The Vampire Diaries is a series of novels by L. J. Smith, now a hit television series on The CW. The story involves Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev), a high school student torn between two vampire brothers Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) and Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder). In the pilot, written by Kevin Williamson (Dawson’s Creek), Elena and her brother Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) are starting school after a summer of mourning the loss of their parents because of a car accident. Also enrolling in classes is the mysterious Stefan who catches Elena’s eye, as well as her best friend Bonnie Bennett (Katerina Graham).