two, right under Damon Salvatore. And yet he had called her, sounding almost frantic, so she told him to come over after dinner.

Her mind boggled as she thought about what Jeremy could want to talk about. Maybe her Gramms? It'd only been a week and a half, and he'd gone to the funeral. Plus, he was pretty knowledgeable about grieving. Or maybe he found out that Elena was adopted? She knew that Jeremy was doing better with the drug use or lack thereof, but that newfound insight might push him to relapse. Elena had been his rock after the accident.

Bonnie had worried herself into such a state that when Jeremy sat her down and said, "Vampires are real," she almost laughed, but checked herself.

She gave him a sad smile. He looked so frazzled. "I know. I've known for a while."

"Why I am the last to know everything?" he cried in frustration. "And Elena acts as if it's no big deal. Vampires! Vampires fucking exist and it's no big deal? What else from my childhood is a lie?"

Bonnie could have cried for him. Uncharacteristically she pulled him into a hug. It caught him off guard for a second before he wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his head in the crook of her neck. They sat there for a few minutes until he mumbled something. Bonnie pulled away, brushing a piece of hair off his forehead.

"What'd you say?"

"'This is the strangest life I've ever know,'" he repeated. This time she did laugh. He smiled and shook his head. "This past year has been so surreal. I'm sorry about your Gramms. She was a good lady. I'm here for you if you want to talk. I know I don't have the best track record with coping, but I can listen."

"Thanks, Jeremy." She reached over to give his hand a squeeze, but quickly retracted it. Why was she being so touchy with him? She'd never been so before. She decided to switch gears. "How did you find out?"

"I wasn't totally unconscious that night. And Anna… her face got all weird. I did a little research to confirm my suspicions. My sister's dating a vampire! A vampire made us dinner tonight. And I'm supposed to be okay with it?"

"Stefan's back?" Bonnie frowned. She was sure Elena would have told her.

"No. Damon. He's cool, I guess. A little too into my sister, but cool."

"She's the spitting image of his dead girlfriend," she told him off-handedly.

"Oh. Well, that's definitely weird." He paused. "You know, as far as weird goes."

"It takes some getting used to," she admitted. "Knowing that everything like that is out there. But I think it's a good thing that you found out. You don't really need to be protected."

"You're the first person to say that. Everyone walks on eggshells around me, afraid that I'll relapse. That whole escapism thing got old." He got up. "I have to go. I told Jenna I was going on a walk. Thanks for listening to me, though. It really helped."

She got up with him to walk him to the door. "Anytime. Did you want a ride home?"

He shook his head. "I think a walk to collect my thoughts will do some good." He was almost out the door when he turned back around. "Listen, um, this whole talking thing.

Did you want to do it again? Maybe over like dinner or something?"

"Wednesday?"

He smiled widely at her. "I'll give you a call. Bye, Bonnie."

"Bye, Jeremy." She shut the door and chewed on her bottom lip. How was Elena going to react?