Wow . . . I wrote a 3000 word chapter in two hours! Damn…I hadn't seen that happen in like several months! Hmm….thanks so much for your support! Thanks for all the wonderful reviews! You guys are awesome! Here is the next chapter…just for you my wonderful readers!

I don't own Vampire Academy . . .

Seventeen . . .

"So did you hear about the Summer Night?" I asked Zara as we both lounged in the warm Jacuzzi. The bright lights of Las Vegas lit up the night—or morning? Over here, you couldn't really tell if it was morning or night. I loved this house to death. My father had bought some time after he had gotten married with my mother.

Zara nodded. "Are you going?"

The Summer Night was basically a summer night were everyone had fun. It was just like prom but it was outside. You had to dress as if you were going to a prom, though, or else the personnel wouldn't let you in. It was from ages 15 to 18. I had begged my father to go and at first he wouldn't budge. Until, we made a deal. Dante or Kyle had to accompany me. And of course, it was Kyle who was going. Dante was too nice and would tell my parents everything I did as opposed to Kyle who didn't give a shit.

"Yes, I am. I thought you were there when I was begging our daddy."

"No . . ." She was surprisingly quiet today.

"Dude, are you okay?"

She smiled. First smile of the day. "Yes, I'm fine."

"Your abnormally quiet . . . how unusual." I shivered and she laughed.

"Yes, May, I really am fine."

"If you want me to beat somebody up you know you just have to say so."

She smiled again. "I know you would."

"Okay, change of subject." I had gotten and empty bottle of vodka that my dad had drunk in like four months because my mother wouldn't let him drink and filled it with water. I took a sip of it and Zara stared at me wide-eyed. "Maya, are you drinking vodka?"

I gave her a strange look. "No. Why would I do that? It's water, you want to taste?"

She stared at me with amusement. I knew she was seconds away from laughing. "Why would you fill and vodka bottle with water?"

I shrugged. "I don't know . . . I was bored. Plus, you know how much my dad freaks out when his girls are touching a liquor bottle."

"So you're just doing it to freak him out?"

I chuckled. "Yes. You can say it, I'm weird."

"Get it right, May-Bear. We're not weird . . . we're just unique."

"Yes, you and I are definitely one of a kind." It was silent for a couple of seconds. "So are you going to the Summer Night?"

"It's in two days and I don't have a dress or a date."

"You'll find one or I'll find you one." I grinned mischievously. "Hmm . . . do you like Tanner Hughes?" She didn't need to say more. Her blush was all I needed to see. I winked at her. "Well, my darling, I have to go find you a date. Enjoy your night." I grabbed the huge towel and wrapped it around myself. "I'll send Cade out here so that you won't be lonely."

"Maya! No!"

"Yes, my love. You are going with Tanner to the Summer Night!"

"MAYA!" She yelled but I already gone, laughing evilly.

I dressed quickly and left my hair down after running a towel a couple times through it so that it could dry. Then, I went to go look for my mommy because I needed her permission first before I did anything for Zara. I looked all over the house before finding out that she was in her bedroom.

I knocked softly on the door and opened it a little. I didn't want to catch her getting it on with my dad. That would be gross. Thankfully, though, she was alone. "May I come in, mommy?"

She smiled. "Of course, baby."

I went to go lay down with her on the bed. "Can I sleep with you and daddy tonight?"

That made her laugh. "Sure, but your daddy and I plan to get a little crazy tonight, though."

"Oh, mom. God, I so did not want to know that."

That made her laugh as well. I loved my mom because she was laid back and could take any joke. My dad was just the same, a tad bit crazier than my mother, though.

"So, mommy, I have something to ask you."

"Go ahead, sweetheart."

"Can I bring along Zara with me to the Summer Night?"

She nodded. "I see no problem with it. But you need to ask your dad first."

"God . . . my dad is unreasonable when it comes us, his babies."

"Well, Zara and you are his spoiled princess what can I say?"

"Shouldn't you be included? You're his spoiled princess as well."

"May-Bear, get it right, I'm his queen."

Both she and I were laughing when my dad walked in. My father was a handsome man despite his age. His hair was still dark, but soon it would be getting a little gray something that freaked him out but was inevitable. Hey, at least he didn't have bald spots yet. He laid next to my mother on the bed.

"Dad?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Umm . . . can I bring along Zara with me to the party?"

The daddy's girl over protectiveness set in. "Who is she going with?"

"Kyle, Matt, and me."

"If Zara goes . . . Dante goes."

Yes, I loved my father but sometimes I wanted to hit him in the femur. "Dad!"

Thankfully, my mother spoke up. "Adrian, babe, Zara is responsible. A lot more responsible than Maya." I didn't say anything because I didn't have anything to say. It was true. " She knows how to handle herself and besides Tanner is a good boy."

