"You're sure you and Matt aren't…?" started Stefan. Elena and Stefan were sitting at a table in Mystic Grill. They were just having dinner as old friends who've previously dated and have broken up sometime before Elena's college departure. Elena shook her head, only reassuring Stefan that she and Matt were only friends. "We may have grown up together as kids. He's kind of like a brother to me."

He slowly nodded, "He seems to like you a lot."

"I don't believe it."

"Elena, I've seen the look before."

Elena rolled her eyes. She didn't want to continue this conversation any further, only hoping that they weren't out for dinner to talk about their breakup. "Tell me that there's a more plausible reason you agreed to have dinner."

"Well, I didn't show up at your apartment asking for you to take me back." There was a silent pause. "My brother's visiting for a couple days. He's from New York. He lived here when we were kids until moving to New York for college." Stefan had never mentioned his brother once to Elena, or had she even forgotten to ask if he had any siblings. Elena was suddenly surprised, yet intrigued by this news.

"What's your brother's name?"

"Damon."

Elena hadn't bothered to put 2 and 2 together. Why hadn't it occurred to her before that Stefan and Damon were related, in the means of being brothers? She thought that the two of them having the same last names were just a mere coincidence. Could it be that it was just her luck? Though it would make sense for Damon to be from Mystic Falls, considering how much time they had spent together while she was in New York for college. How did both brothers get away without mentioning the other? Were there any other relatives she didn't know about? Or was it just the two of them? She had gone home after her dinner with Stefan without being questioned by Caroline. She could say that she was a bit relieved that Caroline hadn't decided to butt in on her personal life.

The next day, Bonnie had come over. Bonnie Bennett is another friend of Elena and Caroline. The girls have grown up together since they were kids and only parted ways when Elena had left for college. "Stefan's brother is coming to visit." said Elena. The two friends were quietly having coffee at the apartment. Caroline was out running errands, demanding that she be filled in on the details of their conversation. The three of them have always been inseparable since childhood. "And that's a bad thing, how?" asked Bonnie. Between two of them, Bonnie was a bit more reserved. Though now, she's been a little distant since Sheila Bennett, her Grams, had passed away. Yet, that didn't stop Elena and Caroline from including Bonnie into their every day conversation, especially now that Jeremy and Bonnie had eventually revealed to Elena that they were dating. Elena had more than accepted their relationship, only because she felt that Bonnie was good for Jeremy (especially after everything he has gone through).

"Stefan had never mentioned that he has a brother."

"Wait, Stefan kept a secret from you until… last night? So, the whole time you two dated, you haven't been introduced to his family? Why's that?"

"Well, I know that Damon had moved to New York for college; and considering the age difference, it would make sense that they're… estranged." Elena wasn't one to openly discuss her previous relationships with her friends, only because she knew how the two of them would react. Elena was unsure about how the meeting would happen between the three of them (Stefan, Damon, and herself). Bonnie nodded and was about to speak up when a knock sounded at the door. Elena stands to answer the door. She was more surprised at seeing Damon rather than Stefan. "Elena, this is Damon." Damon hesitated for a moment before reaching his hand towards Elena's direction. He didn't want his brother to be suspicious that he and Elena have already met. Since their last meeting, Damon had hardly spoke of his relationships to anyone, most especially his brother. The two often had disagreements with each other, and it had always seemed unlikely for the two brothers to get along. It was best to keep their previous history a secret, for the time being.

"Nice to meet you Elena."

Elena returns the hand shake and smiles, "And same to you Damon."

"Would like to join us for lunch?" Before Elena could say anything, Bonnie had interrupted to say that she was heading out because she had forgotten to buy something at the store that she needed. Elena insisted that Bonnie should join them, only because she feared of being solo with the Salvatore brothers. "But…"

"Please Bonnie?"

"I'll go with you, but you owe me."

Elena smiled, "Perfect. We'll follow."

The girls had arrived at Mystic Grill before the brothers did. They were led to a table. They sat down. "I don't understand why I had to come." said Bonnie. Elena reassured her friend by saying that she needed moral support. She didn't want to be in the same room as her ex and his brother. "You know something I don't." Bonnie raised an eyebrow at her friend. She was skeptical about the way Elena was currently acting. She had never seen her friend act like this before. Elena looked at her friend confused. Before opening her mouth to say a word, Stefan and Damon entered the restaurant. They saw the girls at the table and walked over to join them. "How'd you beat us?" asked Stefan.

"Bonnie drove. I'm not used to driving in Mystic Falls. I've been away for too long." replied Elena. The brothers had sat down. Everyone had ordered their food and drinks. Elena had to refrain from directly staring into Damon's eyes. She could feel her heart pound against her chest. She had never felt like this before. "Where did you go?" asked Damon.

"New York."

"She went to college there." Bonnie spoke.

"What University?" Damon was intrigued, only because he hadn't seen Elena since she had flown back to Mystic Falls. Stefan chimed in by saying that Damon's a professor at NYU. Elena had to act as if she were showing interest in Damon. She didn't want to give any suspicion that she had formerly met Damon while at college. "Oh? NYU? Well, I would've run into your brother. Though, I don't think we ever had a class together." It was a complete lie; and Damon knew it.