Talkeetna High School, Alaska

July, 1991

The cafeteria buzzed with the excited chatter of rambunctious teens. Lunch trays clattered and teachers scolded students for skipping in line.

From the latest gossip to the jocks making obscene comments about what Mrs. Wolfe wore today, there was always a conversation to partake in.

This had been overwhelming for Raven at first. Her home was an echo chamber. More often than not, a pin could be heard if dropped.

It hadn't always been this way and she could not blame anyone else, but the girl in the mirror.

She found the desire to be away from her family grew over the past year. Not because she didn't love them. The fact is, to her, none of them understood her the way she desperately needed to be understood.

They didn't like the music she listened to. They hated the grungey clothing she wore. They absolutely loathed her friends, Eden especially.

To her it seemed like they loved who she used to be, and not who she had became.

Raven slowly withdrew into her own world once she was allowed a taste of freedom. Her world was her messy bedroom. Her family slowly began to realize that the door to it was a portal that they were irrevocably forbidden to enter.

Victoria, included.

The intricacies of high school were taking their toll, and like a true teen filled with angst, she just knew her family wouldn't understand.

Instead, she clung to her best friend.

"Guess who's parents aren't home tonight," Eden said, smirking wildly.

"That's cool but do you have the goods," Derek asked, raising a bushy eyebrow.

Eden scoffed. "Who do you think I am, dude?"

Raven smirked as her friends chatted excitedly about getting trashed at her house for the weekend. It seemed like every friday Eden's parents mysteriously disappeared. Even Eden didn't know where they went.

However, they made sure to leave alcohol easily accessible. So, Eden could care less.

"Raven, you have to come this time," Eden said, pouting. She sighed, shaking her head.

"No offense, Eden, but my parents don't particularly like you. They know you smoke. I can't stay overnight anymore."

"It's not my fault! You wanted to smoke before I took you home!"

Raven shrugged, smirking. It had totally been her fault, but she also knew that her family would have smelled it on them even if they hadn't smoked in the car.

"Look, I have an idea. Tell them you're spending the night at Danielle's. Then I'll pick you up from her house," Eden whispered as if it were some sort of conspiracy.

"Do I get a say in this," Danielle asked meekly. The look she received shut her up.

"I'll make it worth your while," Eden whispered, smirking at Raven slyly.

She pouted at Raven, batting long eyelashes. She sighed, knowing her family would tear her a new asshole if she came home late, high, and drunk. However, those green eyes always seemed to make it impossible to say no.

"Alright, I'm in."

"Breathe! Just breathe!"

Raven's eyes watered profusely, tears spilling over as her chest heaved violently. Melodic laughter and the chatter of the television filled the room to accompany it.

After their friends left, Eden decided to break out the best joint for her best friend. It was only right to reward her for staying out past curfew.

"Damn, Ray. You're not good at this at all. If everyone else saw this you'd never live it down," Eden laughed, snatching the joint from her best friend's hand.

"Fuck you! I haven't been smoking since I was ten like you," Raven snarked, rolling her hazel eyes.

"Correction, nine."

Eden took a long draw from the joint and exhaled a massive cloud of smoke. Her green eyes filled with mirth and she chuckled at her friend's annoyed expression.

"No need to be jealous. I'll turn you into a stoner in no time."

"Nah, I'll stick to beer."

Raven and Eden lie closely on the bed as Cruel Intentions played on the television. Whatever conversation they'd been having ceased when the two female characters began to kiss sensually.

They sat in silence, awed by what they were seeing. Raven felt extremely warm and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Her face blushed after the scene was over. She didn't understand what her body was doing, leaving her confused.

"That was hot," Eden breathed, running a hand through short, auburn hair. Raven looked at her in surprise.

"What? I can tell you liked it too. You looked like a fish out of water."

Raven tried and failed to hide the blush on her face. She wasn't new to seeing two women kiss. Tanya, Kate, and Irina were a lesbian throuple for goodness sake. However, it was totally different seeing two women who weren't her family members kiss like that.

"We can try that. It would be fun," Eden suggested, lips curling upward. Raven lifted a brow incredulously.

"You're my friend, Eden. Friends don't make out," Raven chuckled nervously.

"Who says," she replied defiantly. "Besides, we're both curious. Why not have your first kiss with your best friend? Don't you trust me?"