My mom knew my father better. She knew how all his buttons functioned. And that was why my father gave me and Zara permission to go. Now all I needed was to call up Tanner. I knew he had a crush on Zara because him and my best friend Matt were like brothers. I kissed both my dad and mom and went to my room to make some phone calls. Zara was fifteen and this was going to be the night of her life, well the night of her fifteenth year of life . . .

The next two days were spent shopping and planning for the night that was soon to come. Tanner had been so happy when I told him that Zara wanted to take him to the party. But of course, I made him man up and told him he had to ask her. He asked her and she, shyly, agreed. The past two hours, Zara and I had spent getting ready. Since our daddy loved us and we were daddy's girls, there were two women there getting our hair and makeup ready.

My mother and dad snapped pictures of us. Kyle had scored himself a date, the girl next door named Emily. She was a pretty dirty-blonde haired Moroi with light green eyes that looked blue at times. She wore a pink dress that matched her perfectly.

Zara and Tanner looked cute together as well. Tanner was a cute guy with blue eyes and light brown hair. Zara wore a dress that made her curves stand out. It was white with light patterns and a pink sash around the waist.

Matthew, Lissa and Christian's second kid, was my date. He looked like his mother but with black hair. He looked nothing like Christian, though. His mother was there as well, which was not surprising because Lissa and my mother were best friends. I wore a black dress, of course, that hugged my body. It was strapless and went just about the knees. My daddy's plastic had bought me a pair of awesome Christian Louboutin pumps.

"You look hot . . ." Matt whispered in my ear.

"Thanks, babe." I whispered back. Matt and I had recently started dating. We had know each other ever since we were born. He was born a month before I was. And he was my best friend.

Since my parents really didn't like the fact of Zara riding alone in a car with Tanner, my dad had hired a chauffeur to drive Zara, Kyle, Tanner, and Emily in a Hummer limo. My dad had recently given me an orange Camaro and I decided to drive with Matthew. We would have rode in the limo but Matthew and I wanted to go our separate ways later on.

Our parents wished us luck and told us to have a good time before we left. Matthew hopped into the passenger seat. My car was a convertible so I could take off the roof. Hell yeah! Nevada was always hot so I didn't have to worry about freezing to death with the outside weather.

I turned up my radio. The coolest new song was currently on. One thing I loved about Matt was that we both shared a love for country music. He understood me and my weird music taste. Stuck Like Glue by Sugarland was currently playing. I had mentioned earlier to Matt that this was his song to him by me.

We arrived at the party in no time. It was being hosted at one of my dad's friend's house this year. Next year would probably be our house. I parked my car and I saw people look at me and Matt, linked together, hand in hand. This was some new gossip to talk about. Guys of all sorts turned to look at me. According to my dad, I had inherited my mom's guy-magnet gene. The guys turned away, longing in their eyes, when they saw I was taken.

"I feel like the luckiest guy in the world."

"Why so?"

"First, let me rephrase that. I am the luckiest guy in the world?"

"Why do you say?"

"Isn't obvious?"

"No. Care to share?"

"Look all those guys staring at you with longing in their eyes."

"Who cares about those guys? I only care about you."

I closed off the subject when I noticed my best friend Elena standing alone, trying to hit at some guy. The was going to be a good night. Matt and I danced, chatted with some friends, and had fun. Finally, though, I whispered in his ear if he wanted to go somewhere else. We hopped into our car and while I did I saw Zara having a blast with Tanner. Kyle was standing next to her, Emily at his side. They looked like they were having fun. They'd do fine without me.

I drove to a mountain that was part of our property, where you could say the whole view of Las Vegas. My parents now that their kids were grown, spent almost every weekend there with my Aunt Jade and my Uncle Jon.

"Now we can be alone . . ." I said to Matt and faced him.

He sighed. "Yes we can . . ." He reached for me before I did and we had a nice time in the backseat of my car . . .

Afterwards, I felt so happy.

I laid on top of Matt's chest as he stroked my hair. "God, you're so beautiful Maya . . ."

"I know."

"Maya?"

"Yes?"

"Something is bothering me."

"Me too . . ."

He was instantly worried. "What's wrong?"

I let out my breath. "My dad wants to move to the West Coast. I know it's only a couple hours away from here, but still. I want to stay here in Nevada. I love it here. I love the lights of Las Vegas."

"Ohh . . . you're going to be a California Girl."

I smiled. "Is that wrong?"

"Nope. You're going to be just like that song . . ."

I thought about it for a second. "Oh. This song: California girls We're unforgettable Daisy Dukes Bikinis on top Sun-kissed skin So hot We'll melt your Popsicle Oooooh oh oooooh. . . that song?"

