Blood makes you related, but love makes you family

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family. Is the people in your life that want you in theirs. It's just the right mix of chaos and love. It's life's greatest blessing. A group of dreams, laughs, love, and support together. Those whom you can always count on, through the good and bad times. They are the most precious gift. Families are the branches on a tree, you all grow in different directions, but you remain as one. When you have each other, then you have everything.

Elena is looking herself in the mirror while I take out my phone.

"Hello, my amazing fans!" I greet to my fans from the video I started.

"Today I am accompanied by a close friend of mine, Ms. Elena Gilbert" I announce excitedly.

I flip the camera around to her.

"This morning we are participating in a extreme makeover" I record Elena from head to toe while I circle her.

"How did we do guys? I think pretty well" I exclaim causing Elena to chuckle.

"Alright guys, I'll keep you posted. Love ya, kisses!" I end the video before posting it to my Instagram.

I face Elena.

"Okay, so we've done Hair, Makeup, Nails, clothes, shoes, bedroom shopping, Social Media, and activities. Is there anything else you'd like to makeover Ms. Gilbert?" I ask in a posh like tone as she laughs. She looks off in thought.

"I don't know, I do need a date to the event at the Lockwood's" Elena suggests.

"And maybe you could help me find someone new" She asks quietly awaiting my answer. I raise my eyebrows.

"Umm What?" I question in slight shock. Elena sighs heavily.

"I need to meet someone new, I'm tired of stringing Matt along. I need something fun and fresh, something that's not rushed. You know?" She looks up to me with furrowed eyebrows. I sigh with nod.

"Of course, I understand. We are going to find you someone" I agree with an determined expression. Elena squeals before she squeezes me into a hug.

"Thank you thank you thank you" She chants as we jump up and down. We stop for a second before making eye contact and bust out laughing.

"Okay, okay, lets go" I rush her out the dressing area while picking up some of her bags on the way.

"This is gonna be soooo fun!"

I knock on the front door of the Salvatore Boarding House. As the door opens I come face to face with the oldest Salvatore.

"Why Aria, you know you don't have to knock" Damon mocks while letting me in. I shrug with a smile.

"Well it's a polite thing to do, but I'll take it into consideration for next time" I wink as I drop my stuff on the dining room table.

"So, what brings you here?" Damon gasps mockingly in shock.

"Don't tell me you're here to see me" I roll my eyes before playfully shoving him causing him to chuckle.

"I came because I have a little bit of free time before I go to lunch with my friends, and I wanted to see your brother" I explain making my way up the staircase as Damon follows.

"Wow, so you didn't come to see me? I'm wounded" Damon places his hands over his heart.

"Maybe if you stopped causing a whole bunch of trouble, I would" I turn to him while sassily crossing my arms with a raised eyebrow.

Damon smirks with a dark glint in his eyes.

"Sweetheart, you can't ask a demon to behave like an angel" He whispers against my ear before speeding away.

I let out a breath I wasn't even aware I was holding.

I sigh out of frustration.

"Well, I've got my work cut out for me" I mutter under my breath as I open the door to Stefan's room.

I see him sitting at his desk while writing in his journal. He lightens up when he sees me in the doorway.

"Hello there, Mr. Salvatore" I smirk seductively while shutting his door. He pushes his journal aside before making his way over to me.

"Hello there, Angel" Stefan greets while bringing me into a kiss as he wraps his arms around my waist.

"What are you doing here?" He mumbles into my neck.

"Well I have free time before I have to go to lunch with Caroline, Bonnie, and Jac so I decided to come and spend it with you" I grin while running my hands through his hair.

"All that for little ole me?" Stefan jokes in a country accent earning a laugh from me.

"Of course, sugar plum. Why I'd do anything for you" I reply playing along adding a dramatic curtsy.

"Well aren't you as sweet as honey" Stefan tips his imaginary hat. The both of us bust into laughter.

I wrap my arms around his neck.

"Why aren't you smiley Stefan all the time?" I ask staring into his forest green eyes. He smiles down at me.

"I am around you" I look down with a blush creeping onto my cheeks.

"I guess that is true, but when we're not alone you go back to sad brooding serious Stefan" I tell him. He sighs.

"I guess after a century of feeling like a monster who ruins everyone's lives the expression kind of stuck" Stefan pauses looking lost in thought before snapping out of it. He looks back to me.

