Morning sunlight poured through the windows of Mystic Falls High School, filling the hallway with the usual chatter of students starting their day.
Lockers slammed.
Friends laughed.
Someone complained loudly about homework.
For most people, it was just another normal day in Mystic Falls.
But for Elena Gilbert, things were starting to feel anything but normal.
She walked down the hallway beside Bonnie Bennett and Caroline Forbes, trying to ignore the strange feeling sitting in her chest.
Caroline was talking excitedly.
"I'm telling you, the new guy is definitely mysterious," she said dramatically.
Bonnie smiled.
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
"It's not," Caroline replied quickly. "I'm just saying… mysterious usually means trouble."
Elena stayed quiet.
Bonnie noticed immediately.
"You're thinking about Alexander again, aren't you?"
Elena sighed.
"Maybe."
Caroline grinned.
"Oh my god, you totally are."
Elena rolled her eyes.
"Can we not make this a thing?"
Before Caroline could reply, Bonnie suddenly slowed her steps.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"That's… strange."
Elena frowned.
"What is?"
Bonnie nodded toward the school entrance.
Standing near the doors was a woman Elena had never seen before.
But the strange part wasn't just that.
It was the way she looked.
She looked almost identical to Elena.
Same long dark hair.
Same facial features.
Same graceful posture.
The only difference was the confidence in her eyes.
The woman looked amused.
Dangerous.
Playful.
It was Katherine Pierce.
Caroline blinked.
"Okay… that's creepy."
Elena stared.
"Why does she look like me?"
Bonnie whispered quietly.
"I don't like this."
At that moment, the mysterious woman stepped into the hallway.
Students moved aside without even realizing it.
She walked confidently through the crowd.
And then…
She stopped.
Right in front of Alexander Nightshade.
Alexander had just arrived at school.
He looked calm as usual.
Katherine smiled brightly.
"Well hello again."
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
"You came to a high school?"
Katherine shrugged.
"I was bored."
Caroline whispered loudly to Elena.
"Is that woman flirting with him?"
Elena felt something strange twist in her chest.
"No…"
But it clearly was.
Katherine leaned slightly closer to Alexander.
"Miss me already?"
Alexander chuckled.
"You're very persistent."
"Of course," Katherine said playfully.
"Interesting men deserve attention."
Several students nearby were already whispering.
Mostly because the woman talking to Alexander looked exactly like Elena.
Across the hallway, Damon Salvatore watched the scene with an amused expression.
He leaned casually against a locker.
"Oh this is going to be fun."
Alexander noticed Damon watching.
But he ignored him.
Instead he looked back at Katherine.
"You enjoy causing chaos, don't you?"
Katherine smiled sweetly.
"Only a little."
Then she did something completely unexpected.
She took Alexander's arm.
Elena's eyes widened.
Caroline gasped quietly.
"Did she just—"
Bonnie nodded.
"Yep."
Alexander looked down at Katherine's hand on his arm.
"You're being dramatic."
Katherine tilted her head.
"And yet you're not stopping me."
Alexander sighed softly.
"Because it wouldn't matter."
Katherine grinned.
"I knew I liked you."
Across the hallway, Elena's heart beat faster.
And she had no idea why.
She barely knew Alexander.
She definitely didn't know the strange woman talking to him.
Yet seeing them standing so close together…
Didn't feel good.
Caroline glanced at Elena.
"Are you okay?"
Elena quickly looked away.
"Of course."
But Bonnie could feel the emotions swirling around her friend.
Confusion.
Curiosity.
And something else.
Jealousy.
Back near the entrance, Katherine finally released Alexander's arm.
"Well," she said casually.
"I should let you enjoy your day."
Alexander nodded.
"That would be nice."
Katherine leaned closer to him one last time.
Her voice lowered slightly.
"I'll see you tonight."
Then she turned and walked away.
The hallway slowly returned to normal.
Students continued talking and moving.
But Elena still felt unsettled.
Because something about that woman felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Meanwhile, Damon walked over to Alexander.
"That was entertaining," he said.
Alexander sighed.
"You're enjoying this too much."
Damon grinned.
"Oh absolutely."
He glanced toward Elena across the hallway.
"Especially because someone over there looks very unhappy."
Alexander followed his gaze.
Elena quickly looked away when their eyes almost met.
Damon chuckled.
"Congratulations."
Alexander frowned slightly.
"For what?"
Damon's smile widened.
"You just created your first love triangle in Mystic Falls."
Alexander shook his head.
"This town is exhausting."
Damon laughed.
"Oh you have no idea."
But deep inside, Damon was thinking about something else.
Katherine Pierce rarely showed interest in anyone.
Yet she seemed fascinated with Alexander.
And that meant something important.
Alexander Nightshade was even more dangerous than Damon first thought.
And sooner or later…
Everyone in Mystic Falls would realize it.