In the small town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, seventeen year old Elena Gilbert and her younger brother Jeremy are both in denial following their parents' deaths. Elena is convincing herself she's over it despite her self-imposed social isolation. She tries to hide her grief, but it leads to her becoming emotionally withdrawn, while Jeremy turns to drugs to avoid dealing with his own feelings. Nothing goes as planned for both of them during their first day back at school. A mysterious new student, Stefan Salvatore, attracts Elena's attention.