"No need to be sorry. Beautiful woman like you, I should be thanking you." Beat. "Or maybe sending you my dry cleaning bill, I haven't decided."

“Anything I can do to help with that?”

"Save me from the monotony of the history teacher? The amount he drones, no wonder they're falling asleep in their seats. Or maybe that's just my kid."

“Your kid? I’d love to try your moisturizer.”

"My niece, truly. But I have been the favourite and doting uncle her whole life. Her mother tragically passed away in childbirth, so I've been helping out where I can."

“I’m sorry. That’s really good of you. Which one is she?”

"Juliet Salvatore. Have you had the pleasure?"

“Afraid not. Most students I’ve met were at work, and you probably don’t wish your niece had been in the hospital more often.”

"Maybe if I had known they had such quality staff."

“I didn’t know there were any charming, single men left in this town, so I guess we’re both surprised.”

"Damon? How did you- what are you doing here?"

"Obviously attending to my duties as one of our dear Juliet's guardians. I take them very seriously, you know."

He looks between Melissa and Damon, skeptical and anxious. "You're here for Juliet?"

"And the networking opportunities with fellow guardians," he turns to Melissa, "This is Juliet's father, Zachary Salvatore."

“Zachary, nice to meet you. You weren’t expecting him?”

"...nice to meet you too, Ms. McCall." He turns to Damon, "When did you get into town? Where are you staying?"

"McCall. I know that name. Local family. Interesting."

“What have you heard, exactly?”

"Snagged up a prime piece of real estate right from under our Salvatore noses in the fifties. Keen bit of business sense, he had. Big family, so I supppse he learned quick."

He sounds a bit bitter.

“On behalf of my ex-husband’s dead father, I have to give my sincerest apologies. The McCalls really did you wrong. I should be getting to gym class, wouldn’t want to miss that. Nice meeting you, Zachary.”

She waves at the Salvatores, and starts off towards the gym.

The Salvatore men continue to have a hushed argument before Zach disengages and heads in the same direction as Melissa.

To the gym!

"To give you all an idea of how your kids are doing in my class, we'll be playing a game. Everyone split into two teams."

The only other parent she recognizes is Zachary.

She joins him.

"Any guesses on what we're playing?"

"Bobby was always very into dodgeball."

"I guess that'll give us some free time."

And indeed, when Coach Finstock demands that several adults play dodgeball, Melissa is one of the first ones out.