Sunshine woke Julie up very early. Music was still playing and she removed her headphones and pushed the covers away. She was sweating and out of breath. She had a nightmare. Again. She ran a hand through her hair and sighed. She looked around and sighed again. She was exhausted. She stared at nothing for a few minutes and then sighed, again. She could go back to sleep but she was too afraid of having another nightmare. She finally got up and walked in the bathroom. She didn't even look in the mirror, she took her clothes off and got into the shower. She tried to remember her nightmare but all she could remember was fear. She shivered but she wasn't cold. She thought maybe the water was too cold so she adjusted the temperature. She found it too hot but she kept shivering anyway. She washed her hair and shaved before she got out. She wrapped a white towel around her wet body and walked back in her bedroom. She opened her wardrobe and stared at her clothes. She took a black skirt and a white sweetheart neckline shirt out. She laid her clothes on her bed and walked back in the bathroom to dry her hair. When she was done, she got dressed and put make up on. She checked her bag to make sure she had everything she needed for the day. She made her bed and picked up the notebook from the floor and put it in her bag. She walked down the stairs and heard the TV was on. She took a look in the living room and saw Robert was sleeping on the couch, once again. She sighed and turned the TV off. She went to the kitchen and started cooking pancakes. She heard Robert waking up and hoped pancakes will put him in a good mood.

"Hey," he growled, running a hand over his face.

"Good morning. I'm making pancakes."

"I need to take a shower," he said. "Clean this mess," he told her, mentioning the mess he made in the living room last night.

Julie cleaned the bottles of beer that were everywhere in the living room and when she was done, Robert was in the kitchen, eating the pancakes. She sat at the counter across her stepfather and started eating pancakes in silence.

"I'm dating someone," he said.

Julie looked up at Robert. She was speechless. "What?" she breathed out.

"I just wanted you to know because your birthday's coming up and as soon as you get your mother's money I can move out and I'll never have to see you again." He wasn't even looking at her.

"Okay," Julie said in a whisper. She always knew he only stayed because she was a minor and he had to. But he never liked her. He ignored her completely when her mother was alive and when she passed away and he actually had to acknowledge her existence she found out he was meaner than she thought and also a violent drunk. The fact that her mother left her everything she possessed, including her great family fortune, angered him even more. She had no intention of staying in the same house as him after her 18th birthday so this was actually good news. "I'm gonna be late for school," she said before she got up, grabbed her handbag and left the house.

Julie had forgotten there was an event at the school and she wanted no part of it. She drove away and went to the park where she sat on the grass, against a tree and took out her notebook. She started to draw what was around her; the benches, the trees, the people... But when a shadow came blocking the light she looked up and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Elijah was standing there. She quickly got up, pushing her back against the tree.

"Hello, Julie," he said with a smile. "Please, don't be scared." He didn't sound or look threatening. Julie cleared her throat and nodded.

"Hello..." she replied with a trembling voice.

"How are you?" he asked. Julie blinked several time. Did he actually care about her well-being?

"I'm...fine," she told him. He nodded. His eyes fell on her notebook she had in her hand and he took it from her.

"You are quite talented," he said, after he browsed through it.

"...Thank you?"

He chuckled and hand the notebook back to her. She looked at Elijah with big eyes for a few seconds and then took it back from him.

"You're afraid of me," he sighed.

"Why are you here?" she was surprised she dared to ask.

"I saw you there," he shrugged.

"What do you want?" she asked in a whisper, she couldn't speak any louder.

"I just wanted to say hello."

Julie was confused. "Why?"

Elijah opened his mouth but then closed it without saying a word. Julie was waiting for an answer but it seemed like he didn't know what to say.

"I apologize. I didn't mean to scare you. I will leave you, then," he said before he turned around.

"Wait!" Julie stopped him. She had no idea where she took the courage to do it. Elijah turned around, surprised. "I..." she cleared her throat. "Witches can't be compelled," she said. Elijah frowned. He looked confused.

"I know."

"I mean...I can't be compelled, and I'm not a witch."

"I see..."

"I thought...maybe...you..."

"If you don't know what you are, I'm afraid I won't be of any help," he said, he actually looked sincere.

"Oh..." Julie looked down, disappointed. She was pretty sure she was human. She had no superpower or supernatural abilities. Her parents didn't either. So what was it that made her so special she couldn't be compelled?

"I'm sorry," he apologized.

"No, I..." she shook her head. He had no idea what she could be so she had no idea why he was so interested in her. Maybe he wasn't. Maybe she was imagining things.

