I feel so bad for May-May . . . doing all these horrible things to her. It will get better like always. Again I thank you all for reviewing very wonderful reviews and I would like for them to keep on coming! And also, like always, enjoy the chapter and give me your thoughts about it.

I don't own VA…

"Kyle," I said to my stubborn brother as we ate lunch at the local café that was located in Plaza Mayor here in Madrid. "I'm not going back to the states."

"You've been here for how long, three months? Four? And already you are using the Spaniard jargon."

I stared at him uncomprehendingly. "I am not going to lie, I have no idea what you just said."

Kyle flicked me on the head. "Maybe you should pay more attention in school. Dad said he's going to stop our money supply, and make us work for our things, if we don't start going and actually doing well in school."

"Oh, shit. Guess I should start paying more attention in school . . ."

"And stop flirting with so many guys."

The comment brought me pain. I hadn't flirted with anyone because I felt guilty. "I don't talk to guys. At all." Well, I did. But only to ask about class assignments and friendly things like those.

Kyle sighed, obvious to the fact that he had said something wrong, and changing the subject. "Maya, seriously. Everyone misses you terribly. Even Dante. The whole house is empty. You are the light and joy of the house. So you need to come home." Kyle's words were light but I could hint that sadness in those light brown eyes. I was missed at home, that was a shocker. I thought by the way I never stopped bugging everyone in the house that my family would actually be happy of my absence. Guess I was wrong.

"Honestly, Maya. I am the one who misses you the most. Nobody fun at home." He looked at me with pleading eyes. "Come home, May-May." Kyle only used that ridiculous nickname when he wanted something really, really bad from me.

I fooled around with the Ring of Healing my dad had given me before I left as I thought about what Kyle had said for a while. Home wouldn't be Nevada anymore; it would be California, the Golden Coast. Don't get me wrong, I loved Nevada but California was a place of magic, the sun shined down on you and made you happy about life and whatnot. I could live with that again . . .

Somebody called out the name "Tony!" and I immediately turned around. A couple of teenagers—no older than I was—the male was encaging the female in a huge bear hug. She was squealing, loudly, begging the male to let her go. Finally, he let her go only to plant a huge kiss on her face.

I was sad again.

That was what Tony and I could have been, should have been. And what hurt the most was that we were so, so close to what we wanted. I looked down at the table and absentmindedly stirred my tea, adding unnecessary sugar to the already sweet tea.

Kyle whispered, "You don't always have to be so strong, Maya. You have to let go at one point."

I closed my eyes. "Kyle, I don't think I can go back . . ." I had to speak around the lump in my throat.

Kyle scooted his chair closer to mine. He put his arm around my shoulder. He was younger than I was yet here he was protecting me instead of the other way around. "I understand how you're feeling, Maya—logically, not emotionally. I will never know how you feel, inside, not until I experience what you've gone through. But I can understand you're suffering." I had to struggle not to cry. I could already feel the sobs starting in my chest. "But life goes on, Maya and so we have to go on as well. Or at least try to go on."

I put my hands over my face. "Kyle, I can't." The word was followed by a small sob.

"No you can't, Maya, of course not! You can't move on when you're not even trying!" He was too smart. He knew that I hadn't even tried moving on. "You're never going to succeed if you don't try."

I knew where he was coming from. He wanted me back home; it went without saying. Mom or Dad had probably sent him here to take me back home. "Kyle, be honest, did Mom or Dad send you here?"

"No, I came here because I miss you around the house, cracking jokes with me. I miss you!"

"Dammit, Kyle! You're making it really hard for me not to stay."

He smiled. "Awesome."

I gave him a dark glare.

"Did you know Kayla is going back to California as well?"

"What the hell? I don't want to stay alone here."

"We leave in two days, if you want to join us."

I stayed quiet once more. The clock that was located in the Plaza chimed, claiming the time was now eight in the morning. Kyle had waken me up super early, and he had waken me up to bring me here and have a little chat. I sighed and looked at the clock again. I wanted to stay with Kyle, but if we didn't leave now, the Halloween party wouldn't be going down tonight.

"Kyle? Can you go home and wake up Kayla? I want to grab a coffee so I don't fall asleep."

He stood up. "Yes, ma'am. I'll be on my way. Be careful." He blended with the crowd as he walked the short distance home.

I went to the counter to pay the bill and order a new coffee, packed with extra caffeine. I was putting away my clutch in my purse when a voice behind me said, "Give me all your money!" I turned around, ready to punch him in the face, but I noticed he was laughing. The "he" was the guy from my college. Callan . . . the guy who could make me smile and made my heart beat again in the way Tony used to make it beat, despite me saying that no man could make me "feel" again.

"You scared me!"

He stopped my hand in midair and kissed it. "I shouldn't be scaring people like that, I almost got the lovely hand of Ms. Ivashkov in my face," he said in a teasing voice.

I was mad. And quite freaked out.

"No, you shouldn't."