Raven thought it over for a long moment. She had always found Eden beautiful. Her green eyes and short, curly, auburn hair. She had nice lips, too. They looked soft and inviting. Her pale skin was smooth. When they held hands in the past, she enjoyed feeling her warm, smooth skin.

She couldn't pretend she hadn't thought about it.

"I do, but we have to keep this between us," Raven whispered as if they weren't alone.

Eden smiled widely and maneuvered to sit in front of her. They locked eyes and Raven's heart began to beat faster. She felt as if they're relationship wouldn't be the same after this.

She didn't know whether to be excited or nervous about that.

"Close your eyes and follow my lead," Eden whispered softly, placing a long curl behind Raven's ear.

Cool breath wafted across her face as her friend moved closer. Her heart only seemed to beat faster and faster as the anticipation grew. She could feel the heat of the other girl's body. They had never been this close before.

Just as Raven was becoming impatient, soft, wet lips pressed against her own

The feeling was foriegn, but invigorating. The contact caused a shiver to roll through her entire body. She had never kissed anyone, but somehow her body knew exactly what to do.

Eden hummed against her lips as Raven hesitantly placed her shaking hands on her face. In return, Eden caressed her's and slid her hands into her hair. The world around them was completely forgotten.

The kiss deepened and their tongues caressed each other tentatively. Raven could tell her friend was not new to this. Eden dominated the kiss with ease, making her feel as if she were completely at her mercy. Her hands were everywhere at once, turning her insides to molten lava.

Somehow, Raven wound up on her back with Eden straddling her. Her fingers caressed the warm, soft skin of her stomach beneath her shirt.

The kiss slowed gradually until they both reluctantly pulled away. They lie breathless, foreheads touching, and eyes locked on one another. There were no words to describe what had just transpired.

Raven had known Eden for years, but she had just realized that there was so much more she really wanted to discover.

Eden pecked her lips one last time and winked.

"How was that for a first kiss?"

Denali Home, Alaska

Raven waved to Eden as she backed out of the driveway. She felt a sense of dread sweep over her.

She didn't want to go inside and face the repercussions, but she had no choice. She knew they would smell the marijuana on her. Hell, they could probably smell it now.

Raven took a deep breath and walked into the house, trying to swiftly make it to the safety of her bedroom. If she could just lock herself away and escape her punishment a little while longer...

"Raven! Come have a seat," Tanya called from the dimly lit living area.

"Shit," she groaned under her breath.

Raven plopped into a chair, head hung down. She already knew the words that were about to be thrown at her. This lecture was nothing new.

"What did we tell you about smoking cannabis, Raven? And you're home way past curfew? This is unacceptable. That girl is a horrible influence on you," Irina said in a horribly disappointed tone.

"It was my choice to smoke. It's not Eden's fault. You can't blame her for my actions," Raven replied defiantly.

"Peer pressure is a real thing, dear. If you're around drugs all the time, you're bound to try them. We think it's best if you stop seeing her," Kate chimed in.

Victoria watched as Raven shot out rebuttal after rebuttal, trying in vain to change their minds. The vampire wasn't worried about the marijuana. There was a more alarming smell wafting off of her. An odor that irritated her to end.

"What else were you doing, Raven? That girl's scent is all over you. It's disgusting," Victoria demanded in a stern tone.

The young girl's eyes went wide, and she blushed heavily. Her vampire had never spoken to her with such an angry tone. Victoria's eyes narrowed when the girl began to stutter, unable to give a proper response to her simple question.

The sisters looked at their coven mate in alarm. They knew she was beyond pissed to smell another person's scent on her mate. A mate that was underage and vulnerable.

All she felt was pure protective instinct.

"I agree with the sisters. I had nothing against your little friend, but now I don't think you should see this girl anymore. She's older than you and she's introducing you to drugs and...other things you have no business partaking in at fifteen," Victoria said angrily, yellow eyes aflame.

Raven bristled with rage. "Y'all can't tell me not to see my only best friend! I refuse to stop seeing her!"

Victoria growled as Raven stormed away. The slam of her door echoed through the entire cabin. It had been years since she had felt such a strong hatred for someone. Part of her wanted to track the young girl down and force her to leave her little mate alone.

"I'm sorry, Victoria," Tanya said solemnly. She could only imagine what her friend was feeling.

Victoria ground her teeth. She couldn't forget the scent of that girl on her mate. The scent of arousal stung her nose, making the beast within rattle against the bars of it's cage. She was seeing red.

Eden Harlowe was now enemy number one.