Chapter Two: A different Jeremy.
"Well… now I have to decide how to allocate my points," Jeremy muttered to himself.
I think TVD vampires can only run fast using their vampire speed, he thought, unlike in Twilight, where they fight using it actively. TVD vampires move at inhuman speed, but they don't fight so fast that humans can't react. That's why hunters were able to kill them—barely. And even though Kol fell to Elena and me in the series, he's an Original. He should've been faster, and we shouldn't have been able to beat him. Guess that's just plot armor.
Why am I thinking like Jeremy? Well… I guess I've fully integrated with him, so we're basically the same. But no point overthinking that. This is real life, not a TV show. I'm pretty sure things will change because of me.
Jeremy took a deep breath. I need to improve my strength. My agility will give me enough edge over vampires, and perception is key.
System, put 10 points into Agility, 5 into Strength, and 5 into Perception, he thought.
Heat pulsed through his body, and his clothes started to fill out. His vision sharpened, bringing the dim room into crystal-clear focus.
He walked to the closet, standing in front of his mirror. His posture had changed—he stood straighter, and he looked taller, though he wasn't sure by how much. Lifting his sweater, he glimpsed the outline of six-pack abs forming.
Even without training… I could still be fit, like a calisthenics athlete. Neat.
"System, add 5 points to Charm," he said aloud.
Twenty seconds passed. Nothing.
"System? What's going on?" he asked, confused.
[Host, the points have been added.]
"Then why didn't I feel a thing?" he questioned.
[Charm isn't a physical attribute. It represents your natural presence, confidence, and ability to put others at ease. You can't notice it unless your perception is very high.]
"So basically, it's how much appeal I have," he said thoughtfully.
[Correct, Host.]
"Okay, show me my stats."
Host: Jeremy Gilbert
Race: Human
Age: 18
Location: Mystic Falls
Strength: 12 (7+5)
Agility: 11 (6+5)
Perception: 14 (9+5)
Endurance: 7
Intelligence: 10
Willpower: 11
Vitality: 72/100
Charm: 19 (14+5)
SP: 10
This is good. System… do you know the strength of a newly turned vampire?
[About 50 points of Strength and 70 points of Speed.]
Yeah… still a long way to go. I'll save the remaining stat points for emergencies. I still need to get used to my newfound strength.
Jeremy sat on the edge of his bed, flexing his fingers and testing his body. Strength and agility flowed naturally, almost exhilarating. He stood, taking careful steps, feeling lighter on his feet and more precise in his movements. He could sense how he occupied space differently, how he carried himself.
A soft knock at the door made him pause. "Jeremy? Are you… okay?" Elena's voice carried that familiar mix of concern and hope.
Jeremy took a deep breath to calm the sudden surge of nervous excitement. When he opened the door, he froze. Sunlight caught Elena's hair, framing her face in a halo of gold and brown waves. Her long, straight hair made her look effortlessly cute.
Her bright, steady eyes met his, and he felt a strange, almost dizzying pull in his chest. For a moment, he simply stared. She was stunning—and he noticed the way her features shifted when she smiled, the warmth in her eyes capable of soothing even the heaviest grief. His heart raced, and he had to remind himself to breathe.
Damn. Even though I hated Elena's personality in my previous life, I have to admit… she is really beautiful. No wonder Stefan and Damon were obsessed. There's something about her that screams, "Protect me, I'm delicate." Her large, deep brown eyes convey warmth, sadness, and quiet strength in one glance. I want her.
"What are you—" Elena's breath caught as she stared at him. There was something magnetic about him. He was different from what she expected. She thought he'd be high, but he seemed clear-headed.
"You're… not stoned," she said, brow furrowed in surprise. "You're… different."
Jeremy chuckled softly, shaking his head to clear the wave of distraction. "Different good or different bad?" he asked, stepping aside to let her in.
Elena smiled faintly, tension easing from her shoulders. "Good," she admitted. "Really good. I… wasn't sure what to expect when I came over."
Jeremy stepped closer, keeping his voice calm and reassuring, though his chest fluttered. "I know things have been rough," he said naturally. "But I'm here for you. Anything you need."
Her features softened, and she let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Are you sure? I hope you won't go back to being high all the time." Her voice wavered slightly.
Jeremy's lips curled into a gentle smile. He brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, feeling her warmth and the quickening of his own pulse. "I won't. I promise. I've got you."
She returned a shy, sincere smile, and the room felt lighter, warmer. Jeremy felt a rare calm settle over him. The grief, fear, and chaos outside seemed distant.
"Come here" he said as he pulled her in for a hug. He felt her tensed at first then she relaxed against him.
She looked up at him and said "You do know you stinks right" She said chuckling.
He smiled as he let her go "Yeah haven't taken a bath in days"
"You feel… different," Elena said softly, taking a tentative step closer. "Like… I don't know how to explain it, but… I like it." She said as she walked away slowly.
Jeremy chuckled, shaking his head lightly to shake off the lingering distraction of her presence. "It's… a start," he admitted. Her being here, noticing him, mattered more than he expected.
For the first time in both his past life and this new life, Jeremy felt genuinely happy. Standing with Elena, he realized how much difference even a little care could make. And for the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to enjoy it.
In his past life, he was just an ordinary worker with no family or meaningful relationships. He wasn't sad, but he wasn't happy either—just surviving. The only joy came from movies or games.
I've been given an opportunity here, he thought. I won't just survive… I'm going to thrive.