Sorry to say this story has two chapters left. Sadness. I enjoyed writing this story so much! I hoped you've enjoyed it as much I as enjoyed writing it. I feel tremendous gratitude towards those of you who read and those of you who review! You're amazing . . .

I don't own Vampire Academy . . .

(So I skipped Eighteen – Twenty of Maya's life due to my time shortage)

Twenty One . . .

"Ivashkov!" The guy that was in charge of the whole organization as he pointed to that guy that was assigned to do my hair and makeup. He just needed to do retouches. My hair was stylized and my makeup could have been put on no better. The fashion stylist had already dressed me up in designer clothes as I was advertising a new line of clothes for some foreign designer. And after the advertising photo shoot, the family and I would take my family pictures for remembering this special. It was moi's twenty-first birthday.

I stared and stared at the reflection in the mirror. The girl—woman—in the mirror looked happy, but she wasn't. My exterior was all a mask, an everyday mask I had to pull on in order to hide all the scars and wounds I had in my interior . . .

"Damn, Troyal! I'm right here!" I said very impatient as I sat down on the chair that was placed right in front of a mirror that had little lights all around. "You shouldn't be yelling at me. My parents did, after all, let you use our estate so that you could do your deranged fashion photo shoot."

"I'm sorry, Ivashkov. Didn't mean to yell at you."

"Troy, you know I was just joking," I said laughing.

He put his hand over his heart. "Oh, God. You had me scared, sweetie. Don't do that, Mayie."

"Wouldn't dare of doing it again, Troyal." I smiled broadly at him and stared at the mirror, thinking about Zara, who got me into this mess. Who knew being a model was this much of a mess. I felt bad for Zara, yet at the same time, I wanted to kill her. Who knew being a model was this much trouble? For one, I couldn't eat meat. Two, I had to work out a lot. Three, the stylist were too careless, and now my hair was a dark blonde. Four, I couldn't eat me. Did I say that already? Well, I'll say it again. Five, I was skinny as twig; I would have rather have my old back, the body where I actually did have some meat on me. And the list could keep on going and going and going . . .

I looked over at my sister who was getting her hair done quietly, without saying anything at all. "Zara, I don't know how you could go through all this hell for fifteen years."

"Been doing it since I was three. I am used to it."

"Well, I've been doing it for three years straight and I already feel like killing myself." I fluffed off my hair, ignoring the hair stylists dark glare. "I am thankful this is my last year."

"I could do this for the rest of my life," she said, sighing happily.

"I could care less." I didn't even have to pause to think over what I wanted to do the rest of my life. "I want to work with the agriculture. Grow flowers. Raise farm animals. I want to be a country girl," I said, sighing happily the same way Zara had sighed.

Zara's response was haltered because they literally pulled her away so that she could complete her part of the photo shoot. More than half an hour later, I was taken away so there wasn't really any time to talk again. I posed in front of a camera sometimes by myself and sometimes with a different model. Most of the day was spent taking photos of the models and after that, my family and I had to take pictures. Since it was my party, I decided we all dress in cowboy/cowgirl clothes. I was wearing a light blue cotton dress and my old brown cowboy boots. Casual clothing was what I wanted for all, not stupid, formal, tight-fitting dresses that made you feel like you couldn't breathe.

It was late when we finished taking pictures, but it was cool. The restaurant we were eating dinner at was mostly for night purposes only, which was exactly why we were going. It was eighteen and over only because a night club was connected to it. If you were under twenty one, you'd get this stamp on your arm. The stamp was only to tell the bartenders not to serve you alcoholic beverages.

"I hope you don't mind," My dad began as we sat down on the tables of the restaurant, "I invited along an old friend and his family to join us."

"No, dad. I don't mind at all." I smiled and sat down right next to Kayla. "After all, you're paying."

My parents had wanted to throw a huge party for me, saying things like "You only turn twenty one once" and "you don't have to worry about anything, we got you covered" but I told them in a couple of weeks. I liked spending my birthday with all my brothers and sisters and mom and dad. That was the best present I could ever receive, seeing all my family together. I smiled around the table, at Cade and his girlfriend Vivian, Zara and her man Tanner, Dante and his pregnant woman Jenica, Kayla and Ryan, a huge smile to Kyle and Malese, a smile in return was what I go. My Dad and Mom stared adoringly at me. I realized, I was the only one that didn't have a partner by my side.

"Adrian!" a man in casual clothing called out in a deep voice. The man was around my Dad's age, but my Dad still beat him in gorgeousness. "Garth!" My Dad stood up and walked over to the man, shaking his hand, while hugging him with the other hand. The woman standing behind him was very familiar. Adelina Cohen, Callan's mom.

And behind her . . .

