Free Dark Visions by L. J. Smith

could fall in love on one day's acquaintance.
    But there it was. And every minute she was around Rob, the feeling grew stronger. She had trouble focusing on anything else when Rob was in the room, her heart began to beat hard when he looked at her, his voice made her shiver, and when he said her name ...
    By dinnertime, she was a basket case.
    The strange thing was, now that she'd admitted it to herself, she wanted to talk about it. To explain to somebody else how she felt. To share it.
    Anna, she thought.
    When Anna went into their room to clean up before dinner, Kait followed her. She shut the door, then ducked into the bathroom and turned on the faucet.
    Anna was sitting on her bed, brushing her long black hair. "What's that for?" she said, amused.
    "Privacy," Kait said grimly. She sat down on her own bed, although she could hardly keep herself sitting still. "Anna-can I talk to you?"
    "Of course you can."
    Of course she could. Kaitlyn knew that suddenly. "It's so strange-back home I never had any friend I could really talk to. But I know I can talk to you. I just don't know how to start," she added explosively, discovering this.
    Anna smiled, and Kaitlyn felt more peaceful, less agitated. "It wouldn't have anything to do with Rob, would it?"
    "Oh, my God," Kaitlyn said, stiffening. "Is it that obvious? Do you think he knows?"
    "No . . . but I'm a girl, remember? I notice things boys don't notice."
    "Yes, well, that's the problem, isn't it?" Kaitlyn murmured, sitting back. She felt crushed suddenly. "I've got this feeling he isn't ever going to notice."
    "I heard what Joyce said about him."
    Kaitlyn was very glad-she wouldn't have to repeat the story, like gossip. "Then you know it's practically hopeless," she said.
    "It's not hopeless. You just have to get him to notice you, that's all. He likes you; he just doesn't realize you're a girl."
    "You think he likes me?"
    "Of course he does. And you're beautiful-any
    normal guy wouldn't have any trouble seeing you're female. With Rob, you're just going to have to do something extra."
    "Like take off my shirt?"
    "I was thinking of something less extreme."
    "I've thought of things," Kaitlyn said. "All afternoon I've been thinking of ways . . . well, like trying to get him into romantic situations. But I don't know if it's right. Isn't that like tricking him?"
    Anna smiled-a very wise smile, Kait thought. "See that mask?" she said, nodding to the one on the wall.
    "That's Skauk, the Raven. He was my great-grandfather's guardian spirit-and when the missionaries came along and gave my family the name 'White,' he was the one who stuck 'Raven' on, so we would always know who we were. Friends of Raven the Trickster."
    Kaitlyn stared at the mask, with its long, blunt beak, in fascination.
    "Raven was always doing things for his own good- but they turned out to be for everybody's good in the end. Like the time when he stole the sun."
    Kaitlyn grinned, sensing a story. "When he what?"
    "He stole the sun," Anna said gravely, only her eyes smiling. "Gray Eagle had the sun, but he hated people so much that he kept it hidden in his house, and everybody else lived in darkness. Raven wanted the sun for his own, but he knew Gray Eagle would never let him inside. So he turned himself into a snow white bird and tricked Gray Eagle's daughter into letting him in."
    "Teh," Kaitlyn said. Anna's eyes smiled.
    "As soon as she did, Raven grabbed the sun and flew away-but Gray Eagle flew after him. Raven got so scared that he dropped the sun ... and it landed in the sky, where it lit up the world for everybody."
    "That's nice," Kaitlyn said, pleased.
    "There're lots of stories about Raven. But the point is, sometimes a little trickery isn't so bad." Anna flashed Kait a dark-eyed glance. "And especially where boys are concerned, I think."
    Kaitlyn stood up, feeling excitement churn inside her. "Then I'll do it! If I can think of something good."
    "You can start with cleaning up a little," Anna said,