As the black SUV I was riding in pulled up to the front of Cicada, one of my favorite Italian restaurants, I looked out my window to see a crowd of paparazzi waiting for a glimpse of someone famous. Anyone who looks famous really, so they can make a quick buck.

I guess today was their lucky day, because tonight's my birthday. My 21st birthday to be exact. I'm super excited even though I've been 21 since I was about 18 according to my fake id. ;) Except now, I didn't have to worry anymore about being nervous if I didn't recognize the bouncer at clubs and bars.

This was my first birthday as a new and upcoming, top, runway model. The Fall of 1989, I was signed to Ford's modeling agency after my campaign with Calvin Klein. I was finally fulfilling my dream and passion. I was building my portfolio, shooting with the best photographers in the game, modeling for designer brands, and even was getting sponsorships for makeup and clothing brands.

1989 was a great year. My Calvin Klein campaign, getting signed to Fords, walking for Louis Vuitton Fall Fashion week and Hermes Fall Fashion week, featured in a Vanity Fair issue, and most importantly, seeing Michael Jackson in the audience at the Soul Train Awards. Later on that night, I was talking to another model and award presenter in the hallway by the dressing rooms waiting for my ride when she told me Michael was looking down the hallway at me. I was way too nervous to turn my head to see if she was telling the truth, so I just took her word for it.

I don't think I slept for two whole days thinking about Michael Jackson looking at me. I don't think I ate for those two days either. I remember calling my mom screaming, "MOM!!!!!!!! MICHAEL JACKSON LOOKED AT ME TONIGHT! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? I THINK I SHOULD START LOOKING AT WEDDING VENUES NOW!!" She called me crazy and laughed at my enthusiasm, but I was dead serious.

As the SUV stopped and I watched Wes step out to open my door, I ran my fingers through the light beach waves in my hair that fell to the middle of my back and reapplied a very light layer of lip gloss. I had a little bolder makeup tonight. I had a matte, smokey eye look with a little winged black liner, light contour, nose and cheekbone highlight, and a clear gloss. I wore a mini apricot colored dress with a v neck that had diamond straps and a diamond trim on the bottom of the dress. I paired the dress with some clear strapped 5 inch heels.

Wes opened my door and I was blinded by the flashing lights of cameras going off. I tried my best to look decent at every angle, but there's always going to be a bad photo taken of you despite you being ready or not. As I was smiling and waving at the cameras, I heard many people wishing me a Happy 21st. I thanked them and walked towards the entrance of Cicada.

"Ashley! It's Ethan with Entertainment Tonight. Happy 21st Birthday! You look great!" I smiled and responded cheerfully, "Aw, thanks so much Ethan!"

"What do you plan on ordering to drink tonight, since it's your first legal drink!" "Oh, yikes! I haven't even thought about it yet." I was too busy thinking about the pasta with vodka sauce that I always ordered with extra parmesan. Being a model, people think you don't eat and when you do it's shit like salads. They hadn't met me. I could always eat. I love food and trying out new things. Wanna try a new restaurant? Call me, I'll go. "Do you have any suggestions for me?" I said with a smile back to Ethan.

Ethan responded, slightly thrown off, "Something light, stay away from darks!" I laughed. Funny thing is, when I drink, I drink. I like to have a good time and knowing myself, tonight especially, I was gonna end up mixing darks and lights. I wasn't new to this. I go to USC if that says anything. Majoring in political science. I was graduating this year and I was super excited. I stayed in school because knowledge is power. Something no one would ever be able to take away from me. Also, because I'm a political junkie. I LIVED for political debates.

I smiled at Ethan and headed into Cicada with Wes following close behind. I walked upstairs to the table and was surprised at what I saw. My friends had decorated the entire section with balloons, banners, and streamers. Everyone was there from my family to my closest friends. Even my two hometown best friends. Everyone except one.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!" My friends and family screamed. Of course, my personal assistant and also my closest friend who I literally told every.single.thing.to screamed "HAPPY BIRTHDAY BITCHHHHHH!" Alisha always had to be the most extra one, but I wouldn't trade her for the world. I ran up to my family hugging them so tight since I hadn't seen them since Christmas. Hugging my grandparents the tightest. They practically had raised me since my parents were busy in school when I was very little.