"I brought my son for your daughter to bond with," Garth Cohen said. I saw Dad's eyes tighten a little.

. . . Callan.

There you go making my heart beat again and again and again . . .

I felt the blood drain from my body. My face felt heated. The world stopped. I didn't know what to do in that moment. Smile? Laugh? Cry? Run up to him and his arms and fall weekly, letting him catch me, while crying hysterically? No, no. Maya Ivashkov doesn't cry hysterically . . . anymore. I didn't yell at him because I absolutely did not hate him at all. He actually helped me get along through life those few months, some years ago.

His face broke into a smile when he saw me. His grin brought out some feelings that hadn't been present in so long. I stood up from my chair and went to go hug him. Callan held me very close to him as we hugged. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my mom give my dad a warning look. Dad waved off the look, smiling and looking happy for me.

"Callan," I said, feeling my throat dry up as I wanted to cry. "I was stupid for leaving you . . ."

"No, it was stupid of me for letting you go . . ."

The past three years made me realize that Callan was what I needed all along. And that it foolish of me to let him go. I should have stayed with him and made myself happy for the first time in so long, the way I had been Tony before he passed. Callan made me feel again. I was not sure what Callan made me feel but it was something, that was for sure.

"We are in desperate need for a talk, how about we go somewhere else?"

I didn't know whether to say yes or no. I wanted to go with him, but I wanted to stay with my family. "Let's stay here for a while and enjoy my party, and then I'm yours."

Smiling a little deviously, he said, "Don't say that. I may not return you."

I smacked him on the side of head.

I sat down and I wasn't the lonely one anymore. We spent our whole time laughing, reminiscing about when I was younger. The story that caught most of my attention was when Dad told the story of when I was born. He said he'd felt a lot of wonderful feelings in his life, but nothing could quite compare to the day they put his baby girl in his hands for the first time and that he would be very sad when he walked his baby girl down the aisle. I had to wave air in my face to keep my mascara from running because tears fell from my eyes.

Another story was the one Aunt Jade said about the time I had had a sleep over with Kayla and we both started a war of who kissed the boy next door first. I actually remembered the day; Kayla had beaten me. My mother told the story of when she had cooked my favorite food in the whole world, and I had told Zara that she was going to get bumps on her skin, while she bled to death if she ate the food just so that I could eat her food. And my mother said how I used to beat up Dante and Cade, never Kyle, while they slept. After some time of interacting and having a good time with my family, Callan and I sneaked away.

I drove to my house. There was a little guest house in the back that was private and it was near the beach. I took of my boots and I ran down to the beach, letting the hair run through my hair, on my face. The water splashed all over as I ran to the ocean. Callan just stood, hands in pockets, staring at me with something like wonder in his eyes.

I turned my back on the waves for a couple seconds as I turned to look at him. "Come join me in my fun . . ." When he wasn't approaching, I said, "You are no fun."

I shifted my attention back the beautiful ocean, looking at the precious moon setting in. I knew when he was approaching because the waves danced a lot more than before. His arms went around me, holding me close his body. It was such an ardent gesture, but the intention behind the gesture was anything but sweet. He somehow pulled me on the ground, making me fall on top of his body.

I laughed deliriously.

"Don't underestimate my having-fun skills."

I yelled softly when the waves rolled in and wet us. But we stayed there, nonetheless.

As I laid on top of him, his light green eyes, those light green eyes that looked a faint blue in the sunlight, conveyed a message, a message of bliss and love. Words weren't needed to show and express the love we felt, therefore we said nothing.

It had been years that I'd been denying my romance life. I suddenly was craving more than the kiss. "The energy that's burning between us, do you feel it?"

I kissed down his chest as I started to unbutton his shirt. "I want you, Callan."

His head bent towards mine our lips met for a sweet kiss. Suddenly, it wasn't me on top, it was him.

Callan's lips grazed wherever he could find bare skin. "I've always wanted you, Maya. From the very beginning. And now I want you the very end." He poured kisses all over me. "I'm here to make you smile again. You just have to trust me, leave all your fears of loving behind. I'll erase the pain, all your scars, and I'll fill you with love you lack. You don't have to be afraid, Maya. I'll take care of you." He leaned down to kiss me. "I want it to be that awakens those long-forgotten emotions in you. And I'll say anything you expect to hear from me . . ."

Another kiss. "You name it, Maya, and I'll be that . . ."

My lips found themselves glued to his, awakening those feelings he promised to wake, filling my heart with the love I lacked, and erasing that pain I felt . . .

. . . I loved him.

Love happens so quick, don't you think? It happened to me. But then it kind of faded because of my "best friend." Anyways, again those for reading! And a HUGE Thanks and Hug and a HUGE cookie for those of you who've helped me get my story to 550 reviews! I love you all!

Take lots of care

-Mel