After the exams had finished at Mystic Falls High, students were planning on going on hangouts to bust the tension and celebrate. Mystic Falls was a small town and nearly everyone knew each other, so usually at such times it was quite expected to see huge gangs of high schoolers piled up in one or two cars heading towards either the Cinema or the Mall. 

This time though, Melanie wasn't feeling that up to the mark (in the social sense of course) so she had refused and was now at the Grill absentmindedly twirling the spoon in her coffee cup probably occupied with other things. She didn't even notice when a man sat down across from her. 

"I suppose we've met before," she was roused out of her thoughts hearing a male voice quite close to her with an unmistakable British accent. 

Her head snapped up immediately startled and when she saw who was the one who had spoken, her usually pale face lost the slight color it had. Ashen blonde hair, angular features and a mysteriously evil yet cocky smirk on his face, she knew at once that she was in deep danger. 

Klaus Mikaelson, of course. The Original hybrid and in her opinion the real life personification of evil. She stood up immediately. 

"What's the hurry, love?" he spoke again, "I was just wondering who you remind me of, that's all." 

Her voice came out rather forced and slightly quivering, "I... I don't know you." 

His smirk widened, "of course, I never mentioned that you did. Why don't you sit back and we talk a little? Maybe then you'll come to know me and vice versa." 

Her blue eyes sparked in anger perhaps, "I don't want to know you. Thank you for offering though. I hope we don't cross paths anytime soon." 

With that retort she turned on her heel and walked quickly out of the Grill. Taking out her cellphone she dialed Stefan's number. 

After a few rings he picked up, "yeah?" 

She spoke in a low voice, "he's here." 

Stefan who was doing his homework at that time, shut his book and straightened, "who? Are you okay?" 

She shook her head and looked back to find Klaus still smiling at her, "yeah but I don't think it's gonna last for long. It's Klaus. He's at the Grill." 

Stefan stood up in a flash; that was something he was least expecting to hear, "nothing will happen to you. I'm coming." 

She nearly jumped in alarm when she felt a hand close on to her shoulder and spun around to see him standing right behind her. 

"I have to go," she muttered shoving his hand off her. 

"Why so soon, sweetheart? We do have some unfinished business over here." 

Internally Melanie was panicking. She knew Klaus was the kind of person who could go to any lengths to pursue whatever he wanted and had not a single ounce of compassion. She still remembered his tantrums when she lived with Katherine as a child and thinking about it all now made her tremble. 

"What do you want?" she asked. 

"Now you're talking like a well behaved girl," he replied still eyeing her from head to toe, "I just want a little help. I promise that you won't be harmed in any way." 

But before he could make anything else clear, Stefan came from the other side. 

Seeing him, Klaus turned and his usually wide grin got even wider, "ah we meet at last." Stefan's face depicted clearly that he wasn't as pleased to see him as Klaus was. "How you doing, old friend?" Klaus asked and embraced him in what seemed to be a brotherly hug. 

Stefan gestured Mel to escape as he'd handle the rest. They went inside the Grill talking to each other; Klaus quite relaxed while Stefan as if he was forced. It wasn't long when a car turned up. Mel saw Damon step out of it. 

"What are you doing here?" she asked. 

He looked at Klaus then at Stefan and then back to Melanie, "Get in the car." 

She obeyed and stepped in as he did the same. "Oh damn it, Mel, I told you to get in the car but never said that you'd be driving." 

She noticed that she had mistakenly taken the driving seat, "sorry." She fired up the engine and drove the car away as fast as she could. 

"Slow down, what the hell, you'll crash my car! You don't even know how to drive." 

She snapped, "shut up, Damon. You honestly believe we had enough time for that? It's Klaus Mikaelson we're dealing with! Besides I'll be the one who'll be facing all the risks if we did crash." 

They were well out of town by now. "Okay, okay, just calm down, you hear me?" Damon was worried that they would end up in a crash and of course she was right the chances of getting hurt for her were quite high when compared to him, "we're out of Mystic Falls now and there's no need to worry. Now be a good girl, stop the car and let me drive." 

The car skidded to a halt. Despite himself, Damon kept his mouth shut and didn't complain about his precious car being dented for once. They exchanged places and Damon finally sighed in relief. He started the car again and smoothly backed off then drove towards the nearest restaurant. 

"I'm fine," she protested when he checked her pulse and felt her forehead for temperature. 

"You don't look fine," he stated, "what's wrong?" 

She sighed wearily, "Damon, why are you acting like seeing Klaus here threatening everything's safety is no big deal at all?" 

He shrugged, "because there are things which are way worse than him." 

She looked right in his eyes, "and what can be worse than that?" 

He had stopped the car in the restaurant's driveway, "look, Mel, you're tired. And hungry. Why don't we first snack up on something and then talk?" She merely frowned in reply. He got out and dragged her out as well, "come on. I promise I won't steal your fries today." 

Going inside, he booked a table in the far corner for them and ordered her favorite food. She was feeling rather sullen and wasn't even replying to whatever he was talking about. 

When they finally got seated she spoke, "Damon, nothing is normal. Everything is gonna blow up." 

He shook his head, "you're just a lot scared. Try and think rationally, it might be possible that Klaus has other intentions. It might be possible that he'd leave the town alone and even if he doesn't, it's Stefan's problem not ours." 

She spoke, "how can you try and think rationally when either of them is involved? I know the Originals and trust me Klaus is a big nightmare." 

He let out a low rumbling laugh, "me and Klaus were never on good terms with each other but still I'm alive and in front of you. Nothing happened to me." 

She rolled her eyes, "you're still technically dead." 

He nodded, "what I want you to understand is that as long as his motives aren't visible, we have no need to hide away in our holes. I'm with you, Stefan's with you and we're not letting anything, not even Klaus, to change that. You get it?" 

She sighed, "I don't know."