He studied my face, his eyes searching mine. My anger stared to fade. "You're mad." It was a statement not a question. "Hmm . . . what can I do to make the beautiful Maya happy once more?" As he checked me, I checked him out. He was quite gorgeous. Tony had been straight-up sexy. But Callan was handsome and sexy. Ash blonde hair, light green eyes, and a smile that you'd stop in the middle of the street just to stare at. I had had heard that all girls were chasing after him, but he always said he was only interested in one girl—me—when clearly I wasn't in any shape to start dating again. Also, Callan was Moroi. He had lived all his life in the human world, so he was accustomed to the sun.

"Are you coming later tonight to the party Kayla is throwing?"

He stroked my cheek. " Wouldn't want to miss a chance at seeing you. Of course I am going." He paused. "It's a costume party, right? Couples only? What are you dressing up as?"

"Yes and yes to both of those questions. And you'll see later tonight," I said in a suggestive tone, biting my lip.

This was Callan. This guy was much like my Dad had been in his early years of living, according to my mother's stories. Callan was very seductive and chased around girls and I was the "reason of his living" and "the obsession of life" according to what he had told Kayla the other day. How wonderful for me, right?

"Well, mi amor,"—he was half Spaniard and half American so of course he would know the Spanish language—"I'll see you later tonight." He gave me a quick wink, an air kiss, and walked away.

I sighed, feeling like my heart was going to beat out of my chest.

Get a hold of yourself, Maya!

Kyle's words whispered in the air as if he were standing next to me. Life goes on and so do we.

And it did . . .

Several hours later, almost half a day, Kayla and I were partying it up. We were both dressed as angels. She was the "good angel" dressed all in white; white outfit, white wings, white knee-high boots, and a white halo. I was the "fallen angel" dressed all in black; black outfit, some awesome knee-high boots that had cost my daddy a total of a thousand dollars. I hadn't wanted to wear wings, but Kayla insisted. Yes, we were both dressed as angels, but out outfits suggested said a whole things entirely by the way it showed a lot of skin.

Guys were appreciating it, though.

"There you are, Maya!" I heard Callan say. I laughed at Kayla's weird way of dancing and turned around and almost stumbled into Callan's arms.

"Hey, girl, you look happy to see me." Of course he would say a flirty comment like that.

Damn he looked sexy! He was shirtless with only black jeans. What has he supposed to be dressed as? A prostitute? I inspected him a little more closely and I noticed he was wearing black wings. Oh. He was dressed just like me. Kayla had probably told him since I didn't have a date and all tonight. Even though it was weird being dressed as he was, he looked pretty damn sexy.

It was like I went under some spell right then and there. Without realizing what I was doing, without being aware of my thoughts, I ran a hand down his smooth chest.

The music and the atmosphere changed, as if Callan and I only existed.

Callan held out his hand. "Want to dance?" He asked, his voice dropping to a tone that was meant to be seductive.

I would have taken his hand and danced. But I noticed the song that was playing . . .

I stumbled across your picture today, I could barely breathe.
The moment stopped me cold and grabbed me like a theif.
I dialed your number but you wouldn't be there.
I knew the whole time, but it's still not fair.
I just wanted to hear your voice, I just needed to hear your voice.

What do I do with all I need to say,
So much I wanna tell you everyday.
Oh, it breaks my heart,
I cry these tears in the dark.
I write these letters to you,
But they get lost in the blue.
Cause, there's no address in the stars.

The song would have been a good song in someone's else ears, but in my ears it sounded depressing and true. This was just exactly how I was feeling with Tony's absence. I didn't even know what I was doing; I just needed to get away, away from all these people that were having fun and going on with life like nothing was wrong. I couldn't do that. It'd be a crime moving on with Tony.

Callan grabbed my wrist as I made my way through the crowd. I easily shook his hand off and ran outside, down the stairs, and into the dark, empty street. The only reason I had gone out of that room was because of the song—the freaking song!—that explained just exactly how I was feeling, my exact emotions.

I didn't cry because I didn't have tears to cry. I felt empty.

Without you here with me,
Don't know what to do
I'd give anything just to talk to you.

Oh, it breaks my heart.

Oh it breaks my heart.

All I can do is write these letters to you.
But there's no address in the stars.

I'm screaming at the sky,
Oh, cuase it hurts so bad.
Everybody tells me that all I need is time.
Every morning rolls in, and it hurts me again,
And that ain't nothin but a lie.

I slid down the wall and sat down on the ground. And then I heard Callan's voice again.

Damn! Did he not understand that I needed to get away.

I stood up as quick as possible and started running, who knew where. The thought of getting away just burned in my mind as I ran. It was really hard to run in heels, but I was doing it. I was sure I would do anything just to get away from the world right now.

I ran . . .

. . . straight into the arms of a Strigoi, whose red eyes were filled with malice.

Okay, so I sat down with my mother and I asked if I could stay with my broadband and I'll give my beautiful phone to my sister, who actually needs a really high-tech phone because she is a business person. Anyways, my mother said if I get a really crappy phone, not that crappy, I could stay with my broadband. But…I love my Droid…and I don't know what to do! Any advice? Stay with the Droid or The Broadband?