A/N: Enjoy! Beta-read by purastella. She is the absolute best!

To Sydney,

I hate this place.

Don't take this the wrong way concerning the grill. Mystic Grill has been my haven for the past two years, ever since I set foot into this town. The owner has agreed to pay me under the counter and gives me the small apartment above it for cheap. They agreed to something so illegal so quickly when I said I was running from an abusive home. It was an easy half-lie, something that you taught me well. Half-truths are easier to keep straight than blatant lies.

The thing I hate the most about this place is the amount of teenagers who hang around here. Listening to their whining voices and now ogling coos has driven me past mad. I can barely remember which drinks go with what on the menu. There has been an uproar lately concerning a new student. I have heard his name- and his brother's in turn- constantly for the past few days. Stefan and Damon Salvatore. The talk of the town, especially by Caroline Forbes, the sheriff's daughter. Though originally pining after Stefan, it seems she has focused all of her attention on his brother now. I will study their behavior closely, since I do not see the big deal. Perhaps it is because I am so accustomed to Adrian and Jill's looks.

Despite my best efforts, the grill has maintained its reputation as the hangout for the teens of Mystic Falls. One benefit of being the bartender: none of them interact with me.

"Excuse me, miss."

I looked up slowly, trying to ooze indifference from every aspect of my being as I looked at the very man I was writing about. Smoothly, I closed my journal and tapped the bar with my fingernails. "Yeah?"

Stefan Salvatore was looking at me with such a brooding look that I wanted to slap it off his face. As I was describing to Sydney in my letters, I wasn't effective by his looks. Adrian had the brooding look down, and this human couldn't compare to the Moroi's level. "Do you know Elena?"

I resisted the urge to scowl. I had many issues with this world, but one congruent with my own was that men in their twenties still chased high school girls. "No." I didn't bother to hide the contempt in my voice. It was the truth; I didn't know her personally.

Despite the flicker of surprise in his eyes, Stefan moved away from the bar and out the door. I glanced at my coworker and, noting the lack of customers sitting at the bar, I opened my journal again to scribble the sentence with underlines. Stefan Salvatore: not impressive. I knew Sydney would chuckle, half amused and half exasperated with my detailed accounts of certain people. Adrian would like them. I knew that.

As I watched Caroline Forbes notice Damon Salvatore, I wrote with a scowl. Damon Salvatore: gross and extremely not impressive. Their last names suddenly clicked in my mind.

Perhaps these Salvatore brothers are related to the founding family. I will check Isobel's records.

Until next time Sydney, try and remember that I still have dibs on throwing Declan's birthday party. Missing three years doesn't matter. I hope his father has come by more often than when I was there.

Sincerely,

Ravyn