Dinner was great and I had such a great time catching up with my friends and family. They all keep me grounded because without them and their support, I wouldn't be where I am today. I am forever grateful to them. I also ended up ordering an Italian margarita. I actually ordered about 3. They were amazing. My dad joked around and said, "damn, what you go to college and turn into an alcoholic?" No. I wasn't one but I liked to have a good time and it just so happened to always involve alcohol. What's the big deal?

The night didn't end there. My friends and I went uptown to West Hollywood and went to Hollywood Club Crawl where I had the time of my life dancing to all of the hottest new songs. My personal favorite being 'I Like The Way (The Kissing Game)' by Hi-Five.

"AHH! This is my shit!! Alisha come dance with me!!" I pulled her to the dance floor and tore the floor up. I was drunk by this point, but I felt so free and the stresses that worried me were wiped out of my mind for the rest of the night.

"Ashley, walk straight! You're making my back hurt!" Alisha said irritated at my drunken state. We had arrived at my condo in Beverly Hills. I was drunk, hair tied up, heels in my hand, and I felt sick. To me, that symbolized a great night.

As I unlocked my door, I jumped onto my couch so grateful to lay my heavy head down. "Who put this couch here? This was the best thing they ever did" I said slurred. "You're so drunk, I can't stand you right now. Here take this." Alisha said.

She handed me some aspirin and a bottle of water which I finished in about 5 seconds. I laid my head down and drifted off to sleep.

"Gosh, I am drained," I said exhaustedly. I had been in the studio all day trying to record a demo for my new album. I couldn't even tell you how many times I resung my demo. It had to be perfect in order for the musicians to replicate the sound I heard in my head. Bruce looked ready to go hours ago, but he knows how I am.

I kicked my shoes off and shuffled to the kitchen in my secret hideout. Nights like these, I'm thankful for my hideout, because the drive to Neverland would've been torture this time of night. I grabbed some vanilla pudding that I heated up and a bottle of water for my hoarse voice and laid out on my couch.

I turned on the TV and Entertainment Tonight was on. I grabbed the remote to change the channel because I'm tired of stations like this always in people's business. Especially mine because 99.9% of the time, they couldn't even report factual things. Just lies. I hate tabloids.

As I aimed the remote to the TV to change it, I heard, "Exclusive, our cameraman Ethan, caught up with new Top Model, Ashley Richmond, on her 21st birthday last night."

It was like a record scratched for me. Ashley Richmond? Where have I heard that name before? It sounded so familiar.

The TV switched to a scene of Ashley Richmond getting out of the car. Man, was she beautiful. The breath hitched in my throat when I saw her walking towards Cicada with her perfect white teeth. Cicada was one of my favorite restaurants. I was just there last week.

I fell into a trance watching her. The way she blinked her dark, yet bright and vibrant brown eyes. The way her lashes cascaded shadows on her face. The way she flipped her hair back out of her face. The way she smiled so brightly showing her pearly whites. The way she caught every angle and most importantly, the walk she walked. Her delicate feet crossing over one another and the way her arms swayed with her walk.

Snapped out of my trance, I heard her deep, yet soft voice, "Oh yikes! I haven't even thought about it yet! Do you have any suggestions for me?" She flashed her smile at the cameraman. Jealousy twinged me in thinking about how that smile wasn't directed towards me but some paparazzi who'd be her friend now, but trash her name if he's offered the right amount of money.

However, she was sweet. Kind. She never frowned or made a fuss about the people crowding around her, blinding her with their cameras. I liked that. She seemed shy. Wait!

"Ashley Richmond," her name rolled off my tongue smoothly and that's when it clicked. "She's the girl from the Soul Train Awards last year!" The girl in the sparkly black dress who I couldn't get my mind off of that night! I went to sleep thinking about her!

She had made it! I was so happy for her. I knew she'd catch her break. She was too beautiful not to. She was the whole package!

I remember the conversation I had with Matt backstage watching her down the hall talk to another pretty girl, but she couldn't even come close to Ashley.

I watched her walk into Cicada with a smile and wave back to paparazzi as the door closed.

I can't believe it! I had to meet her. I felt this connection towards her and I didn't even know her. It scared me honestly.

I laid back on my couch, closing my eyes, picturing her in her apricot colored dress smiling so brightly. I grabbed a pillow, slightly wishing it was her, and drifted off to a deep sleep.