The environment inside Mystic Grill was in full flow. The majority of the occupants were young men and women in the mood for enjoyment. The atmosphere inside the restaurant, cafe and bar combined into one, was lively and bubbly.
It was filled with the animated chatter and laughter of the patrons. They were entirely unaware of the danger and death that had begun lurking in their town. But it was only a matter of days before this death and mayhem would be in the open for everyone to see.
The first day of school after summer break had just ended, and these students were reuniting with friends, girlfriends, and boyfriends after a long time apart.
At one table, Elena Gilbert, Bonnie Bennett, Caroline Forbes, and Stefan Salvatore were sharing fries and drinks while Stefan was telling his story and learning theirs. Caroline was trying to capture the attention of this mysterious newcomer, but it was becoming clear that Stefan's interest was solely in Elena. Even so, Caroline was not backing down.
At another table, Matt Donovan and Tyler Lockwood were enjoying themselves, or at least trying to. Matt was sulking at the sight of Elena and Stefan so close together.
Just a few minutes earlier, Bonnie had been advising him to pick up the phone and call Elena. He had not even begun seriously considering the option when she made her entrance with Stefan, her face all smiles, blushes, and happiness.
Matt was not alone in his heartbreak. Jeremy Gilbert, too, had just been pushed away by Vicki Donovan, who declared to him that the sex they had shared in the entire summer was nothing more than that and that she was only interested in Tyler Lockwood.
Even though he was slightly heartbroken, Jeremy had not really given up. He had complete belief that, very soon, she would come to see the flaws in Tyler's character and accept him. He had full confidence that she would surely realise that Tyler was a typical douchebag interested only in her ass.
At this exact moment, another presence entered the restaurant. Although this newcomer did not really do anything apart from a simple entry, it seemed as if all eyes were invariably drawn toward him. The chatter and the laughter quietened for a few moments as his presence was absorbed inside the establishment.
The man was tall, handsome, and spectacularly attractive. The heart of every girl in the Grill skipped a beat, no matter how beautiful she was or if she was already with a boyfriend. Meanwhile, the men felt a pang of jealousy stirring in their hearts.
"Oh, crap!" Tyler winced. "He is here."
"You know him?" Matt questioned as he analyzed the newcomer.
"Yes," Tyler nodded. "He is Alan Alejandro."
The name struck a chord with Matt. He did not know Alan personally, but he had heard the name Alejandro.
In fact, anyone residing in Mystic Falls for any length of time had heard of them. The sprawling Alejandro mansion, their other properties, and their estates, everyone had seen them and admired their beauty.
Tyler really did not wish to mingle with Alan, but remembering his parents' advice, he got up and approached him. He did not intend to strike up a deep friendship with Alan, but he could at least help him settle in and introduce him to the others.
As Alan remained standing at the entrance, he studied the familiar figures he could spot. Tyler, Matt, Elena, Stefan, Caroline, Bonnie Bennet the witch, Vicki behind the bar counter, and a sulking Jeremy staring at Vicki.
Meanwhile, like every other group, those at Elena and Stefan's table were focused on Alan Alejandro, especially Caroline Forbes.
She had seen Stefan in the morning and had almost instantly fallen for him, but seeing him arrive at the Grill with Elena had aggrieved her. Still, she had not backed out. She knew that tomorrow's party would be the real occasion. However, this newcomer was sharper and more handsome than even Stefan himself. If she had fallen for Stefan, she had utterly tumbled for this stranger.
"Who is he?" she questioned, her eyes dazed.
"I do not know," Bonnie answered, her own gaze fixated on Alan. "But he is something."
"Never seen him," Elena mumbled. She, too, was intrigued by the newcomer, and like everyone else, she felt a pang of attraction.
Stefan remained silent. To the others, he was a newcomer to the town, so his failure to recognize people was no surprise. But his mind was buzzing. He had been keeping an eye on Elena and Mystic Falls for the past few months, and he had not seen this man even once.
"Wait! Tyler knows him," Caroline remarked, noticing Tyler approaching the newcomer.
"I will go and find out about him," she whispered almost in an exaggerated manner, rushing off before anyone could stop her.
"Alan!" Tyler said with a big smile as he extended his hand. "I did not expect to see you here."
"I was getting bored at home," Alan replied firmly, shaking Tyler's hand. "So, I decided to explore Mystic Falls. I heard about the iconic Mystic Grill, and here I am."
"Oh, yeah," Tyler chuckled. "This place is indeed iconic."
An awkward silence was about to settle between the two when Caroline arrived and interjected.
"Hi, Tyler!" she chuckled nervously before turning toward Alan. "I did not know you had such a handsome friend."
"Hi!" She greeted Alan.
A flirtatious smile appeared on Alan's face as he nodded his head.
"We are not really friends," he said. "I have recently moved to Mystic Falls, and this is only my second time meeting Tyler."
"And my name is Alan Alejandro," he introduced himself, extending his hand toward Caroline. "And thanks for the compliment."
"Caroline Forbes," she said, taking his hand. "Alejandro? As in the Alejandro family of Mystic Falls, one of the founding families?"
"The one and only," Alan nodded.
"Great!" she replied, bubbling with delight. "This means that even though you are a newcomer, you are no stranger. Come, I will introduce you to the others."
She took his hand and pulled Alan away, leaving Tyler alone. He shrugged and returned to his seat; now that Caroline had taken over the responsibility, he could be free of the tension regarding Alan. In any case, Caroline was far better suited for this kind of socializing.
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