Chapter 1

Alicia walked through the store and waved her hand towards the ice cream area. Several ice cream packets flew into her bag, making it heavier than it was minutes before. She strolled along the corridor and stopped by the drink area, pointed at a raspberry soda and then went on to the healthier food.
When she was done and on her way home by walking the longer way, down the Sun Alley, she heard the sound of high heels against stones, and she glanced backwards to see if it was Danielle or someone else from her class. It wasn’t. In fact, the girl who walked towards her was so far from the blond Danielle and her friends that you could be.
“Hi there”
Alicia blushed when she looked up into the black haired girls dark blue eyes.
“Hi”
“Doing something fun?”
“No, not really. I’ve been at the shop”
“I know. I was there too”
“Oh…”
“I saw you yesterday, you know”
“What?”
Alicia tried not to blush, but she felt that she failed.
“In the window, you where sneaking a little peek on me”
“I was just looking out…”
“I’ll pretend that I believe you”
“I was looking out!”
“If you say so… So, what do you have there?” the blacked haired girl asked and pointed at the bag. Alicia shrugged.
“Not much… ice cream… ingredients to chocolate cake… strawberry soda… healthy stuff”
“Nice, chocolate rocks”
Alicia smiled a little.
“Yeah, it does. I’m Alicia, by the way”
“Raven”
“Is that really your name?” Alicia asked and she heard the surprise in her voice clearly. The girl didn’t seem to mind.
“Yeah”
“It’s… unusual”
Raven grinned.
“Yeah, so they say…”
“It suits you”
“Thanks. Same to you”
“Thank you”
A smile on the pink lips, a hint of laughter in the dark blue eyes and then Raven’s voice when she spoke again.
“I’m a bit lost… mind if I join you to get back home?”
“I don’t mind, it’s nice with company”
“Cool”
They began walking again in a comfortable silence and Alicia felt a little stir deep inside; she had never told anyone that how she felt when she saw a cute girl, and she didn’t intend to tell anyone.
“I heard something about school starting tomorrow, is that right?” Raven asked her as the turned to right and walked down along Flower Road.
“Yes, that’s right”
“Weird to start on Friday… meaningless if you ask me”
“Well, we’re not having classes, and they’re just giving us information”
“Duh, they could have classes and give us the info on Monday…”
“I haven’t really thought about it like that” Alicia admitted as they saw the residential district at Shadow Road.
“Here we are”
“Yeah, thanks” Raven said with a grin. Alicia smiled back, feeling more at ease now that she could talk without blushing.
“I just saw you moving in yesterday, aren’t your parents with you?” she asked as she put the bag down by the gate at her house.
“They’re dead” Raven said shortly, her voice cold and rejecting.
“I… I’m sorry I didn’t… I mean I…”
“Chill, it’s okay; you couldn’t know”
“Do you live all by yourself?”
“Yeah… my brother lives with his girlfriend in Deneador”
“Oh…”
“What are you gonna do now?”
“Make chocolate cake”
“Wanna make it together?”
“Oh… okay”
“You don’t have to say yes if you want to be alone” Raven said with one eyebrow raised.
“Oh, but I do want to make it together. It’ll be nice with company; my parents won’t be home for hours”
“Okay then. Your house or mine?”
“We can be at my place, you just moved in yesterday”
“Sure”
Alicia smiled and opened the gate, picked up the bag and went to the door, opened it with a flick of her hand and moved aside to let Raven go first. When Raven hang her jacket on a hook, Alicia saw something black on her lower back; she had a top that ended above her belly button.
“What’s that on your back?” she asked and blushed when Raven gave her an amused look.
“A tattoo”
“Oh”
“Here, have a look” she said, with laughter in her voice, and pulled the top up a bit, revealing a raven with unfolded wings holding a dark red rose in its beak.
“It’s beautiful. It really suits you”
“Thanks” Raven said with a little giggle and pulled the top down, hiding the ravens upper body, showing only its tail feathers.
“Would you like to see the house or make the cake?”
“I’d like to do both”
“Okay, then we can make the cake first and look at the other rooms late, if that’s alright”
“Sure, led the way”
Alicia smiled and showed her new neighbor to the kitchen.

