Chapter 1
CHAPTER ONE
RAVEN
“ R aven!” Tessa, my best friend, smacks me and I flinch. I groan, slamming my cute romance novel shut. I glance up, plastering a warm smile on my face as though it'd melt the raging horror and frustration in her lucid blue eyes.
“What?” I ask dryly. I look away from her, returning my attention to the book in my hands but my gaze has barely caught a line on the page I'm reading when she speaks again.
“Please, tell me you are seriously not considering doing this.” Her tone turns soft and pleading.
“Fine, I won't tell you that.” I shrug, flipping to the next page.
“Are you crazy?” she screeches from where she's seated in a monk style on my Queen-sized bed.
“If you ask me,” I slam my book shut, “you are overreacting about the whole thing. Why are you getting so worked up?” I arch a brow at her.
“Who the hell decides to be a volunteer at a shelter to get over a guy? I mean, saying it is enough to drive me crazy.” She practically cries out.
Her words sting slightly, causing me to look up with a frown.
“Really?” my voice comes out bored. “It's been months, Tessa. I got over him. I told you I'm not doing this because of him. I'm doing this for myself. Come on, you know how much I love animals.” I defend myself with a childish glare, folding my arms under my chest.
She has my entire attention now, and my bet is, that was what she was hoping for when she said that. Tessa can be that demanding.
She stares at me and scoffs, aggressively tucking a strand of her platinum blonde hair behind her ear. Tessa is the typical blonde bombshell—sassy, outspoken and gorgeous as hell.
Looking at her again, I'm almost convinced of my reason for keeping my distance away from her when I first met her. I was so sure that she was the typical mean girl. Well, she can be mean sometimes. Like now.
“The holidays seem boring. I just want to step out of my comfort zone and do something more fun that at the same time, makes me feel like I'm giving back to humanity.” My voice softens as I try to convince her.
“Are you kidding me?” She stares at me like I have grown two heads. “Stepping out of your comfort zone would be agreeing to come with me for that Barbados getaway without taking your books with you.” She rolls her eyes.
“No way,” I interject, rising to my feet. “I'm not doing this because of Jake. I'm doing this because I want to. You have to believe me, Tess.” I exhale.
I know better now. I might not have known better when I allowed a playboy to string me along and tell me that we are just friends after weeks of fooling around. But, I know better now. Somehow, it kinda infuriates me when everyone thinks my decisions afterwards are tied to the heartbreak.
“Look,” I sit up, shaking off the twinge of hurt, “it's going to be a new semester after the Winter break. Clean slate. The whole thing between Jake and me, it's over. We are done. This is my own way of starting afresh.” I try to explain to her.
“And, I get it,” she grabs onto my hands, squeezing them. “I get it, Rave. But an animal shelter? What on earth do you think you can do there?” she shudders, fear flashing in her eyes.
I laugh. “Tessa!”
“What?”
“I can't fathom why you are not the least excited!” I groan.
A soft purr fills the air, broadening the lingering smile on my face. My eyes leave Tessa, landing on the cute white cat padding towards me. Blue hops onto the bed, eliciting a slight shriek from Tessa. I giggle, digging my fingers into her fur when she lands on my lap. Satisfactory purrs emit from her as I tickle her softly.
“Heyyy.” I drawl, peering into her beautiful blue eyes as her whiskers kiss my skin.
“God!” Tessa shrinks backwards. “How are you not scared of that?” she glares at Blue whose eyes wander around my frame.
Tessa has always been anti-pets since I met her. She's not so fond of animals and I'm big on them. It's one of those things that make us polar opposites.
Blue was a stray when I found her. I almost hit her with my car that evening. I thought she was already dead, but I found out that she was just really weak. After I took her to get checked out by a vet, I decided to take her in since there was no way to find her family. Her eyes were her most attractive features and that was why I named her Blue.
“She's adorable!” I defend Blue, stroking her head. The white creature whirls her head in Tess’ direction like she knows we are talking about her.
She slowly arches her back, releasing a high-pitched snarl that's directed at Tessa. The blonde fights back a shriek, cowering backwards. Blue is not a novice to Tessa's coldness. Thus, it leaves them at loggerheads most times.
“You have made her angry.” I huff, petting Blue.
“She's the one who won't back off!” Tessa says, frustrated, shooting a pointed look in Blue’s direction.
Blue turns to me, her eyes still raging. “Ignore her.” I tell her, stroking her fur.
“Please, tell me she has changed her mind!” the door flies open, revealing my mom.
I roll my eyes because Tessa is already enough as a drama Queen, I didn't need my mom adding to it.
“No, she hasn't, Aunt June.” Tessa groans, dropping on the mattress like a sack of bones.
My mom stops a few feet away from the bed, folding her arms under her chest with a frown marring her face. Her silky midnight black hair is thrown into a neat ponytail, framing her face that's delicately coated in light makeup.
The ivory matching waistcoat and flowing midi skirt set she's wearing compliments her fair skin and honey brown eyes. The spitting resemblance I share with her can't be more pronounced, only she looks slightly older than me. Even at her age, she can conveniently pass as my older sister.
“Ah,” realization dawns on me, “I see what this is about. You talked her into discouraging me, didn't you?” I cock my head to the side, my eyes following her tall, slim frame that trails over to the edge of the bed to take a seat.
Blue recoils against my tummy and I cradle her frame against me protectively.
“What was I supposed to do?” she defends herself.
“I don't know…” I trail off. “Trust that I know what I'm doing? Why are you two so against this anyway?” the space between my forehead dips in frustration.
An exasperating expression crosses her face.
“I'm just not open to the idea of you not spending the holidays in the confines of our home.” Mom practically grumbles with distaste.
“It's just for a week!” I cry. “I'm going to be home for Christmas. I already told you that.” I huff, my shoulders slacking tiredly.
The back and forth is beginning to wear me out.
“She's not going to change her mind, Aunt June. It's useless trying to get her to agree with you. She's that stubborn.” Tessa sounds defeated, kicking her legs lazily in the air.
“Fine,” mom rolls her eyes.
My squeal breaks out in the room. Blue hops off my lap sharply when I lunge at my mom, hugging her and smothering her face with kisses.
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I love you.” I rush the words out, eliciting a mix of giggles and groans from her.
“I'm here too, you know!” Tessa pokes my ass with her feet, causing me to shriek.
My perfect Christmas is looming. I can feel it. I can taste it. I can breathe it in. It's exhilarating.