Photo Credit: Dating Rules

While we adore the Salvatore boys and Elena Gilbert, it’s always exciting to receive updates on how the other Mystic Falls residents are faring during the long, hot summer hiatus. Thankfully, the cast and crew have been treating viewers to a steady stream of updates about Bonnie, Jeremy, Matt, Rebekah, Tyler, Klaus and more so that no one suffers too much from Vampire Diaries withdrawal. And luckily for you today, Candice Accola — star of the second season of Dating Rules from My Future Self — gave us fresh scoop on returning to set for season 4 and the lowdown on her exciting new web series!

Check out the exclusive interview below for Candice’s take on relationships, new character Chloe Cunningham, and the perfect date for Caroline and Tyler!

Alloy Entertainment: Your Dating Rules character, Chloe, is on a quest to find love and happiness in the dating scene. When you think of love, what three things spring to mind?
Candice: Laughter, trust, and easy, extensive, wonderful conversation.

Alloy Entertainment: What are some of Chloe’s dealbreakers and are any of them yours as well?
Candice: Chloe’s dealbreakers are 1. breakfast, 2. cuddling, 3. any sort of potential commitment, 4. probably any sort of responsible job that would cause a person that she is dating to be up before 10 AM. [Laughs] For me personally, that whole list is the antithesis of dealbreakers. [Laughs again] I like someone with a job, who likes to get breakfast [pauses to think]…and lunch and dinner. And probably want to get up before 10 AM and overall interested in commitment at this point in my life. But that’s the thing — Chloe’s in a completely different part in her life, where those are things that she wants because she’s just not ready, and not in a very trusting place when it comes to love. She’s been hurt and she has her guard up. And I think that’s a common roller-coaster to go through in life — especially after you’ve been hurt. We kind of have a different perspective on love but I can relate to where Chloe’s at [in this point of her life], and many of my girlfriends can relate as well.

Alloy Entertainment: Which of future Chloe’s amazing pieces of relationship advice did you appreciate most?
Candice:In Season 2 [of Dating Rules], the app has evolved and future Chloe face times with present Chloe, and I really loved all the advice that she gave her — [especially] the episode on being true to who you are and living a healthier lifestyle and realizing that you have to do you. I also love that every piece of advice comes with a grain of salt. Future Chloe is not necessarily preaching that this is the only thing to do things. Even while present Chloe is making mistakes, it’s okay — she’s not holding her accountable and calling her a bad person. [Future Chloe] is just saying, ‘Look. I know you’re going to make these mistakes. I know that this is your path. But at least have some perspective on the way that you’re handling them and at least learn from them.’ I think that becomes such a beautiful lesson during your twenties — and this is something my mother always taught me, “You’re going to mess up! Just learn from it all.’ You can’t keep messing up and expect things to change — you have to change too.

Alloy Entertainment: Considering how spontaneous and adventurous Chloe is, which Mystic Falls guy do you think she’d go for if given the chance and why?
Candice:: Ohhhh Chloe would definitely go for Damon in a heartbeat. [Laughs] She’d be all about Damon because he’s the typical bad boy.

Alloy Entertainment: Do you think that Chloe would make the first move or would she wait for Damon to?
Candice: Chloe would be the one to make the first and she wouldn’t over think it. And I think that’s what I really love about the character. She at an unapologetic time in her life– she’s just enjoying it. She knows exactly what she’s doing. Also, part of finding love is being confident enough in loving yourself and that kind of establishes the kind of people you want to invite into your life. And I think for some people it’s innate and for others it’s a learned thing, part of growing up.

Alloy Entertainment: What about Caroline — would Chloe get with her?
Candice: She would think Caroline is uptight and would be so over her immediately.

Alloy Entertainment: If Caroline’s future self ever face timed with her — possibly in the next 100 years depending on how long she lives (hopefully forever) — what advice do you think she’d offer?
Candice: If Future Caroline could face time with present Caroline, I think that she would say, “Calm down. It all works out.” She’d advise her that even when you’re doing things wrong, you’re doing them right.

Alloy Entertainment: Aww. We hope she takes that to heart!
Caroline: [Laughs] Me too!

Alloy Entertainment: You spent the summer filming Dating Rules Season 2 which is full of romantic comedy and now you’re back on set for Vampire Diaries Season 4 where your character could very well find herself being tortured again. How are the two filming experiences alike or different?
Candice: There are alike in the sense that they are both opportunities to be creative. I’m very happy with each. I feel like Caroline out of the women on TVD is kind of the comic relief, and she does get a lot of really fun, quippy little one-liners. But Dating Rules was such a great experience being that it’s summer, it’s a lighter time in life and I was renting in Venice with all of my twenty-something girlfriends right around the corner. And they’re all single and everyone is trading relationship stories, dating woes, and bad dates and good dates and advice — and it’s [full of] funny moments. [The show] was just so true to what was kind of going on in my life already, that being able to be a part of it and showcase this beautiful, free-spirited time in a woman’s life — especially in Venice, California where there is an essence to that part of the city — was really fun. I’m grateful for the experience!

Alloy Entertainment: What was one completely unforgettable moment from the Dating Rules set that made you go “Wow — this is amazing!”?
Candice: Yea! I’m really excited to see the final edits — I think that they are going to have a director’s cut for the full length experience — but there is a fun, romantic scene that revolves around Cheetohs. And I pride myself on being able to hold it together. During funny moments on The Vampire Diaries, if someone breaks [character] I’m usually pretty good at keeping together and shaking it off. We just don’t have the time — that’s the biggest thing — the episodes are all so big we don’t have time to stop and laugh and make jokes. It’s eventually going to happen because that’s the only way to get through the day and there are so many funny moments…but you can’t highlight on them. You can’t do those hilarious extra little takes because there’s no time. I personally pride myself on being able to keep a straight face but during this particular scene [in Dating Rules] I was just laughing the whole time. I could barely keep a straight face. I was just bawling my eyes out with tears of laughter and that was a very memorable day. I’m excited for everyone to see that bit — it was pretty interesting!

Alloy Entertainment: And just to end on a happy TVD note, if you could set up the perfect date for Caroline and the “real” Tyler, what would it be like?
Candice: [laughs] I think they should just go to some remote island where no one could bother them and where they can be on the beach for a day and then enjoy dinner. It’d be just 24 hours with no one taking over anyone’s body or soul, no one trying to kill the other person — just very simple, isolated, and pleasant!

*Get updated on Candice Accola’s new series here!*

Watch the series premiere of Dating Rules Season 2 on August 2nd, then catch all new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at Facebook.com/DatingRules*