Raven pulled her legs up beside her in the couch, sipped at the raspberry soda and smirked at the sight on the TV; two girls were doing some heavy making out. She looked at the doorway to the kitchen; Alicia had gone to fetch them both more chocolate cake. Just when she was about to look back at the TV, the blond come back.
“Here you go” Alicia said and handed her a plate with a big piece of chocolate cake.
“Thanks”
Silence, except for the moans and laughs from the girls at the screen. Raven glanced at Alicia. She was blushing heavily, something that, in Raven’s opinion, only could mean one thing. Slowly, she stretched out, and when she leaned back against the couch, she let her arm rest at the back support of the couch, almost touching Alicia’s shoulders, but just almost.
“Have you seen this movie before?” she asked and flashed the pretty blond a smile, which was returned with a shake of the head and an embarrassed smile.
“I’ve only heard about it, it seemed good… I didn’t know it would be so… well, sexy”
“Well, considering that almost everything is sexy nowadays, are you surprised?” Raven asked with a small laugh, letting her arm slide down and rest around Alicia’s red clothed shoulders. She didn’t squeeze or pulled the other girl towards her; she just let her arm rest there, waiting for a reaction. She didn’t get one, bad or good, which overall, was good.
“No, not really… I’m just not… used to see… well, this” Alicia mumbled and pointed at the screen, blushing more than before.
“If it’s too much, we can always play forward”
“If it’s okay with you”
“Sure, it’s alright… although I don’t mind what I’m seeing”
“You don’t mind it?”
“Nah, it’s cool”
“Um… okay”
Alicia seemed confused, and Raven was taken by a sudden urge to hug her, but she didn’t. Instead, she let one finger touch Alicia’s bare shoulder; her top was open from shoulder to shoulder, but did not have a cleavage. As she draw a circle on the soft skin, she watched Alicia’s face out of the corner of her eye, but the blond didn’t seem to mind her touch, and if she did, she didn’t say anything. Raven smirked and let her palm stroke the soft skin once more before she quit and let her hand rest. She let her eyes dart back to the TV; the girls were walking on a street, holding hands and laughing at something. She’d seen the movie many times, and she loved it, but today it seemed dull.
“Why did you move here?” Alicia asked and took a piece of chocolate cake. Raven shrugged.
“I wasn’t doing well in Deneador, so I moved”
“Oh”
“Mm… hat about you, have you lived here all your life?”
“Yeah, or well, a month in Herapon, but my parents decided to move here, they say the environment is good for children”
“Ah… parent’s talk” Raven muttered and smirked, half amused, half sad. She had, after all, never had a talk time with her parents, at least not about serious things.
“I’m sorry, Raven, I didn’t mean to make you feel awkward” Alicia said softly. Raven shrugged a little. Truth to be told, she didn’t really felt upset when she saw parent’s with their kids, laughing and having fun, or just being together, she just felt that she wanted the closeness, or something else close to that closeness, like a relationship or a good friend. She knew that it wasn’t the same, but she felt that she would to better if she had any of it.
“Nah, don’t be sorry, it’s alright”
“Really?”
“Yupp”
“Oh, good”
“Hey, what happened to house tour?”
“Oh, I forgot, let’s go and I’ll show you around”
“Sure thing, sweetie”
She grinned as Alicia blushed once more, she was really cute with her rosy cheeks and a sparkle in her dim blue eyes along with the blond hair around her face. Raven hid her smile behind a laugh and followed her new friend through the kitchen, into to the hall and upstairs, where another hall met her eyes. This one had a large wardrobe on the left side when you walked upward the stair, and straight ahead was a room with a closed door. Alicia smiled at her and pushed the door open.
“This is my room, make yourself comfortable”
“Nice place”
Raven grinned huge as she sat down on the king sized bed which was clothed in light pink. The walls where white with a small hint of yellow and the exact amount of each color made it comfortable for the eyes.
“Glad you like it”
“It’s so you”
“What?”
Alicia sat down beside her with a confused look. Raven laughed.
“The room, I can sense you in the walls, the furniture, the room”
“Oh”
“What’s in the other room?”
“That’s my parent’s room, nothing interesting, let’s skip it”
“That’s fine with me”
“So… what o we do now?” Alicia asked and lay down on her back, looked up at the ceiling and sighed.
“Dunno… go for a walk somewhere nice?”
“That sounds nice, anyplace you know?”
“Nah, haven’t had a chance to look around. Why don’t you show me a nice place”
“Okay… let’s go to the lake, it’s really beautiful there”
“Lead the way” Raven said with a small smirk and followed Alicia downstairs, took her jacket, pulled on her boots and followed the blond outside, waited as she locked the door with a snap of her fingers and then followed her down the street, way from the houses into the wood nearby. When they were surrounded by trees, Raven hooked her arm through Alicia’s and smiled at her, the flirtatious smile where she lifted her right eyebrow a bit and smiled sweetly. Alicia didn’t seem to get it, but she smiled back and led her through the wood for five minutes, and then turned to the right and through some bushes. Then, when Raven expected to see the lake, Alicia stood in front of her with a huge smile.
“Close your eyes and give me your hand, I’ll lead you”
“If I trip, I’ll throw you in the lake” Raven said and closed her eyes while smiling huge.
“You won’t trip”
Alicia’s hand was warm and her grip soft but firm as she lead her trough the wood, and Raven followed her voice when she told her to step aside or jump over roots and such. She also followed her instinct, and when they stopped once more, and she felt Alicia let go of her hand, she opened her eyes and was met by a lake surrounded by trees, its water so blue that it made her want to jump into it. She didn’t. Instead, she just smiled and sat down on a cliff, removed her boots and placed her feet in the cool water.