He nodded and continued to sing with me. "California girls We're undeniable Fine, fresh, fierce We got it on lock Westcoast represent Now put your hands up Oooooh oh ooooo."

I laughed out loud. "God, your singing skills make me feel like a professional." Then, I remembered that he had something that was bothering him. "Wait . . . what is bothering you?"

He let out his breath, being all serious now. "My dad."

"What about your dad?"

"I have a feeling that my dad isn't who I thought it was."

"What . . . the hell!?"

"I overheard my mother talking to my dad's cousin the other night on the phone. She was saying something about, 'he's your son! You need to support him.' And 'Maybe if you would have kept your dick in your pants he wouldn't have been made. Christian might start suspecting that he isn't his son.'" He glanced down at me. "Excuse my language."

"It's fine . . ." I was shocked. Aunt Lissa would never use that language. "I—I don't know what to say. Maybe you should confront your mom."

"I want to, but I don't want to do it alone."

Without thinking, I said, "I'll go with you . . ."

"Let's get dressed" was all he said.

We found Aunt Lissa sitting inside the kitchen when Matt and I arrived. She smiled at us. "Did you forget something? It's too early to be back home."

Matt seemed nervous so I answered for him. "No, actually the party was getting boring. We wanted to come home."

"Oh, well. Have fun?"

"Lots of fun . . ." I said. My sex hair was enough to prove the "fun" part.

Matt sat down across from his mother. He motioned for me to go over to him. I went. "Where's dad?"

"Being an ass." Aunt Lissa said flatly.

Matt looked at her. "Dad?"

"Oh, Dad. He took the girls out."

"Okay, good."

"Is there something you need?"

"I need to talk to you, mom."

Aunt Lissa lost some of her composure. "What about?"

"My dad. My real dad."

Aunt Lissa stared at him. "You're real dad?"

"I know Christian isn't my dad . . ."

"You're real dad is Christian. I don't know why you think otherwise."

"Mother, don't lie to me. You know how much I hate being lied to."

She stared at him for a couple of minutes. "Fine . . . you dad isn't Christian."

Matt let out a breath. "Then, who is my real dad?"

"Matthew Ozera."

"Oh, God . . . how?"

I should have known. Aunt Lissa named Matt after his father.

"Your father and I went to party one Christmas at his house. We got wasted and . . . you know what happens next. Nine months later my illegitimate son was born." Aunt Lissa seemed sad.

"Does Dad know?"

"Which one?"

It was such a horrible moment to laugh, but I did. She had to ask which dad.

"Christian?"

Her eyes turned huge. "Oh, Matt. Please don't tell him. I've been able to keep it a secret all this time! Don't waste what he and I have!"

"Why can't you just tell him the truth? Why couldn't you just tell me the truth?!"

"Because I didn't want you to hate me . . ." Tears started falling out of her face. All I could do was stand there like an idiot.

"You're my mother! Nothing is going to make me hate you! But . . ." He stood up. "I need some time alone. I don't want to hear from you right now."

"Matt . . ." She sobbed. She reached out for him.

"Leave me alone!" He ran out the door and I ran after him, surprised that I could do it in heels.

"Matt . . . ?" I called out to him.

"I don't want to be here, Maya. Can we go somewhere else?"

I took him to my house because that's the only place we could go. My father and mother welcomed him to stay at the house for whatever time he wanted. They were concerned for him. When Matt fell asleep, my mother and father called me into my dad's office.

"What happened to him?" My mom asked. She was very concerned. She looked out for her Aunt Lissa's kids as if they were her own. So did my father.

"Did you know Matt isn't Uncle Christian's son?"

My mom nodded sadly. "I wanted to tell Mattie myself but Lissa stopped me. And I didn't want to see Matt hurt."

"I guess they're even. Lissa has an illegitimate son and Christian has an illegitimate daughter." My daddy put in.

What the hell? Talk about a dysfunctional family.

I leaned back on my chair. "Please don't tell me you have kids on the side?"

My dad chuckled. "Your mother would shoot me if I did. Why would I want kids on the side, anyway. I love my wife and five beautiful kids. I don't need anything else."

"Mom?"

"No, Maya. I don't have kids on the side."

"Okay, just making sure."

"Poor guy, it's a lot to take in. You go all your life thinking you have thinking something and then later realizing it wasn't true."

I nodded. "Now that we're all gathered here. I want to bring up a subject?"

My mom, Rose, and my dad, Adrian looked at me expectantly.

"Do we really need to move to California?"

"Oh, we're not moving." My mom put in.

I was about to kiss both of them when my mom spoke again.

"You and your brothers and sister are going to St. Vladimir's Academy?"

The world ended . . .

"What?!"

Haha…I just love Maya. Hmm … liked the chapter? Tell me what you think . . .

-Mel