CH.4: Mending feelings, hope is forever

Maya sat in the cabin on the boat as they set off for the Amazon where Juliet's father was last seen. The sun was bearing down on them and the only two up above were Juliet herself and Lucas's cousin visiting from Texas. Maya knew Lucas had a big family but aside from that he didn't really discuss them too much since he became a vampire and learned he couldn't stand in the sunlight. The wound on her face was all but a memory but his actions still bore fruit to her mind how he had almost pushed her away for good…that she actually would have walked out had Juliet not shot him.

Lucas sat on the bed in the room with his head in his hands as he dealt with things the best he can, he hadn't really said much since the two had decided to come along. Maya wished things would be different…that they would be back to the way they were…and yet how did one go back to yesterday? The two of them lived vampiric lives now and all the simple pleasures of being a human just weren't around to grab at as they pleased. Riley was lucky in that she had a boyfriend who was both vampire and human, and with Farkle he had Isadora so they had their intellect and turning furry to keep them on the same page.

"I'm sorry," Maya finally says breaking the hours long silence, "I'm sorry for changing you and making your life miserable, I'm sorry for not asking permission before changing you, I'm sorry you are stuck to the shadows instead of basking in the sunlight and doing what you want…what I did-."

Maya bowed her head and as she looked up Lucas was before her with his hand on her face. It felt so cold to the touch and yet she didn't mind the least. "Maya…I should be the one sorry…and to think all it took was a bullet to get me realize…how badly I've treated you. I shouldn't care about the little things…not when I have something much bigger in my life now. Some part of me will always yearn to be home in Texas where the sun beats down on ya like it is about to fry you open…but none of that matters cause I have you in my life. Maya you make me whole and our journey together…I would not change it for anything-."

"Lucas you don't know what you are saying…life as a vampire can be torturous," Maya interjects, "the constant hunger for blood, the constant fear of being hunted, the constant knowledge some day you may cross the line and there is no coming back from that. You are still young Lucas…given the time you will see soon enough how bad I've made things for you."

Maya wanted to sink into his embrace and play along that all was alright long as they had each other…but what if that wasn't enough? True she had saved him from dieing from most illnesses while also keeping him from the mortal enemy time. Still, and she feared this the most, someday down the line she knew he would be hunted by his own family. Right now they had no clue their Lucas was a vampire…but with a long line of tradition and vampires under their belt could they really turn a blind eye to this?

"And what do you propose I do Maya…break up with you and go on my own? Do you know how crazy that sounds? We are bound together now…no point in us separating when we live in the same town, go to the same school, and if I remember vampire lore correctly…vampires who turn a human are usually bound together for a long time. Do you think your room is big enough for two?"

Maya felt herself blushing as she was realizing what he was saying and she rose up letting his hand settle on holding onto the air. "Lucas…I don't think Mr. Matthews will like the fact of you sleeping my room-."

Lucas snuck up behind her and as he placed his strong arms around her waist she leaned back against him feeling his lips tease her neck. Anything more from her lips seemed silenced as she felt his fingers dance upon the exposed skin of her stomach. "Well that is good cause we won't be sleeping much…ok that came out wrong I just meant…well we'd be just lying there doing nothing…that is what vampires do right?"

Maya laughed…maybe for the first time in a bit. Turning her head slightly so she is staring at him she can see forever in his eyes. He wasn't that far off…about a vampire choosing a mate and turning them to be by their side. She had never wanted to be apart from Lucas…he was it…there was no other boy for her. For a while she had a crush on Joshua, but, she was glad she grew out of it realizing they were different ages and they had little in common.

Brushing her lips against his she turns around so his hands slide behind her back and the two of them share an intimate moment. The kiss was sensual, her body heating up the best it can giving the fact she was dead. Running her hands through his hair while his hands keep her in place she was glad things had resolved themselves. True this would not be the first fight they'd have but it was a major one she didn't wish to carry on through graduation in four years. Once they graduated and headed to college it would be the start of a new chapter for the two of them.

"Maya I love you…and if you will have me I promise to stay by your side faithfully through all that comes our way…you aren't going to lose me anymore." Lucas pressed his head against hers and the two of them just stood there basking in the other's presence.

