It's only been four months since the tragic accident that killed their parents, and 17-year-old Elena Gilbert and her 15-year-old brother Jeremy are still trying to recover from the loss and return to normal life. Elena has always been an excellent student, a beautiful and popular girl at school, but now it is very difficult for her to hide her sadness from the outside world. At the beginning of the school year, the attention of Elena and her friends is attracted by a new student, the mysterious and handsome Stefan Salvatore.