"But you, Maria, make me feel human. You make me feel like a teenage boy again, falling in love for the first time, you make me want to do good and be myself. You're like my breath of fresh air that smells like...vanilla and the beach" Stefan chuckles as the last part makes me snort.

"I'm falling for you, Maria" He admits in a faint whisper as he brushes my hair behind my hair.

"I'm falling for you too" I confess while leaning into his touch. We lean forward until we're about an inch apart.

"You gonna break my heart, Griffith?" Stefan smirks playfully while looking at my lips.

"Wouldn't dream of it"

"So" Caroline begins looking at me expectingly.

I look around.

"So what?" She huffs.

"You and Stefan, hows that going?" She asks with a grin. I look down with a blush.

"Um really well actually" They all gasp in shock.

"Dios mio!" Jac exclaims.

"Maria blushing? I never thought I'd see the day" Elena gushes. I shove the both of them playfully.

"Yeah yeah, whatever. Laugh it up" I chuckle.

"I didn't think there was a guy that could make you go soft" Jac teases me with a smirk. I quirk an eyebrow.

"Me? Soft? Never that" I continue on.

"No man could ever make Samaria Griffith go soft" I cringe in disgust at that thought.

I look down at my phone to check the time, when I see what time it is I start getting my stuff together.

"Where are you going now?" Caroline asks with furrowed eyebrows.

"Oh, I have a meeting with one my sisters recommended modeling agencies. We're doing a collab for her upcoming clothing line release" I explain as my phone starts to ring in my hand.

"And that would be my manager" I huff letting the call go to voicemail.

"Actually...Elena would you like to come with me?" I ask with a suggestive smile.

She looks between all of us in shock.

"Uh um s-sure I-I guess, but um why...though?" She stammers out.

"Because I've seen you strut your stuff when we were just playing around. I think with the right boost of confidence, you could even be signed" I try to convince.

"Well then um of course. Oh my gosh I have to call Jenna and tell her, and what about the party? When are we-" Elena rambles before I cut her off.

"Don't worry you'll have plenty of time to get ready for the party tonight and call Jenna. Now come on, we don't want to be late" I say whilst dragging her from her seat towards the door.

"We'll see you guys later, toodles"

Elena and I are in the car on our way back from the agency and to say they loved Elena was an understatement.

"So..." I trail off gaining her attention. She tilts her head in confusion.

"What'd you think?" I gesture for her to go into detail.

"To be honest...I really loved it. It honestly gave me such a thrill and it was so fun trying on a whole bunch of clothes. You know being serious one minute but laughing the next" Elena gushes reminiscing about the day.

I chuckle at her.

"Well maybe this could be your new passion to replace your old cheerleading one" I suggest looking away.

"I'm that bad huh?" She asks with a huff.

I look back at her with a small smile.

"Yeah" I nod sheepishly.

"But, I know it's just because a lot has gone on in your life and you're trying to move on from the past and maybe cheerleading is just one of the things you leave behind" I tell her squeezing her shoulder reassuringly.

Tears well in her eyes as she laces her fingers with mine.

"Thank you Maria, really you've helped so much these past couple of days and it means so much more than you know" Elena confesses causing me to grin as I return the squeeze of my hand.

"Anything for friend" I agree.

"Anything for a friend, Ria" Elena replies causing me to scrunch my eyebrows together.

"Ria? That's a new one" I look to her questionably.

"I just thought that since we're friends I should come up with a new nickname for you" She explains as I "oh" in reply.

"Then I think I'll call you Nora" Elena tilts her head in confusion.

"How did you know my real name?" I shrug innocently.

"I've done my research" She playfully rolls her eyes.

"Well since you doing my real name I'm going to do yours. What about Sam?" My body stiffens at the familiar nickname, the feeling of grief starts to bubble inside me. Elena's eyes widen.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. I can just call you something else, I didn't mean to-" I cut her off, shaking off the feeling of despair.

I send her a genuine smile.

"It's a okay, it's just my par- some very important people in my life used to call me that and I guess no else has ever called me that before" I explain looking out the window of the truck.

Elena sighs sadly.

"Maria I'm sorry, I didn't mean to call you that" She apologizes sincerely. I turn back to her.

"You're fine and honestly it's actually kind of comforting" I smile sadly.

"Hey Sam?" Elena calls gaining my attention. I hum in response.

"What happened to your erm your uh parents?" I freeze in my seat as all blood drains from my face.

I grit my teeth with a clenched jaw as my fist tighten by my side. I glare harshly at the seat in front of me.

"They were killed"

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