"Werewolves can't be compelled either," he told her.

"I'm not a werewolf," she said.

"Are you sure?" he asked with an amused tone.

"I'm pretty sure," she chuckled. "And Bonnie said werewolves can be compelled..."

"She was wrong."

"Are they...any werewolves, in Mystic Falls?" she asked.

Elijah smiled, looked down and took one step. He had his hands in his pockets. He sighed and looked back at Julie. "Two, today," he nodded. "One just arrived." Julie took a deep breath. This town was crazy. "Does that scare you?" he asked.

"A little," she admitted.

Elijah didn't understand why he was so fascinated by Julie. He really didn't need her to deliver the message the other day, it was just a nice excuse to pay her a visit at her house. Even though he didn't expect to see her in the park today, he could have left without stopping to talk to her. And he should leave. Now.

"What do you know about werewolves?" he asked.

"Absolutely nothing," she said. Which is why it was terrifying.

"And what do you know about vampires?"

"Not much..." she answered.

"I see...Perhaps you would be less scared if you knew a little bit more."

"Or maybe it'll just be scarier," she replied. He could see she was afraid. He wondered if he only made it worse.

"Aren't you curious? You must have questions."

Questions? Of course she had questions. She had plenty of questions. "I...I do...It's just..." she sighed. "I'm scared."

"Of me?" he asked and she looked up at him and her gaze met his. She didn't look away and they kept looking at each other without a word. She saw hope in his eyes and maybe a little fear. But at this instant, she wasn't afraid of him. At this moment, she got lost in his dark brown eyes and she felt safe.

"No," she said so low only a vampire could have heard her. He seemed both surprised and pleased with her answer. "I don't know," she whispered, looking down. "I don't know anything," she sighed and placed a hand on her temple.

"You look tired," he frowned.

"Yeah," she sighed. "I'm exhausted."

"Why?"

Julie chuckled. "That's what happen when humans don't get sleep," she answered and he laughed.

"Vampires need to sleep, too," he told her, amused.

"I did not know that," she replied with a smile.

"You should get some rest."

"I'm fine," she said, a little colder than she intended to. She was curious why he would care about her health. The more she talked to him the more questions she had.

"Would coffee help?" he asked.

"Uh," she blinked several time. "It would," she nodded. "But I hate coffee."

"I see...I prefer tea, myself," he said. "I'm sure the..." he stopped and turned towards the restaurant "Mystic Grill, serves tea," he finished.

Julie raised her eyebrows. "They do," she said.

He moved and pointed at the Grill. "Shall we?"

Julie didn't answer right away. She gave him a puzzled look. He was seriously asking her to go somewhere with him. Would she be stupid enough to say yes? It would be safer to say no. She should say no.

"Sure," she nodded. She wasn't 100% comfortable with the idea and she had no idea why she agreed to it. Maybe she was so tired she couldn't think clearly. Maybe she was just curious. Or suicidal. Or stupid. Or all that. She picked up her purse and kept her notebook in her arms. She shyly smiled at him before she looked down and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked back up at him. He watched her, amused by her cute nervous behavior. He moved out of her way and she looked down then looked up at him again before she looked away and started walking towards the restaurant.

They walked next to each other in silence. He kept peeking at her but she didn't see it. He opened the door of the restaurant and let her enter first.

"Thank you," she said and looked down so he wouldn't see her smile but he did and she didn't see him grin.

Matt Donovan was at the bar when he saw Julie come in with a stranger. Older guy wearing a suit? He guessed she was with Elijah. He worried and immediately took his phone and dialed Bonnie's number.

Julie and Elijah sat at a table and she saw him moved his head a little like he was listening to someone behind him but there was no one near them. He smiled for a second and she didn't understand what was amusing him.

"Are werewolves more dangerous than vampires?" she asked, suddenly.

"No," he answered. "But a werewolf bite would kill a vampire."

"Like poison?" she asked and he nodded. "Would it kill you?"

He frowned. "No, it would make me sick but nothing can kill me," he told her.

"I see...But...what usually kills a vampire? Or a werewolf?"

"A stake in the heart would kill a vampire," he said. "Vervain burns them but it's not mortal. If you need to protect yourself from a vampire, it is one good way to do it."

"Would it hurt you?"

"Yes," he nodded.

"What about daylight?"

"Daylight would kill a vampire," he nodded.

"But...why isn't Stefan, or Caroline, hurt by it?"

"They use magic to protect themselves," he answered. "They probably have a daylight ring, I know your friend Stefan has one."