Alicia sat down beside Raven and after removing her shoes and socks; she also placed her feet in the water. She didn’t knew if she should say something or what she should say, so she sat silent and enjoyed the view of the lake.
“What year are you in?” Raven asked and glanced at her with interest.
“I’m 18, so this will be my first year”
“Cool, then we’ll be freshmen together”
“That’s nice”
“Yupp, means we don’t have to go there and don’t know anyone”
“Well… I already know some girl in my old class who will begin this year”
“Ah, hell. Scratch that. It means I don’t have to go there and don’t know anyone”
Raven grinned at her and then she stood up and walked out on the calm surface of the blue water.
“Have you learned how to walk on water?!” Alicia gasped and stared at her.
“Yupp, haven’t you?”
“No… you can’t do stuff like that until you’re over 18”
“Bullshit. Come, I’ll teach you”
“No thanks”
“Scared?”
“Yes”
“Okay, maybe some other time”
Alicia looked at Raven and tried to see if she was mad or annoyed, but she only saw understanding and joy in the dark blue eyes.
“Do you mind if I dance a little?”
“You can dance on water too? Do you really need to attend Red Diamond?”
“He he… yeah, I do, I have this huge power and I can’t control it fully, I almost blow up the entire house back in Deneador”
“You didn’t?!”
“I did, almost”
“Oh my…”
“You’re funny when you have that look” Raven said as she spun in a wide circle and took a little jump over the surface, landed on her toes and began whirling around so fast that Alicia went all dizzy by just looking at her.
“What look?” she asked and rose an eyebrow at Raven, who’d stopped whirling and was doing a single waltz look alike dance.
“That surprised ‘Oh-my-god’ look”
“Oh”
“Yupp”
Raven took a jump and landed softly beside her, her feet wet and shiny in the sinking sun.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” she asked and lay back on the cliff, one hand resting just above her belly button.
“I don’t know, I’ll probably have lunch and catch up Danielle and the gang”
“Sounds cool”
“I guess… what will you do?”
“Dunno… getting to know the city, I guess, one can’t survive without knowing your home…”
“I guess… it’s getting late, my parent’s will be home soon, so I need to go home”
“Okay, let’s go”
They put their socks and shoes on, and when they walked back through the forest, Alicia thought back at the day and decided that she liked it, even if it hadn’t been her usual day. She stopped in front of the gate and smiled at Raven.
“Well, I need to go inside… thank you for the company”
“Same to you” Raven said softly and hugged her. Alicia was a bit startled, but the scent of roses and the warmth of Raven’s body made her hug the other girl back.
“I’ll see you around” Raven said with a slight grin s they let go of each other.
“Yes, I’ll see you around as well”
“Sweet dreams, sweetie”
Now Alicia was really startled, and she didn’t replied. Raven smirked and strolled across the street, opened the door and went inside. Alicia shrugged and did the same. As she went into the kitchen, she cast a glance outside and saw Raven standing in her kitchen, waving two times. Alicia smiled and waved back before she went into the living room to see tonight’s movie with her parent’s.

Prologue

As she looked out through the window on the street, Alicia saw the black car being parked at the approach by the house opposite her parent’s. The front door at the driver’s side opened and a man with grey hair stepped out and opened the back door with a smile. A leg clothed in black came first, then another leg followed and at least the body of a girl with pale skin and black hair. Aside the black pants and the high heeled boots, she was dressed in a deep red top with a pretty deep cleavage and a leather jacket over the top. When Alicia saw the girls hair once more, and this time from a better perspective, she felt a little jealous. Thick black strands fell down the girls back, and the side fringe covered her left eye and a bit of her cheek. Alicia felt her cheeks heating up when the black haired girl locked eyes with her. Even at this distance, she could see a small smile on the pink lips and she hid behind the curtain, her face burning with embarrassment.

The blonde haired girl was cute, with her somewhat pointy nose, the mist blue eyes and the thin lips. Her hair was short, it only reached her shoulders, and from what Raven could see, she had a pretty good body.
“Miss Reagan?”
“Uh… oh, sorry, thanks for the ride, Mr Dahl”
“Anytime, dear, anytime. Do you need help with your bags?”
“No thanks, I’ll manage”
“Alright. Now, don’t forget that you can call anytime if your need some kind of help”
“I’ll keep it mind”
“Well, then I’m off. Good luck”
“Thanks”
She watched in silence as he drove away, and when he turned around the corner and disappeared from her view she flicked her hand and her many bags followed her on a lead to the door and when she unlocked it the first time they floated inside and then dropped to the floor. She flicked her hand again and clothes, books and other stuff began to fill the house, making noises and made it seem like the house was filled with people. Nothing could be more wrong. She was alone as she had been for the last 8 years. Raven ruffled her fringe a little and looked toward the yellow house opposite her new red one. The cute blonde girl stood in the window again. Raven raised her hand and waved twice before she headed toward her new kitchen to get something to eat.

Story

Ereador is the main city of Arasia, a world that has some similarities to our world, but in this world there is magic and that’s something that makes quite a difference

Alicia Stevens is your average 18 year old girl; she studies at Red Diamond High, the school for people from 18 to 25. She’s only different in one way; she just can’t see the point in swooning over every so called cool guy in the upper classes…

Raven Reagan is the rebellious new girl in town, black dressed, pierced and outgoing. She “doesn’t do guys, ‘cause they’re like snakes, they wriggle around and you never know where you have them”

Join these girls on a journey from childhood to adulthood, a journey that holds friendship and love as well as tears and joy and much more