Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Kisses or any characters. It all belongs to the wonderful Ellen Schreiber.

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Oh. My. Goth.

Let's recap. I'm seventeen, pregnant and engaged. Also, I am a murderer. I'd rather die right now than live for all of eternity.

Tonight was Becky's funeral. I was in hysterics as I pulled on a tight black dress, black tights and patent platforms. A fishnet veil covered half of my makeup smeared face. What was the point of even trying again and again to fix my eyeliner? I was just going to cry it off anyway.

I begged my family to let me go on my own. I didn't want them to see me like this. I couldn't let my parents, who've never comforted me before; I find my own ways to dwell on things and make the best of it, see me like this. Much less Alexander, who was meeting us at the church down in center city.

When I finished trudging to the bottom of the stairs, I was met face to face with my family. It was nice because for a change they were all decked in black and reminded me more of the Sterling family than the Madisons. Bad? We were about to go to my best friend of eight years' funeral.

I opened my mouth but words refused to escape my lips. Instead, a tear uncontrollably trickled down my cheek. Again with the makeup. Billy Boy, who has always had a little crush on Becky, looked upset. But he didn't come close to feeling as much pain as I was feeling at that moment.

"Oh, honey." Mother said. She pulled me into a hug and I buried my face in her black-clad shoulder, which smelled like her Ralph Lauren perfume and fabric softener. Familiar smells. I bit my tongue, refusing to let myself cry any more than I did last night.

We all climbed into the family shared SUV and made our way down the winding roads, rain pouring down the windshield like a waterfall. I could barely see out my window. Nobody said a word as the sun began to set.

As we pulled in, the parking lot was full. There was a huge sign on a canvas-like structure that read "Becky Miller" and "1993-2010" with a border made of white and pink rose petals. Whoever created this lovely yet heartbreaking sign was oblivious to the fact that they were calling for heavy rain tonight. Becky's face was washed into a swarm of a thousand shades of colors, and her facial features on the picture remained a mystery to the viewer's eyes.

As we entered the church, it was packed with people from all around town. I saw Alexander, like a shining remorseful knight of the night, leaning against a white pillar. As soon as he saw me, I caught that lovely glitter in his eyes.

"Raven."

I fell into his arms and gained enough composure to hold back most of the tears. When I pulled away, he took my hand like the gentleman he was and walked at my pace up towards the white casket, that held the body of my closest girlfriend in it. She would not be there in eternity for me, and I wouldn't be there in life for her.

We got closer and closer. I stopped right in my tracks.

"Raven, what's wrong?" Alexander asked, clearly puzzled.

"I'm just so ashamed…" I began, sniffling. "I can't quite grasp the thought that she's…she's gone."

Alexander rubbed my neck, understanding that I didn't want to lay my eyes upon the dead girl in the front of the room just yet. We took a seat in the very back, our hands bound tightly together on my lap. I spotted my parents, who placed themselves next to Becky's parents. Becky's mother, the most caring and not judgmental woman I have ever met, was crying in hysterics. I watched as the soccer team, dressed in suit-like attire but with jerseys on top instead, carried a soccer ball that appeared to be signed by the whole team, to the front to place in the casket. Matt was the one to place it at her feet, and I could see a tear trickle down his cheek. He kissed his hand and ran his fingers through her thin auburn hair. I took a deep breath.

I listened to the priest blab on and on about words of the bible, God and Becky's great achievements. To be honest, like me, there wasn't very many. We were just two girls who had plans to take over the world someday…but together.

"I would like to take this time to have Raven say a few words for our beloved, Becky Miller."

When the priest announced this, my blood ran ice cold and my palms began to get clammy. I couldn't even look at the girl, and now I have to talk about her in front of all these people?

All eyes on me.

I started to stand up, and Alexander released my hand from his comforting grasp.

I started walking towards the microphone and podium designed specifically for funerals. It seemed to take an eternity for me to reach the front of the church.

I had no choice.

I had to look at her.

I gulped, seeing her colorless body dressed in a white dress adorned with lace. There were pink flowers everywhere. She was all covered in funeral makeup. She never even wore more than mascara or lip-gloss. They used the wrong shade of cover-up for the few zits on her face. It was too hard for me to look away. It was inevitable.

I took the two steps to the microphone, and tried to adjust it to my height with shaking hands. I looked at everybody watching me. My Dad winked. I inhaled, and exhaled…again and again.

I could swear I heard crickets chirping.

"B-Becky was my…f-f-friend…" I trailed off, and my eyes clouded with tears. I started helplessly crying, right there in front of everybody. I would never have chose to speak about this, I'd rather wire my mouth shut with lies and excuse that denied the fact that I killed her.

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out but a cold, trembling breath. In an instant, I felt a strong arm go around my shoulders, rubbing my back in soothing circles. I expected it to be Alexander or my father, but the voice that spoke was far off.

