Four months after a car accident killed their parents, Elena and Jeremy Gilbert are still trying to adjust to their new lives. Elena bonds with best friend Bonnie and former boyfriend Matt, but Jeremy continues to have issues with Vicki who has stopped hanging out with him. As the new school year begins, Elena and her friends are drawn to the handsome and mysterious new student, Stefan Salvatore. Though Elena and Stefan are drawn to one another, Elena can’t help but notice Stephan is hiding a dark secret -- he is a vampire.

As Mystic Falls gets ready for a festival to celebrate the passing of a comet, Vicki continues to recover in the hospital following Damon’s attack. Stefan heads to the hospital to try to use his abilities to make Vicki forget who attacked her, but his efforts are cut short by Matt. Meanwhile, at a parent-teacher conference Mr. Tanner tells Aunt Jenna that Jeremy is in trouble and needs immediate intervention.

As Elena tries to ignore Bonnie’s warnings about Stefan, Tyler tries to embarrass Stefan by throwing a ball at him. However, his effortless catch and football skills impress everyone, leading Mr. Tanner to let him join the football team. Meanwhile, Elena invites Stefan and Bonnie to dinner in order to try to get the two to know each other, but the night ends up backfiring. Finally, the town is shocked by an act of violence.

Elena asks Stefan to go with her to the annual Founder's Park. Vicki gets Tyler to ask her, but then accuses him of hiding their relationship from his family. Meanwhile, Zach reveals a family secret to Stefan, Damon tells Elena about the Salvatore family past; and Stefan tries to get Damon out of his life for good.

Stefan is hopeful that his plan to get rid of Damon (is working. Elena and Jenna are concerned about Jeremy's relationship with Vicki. Stefan decides to reveal parts of his past to Elena. At a fund-raising car wash, Bonnie is surprised by abilities she didn't know she possessed, and seeks advice from her grandmother. Finally, Elena hears a disturbing story about the Salvatore family from a stranger.

Elena demands that Stefan explain the frightening events that have been happening in Mystic Falls. In flashbacks, Stefan explains how his rivalry with Damon began. Back in the present, Damon impulsively takes control of Vicki’s future, and a confused and frightened Vicki runs away. Finally, Sheriff Forbes and Mayor Lockwood take steps to protect the town.

As Vicki's (Kayla Ewell) behavior becomes more dangerous, Stefan (Paul Wesley) tries to help her. Elena (Nina Dobrev) tries to convince Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) to stay away from Vicki. Caroline (Candice Accola) gives Bonnie (Katerina Graham) a necklace she took from Damon (Ian Somerhalder) to wear with her Halloween costume, and when Damon tries to take it back, he is surprised by Bonnie's abilities. Bonnie discusses the incident with Grams (guest star Jasmine Guy) and learns more about her family's past. Trying to cheer Vicki up, Matt (Zach Roerig) takes her to the high school'shaunted house, but the evening soon takes a terrifying turn.c

On his birthday, Stefan is surprised by a visit from Lexi, one of his oldest friends. Still upset by the events at the Halloween haunted house, Elena does her best to stay away from Stefan, but Lexi gives her some unsolicited relationship advice. Elena and Jenna are surprised by a change in Jeremy's behavior. At Damon's insistence, Caroline tries to get his medallion back from Bonnie. Finally, Damon's offer to help Sheriff Forbes has sudden and tragic results.

A mysterious new history teacher, Alaric Saltzman arrives at the high school. When Elena, Bonnie and Caroline hold a seance, the results are stranger than any of them expected. Damonfinally reveals to Stefan the stunning reason he has returned to Mystic Falls.

Stefan and Damon find a common enemy and someone they deem to be a threat. Elena uncovers a hidden secret...

Damon goes to Georgia, where he surprises an old flame, Bree and enlists her help to figure out how to open the tomb. Stefan opens up to Grams in his effort to help Bonnie overcome her fears and accept her powers. '

Damon, Elena and Stefan attend the school dance with a 1950s' theme, where Alaric introduces himself to Damon. Stefan and Damon try to figure out the identity of the new vampire in town, Stefan gives Elena jewelry filled with Vervain to protect her family and friends. To make ends meet Matt takes a job at the Mystic Grill. Ben comes to help Bonnie when he notices Damon is bothering her.

In flashbacks, Stefan and Damon recall the long-ago actions taken by townspeople including their father, Guiseppe Salvatore, and Pearl, leading to the devastating events that caused the rift in their relationship. In the present, Bonnie's date with Ben takes a frightening turn. Elena helps Stefan as he and Damon race to find the missing journal that belonged to Elena's ancestor. Stefan learns the reason behind Alaric's interest in both the journal and the town's history. Damon discovers that an old acquaintance has returned to town with an agenda he understands.

Stefan helps Elena and Bonnie out of a dangerous situation. Jeremy asks Anna to a party in the woods, unaware that she has her own reasons for wanting to meet him there. When Stefan, Damon and Elena work with Bonnie and Gramsto open the tomb, everyone is shocked by what they discover.

Matt and Caroline are surprised by the sudden reappearance of Matt's mother Kelly. Stefan and Elena are worried about Damon's new attitude. Damon is asked by Sheriff Forbes to take part in a fund-raising bachelor auction. Alaric discovers shocking secrets from his own past. With help from Jenna and Stefan, Elena is determined to find out everything she can about her birth mother, but the truth may be more than she can handle.

Anna visits Damon and brings along an unexpected guest. Elena and Stefan endure an awkward double date with Caroline and Matt, but Stefan and Matt start to bond after realizing they share some common ground. Jenna reunites with her old friend Kelly, and Jeremy and Anna's relationship moves in a new direction.

Stefan is faced with a frightening decision; Matt hopes his mother will stick around; Caroline makes a discovery that shocks everyone in town.

Stefan tries to control his new situation; Jeremy and Elena receive a surprise visit from their uncle (David Anders); an incident at a party causes trouble between Tyler and Matt.

At the Founder's Day Gala, Elena and Caroline compete for the title of "Miss Mystic Falls" against other girls from town, including Tina Fell and Amber Bradley. Elena is happy to have Bonnie back in town, but Bonnie still has issues to work through. John Gilbert attempts to intimidate Damon, but his plan doesn't have the desired effect. Damon discovers that Stefan is hiding a dangerous secret that could impact everyone in town.

While Stefan struggles to come to terms with his past, both he and Damon reveal parts of their history to Elena, until she finally learns the truth about how they became vampires. Pearl has an ugly confrontation with Johnathan Gilbert. Damon and Alaric try to find a mysterious invention before Johnathan does. The friendship and flirtation between Jeremy and Anna continues to grow.

Isobel returns to town and stuns Alaric (Matt Davis) with her attitude and her demands that he arrange a meeting with Elena When mother and daughter finally meet, Isobel refuses to answer most of Elena's questions, but reveals that she will stop at nothing to find the mysterious invention Johnathan Gilbert has been searching for. Isobel's dangerous actions lead Stefan , Damon and Bonnie (Katerina Graham) to step in and help Elena deal with the situation.

Founder's Day has finally arrived, and everyone is busy with last-minute preparations for floats and fireworks. Stefan is uncomfortable with Damon's new attitude toward Elena , but Elena is more concerned about repairing her relationship with Jeremy . Jeremy is worried about Anna but not sure he's on board with her latest plan for the future. While Caroline is enjoying her day as Queen of the celebration, she also tries to help Matt ( and Tyler (Michael Trevino) get their friendship back on track. Finally, although Damon and Alaric ( do their best to stop him, Johnathan Gilbert sets a plan in motion that brings Founder's Day to an end amid chaos, destruction and death.