'Vampire Diaries': Tension between Stefan and Elena, Tyler and Caroline builds -- EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS

'Vampire Diaries': Tension between Stefan and Elena, Tyler and Caroline builds -- EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS
by Mandi Bierly


It’s the first day of school on Thursday’s episode of The Vampire Diaries, “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” We can tell from the promo
that one of Elena’s extracurricular activities in her senior year will
be taking self-defense lessons. But will she need them against Stefan
(Paul Wesley)? Not if this photo of Elena (Nina Dobrev) in his arms is
any indication:


Image Credit: Bob Mahoney/The CW



Knowing that Stefan is now full-on Ripper and can happily feed on any
human he wants minus Elena — who Klaus has compelled him to protect
while he and Rebekah are on the run from the vampire who hunts vampires,
Michael (Sebastian Roche) — odds are that this is not the romantic reunion we long to see.
This show moves fast but not that fast.
But we’re guessing this is Stefan doing what he’s been told and saving Elena from something.
(That fall in the promo,
perhaps?) That’s an even better scenario, really. Being held by Stefan
again — even if he’s Bad Stefan — is bound to stir up feelings for
Elena, however fleeting. No matter what Bad Stefan does, or how badly
she wants to lock him in the Salvatore basement, there’s got to be a
part of her that still pines for him when he rescues her.
That’s how you reset the sexual tension for a couple whose love had been as steady as theirs.

And speaking of tension, we assume we’ll be seeing the bad kind
between Caroline (Candice Accola) and Tyler (Michael Trevino) as he
continues to embrace his new hybrid status. Werewolf agility and vampire
speed can make him one to watch on the football field, but they can’t
help him pull off that do-rag.