Here's another chapter of Raven's past, since a couple of you wanted another chapter like that.
Raven's pov, (nine years old)
"I'll be right back, don't fucking move," Cross said harshly and I nodded, grumpy. He was taking me shopping, but I hadn't even gotten to help at all.
I crossed my arms and watched him go into the store, leaving me alone outside, sitting on a bench. I kicked my legs back and forth, it was comforting as Cross left me alone like the meanie he was.
A van parked in the ally beside the store and I looked up as a greasy smelly young man sat beside me. "Hello kid," he said and nodded.
I nodded back and smiled. "Hello mister,"
River said not to talk to strangers, but that's silly, how can a person make friends if they never talk to anyone?
He looked around and stretched out his arm over the bench, by my back. I inched forward a little bit so he didn't touch me, his hands looked nearly black with dirt. "Do you like candy?" The man suddenly asked and I looked up at him.
"Fin says candy will rot my teeth," I said matter of factly. The man paused as a woman passed before talking to me more.
"Do you want some?" He offered and I wrinkled my nose.
"Dune told me not to take food from strangers, and that to be careful, because people can be," I paused and tried to pronounce the word correctly. "Inopopiet,"
The man blanched. "What?"
I frowned at him. "Inoprriate," I said and shook my head. "Don't you know what that means?"
"Inappropriate," the man realized and shook his head. "How about puppies? Do you want to pet a puppy?"
I kicked my legs back and forth faster. "Lion says I can't have a puppy, he thinks everyone would eat it."
I jumped as the man grabbed my arm. "Enough of this playing around, come with me-"
"Cross! He's touching me inapoperty!" I screamed and wrestled to get away from him, kicking and punching.
Cross appeared out of nowhere and lifted me up into his arms, making the man cower. "Want to die?" Cross questioned.
I giggled and hugged myself to Cross, I liked it when he picked me up, he was so big and strong, but he didn't hold me very often.
"I- I wasn't - !"
I tugged on Cross's shirt and he looked at me. I pointed at the man. "He was, he was being inaporaite," I huffed and hid in Cross's neck, milking what I could, I wanted Cross to be worried about me. "He's scary,"
"Excuse me, this man is a pedophile," Cross called to a police man crossing the street. "Raven, tell him what this creep did," Cross told me.
I nodded and looked at the man in the blue suit, holding onto Cross tightly. "He said he had candy, to rot my teeth, and grabbed me, here," I pointed at my wrist and shook my head. "Inaproprate," I said solemnly.
Cross looked at me and shook his head. "You're more trouble than you're worth,"
My lips parted and I looked away from him, feeling my fingers tremble a little.
***
"Fin," I called and knocked on his open door. Fin waved me over from his chair, setting his book down.
"What's wrong, Raven?" I walked over and climbed into his lap, looking up at him with worried eyes.
"Should I kill myself?"
Fin froze and stared at me. "What? W-why on earth -"
"Cross says I'm more trouble than I'm worth, doesn't that mean I'm not worth anything? And Emma Phillips says I should kill myself, she goes to my school,"
I let out an 'oof' as Fin hugged me tightly, face pressed onto my small shoulder. "Fin?" I asked softly, when his back trembled.
"Don't you, ever, think about doing something like that," his voice cracked And I pulled at his shoulders.
"Fin, I won't," I agreed and touched my palm to his cheek, eyes wandering his face, shocked at the wetness I saw in his eyes. "I won't," I repeated when he didn't say anything. "Won't," I hugged him and ruffled his hair, that always made me feel better when I was sad.
Fin exhaled. "Good... good, don't you listen to those girls,"
I nodded and lifted up my thumb. "I'll tell her to suck my dick,"
Fin faltered. "What?"
I smiled. "Cross said it to Lion, I asked Dune about it, and he said it was an insult. I said it to my teacher too, she gave me too much homework."
Fin looked pained. "What did she say?"
I grinned. "Said, 'typical Raven behavior, more to bring to the parent teacher conference,' Isn't that nice?"
Fin laughed. "I pity River,"
Raven's pov (age sixteen)
I slammed the front door and tore pins from my hair, chucking them across the room in fury. "Something happen?" Cross asked, raising an eyebrow as I chucked off my shoes, putting a dent in the wall.