"Becky was a sweet girl."

Trevor.

"She was an perfectionist, over-achiever, caring friend of ours. She was shy and un-open to most guys at the high school, but she really knew how to get the soccer team going."

Soccer-snob Trevor.

There was booming laughter coming from the side of the church, and I saw all the members of the soccer team cracking up. I tried to smile under all my tears, but I wouldn't. I wasn't sure if I'd ever smile again.

"And she fell in love. Boy, did she fall in love." He continued, in a smoothly confident voice. "But not with Matty over there. No, this was with someone much more special and meaningful to Miss. Miller."

Was I dreaming?

"She fell in love long before she met Matt. In the third grade, she fell in love with a beautiful young lady, Raven Madison."

Oh, god.

Everyone in the audience clapped and cheered, and I looked up into the eyes of none other than, Trevor. My nemesis since kindergarten had his arm wrapped around me in a friendly manner, and wasn't calling me names or embarrassing me. This was a miracle.

He unhooked his arm from around me and returned to his seat with the soccer team. I wiped away some of my tears and did the same, but sat next to Alexander.

The priest announced that the Miller family has requested a private burial. As everyone retreated to their cars talking about the latest episode of whatever or how much they hate to go to their oh-so-crappy day job tomorrow, Alexander kissed my cheek.

"You okay?" He asked. He didn't do anything but worry about me these days, and I was very thankful for that. "I'll drive you home, I already gave your parents the message."

Just then I noticed that the whole church was empty, the priest putting away his prayer books on a shelf in the back and the door slamming shut as the last funeral participant left.

"Yeah." I whispered. "Can you give me a sec? I'll…I'll meet you in the car."

He nodded, smoothed my stark black hair and stood, exiting the church and making his way out to Jameson's black Mercedes.

I stood and walked up to the casket to stare down the dead girl who loved me. I held her hand, now paler than mine ever was.

"I love you so much, Becky." Tears spilled over. "I can't deal with this."

I sat there, holding a dead girls hand like an idiot, wishing she would come back to life.

"Still trying to talk to the dead, huh?"

I nearly jumped out of my heels. Looking to the side, I saw Trevor Mitchell leaning over the casket, but he wasn't staring at Becky. His eyes were glued to me.

"What you did…"I whispered. "Back there…was so…" I couldn't find the right words to say. "So…nice, of you."

"Yeah."

We stood in silence for a while, just looking into each others eyes.

"Raven. I love you." He took my hand. "And I know you're with Alexander, and there is nothing I can do to change that."

"Trevor…I do love him." I took a deep breath. "I'm going to marry him."

He looked a little shocked, but the look in his eyes told me that he already saw this coming.

He put up his hands in protest. "I know, I know."

I nodded, urging him to continue.

"I know it's a little late, but…you may not think it's true, but I know you better than anyone else. And I love you."

"Trevor…"

He held up a finger, silencing me. "I love you, and you don't love me. I've realized that I can't have you. But I just needed you to know that I love you."

A tear rolled down the side of my face.

"You're crying." He smiled, jokingly.

"Am not!" I laughed.

"You are." He said. "And it's okay."

He took his thumb and wiped away the tear. Then I did something I never thought I'd do. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tight. He didn't hug back right away, as if my sudden affection surprised him. But he did, and it was the sweetest thing ever. This was clean love, not dirty lust on the forest floor on my sixteenth birthday.

I pulled away, then smiled up at him.

"Monster b-" He started, then stopped himself. "Alexander must be waiting for you."

"He is."

I hated the awkward silence that followed after that. He leaned down real close, as if to kiss me. I turned my head away and he immediately straightened. He held out his hand and I took it, and we shook hands. It was then that I knew. We finally set our differences aside, and the feud between us has come to an end.

He smiled. "See you at school."

I began walking toward the door, returning the smile. "See you."

I opened the passenger door to the Mercedes and climbed inside. Love Me Tender was coming softly out of the car speakers. Alexander took my hand and we drove back to my home, Alexander humming to the song the way there.

He parked the car in my driveway and we got out. I leaned against the car and looked up at the full moon.

"I guess I better start planning for the wedding." I whispered.

"We don't have to rush things, you know." He told me. He was leaning so close that I felt his warm breath on my neck, and I grew so hot I almost melted.

"I know." I pulled his face down and kissed him.

I made my way up to my front door and Alexander got back in the car and backed into the street. When I turned around to wave good night, he was already gone.

Aww. Please don't cry, but it's over…for now! I'm so glad you liked it, and I would like to thank all my readers who never stopped following my story, even if the events got real crazy at times. Stay tuned for the final installment of my series, Love Sacrifices.

Xoxo. Mrs. Alexander Sterling.