"So...without it, they'll..."

"Burn and die, yes," he nodded. "Your friend Bonnie must have made one for Miss Forbes."

"What about werewolves?"

"A werewolf will turn at a full moon," he said. "They're physically stronger but not as strong as vampires are."

"How do you...become a vampire? Or a werewolf?" she asked.

"To become a vampire you have to die with vampire blood in your system. Werewolves are born with the gene but to trigger the curse, they have to kill someone."

"Who are they?" she asked. "The werewolves that are here? Do I know them?"

"You know one of them," he nodded. "Tyler Lockwood."

Julie's eyes grew big. "Tyler's a werewolf?" He nodded. "That means...he killed somebody..."

"Accidents happen," he said. "Especially with werewolves. They're angrier."

"Here's your tea," the waitress placed two cups on the table. They waited for her to leave before speaking again.

"So, all those animal attacks, lately..."

"Vampire attacks," he completed her thought. She sighed.

"Why...why are you...different from Stefan or Caroline?"

"I'm one of the Originals," he answered.

"One of the first vampires?"

"Yes," he nodded.

"So...how did you become a vampire?" she asked.

He sighed. "It's a long story," he said. "It was a thousand years ago."

"You're a thousand years old?" she asked a little too loud. She looked around to see if anyone had heard her.

"Yes," Elijah chuckled.

"That's...," Julie laughed. "That's amazing! You've been around for all the interesting stuffs! I have so many questions!" Julie's fear completely disappeared. Her brain couldn't keep up with all the questions she wanted to ask. Elijah laughed at her excitement. Unfortunately for both of them, someone interrupted their conversation.

"Julie!"

"Bonnie? What's wrong?" she asked when she saw the witch's worried look.

"Are you okay?" she asked when she arrived near the table. She gave a bad look to Elijah who seemed amused by the situation. Like he knew this would happen.

"I'm fine, why?" Julie asked. Bonnie stared at her like she was stupid. She eyed Elijah, who chuckled and Julie finally understood what was going on in Bonnie's head. "I'm fine, Bonnie. We're just talking."

"Just talking?" she echoed. "He's dangerous, Julie," she whispered like if Elijah wouldn't hear her which amused him.

"I'm fine," Julie repeated.

"I should go," Elijah said. Julie watched him get up and take his wallet out of his jacket pocket.

"Oh, it's okay..." Julie started to say but he cut her off and paid anyway.

"It's fine," he said. "Have a nice day, Julie. I hope to see you again, soon." Julie watched him leave and all the questions she had stayed unanswered.

"What did you do that for?" Julie asked Bonnie, angry. "We were just talking."

"Matt called me. I was worried."

"Why? Do you think he would've killed me here, in front of everybody? We were just having some tea!"

"You don't just have some tea with Elijah, Julie! He's..."

"He's dangerous, yeah, I got it," she rolled her eyes and sighed. She grabbed her bag and got up.

"Julie!" Bonnie called after her as she was exiting the restaurant. "I don't think you understand..." She followed her in the street. "What were you talking about anyway?" she asked.

"I just found out vampires and werewolves exist, I had a few questions!"

"You could've asked me!"

"Look, Bonnie," Julie sighed and turned to face her. "I was sitting in the park, he was there, and we started to talk." Bonnie sighed.

"It's weird...to see you with him. He's the enemy..."

"Who's enemy? Isn't he trying to help?"

"Damon and Stefan don't trust him. They're looking for another way to help Elena."

"Another way? What other way?" Julie asked.

"I don't know...we're looking for it."

Julie sighed. "Weren't you scared?" Bonnie asked, curious.

"A little at first. But he's..."

"What?"

"Nice," she shrugged.

"With you, maybe."

"Didn't he help Stefan out of the tomb?"

"He did," she nodded.

"See? He is nice."

"I don't think he did it because he's nice."

Julie sighed. "And I don't think he was going to hurt me. I didn't need to be...rescued."

"I'm sorry," Bonnie apologized. "I was just worried."

Julie had forgotten Bonnie actually cared about her. It's been awhile since anyone had cared for her safety. "Thank you," she said.

"Uh...you're welcome?"

Julie chuckled which made Bonnie laughed. "Why aren't you at school?" she asked.

"I was at school when Matt called," she answered. "Do you have any more questions?" she asked. "I'd be happy to answer them."

Julie sighed. "I just want to know what's going on." Bonnie smiled and nodded.

"Come on, I'll tell you all about how Klaus, another Original, wants to sacrifice Elena to break a curse."