"You were right," I wiped smeared mascara off my face. "Lincoln didn't like me at all, he ditched me right before prom for some blond girl," I snapped and tore my hair out of the bun I had perfected.
"I did tell you," Cross agreed and watched silently as I started bawling for the third time for the night. Once when it happened, during the walk home, and now.
"Yeah, I get it, no one is going to like me, I'm a waste of space," I sniffed and moved to walk past him. Cross touched my shoulder and I froze, glaring at him. "Don't rub it in, I just wanna go to bed,"
It was just Cross in the house, the others went out for some meeting. "He's not worth crying over," Cross said when I rolled my eyes.
"I'm not crying over him, he humiliated me in front of everyone," my lower lip trembled. "Once again, I was reminded that no one likes me at school," I shook my head. "Not that you need to know that," I glared at him and shrugged free of his hand, moving to walk past him.
"What do people do at those things anyway?" Cross asked and I paused, looking at him over my shoulder.
"Eat, dance, lose your virginity," I blurted and Cross narrowed his eyes.
"Lose your virginity?"
I shrugged and wiped my face. "Sure, I mean, I wouldn't, but some people do," I looked at the stairs. "I think I'm going to go to bed,"
Cross hesitated as I turned my back, foot touching the first step. "You know, a few hundred years ago, I was known well for dancing,"
I turned and blinked. "You danced?"
Cross leaned on the wall. "Yes," his lips curved. "Classic ballrooms, the good old days, you had to work harder to take a woman's virginity. It was a fun game,"
I wrinkled my nose. "Ew," I shook off the odd feeling in my chest and gazed at him as he slowly offered me a hand.
"Come on then,"
I stared at Cross's hand in shock. "Huh?"
Cross grinned. "I'll give you a better time than Lincoln ever could,"
My cheeks blazed and I took his hand, slightly shocked as I followed him, feeling suddenly at ease from his touch. Cross opened the balcony. "We don't have music," I said and squeaked as he tugged me closer, my other hand landing on his chest.
"I don't need music, not tonight," Cross said easily and I looked at his face, for a moment recalling how incredibly handsome he was when he wasn't angry.
"Why?" I couldn't help but ask, green eyes wide. Why are you doing this for me? Cross shook his head.
"Hell if I know,"
And we danced for hours, falling under the stars spell.
Raven's pov (age eight, shortly after coming to live with the vampires)
"You can't make me!" I screamed and ran into the dining room, sliding under the table.
"Raven, you have to go to school, it's the first day, it will be fun," River said and knelt down, looking at me sternly.
"I don't want to, I'm smart enough," I argued and shook my head. "You can't make me," I insisted.
"River, maybe she's right, think of those poor innocent teachers," Cross said with a grin.
"Fuck off," I snapped and screeched when River grabbed me and lifted me up into the air.
"Who on earth taught you those words?" River admonished as I wiggled in his arms.
"Missy, she said it was fine if they deserved it, and Cross does," I glared at Cross and pushed at River's shoulders. "Put me down! I'm not going! Schools for pussies!"
River glanced at Cross who shrugged and turned. "She picks up on bad words, I know," Cross tutted.
"Cross says everyone is a pussy," I blurted and met River's eyes. "Pussy, pussy, pussy-"
"Raven!" River growled.
I looked down and pouted, slowly meeting his eyes. "I'll stop if you don't make me go to school?"
"You drive a hard bargain," River sighed and rubbed my head, making me close my eyes. "Don't say that, it's a bad word,"
I opened a single eye, enjoying the petting. "River," I pushed out my bottom lip and made my eyes water. "I'll be scared, please don't make me go,"
River set me on the table and looked down at me with firm eyes. "Do you want to grow up stupid?"
I tilted my head to the side. "If I say yes, can I stay home?"
River sighed and touched the top of my head again. "Raven, you have too, but I'll tell you what, when you come home, we can all go out for ice cream."
"Cept' for Cross," I said firmly.
River nodded as I extended my pinky. "Except for Cross," he agreed as we shook.
I covered my mouth with both hands and giggled. Cross is a pussy, I giggled again as River kissed the top of my head and grabbed my hand, helping me off the table.