"Lucas Friar…are you proposing to me?" Maya teased causing the Texan to laugh lightly showing those whites of his. "Very well…I shall also promise to be faithful and take you for all your flaws and for worse or better…you aren't ever going to push me away."

Deepening the kiss she moves him into a chair and goes to straddle him. The two of them made out and Maya decided to be bold as she placed Lucas's hands on her butt. The sensation was something new to her and as a human she never really thought of doing something like this, well, in her dreams perhaps. A girl could dream after all. Lucas's hands felt right there and she reached for his shirt slowly dragging it over his head and tossing it aside.

"Uh Maya…what are you doing?" Lucas inquires as he is shirtless before her…and her mouth parted in open appreciation of his features.

"Hmm…oh…nothing really," she wore an innocent smile as she kissed him again and grinded herself against him in a teasing manner. She wouldn't let it get too far…not now at least but maybe soon in the near future…she wasn't a kid any more after all.

Juliet stood on the deck of the boat looking out at the water where she could almost make out the ghostly outline of the trail she and her father had taken. At the time she had proven to be the worse daughter there was before losing her father. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear she turns to see Lucas's cousin Beth looking over at her.

"Can I do something for ya?" Juliet inquires causing the other girl to blink before looking away. Curiosity got the better of her as she climbed up to where Beth guided the boat along the water to the Amazon.

"I was just…well…you said you and your father took this route right?" Beth was quick to cover her stutter and Juliet smiled.

"Well…all of it looks familiar so far," Juliet nodded her head as she decided to run a finger along Beth's arm causing the girl to inhale sharply before moving her arm away.

"Let me know when we get close and I can drop you off a bit away. I'm not really equipped for taking on vampires…especially ones who dance in the sunlight. My parents never approved of me going into this line of business because it wasn't hunting."

Juliet could understand that…perhaps if she had been hunting she and her father might have been closer. Still now she would be honoring her father…getting tutelage from one of the hunters, though more a hunter of the night now. Looking at Beth she marveled at her features as she had brown long hair and a figure of a television star. She wore a long sleeve over a dark tank top and her pants hugged her features.

"Beth…do you like girls?" Juliet saw the girl flinch and shoot her a stare of incredulous wonder how she had arrived at that conclusion.

"What…no…no…I do not like girls…I like guys, guys are the best." Beth turned the boat a bit and Juliet watched her closely deciding to test this further.

"I see…so tell me…back at the dock instead of staring at the muscular seamen loading and unloading their stuff…why were you checking me out as I bent over to tie my shoe?" Juliet saw Beth's cheeks turn scarlet and she looked away.

"I was…I was…checking to see if Lucas and Maya had arrived yet," Beth bit her bottom lip and Juliet found it quite cute on her. Moving over to her she places herself up against her from behind causing her to let out an eep.

"Uh huh…and I would believe that, I really would, if they hadn't already been waiting in the cabin for us to leave. How long have you felt this way…about girls and not me cause we've just met and you can answer that one later."

Juliet pressed herself against her butt and snuck her hands around her moving them across the smooth surface of her stomach. The girl clearly worked out…she imagined her family was quite fit from whatever it was they did when not hunting. Looking past her at the water she could see the place where they had set down. It was a bit disappointing this would end before it begun…but…she didn't wish to stall knowing those vampires needed to be stopped.

"It is still new to me…liking girls…I mean I want to like boys, and I should, but I find myself staring longer each time and while girls my age are thinking of boys undressing…I'm thinking of…" She trailed off as she turned to look into her eyes and Juliet knew she had to stop her so she placed a finger to her lips.

"Think on this a bit more and if you are serious about this…we can talk about it when we come back. This is our stop." Pulling away and feeling like such a tease she decides to put on a show strutting away leaving her with something to look at. Looking out she could see the ghostly images of her father and her as they set out one last time on a father daughter trip. This would not be easy…but some things never were.

Authors note: Lucas and Maya patch things up and Juliet may have found a potential love interest. However in the next chapter as they set out leaving the boat behind the trio will start the search for the sunlight vampires. Juliet's training as a hunter is set to begin and they may find more than they bargained for.