~Spencer had work today at the Mystic Grill bar, but I didn't want to be left at the boarding house with Damon because he wouldn't leave me alone. Spencer had complained that I was going to be such a problem because I whined a lot, but Stefan had no problem with keeping me company. He and some other of his friends and girlfriend were also going to the grill because they went there every Saturday, and I was hoping I'd make some new friends.

Spencer drove Stefan and myself to the grill, and me and Stefan actually got so caught up in conversation we almost didn't hear Spencer say, "We're here. And if you mess this up for me, Alex..."

"I know, I know. I'll end up with Mom and Dad wherever they are," I finished for him, jumping out of the cab and straightened out my black T-shirt covered in blue glitter. Yes; glitter. I was such a little girl sometimes instead of a senior in high school.

Spencer snorted, and readjusted his shirt. While Spencer headed for the back door, Stefan towed me to the front entrance. As he came up to the door, a pretty brunette came running up to him, throwing nimble arms around his neck and kissing him lightly on the lips.

"My Elena," Stefan cooed, cupping her cheeks in his hands. Elena was very pretty with brown eyes and brown hair. Her face was almost heart-shaped, with a tinkly little laugh and a big smile to go with it.

"I missed you, Stefan," Elena whispered. I was patient while I stood off to the side a bit, letting them have a moment of love. I guessed she was Stefan's girlfriend by the way they looked at each other. Stefan gave her one more kiss before turning to me.

"Elena Gilbert, this is Alex Hugh from San Diego, California," he introduced. Elena smiled and cmae forward. I shook hands with her warmly.

"Alex, huh? Well, honestly, I never knew a girl could have that name around here. No offense," she stated, holding up her hands in apology.

I patted her arm. "None taken, Elena. Wow, you look pretty tonight," I complimented, trying to be polite and nice. But seriously, she was really pretty. I wished I looked like her so I can that pretty. Sadly, I was stuck with B-sized cups and frizzy curly hair and a face full of acne. So not attractive.

Elena blushed, and took my arm. "C'mon, come and meet Bonnie Bennett and Caroline Forbes and Matt Donovian," she said as we weaved through crowds of people inside the grill, Stefan following. The grill was stuffed with bodies and drinks, and the soft pulse of jazz music filled my ears with brass instruments and piano notes. Pool tables and dart boards crowded the game area, and I passed the bar where Spencer was working currently. It took a lot of courage to not go up there and annoy him.

"Hey guys. This is Alex from California," Elena said, waving at me. There was a short-haired blonde with curls and sapphire blue eyes. She looked like one of those bitchy girls whose only goal in life was to be the beauty queen of the world, but if she was Elena's friend, then I thought of her otherwise. She also had rosy lips and a plump figure.

The second girl was a chocolate brown-skinned girl with darker brown hair that was wild with soft curls. Her eyes were an exotic color of hazel, and her frame was slimmer than the blonde's. The guy sitting at the table was a honey blonde-brunette with dark green eyes and a football athlete's body. He looked cute, but not as cute as Stefan.

I smiled at them. "Hey, y'all. What's up?" I said.

The blonde girl smiled. "Hi. I'm Caroline," she introduced. I waved at her.

The other girl rolled her eyes then stood up to shake my hand firmly. "I'm Bonnie," she said proudly. I shook her hand. It was warm.

"And this," Caroline put in, patting the shoulder of the blonde-brunette guy next to her. "is Matt." The guy smiled and shook my hand, and I smiled back.

"Hey," I repeated. Not much to say when I felt kinda awkward when it came to meeting new people. Like I said before, I am quite shy though I don't look it. So I put on my best happy face and smiled as brightly as I could.

"So what part of California are you from?" Bonnie asked, scooting over in her seat and patting the chair next to her.

Sitting down, I blushed a little. "San Diego in Southern California," I replied. "Me and my brother are Chargers fans. Football team in San Diego. Real popular team."

"That's cool," Matt said, leaning forward. "Whose your favorite player?"

I shrugged. "Don't really know their names. I just watch the games because my brother got me addicted. But I can't ever understand football even if you paid me." They laughed at this.

"She is staying at the boarding house until her brother can find a suitable place for himself and his sister here," Stefan said, sitting next to Elena with an arm around her shoulders. "Hope they live close by. I just met her and Alex is pretty cool." He winked at me. I flushed and smirked at him.

"Really? What can you do?" Elena asked me.

I scratched my head. What was I good at? I could actually play the acoustics guitar pretty well, and some people say I can sing Rihanna fairly well. But was that worth saying? Doesn't hurt to actually try.

"My old friends say I can sing Rihanna fairly well, and my Dad taught me how to play the acoustics guitar. But other than that...I can't do much." I shrugged my shoulders.

"Rihanna? She's pretty hard to sing," Bonnie said.

"I know! So I don't see how they thought I could sing Rihanna. But my parents also said I could sing like her. I'm not too sure, though..."

"Did I miss something here? Or am I just late?"

I flinched at the voice, and smacked my head against my palms. Dammit! Not Damon!