feel the noise } { of panic attacks and sneaky little brothers

[braveandstupid]

Jeremy: [in the living room, feet on the coffee table, laptop in his lap and playing around with a new graphic while music is blasting into his ears]

Elena: [rushes in the door and slams it behind her, before sinking down against the door. She doesn't know what to do. She knows that Ben got the camera but what if someone else he didn't see saw them. She had been hiding for so long, the idea of Klaus coming back into her life is making it hard to breath.

Okay, Elena. Crisis averted. Calm down. Calm down.]

Jeremy: [amazingly, he head the door slam and lifted his head over the top of the laptop.] Elena? [he then sees her and is up in an instant, heading to the door and kneeling down in front of her, hand on her shoulder] Elena, breathe. What happened?

Elena: [she looks up at him, worry in her eyes] I ... I ran into Ben, at the coffee shop. I stopped to talk to him and there was a photographer. I'm so stupid, I should have been thinking.

Jeremy: [the lines are not connecting in his head yet] Okay, so some guy took your photo. If it was like any time I've been with him, he probably went out and paid the guys off, right?

Elena: Yeah. Yeah, he did but what if he wasn't the only one? What if there was another one he didn't catch and my picture winds up on TV and Klaus sees it. [her breathing is picking up again, her chest tightening] I can't do it again, Jer, I gave him my blood so he'd go away, but I can't have him come back and try to control everything again. People will get hurt.

Jeremy: First of all, I don't think Klaus even knows how to use a television. But come here, let me show you something. [He leads her over to the couch and sits her down] I spent a year with Ben, so I know his habits a bit. And except for when he's in LA or NY, there isn't a picture on the internet that he didn't approve of.

Elena: [she follows him listening to what he's saying and feeling herself start to relax a bit. She knows he's right. She knows that she's overreacting. One hand comes up to cover her eyes and she tries to relax] I know. I know, I just ... forget sometimes. That he's out there. That he could show up at any time and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

Jeremy: Well first of all, he shows up here and you have two hunters, me, Alaric, Buffy, and a legion of slayers to protect you. I think he would think twice about that. Second, you can't let yourself live in fear of him.

Elena: I don't want to, but I don't know how else to do it. I don't know how to stop him.

Jeremy: [has been pulling up a search for photos of Ben and shows them to Elena. Any photo of him is obviously in New York or LA if he has other people around him, or a few selfies that would link back to his personal Instagram account, or promo shots for articles, or concert shots.] Start living a bit, and worry about him when he actually shows his face.

Elena: I start living and he will actually show his face. [she watches the pictures as he scrolls past, her face shifting to something that might even be considered fondness as she does]

Jeremy: [sees that look. And he's been with Ben and knows how lonely the rock star gets and how friendly he was to him] You figure out yet if he knows anything about... you know... the supernatural?

Elena: [she shakes her head absently] He mentioned Dean's work, but we were in public, so we couldn't really get into specifics.

Jeremy: He never mentioned anything about it while we traveled. Maybe talk to Dean and see? Because if he does know about the world, you don't have to worry about him in it

Elena: [she pauses, swallowing for a moment knowing she's always going to have to worry about him in it] I invited him to dinner. The three of us. I said I'd pretend to cook.

Jeremy: Dinner, huh? [little brother grin there] So I take it that means take out on plates?

Elena: [she grins back] Do you know me to make anything else?

Jeremy: We could always ask Caroline to come up and cook for you.

Elena: No. If I tell her I'm making dinner for Ben Braedan, she will be impossible.

Jeremy: ......... True. Okay, then Macaroni Grill it is

Elena: [she nods] It's the best option, really.

Jeremy: Do you want me to conveniently get a phone call after dinner and go stay at Ric's for the night?

Elena: [her brow knits in confusion] ... No?

Jeremy: [looks at her, then shakes his head] Elena, I love you, I really do, but sometimes you're adorably clueless.

Elena: [makes a face and shoves at his shoulder] He said it might not be until the next time he swings into town anyway.

Jeremy: He's leaving town already?

Elena: [she shrugs] He's heading out to see his mom on Saturday.

Jeremy: So that's gives you what, three days still? You can call for take-out and fake that you cooked it in an hour, tops

Elena: [her mouth works for a moment] He's got family he's here to see, Ben. I can't take him away from them.

Jeremy: Elena, I love you, but when I came home to visit during vacations, I was always looking for an excuse to have some time away from you so we didn't end up killing each other.

Elena: He wants to spend time with Dean, who he hasn't really seen. And I did offer and he said no. I'm not going to force him.

Jeremy: Alright, alright. [he held up his hands in surrender]

Elena: Thank you. [Jeremy, clearly this means you should go poke at Ben behind her back because she is not going to do it herself.]

Jeremy: [totally planning on it. Because he will play love doctor for his sister and good friend if he has to]

Elena: [exhales slowly, before pushing up onto her feet] I think I am going to go take a bath. [she has some nerves to soak away. She reaches over and takes his hand] Thank you, for calming me down.

Jeremy: That's what I'm here for. [he grins, then waits for Elena to head into the bathroom before pulling out his phone and starting his texts]

Elena: [and off she goes to soak in hot water until it goes cold. Yay time to actually pamper herself]

Jeremy: [la la la setting up dinner for tomorrow night with Ben and his sister la la la sure, she's good with it la la la Winchesters willing to have them over if she's worried] HEY ELENA! [shouted through the house from the living room]

Elena: [eyes open at the sound of her name] Yeah?!

Jeremy: Do you want to eat out with friends tomorrow or just stay in?

Elena: [wrinkles her nose for a minute as she thinks about it] Stay in!

Jeremy: Alright. [la la la dinner at our place la la la nah, we've got it covered just be here at six la la la totally casual.]

Elena: [brain to relaxed to think anything of it. Should know better.]

Jeremy: [finishes and goes back to his graphic work and music, totally pleased with himself. OH, and texts Ric making sure he'll be home tomorrow night in case Jeremy needs a place to crash]

Elena: [eventually emerges from the tub, wrapping herself in a fluffy robe and making her way around the corner, eyeing Jeremy curiously] What friends?

Jeremy: [can't hear her over the music oops?]

Elena: [frowns and takes a step closer, shaking his shoulder]

Jeremy: [jumps, then blinks and pulls out an earbud. He was really into the work he was doing too] Finished already?

Elena: [nods] What friends?

Jeremy: What do you mean what friends? [totally forgotten his convo already]

Elena: The friends you invited over tomorrow night?

Jeremy: Oh, no I was asking if we wanted to eat out with friends. I wasn't thinking of invited the gang over here.

Elena: Oh. ... Okay.

Jeremy: [okay, he should be honest with her] Though I did invite a friend over for myself. Totally casual. I'll even spring for pizza. You don't mind, right?

Elena: [pauses before shaking her head as she turns to head back to her room to get dressed] No, that's fine. Just let me know when they're gonna be here.